Ventilator with dual flow passages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventilation devices have limited operational modes and high flow resistance, leading to short filter life and inefficient air purification, especially when dealing with varying outdoor pollution levels and wind conditions, and lack automatic adjustment mechanisms for airflow rates.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator with dual flow passages and a mode switcher using a by-pass baffle, cams, and compressed springs allows for multiple filtration modes (single-effect natural, three-effect mechanical, and recirculated indoor air filtration) and automatic airflow regulation based on external wind feedback, optimizing filter life and energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high efficiency filtration (combination of primary, medium-efficiency, and high-efficiency particulate filtration or HEPA filtration) is used, then purification efficiency is improved, but filter service life is shortened and flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic operation modes that allow the ventilation system to switch between different filtration configurations based on outdoor air quality conditions. When outdoor air is clean, the system bypasses medium and high-efficiency filters, using only the primary filter or natural ventilation, thereby extending filter service life. When pollution levels rise, the system dynamically activates additional filtration stages. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making filtration intensity variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (filtration level, flow path configuration) based on outdoor air quality measurements. By adjusting the effective filtration configuration from single-stage to multi-stage depending on pollution levels, the system optimizes both purification efficiency and filter longevity, preventing unnecessary high-efficiency filter usage during clean conditions.
2Reliability
If high efficiency filtration is used, then purification efficiency is improved, but ventilation rate is reduced due to large flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the filtration configuration and flow paths based on outdoor air quality and wind conditions. During clean conditions or strong winds, it switches to low-resistance paths (primary filter only or natural ventilation), maintaining high ventilation rates. During severe pollution, it activates multi-stage filtration only when necessary, balancing purification efficiency with adequate ventilation rate throughout varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system is segmented into multiple independent flow paths with different filtration levels. The primary filter operates independently, while medium and high-efficiency filters are activated only when needed. This segmentation allows the system to provide rapid ventilation through the low-resistance primary filter path while optionally adding higher filtration stages, thus resolving the contradiction between ventilation rate and purification efficiency.
3Device complexity
If manual control for mode switching is used, then device complexity is reduced, but operation requires human interruption and real-time adjustment is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback from outdoor air quality sensors and wind speed measurements to automatically control mode switching and flow path selection. The controller receives real-time environmental data and autonomously adjusts the ventilation configuration without human intervention, achieving both low complexity and automatic operation through simple sensor-controller-actuator loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system serves itself by automatically monitoring outdoor conditions and adjusting its own operation mode. The controller autonomously determines when to switch between natural ventilation, single-stage filtration, and multi-stage filtration based on sensor inputs, eliminating the need for manual control while maintaining simple system architecture.
4Extent of automation
If electric control with motor or sensor is used for mode switching, then automatic operation is achieved, but expense is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses simple feedback loops with basic sensors (air quality sensors and wind speed sensors) connected to a controller that automatically adjusts ventilation modes. This straightforward feedback mechanism achieves automatic operation without complex control systems, maintaining cost-effectiveness while eliminating manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical mode-switching mechanisms with an electronic control system that uses sensors and a controller to automatically adjust ventilation configuration. This substitution simplifies the overall system by using electronic control instead of complex mechanical linkages, achieving automation while keeping device complexity manageable.
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
The ventilator achieves efficient air filtration with extended filter life, reduced energy consumption, and stable indoor ventilation rates by adapting to outdoor pollution and wind conditions, with filtration efficiency reaching over 98% for PM2.5 and energy-saving benefits across different modes.
Implementation Method 1
The flow rate regulation baffle is pivoted at the bottom of the naturally-driven flow passage through a rotating shaft... the air intake can be automatically adjusted according to the external wind, so as to keep the indoor ventilation rate relatively stable
Implementation Method 2
The proposed device adopts cams, compressed springs, sealing gasket and lock for mode switching. The sealing performance and service life of the mode switching are improved by using compressed spring for more accurate control.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a ventilator with dual flow passages. There is a mode switcher on the partition board. The ventilator has a variety of operating modes, such as, the natural or mechanical driving mode according to outdoor wind speed, and single-effect or multi-effect filtration according to the outdoor air pollution conditions. The single-effect filtration uses only the primary-efficiency filter, while the three-effect filtration uses the primary-, medium-, and high-efficiency filters. The mode switcher on the partition board can open or close the by-pass baffle to bypass or go through the medium- and high-efficiency filters for switching between the single-effect and multi-effect filtration. In case some indoor pollution sources need to be removed quickly, the recirculated indoor air filtration can be run. In such situation, the primary-efficiency filter in the mechanically-driven flow passage is bypassed, while the fan drives indoor air passing the medium- and high-efficiency filters.