Liquid-Filter Range Hood With Straight Airflow for Cleaner Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional range hoods are inefficient in filtering contaminated air from cooking effluents, leading to contaminant buildup in ductwork and posing fire hazards, and often have inaccessible components that complicate maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A range hood design featuring a substantially straight airflow path with a horizontally-extending liquid support and mist eliminator, along with a sump system for liquid drainage and contaminant removal, which enhances filtration efficiency and accessibility for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tortuous path filtration with baffles is used, then filtration mechanism is provided, but filtration efficiency is low (10-15%) and contaminant buildup occurs in hood and ductwork
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forcing air through a tortuous path with baffles (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by creating a straight airflow path where contaminated air enters the hood and flows directly through a liquid bath and filters to the outlet, eliminating the need for multiple directional changes and baffles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the filtration function from the traditional baffle system and implements it separately through a liquid bath and filter elements positioned in a straight airflow path, separating the flow direction function from the filtration function
2Reliability
If hood is designed with high profile to accommodate filtration components, then filtration capacity is improved, but accessibility for cleaning and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hood into functional zones with the liquid bath and filters positioned in an easily accessible location within the hood body, allowing maintenance personnel to access and clean components without requiring excessive height or specialized equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions filtration components within the horizontal plane of the hood rather than stacking them vertically, maintaining filtration capacity while improving accessibility by distributing components across the hood's width rather than height
3Reliability
If water bath is added to increase filtration efficiency, then contaminant removal is improved, but complexity of hood structure and likelihood of contaminant buildup within hood increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the water bath filtration function with the main airflow path in a straightforward configuration, eliminating the need for separate complex containment structures and multiple access points required by traditional designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the liquid bath filtration method specifically at the critical filtration zone within the straight airflow path, concentrating the contaminant removal function where it is most effective while maintaining simple hood structure elsewhere
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 design significantly improves airflow efficiency, reduces contaminant buildup, and facilitates easier maintenance by providing a straightforward airflow path and accessible components, thereby enhancing safety and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure drop is maintained across the range hood from inlet to outlet, thus drawing the effluent stream from the inlet toward the outlet
Implementation Method 2
liquid is supported on and retained by the liquid support at least in part by the pressure drop across the range hood
Data Source
AI summary
A range hood for a kitchen range or other similar appliance is disclosed. The range hood is adapted to be coupled to a blower to draw the contaminated effluent stream from the range into the hood. The effluent stream is drawn through a substantially horizontal perforated liquid support or impingement tray that is filled with a working liquid, and is then passed through a high-efficiency mist eliminator. The range hood offers a substantially straight airflow path from a point just inside the inlet to the outlet. The range hood also has a low profile, and offers direct access to its interior components for easy inspection and cleaning.