Ventilation panel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation panels in electric vehicle charging stations face challenges in maintaining thermal performance, acoustic noise, and IP/IK ratings due to increased airflow requirements, while also needing to be cost-effective and provide EMI shielding.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation panel design featuring louver blades with a bent shape and adjustable rotation, supported by a louver support, which reduces airflow separation and pressure loss, and includes a modular filter arrangement for improved airflow management and protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air cooling is used to dissipate heat from high power density chargers, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but acoustic noise increases due to higher fan speed or number of fans required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal performanceVSAvoidacoustic noise
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the louver blades by introducing a bent shape with specific angle relationships (α1 < α2) between the leading edge portion and trailing edge portion relative to the normal direction. This parameter optimization improves airflow characteristics and reduces pressure losses, enabling effective cooling with lower fan speeds and thus reducing acoustic noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies curvature to the louver blade design by bending the blades along their length. The bent shape creates a gradual transition in airflow direction rather than abrupt changes, reducing flow separation and turbulence. This curved geometry allows for more efficient airflow management, improving cooling performance while reducing the power and noise of required fans.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If airflow velocity through the louver is increased to meet thermal performance requirements, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but pressure losses increase significantly impacting thermal performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow rateVSAvoidpressure losses
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the louver blades, specifically the bent shape with controlled angle variations (α1 < α2) between different portions of the blade. This parameter optimization reduces flow separation and minimizes pressure losses, allowing higher airflow rates to be achieved with reduced energy penalties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The bent shape of the louver blades anticipates and counteracts flow separation by gradually changing the flow direction along the blade length. The leading edge portion and trailing edge portion are designed with different angles to preemptively manage the airflow transition, preventing adverse pressure gradients that would cause flow separation and energy losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If ventilation panels are designed with protective features for IP and IK ratings, then protection against environmental factors is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIP/IK rating protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple protective functions into the louver blade structure itself. The bent shape design simultaneously provides mechanical strength for IK8 impact protection, weather resistance for IP ratings, and optimized airflow channels. By integrating these protective features into the basic louver structure rather than adding separate components, manufacturing complexity and cost are reduced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction by combining the louver blade structure with filter media. This composite design provides both protective functions (filtering, weather resistance, impact protection) and airflow management in a single integrated component, simplifying manufacturing and reducing overall system cost while maintaining required protection ratings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 design enhances airflow efficiency, reduces noise, maintains IP/IK ratings, and lowers production costs by simplifying installation and maintenance, while ensuring effective EMI shielding and thermal management.

Implementation Method 1

reduces airflow separation and pressure loss

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow separation: Flow Separation

Implementation Method 2

reduces airflow separation and pressure loss

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure drop: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentEP4601427A1Ventilation panel
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 ABB E-MOBILITY BV
  • EP4601427A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4601427A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4601427A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a ventilation panel (1) for a charging station, particularly an electric vehicle charging station, wherein the ventilation panel (1) comprises a louver support (50), and a plurality of louver blades (52) supported by the louver support (50), wherein the louver blades (52) have a sheet-like shape with a downstream trailing edge portion (56) and an upstream leading edge portion (54), wherein the louver blades (52) have a bent shape in a cross-sectional side view, wherein the louver blades (52) are supported such that the louver blades (52) define a louver plane (P) and a normal direction (N) being orthogonal to the louver plane (P), and that in the cross-sectional side view, the upstream leading edge portion (54) defines a smaller angle with respect to the normal direction (N) than the downstream trailing edge portion (56).