Two-Stage Water Atomization for Pump-Free Air Humidification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning appliances using water pumps are prone to interruptions due to abrasive particles and can develop bacterial and fungal growth, leading to contamination and inefficiency, especially in dry regions where humidity is low.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning appliance that directly captures water from the supply network and atomizes it into a mist without a water pump, using an electric motor and atomizer components to create an ultrafine mist for improved thermal exchange and moisture, eliminating the need for a reservoir and reducing contamination risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a water pump is used to deliver water from reservoir to fan, then water can be atomized and spread in the room, but the pump is prone to interruptions due to abrasive particles and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the water pump from the system entirely. Instead of using a pump to deliver water from the reservoir to the fan, the system uses gravity and capillary action through wick material to transport water. This extraction of the problematic pump component eliminates the reliability issue while maintaining water delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where the wick material automatically draws water from the reservoir through capillary action without requiring external power or mechanical pumping. The water is delivered to the fan area where it evaporates, creating a self-sustaining water delivery system that avoids pump failures.
2Quantity of substance
If a water reservoir is used to store water for atomization, then water supply is maintained, but bacterial and fungal growth occurs leading to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the traditional water reservoir by using an open water source such as a bowl or container placed directly in the air stream. This extraction of the enclosed reservoir prevents the stagnant water conditions that promote bacterial and fungal growth, while still maintaining adequate water supply for atomization through direct exposure to air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses air flow dynamics to continuously move water from the open source through the atomization area. The pneumatic action of the fan creates a continuous water cycle where water is drawn, atomized, and replenished without stagnation, preventing microbial contamination while maintaining water supply.
3Temperature
If conventional air conditioning appliances are used in dry regions, then cooling is provided, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes evaporative cooling, which relies on the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor. As water evaporates from the atomized droplets in the air stream, it absorbs latent heat from the surrounding environment, providing effective cooling in dry regions without requiring high energy consumption associated with compression-based air conditioning systems.
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 enhances the efficiency and reliability of air conditioning by preventing pump failures and contamination, improving air quality and thermal exchange, while reducing energy consumption and maintaining a clean water cycle.
Implementation Method 1
In the first stage, water from a source is broken up into droplets. In the second stage, the droplets from the first stage are further broken up in to an ultra-fine mist.
Implementation Method 2
The ultrafine mist assists in the thermal exchange between object(s), plant(s), animal(s), and/or human(s) and the air.
Implementation Method 3
a set of channels that delivers water from the water source to the atomizer component, and delivers the portion of the water that is not atomized into mist back to the atomizer component
Data Source
AI summary
BUILDING FEATURE APPLIED IN AIR-CONDITIONING APPLIANCE, capable of enriching the air with atomized water droplets in two stages, where in a first moment the water sent directly from the water supply network is pre-atomized in an appliance; being then delivered to the main atomizer, which produces the final atomization, creating an ultrafine mist that facilitates the thermal exchange between the mist and the air. The air-conditioning appliance must be associated to a fan so as to spread this mist to the room.