Dual-flow ventilation box

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Solution Overview

Problem

Double-flow ventilation boxes face challenges in efficiently extracting hot smoke and heat while ensuring fan operation, leak control, and temperature management, particularly due to the presence of sensitive components like heat exchangers, rubber seals, and filters, which complicates meeting fire protection and comfort requirements.

Innovation Solution

A device with an orientation valve that can pivot to direct flue gases either towards the heat exchanger or a direct outlet outside the box, optionally actuated by temperature sensors or manual controls, and a deflection device positioned between the extraction fan and heat exchanger to manage abnormal temperature rises.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the extraction fan operates to extract hot smoke, then smoke and heat evacuation is improved, but the temperature of components increases causing deterioration risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke evacuation efficiencyVSAvoidcomponent durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the extraction fan from the housing that contains temperature-sensitive components (heat exchanger, rubber seals, filters). The fan is mounted in a separate location with its own inlet and outlet channels, allowing it to operate independently in the hot smoke environment without exposing sensitive components to high temperatures. This resolves the contradiction by separating the smoke extraction function from the heat exchange function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If the extraction fan extracts hot smoke, then smoke evacuation is improved, but smoke may leak into the supply air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke evacuation efficiencyVSAvoidsmoke leakage into supply air
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the internal air channels into separate independent pathways: one for supply air and another for extracted smoke. The extraction fan has dedicated inlet and outlet channels that are physically separated from the supply air path. This segmentation prevents smoke from mixing with or leaking into the supply air stream, resolving the harmful effect while maintaining effective smoke evacuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the supply fan operates simultaneously with extraction fan, then ventilation performance is improved, but supply air temperature rises excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation performanceVSAvoidsupply air temperature rise
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the extraction fan from the housing containing the heat exchanger and supply air channels. By locating the extraction fan in a separate position with independent air channels, hot extracted smoke cannot be blown back into the supply air stream. This allows both fans to operate simultaneously without excessive temperature rise in the supply air, as the hot smoke pathway is completely separated from the supply air pathway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution ensures effective smoke and heat evacuation, prevents smoke leakage into the supply air, and maintains fan operation safety, reducing the risk of component deterioration and temperature rise, thus meeting both safety and comfort requirements.

Implementation Method 1

an orientation valve adapted to be able to pivot between a position for directing the flue gases towards the heat exchanger and a position for directing the flue gases towards a direct outlet towards the outside of the box

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectValve deflection: Valve

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2944892B1Dual-flow ventilation box
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 SOLER & PALAU RESEARCH SLU
  • EP2944892B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a device adapted to ensure, in a double-flow ventilation box (1), the evacuation of hot smoke, as well as a box equipped with such a device.