Multi-function recovery ventilator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heat recovery ventilators and energy recovery ventilators face challenges in maximizing energy efficiency and adaptability to changing building environmental conditions, limiting their effectiveness in continuous operation and multifunctional configurations.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with crossing flowpaths, movable dampers, and recovery cores with barriers for thermal and moisture transfer, along with actuators and environmental sensors to dynamically adjust fluid flow paths based on threshold conditions, enabling adaptable operation and efficient energy recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If heat recovery ventilators use fixed flowpath configurations, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to changing building environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements movable dampers that can dynamically adjust the flowpath configuration between different chambers based on environmental conditions. The dampers transition from static to dynamic control, allowing the system to adapt between heat recovery mode, energy recovery mode, and ventilation mode according to temperature and humidity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a multi-functional recovery core that can perform multiple functions (heat recovery, energy recovery, and ventilation) within a single device. By integrating multiple functional capabilities into one system with reconfigurable flowpaths, the device achieves versatility without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
2Use of energy by moving object
If recovery ventilators operate in single mode, then operational simplicity is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different operational modes (heat recovery, energy recovery, ventilation) based on real-time environmental conditions monitored by sensors. This dynamic mode switching optimizes energy efficiency by selecting the most appropriate recovery mechanism for current conditions while using automated control to manage the complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates environmental sensors that provide feedback on temperature and humidity conditions, which are used by the control system to automatically adjust damper positions and select optimal operational modes. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain high energy efficiency through adaptive control without requiring complex manual operation.
3Productivity
If continuous operation is implemented, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the recovery system into separate functional chambers (first chamber and second chamber) that can be independently controlled and serviced. The movable dampers can isolate individual chambers, allowing one chamber to be serviced while the other continues to provide heat recovery or ventilation functions, thus maintaining continuous operation while enabling reliable maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to maintain continuous useful action through redundant chamber configuration. When one chamber requires servicing, the dampers redirect flow through the other chamber, ensuring that heat recovery or ventilation functions continue without interruption. This redundancy preserves both productivity and reliability.
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 configuration enhances the configurability and operability of recovery ventilation devices, allowing for continuous operation, improved control of building environmental conditions, and multifunctional energy recovery, heat recovery, and ventilation capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a first barrier configured to transfer at least one of water or thermal energy across the barrier
Implementation Method 2
a first barrier configured to transfer at least one of water or thermal energy across the barrier
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilator comprising a housing, a first flowpath extending from a first inlet to a first outlet and a second flowpath extending from a second inlet to a second outlet, wherein the housing comprises a partition defining a first chamber and a second chamber therein, and wherein the first flowpath extends through both the first and second chamber and the second flowpath extends through at least one of the first chamber or second chamber; a first movable damper disposed in the first flowpath and configured to apportion an amount of a first fluid flowing therein between the first chamber and the second chamber; and a first recovery core comprising a plurality of first passageways and a plurality of second passageways disposed in the first chamber such that the plurality of first passageways fluidly communication with the first flowpath and the plurality of second passageways fluidly communication with the second flowpath.