Ventilation Device with Movable Flaps for Poultry Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation systems in poultry breeding buildings face challenges in maintaining temperature homogeneity and efficiency, leading to excessive energy costs and potential animal mortality due to independent management of ventilation and heating, which requires precise adjustments and is difficult to adapt to different phases of poultry growth.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation device with a modular design incorporating a heat exchanger and heating means, featuring movable flaps to direct air flows through different circuits for heat exchange, heating, or extraction, allowing for flexible operation based on temperature and air renewal needs, and including a filter to prevent dust accumulation and indirect combustion heating for energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If ventilation and heating are managed independently through separate systems, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall energy consumption increases and temperature homogeneity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidtemperature homogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines ventilation and heating functions into a single integrated device that processes air flows simultaneously. The device includes a heat exchanger block that recovers heat from extracted air and transfers it to incoming fresh air, while heating means (burner) provide additional heating when needed. This merging eliminates the need for separate ventilation and heating systems, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining temperature homogeneity through coordinated air flow management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers thermal energy from the air flow extracted from the building. The heat exchanger block captures heat from the warm extracted air and transfers it to the cold incoming fresh air, recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted. This recovery mechanism significantly reduces the energy required for heating incoming air, directly addressing the energy consumption issue while maintaining stable indoor temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Productivity

If air extraction fans are used to create depression for ventilation, then air renewal efficiency improves, but the complexity of maintaining temperature control increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair renewal efficiencyVSAvoidtemperature control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air extraction function with heat recovery and heating functions in a single integrated device. The extraction fan creates the necessary depression for ventilation while the heat exchanger block simultaneously recovers heat from the extracted air, and the heating means provide supplemental heating when required. This integration simplifies temperature control by coordinating all functions within one system rather than requiring separate control mechanisms for ventilation and heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of energy

If heat exchanger blocks are used to recover calories from extracted air, then energy efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the heat exchanger block into a ventilation device that also includes air extraction and heating functions. By combining these functions in one device, the patent reduces the need for separate components and control systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the addition of heat recovery capability. The integrated design allows the heat exchanger to work in conjunction with the extraction fan and heating means within a unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation device is designed to perform multiple functions: air extraction, heat recovery, and supplemental heating. This multi-functionality allows the device to adapt to different operational conditions and phases of poultry growth, providing energy efficiency through heat recovery while maintaining manageable complexity through a versatile, integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple air circuits are provided for different operations, then adaptability to different growth phases improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to growth phasesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates movable flaps that can be adjusted to direct air flows through different circuits based on operational requirements. During the endothermic phase, flaps direct air through heating circuits; during the exothermic phase, flaps redirect air through extraction circuits. This dynamic adjustability provides adaptability to different growth phases while keeping the device structure relatively simple by using movable components rather than completely separate systems for each function.

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

This solution simplifies atmosphere management, achieves temperature homogeneity, reduces energy consumption by up to 30% through optimized air circulation, and ensures comfort and well-being of poultry across different growth phases, while minimizing maintenance costs and ammonia levels.

Implementation Method 1

the heat exchanger block being capable of bringing a first air flow coming from the outside air intake into thermal contact with a second air flow coming from said inside air intake

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

indirect combustion heating for energy efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIndirect combustion heating: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP3769015B1Ventilation device for husbandry building, in particular poultry husbandry building, comprising a heat exchanger and air heating means
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 LEAD LEROY CONCEPT
  • EP3769015B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3769015B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3769015B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention concerns a ventilation device (10), intended to equip a husbandry building (90, 91), comprising a housing (1) and at least one heat-exchanger unit (4), the housing (1) being provided with an outside air intake (2), a heated air outlet (2a), an inside air intake (3) and a cooled air outlet (3a), said at least one heat-exchanger unit (4) being suitable for bringing a first air flow (A) originating from the outside air intake (2) into thermal contact with a second air flow (B) originating from said inside air intake (3). According to the invention, the ventilation device (10) further comprises an auxiliary air outlet (5) arranged on said housing (1), air heating means (8) and deflecting means capable of directing said second air flow (B) entering at said inside air intake (3): - through said at least one exchanger unit (4) to said cooled air outlet (3a) in a first air circuit (Cl), - through the heating means (8) to said heated air outlet (2a) in a second air circuit (C2), or - directly to said auxiliary air outlet (5) in a third air circuit (C3).