Ventilation device with bidirectionally operating fan
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air filters in ventilation devices become unevenly soiled, leading to inefficient use and increased maintenance costs, as they are typically used until they are completely clogged, rather than being cleaned or replaced at optimal intervals.
Innovation Solution
The air guiding device features a pivotable air filter unit that can be rotated to extend its cleaning interval by alternating the direction of air flow through it, allowing it to remain in use for twice as long before manual cleaning is necessary, and includes a system for automatic pivoting based on predefined angles and sensor inputs to optimize filter usage and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the air filter is used until completely clogged, then the maintenance frequency is reduced, but the filter performance deteriorates and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air filter unit is made rotatable to dynamically change its orientation relative to the airflow direction. By rotating the filter unit to different angular positions, the system can switch between using a soiled filter surface and a cleaner filter surface, thereby maintaining filter performance while extending the effective maintenance interval.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically rotates the air filter unit to alternate between different filter surfaces. This periodic action allows the filter to be used on both sides, effectively doubling the maintenance interval while keeping the filter performance consistent by always presenting a relatively clean surface to the airflow.
2Ease of manufacture
If the air filter is cleaned less frequently, then maintenance costs are reduced, but the flow resistance increases and energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable air filter unit allows dynamic switching between clean and soiled filter surfaces. This maintains low flow resistance and energy consumption over extended periods by always presenting a relatively clean surface to the airflow, thereby reducing maintenance frequency and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding or cleaning the entire filter at frequent intervals, the system recovers the cleaning interval by rotating to use the opposite, cleaner surface of the filter unit. This allows one surface to be in use while the other rests, effectively doubling the time between cleanings and reducing maintenance costs.
3Device complexity
If a single air filter is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cleaning interval cannot be extended
Solution Approach 1:
By making a single filter unit rotatable rather than using multiple static filters, the system extends the cleaning interval without significantly increasing complexity. The rotational mechanism allows one filter surface to be used while the other surface is in reserve, effectively doubling the cleaning interval with minimal additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds the dimension of rotation to a single filter unit, allowing it to present different surfaces to the airflow. This dimensional change (from static to rotatable) enables extended filter life without needing multiple filter elements, maintaining simplicity while achieving the goal of extended cleaning intervals.
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 solution extends the cleaning interval of air filters, reduces maintenance costs, and enhances energy efficiency by minimizing flow resistance and allowing for automatic and precise control of air filter operation, thereby improving the overall performance and longevity of the ventilation system.
Implementation Method 1
the bidirectionally operable fan changes its current direction of rotation after predetermined time intervals, in particular to use a heat exchanger arranged in the system more efficiently
Implementation Method 2
The pivotability of the air filter unit about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flow space according to the first alternative of the air guiding device according to the invention makes it possible, for example, to pivot the air filter unit after a predetermined point in time
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Air routing device for guiding an air flow for interior ventilation, which has an interior outlet, an exterior outlet, and a flow space that extends along a longitudinal axis from the interior outlet to the exterior outlet, and at least one air filter unit pivotably mounted about a pivot axis, and an actuator connected to the air filter unit for pivoting the air filter unit about the pivot axis, the pivot axis being arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the flow space or the pivot axis being arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flow space outside the flow space.