Ventilation device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ventilation systems face challenges in maintaining constant indoor humidity due to excessive humidification operations, changes in outdoor humidity affecting indoor conditions, and limitations in air conditioning coil capacity, leading to discomfort and inefficiency in achieving a comfortable humidity level.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation device equipped with an air-supply blower, total heat exchanger, temperature regulating coil, and humidifying element, controlled by a unit that adjusts the heating capacity based on indoor and outdoor humidity and temperature readings to maintain optimal indoor humidity levels, switching between humidifying modes to ensure stability and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If rapidly-humidifying operation is performed for a set period time, then humidity increases quickly, but unnecessary humidification continues even when indoor humidity reaches set value causing humidity to drastically vary

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidification speedVSAvoidhumidity stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically adjusts the humidification operation mode based on real-time humidity conditions. It transitions from rapid humidification mode to maintenance mode when the target humidity is reached, and switches to stop mode when humidity exceeds the upper threshold, preventing over-humidification and maintaining stable indoor humidity levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors indoor humidity levels and uses this feedback to control the humidification operation. When humidity reaches the target value, the control device receives feedback and adjusts the operation accordingly, preventing unnecessary humidification and maintaining humidity within the desired range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If humidification amount is determined based on indoor temperature and humidity, then humidification is performed according to set mode, but outdoor humidity changes cause indoor humidity to vary making it difficult to maintain constant humidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehumidification control flexibilityVSAvoidindoor humidity constancy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors indoor humidity levels and adjusts the humidification operation based on real-time feedback. When outdoor humidity changes affect indoor conditions, the system detects the humidity level and compensates by adjusting or stopping humidification to maintain constant indoor humidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the humidification strategy based on real-time indoor humidity measurements rather than relying solely on predetermined modes. This allows the system to adapt to outdoor humidity changes while maintaining stable indoor conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If air conditioning coil capacity is limited based on outside-air temperature and humidity, then coil is protected from overload, but considerable time is required to bring room into comfortable humidity state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair conditioning coil protectionVSAvoidtime to reach comfortable humidity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically adjusts the humidification operation based on real-time indoor humidity levels. When the room requires humidification, the system operates at full capacity to quickly reach the target humidity, then transitions to maintenance or stop mode, reducing the time to achieve comfortable conditions while still protecting the coil through continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary humidification at higher capacity when the room is far from the target humidity level, then reduces operation as the target approaches. This allows the system to quickly bring the room into the comfortable humidity range while avoiding coil overload through continuous monitoring and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 device effectively stabilizes indoor humidity by supplying optimal humidification, reducing fluctuations and improving comfort by dynamically adjusting the humidification capacity based on real-time environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a total heat exchanger (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

an air conditioning coil that heats the air to be supplied

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3165843B1Ventilation device
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3165843B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3165843B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3165843B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A ventilation device (23) includes a temperature regulating coil (5) that is capable of changing the heating capacity at multiple stages, and that heats a supplied-air flow after having undergone total heat exchange by a total heat exchanger (4), a humidifying element (6) that humidifies a supplied-air flow heated by the temperature regulating coil (5), a target indoor-humidity storage unit (13) that stores therein a target indoor humidity that is a target value of the indoor-air humidity, and a control unit (14) that decides the heating capacity of the temperature regulating coil (5), such that the humidity of the supplied-air flow becomes the target indoor humidity, based on measurement values of an outside-air temperature sensor (11) and an outside-air humidity sensor (12) when the target indoor humidity is higher than an actual measurement value of the indoor-air humidity measured by an indoor humidity sensor (18).