Integrated Gas-Solid Heat Exchanger for Compact Indoor Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation systems for indoor spaces face challenges in efficient heat recovery while minimizing space requirements and installation complexity, often leading to energy loss and increased risk of break-ins due to the need for extensive heat storage and construction.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation device with a common housing integrating two air guiding devices and a one-piece gas-solid-state heat exchanger, which allows for efficient heat recovery by regenerating heat between air flows and reducing space requirements, along with a compact design that can be installed in a wall opening, using a bidirectional fan system and electronic control for optimized airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If decentralized heat recovery systems are used, then heat recovery efficiency is improved, but space requirements increase due to necessary heat storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat storage function and heat exchange function into a single integrated heat exchanger unit. The heat exchanger comprises a storage medium that simultaneously performs thermal energy storage and heat transfer between supply air and exhaust air streams, eliminating the need for separate heat storage components and reducing overall system space requirements while maintaining effective heat recovery efficiency
2Loss of energy
If conventional heat exchangers are used, then heat recovery is achieved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (heat storage, heat exchange, air flow guidance) into a single integrated heat exchanger assembly. The storage medium serves dual purposes as both thermal energy reservoir and heat transfer interface, while the housing integrates air guiding devices for both supply and exhaust streams, significantly reducing system complexity compared to conventional multi-component heat recovery systems
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs thermal energy storage, heat transfer between air streams, and structural support for air guiding devices. The storage medium serves multiple purposes including heat storage, heat exchange surface, and flow distribution medium, reducing the need for separate specialized components
3Reliability
If extensive construction work is performed for installation, then proper ventilation system installation is achieved, but installation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is designed as a modular unit with a self-contained heat exchanger assembly that can be installed as a complete functional module. The integrated design allows the entire heat recovery system to be installed through a single wall opening, segmenting the complex installation process into manageable stages and reducing overall installation complexity while maintaining installation quality
4Volume of stationary object
If a one-piece gas-solid-state heat exchanger is used, then space requirements are reduced, but heat transfer efficiency may be limited by solid-state conduction
Solution Approach 1:
The storage medium in the heat exchanger is designed with a porous structure that provides large surface area for heat transfer while maintaining solid-state thermal energy storage capacity. The porous structure enables efficient convective heat exchange between air streams and the solid storage medium, overcoming the limitation of solid-state conduction and maintaining high heat transfer efficiency in a compact design
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 enhances heat recovery efficiency, reduces space needs, simplifies installation, and minimizes energy loss by using a single heat exchanger for simultaneous ventilation, while maintaining effective separation of air flows and reducing power consumption through optimized fan arrangement and thermal coupling.
Implementation Method 1
a one-piece gas-solid-state heat exchanger, the solids of which in the first and in the second air guiding device extends, is arranged in both air guiding devices between the respective interior-side and the exterior-side outlet
Implementation Method 2
the first air flow the second air flow in a respective subset of ducts fluidically separated, but thermally coupled
Implementation Method 3
a first flow chamber in which at least one first bidirectionally operable fan is arranged, and a second flow space in which at least one second bidirectionally operable fan is arranged
Data Source
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AI summary
Ventilation device (100) for indoor ventilation, comprising in a common housing (110) a first air guidance device (120) for guiding a first airflow, which has a first indoor outlet (121), a first flow chamber (122) in which at least one first bidirectionally operable fan (125) is arranged, and a first outdoor outlet (123), a second air guidance device (130) for guiding a second airflow, which is fluidically completely separated from the first air guidance device (120) and which has a second indoor outlet (131), a second flow chamber (132) in which at least one second bidirectionally operable fan (135) is arranged, and a second outdoor outlet (133), a one-piece gas-solid heat exchanger (140) which is configured to fluidically separate the first airflow and the second airflow in a respective subset of channels (142),However, they are to be thermally coupled, with the solid body (141) in the first and second air guidance devices (120, 130) each additionally forming a regenerator.