INTEGRATED ENERGY-SAVING BUILDING HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM BY EFFICIENT AIR CIRCULATION TECHNOLOGY

[Problem to be Solved] To provide “Integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology” that can efficiently convect warm/cold air to difficult-to-heat/cool corners of the under-floor space, widely heating/cooling the under-floor space, and thereby efficiently heat/cool the building. [Solution] Above-floor space 2 and under-floor space 3 is connected through an opening portion 4, and adapted to heat/cool the above-floor space 2 by supplying warm/cold air to the under-floor space 3 and blowing out the warm/cold air through the opening portion 4, including: warm/cold air blowing means 6 adapted to send warm/cold air to the under-floor space 3; and an air flow baffle plate 7 placed in the under-floor space 3 and adapted to convect the warm/cold air sent from the warm/cold air blowing means 6 in the under-floor space 3.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention provides the integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by using efficient air circulation technology. The key technology is to use airflow baffle plate placed in the under-floor space. The airflow baffle plate generates efficient natural air stream in the building. And that natural air stream circulates heating/cooling air efficiently in the building. This technology maintains air temperature inside of the building in energy-saving manner.

TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND

Various methods to heat the air inside of building are available. Heating system has been proposed that heats the inside of building by blowing out warm air from the under-floor space toward above-floor space in building.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-140755 proposes a building with under-floor heating.

It is realized by followings;

Facilities installed in at least one of a plurality of under-floor spaces.

Under-floor air inlet provides to take outside air into the under-floor spaces.

Floor outlet provides to take air into indoor space from the under-floor spaces.

Exhaust air outlet provides to discharge air to the outside from the indoor space.

Vent holes provides to circulate air between the under-floor spaces.

Open-close device is to open and close the vent holes.

Control means provide to control open/closed state of the open-close device and set ventilation route (Patent Literature 1).

According to Patent Literature 1, in the building with under-floor heating, since the ventilation route can be changed by opening and closing the vent holes, a heating area can allegedly be set freely.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-140755

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved by this Invention

The invention described in Patent Literature 1 has a problem. It is difficult to maintain a fixed temperature in each under-floor space. Even if a ventilation route is secured, air flows merely from a vent hole to a next vent hole. It is less likely that convection is going to occur in the under-floor space.

Therefore, in order to heat/cool the whole under-floor space, walls are heated/cooled by radiant heat/cool before air is heated/cooled. It takes a great deal of time. Also, if cold/warm air does not flow in a direction of the floor outlet, cold/warm air is going to blow out. Then the indoor space is not going to be become warm/cold.

This invention is to solve the above problems. It can efficiently convect warm/cold air whole inside of the building space including the corners of the under-floor space.

Means for Solving the Problems

This invention “Integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology” is connected between above-floor space and under-floor space each other through an opening portion. This system provides to heat/cool above-floor space by supplying warm/cold air to the under-floor space. And is blowing out the warm/cold air from the opening portion. Comprising warm/cold air blowing means provide to send warm/cold air to the under-floor space. Air flow baffle plate placed in the under-floor space provides to convect the warm/cold air sent from the warm/cold air blowing means in the under-floor space.

As one of the implementation case in this invention, the air flow baffle plate may be placed in a corner of the under-floor space to convect the warm/cold air clockwise or counterclockwise in the under-floor space.

As one of the implementation case in this invention, the air flow baffle plate may be placed such that an air passageway is to circulate the warm/cold air. It is also allowed to be set between the air flow baffle plate and wall surface in a corner of the under-floor space.

As one of the implementation case in this invention, stud runner is to support floor material installed in the under-floor space. It is also allowed to be set with straightening vane sloping gently from floor surface in the under-floor space to top surface of the stud runner.

As one of the implementation casein this invention, the warm/cold air blowing means is an air conditioner. Air inlet is placed on the side of the above-floor space. And air outlet is placed on the side of the under-floor space.

As one of the implementation case in this invention, air supply duct is to supply air to the air conditioner.

It is also allowed to be installed behind the wall surface of the above-floor space.

As one of the implementation case in this invention, return air input port provides to get partial warm/cold air from the above-floor space as return air may be installed behind the wall surface where the air supply duct is installed. And a mixture of air supplied from the air supply duct and the return air may be supplied to the air conditioner.

As one of the implementation case in this invention, refrigerant pipe between air conditioner body and outdoor unit of the air conditioner may be laid in the under-floor space or under floor surface of the under-floor space.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention can efficiently convect warm/cold air to difficult-to-heat/cool corners of the under-floor space, widely heating/cooling the under-floor space, and thereby efficiently heat/cool the building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing under-floor space (left side) and above-floor space (right side) in this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a flow of warm/cold air through the building under-floor space and above-floor space and an air conditioner in the building heating/cooling system in this implementation case.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing installed condition of an outdoor unit and refrigerant pipe of the air conditioner in this implementation case.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a stud runner and straightening vane installed in the under-floor space as well as a flow of warm/cold air there around in this implementation case.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a flow of warm/cold air in the building under-floor space in the embodiment of the building heating/cooling system in present invention.

 THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT TO IMPLEMENT THIS INVENTION

The following is the implementation case regarding “Integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology” with reference.

In this implementation case, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the building heating/cooling system 1 is used in a building 5 in which an above-floor space 2 and under-floor space 3 are connected with each other through an opening portion 4. And is equipped with warm/cold air blowing means 6 installed in the under-floor space 3, air flow baffle plates 7 adapted to adjust a flow of warm/cold air sent by the warm/cold air blowing means 6. It is straightening vanes 8 adapted to straighten the flow of warm/cold air against obstacles in the under-floor space 3. Configurations of the building 5 and building heating/cooling system 1 is described below in detail.

In this implementation case, building 5 is a multi-floor apartment made of reinforced concrete. Two dwelling units of different room arrangements are set side by side on each floor as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the under-floor space 3 is shown in the room on the left side of a staircase 51. Above-floor space 2 is shown in the room on the right side of the staircase 51.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, each dwelling unit in the building 5 has an above-floor space 2 and under-floor space 3. They are connected with each other through the opening portion 4.

The above-floor space 2 is mainly a living space and is partitioned into plural rooms by walls or doors. In FIG. 1, the above-floor space 2 is made up like LDK room (living-dining-kitchen area) 21, an entrance room 22, toilet room 23, utility room 24, and a private room 25.

In FIG. 2, an exhaust air outlet 27 is set in a wall surface 26 of at least one of the rooms to discharge inside air to outside the building 5, and each exhaust air outlet 27 is set with an exhaust fan 28 to forcibly discharge air.

Number of rooms, their layout, their sizes, and the like in the above-floor space 2 can be selected appropriately according to the surrounding environment of the building 5 and living environment of the residents. Although it is assumed that the building 5 according to the present embodiment is a multi-floor apartment, this is not restrictive.

And the building 5 may be a detached, single-story or multi-story house.

Their foundation portion is set to be an under-floor space 3. Furthermore, the building 5 is not limited to those made of reinforced concrete. It is also allowed to be built by wood or the like.

The opening portion 4 is to blow out warm/cold air into the above-floor space 2 from the under-floor space 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the opening portion 4 is set in each room in the above-floor space 2 to allow air to blowout into each room from under the floor. Also, although not illustrated, a louver is attached to the opening portion 4 to prevent dust and the like from falling to the under-floor space 3.

Note that the number of opening portions 4, their layout, their size, and the like can be selected appropriately according to the room arrangement in the above-floor space 2, the sizes of the rooms, and the like.

The under-floor space 3 is used to place water piping for domestic waste water, electric wiring, and studs for supporting walls, the floor, and the like as well as stud runners 31 and the like such as shown in FIG. 4. Also, the under-floor space 3 is connected within the dwelling unit to allow warm/cold air to circulate freely.

Next, the building heating/cooling system 1 is described as follows.

The warm/cold air blowing means 6 is designed to send warm/cold air from the under-floor space 3. In this implementation case, an air conditioner 6 is used as the warm/cold air blowing means 6. Air conditioner 6 has function to supply warm/cold air to the under-floor space 3 as well as a function to send air from the under-floor space 3.

Air conditioner 6 includes an air conditioner body 61 is to heat/cool by air exchange. Outdoor unit 62 is to absorb or exhaust heat/cool through heat/cool exchange. Refrigerant pipe 63 is to circulate a refrigerant between the air conditioner body 61 and outdoor unit 62.

Air conditioner body 61 has an air inlet 611 placed on the side of the above-floor space 2 and an air outlet 612 placed on the side of the under-floor space 3. This is intended to heat/cool once-warm/cold air in the above-floor space 2 or outside air newly taken in, and blow out the heated/cooled air into the under-floor space 3. According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner body 61 is installed behind the wall surface 26 of the above-floor space 2 between the above-floor space 2 and under-floor space 3.

Air supply duct 10 is installed behind the wall surface 26 where the air conditioner body 61 is installed. The air supply duct 10 is to take in air from outside the building 5 or from outdoors. It is connected with the staircase 51 of the apartment through the inner side of the wall surface 26 and through an above-closet storage space 52 in FIG. 2.

Return air input port 11 is set to get partial warm/cold air from the above-floor space 2 as return air is installed behind the wall surface 26 where the air conditioner body 61 and air supply duct 10 are installed. Air from the return air input port 11 and air supplied through the air supply duct 10 are mixed and supplied to the air conditioner body 61.

The outdoor unit 62 is placed outdoors. Outdoor unit 62 is placed on a porch/balcony 53 as shown in FIG. 1. This is not restrictive, and the outdoor unit 62 can be installed anywhere as long as it is installed outdoors.

Generally, the refrigerant pipe 63 is protected by heat/cool insulating material such as urethane foam. However in this implementation, the refrigerant pipe 63 is laid in the under-floor space 3 or buried in the reinforced concrete of the under-floor space 3 as shown in FIG. 3 without being covered with heat/cool insulating material. This allows heat/cool of the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant pipe 63 to be released in the under-floor space 3 or stored in the reinforced concrete.

The air flow baffle plate 7 is designed to convect the warm/cold air sent from the warm/cold air blowing means 6, in any desired direction in the under-floor space 3. Warm/cold air blowing means 6 is made of plate material formed into a substantially quarter circle in cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 1. Note that the air flow baffle plate 7 may have another shape as long as the shape has the effect of convecting the warm/cold air in any desired direction. It can be a straight plate or a plate with a more complicated curved surface.

In FIG. 1, the air flow baffle plates 7 are installed near a wall along a direction of supply from the warm/cold air blowing means 6 as well as in corners 32 of the under-floor space 3 with a concave surface turned to an approximate center of the under-floor space 3. As described later, the air flow baffle plates 7 are placed so as to cause the warm/cold air to convect counterclockwise.

Air flow baffle plates 7 are placed such that air passageways 9 adapted to circulate the warm/cold air is set between the air flow baffle plates 7 and wall surfaces in the corners 32 of the under-floor space 3. Air tends to stagnate in the corners 32 of the under-floor space, but through the installation of the air passageways 9 passing through the corners 32. Warm/cold air is designed to reach behind the air flow baffle plates 7, heating/cooling the entire under-floor space 3 including the corners 32.

The straightening vane 8 is installed on an obstacle that obstructs convection of the warm/cold air in the under-floor space. In particular, the stud runners 31 which have the role of supporting walls, floor plates, and the like are installed in the under-floor space 3. However the stud runners 31 obstruct convection by causing the warm/cold air to suddenly change direction upward. Thus, in this implementation, as shown in FIG. 4, the straightening vane 8 is installed, sloping gently from a floor surface in the under-floor space 3 to a top surface of the stud runner 31 in order to prevent sudden change of direction.

Next, in this implementation case, operation of individual components of the building heating/cooling system 1 is described as follows.

The warm/cold air blowing means 6 sends warm/cold air to the under-floor space 3. In FIG. 2, the air supplied through the air supply duct 10 and return air input port 11 is drawn in through the air inlet 611 by the air conditioner body 61 and heated/cooled by heat/cool exchange. And the resulting heated/cooled air is blown out into the under-floor space 3 through the air outlet 612.

The air drawn in by the air conditioner 6 contains a mixture of not only the air supplied from outside the building 5 through the air supply duct 10, but also part of the air which has heated/cooled the building 5. The air supplied through the return air input port 11 is higher/lower in temperature than the outside air and the like supplied through the air supply duct 10. And the resulting mixed air becomes higher in temperature than the air supplied directly through the air supply duct 10.

Since air supply duct 10 runs through the above-closet storage space 52 and behind the wall surface 26, the air passing through the air supply duct 10 is heated/cooled by heat/cool conduction from a ceiling and wall.

This reduces a temperature difference between temperature of the air to be heated/cooled by the air conditioner 6 and temperature of the heated/cooled air, resulting in a reduced operating load. Thereby it makes possible to reduce power consumption.

Air flow baffle plate 7 changes direction of the warm/cold air sent by the warm/cold air blowing means 6. And it is producing a convection current rotating in one direction. Specifically, the air flow baffle plates 7 changes wind direction of the warm/cold air sent by the warm/cold air blowing means 6. Then along abutting surface causing the warm/cold air to flow toward the corner 32 of the LDK room 21 on the side of the porch/balcony 53. The air flow baffle plate 7 placed in each corner 32 changes the wind direction of the incoming warm/cold air to the direction of the air flow baffle plate 7 placed in another corner 32 in a substantially perpendicular direction. In this way, according to the present embodiment, as the air flow baffle plates 7 changes the wind direction to a desired direction, the warm/cold air convects counterclockwise in the under-floor space 3 as shown in FIG. 5.

The air passageways 9 allow warm/cold air to flow between the air flow baffle plates 7 and the corners 32 of the under-floor space 3. Consequently, the warm/cold air reaches every corner of the under-floor space 3, heating the entire area under the floor. The above-floor space 2 is heated/cooled by the heat/cool radiated from under the floor, offering an effect similar to that of so-called floor heating/cooling.

In FIG. 4, the straightening vane 8 mitigates changes in the flow of warm/cold air passing the stud runner 31. And thereby it causes convection to occur smoothly in the under-floor space 3. Consequently, the warm/cold air can spread all over the under-floor space 3 even in case of a small air supply volume. It makes possible to reduce power consumption of the air blowing means 6.

Furthermore, heat/cool released from the refrigerant pipe 63 heats/cools the under-floor space 3. Also, the heat/cool is stored in the reinforced concrete and thereby allows the under-floor space 3 to maintain warm/cold. This allows heat/cool generated through operation of the air conditioner 6 to be used as a heat/cool source for heating/cooling without waste.

The opening portion 4 allows part of convecting warm/cold air in the under-floor space 3 to blow out into the above-floor space 2. According to the present embodiment, air is discharged forcibly by the exhaust fans 28 installed at the exhaust air outlets 27, causing warm/cold air to blow out into respective rooms according to the exhaust volumes.

The warm/cold air blowing out heats/cools each room. The warm/cold air spread all over the under-floor space 3 is caused to blow out directly, making it easier to feel warmth/coolness. The volume of warm/cold air blown out into each room can be adjusted easily by adjusting the exhaust volume using the exhaust fan 28 or by adjusting opening area of the opening portion 4. This makes it easy to control the temperature of each room.

Also, when the building heating/cooling system 1 is operated, part of the warm/cold air in the building 5 is discharged by the exhaust fan 28, and fresh air is supplied accordingly into the building 5 through the air supply duct 10. Thus, the building heating/cooling system 1 can always supply fresh air into the building 5.

The building heating/cooling system 1 according to the present embodiment described above provides the following advantages.

  • 1. Since the entire under-floor space 3 can be heated/cooled quickly by producing convection of warm/cold air, the warm/cold air can be blown out of the opening portion 4 quickly.
  • 2. Since the warm/cold air is designed to reach behind the air flow baffle plates 7 by providing the air passageways 9 in the corners 32 of the under-floor space 3, every corner of the under-floor space 3 can be heated/cooled.
  • 3. By causing convection to occur smoothly, the power consumed to send air can be reduced.
  • 4. By using the warm/cold air circulated through the above-floor space 2 and the exhaust heat/cool of the air conditioner 6, the power consumption of the air conditioner 6 can be reduced.

Note that the building heating/cooling system according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and may be changed as appropriate.

For example, the warm/cold air blowing means 6 is not limited to an air conditioner, and can be selected appropriately from something equipped with similar functions. That is, by heating/cooling the air under the floor using a storage heater or the like placed under the floor, the warm/cold air may be sent by blowing means such as an electric fan.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

  • 1 Building heating/cooling system
  • 2 Above-floor space
  • 3 Under-floor space
  • 4 Opening portion
  • 5 Building
  • 6 Warm/cold air blowing means (air conditioner)
  • 7 Air flow baffle plate
  • 8 Straightening vane
  • 9 Air passageway
  • 10 Air supply duct
  • 11 Return air input port
  • 21 LDK room (living-dining-kitchen)
  • 22 Entrance room
  • 23 Toilet room
  • 24 Utility room
  • 25 Living space
  • 26 Wall surface
  • 27 Exhaust air outlet
  • 28 Exhaust fan
  • 31 Stud runner
  • 32 Corner
  • 51 Staircase
  • 52 Above-closet storage space
  • 53 Porch/balcony
  • 61 Air conditioner body
  • 62 Outdoor unit
  • 63 Refrigerant pipe
  • 611 Air inlet
  • 612 Air outlet

Claims

1. A integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology configured to connect an above-floor space and an under-floor space with each other through an opening portion, and adapted to heat/cool the above-floor space by supplying warm/cold air to the under-floor space and blowing out the warm/cold air through the opening portion, comprising:

Warm/cold air blowing means adapted to send warm/cold air to the under-floor space; and an air flow baffle plate placed in the under-floor space and adapted to convect the warm/cold air sent from the warm/cold air blowing means in the under-floor space.

2. The integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology according to claim 1, wherein the air flow baffle plate is placed in a corner of the under-floor space to convect the warm/cold air clockwise or counterclockwise in the under-floor space.

3. The integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology according to claim 1, wherein the air flow baffle plate is placed such that an air passageway adapted to circulate the warm/cold air is set between the air flow baffle plate and a wall surface in a corner of the under-floor space.

4. The integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology according to claim 1, wherein a stud runner adapted to support floor material installed in the under-floor space is set with a straightening vane sloping gently from a floor surface in the under-floor space to a top surface of the stud runner.

5. The integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology according to claim 1, wherein the warm/cold air blowing means is an air conditioner whose air inlet is placed on the side of the above-floor space and whose air outlet is placed on the side of the under-floor space.

6. The integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology according to claim 5, wherein an air supply duct adapted to supply air to the air conditioner is installed behind a wall surface of the above-floor space.

7. The integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology according to claim 6, wherein a return air input port adapted to get partial warm/cold air from the above-floor space as return air is installed behind the wall surface where the air supply duct is installed and a mixture of air supplied from the air supply duct and the return air is supplied to the air conditioner.

8. The integrated energy-saving building heating/cooling system by efficient air circulation technology according to claim 5, the refrigerant pipe between an air conditioner body and outdoor unit of the air conditioner is laid in the under-floor space or under a floor surface of the under-floor space.

Patent History
Publication number: 20150260417
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 12, 2015
Publication Date: Sep 17, 2015
Inventor: Hiroya KAWATA (Sapporo-shi)
Application Number: 14/656,066
Classifications
International Classification: F24D 3/14 (20060101); F24F 13/06 (20060101); F24F 7/10 (20060101);