Mechanical assistance device for evacuating gas streams, more particularly intended for a residential unit and method of evacuating exhaust air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical ventilation systems for buildings often require automatic shutdown of combustion devices during extraction system malfunctions, leading to unnecessary disruptions and inefficiencies, especially when transitioning between forced extraction and natural draft.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical assistance device that maintains a depression of 55-95 Pa in aeraulic circuits, using a vane-based detection system to pivot and trigger natural draft when the extraction system's malfunction is detected, ensuring seamless operation and reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mechanical extraction system operates at high depression (≥125 Pa) to ensure satisfactory ventilation, then ventilation efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases and system reliability decreases during malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the extraction pressure from high (≥125 Pa) during normal operation to moderate (55-95 Pa) during malfunction conditions. The depression control unit modifies the operating parameters of the extraction system based on real-time detection of system status, allowing the same system to operate efficiently under different conditions without wasting energy during partial-performance scenarios.
2Reliability
If the mechanical extraction system shuts down automatically during malfunction to ensure safety, then system reliability is improved, but operational continuity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the aeraulic network into two independent circuits: a first circuit for stale air extraction and a second circuit for combustion product evacuation. When a malfunction is detected in the mechanical extraction system, the control unit automatically switches the combustion product circuit to natural draft operation while maintaining stale air extraction through the mechanical system. This segmentation allows partial operation to continue, maintaining productivity while ensuring safety through the backup natural draft capability.
3Loss of energy
If the extraction system operates at moderate depression (55-95 Pa) to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but ventilation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary natural draft mechanism that acts as a mediator between the mechanical extraction system and the combustion product evacuation process. When the mechanical system operates at moderate depression levels, the natural draft (driven by thermal convection of hot combustion products) supplements the extraction capability, allowing the system to maintain adequate ventilation performance while consuming less energy than would be required for purely mechanical extraction at high depression levels.
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
Enables continuous operation of combustion devices by switching to natural draft during extraction system failures, optimizing ventilation and reducing energy consumption by maintaining a stable depression in the aeraulic circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a vane extending across a duct of the aeraulic circuit capable of pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis, perpendicular to the flow direction, the pallet being capable of occupying a determined stable position under the effect of its own weight in the absence of flow, and a separated position after pivoting, against its own weight, in the presence of a flow
Implementation Method 2
the extraction system is configured to maintain in the aeraulic circuits a depression of between 55 and 95 Pa
Implementation Method 3
means for venting to the atmosphere capable of occupying a first closed state and a second open state to allow the combustion products to escape by natural draft
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~7
AI summary
The method involves allowing an evacuating system (12) to function at a rate to maintain depression of 55 to 95 Pa in an aeraulic circuit, where a vent outlet (14) of a habitable room is connected to the evacuating system through the aeraulic circuit. Combustion products e.g. burnt gas, are generated by a combustion apparatus that is arranged in the room, where the combustion apparatus is connected to the evacuating system through another aeraulic circuit for evacuating exhaust air. An independent claim is also included for a mechanical assistance device for evacuating gas streams.