Ventilator Gas Flow Guide with Open Channel for Clean Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas flow guide devices in ventilators suffer from contamination and clogging issues, leading to inaccurate measurements and increased maintenance costs due to the need for frequent replacement of calming grids, which can be contaminated by dirt, pollen, dust, and germs, and are difficult to disinfect effectively.
Innovation Solution
A gas flow guide device with a central, open channel section and radially arranged guide elements that reduce the likelihood of blockages and facilitate cleaning, featuring a design where guide elements are interchangeable and made from materials resistant to ozone and hydrogen peroxide, allowing for easy assembly, disassembly, and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a calming grid is installed at the inlet of the volume flow measuring device, then the volume flow measurement accuracy is improved, but the grid becomes contaminated by dirt, pollen, dust, and germs over time, disrupting airflow and distorting measurement results
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the calming grid (contamination accumulation) is extracted and eliminated by replacing it with a contour element that performs the flow-smoothing function without creating contamination traps. The contour element at the inlet has a shape that guides flow smoothly without the grid structure that collects particles and germs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a grid structure that creates contamination problems, the invention inverts the approach by using an open contour element that achieves flow smoothing through its external shape rather than internal grid structure, thereby eliminating the contamination accumulation issue.
2Measurement precision
If calming grids are frequently replaced to maintain clean airflow, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but maintenance costs and device downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The calming grid component that requires frequent replacement is extracted and replaced with a contamination-resistant contour element design that eliminates the need for frequent maintenance while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention moves away from using disposable or frequently replaceable calming grids toward a durable contour element design that maintains performance over extended periods, reducing replacement frequency and associated downtime.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If formaldehyde is used for disinfection of the calming grid, then germs are eliminated, but the foam components absorb formaldehyde requiring long desorption times before reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic foam components that absorb formaldehyde are extracted from the airflow path or replaced with materials that do not absorb disinfectants, eliminating the desorption time requirement while maintaining disinfection effectiveness.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrogen peroxide or ozone is used for disinfection, then some germ elimination is achieved, but adequate disinfection is not always possible and requires considerable effort, and the components must be made of materials resistant to these substances
Solution Approach 1:
The complex material resistance requirements are extracted and simplified by selecting materials from the outset that are inherently easy to disinfect and do not require special resistance properties, reducing design complexity while maintaining disinfection capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A gas flow guiding device (2) for guiding a gas flow (G) has an annular body (10) designed to guide the gas flow and extending along an axial axis (A) with an annular body length (L) from a first annular body end (11) to a second annular body end (12), wherein the annular body has a first through-opening (11a) at the first annular body end and a second through-opening (12a) at the second annular body end, between which an annular channel (13) arranged within the annular body extends, wherein an inner shell (14) of the annular body limits the annular channel starting from the axial axis in a radial direction (r) along the axial axis.A guide unit (20) is arranged within the annular channel for guiding the gas flow through the annular body, the guide unit comprising at least one first guide element (21, 23), the at least one first guide element extending along the axial axis with a first guide element length (L1, L1', L1") from a first guide element end (21a) to a second guide element end (21b), extending in the radial direction with a first guide element height (H1, H1', H1") from a first guide element foot (F1) to a first guide element tip (S1, S1', S1"), and having a first guide element thickness (D1, D1', D1") in the circumferential direction (U).