Heat Exchange Element Rib Design to Suppress Partition Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchange elements face issues with high air-flow resistance and reduced total heat exchange efficiency due to the detachment of partition and spacing members caused by temperature and humidity changes, especially when using high-density partition members with thin rib-shaped spacing members.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchange element design featuring unit constituent members with partition members and spacing members stacked, where the spacing member includes sealing ribs, spacing ribs, and detachment suppressing ribs to prevent detachment, allowing for low air-flow resistance and high heat exchange efficiency even with high-density partition members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-density partition members are used to reduce air leakage and improve moisture exchange efficiency, then gas-sealing properties and moisture permeability are improved, but the partition member expands and contracts more in high-humidity environments, causing detachment from the spacing member
Solution Approach 1:
The spacing member is divided into multiple ribs (first spacing ribs and second spacing ribs) that are arranged at specific intervals. These segmented ribs work together to restrict partition member movement in different directions, preventing both lateral displacement and detachment while accommodating thermal expansion and contraction.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spacing member have different functional properties: the first spacing ribs primarily restrict movement in one direction, while the second spacing ribs restrict movement in the perpendicular direction. This localized functional differentiation allows the structure to effectively constrain the partition member without requiring uniform reinforcement throughout.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the spacing member is made thinner to reduce air-flow resistance, then air-flow resistance is reduced, but the bonding strength between the partition member and spacing member is insufficient, causing detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The constraint mechanism is extended from a single-plane bonding interface to a three-dimensional constraint system. The multiple ribs protruding from the spacing member create constraint points in different spatial dimensions, effectively preventing detachment without requiring increased bonding area or thicker spacing member material.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs are pre-positioned on the spacing member before the partition member is installed. This preliminary arrangement of constraint elements ensures that when the partition member is bonded, the ribs are already in position to restrict movement in multiple directions, preventing detachment before it can occur during thermal cycling.
3Stability of the object's composition
If wave-shaped spacing members are used to maintain structure, then structural integrity is improved, 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 single thick wave-shaped plate, the spacing member is segmented into multiple thin ribs. This segmentation maintains the structural function of spacing and support while significantly reducing the total material volume and cross-sectional area that obstructs the air-flow path, thereby improving airflow efficiency.
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 design achieves low air-flow resistance and high total heat exchange efficiency by suppressing the detachment of partition and spacing members, maintaining effective heat and moisture exchange despite changes in temperature and humidity.
Implementation Method 1
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 exchange heat and moisture through the partition member
Implementation Method 2
partition member that has a heat-transfer property and a moisture permeability
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heat exchange element in which unit constituent members, each of which includes a partition member that has a heat-transfer property and a moisture permeability and a spacing member that holds the partition member with a predetermined spacing, are stacked and in which 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 and crosses the primary air flow exchange heat and moisture through the partition member, wherein a detachment suppressing rib is provided on the opposite side of the spacing member when viewed from the partition member at a bonded portion between the partition member and the spacing member, and the partition member is sandwiched by the spacing member and the detachment suppressing rib.