AIR CONVECTION SYSTEM
An air convection system configured for use in building structure having a suspended ceiling dividing the building structure to an upper plenum in airflow communication with an HVAC unit, and a lower area, said air convection system comprising; an air convection module having a plenum opening configured to face said plenum, a lower area opening configured to face said lower area; a controllable airflow facilitating unit configured to selectively facilitate airflow at least form said plenum opening to said lower area opening; and a control system configured to receive an operational signal indicative of at least one operational parameter of said HVAC unit, and operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said operational signal.
The presently disclosed subject matter concerns air convection systems, particularly, air convection systems configured to operate in conjunction with suspended ceilings, and more particularly, air convection systems configured to operate in conjunction with suspended, radiant ceilings.
BACKGROUND ARTReferences considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below:
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- FR3085696
- US2019186133
Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.
BACKGROUNDRecent developments aiming to improve thermal comfort in rooms, are also directed to integration of convection-based air-conditioning along with ceiling-based radiant cooling/heating.
In a building structure that has a lowered suspended ceiling, and particularly stretch ceiling, beneath the original ceiling, a confined volume, i.e., a plenum is formed between a stretched membrane of the stretch ceiling and the original ceiling. This plenum can be configured for receiving cool or warm air from an air conditioning system in airflow communication therewith, rendering indirect cooling/heating of the stretched membrane by convection.
The cooled/heated stretched membrane can then exchange heat by radiation with the room to facilitate indirect and thermal comforting cooling/heating of the room.
In many situations, radiant cooling/heating from the membrane is insufficient, and with low response rate to changes. For these situations, there is a need to add convective heat transfer to improve the thermal comfort in the room. To achieve such, the warm/cold air from the plenum can be transferred to the room and add a convective aspect of heat transfer to the room.
FR3085696 discloses a radiant technical ceiling for providing heating, air conditioning and ventilation for a room, characterized in that it comprises at least one stretched fabric allowing all or some light and/or heat radiation to pass through, the fabric extending between walls and being arranged to define, with an upper slab, a space, and one or more radiating elements, formed, for example, from metal panels, and arranged to allow the circulation of a heat-transfer/cold-transfer fluid, the radiating elements being arranged in the space provided between the stretched fabric and the upper slab. The technical ceiling can, depending on its implementation, be a false ceiling or a self-contained island.
US2019186133 discloses a canvas hanger profile for making a stretched ceiling in a room to be conditioned, the hanger profile comprising at least two wings connected together by a connecting lining, one of the wings being arranged to allow the fastening of the hanger profile on a wall of the room to be conditioned, a second wing, which constitutes a canvas hanger wing, being provided with a blocking end of a canvas hook, wherein the connecting lining and the hanger wing are arranged to define together an unclosed air passage slot through the profile and are delimited by the blocking end of the hanger wing hook, the profile having at least one through opening arranged to allow air to pass through said profile from or towards the slot.
GENERAL DESCRIPTIONThe presently disclosed subject mater concerns an air convection system configured be operated in conjunction with an HVAC installed above a suspended ceiling of building structure to facilitate improved thermal comfort within the building structure, below the suspended ceiling.
According to the present disclosure, there is provided an air convection system configured for use in a building structure installed with a suspended ceiling dividing the building structure to an upper plenum in airflow communication with an HVAC unit, and a lower area. The air convection system comprising:
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- an air convection module having a plenum opening configured to face said plenum, and a lower area opening configured to face said lower area;
- a controllable airflow facilitating unit configured to selectively facilitate airflow at least from said plenum opening to said lower area opening; and
- a control system configured to receive an operational signal indicative of at least one operational parameter of said HVAC unit, and operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said operational signal.
The building structure can be a residential room of a house, e.g., a living room, a bedroom, or any other room configured to accommodate residentials of the building structure.
The suspended ceiling can be a stretch ceiling, a tiles ceiling, a drop out ceiling, or any other ceiling configured to form a plenum together with either the true ceiling of the building structure, or with another structure, e.g., another suspended ceiling.
Particularly, the suspended ceiling can be a radiant ceiling configured to exchange heat with said plenum, and correspondingly emit or absorb heat to/from said lower area, i.e. to acquire energy from the plenum, thereby obtain a temperature different than the mean temperature of the lower area, and exchange heat with the lower area, and particularly surfaces disposed therein, by radiation.
The acquiring of energy can be performed either by independent heating/cooling means formed within the ceiling, or by exchanging heat either with radiating means disposed at the plenum, or particularly, with air within the plenum.
To make the suspended ceiling susceptible to changes in air temperature within the plenum, the suspended ceiling can be thin, with low U-value (thermal transmittance due to conduction), and with a low heat capacity.
To emit and absorb radiation effectively the suspended ceiling can have high emissivity and be spread vastly to form a large view factor with the lower area.
The HVAC unit can be disposed at the plenum, or at any other location airflow coupled therewith, so as to cool/heat the plenum therefrom. The HVAC unit can be in the form of a radiating element disposed above the suspended ceiling and directed thereto, or particularly, in the form of an air conditioning unit, e.g., a fancoil unit, configured to cool and circulate the air in the plenum, and thereby affect the temperature of the suspended ceiling.
The air convection module can be wall embedded or a stand alone unit, and any of the openings can be disposed either independently, integral with the suspended ceiling, or integral with a wall.
The wall can be a wall from which the suspended ceiling extends, optionally perpendicularly, and the openings can be spaced from each other to a distance greater than a thickness of said suspended ceiling, to be fitted from either side thereof.
The two opening can define together an air flowing path extending therebetween, from the plenum opening to the lower area opening, and therebeyond, into the plenum opening and out from the lower area opening. Said airflow facilitating unit can extend at least partially at said air flowing path.
When the openings are integral with a wall they can be both disposed in airflow communication with the same side of the wall, i.e., such that they face substantially the same direction, and the air flowing path defined thereby obtains at least partially a C-shape.
Specifically, the plenum opening can have an effective air intake axis along which air is configured to flow into the air convection module, and the lower area opening can have an effective air outtake axis along which air is configured to flow out from said air convection module. Said axes can be substantially parallel.
To contribute to the thermal comfort in the lower area, the air flowing path can extend at least partially along a surface of the lower area. Particularly, the lower area opening can be integrated in a surface of at least one of a wall of the building structure and the suspended ceiling, and define an effective air outlet plane spanning parallel to that surface, so that the portion of the air flowing path extending out therefrom passes parallel and adjacent the other of the two surfaces.
It should be appreciated that the lower area opening can be disposed within a furniture of the lower area, e.g., a closet, and face the lower area indirectly through a wall of the furniture, or directly through an aperture formed therein.
The air convection module can comprise a fixed portion configured to be constantly fixed to a wall of the building structure, and a detachable portion containing at least the airflow facilitating unit, configured to be attached to the fixed portion, and be detached therefrom for maintenance purposes.
The airflow facilitating unit can be configured to passively facilitate airflow, e.g., be in the form of a throttle, or be configured to actively generate airflow, e.g., be in the form of a fan, impeller, or other similar device configured to actively convey air.
The airflow facilitating unit can be disposed between the plenum opening and the lower area opening. Alternatively, the airflow facilitating unit can be disposed at another area effecting flow of air into the plenum opening. For example, the airflow facilitating unit can be in the form of an outlet from the plenum via which air can leave the plenum more easily than through the plenum opening, and be configured to facilitate said airflow by self shutting, thereby making the plenum opening the easiest path available for air to flow out from the plenum.
The control system can be operatively connected to the HVAC unit, optionally by wireless communication, e.g., IR, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.,
It should be appreciated that the control system can be configured to operate the airflow facilitating unit, when operation thereof is effective, i.e., when air within the plenum being conveyed thereby to the lower area is at a different temperature than the temperature in the lower area. As mentioned, the different temperature of air in the plenum is facilitated by operation of the HVAC unit, so that the control system can be configured to operate the air convection unit to convey air from the plenum to the lower area after it receives indication of current or recent operation of the HVAC unit.
Therefore, the operational parameter can be for example current air temperature sensed by a respective temperature sensor disposed in the plenum, current air pressure sensed by a respective pressure sensor in the plenum, current operational state ON/OFF of the HVAC unit, recent operational state ON/OFF of the HVAC unit, or any other parameter indicative of operation of the HVAC unit.
According to an example, the control system is configured to operate both the airflow generating device and the HVAC unit, so indication of operation of the HVAC unit is received integrally therewith.
According to a more particular example, the control system constitutes a part of a general climate control system of the building structure.
According to yet more particular example, the control system is configured to receive indication from a thermal comfort sensing system configured to provide a thermal comfort signal indicative of thermal comfort in the lower area, and operate the airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said thermal comfort signal.
The thermal comfort signal can be indicative of temperature, humidity, pressure, or any other thermal comfort related parameter.
The air convection module is configured to substantially maintain temperature or humidity of air conveyed therethrough from said plenum opening to said lower area opening.
According to an example, the air convection module aforementioned is a first air convection module, and the air convection system further comprises a second air convection module similar to the first air convection module. In that case, the control system can be configured to operate both modules, optionally, in synchronization.
The synchronization can be such that the control system facilitates airflow from a plenum opening to a lower area opening of one of the air convection modules, while facilitating airflow from a lower area opening to a plenum opening of another of the air convection modules, thereby inducing circulation of air between the plenum and said lower area. Such arrangement can solve pressure accumulation problems at the plenum, which can cause distortion of the suspended ceiling, e.g., when the suspended ceiling is a stretch ceiling.
According to an example, the control system comprises a pressure sensing system, e.g., a pressure gauge, within the plenum, configured to sense a pressure parameter indicative of air pressure within the plenum, and is configured to operate, one or both airflow facilitating units, in accordance with readings of said pressure sensor.
It should be appreciated that the airflow facilitating unit can be further configured to selectively facilitate airflow at the opposite direction, i.e., from the lower area opening to the plenum opening. In that case, the control system can be configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit in a back-and-fourth operation mode, where air is firstly being conveyed from the plenum to the lower area, and secondly in the opposite direction, to maintain a predetermined value of the pressure parameter within the plenum.
According to an example the air convection module is integral with the HVAC unit, such that the plenum opening faces an interior of the HVAC system, and the airflow facilitating unit is either a throttle blocking one of the lower area opening and the plenum opening, or an airflow generating device of the HVAC unit. In such example, the lower area opening and the plenum opening can both be formed in the same wall of the HVAC unit, being aligned or disposed below the suspended ceiling.
In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Attention is first directed to
The air convection system 1 is positioned in a room 2 installed with a suspended ceiling, i.e., stretch ceiling 3, dividing the room to a plenum 5 constituting a utility area of the room 2, and a lower living area 6 configured to accommodate residentials of the room.
The plenum 5 is confined between the stretch ceiling 3, the actual ceiling of the room 7, and respective potions of walls 2a-2d of the room 2, and installed with an HVAC unit in the form of a fan coil unit 8, configured to circulate air within the plenum 5 while cooling/heating that air as it flows therethrough.
The fancoil unit 8 is connected to an appropriate ductwork 8a passing through wall 2c of the room 2, configured to facilitate that cooling/heating.
The air convection system 1 is configured to facilitate air conditioning to the lower area 6, and particularly, convection of the heated/cooled air from the plenum 5 to the lower area 6, as will be explained hereinafter.
It should be appreciated that the stretch ceiling 3 functions as a radiant ceiling configured to exchange heat with the heated/cooled air in the plenum 5 by convection, and correspondingly emit/absorb heat to/from the lower area 6 by radiation.
Particularly, the ceiling 3 is configured to acquire or give away energy from/to air in the plenum, by means of said heat convection, obtain a temperature different than the temperature at the lower area 6, and use that temperature difference to exchange heat with the lower area, and particularly surfaces disposed therein such as floor 6a, by radiation.
To make the stretch ceiling 3 susceptible to changes in air temperature within the plenum 5, the ceiling 3 is thin, and is formed from a material rendering it low U-value (thermal transmittance due to conduction), and low heat capacity.
The thickness of the ceiling 3 and the material from which it is made, i.e., a stretchable thin membrane (0.1 mm-1 mm) made of non-metallic PVC also rendering the ceiling 3 high emissivity, i.e., 0.7-0.95, which provide the ceiling the ability to emit and absorb radiation effectively. Further, the spreading of the ceiling 3 across the entire room 2 render it a large view factor with objects at the lower area 6.
It should be appreciated that although radiant cooling/heating from the ceiling 3 can be thermal comfortable for residents of the lower area 6, it can sometimes be needed to boost the radiation effect with another aspect of heat transfer. One option to do so is by convection of cooled/heated air from the plenum 5 to the lower area 6, by means of the air convection module 10, as will be explained hereinafter.
As seen in the figures, the air convection module 10 is embedded in a wall 2a of the room 2, at an area from which the stretch ceiling 3 perpendicularly extends. The air convection module 10 has a plenum opening 15 facing the plenum 5, a lower area opening 16 facing the lower area 6, and an airflow facilitating unit in the form of an impeller fan 11 disposed therebetween. The impeller 11 is configured to convey air from the plenum opening 15 to the lower area opening 16 while maintaining the cooled/heated temperature of the air conveyed therethrough.
The openings 15,16 are spaced from each other to a distance greater than a thickness of the stretched ceiling 3, such that they define together an air flowing path P, bypassing the stretched ceiling 3.
As seen in the figures, the openings 15,16 are disposed in airflow communication with the same side of the wall 2a, i.e., such that the air flowing path P obtains a C-shape therebetween.
Specifically, the air flowing path P extends along an effective air intake axis I of the plenum opening 15, along which air is configured to flow into the air convection module 10, and along an effective air outtake axis O of the lower area opening 16, along which air is configured to flow out from the air convection module 10.
Particularly, the air outtake axis O extends parallel to the axis I, and perpendicularly to an effective air outlet plane PL of the lower area opening 16, spanning parallel to the wall 2a.
When activated, the impeller fan 11 actively generates airflow along the airflow passageway P, from the plenum into the plenum opening 15, from the plenum opening to the lower area opening 16, and out therefrom to the lower area 6. It should be appreciated that the air convection module 10 is built such that when the impeller fan 11 is turned off, airflow along the passageway P is prevented, thereby facilitating selective generation of airflow between the openings 15,16.
To contribute to the thermal comfort in the lower area, the air flowing path P, i.e., the air outtake axis O extends parallel and adjacent the stretched ceiling 3, thereby avoiding direct impact with residentials of the lower area 6.
It should be appreciated that the air convection system 1 further comprises a control system 20, schematically illustrated in
In general, the impeller 11 is configured to be operated by the control system 20 when the ceiling 3 radiates/absorbs heat to/from the lower area 6. Particularly, a user operating a user interface, or a sensor operatively connected to the control system 20, can decide that the heating/cooling of the lower area by radiation is insufficient, and activate the impeller 11 by the control system 20, to boost cooling/heating of the lower area 6 by conveying the cooled/heated air from the plenum 5 into the lower area 6.
Herein, the control system 20 comprises a thermal comfort sensing system 25 operatively positioned at the lower area 6, which is configured to sense a thermal comfort related parameter, e.g., temperature, at the lower area 6.
Correspondingly, the thermal comfort sensing system 25 is configured generate a thermal comfort signal indicative to said parameter, for the control system 20, which in turn is configured to operate the impeller 11 in accordance with said signal, i.e., in accordance with a sensed value of said parameter.
To ensure effective boosting of heating/cooling, i.e., to ensure that the air being conveyed by the impeller 11 from the plenum 5 to the lower area 6 is either heated or cooled with respect to the air at the lower area 6, the control system 20 is configured to operate the impeller only after receiving indication of operation of the fan coil unit, i.e., an operational signal indicative of an operational parameter of the fan coil unit 8.
The operational parameter can be for example current air temperature sensed by a respective temperature sensor disposed in the plenum 5, current operational state ON/OFF of the fan coil unit 8, recent operational state ON/OFF of the fan coil unit 8, or any other parameter indicative of operation of the fan coil unit 8.
The operational state parameter can be determined according to a level of electric current/voltage currently passing in operational components of the fan coil unit 8, or according to any other reading indicative to weather the fan coil unit 8 is currently operating or recently has been operating.
It should be appreciated that when the signal is generated directly by the fan coil unit 8, the control system 20 should be operatively connected thereto to receive that signal.
In the example shown herein, the control system 20 constitutes a part of a general climate control system of the room 2, and is operatively connected to both the fan coil unit 8 and the impeller 11, so that indication of operation of the fan coil unit 8 is received internally.
It should be appreciated that the control system 20 is configured at least to operate the fan coil unit 8 alone, the impeller 11, under a condition that the fan coil unit 8 is already operated or recently has been in operation, or both the impeller 11 and the fan coil unit 8 to simultaneously to boost rapid cooling/heating of the lower area 6.
The control system can be operatively connected to the fan coil unit 8 and the impeller 11 by wired/wireless communication, e.g., IR, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.
Opposed to the impeller 11, the impellers herein are configured to generate airflow in both directions, i.e., from the plenum opening 65,75 to the lower area opening 66,76, and from the lower area opening 66,76 to the plenum opening 65,75.
The air convection system 100, further comprises a control system 80 configured to operate both modules impellers of the modules 60 and 70 in synchronization.
The synchronization herein is such that the control system 80 facilitates airflow from a plenum opening 65,75 to a lower area opening 66,76 of one of the air convection modules 60,70, while facilitating airflow from a lower area opening 66,76 to a plenum opening 65,75 of another of the air convection modules 60,70, thereby inducing circulation of air between the plenum 55 and the lower area 56.
Such arrangement can solve pressure accumulation problems at the plenum 55 caused by one sided extraction/insertion of air thereinto, which can in turn, cause distortion of the stretch ceiling 53.
Another way of solving such pressure accumulation problems is to operate one or both impellers in an intermittent back-and-fourth mode, where on or both impellers are operated for a predetermined time to generate airflow in one direction, and later for another predetermined time to generate airflow in the opposite direction.
The two predetermined times can be identical.
Further, the control system 80 can also include a pressure sensing system 88 incorporated with a pressure gauge configured to sense a pressure parameter indicative of air pressure within the plenum 55. The control system 80 can be configured to operate, one or both impellers, in accordance with readings of the pressure gauge, i.e., in accordance with a sensed value of the parameter, to extract or insert air into/from the plenum 55 and prevent excess pressure or under pressure issues.
The air convection module 110 herein comprises two detachably attached portions, i.e., a fixed portion 110a configured to be constantly fixed to the socket in the wall, and a detachable portion 110b containing the impeller 111. The fixed portion 110a includes an electric socket 117 configured to be operatively connected to the room electricity infrastructure, and the detachable portion 110b includes a respective plug (not seen) configured to be connected to the socket 17 to facilitate power supply for the impeller 111. Such arrangement facilitates easy maintenance of the impeller 111, i.e., easy removal e.g., for cleaning purposes.
Claims
1. An air convection system configured for use in a building structure having a suspended ceiling dividing the building structure to an upper plenum in airflow communication with an HVAC unit, and a lower area, said air convection system comprising:
- an air convection module having a plenum opening configured to face said plenum, a lower area opening configured to face said lower area;
- a controllable airflow facilitating unit configured to selectively facilitate airflow at least from said plenum opening to said lower area opening; and
- a control system configured to receive an operational signal indicative of at least one operational parameter of said HVAC unit, and operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said operational signal.
2. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said airflow facilitating unit is integral in the air convection module between said plenum opening and said lower area opening.
3. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said airflow facilitating unit is further configured to selectively facilitate airflow from said lower area opening to said plenum opening.
4. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said airflow facilitating unit is configured to actively generate airflow.
5. The air convection system according to claim 4, wherein said air convection module is configured to substantially maintain temperature or humidity of air conveyed therethrough from said plenum opening to said lower area opening.
6. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said plenum opening and said lower area opening define together an air flowing path extending therebetween and therebeyond, and wherein said airflow facilitating unit extends at least partially at said air flowing path.
7. The air convection system according to claim 6, wherein said lower area opening is configured to be integrated in a surface of at least one of a wall of said building structure and said suspended ceiling, and defines an effective air outlet plane spanning parallel to said surface.
8. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said air convection module comprises a fixed portion configured to be constantly fixed to a wall of the building structure, and a detachable portion containing at least said airflow facilitating unit, configured to be detachably attached to said fixed portion.
9. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a thermal comfort sensing system configured to provide a thermal comfort signal indicative of thermal comfort in said lower area, and wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said thermal comfort signal.
10. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said air convection module is a first air convection module, and said air convection system comprises a second air convection module similar to the first air convection module, and wherein said control system is configured to operate both modules in synchronization.
11. The air convection system according to claim 10, when dependent in claim 3, wherein said synchronization comprises facilitating airflow from a plenum opening to a lower area opening of one of said air convection modules, while facilitating airflow from a lower area opening to a plenum opening of another of said air convection modules, thereby inducing circulation of air between said plenum and said lower area.
12. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a pressure sensing system configured to sense a pressure parameter indicative of air pressure within said plenum, and wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with readings of said pressure sensing system.
13. The air convection system according to claim 12, wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit to maintain a predetermined value of said pressure parameter.
14. The air convection system according claim 1, wherein said air flowing path is at least partially C-shaped.
15. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said plenum opening has an effective air intake axis along which air is configured to flow into the air convection module, and wherein said lower area opening has an air outtake axis along which air is configured to flow out from said air convection module, and wherein said axes are substantially parallel.
16. The air convection system according to claim 1, further comprising said HVAC unit; wherein said HVAC unit is configured to generate said operational signal, and wherein said control system is further configured to operate said HVAC unit and said airflow facilitating unit in conjunction.
17. A wall comprising a socket configured to accommodate an air convection module of the air convection system according to claim 1.
18. The wall according to claim 17, wherein said socket is accessible only from one side of the wall for installing said air convection module.
19. The wall according to claim 17, being formed integrally with said air convection module, such that both openings are in airflow communication with the same side of the wall.
20. The system according to claim 1, further comprising said suspended ceiling, and wherein said openings of said air convection module are spaced from each other to a distance greater than a thickness of said suspended ceiling, and wherein said suspended ceiling is a radiant ceiling configured to exchange heat with said plenum, and correspondingly emit or absorb heat from said lower area by radiation.
21. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 13, 2021
Publication Date: Dec 21, 2023
Inventors: Shai SHACHRUR (Givat Ela), Mati Matityahu AHARONYAN (Petakh Tikva), Amit HALLER (Belmont, CA), Binyamin GIL (Belmont, CA), Israel Jay KLEIN (Kfar Saba)
Application Number: 18/247,167
