Ventilated Chair Air Distribution for Personalized Thermal Comfort
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Office chairs often have surface temperatures that increase due to ambient body heat, leading to discomfort and the need for personalized climate control, as traditional room cooling or heating may not meet individual temperature preferences.
Innovation Solution
An actively ventilated chair with multiple distribution layers and a monitoring module that uses sensors to adjust a fan's operation based on user vital signs and ambient conditions to maintain a specified temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the chair uses traditional passive materials, then the manufacturing cost is low and structure is simple, but the surface temperature increases due to body heat insulation leading to user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The chair is divided into multiple functional layers including a breathable backrest layer with channels, a cooling layer with phase change material, and a heating layer with heating elements. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently while working together to regulate temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The chair uses phase change material that changes its thermal properties at specific temperatures. When the user's body temperature rises, the phase change material absorbs heat and changes phase, dynamically adjusting the thermal parameters to maintain comfort without active control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the chair provides personalized climate control with sensors and active ventilation, then user comfort is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chair incorporates sensors that automatically detect user presence, body temperature, and environmental conditions. The system self-adjusts the cooling and heating elements without requiring user input, performing climate control autonomously based on sensor feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The chair uses a network of sensors to continuously monitor user physiological parameters and environmental conditions. This feedback is processed by a control system that adjusts the cooling and heating elements in real-time to maintain optimal comfort, creating a closed-loop control system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the chair uses phase change material for cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the weight and volume of the chair increase
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change material is applied locally in specific zones where heat accumulation occurs most, such as the backrest area直接接触用户身体的部位. This localized application provides cooling effectiveness where needed while minimizing the overall amount of material and associated weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The chair uses a combination of passive phase change cooling and active heating elements. The phase change material provides baseline cooling, while the heating elements can compensate when necessary, allowing the system to use less phase change material than would be required for complete temperature control.
4Manufacturing precision
If the chair integrates multiple layers and active components, then temperature control precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture and assembly decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The chair is constructed as modular assembly with distinct layers (breathable backrest layer, cooling layer, heating layer) that can be manufactured separately and assembled together. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and manufactured independently using appropriate processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling and heating layers are nested within the chair structure, with the breathable backrest layer forming the outer shell. This nested configuration allows multiple functional layers to be integrated compactly while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized interfaces.
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 chair effectively provides personalized cooling, enhancing user comfort by uniformly distributing air and adjusting airflow according to user preferences and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a fan positioned behind the first distribution layer and configured to blow air through the first distribution layer toward a user when the fan is activated
Implementation Method 2
a cooling layer positioned between the first distribution layer and the user and comprising a phase change material
Implementation Method 3
a heating element positioned between the second distribution layer and the user
Data Source
AI summary
An actively ventilated chair includes a first distribution layer, a second distribution layer, and a fan, wherein the first distribution layer includes a large aperture on a first side and a plurality of small apertures on the second side, the second distribution layer couples to second side first distribution layer, and the fan couples to the first side of the first distribution layer such that it covers the large aperture, enabling the fan to direct air through the large aperture, into the first distribution layer, through the plurality of small apertures, and through the second distribution layer.