Ventilation apparatus and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation apparatuses fail to adequately dehumidify outside air supplied to indoor spaces, leading to challenges in maintaining comfortable room temperature and humidity, and there is a risk of contamination accumulation in the total heat exchanger due to consumer unawareness of replacement needs.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation apparatus with a housing, blowers, dampers, and a processor that performs drying operations based on temperature differences between outside and room air to efficiently dry the total heat exchanger, using blowers and dampers to control airflow paths and include heat exchangers for dehumidification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If total heat exchanging is performed between outside air and room air through a total heat exchanger, then room temperature and humidity are adjusted, but outside air is insufficiently dehumidified and comfort room temperature and humidity cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is divided into multiple functional components: a total heat exchanger for initial heat exchange, a separate dehumidifier for dedicated dehumidification, and a heater for temperature adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the dehumidifier specifically addressing the insufficient dehumidification problem of the total heat exchanger.
Solution Approach 2:
A separate dehumidifier is introduced as an intermediary device between the total heat exchanger and the indoor space. This intermediary component specifically handles the dehumidification function that the total heat exchanger cannot adequately perform, thereby improving overall dehumidification effectiveness while maintaining the benefits of heat exchange.
2Reliability
If consumers replace the total heat exchanger, then contamination accumulation is prevented, but consumers cannot recognize the replacement need resulting in contamination accumulation and propagation of bacteria and mold
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a sensor that monitors contamination levels in the total heat exchanger and provides feedback to the control unit. When contamination reaches a threshold level, the control unit generates a replacement notification sent to the user's terminal device, enabling timely replacement and preventing contamination propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual inspection and decision-making process for heat exchanger replacement is replaced with an automated sensor-based monitoring system. The sensor detects contamination levels objectively, and the control unit automatically manages the replacement scheduling, eliminating reliance on consumer recognition and judgment.
3Productivity
If drying operation is performed by operating both blowers simultaneously, then drying efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blower operation mode is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature difference measurements. When the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air is large, only one blower operates to save energy. When the temperature difference is small, both blowers operate simultaneously to improve drying efficiency, optimizing the balance between energy consumption and drying performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the blowers based on the temperature difference parameter. By monitoring the temperature difference and adjusting the number of active blowers accordingly, the system adapts its energy consumption and drying efficiency to match environmental conditions.
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 apparatus effectively maintains indoor comfort by adjusting humidity and temperature, preventing contamination of the total heat exchanger through scheduled or user-initiated drying operations, ensuring efficient dehumidification and air quality.
Implementation Method 1
a total heat exchanger to perform heat exchange between the outside air and the room air
Implementation Method 2
a first blower connectable with the first outlet; a second blower connectable with the second outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation apparatus includes: a housing including a first inlet through which outside air is sucked, a second inlet through which room air is sucked, a first outlet through which air is supplied to an indoor space, and a second outlet through which air is discharged to an outdoor space; an outside temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature of the outside air; a room temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature of the room air; a total heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the outside air and the room air; a first blower communicating with the first outlet; a second blower communicating with the second outlet; and a processor to perform a drying operation for the total heat exchanger by operating at least one of the first blower or the second blower, based on a difference value between the first temperature and the second temperature.