Wall feed-through for an internal heat pump assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wall ducts for heat pump systems inside buildings face challenges in providing adequate soundproofing and thermal insulation while ensuring simple installation, often requiring adjustment to fit different wall thicknesses and risking thermal bridges and animal intrusion.

Innovation Solution

A wall duct design featuring silencer links arranged parallel to the air passage direction, incorporating sound-absorbing materials, a telescoping structure with insulating material, and a weather protection grille with additional wire mesh for enhanced soundproofing and animal exclusion, along with an elliptical hose connector for reduced leaks and energy losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple sound-dampening baffles are added to the wall penetration, then sound insulation is improved, but flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidflow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The silencer baffles are arranged essentially parallel to the airflow direction rather than perpendicular, creating localized sound absorption zones while maintaining open flow paths. This selective orientation reduces flow resistance while preserving sound insulation functionality in specific areas where noise transmission occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If a fixed-length wall penetration is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different wall thicknesses is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to wall thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wall penetration is divided into a first part and a second part that can be telescopically inserted into each other. This segmentation allows the penetration length to be adjusted by extending or retracting the telescopic sections, enabling adaptation to various wall thicknesses while maintaining standardized manufacturing of individual components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the wall penetration components are in direct contact, then installation is simplified, but thermal bridges are created

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidthermal bridge
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating material is arranged between the first part and the second part of the wall penetration, acting as a thermal intermediary that prevents direct thermal contact. This intermediary layer eliminates thermal bridges while the telescopic design allows for easy installation despite the added component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Volume of moving object

If the wall penetration is made compact, then installation space is reduced, but sound insulation effectiveness is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepenetration sizeVSAvoidsound attenuation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The silencer baffles are oriented parallel to the airflow direction rather than perpendicular, utilizing the length dimension of the penetration to provide sound absorption path length without increasing the cross-sectional area. This dimensional approach maintains a compact penetration profile while achieving effective sound attenuation through extended exposure to sound-absorbing materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution provides improved soundproofing, thermal insulation, and easy installation by maintaining low flow resistance and preventing thermal bridges and animal intrusion, while accommodating various wall thicknesses without the need for duct shortening.

Implementation Method 1

the silencer baffles have sound-absorbing material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

insulating material is arranged between the first and second parts to prevent thermal bridges

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2375182B1Wall feed-through for an internal heat pump assembly
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 STIEBEL ELTRON GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2375182B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2375182B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2375182B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The house wall duct (100) has splitter attenuators arranged substantially parallel to an air passage direction of the wall bushing. Two sections (101,102) are designed such that the former section and the latter section are pushed telescopically into one another. A damping material (140) is arranged between the two sections, where a protective grid (110) is arranged at an exterior wall.