Ventilator Rotor Collision Avoidance Using Sensor-Based Speed Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Ventilators face efficiency reduction and noise issues due to protective screens that throttle airflow and cause turbulence, while existing safety measures are inadequate for preventing collisions with rotor blades, especially in scenarios involving fast-moving objects like birds.

Innovation Solution

A ventilator system equipped with a sensor device to detect approaching objects and a control device that adjusts the rotor's angular position or speed to avoid collisions, utilizing braking devices, pyrotechnically inflatable catch cushions, and stopping devices to prevent contact with rotor blades.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective screen is installed to prevent collisions with rotor blades, then safety is improved, but airflow is throttled causing efficiency reduction and noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidefficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor device detects objects approaching the rotor blades in advance, and the control device adjusts the rotor's angular position or rotational speed before a collision can occur. This preliminary detection and adjustment eliminates the need for protective screens while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical protective screen is replaced by an active control system consisting of a sensor device for object detection and a control device that adjusts rotor parameters. This substitution maintains safety without the airflow throttling effects of physical screens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a protective screen is installed to prevent collisions with rotor blades, then safety is improved, but turbulence and noise emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor device detects objects approaching the rotor blades in advance, and the control device adjusts the rotor's angular position or rotational speed before a collision can occur. This preliminary detection and adjustment eliminates the need for protective screens while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical protective screen is replaced by an active control system consisting of a sensor device for object detection and a control device that adjusts rotor parameters. This substitution maintains safety without the airflow turbulence and noise generated by physical screens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the rotor speed is adjusted to avoid collision with fast-moving objects, then collision prevention is improved, but response time may be insufficient for very fast objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor device detects objects approaching the rotor blades in advance, allowing the control device to adjust rotor parameters before collision becomes imminent. This advance detection provides sufficient response time even for fast-moving objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor device continuously monitors the environment for approaching objects and provides real-time feedback to the control device, which adjusts rotor speed or position accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables rapid response to fast-moving objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 system effectively prevents collisions with rotor blades by accurately detecting objects and adjusting the rotor's speed or position, ensuring safe operation without the need for axial protective screens, thereby maintaining efficiency and reducing noise.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor device can detect an object independently of ambient conditions, such as darkness and fog. The sensor device also may convert optical and/or acoustical signals into machine-readable analog or digital signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical signal detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The sensor device also may convert optical and/or acoustical signals into machine-readable analog or digital signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustical signal detection: Acoustic Radiation Pressure

Implementation Method 3

The control device adjusts an angular position or rotational speed of the rotor in such a way that the object can continue to move along its trajectory without colliding with one of the rotor blades

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Data Source

PatentUS11768001B2Ventilator with a sensor device to avoid a collision between an object with the rotor

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 EBM PAPST MULFINGEN GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A ventilator having a rotor is mounted in a rotatable manner around an axis of rotation. The rotor includes a plurality of blade-like rotor blades arranged around the axis of rotation. The ventilator includes a sensor device for detecting an object approaching one of the plurality of rotor blades, and a control device that receives signals from the sensor device. The control device extrapolates a trajectory of the object from a position x and a speed v of the object, and adjusts an angular position or rotational speed n of the rotor to allow the object to continue moving along its trajectory without colliding with one of the plurality of rotor blades.