Hexagonal Housing Design for Backward-Curved HVAC Blowers
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems face inefficiencies when increasing fan speed to vary airflow, leading to suboptimal operating conditions and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A blower housing with a hexagonal cross-section design that positions the backward-curved blower wheel to optimize airflow, featuring unequal radial distances and acute angles, enhancing blower efficiency and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fan speed is increased to vary airflow, then airflow rate is improved, but operating efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the blower housing, specifically using a non-circular cross-section with unequal radial distances from the center to different sides. This parameter change optimizes the airflow path and pressure distribution, allowing the blower to operate more efficiently across a range of speeds and airflow rates
2Ease of manufacture
If standard circular housing is used, then manufacturing is simple, but airflow efficiency at high static pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using a non-circular housing cross-section where the radial distances from the center to different sides are unequal. This asymmetric geometry optimizes the airflow pattern and pressure distribution within the housing, improving efficiency at higher static pressures while remaining manufacturable using standard processes
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a blower for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system includes a blower wheel and a housing. The blower wheel includes backward-curved blades configured to rotate in a rotational plane. The housing forms an at least hexagonal cross- section around at least a portion of the rotational plane, where the blower wheel is positioned within the housing such that there exists a first distance and a second distance. The first distance is measured radially outward from a center of the blower wheel to a first side of the at least hexagonal cross-section. The second distance is measured radially outward from the center of the blower wheel to a second side of the at least hexagonal cross-section. The second distance forms a an acute angle with the first distance. The first distance and the second distance are unequal and less than a diameter of the blower wheel.