Self-Balancing Air Flow Valve for Multi-Storey Ventilation Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ventilation systems face inconsistencies in air flow due to varying air pressure and distance from mechanical propellers, leading to sub-optimal air turnover in multi-storey buildings, where upper floors receive excessive airflow while lower floors are under-ventilated.
Innovation Solution
A variable air flow valve with a movable member, such as a flap, that adjusts its position based on airflow strength, allowing greater access to the fluid flow opening during low airflow and restricting it during high airflow, ensuring balanced airflow across different regions of a building.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single mechanical propeller extracts air from multi-storey building, then air extraction is achieved, but air flow distribution becomes unbalanced with upper floors receiving excessive airflow while lower floors are under-ventilated
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented by installing individual flow control valves in each floor's duct branch. These valves divide the single extraction system into multiple controllable segments, allowing independent adjustment of air flow to each floor. This segmentation enables balanced air distribution while maintaining overall extraction efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Each floor's duct is equipped with a variable air flow valve that provides local control over air extraction. The valves have different flow coefficients selected based on each floor's specific requirements and distance from the extractor, creating locally optimized air flow characteristics throughout the system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ducting is positioned at greater vertical distance from mechanical propellers, then installation flexibility is improved, but air flow volume decreases leading to sub-optimal ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The system compensates for variations in air flow volume caused by different vertical distances by adjusting the flow coefficient parameter of the valves. Valves closer to the extractor have lower flow coefficients to reduce their air intake, while valves farther away have higher flow coefficients to maintain adequate air turnover, thereby balancing the system despite installation flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If variable air flow valves are installed to balance air distribution, then air flow uniformity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable air flow valves are designed to be self-regulating, using the natural air pressure differential created by the mechanical extractor to automatically adjust air flow. The valves require no external power source, control systems, or complex actuation mechanisms, thereby achieving air flow uniformity without significantly increasing system complexity.
4Ease of operation
If valves are positioned to restrict air flow from upper floors, then air extraction balance is improved, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valves are designed with dynamic flow characteristics that adapt to system conditions. The valve openings and flow paths are configured to minimize turbulence and pressure loss while providing the necessary flow restriction. The dynamic design allows air to flow smoothly through the valves at the restricted rates required for balance, reducing energy loss compared to static restriction methods.
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 valve automatically adjusts airflow volume to balance ventilation across a building, ensuring adequate air turnover in under-ventilated areas and reducing unnecessary airflow in over-ventilated regions, thereby enhancing the overall ventilation system consistency.
Implementation Method 1
the movable member is biased away from the inhibitory position. Conveniently the movable member is biased away from the valve seat by gravity when there is no or relatively low air-flow against it
Implementation Method 2
when there is sufficiently fast/strong air flow the movable member will close (such that it moves closer to the opening, e.g. becomes seated in the body of the valve), and so the passage of air across the valve will be restricted
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an air flow valve that is a self-balancing air flow regulator, and so can provide different airflows at different ports on a duct system over a variable pressure range. Accordingly, having the valves on multiple air duct ports helps balance whole ventilation systems. The invention also provides ducting assemblies and ventilation systems using valves of the invention.