Ventilation cabinet for a smoke-removal installation comprising an adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smoke extraction installations in buildings often deviate from calculated airflow standards due to unforeseen obstacles and tightness issues, leading to potential safety risks and operational challenges, such as excessive pressure or insufficient flow rates, which require time-consuming modifications to the ventilation circuit.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation box with a movable adjustment shutter that can be adjusted continuously during operation to precisely match the required airflow rate without special tools or equipment, allowing for quick and efficient adjustments to ensure compliance with standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the airflow rate is increased to meet safety standards with leakage allowances, then smoke extraction safety is improved, but excessive pressure exceeds 80Pa preventing door opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke extraction safetyVSAvoidexcessive pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the air inlet passage adjustable through a movable shutter or adjustable grille. This allows the system to dynamically adapt the airflow rate after installation, enabling operators to reduce airflow and pressure when the initially calculated high flow rate (with 20% leakage allowance) proves excessive in practice. The adjustable mechanism transforms a static system into a dynamic one that can respond to actual operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the airflow rate is reduced to prevent excessive pressure, then door opening capability is improved, but smoke extraction safety may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor opening capabilityVSAvoidsmoke extraction safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable air inlet passage enables dynamic balancing between safety and operational requirements. The system can be set to high airflow for safety during smoke extraction events, then adjusted to lower airflow during normal operation to maintain door opening capability. This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to operate at different points on the safety-operational performance curve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of airflow rate by providing an adjustable air inlet passage. This allows the operator to modify the cross-sectional area of the air inlet, thereby changing the airflow rate and corresponding pressure levels. By adjusting this parameter, the system can transition between safety-oriented high-flow mode and operation-oriented low-flow mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the ventilation circuit is modified to adjust airflow rate, then airflow precision is improved, but installation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow rate precisionVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-equipping the ventilation system with an adjustable air inlet passage during manufacturing. This adjustment mechanism is installed and ready for use before the system is commissioned, eliminating the need for complex retrofits or modifications after installation. The preliminary inclusion of the adjustment mechanism saves significant time and reduces complexity compared to post-installation modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By incorporating a simple adjustable shutter or grille at the air inlet, the system achieves airflow precision through a low-complexity dynamic adjustment mechanism rather than complex circuit modifications. This approach allows quick adjustment of airflow rates without requiring extensive changes to the ventilation ductwork or fan system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables rapid and precise adjustment of airflow rates during smoke extraction or fresh air intake, ensuring safety compliance and preventing operational issues like excessive pressure or insufficient flow, thereby facilitating quicker system approvals and reducing the need for extensive modifications.

Implementation Method 1

the passage section of the inlet of air from the air collection compartment can be continuously adjusted by moving the movable adjustment shutter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow rate adjustment through movable shutter:

Data Source

PatentEP3364120B1Ventilation cabinet for a smoke-removal installation comprising an adjustment
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 ALDES AERAULIQUE
  • EP3364120B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The subject of the invention is a ventilation box for a smoke extraction installation of a building, comprising a collection compartment (4) for air extracted from the building or for outside air having an air inlet (6), and compartments (8, 14) containing a turbine (10) as well as a motorization (16) driving this turbine (10), characterized in that the air inlet (6) of the collection compartment (4) comprises a mobile flap (20) for adjusting its air passage section.