Sink Basin Vent Ring Design to Prevent Hand Dryer Air Blow-Back
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sink systems with integrated hand dryers face issues where the high-pressure air stream from the hand dryer deflects out of the sink basin, causing inconvenience to users and splashing water, due to the design of the sink basin and placement of hand dryer outlets.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sink system with a vent ring and vent lip that directs the high-velocity air stream away from the user by creating a lower pressure zone, allowing the air to escape beneath the sink deck rather than deflecting back towards the user, and incorporating an air recirculation system that channels air through a plenum cavity for efficient reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the hand dryer directs forced air into the sink basin, then the air can be recirculated through the vent system, but the high velocity air deflects off the sink basin surface and blows back towards the user causing discomfort and water splashing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing air to exit the sink basin directly towards the user, the vent ring inverts the flow path by directing air through the sink deck and out underneath the deck. This reverses the harmful blow-back effect while maintaining recirculation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent ring acts as an intermediary component between the sink basin and the external environment. It provides a controlled path for air to escape through the sink deck, mediating the flow to prevent direct blow-back to the user while enabling efficient recirculation.
2Loss of energy
If the hand dryer outlet is positioned to direct air into the sink basin, then air recirculation is enabled, but residual water on the sink basin surface is blown out towards the user causing inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The vent ring inverts the air flow direction by routing it through the sink deck rather than allowing it to escape from the basin surface. This prevents residual water from being blown towards the user while maintaining air recirculation for energy efficiency.
3Productivity
If the sink basin is designed with a parabolic or hemispherical shape, then water drainage is improved, but the air flow vector results in air deflecting back out of the basin with sufficient energy to cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The vent ring serves as an intermediary that intercepts the air flow before it can deflect off the parabolic or hemispherical basin surface. It provides an alternative escape path through the sink deck, eliminating the harmful deflection while preserving the effective water drainage geometry of the basin.
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 design effectively prevents air and water from splashing back onto the user, improving user comfort and reducing air leakage, while also enhancing the efficiency of the air flow path by recirculating air for reuse in the hand drying process.
Implementation Method 1
directs the high-velocity air stream away from the user by creating a lower pressure zone
Implementation Method 2
incorporating an air recirculation system that channels air through a plenum cavity for efficient reuse
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment relates to a sink system having an air recirculating mechanism for exhausted hand dryer air. The sink system includes a sink deck having a sink opening and an outer shell. The sink deck being separated from a sink basin region of a sink basin by a vent ring. A sink basin defines a sink basin region and a plenum region. The plenum region is separated from the sink basin region by the vent ring. A plenum cavity is formed between an internal surface of the outer shall and the plenum region. The vent ring includes a vent with an associated opening. The opening is exposed to the sink basin region and to an area underneath the sink deck, the opening allowing a flow of air therethrough. A dryer is configured to direct forced air through a dryer exhaust port into the sink basin region of the sink basin.