Heat exchange-type ventilation device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large heat-exchange type ventilation apparatuses pose challenges in maintainability, as the heat exchanger becomes heavier and larger, making it difficult to check motor parts without holding the heat exchanger during maintenance.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a support system that allows the heat exchanger to be held and supported from the bottom, enabling the removal of casings without manually holding the heat exchanger, improving maintainability by providing a mechanism to securely hold the heat exchanger in place during maintenance and allowing its easy removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the heat-exchange type ventilation apparatus is made larger to increase ventilation capacity, then the ventilation performance is improved, but the heat exchanger becomes heavier and more difficult to handle during maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation capacityVSAvoidmaintainability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is divided into separable modules: the heat exchanger can be detached from the housing, and the motor casing can be removed independently. This segmentation allows the heavy heat exchanger to be removed as a complete unit rather than requiring disassembly of the entire apparatus, improving maintainability while preserving large-size ventilation capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A support structure acts as an intermediary between the heat exchanger and the housing during maintenance operations. The support structure temporarily bears the weight of the heat exchanger, allowing workers to remove the motor casing and access motors without manually supporting the heavy heat exchanger, thus solving the maintainability problem for large apparatuses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the heat exchanger is fixed securely to the housing to ensure stability, then the structural stability is improved, but the heat exchanger cannot be easily removed for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidheat exchanger removability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing mechanism transitions from a static permanent fixation to a dynamic removable fixation. The heat exchanger is secured during normal operation through engagement with the housing, but can be easily detached when needed for maintenance. This dynamic approach allows the system to switch between stable operation and easy maintenance modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing structure is segmented into separate engagement points and mounting features that allow the heat exchanger to be securely attached during operation but easily detached for maintenance. The heat exchanger and housing have complementary fixing structures that provide stable connection without permanent bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of repair

If the motor casing is removed to access the motor for maintenance, then the motor accessibility is improved, but the heat exchanger becomes unsupported and must be held manually

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor accessibilityVSAvoidmaintenance safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A support structure serves as an intermediary to bear the weight of the heat exchanger during motor maintenance. This support structure is temporarily positioned to hold the heat exchanger while the motor casing is removed and the motor is accessed, allowing maintenance workers to safely service motors without manually supporting the heavy heat exchanger.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is put in place before the motor casing is removed. This preliminary action ensures that the heat exchanger is already supported and will not fall or shift when the motor casing is taken off, making the subsequent motor access safe and easy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design enhances the maintainability of air supplying and discharging fan parts by allowing maintenance without manually holding the heat exchanger, improving efficiency and safety during maintenance operations.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger (2) placed in the supply air path and the discharge air path at an intersecting portion of the supply air path and the discharge air path in the housing (1) and that allows heat exchange between a supply airflow and a discharge airflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3306213B1Heat exchange-type ventilation device
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3306213B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3306213B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3306213B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air supplying fan and an air discharging fan are placed next to each other in a stacking direction of partition members in a housing 1 and abut on one edge portion of a heat exchanger (2) extending in the stacking direction, the air supplying fan and the air discharging fan have a groove extending in the stacking direction and sandwiching the one edge portion between two facing inner surfaces on a portion in which the air supplying fan and the air discharging fan abut on the heat exchanger (2), the air supplying fan and the air discharging fan include a casing that can be split into two split casings, i.e., a first casing and a second casing to be combined with the first casing, in a vertical direction of the housing 1 at the groove as a center. A split casing (a motor casing 3b, an inlet-side casing 4a) that is included in the two split casings of the air supplying fan and the two split casings of the air discharging fan and is placed on an upper surface side of the main body includes a support (101) extending from an area of the splitting plane inward of the groove to the one edge portion of the heat exchanger (2) so as to be able to support the one edge portion from a bottom side of the main body.