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Title:
METHOD FOR AIR DISTRIBUTING AND CONTAINING AND THE SYSTEM THEREOF
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/111696
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for air distributing and containing and the system thereof. The structure of the system comprises a plurality of columns, which are positioned in a desired space. Each column comprises at least one outlet for projecting the conditioned air to at least one direction. By projecting the conditioned air from the outlet of each column to the direction, a macro airflow or/and at least one air wall can be formed by the conditioned air. The directed conditioned air can be boundary barriers to contain the conditioned air within the desired space, and thus minimizing the losses of the conditioned air and providing maximum cooling effectiveness.

Inventors:
TANG EE HO (SG)
LI FUYUN (SG)
ANG TZE WEI TIMOTHY (SG)
HOWLAND EDWARD ELMORE TED IV (SG)
Application Number:
PCT/SG2015/050501
Publication Date:
June 29, 2017
Filing Date:
December 23, 2015
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SINGAPORE TECH DYNAMICS PTE LTD (SG)
INNOSPARKS PTE LTD (SG)
MANDAI RAINFOREST SAFARI PARK PTE LTD (SG)
International Classes:
F24F13/06; F24F9/00
Foreign References:
US20140179217A12014-06-26
US4035018A1977-07-12
CN203454331U2014-02-26
GB2153066A1985-08-14
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ALLEN & GLEDHILL LLP (SG)
Download PDF:
Claims:
A system of air distributing and containing comprising:

a plurality of columns, positioned in a desired space, a conditioned air provided to the columns, each column comprising at least one outlet to project the conditioned air towards at least one direction to the desired space for forming a macro airflow.

The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns are positioned along a periphery of the desired space.

The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns are arranged to at least one line and each angle between the direction of the outlets and the line is in acute angle.

The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns are non-mechanically driven.

The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns are mechanically driven by a plurality of internal air suppliers respectively to produce the conditioned air.

The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, further comprising at least one air supplier generating the conditioned air.

The system of air distributing and containing of claim 6, wherein the air supplier is an air conditioner.

The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns are arranged vertically in the desired space.

The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the outlets of the column are arranged vertically as an outlet array.

10. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the outlets of the columns are slits or apertures.

11. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns have a plurality of internal chambers to separate the outlets.

12. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns further comprise at least one nozzle disposed on the outlet.

13. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet of the column includes at least one first outlet projecting the conditioned air towards a first direction for forming the macro airflow and at least one second outlet projecting the conditioned air towards a second direction for forming at least one air wall.

14. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 13, wherein the columns are arranged to at least one line, the angle between the first direction of the first outlet and the line is larger than the angle between the second direction of the second outlet and the line.

15. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns are arranged horizontally in the desired space.

16. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, wherein the columns are positioned into two parallel lines in the desired space.

17. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 16, wherein the columns are staggered to each other in the opposing parallel lines.

18. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 17, wherein the macro airflow is formed through the conditioned air projected by one of the columns entrain to the conditioned air projected by the previous column in the opposing parallel line.

19. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 18, wherein the at least one outlet of the column includes at least one first outlet projecting the conditioned air towards a first direction and at least one second outlet projecting the conditioned air towards a second direction, the macro airflow is formed through the conditioned air that is projected towards the first direction by one of the columns is entrained by the conditioned air projected towards the second direction by the previous column in the opposing parallel line.

20. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of drawing fans disposed on the columns respectively to draw the conditioned air.

21. A system of air distributing and containing comprising:

a plurality of columns, positioned in a desired space, a conditioned air provided to the columns, each column comprising at least one outlet to project the conditioned air towards at least one direction to the desired space for forming at least one air wall.

22. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 21, further comprising at least one air supplier generating the conditioned air.

23. The system of air distributing and containing of claim 22, wherein the at least one outlet of the column includes at least one first outlet projecting the conditioned air and at least one second outlet projecting the conditioned air for forming the air wall.

24. A method for air distributing and containing comprising steps of:

positioning a plurality of columns in a desired space, and a conditioned air provided to the columns; and

projecting the conditioned air from at least one outlet of each column towards at least one direction to the desired space for forming a macro airflow.

25. The method for air distributing and containing of claim 24, wherein the at least one outlet of the column includes at least one first outlet projecting the conditioned air for forming the macro airflow and at least one second outlet projecting the conditioned air for forming at least one air wall.

A method for air distributing and containing comprising steps of:

positioning a plurality of columns in a desired space, and a conditioned air provided to the columns; and

projecting the conditioned air from at least one outlet of each column towards at least one direction to the desired space for forming at least one air wall.

The method for air distributing and containing of claim 26, wherein the at least one outlet of the column includes at least one first outlet projecting the conditioned air and at least one second outlet projecting the conditioned air for forming the air wall.

Description:
Method for Air Distributing and Containing and the

System thereof

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for air cooling system, and particularly to a method for distributing and containing and the system thereof applicable to supply the conditioned air to the desired space only for enhancing cooling effectiveness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air conditioning is the process of altering the properties of air to more comfortable conditions, typically with the aim of distributing the conditioned air to an occupied space such as a building, house or vehicle to improve thermal comfort and indoor air quality. In common use, an air conditioner is a device that lowers the air temperature, and the cooling is typically achieved through a refrigeration cycle.

However, cooling of large open-space could be very challenging and energy intensive. In open-space cooling, the cooling capacity requirement is infinite since there is no defined air containment boundary. The arbitrary requirement of cooling capacity results in a high cost of producing conditioned air. In addition, the conditioned air may immediately mix with the surrounding air to weaken the cooling effectiveness upon released from air-conditioning systems, thus, being unable to achieve the human thermal comfort level. This mixing of conditioned air with surrounding air also results in wastage of expensive cooling loads.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present invention is to provide a method for air distributing and containing and the system thereof, which use a plurality of decentralized columns. The columns supply the conditioned air towards a specific direction and the airflow of the conditioned air from each column merges to form a macro airflow and contains the conditioned air within a desired space, with minimal loss to the surroundings. It is an effective way to enhance cooling effectiveness significantly.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for air distributing and containing and the system thereof, which decrease the cooling load for a desired space as the conditioned air is directed and contained within the desired space, minimizing extraneous cooling.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for air distributing and containing and the system thereof, which are available to provide fresh air without re-circulation of conditioned air. Thereby, it can maintain the sanitary condition of the desired space.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a method for air distributing and containing and the system thereof, which there are no essential moving parts involved in the system, thus the cost in maintenance can be minimized.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for air distributing and containing and the system thereof, where the conditioned air projection can be adjusted with various outlet forms and column arrangements.

In order to achieve the objectives as described above, the present invention discloses a system of air distributing and containing, which comprises a plurality of columns positioned in a desired space. The conditioned air is provided to the columns, each column comprises at least one outlet that projects conditioned air towards at least one direction to the desired space for forming a macro airflow and/or at least one air wall.

The method for air distributing and containing comprises steps of: positioning a plurality of columns in a desired space, and a conditioned air provided to the columns; projecting the conditioned air from at least one outlet of each column towards at least one direction to the desired space for forming a macro airflow and/or at least one air wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a top view of the arrangement of columns according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3A shows a top view of the arrangement of columns in a straight line according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3B shows a top view of the arrangement of columns in a curved line according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show schematic diagrams of the structure of columns according to embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of column according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 6A to 6F show schematic diagrams of the structure of columns with multiple outlet arrays according to embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 7 shows a top view of the arrangement of columns according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8A shows a top view of the arrangement of columns according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8B shows a top view of the arrangement of columns according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 9A and 9B show side views of the arrangement of columns according to embodiments of the present invention;

Figures 10A and 10B show a top view of the arrangement of columns according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 11 shows a flowchart of the method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to make the structure and characteristics as well as the effectiveness of the present invention to be further understood and recognized, the detailed description of the present invention is provided as follows along with embodiments and accompanying figures.

Please refer to Figure 1, which shows a schematic diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the system of air distributing and containing according to the present invention comprises an air supplier 1, and a plurality of columns 2. The air supplier 1 can be an air conditioner in order to generate conditioned air. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the air supplier 1 is centralized to generate the conditioned air, that is distributed to the columns 2. The plurality of columns 2 having air passages are positioned in a desired space (targeted space) in an opening space. One end (inlet) of each column 2 could be connected to the air supplier 1 through duct (not shown in the figure), and the conditioned air is provided to the columns 2 from the air supplier 1. The other end of each column 2 is closed. Thereby, the conditioned air generated by the air supplier 1 can be delivered to the space where the plurality of columns 2 are positioned. Accordingly, the columns 2 of this embodiment are non-mechanically driven.

On the other hand, columns 2, which may be mechanically driven and have some mechanical drivers, e.g., varied pumps or fans, and other components, e.g., cooling media (internal air supplier 25 shown in Figure 10B), arranged inside, could also produce the conditioned air. In such embodiment, the external air supplier 1 could be used together with columns 2 having internal air suppliers 25 to provide cooling in a desired space. In addition, such columns could be used without external air supplier 1.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the columns 2 are arranged vertically in the desired space, and each column 2 comprises at least one outlet 21 for projecting the conditioned air towards a specific direction to form an airflow. It could have at least one nozzle (not shown in the figure) disposed on the outlet 21. Refer to Figure 1, the conditioned air released by the air supplier 1 is projected with an accelerated velocity while being directed to the desired space. The airflow from each column 2 merges, thus forming a macro airflow 33 (shown in Figure 2), which can also minimize air mixing between the conditioned space and the external environment.

Illustrated in Figure 2, which shows the forming of the macro airflow 33 by arranging the columns 2 along a periphery of a desired space 40 to provide air containment through projecting the conditioned air individually, where the individual airflows 31 from the columns 2 merge to form the macro airflow 33. In this embodiment of the present invention, the columns 2 are positioned at an angle towards the desired direction of the macro airflow 33. Through the individual column 2, the conditioned air is projected downstream along the length of the pathway of the desired space 40. It is expected to prevent mixing and entering of external air from undesired space 41.

Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 A, in order to combine each airflow 31 with the airflow 31 of adjacent and opposing column 2, not only the columns 2 need to be positioned and arranged in a proper way, but also the outlets 21 of the columns 2 need to be directed towards a specified direction D. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the columns 2 positioned in the opening space are arranged in a straight line LI, wherein each angle Θ between the direction D of the outlets 21 and the straight line LI is an acute angle. Further according to another embodiment of the present invention, please refer to Figure 3B, the columns 2 positioned in the opening space are arranged to a curved line L2, wherein each angle Θ between the direction D of the outlets 21 and the line L2 is still in acute angle. That is, the angles between the direction of the outlets 21 and the line (the columns 2 to be arranged) are limited in acute angle to make sure that the pathways of the airflows can be directed towards the desired direction of the macro airflow, and thus combines with the airflow thereof.

Please refer to Figures 4A, 4B and 4C, the columns 2 in the present invention can be designed with several forms, such as circular, chord or oval. Moreover, please refer to Figure 5, the form of the outlet 21 of the column 2 can be a vertical slit, instead of vertical round- shaped outlets (circular apertures) 21 as shown in the former embodiments. The outlets 21 of the column 2 are arranged vertically as an outlet array. These different forms of columns 2 and outlets 21 are for air to be projected at the accelerated velocity while being directed.

Additionally, please refer to Figures 6A, 6B and 6C, with column 2 that contains several outlet arrays, the air velocities from outlet arrays of column 2 can be the same or be different by varied multiple outlets design as shown in the figures. In Figures 6A, 6B and 6C, the single column 2 comprises outlets, which the outlets can be separated into at least one first outlet 210 and at least one second outlet 211, wherein the dimension of the first outlet 210 is larger than, smaller than, or equal to the dimension of the second outlet 211 in these embodiments. Different dimension of the outlets can be applied for different uses, for example, the conditioned air projected by the larger outlets can have higher air velocity than smaller ones. The first outlets 210 and the second outlets 211 of the column 2 are arranged vertically as multiple outlet arrays.

These columns 2 with differing outlet air velocities can be achieved either through passive or active means, such as with mechanical drivers or using varied pumps to separated internal chambers of each column 2. For example, please refer to Figure 6D, the column 2 has separated internal chambers 23 and 24, the first outlet 210 and the second outlet 211 can be separated by the separated internal chambers 23, 24, and please refer to Figure 6E, there can be varied pumps 210A, 211 A disposed on the column 2 to pumps the conditioned air with differing pressure into the separated internal chambers 23, 24 as shown in Figure 6D, and the conditioned air can be projected with differing outlet air velocities from the first outlet 210 and the second outlet 211 respectively. Furthermore, please refer to Figure 6F, the shape of the first outlet 210 and the second outlet 211 can be different compares to those shown in Figures 6 A to 6E.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 7, the columns 2 are positioned into two parallel lines LI in the desired space. Each column 2 comprises the first outlet 210 and the second outlet 211, which project the conditioned air towards a first direction and a second direction to form a first airflow 310 and a second airflow 311, respectively. The air velocities of the first airflows 310 are lower than, higher than or equal to the air velocities of the second airflows 311, and the angles between the line LI and the directions of the airflows 310, 311 are both in acute angle. Additionally, the angle between the line LI and the direction of the first airflow 310 is larger than the angle between the line LI and the direction of the second airflow 311. The resulting effect is that airflows 310 form the macro airflow 33 while airflows 311, that are closer to boundary of the desired space and form the air wall 34. The first airflows 310 are contained to the desired space that is enclosed by the air wall 34, it is also expected that the air wall 34 can prevent mixing and entering of external air.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, refer to Figure 8A, the columns 2 can be arranged along the two parallel lines LI and staggered to each other in the opposing parallel lines LI. The staggered arrangement can aid the airflows 31 forming the macro airflow 33. In detail, the forward column airflow can entrain the airflow from the previous column and project it downstream. For example, in Figure 8A, the airflow 31 projected from column 2b will entrain the airflow 31 projected form the previous opposing column 2a. Additionally, the airflow 31 projected form column 2c will entrain the airflow 31 projected form the previous opposing column 2b, and thus this constant entrainment and projection effect will form the macro airflow 33. In addition, this constant entrainment and projection minimizes the losses to the external environment by maintaining the airflows 31 within the targeted space.

Refer to Figure 8B, it is another embodiment that uses the columns 2 with the first outlet 210 and the second outlet 211. Each column 2 projects two airflows 310, 311with different or identical air velocities and allows for a larger projection angle. In more detail from Figure 8B, column's 2b airflow 310 towards the first direction can be entrained by the rear-opposing column's 2a airflow 311 towards the second direction (previous opposing column's airflow), and column's 2c airflow 310 towards the first direction can be entrained by the rear-opposing column's 2b airflow 311 towards the second direction. Thus the meandering macro airflow 33 forms. This combined effect allows for a greater coverage of the specified space through the meandering macro airflow 33. In addition, the outward airflow 311 creates the air wall 34, which acts as a barrier that minimizes external air from mixing or entering the specified space. With the arrangement in Figure 8B, the overall effect can be the forward macro airflow as described earlier in Figure 2.

Furthermore, please refer to Figures 9 A and 9B, the columns 2 could be disposed horizontally across the top of the opening space, and where the opening space can be roofed (close to the ceiling) or unroofed. In Figure 9A, each column 2 with two outlets 210, 211 is arranged horizontally and provides the protective barrier against external air mixing and entering via the airflows 311; while the airflows 310 are projected downwards to the targeted space. The angled projection of the airflows 310 can cause an overall macro airflow 33 towards the specified direction. Alternatively, in Figure 9B, for specific purposes, such as to create a large volumetric macro airflow 33 due to the column 2 has the single type outlet 21 (single outlet array); then the column 2 with single type outlet 21 could be employed.

In another embodiment, the delivery of conditioned air generated by the external air supplier 1 (shown in Figure 1) is to the initial point that can be described as a cold front. This is then drawn into the columns 2 and projected further downstream. That is, individual column 2 draws the conditioned air from another individual column 2, and then projects the conditioned air downwards along the pathway of the macro airflow 33. Please refer to Figure 10A, each column 2 can further comprises a drawing fan 22 disposed on a side thereof. Each drawing fan 22 can draw conditioned air (airflow 31) projected by other column 2 (previous column 2), and then projects conditioned air (airflow 31) by its outlet 21. By arranging this kind of columns 2 in line LI, a pathway that the conditioned air (airflow 31) is be drawn, projected, drawn, projected,... and so on, by columns 2 one by one, macro airflow 33 can thus be formed.

Moreover, please refer to Figure 10B, conditioned air can be not only provided by the external air supplier 1 (shown in Figure 1), but also generated by a plurality of internal air suppliers 25 in the columns 2. That is, the internal air suppliers 25 are decentralized to generate the conditioned air. The conditioned air generated by the internal air suppliers 25 can be projected from outlets 21 and forming the macro airflow 33 with the conditioned air provided by the external air supplier 1. Accordingly, the columns 2 can be mechanically driven to produce the conditioned air. In one embodiment, the internal air suppliers 25 comprise varied pumps or fans, and other cooling media.

Based on the above description, please refer to Figure 11, the method for air distributing and containing according to the present invention can be organized as the following steps: Step S I: Positioning a plurality of columns in a desired space, and conditioned air provided to the columns; and

Step S2: Projecting the conditioned air from at least one outlet of each column towards at least one direction to the desired space for forming a macro airflow or/and at least one air wall.

To sum up, the present invention discloses in detail a method for air distributing and containing and the system thereof. By decentralizing a plurality of columns be in a desired space in an opening space and arranging the columns in specific ways, a macro airflow or/and at least one air wall are formed to contain the conditioned air within the desired space. Through projecting the conditioned air towards specific directions and the merging of the airflows, the macro airflow or/and air wall are formed with minimal loss to the surroundings. It is an effective way to enhance cooling effectiveness significantly. Hence, the present invention is endowed with the advantages of energy saving, arrangement flexibility, high cooling efficiency, and providing fresh conditioned air.

Accordingly, the present invention conforms to the legal requirements owing to its novelty, non-obviousness, and utility. However, the foregoing description is only embodiments of the present invention, not used to limit the scope and range of the present invention. Those equivalent changes or modifications made according to the shape, structure, feature, or spirit described in the claims of the present invention are included in the appended claims of the present invention.