Passive Ventilation Heating Foil for Draft-Free Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive ventilation devices face challenges in maintaining airflow efficiency and user comfort, especially at low outside temperatures, as existing heating solutions can impede airflow and cause cold drafts, and are not easily retrofittable.
Innovation Solution
A passive ventilation device with a transversely oriented, flat heat-exchanging surface, such as a heating foil or plate, that minimizes airflow resistance and can be retrofitted, ensuring efficient airflow and comfort by heating incoming air without obstructing the passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating foil is placed on the ventilation passage, then the incoming air can be heated, but the grating becomes hot and may burn the user's hands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat-conducting plate as an intermediary between the heating foil and the grating. The heating foil is attached to the rear side of the plate, which directs the heat primarily into the ventilation passage rather than allowing it to transfer to the grating. This mediator structure enables heating functionality while preventing the harmful effect of hot grating surfaces that could burn users.
2Temperature
If a heating foil is fitted in the ventilation passage, then heating can be provided, but the free flow of air is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the heating foil on the rear side of a heat-conducting plate, which is integrated into the housing structure. This spatial arrangement allows the heating element to be placed in a dimension that does not obstruct the primary airflow path through the ventilation passage. The heat is transferred through the plate into the air stream without the foil itself blocking the flow, thus maintaining productivity while achieving the heating function.
3Productivity
If the ventilation passage is kept open for passive ventilation, then natural air flow is maintained, but cold drafts occur at low outside temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a heating system that pre-heats the incoming air through the ventilation passage using a heating foil attached to a heat-conducting plate. This preliminary heating action occurs before the cold air enters the interior space, thereby eliminating the harmful cold draft effect while maintaining the beneficial natural ventilation flow. The heating can be activated based on temperature conditions to provide this advance treatment to the incoming air.
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 solution maintains natural ventilation without cold drafts and allows for optional heating of incoming air, ensuring comfort and compliance with building regulations by minimizing airflow resistance and being easily integratable into existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially flat heating means (20) is provided with at least one heat-exchanging surface (19) which extends along the longitudinal direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A building (23) comprises a façade (2) and a passive ventilation system for passively supplying outside air to the building on account of a pressure difference between the exterior (17) and the interior (18) of the building, which ventilation system comprises a passage means (1, 26) which is provided in the façade and extends between said exterior and interior of the building and is configured such that it provides an air flow on account of said pressure difference. In order to prevent an unpleasant draught, a heating means (20, 20') is provided in the form of a sheet or plate made of electrically conductive material which heats the incoming air. A ventilation device (1) for use in such a building carries such a heating device (20).