Heat-Exchange Ventilator Fan Layout for Reduced Apparatus Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat-exchange type ventilation apparatuses are increased in size due to the vertical placement of air supplying and discharging fans, leading to space inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus places air supplying and discharging fans next to each other in the stacking direction of the heat exchanger, reducing the overall height by optimizing the layout and using a heat exchanger with paper-based partition and spacing members for efficient heat exchange and reduced material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If air supplying fan and air discharging fan are placed one above the other, then the structure is simple, but the apparatus is increased in size in the height direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical stacking (one-dimensional arrangement in height direction) to horizontal placement (two-dimensional arrangement in plan view). The air supplying fan and air discharging fan are positioned adjacent to each other in the stacking direction of the heat exchanger, converting the spatial arrangement from vertical to horizontal, thereby reducing apparatus height while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Length of stationary object
If fans are placed horizontally next to each other, then apparatus height is reduced, but air path configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the air paths of both fans through the heat exchanger structure. The heat exchanger serves as a common component that both air paths pass through, with the air supplying fan introducing air into one end and the air discharging fan extracting air from the other end. This merging approach simplifies the overall air path configuration despite the horizontal fan arrangement.
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 configuration allows for a significant reduction in the apparatus's height while maintaining effective ventilation and heat exchange efficiency, with improved airtightness and reduced power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger (2) placed at an intersection portion of the supply air path and the discharge air path in the housing (1) and that allows heat exchange between a supply airflow and a discharge airflow
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat-exchange type ventilation apparatus includes: a main body (1) in which a supply air path and a discharge air path are formed; a heat exchanger (2) including a plurality of partition members (21a) stacked with spacing therebetween; an air supplying fan (3) placed in the supply air path on one side of the heat exchanger (2); and an air discharging fan (4) placed in the discharge air path on the one side of the heat exchanger (2). The air supplying fan and the air discharging fan are placed next to each other in a stacking direction of the partition members (21a) such that inlet ports (4a) are oriented in opposite directions to each other and outlet ports (3b, 4b) are oriented in an identical direction.