Heat Exchange Element Ribs to Limit Partition Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchange elements face issues with high air-flow resistance due to deflection of partition members caused by temperature and humidity changes, and reduced heat transfer efficiency due to deformation of air-flow paths, especially when using high-density materials.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchange element incorporates deflection-suppressing ribs with a smaller height than spacing ribs, positioned between the spacing ribs on the partition member, to prevent air-flow path blockage and maintain heat transfer efficiency, while minimizing contact with other layers to avoid reducing the heat-transfer and moisture-permeable areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the partition member is made from high-density material to improve gas-sealing properties and heat transfer efficiency, then the total heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the partition member expands and deflects in high-humidity environment, causing nonuniform flow passage height and increased air-flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing member is segmented into multiple functional components: spacing ribs for maintaining flow passage height, deflection-suppressing ribs for preventing partition member deformation, and reinforcing ribs for additional structural support. This segmentation allows each component to address specific problems independently while working together to maintain low air-flow resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing member acts as an intermediary between the partition members, providing structural support and preventing direct contact between opposing partition members. The deflection-suppressing ribs specifically mediate the expansion forces, distributing them evenly to prevent localized deflection that would increase air-flow resistance.
2Productivity
If the partition member thickness is reduced to improve total heat exchange efficiency, then the heat transfer area is increased, but the partition member becomes more susceptible to deflection and expansion in high-humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing member serves as a mediator that provides external structural support to the thin partition member. The deflection-suppressing ribs specifically counteract the expansion forces, allowing the partition member to remain thin for heat exchange efficiency while maintaining stability through the spacing member's reinforcing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange element uses a composite structure combining thin partition members for heat transfer with a robust spacing member structure for mechanical stability. The spacing member's multiple rib configurations create a composite system where the thin partition member and thick spacing member work together to achieve both high heat exchange efficiency and dimensional stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If wave-shaped spacing members are used to maintain spacing between partition members, then the structural stability is improved, but the effective area of air-flow paths is reduced due to the thickness of the wave-shaped plate
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing member is segmented into discrete ribs rather than using a continuous wave-shaped plate. This segmentation reduces the material thickness and volume of the spacing member, thereby increasing the effective air-flow path area while the distributed rib structure maintains structural stability through multiple support points.
4Ease of operation
If the arrangement spacing between spacing members is narrowed to reduce partition member deflection, then the air-flow resistance is reduced, but the heat-transfer area and moisture-permeable area decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing member is segmented into multiple ribs (spacing ribs, deflection-suppressing ribs, and reinforcing ribs) that work together to provide comprehensive support. This segmentation allows the ribs to be positioned optimally for both structural support and air-flow characteristics, maintaining low air-flow resistance while preserving heat-transfer area through strategic rib placement and sizing.
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 effectively suppresses air-flow resistance and enhances total heat exchange efficiency by preventing deflection and maintaining a stable air-flow path, even with high-density materials, thereby improving moisture exchange efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a partition member (2), each of which has heat-transfer properties and moisture permeability
Implementation Method 2
a partition member (2), each of which has heat-transfer properties and moisture permeability
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Provided is a heat exchange element that can suppress an increase in air-flow resistance by suppressing deflection of a partition member caused by a change in temperature and humidity, and that can improve total heat exchange efficiency by suppressing a decrease in heat-transfer area caused by increasing the number of spacing members. The present invention relates to a heat exchange element in which unit constituent members are stacked, each of which is formed of partition members that have heat-transfer properties and moisture permeability, and spacing members that hold the partition members, and in which a primary air flow that passes along a upper-surface side of the partition member and a secondary air flow that passes along an undersurface side of the partition member cross each other so as to exchange heat and moisture via the partition member, wherein the spacing member includes spacing ribs that maintain the spacing between the partition members being stacked adjacent to each other, and deflection suppressing ribs that have a height smaller than the spacing ribs, and that suppress deflection of the partition members and therefore blockage of an air-flow path.