Zonal Temperature Control for Air Purifier Filter Screen Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air purifiers with heating functions suffer from poor temperature control accuracy, leading to potential filter screen damage and safety hazards due to overheating, as well as inconsistent air temperatures across different filter zones.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a zonal temperature control system with temperature sensing devices and a controller to adjust fan speed and heating devices independently for each filter zone, ensuring temperatures fall within a preset range of 56°C to 95°C, and incorporating a fuse system to prevent overheating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a heater is used to heat air passing through the filter screen, then the heating function is achieved, but the filter screen may be overheated and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair temperatureVSAvoidfilter screen safety
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter screen is divided into multiple zones (first filter screen zone, second filter screen zone, etc.), each with its own temperature sensor and heating control. This segmentation allows independent temperature monitoring and control for each zone, preventing any single zone from overheating and damaging the filter screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Temperature sensors are installed in each filter screen zone to detect the temperature in real-time. The control system receives feedback from these sensors and adjusts the heating element accordingly, stopping heating when the preset temperature is reached to prevent filter screen damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Area of stationary object

If a wide distribution range filter screen is used, then the air purification coverage is improved, but the temperature control accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter screen areaVSAvoidtemperature control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The large-area filter screen is divided into multiple smaller zones, each equipped with its own temperature sensor. This allows precise temperature measurement and control in each zone, overcoming the limitation of poor temperature control accuracy that would result from using a single sensor for the entire large filter screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each zone of the filter screen receives localized temperature control based on its specific temperature conditions. The control system can apply different heating or cooling actions to different zones, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across the entire large filter screen area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If heating is continued without temperature control, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the filter screen may be damaged due to excessive temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidthermal damage to filter screen
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Temperature sensors in each zone provide continuous feedback to the control system. When the temperature in any zone reaches the preset value, the control system automatically stops heating in that zone, maintaining high heating efficiency while preventing thermal damage to the filter screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is programmed with preset temperature thresholds that trigger preventive action before damage can occur. When the temperature approaches the critical level, heating is automatically reduced or stopped, preventing the harmful thermal effects from developing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 ensures consistent air temperatures across filter zones, prevents overheating damage, and provides a safety mechanism to protect the purifier from thermal faults.

Implementation Method 1

each of the plurality of zonal temperature control system heats air passing through one filter screen zone of the purifier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

acquiring a temperature inside the purifier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP4187166B1Purifier control method, purifier control apparatus, and purifier
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE INC OF ZHUHAI
  • EP4187166B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4187166B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4187166B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed are a control method and a control apparatus for a purifier and the purifier, which belong to the field of purifier temperature control. After a temperature inside the purifier is acquired, an operation state of a temperature control component (330) is controlled according to the acquired temperature to make the temperature inside the purifier fall within a preset normal temperature range. The temperature control component (330) includes zonal temperature control systems (331), and the zonal temperature control systems (331) correspond to filter screen zones one by one. The zonal temperature control systems (331) accurately control the temperature inside the purifier, so as to avoid local overheating damage of a filter screen and eliminate a potential safety hazard caused by overheating by a heater. In addition, the zonal temperature control system (331) can further guarantee that air passing through all zones of the filter screen is consistent in temperature, thus improving user experience.