Humidification Device Gas-Driven Water Pumping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humidification devices for respiratory humidification and blowing apparatuses, such as CPAP devices, are inefficient in terms of energy consumption and have complex configurations, making them large, costly, and difficult to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A humidification device comprising a reservoir, a vaporizer, a water supply passage, a gas introduction passage, and a controller, where the gas introduction source, such as a piezoelectric pump, introduces gas to push water through the passage to the vaporizer, and the controller operates the gas introduction source intermittently to alternate water filling and gas introduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heater is installed on the lower side of a tank to heat water continuously, then humidification function is provided, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to continuous heating requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The heater operates intermittently rather than continuously. The control unit activates the heater only when water level in the vaporization chamber is insufficient, creating a periodic on-off operation pattern that reduces energy consumption while maintaining reliable humidification function.
Solution Approach 2:
A water level detection mechanism provides feedback to the control unit about the water level in the vaporization chamber. This feedback loop enables the control unit to activate the heater only when needed, optimizing energy efficiency while ensuring the humidification function remains reliable.
2Reliability
If complex humidification device configurations are used to achieve continuous vapor generation, then humidification performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional chambers: a water storage tank, a vaporization chamber, and a humidification chamber. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, achieving continuous vapor generation without complex overall configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization chamber acts as an intermediary between the water storage tank and the humidification chamber. It receives water from the tank, generates vapor through intermittent heating, and supplies vapor to the humidification chamber, enabling continuous vapor generation with simple component arrangements.
3Reliability
If traditional humidification device structures are used, then humidification function is achieved, but size reduction and manufacturing cost reduction become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into integrated components. The vaporization chamber serves both as a heating chamber and a vapor generation chamber, while also acting as a connector between water supply and humidification systems. This merging reduces the number of separate parts, lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining function.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization chamber performs multiple functions: it receives water from the storage tank, serves as the site for vapor generation through heating, and supplies vapor to the humidification chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, reducing manufacturing cost and complexity.
4Reliability
If conventional humidification devices are designed, then humidification capability is provided, but maintainability for cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separable chambers (storage tank, vaporization chamber, humidification chamber) that can be easily detached from each other. This segmentation allows users to access and clean each chamber independently, significantly improving maintainability while preserving humidification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization chamber and humidification chamber are designed to be extractable from the storage tank. This extraction capability enables users to remove these chambers for cleaning without disassembling the entire device, improving maintainability while maintaining full humidification functionality.
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 solution enables a compact, energy-efficient, and cost-effective humidification device that can efficiently generate a small amount of water vapor continuously, improving the maintainability and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The gas introduction source introduces gas into the water supply passage through the gas introduction passage so as to push out, by using pressure of the introduced gas, toward the vaporizer the water
Implementation Method 2
The vaporizer vaporizes the water supplied to the vaporizer
Data Source
AI summary
A humidification device (200A) includes a reservoir (216), a vaporizer (250), a water supply passage (230), a gas introduction passage (240), a gas introduction source (260), and a controller. The reservoir (216) stores water. The vaporizer (250) vaporizes the water supplied to the vaporizer (250). The water supply passage (230) is connected to the reservoir (216) and the vaporizer (250) and filled with the water flowing from the reservoir (216). The gas introduction passage (240) is connected to an intermediate position of the water supply passage (230). The gas introduction source (260) introduces gas into the water supply passage (230) through the gas introduction passage (240) so as to push out, by using pressure of the introduced gas, toward the vaporizer (250) the water with which the water supply passage (230) is filled. The controller controls operation of the gas introduction source (260).