Thermoelectric Heat Exchanger Layout for Low-Resistance Dehumidification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermoelectric dehumidifiers face reduced dehumidification efficiency due to increased air flow and flow path resistance, leading to higher power consumption and noise, when attempting to enhance air flow strength.

Innovation Solution

A heat conversion device with a thermoelectric module where the heat absorption and heat emission modules are arranged in a horizontal direction, minimizing flow path resistance and maintaining desired air volume and velocity, thereby maximizing heat conversion efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the flow of air is increased to improve dehumidification efficiency, then dehumidification performance is improved, but flow path resistance increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedehumidification efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a vertical arrangement (heat absorption part above heat emission part) to a horizontal arrangement where the heat emission part is positioned at the lower side of the heat absorption part in the air flow direction. This dimensional change optimizes the air flow path, reducing resistance while maintaining effective heat exchange, thereby improving dehumidification efficiency without increasing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the flow of air is increased to improve dehumidification efficiency, then dehumidification performance is improved, but noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedehumidification efficiencyVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By repositioning the heat emission part to the lower side of the heat absorption part in the air flow direction, the patent creates a more efficient horizontal heat exchange path. This reduces the required air flow velocity to achieve the same dehumidification effect, thereby lowering noise generation from high-velocity air movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of moving object

If the heat absorption part is arranged above the heat emission part in a vertical direction, then the structure is compact, but flow path resistance increases and heat conversion efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidheat conversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the vertical arrangement by positioning the heat emission part at the lower side of the heat absorption part in the air flow direction, creating an optimized horizontal heat exchange configuration. This maintains structural compactness while significantly reducing flow path resistance and improving heat conversion efficiency through more effective thermal coupling between the modules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 device achieves high heat conversion efficiency with low power consumption by reducing flow path resistance and optimizing air flow, ensuring effective dehumidification and drying without increasing noise or power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

When a temperature difference is provided between the materials of this PN junction pair, electric power is generated by the Seebeck effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSeebeck effect: Seebeck Effect

Implementation Method 2

the thermoelectric element may be used as a temperature controlling device by the Peltier effect in which one material of the PN junction pair is cooled and the other material is heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeltier effect: Peltier Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2908356B1Heat conversion device
Publication Date: 2016.10.26 LG INNOTEK CO LTD
  • EP2908356B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2908356B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)
  • EP2908356B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a heat conversion device including a thermoelectric element, the heat conversion device capable of implementing a heat conversion function of high efficiency in spite of low power consumption by disposing a heat absorption module and a heat emission module in a horizontal direction in a structure of a heat exchange device to which a thermoelectric module (100) is applied, and by implementing a heat conversion effect for air while maintaining a desired air volume and air velocity without flow path resistance.