Evaporative Humidifier Air Duct With Capillary Filter Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current humidification technologies, such as electric heating, ultrasonic, and wet film methods, are inefficient, unhealthy, or prone to bacterial growth, making them unsuitable for maintaining comfortable indoor humidity levels, especially in dry environments like northern China during winter and spring.

Innovation Solution

A humidifying device featuring an air duct with a snap-fitted water absorption filter element and a water channel that uses natural evaporation for humidification, ensuring safety, ease of cleaning, and avoiding 'white-powder' pollution, with a grid-like or net-like filter structure for enhanced evaporation and purification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If electric heating technology is used for humidification, then humidification efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases and safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidification efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electric heating (thermal field) with ultrasonic vibration (mechanical field) to achieve humidification. The ultrasonic vibration module generates high-frequency vibrations that directly atomize water molecules, eliminating the need for heating elements and reducing power consumption while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to aerosol droplets through ultrasonic vibration. The high-frequency mechanical vibration causes water to break into fine droplets that evaporate and humidify the air, achieving efficient humidification without thermal energy conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Use of energy by moving object

If ultrasonic technology is used for humidification, then power consumption is reduced, but health effects deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidhealth effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a porous water absorption filter element that allows water to pass through while being atomized by ultrasonic vibration. The porous structure ensures complete water absorption and prevents white powder pollution, while the filtered water vapor is healthier for human respiration compared to traditional ultrasonic humidification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines ultrasonic vibration technology with porous water absorption filter materials to create a composite humidification system. This integration maintains the energy efficiency of ultrasonic technology while eliminating its harmful effects through the filtering and absorption properties of the porous materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If wet film humidifying technology is used, then humidification effect is improved, but bacterial and mold growth increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidification effectVSAvoidbacterial growth
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the water from a stagnant wet film reservoir and delivers it directly to the ultrasonic vibration module for immediate atomization. This eliminates the wet film environment that supports bacterial and mold growth, while maintaining effective humidification through direct water-to-aerosol conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a water pump that automatically draws water from the reservoir and supplies it to the ultrasonic vibration module. This self-service water delivery system ensures continuous fresh water supply for atomization, preventing the stagnation and contamination associated with traditional wet film systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of manufacture

If traditional humidification structures are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but cleaning difficulty increases and white-powder pollution occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidcleaning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the humidification system into distinct functional modules: water reservoir, water pump, porous water absorption filter element, ultrasonic vibration module, and air outlet. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and easily removed for cleaning, eliminating the structural complexity while improving maintainability and preventing white powder accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 device provides effective, healthy, and energy-efficient humidification with a simple structure, preventing bacterial growth and pollution, while utilizing natural evaporation for a green and comfortable indoor environment.

Implementation Method 1

a water absorption filter element, which is snap-fitted with the top of an outer wall surrounding the air duct

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

the principle of natural evaporation is adopted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3159619B1Humidifying device and air treatment system
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP LTD
  • EP3159619B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3159619B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3159619B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A humidifying device, comprising an air duct (1) penetrating through the interior of the humidifying device, and a water absorption filter element (3) which is fitted over the top of an outer wall surrounding the air duct (1). According to the humidifying device, water is conveyed into the air duct (1) through the water absorption filter element (3) by means of the structural arrangement of a water channel (2) and the water absorption filter element (3), and humidifying operation is therefore carried out.