Systems and Methods for a Conditioned Air Vestibule
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vestibules and doorway areas between differing conditioned air zones experience unwanted frost and ice buildup due to air infiltration, posing hazards and increasing energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A conditioned air vestibule system with a blower and airflow assembly that includes an exhaust panel with increasing fluid communication capacity from top to bottom, providing heated air to minimize ice and frost formation by creating a uniform airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vestibule is used as an intermediate passageway between warm and cold zones, then air exchange between zones occurs naturally, but frost and ice buildup occurs on surfaces and floors
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust panel incorporates multiple exhaust ports with varying sizes positioned at different heights, creating localized airflow zones with different characteristics. Larger ports at the bottom generate stronger upward airflow to counteract cold air infiltration and prevent floor ice formation, while smaller ports at the top manage warmer air exchange to prevent frost on upper surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of air flow by using a blower to generate forced airflow through the exhaust ports. The varying port sizes create a vertical gradient in airflow velocity and volume, with higher velocity at the bottom to prevent ice and reduced velocity at the top to allow natural convection, thereby preventing frost buildup at different locations.
2Speed
If cold air infiltrates the warm zone near the bottom of the passageway, then natural convection occurs, but ice forms at the floor of the passageway
Solution Approach 1:
The system counteracts the downward movement of cold air (analogous to weight) by generating upward airflow through the bottom exhaust ports. The blower creates a counter-flow that opposes the natural infiltration of cold air, preventing it from reaching the floor and forming ice, while maintaining the beneficial natural convection pattern in the upper portions of the vestibule.
3Ease of operation
If warmer humid air permeates the cold zone near the top of the passageway, then air exchange occurs, but frost and ice crystals form on cooler surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust panel is segmented into multiple ports of different sizes arranged vertically. This segmentation allows different portions of the air exchange process to be managed independently - upper ports handle the warmer humid air infiltration with smaller openings to reduce moisture transfer, while lower ports handle cold air with larger openings to prevent ice formation, thereby preventing frost and ice crystal formation on cooler surfaces.
4Reliability
If ice buildup occurs on walls and refrigerator coils, then refrigeration system must work harder, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by preventing ice buildup before it occurs. The exhaust ports continuously manage air exchange and temperature distribution in the vestibule, keeping surfaces above freezing temperatures and preventing frost and ice crystal formation on walls and refrigerator coils, thereby maintaining refrigeration system efficiency and avoiding increased energy consumption.
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 system effectively reduces frost and ice buildup, enhancing safety and reducing energy expenditure by maintaining a controlled environment and preventing ice formation hazards.
Implementation Method 1
A conditioned air vestibule can include a blower and an airflow assembly. The airflow assembly can include an exhaust panel with a plurality of exhaust ports. The plurality of exhaust ports can be in fluid communication with an interior of the vestibule and can increase in flow capacity (e.g., greater density and/or increased size) along the length of the exhaust panel from proximate the top of the frame toward a bottom of the frame.
Implementation Method 2
it may be useful to supply a dispersion of warm air (e.g., above the freezing temperature of water) within the vestibule or passageway, with increased airflow near the base of the vestibule or the ground of the passageway, to eliminate ice and reduce slipping hazards
Implementation Method 3
efficiently condition air within a vestibule or passageway that extends between cold and warm zones to minimize or eliminate frost and ice buildup within or adjacent to the vestibule or passageway
Data Source
AI summary
A conditioned air vestibule can be positioned between a first zone and a second zone. The conditioned air vestibule can include a frame having first and second lateral side walls, a header positioned at the top of the frame, a blower, and an air flow assembly. The air flow assembly can include an exhaust panel having a plurality of exhaust ports. The plurality of exhaust ports can be in fluid communication with an interior of the frame and can provide a variable flow capacity that increases along a height of the exhaust panel from a top of the frame toward a bottom of the frame.