Heat exchange element and air conditioner
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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, which are separate from the spacing ribs and do not contact other layers, thereby minimizing pressure loss and maintaining heat transfer and moisture permeability 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 more in high-humidity environment, causing air-flow path blockage and increased air-flow resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The partition member is divided into multiple regions by providing recesses and protrusions on its surface. These segments (recesses and protrusions) work together to counteract deflection forces, allowing the high-density material to maintain its shape stability in high-humidity environments while preserving gas-sealing properties and heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition member has non-uniform surface structure with recesses and protrusions distributed at specific locations. This local variation in geometry creates differential expansion/contraction zones that balance each other, reducing overall deflection while maintaining high-density material properties for gas-sealing and heat transfer.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the spacing member is wave-shaped to maintain structural stability, then the air-flow path cross-sectional shape is maintained, but the effective area of the air-flow path is reduced due to the thickness of the wave-shaped plate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a wave-shaped spacing member that occupies space in the air-flow path direction, the invention uses a flat partition member with recesses and protrusions on its surface. This transfers the structural stability function from the spacing member to the partition member's surface features, eliminating the space occupation problem while maintaining air-flow path cross-sectional stability.
3Productivity
If the partition member and spacing member are integrally molded using resin to increase flexibility and improve heat exchange efficiency, then the total heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the air-flow resistance increases when the partition member expands and deflects in high-humidity environment
Solution Approach 1:
The integral molding includes recesses and protrusions that segment the partition member's surface. These segments work together to control expansion and deflection behavior, allowing the resin-molded structure to maintain both high heat exchange efficiency and low air-flow resistance by preventing excessive deflection in high-humidity environments.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the arrangement spacing between spacing members is narrowed to reduce partition member deflection, then air-flow resistance is reduced, but the heat-transfer area and moisture-permeable area decrease, bringing down total heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the deflection control mechanism from the spacing between spacing members to the surface structure of the partition member itself (recesses and protrusions). This allows spacing members to be positioned optimally for heat transfer without compromising deflection control, as the partition member's surface features provide the necessary structural stability.
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 path blockage and pressure loss while enhancing moisture and total heat exchange efficiency by reducing deflection and maintaining a stable air-flow path.
Implementation Method 1
partition members, each of which partition member has heat-transfer properties and moisture permeability
Implementation Method 2
partition members, each of which partition member has heat-transfer properties and moisture permeability
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a heat exchange element that suppresses an increase in air-flow resistance by suppressing deflection of a partition member caused by a change in temperature and humidity. The 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. A primary air flow that passes along an 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. The spacing member includes: spacing ribs that maintain the spacing between the partition members; and deflection suppressing ribs that have a height smaller than the spacing ribs so as to suppress deflection of the partition members.