Fogging Apparatus Air Heating Unit Heat Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fogging apparatuses face issues with non-uniform particle size distribution and increased complexity due to temperature variations in the atomizer chamber, leading to inefficient atomization and safety concerns during the warm-up phase.

Innovation Solution

The fogging apparatus incorporates an air heating unit and a secondary chamber for heat exchange with the atomizer chamber wall, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and enhanced thermal energy supply, along with a control unit to manage air flow and medium supply for improved homogeneity and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a combustion-based atomizing device is used to atomize medium, then a relatively high volume of medium can be atomized per time unit, but the homogeneity of particle size and distribution of medium deteriorates, especially during the warm-up phase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume of medium atomized per time unitVSAvoidhomogeneity of particle size and distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The air supply duct is pre-heated by the air heating unit before the medium is atomized. This preliminary heating of the air flow ensures that when the medium is introduced, the atomization chamber and air flow are already at the appropriate temperature, eliminating the warm-up phase problem and ensuring homogeneous particle size distribution from the start.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The air heating unit acts as an intermediary between the air supply and the atomization chamber. It heats the air flow before it enters the atomization chamber, providing a controlled thermal field that improves atomization quality without requiring the entire combustion system to be at high temperature, thus maintaining productivity while improving homogeneity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the air supply duct is heated by an air heating unit, then the homogeneity of temperature of the atomizer chamber wall is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneity of temperature distribution in atomizer chamber wallVSAvoidoverall construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air heating unit is integrated into the air supply duct system, merging the heating function with the existing air supply infrastructure. This combination allows the air heating unit to be part of the standard air supply components, reducing the need for separate, complex heating systems and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving uniform temperature distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Use of energy by moving object

If combustion gases are used to heat the atomizer chamber, then thermal energy is provided to the medium, but safety measures for preventing recoil and explosions are required, increasing device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal energy supply to mediumVSAvoidsafety measures and construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The combustion-based thermal heating system is replaced with an air heating unit that can be electrically or otherwise heated without combustion. This substitution eliminates the need for safety measures related to combustion (recoil prevention, explosion prevention) while still providing the necessary thermal energy to the air flow, thereby reducing device complexity and safety requirements.

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

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 achieves a more uniform particle size distribution and improved homogeneity of the active ingredient in the fog, reducing the complexity of the device and enhancing safety by maintaining consistent temperature during the warm-up phase.

Implementation Method 1

the air flow is fed through an air heating unit into the air supply duct and wherein at least a portion of the air supply duct is configured to be in a heat exchange contact with the atomizer chamber wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

the supplied air flow carries along the atomized medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir stream transport: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3487294B1Fogging apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 FRANS VEUGEN BEDRIJFSHYGIENE BV
  • EP3487294B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3487294B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

Fogging apparatus for atomizing a medium comprising an atomizer chamber defined by an atomizer chamber wall extending substantially from a supply side to a distal outlet side, further comprising at least one supply located at the supply side of the atomizer chamber for dispensing the medium to be atomized and an air supply duct extending from an air flow source to an air supply opening on the supply side of the atomizer chamber, the air flow source being adapted to, in operation, generate an air flow,, characterized in that the air flow is fed through an air heating unit into the air supply duct and wherein at least a portion of the air supply duct is configured to be in a heat exchange contact with the atomizer chamber wall.