Evaporative humidifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional evaporative humidifiers face issues such as leaking, spillage, and difficulty in cleaning due to their design, where water is stored in a tank and metered into a tray, leading to problems with float valves and seals, and their output is limited by ambient conditions, with noise increasing when fan speed is adjusted.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a power unit housing, a blower assembly, a water tank with no lower water outlet, and a wick positioned in the tank, where air is drawn through the wick and blown by a fan, with a controller regulating temperature, humidity, and airflow based on sensors to optimize evaporation and prevent noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is stored in a tank and metered into a tray using float valves or vacuum pressure mechanisms, then water level control is achieved, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to seals, valves, and floats that are sources of leakage and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex float valve mechanism and water metering system from the humidifier design. Instead of storing water in a tank and metering it into a tray, the invention uses a single open reservoir where water evaporates directly from the wicking element exposed to airflow, eliminating seals, valves, and floats that cause leakage and failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the water storage function from the water delivery function. The open reservoir serves as both storage and evaporation chamber, while the wicking element independently delivers water to the airflow path without requiring mechanical metering mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the reservoir is open to allow access by the wicking element, then the wicking element can draw water freely, but the reservoir is prone to spilling water around the humidifier including on the fan and electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a baffle or partition structure that acts as an intermediary between the open reservoir and the fan/electronic components. This physical barrier prevents water spillage from reaching sensitive components while maintaining open access for the wicking element to draw water from the reservoir.
3Ease of manufacture
If the reservoir has nooks and crannies required for moldability and function, then the reservoir can be shaped for manufacturing, but it makes it difficult to clean slime, residue, and biological growth that build up over time
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing a complex shaped reservoir with nooks and crannies for manufacturing purposes, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple, smooth-walled reservoir design. The manufacturing complexity is shifted to the removable wicking element and cartridge assembly, which can be easily discarded or cleaned, while the reservoir itself remains simple and easy to clean.
4Productivity
If the fan speed is increased to improve humidification output, then the rate of humidification increases, but the noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the system by using a larger surface area wicking element and optimizing the airflow path through the reservoir. This allows effective humidification at lower fan speeds, reducing noise while maintaining productivity. The evaporation surface area and airflow velocity are optimized to achieve high humidification output without requiring high fan speeds.
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 configuration reduces noise, prevents spillage, and allows for efficient humidification by controlling airflow and evaporation, while enabling easy cleaning and reducing the need for frequent disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
The wick positioned in the water tank such that water is drawn into the wick from the water tank, through the wick, and toward an air outlet
Implementation Method 2
the blower assembly moves air from the air exit, through the wick, and toward the air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporative humidifier including a power unit housing, a blower assembly, a water tank, and a wick. The power unit housing includes an air entrance and an air exit. The blower assembly positioned in the power unit housing, the blower assembly being configured to draw air through the power unit housing when the evaporative humidifier is in an operational state in which humidified air is being supplied to an ambient environment. The water tank configured for storing water, and having no lower water outlet used when in the operational state. The wick positioned in the water tank such that water is drawn into the wick from the water tank, through the wick, and toward an air outlet, and such that when the evaporative humidifier is in the operational state, the blower assembly moves air from the air exit, through the wick, and toward the air outlet.