Notched Heat Exchanger Frames for Airtight Air Passage Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat exchangers for ventilators face challenges in efficiently exchanging heat and moisture between outdoor and room air, with gaps in communication sections leading to air leakage and reduced airtightness.

Innovation Solution

The heat exchanger employs a multilayer structure with flat sheet partition members and spacing members, featuring notches and seals to block gaps between frames, ensuring effective communication between passages and enhancing airtightness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If frame members with communication openings are used to allow passage communication with outside, then air flow between passages is enabled, but gaps between frames cause air leakage and reduced airtightness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow communicationVSAvoidairtightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frame portion is segmented into communication sections (with openings) and partition walls (separating passages). The partition walls are further segmented with notches that are strategically positioned and sealed to maintain airtightness while enabling controlled communication where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Seals are introduced as intermediary elements that fill the gaps between frame portions and partition walls. These seals act as mediators that allow the frame structure to maintain both communication functionality and airtightness by blocking unintended air leakage paths while preserving designed flow channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If frame portions are provided along the periphery of partition members, then structural support is enhanced, but gaps between frames create air leakage paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidairtightness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frame portion is divided into functional segments: communication sections that provide structural support and enable air flow, and partition walls that separate passages. Notches are introduced as segmented features in the partition walls to accommodate seals while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Seals serve as intermediary elements inserted into notches of the partition walls. These seals maintain the structural continuity of the frame while blocking air leakage paths, thus resolving the contradiction between structural support and airtightness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If communication openings are open on the side surface of the heat exchanger, then passage-to-outside communication is achieved, but air leakage between passages occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassage communicationVSAvoidairtightness between passages

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frame portion is segmented into communication sections (with openings for outside communication) and partition walls (separating first and second passages). This segmentation allows communication openings to be provided without compromising the integrity of passage separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Seals are positioned in notches of the partition walls to block air leakage paths between passages. These seals act as intermediaries that allow communication openings to remain open for outside air exchange while preventing unintended air flow between the first and second passages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively blocks air flow between passages, improving the airtightness of the heat exchanger and enhancing its ability to exchange sensible and latent heat efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

causes outdoor air (supply air) supplied into a room and room air (exhaust air) exhausted out of the room to exchange heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

The seals cover surfaces of the first notches and surfaces second notches

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS12305934B2Heat exchanger and method for manufacturing heat exchanger

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A heat exchanger includes partition members, alternately stacked spacing members, and seals. The spacing members include first and second spacing members forming the first and second passages. The first and second spacing members each have a frame portion along a periphery of the partition members. The frame portion of the first and second spacing members have first and second communication sections having first and second communication openings allowing the first and second passages to communicate with outside of the frame portion, and first and second partition walls separating the first and second passages from the outside of the frame portion. The frame portions of the first and second spacing members further have first and second notches provided in portions of the first and second partition walls, and open on an outer side surface of the first and second partition walls. The seals cover surfaces of the first and second notches.