Horizontal-Axis Rotating Heat Exchanger for Compact Air Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air supply devices require significant floor space due to the diameter of rotating heat transfer elements, limiting their installation to larger areas and preventing placement in smaller spaces like closets or cabinets.
Innovation Solution
The air supply device features a rotating heat transfer unit with vertical dividing surfaces and air fans positioned above it, allowing for a compact design with dimensions smaller than typical cabinets, enabling installation within narrower and shallower spaces by maintaining efficient air exchange without increasing the device's width or depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the diameter of the rotating heat transfer element is increased to recover more heat energy, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the required floor surface area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rotation axis from vertical to horizontal, allowing the heat transfer element to extend in the depth direction rather than requiring radial space in the horizontal plane. This dimensional reorientation enables sufficient heat transfer surface area while maintaining a compact footprint that fits within standard cabinet dimensions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the air supply device is designed with sufficient heat transfer surface area, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the device width and depth increase beyond typical cabinet dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer element is positioned within the cavity formed by the exhaust air channel and supply air channel, utilizing the available internal space efficiently. The rotating element is nested between the two air channels, maximizing heat transfer surface area within the constrained device volume without requiring additional external dimensions.
3Ease of operation
If vertical dividing surfaces are added to separate supply and exhaust air channels, then air flow separation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical dividing surfaces serve multiple functions simultaneously: they separate the supply and exhaust air channels to prevent cross-contamination, provide structural support for the heat transfer element, and define the cavity boundaries. This multi-functionality achieves effective air flow separation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 allows for efficient air exchange and heat transfer while reducing the required floor space, enabling the device to be installed in standard cabinets, thus expanding installation possibilities beyond larger areas.
Implementation Method 1
The heat transfer unit may comprise a rotating heat transfer element which is arranged to recover heat energy from a stream of air into another stream of air
Implementation Method 2
These fans accelerate the air flows inside the exhaust air channel and the supply air channel, and, therefore, the air inside the building is exchanged more efficiently
Data Source
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AI summary
An air supply device (1) for extracting exhaust air from a room and leading fresh supply air into the room comprising a casing (2), an exhaust air channel (5) for extracting the exhaust air from the room and a supply air channel (6) for leading the supply air into the room. The air supply device (1) further comprises a heat transfer unit (7) arranged within the exhaust air channel (5) and the supply air channel (6) to transfer thermal energy between exhaust air, flowing in the exhaust air channel (5), and supply air, flowing in the supply air channel (6). The heat transfer unit (7) comprises a rotating heat transfer element (11), which is rotatable around its horizontal axis. The rotating heat transfer element (11) is vertically divided for the exhaust air channel (5) and the supply air channel (6).