Modular Air Conduit UV Chambers for Adaptive Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems face inefficiencies in airflow management and sterilization due to fixed configurations, leading to suboptimal process control, increased energy consumption, and limited flexibility in handling varying air conditions and microorganism elimination.
Innovation Solution
A modular air conditioning device with adjustable air conditioning modules and UV treatment chambers, allowing for dynamic control of airflow and UV radiation exposure, enabling optimal process control, energy efficiency, and flexible adaptation to changing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed configuration air conditioning system is used, then the system structure is simple, but the adaptability to varying air conditions and sterilization requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system is divided into multiple independent air conditioning modules that can be individually controlled. Each module processes a portion of the airflow, allowing the system to adapt to varying air conditions by adjusting the number and configuration of active modules based on real-time requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of air conditioning modules is increased to handle varying capacity requirements, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active air conditioning modules based on real-time airflow and sterilization requirements. The control means enables modules to be individually activated or deactivated, allowing the system to scale its capacity dynamically without requiring a permanently complex multi-module configuration.
3Reliability
If UV lamps operate continuously to ensure sterilization, then the sterilization effectiveness is maintained, but the UV lamp lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
UV lamps are operated periodically rather than continuously. The control means activates UV lamps in synchronization with air conditioning module operation, turning them on when airflow is present and turning them off when modules are inactive, thereby maintaining sterilization effectiveness while reducing cumulative operating hours and extending lamp lifespan.
4Productivity
If air flow rate is increased to meet higher capacity requirements, then the productivity improves, but the process control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow is divided into multiple parallel streams processed by individual air conditioning modules. Each module maintains precise control over its portion of the airflow, allowing the system to handle high total airflow capacity while each module operates within its optimal control range, preserving process control precision.
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 modular device ensures efficient airflow management and sterilization by maintaining processes within optimal ranges, reducing energy consumption, and extending UV lamp lifespan, while providing flexible and effective microorganism elimination across varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a UV treatment chamber which is received in this housing and through which the whole partial flow flows, in which UV treatment chamber a UV radiation source is accommodated for the purpose of exposing the partial flow to UV radiation in order to kill micro-organisms present in this partial flow
Data Source
AI summary
An auxiliary device is tended and adapted to be accommodated in an air conduit forming part of an air conditioning device, to which air conduit first flow components, such as a fan, are connected for the purpose of bringing about a main airflow through the air conduit such that the whole main airflow flows through the auxiliary device. The auxiliary device has an arrangement of a number of air conditioning modules which in an active state of the relevant air conditioning module, each allow passage of a partial flow of the airflow and together allow passage of the whole main flow. Control components adjust each of the air conditioning modules between an active state, in which passage of the relevant partial flow is allowed, and a passive state in which a partial flow substantially amounts to zero or flows in opposite direction.