Mobile hot air generator and method for operating the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile warm air generators face overheating issues during power failures due to the inability of existing systems to effectively manage airflow and protect electrical components, leading to potential damage from excessive heat buildup.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a ventilation unit with a heat protection opening and a flap that automatically opens due to potential energy, allowing excess pressure to escape and ensuring reliable operation by moving into a closed position when overpressure is reached, thus preventing overheating without the need for electrical or electronic control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cooling air blower is stopped during a power failure, then the electrical components are protected from power loss, but the heat exchanger and outer casing overheat due to inability to force cooling air through the system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical component operation continuityVSAvoidheat exchanger and outer casing temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses its own combustion process to generate the airflow needed for cooling during power failures. The combustion fan continues to operate on battery power and forces air through the heat exchanger, while the automatic damper opens to allow exhaust gases to escape, creating a self-sustaining cooling mechanism without external electrical power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic damper is pre-positioned to open automatically when combustion gases are present, ensuring immediate cooling pathway establishment before overheating occurs. The system prepares the cooling pathway in advance by designing the damper mechanism to respond automatically to combustion conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the outer casing is sealed to minimize heat loss during normal operation, then heating efficiency is improved, but heat buildup occurs during power failures when cooling air cannot escape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidinner casing temperature during power failure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The outer casing transitions from a sealed state during normal operation to an open state during power failures. The automatic damper dynamically adjusts the casing permeability based on operational conditions, allowing the system to maintain sealing for efficiency during heating while automatically opening for heat dissipation during emergencies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the permeability parameter of the outer casing from low (sealed) during normal operation to high (open) during power failures. This parameter change is triggered automatically by the presence of combustion gases and the position of the automatic damper.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a radial fan is used to reduce noise during operation, then operational quietness is improved, but the intake opening is obstructed when inactive, preventing hot air escape during power failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise level during operationVSAvoidouter casing temperature during power failure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic damper extracts the critical cooling function from the blocked intake opening. By providing an alternative pathway through the damper mechanism, the system removes the dependency on the fan-intake opening pathway for emergency cooling, allowing the fan to remain in its noise-reducing position during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If the exhaust opening is blocked by an air hose during operation, then heat delivery to the target area is improved, but hot air cannot escape during power failures causing overheating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat delivery efficiencyVSAvoidouter casing temperature during power failure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust pathway is segmented into two independent routes: the controlled air hose pathway for normal heat delivery and the automatic damper pathway for emergency cooling. This segmentation allows the system to use different pathways for different functions without interference.

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 solution ensures safe and reliable operation of mobile warm air generators during power failures by automatically managing airflow and preventing overheating, protecting electrical components and maintaining efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

a flap of a ventilation unit with a heat shield opening in the outer housing moves into its open position by means of its inherent potential energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPotential energy:

Implementation Method 2

the cooling air blower is switched on and builds up overpressure in the outer housing, causing air to escape to the outside through the heat shield opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOverpressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

causing air to escape to the outside through the heat shield opening, and the flap is brought into its closed position by the airflow flowing to the outside through the heat shield opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3312522B1Mobile hot air generator and method for operating the same
Publication Date: 2020.06.17 LASCO HEUTECHN
  • EP3312522B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3312522B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3312522B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention is based on a method for operating a mobile hot air generator (2), in which solid fuel is burned in a combustion chamber (4) and a cooling air fan (24) blows ambient air through an inlet opening (26) of an outer housing (12) of the hot air generator (2). into the interior of the housing and through an outlet opening (28) back out of the outer housing (12) and thereby generates an overpressure inside the outer housing (12). In order to achieve reliable operation, it is proposed that the cooling air fan (24) is stopped and a flap (36, 54) of a ventilation unit (30) in the outer housing (12) moves into its open position due to its inherent potential energy.