Humidity controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing humidity controllers with reversible hydrogel materials face challenges in controlling thermal conductivity, leading to inefficient moisture release, as heat is conducted faster than water release, resulting in a hydrophobic skin layer formation and loss of moisture as water vapor.

Innovation Solution

A humidity controller with a moisture absorbing portion containing a stimuli-responsive polymer that changes reversibly in response to temperature, featuring at least two gel sections with different thermal conductivities, where the moisture is released from a specific region exposed opposite to the temperature-providing portion, allowing controlled moisture release without forming a skin layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the reversible hydrogel material is used in the composite porous fibrous dehumidifying material, then the moisture absorption capability is improved, but the thermal conductivity control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture absorption capabilityVSAvoidthermal conductivity control
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a skin layer with different thermal conductivity properties than the core material. The skin layer has lower thermal conductivity to prevent heat from reaching the core too quickly, while the core maintains high moisture absorption capability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing the material to simultaneously achieve high moisture absorption while controlling thermal conductivity through the specialized skin layer structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If the heat is conducted faster than water release speed, then the heating efficiency is improved, but a hydrophobic skin layer is formed on the surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat conduction speedVSAvoidsurface hydrophilicity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by forming a skin layer with reduced thermal conductivity before the heating process begins. This skin layer acts as a protective barrier that prevents the rapid heat conduction from causing the formation of a hydrophobic surface layer. By having this protective layer in place beforehand, the patent prevents the adverse effect of surface hydrophobization while still allowing efficient heat transfer to occur through controlled pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Loss of energy

If the skin layer is formed on the exposed surface, then the heat retention is improved, but the moisture release is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat retentionVSAvoidmoisture release efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the dehumidifying material into distinct functional zones: a skin layer with lower thermal conductivity for heat retention and a core region with high moisture absorption capability for moisture release. The skin layer is segmented as a separate functional component that specifically handles heat management, while the core handles moisture absorption and release. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between heat retention and moisture release efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces water evaporation loss and enables efficient moisture release from the humidity controller, improving dehumidification efficiency by concentrating moisture release on the exposed surface.

Implementation Method 1

a moisture absorbent containing a stimuli-responsive polymer with water affinity that changes reversibly in response to temperature stimuli

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature-responsive phase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

the moisture absorbing portion is formed to include at least two gel sections each with a different thermal conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conductivity control: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11383201B2Humidity controller
Publication Date: 2022.07.12 SHARP KK
  • US11383201B2 patent drawing
  • US11383201B2 patent drawing
  • US11383201B2 patent drawing

AI summary

To reduce loss due to water evaporation and to efficiently release moisture from a moisture absorbing portion, in the humidity controller according to the present invention, a moisture absorbing portion (2) is formed to include at least two gel sections each with a different thermal conductivity and to release absorbed moisture from an exposed surface (31) that is a specific region exposed outside and that is disposed on the surface opposite to a heater (5) on the basis of heating by the heater (5).