Hybrid ventilation apparatus capable of both natural and forced ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid ventilation systems face issues with rapid air exchange leading to low thermal efficiency, rainwater ingress, and reduced heat exchanger efficiency due to direct exposure to outdoor temperature variations, along with inadequate filtration of fine dust.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid ventilation apparatus featuring a worm gear mechanism for adjustable natural ventilation and a forced ventilation unit with a heat exchange element protected from outdoor temperature fluctuations, combined with a double-filtering system to capture coarse and fine dust.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If windows are used for ventilation, then indoor air can be exchanged with outdoor air, but thermal efficiency deteriorates due to rapid air exchange and easy exhaustion of air conditioned indoor air
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary device between indoor and outdoor air streams. The heat exchanger enables thermal energy transfer between incoming cold outdoor air and outgoing warm indoor air, allowing high air exchange rates while recovering thermal energy to maintain indoor temperature and improve thermal efficiency.
2Productivity
If the on-off plate is operated horizontally to communicate through holes, then natural ventilation is enabled, but the degree of opening cannot be adjusted depending on airflow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed horizontal on-off plate mechanism is replaced with a rotatable damper that can dynamically adjust its opening angle. The damper rotates around a vertical axis, allowing the opening degree to be continuously adjusted from fully closed to fully open positions, enabling adaptation to various airflow conditions and wind speeds.
3Device complexity
If the heat exchanger is installed on the base plate and brought into contact with the outdoor sidewall, then compact installation is achieved, but heat exchange efficiency deteriorates due to direct exposure to outdoor temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is thermally isolated from the outdoor sidewall by introducing thermal insulation layers and air gaps as intermediary elements. This prevents direct thermal contact with outdoor temperature variations, maintaining stable heat exchange efficiency while still allowing compact installation through optimized spatial arrangement within the housing.
4Ease of manufacture
If the heat exchanger is exposed to outdoor temperature variations, then installation is simplified, but severe dew condensation occurs and mildew forms
Solution Approach 1:
Thermal insulation layers are pre-installed between the heat exchanger and the outdoor sidewall to cushion against temperature variations before they can cause dew condensation. This protective insulation maintains the heat exchanger temperature above the dew point, preventing condensation and subsequent mildew formation while keeping the installation process relatively simple.
5Device complexity
If a single filter is used, then device complexity is reduced, but fine dust such as yellow dust cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into multiple stages with different filter types. A coarse dust filter captures larger particles first, followed by a fine dust filter that removes smaller particles including yellow dust. This segmented approach achieves comprehensive dust removal while managing complexity through functional separation of filtration tasks.
6Temperature
If the total heat exchanger contracts and expands with temperature variation, then thermal response is improved, but airtightness cannot be ensured and product reliability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger assembly is designed with intentional thermal expansion compensation features, such as flexible connection elements and expansion joints, that accommodate dimensional changes due to temperature variations. This allows the heat exchanger to respond to thermal conditions while maintaining airtight connections through compensatory mechanical design, ensuring both thermal responsiveness and sealing integrity.
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 apparatus prevents rapid indoor air temperature drops, ensures airtightness, enhances product reliability by preventing contamination of heat exchange elements, and maintains thermal efficiency while filtering out fine dust.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger exchanges heat between the indoor air and outdoor air
Implementation Method 2
a worm gear is rotated in a normal direction by drive force of a drive unit under the control of a control unit such that a pressing member engages with a rotation guide protrusion and rotates a damper
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a hybrid ventilation apparatus capable of both natural and forced ventilation. In the case of a natural ventilation mode, a worm gear is rotated in a normal direction by drive force of a drive unit under control of a control unit so that a pressing member engages with a rotation guide protrusion and rotates a damper, thus opening a flow passage, and then the worm gear is reversely rotated by drive force of the drive unit to return the pressing member to its original position, thus allowing a user to rotate a roller upwards and downwards and rotate the damper so that the degree of opening of the flow passage can be adjusted. Thereby, rapid inflow of outdoor air can be blocked, and a cold graft phenomenon, in which the temperature of indoor air rapidly drops, can be prevented.