Pellet-Shaped Dehumidification Elements to Reduce Cracking and Peeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dehumidifiers with hygroscopic materials in a film shape face the risk of cracking and reduced moisture absorption performance due to volume changes during repeated moisture absorption and desorption, leading to potential peeling off from the heat exchange surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing dehumidifiers with dehumidification elements in a pellet shape, made from hygroscopic materials and a binder, arranged in a dotted pattern on the heat exchange fins to minimize interference and stress, ensuring stable moisture absorption performance over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hygroscopic material is formed in a film shape covering the entire heat exchange surface, then moisture absorption performance is improved, but the material is prone to cracking and peeling due to volume changes during repeated moisture absorption and desorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous film-shaped hygroscopic material into discrete pellet-shaped particles distributed on the heat exchange fins. This segmentation prevents the formation of large cracks by isolating volume change stresses to individual particles, while maintaining effective moisture absorption through the distributed arrangement of multiple particles across the heat exchange surface.
2Reliability
If hygroscopic material particles are densely packed to maximize moisture absorption, then moisture absorption capacity increases, but stress and interference between particles increase leading to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the local distribution density of pellet-shaped hygroscopic particles on the heat exchange fins. By controlling the arrangement to achieve a dotted pattern with appropriate spacing, the invention balances moisture absorption capacity (requiring high density) with stress reduction (requiring spacing between particles), allowing each particle to undergo volume changes independently without excessive inter-particle stress.
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 dehumidification elements maintain stable moisture absorption performance without cracking, even with repeated cycles, by reducing interference and stress through the pellet shape and voids between elements, ensuring long-term effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a hygroscopic material that adsorbs and desorbs moisture in air to control humidity
Implementation Method 2
the binder being formed to bind the hygroscopic materials together
Data Source
AI summary
Dehumidification elements are arranged on a surface of a fin included in a heat exchange member such that the dehumidification elements are dotted, and are fixed to the surface of the fin. The dehumidification elements each includes: a plurality of hygroscopic materials having a fine particle shape or a fine fiber shape; and a binder formed to bind the plurality of hygroscopic materials together. The dehumidification element is configured such that a mixture of the plurality of hygroscopic materials and the binder is formed in the shape of a pellet.