Vortex Suction Hood for Stable Long-Range Fume Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional suction hoods in kitchens have relatively low efficiency in capturing fumes from cooktops due to inefficient suction characteristics, as they draw in equal amounts of air from the surrounding environment, leading to reduced effectiveness in removing airborne grease, combustion products, smoke, odors, heat, and steam.
Innovation Solution
A suction hood with a vortex generator that creates a stable, cyclone-like air stream, which is enhanced by stabilizing means such as a diffuser or skirt to maintain its shape and direction, allowing for improved capture of fumes by rotating around an axis and tilting to reduce wall interference, and optionally connected to a duct system or recirculating with filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional suction hoods are used to capture fumes from cooktops, then the hood can remove airborne grease and combustion products, but the suction efficiency is low because the hood draws in equal amounts of air from the surrounding environment
Solution Approach 1:
The suction hood is divided into multiple functional zones: a central suction zone directly above the cooktop that captures rising fumes, and peripheral air intake zones that allow controlled mixing with surrounding air. This segmentation enables preferential capture of fumes while still incorporating some ambient air, improving extraction efficiency without requiring equal air intake from all directions
Solution Approach 2:
The hood creates a localized low-pressure zone directly above the cooktop surface where fumes are generated, rather than creating uniform suction across the entire hood structure. This local quality enhancement focuses the suction effect precisely where it is needed, increasing fume capture efficiency while reducing unnecessary air intake from distant surrounding areas
2Volume of moving object
If the vortex air stream is generated close to a wall, then the hood structure is compact, but the vortex stability is reduced due to wall interference
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex generator is designed with asymmetric blade positioning and angle variations to compensate for the asymmetric influence of the wall. By adjusting the blade angles and positions on the wall side versus the open side, the system maintains vortex stability even in compact configurations close to walls, counterbalancing the interference effects
Solution Approach 2:
The vortex generator incorporates adjustable components that allow dynamic modification of the vortex characteristics. The blade angles and positions can be adjusted to optimize vortex stability for different installation positions, whether close to walls or in open spaces, enabling the system to adapt to varying spatial constraints while maintaining performance
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 stable vortex air stream effectively pulls in fumes over a longer distance, reducing radial losses and maintaining stability, thus enhancing the suction efficiency and reducing the impact of surrounding air interference, leading to improved fume extraction and reduced operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a vortex generator (23, 33, 43, 53) which generates a vortex air stream (236, 336, 436, 536), wherein the vortex air stream comprises an at least substantially circular, cyclone, vortex and/or helix like air movement
Implementation Method 2
stabilizing means for improving the stability of the vortex air stream, wherein the stabilizing means tilts or can tilt the axis of the vortex generator (23, 33, 43, 53) and/or the vortex air stream (236, 336, 436, 536) with respect to a vertical direction
Implementation Method 3
the suction hood (2, 3, 4, 5) comprises a suction channel (21, 41, 51) and/or a diffuser (22, 42, 52), wherein preferably the diffuser is arranged above the vortex generator (23, 33, 43, 53) and/or between the suction channel and the vortex generator
Implementation Method 4
The fans or blowers create, when activated, an area of low pressure which takes effect spherically around the hood
Implementation Method 5
one or more grease filters
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~1d
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a suction hood (3, 4, 5), preferably vortex hood or tornado hood, a) comprising a vortex generator (33, 43, 53) for generating a vortex air stream (336, 436, 536), b) wherein the vortex air stream comprises an at least substantially circular, cyclone, vortex and/or helix like air movement, c) such that fumes or smoke can be pulled into the suction hood (3, 4, 5) by the vortex air stream, d) comprising stabilizing means (32, 433, 54) for improving the stability of the vortex air stream.