U.S. patent application number 11/722374 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for ventilation register and ventilation systems.
This patent application is currently assigned to Oy Halton Group Ltd.. Invention is credited to Rick A. Bagwell, Andrey Livchak.
Application Number | 20080207109 11/722374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39650954 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080207109 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bagwell; Rick A. ; et
al. |
August 28, 2008 |
Ventilation Register and Ventilation Systems
Abstract
Displacement ventilation systems are generally poor performers
when it comes to heating. The instant patent application discusses
devices and systems for improving heating performance while
retaining the benefits of displacement ventilation without
wholesale co-location of independent space conditioning
systems.
Inventors: |
Bagwell; Rick A.;
(Scottsville, KY) ; Livchak; Andrey; (Bowling
Green, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MILES & STOCKBRIDGE PC
1751 PINNACLE DRIVE, SUITE 500
MCLEAN
VA
22102-3833
US
|
Assignee: |
Oy Halton Group Ltd.
Vantaa
FI
|
Family ID: |
39650954 |
Appl. No.: |
11/722374 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
January 6, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2006/000587 |
371 Date: |
December 28, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60593350 |
Jan 6, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/237 ;
236/49.1; 454/251; 454/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2110/50 20180101;
F24F 1/0059 20130101; F24F 2110/64 20180101; F24F 11/30 20180101;
F24F 13/082 20130101; F24F 2110/12 20180101; F24F 11/74 20180101;
F24F 7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/237 ;
454/251; 454/329; 236/49.1 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/08 20060101
F24F007/08; F24F 11/00 20060101 F24F011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 19, 2005 |
US |
2005/017793 |
Claims
1. A ventilation system for an occupied space, comprising: at least
one supply register configured as a displacement-type diffuser
providing a flow of ventilation air at non-mixing rates; at least
one first return register configured to withdraw air at a level
proximate a ceiling of said occupied space and at least one second
return register configured to withdraw air from said occupied space
at a level near the floor thereof; a control system configured to
control the flow of heated or cooled air to said at least one
supply register and selectively to control the flow of air into
said at least one first return register and said at least one
second return register such that during cooling, cooled air is
supplied through said at least one supply register and air
withdrawn through said at least one first return register and
during heating, warm air is supplied through said at least one
supply register and to withdrawn through said at least one second
return register.
2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said control system is further
configured to regulate a volume rate of flow through said at least
one second return register such that the rate of air exchanged in
said occupied space is responsive to outdoor air temperature.
3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said control system includes a
feedforward control mechanism with at least one outdoor air
temperature input.
4. A system as in claim 1, wherein said control system includes a
contamination detector located in a central return duct and the
control system is configured to deactivate a fan responsively to a
detection of a contaminant by said contamination detector.
5. A system as in claim 1, further comprising an air circulating
fan controlled to mix air in said space during said heating
mode.
6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said air circulating fan is
controlled responsively to a local temperature gradient in said
occupied space.
7. A ventilation system for an occupied space, comprising: at least
one supply register configured as a displacement-type diffuser
providing a flow of ventilation air at non-mixing rates; at least
one return register configured to withdraw air from said occupied
space; a mixing fan configured to mix air in said occupied space. a
control system configured to control the flow of heated or cooled
air to said at least one supply register, to control said mixing
fan to circulate air in said occupied space only during a heating
mode.
Description
[0001] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a conditioned space with
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation registers in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively.
[0002] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a first embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively.
[0003] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a second embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively.
[0004] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a third embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively.
[0005] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a fourth embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively.
[0006] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a fifth embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively.
[0007] FIGS. 7A and 713 illustrate a sixth embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively.
[0008] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an alternative embodiment in
which the return registers are changed over from heating to cooling
mode, but the supply registers are the same.
[0009] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an alternative embodiment in
which the return registers are changed over from heating to cooling
mode, and hydronic heating is used in place of force air
heating.
[0010] FIG. 10 is an illustration of a central control system that
may be used with various embodiments discussed herein.
[0011] FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a room with multiple discharge
registers 1125, 1135, and 1145.
[0012] FIGS. 12A and 12B show an embodiment of a configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register in displacement and mixing
modes, respectively, in which independent dampers are used to
modulate total air volume, for example based on a VAV scheme.
[0013] FIG. 13 illustrates a simple example of a controller for VAV
control as well as mode switching for a configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register such as illustrated at
FIGS. 12A and 12B.
[0014] FIG. 14 illustrates seventh embodiment of a configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register.
[0015] These figures are intended to show the concept and are not
intended to show details of components whose designs are well
understood in the field such as linkages, motor details, bearings,
supports, etc. These are within the competence of skilled
practitioners and are not discussed in detail herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrates a configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 550 in an occupied room
570. People 510 in the room are warmer than the surrounding air,
causing air to rise by convection. The room also contains a
cooling-mode return register 530 in the upper portion of the room,
and a heating mode return register 535 in the lower portion of the
room. The temperature of the air within the room 570 is illustrated
by isothermal layers of constant temperature air 505.
[0017] When the room is in displacement mode, which is generally
used for cooling the conditioned space, the mixing/displacement
ventilation register 550 supplies cooled air at a low velocity from
a relatively high portion and over a relatively large face area of
the mixing/displacement ventilation register 550. This cool air
flows along the lower portion of the room. Any heat source within
the room such as the occupants 510, causes air warmed by that
source to rise by convective forces resulting in warm zones
indicated by dips in contours of constant temperature 515. This
rising air draws fresh cool air pooled near a floor 521 to replace
the polluted and stale air surrounding the occupants 510. The warm
air pools near the ceiling and is withdrawn by the return register
530. The higher regions of the room 570 remain relatively
undisturbed and since it is not within the lower part of the
room--the inhabited space--the air in contact with and breathed by
occupants is relatively fresh. By not cooling this uninhabited
space, the cooling efficiency is increased. Also, the immediate
replacement of air polluted by heat sources increases comfort.
[0018] FIG. 1B illustrates the mixing mode for heating the occupied
space. In this mode, the mixing/displacement ventilation register
550 supplies heated air at a high velocity through a relatively
small face area as illustrated by jets 551. This warm air flows
rapidly along the lower portion of the room before it has time to
rise from convection and encourages mixing of all the air in the
room, as indicated by the randomly arranged and directed arrows
552. This rapid movement causes mixing of the air in the room due
to the initial velocity of the jets 551, their turbulence, and the
tendency of the heated air naturally to rise due to convection. The
heating mode return register 535 removes cooled air which tends to
sink from convection.
[0019] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a first embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 550 in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively. Referring now to FIG.
2A the first embodiment of a configurable mixing/displacement
ventilation register 550 is in displacement, or cooling, mode. As
the cool air 160 enters the ventilation register plenum 130 it
causes a thermal actuator 105 to move a thrust rod 110 attached to
a baffle cage 115 toward a lower section 120 of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 550, thereby moving it to
the floor base 150 of the configurable mixing/displacement
ventilation register 550. The baffle cage 115 allows air to pass
through it and serves to spread the flow over the large face area
that includes a larger baffle housing 100 of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 550. The open area of the
baffles 100 and 115 is such as to cause resistance across the face
of the baffles 100 and 115 thereby spreading the incoming flow 160
broadly over the face area of the baffles 110 and 115. This results
in flow over the majority of the outer diffusion baffle 100 of the
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 550 as
indicated by arrows 145. The air flowing from the baffle cage 115
and the baffle housing 110 therefore functions as displacement
supply register venting air at a low velocity through relatively
restrictive openings in the baffles of the baffle housing 100 and
the baffle cage 115.
[0020] FIG. 2B illustrates the first embodiment in mixing, or
heating, mode. As the warm air 165 enters the ventilation register
plenum 135 it causes thermal actuator 105 to move the baffle cage
115 upwardly to uncover an open outlet 120 of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 550. A bottom 116 of the
baffle cage 115 has a high percentage open area and provides little
resistance to flow as does the open outlet 120. As a result, a
direct flow path through the plenum 135 to the open outlet 120 is
created which results in low restriction--high velocity--flow of
the warm air to the open outlet 120. Thus, most of the heating air
165 passes at a relatively high velocity out the lower, relatively
small face area of the open outlet 120 of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 550. Thus, in the present
configuration, it functions as a mixing supply register.
[0021] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a second embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively. FIG. 3A illustrates
the second embodiment of the configurable mixing/displacement
ventilation register 551 in displacement, or cooling mode. A
transmission 15 is indicated figuratively by a broken line. The
transmission may be formed by any suitable means such as a pulley
or gear system or by means of pushing or pulling or other rotating
members. The details are outside the scope of invention and are
readily created for various design arrangements.
[0022] As cool air 160 enters a ventilation register plenum 230 it
causes the thermal actuator 10, by way of the transmission 15, to
rotate a spring loaded capstan 220 which releases tension on a
chord 225 allowing a spring-loaded cap plate 210 to pivot on an
axis of the capstan/lever 215 to seal the end 212 of the
ventilation register plenum 230. Cool air flow 270 is forced to
spread the flow over the large face area of a flow-restricting
baffle 250 and further distributed by an outer baffle 260. The
capstan 220 also releases tension on a lower pull cord 235
releasing a spring loaded baffle panel 245 to pivot on a
spring-loaded axle 240, securing it flush with the outer baffle 260
of the configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register
551.
[0023] Note that the transmission 15 and the pulley and capstan
components are shown for illustration purposes only and can be
replaced by any suitable mechanism for performing the described
functions. These mechanisms could be mechanical or
electromechanical and performed by means of a thermoactuator such
as a wax motor or a linear actuator powered by electricity or
pneumatic power or controls. There are many possible design
variations and the details are unimportant for understanding the
invention so they are not discussed at length here. Note also that
the views of the present, foregoing, and further embodiments below
are section views of suitable enclosures. They can be rectangular
or other shapes. The materials used may be any combination of
metal, plastic, or other materials suitable for conveying air.
[0024] The resulting configuration illustrated in FIG. 3A allows
the cool air 165 to flow through the outer baffle 260 of the
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 551 in the
manner of a displacement supply register. The open area of the
baffle 260 is such as to cause resistance across the face of the
baffle 260 and the baffle panel 245 thereby spreading the flow 160
broadly over the outer baffle 260 face area of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 551 as indicated by arrows
265. It therefore functions as displacement supply register,
venting air at a low velocity through relatively restrictive
openings of the outer baffle 260 and the baffle panel 245.
[0025] FIG. 3B illustrates the second embodiment of the
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 551 in
mixing, or heating mode. As the heated air 165 enters the
ventilation register plenum 230 it causes the thermal actuator 10
to act through the transmission 15 to rotate the spring-loaded
capstan 220, exerting tension on the cap plate pull cord 225
causing the spring-loaded cap plate 210 to pivot on the axle 215
and open the end 212 of the plenum 230. The capstan 220 also exerts
tension on the lower pull cord 235 causing the spring loaded baffle
panel 245 to pivot on the axis 240, opening the lower portion of
the configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 551. As a
result, most of the heated air 165 passes at a relatively high
velocity out the lower, relatively small face area of an open
outlet 243 of the configurable mixing/displacement ventilation
register 551 so that it functions as a mixing supply register.
[0026] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a third embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 552 in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively. FIG. 4A illustrates
the third embodiment of the configurable mixing/displacement
ventilation register 552 in the displacement, or cooling, mode. As
the cool air 160 enters the ventilation register plenum 330 it
causes the thermal actuator 10 to act upon the transmission 15 to
rotate a spring loaded capstan 320 which releases tension on a
chord 325 allowing a spring-loaded cap plate 310 to pivot on an
axis of capstan/lever 315 to seal the end 312 of a plenum 330. Cool
air flow 370 is forced to spread over the large face area of a
flow-restricting baffle 350. The capstan 320 also releases tension
on a lower pull cord 335 releasing a spring loaded baffle panel 345
to pivot on an axle 340, securing it flush with an outer baffle 304
of the configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 552.
The releasing of the spring loaded baffle panel 345 also releases
tension on a third pull chord 345 allowing a sliding baffle panel
306 to align with the outer baffle 304 allowing a cool air flow 370
flow through the large face area of the two baffle panels 304 and
306 which combine to form a single open baffle or grate 322A.
[0027] The resulting configuration illustrated in FIG. 4A allows
the cool air 160 to flow through the baffle/grate 322A of the
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 552 in the
manner of a displacement supply register. The open area of the
baffle/grate 322 may be such as to cause substantial or little
resistance across the face of the baffle/grate 322. The spreading
of the flow may be provided by the inner baffle 350 or the outer
baffle/grate 322 may assist by providing some resistance as well.
By spreading the flow broadly over the face area of the
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 552 as
indicated by the arrows 365, it functions as displacement supply
register.
[0028] FIG. 4B illustrates the third embodiment of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 552 in mixing, or heating,
mode. As the heated air 165 enters the ventilation register plenum
330, it causes the thermal actuator 10 to act upon the transmission
15 to rotate the spring loaded capstan 320 causing it to exert
tension on the cap plate pull cord 325. This causes the
spring-loaded cap plate 310 to pivot on the axle 315 and open the
end of the plenum 330. The capstan 320 also exerts tension on the
lower pull cord 335 causing the spring loaded baffle panel 345 to
pivot on the axis 340, opening the lower portion of the
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 552. The
pivoting of the spring loaded baffle panel 345 also removes tension
on the third pull chord 345 allowing the sliding baffle panel 306
to close the baffle/shutter 322 preventing the warm air flow 330
from passing through it. The heated air 165 thus passes at a
relatively high velocity out the lower, relatively small face area
of an open outlet 343 of the configurable mixing/displacement
ventilation register 552 so that the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 552 functions as a mixing
supply register.
[0029] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a fourth embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 553 in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively. FIG. 5A illustrates
the displacement, or cooling mode. As the cool air 160 enters a
ventilation register plenum 425 it causes a rotating a thermal
actuator capstan 450 to act upon a pull chord 455 to rotate a
spring loaded flap cover 440 on a pivot 460 to seal off plenum 430.
This action causes the cooled air 160 to enter only a cooling
plenum 405 which is separated from a heating plenum 430 by a middle
wall 435. The open area of the baffle 404 is such as to cause
resistance across the face of the baffle 404 thereby spreading the
flow 160 broadly over the large face area of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 553. This causes it to
function as a displacement supply register venting air at a low
velocity over a large area.
[0030] FIG. 5B illustrates the fourth embodiment of the
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 553 in
mixing, or heating, mode. As the warm air 165 enters the
ventilation register plenum 425 it causes the rotating thermal
actuator capstan 450 to act upon the pull chord 455 to rotate the
spring loaded flap cover 440 on the pivot 460 to seal off the
cooling plenum 405. This action causes the warm air 165 to enter
only the warm plenum 430 which is bound by the middle wall 435 and
a back wall 420. The relatively smaller face area of a heating mode
outlet 475 builds greater back pressure within the warm (heating)
plenum 430 causing the flow 160 to exit through the small face area
of the outlet 475 of the configurable mixing/displacement
ventilation register 553 at high velocity. As a result, the
register 553 functions as a mixing supply register.
[0031] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a fifth embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 554 in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively. FIG. 6A illustrates
the fifth embodiment in displacement, or cooling, mode. As the cool
air 160 enters a ventilation register a plenum 630 it causes the
thermal actuator 10 to act upon a push rod 620 to rotate a cap
plate 610 on a pivot 615 to seal the end of the plenum 630. Cool
air flow 665 is forced to spread over the large face area of a
flow-restricting inner baffle 650 and into a cooling plenum 605.
The movement of the cap plate 610 also releases tension on a lower
baffle panel 645 to pivot on an axle 640, securing it flush with an
outer baffle 604 which forces a cool air flow 665 to spread over
the large face area of a flow-restricting baffle 604.
[0032] The resulting configuration illustrated in FIG. 6A allows
the cool air 630 to flow through the flow-restricting inner baffle
650 then an outer baffle 604 of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 554 in the manner of a
displacement supply register. The open area of the baffle 604 is
such as to cause resistance across the face of the baffle 604 and
lower baffle panel 645 thereby spreading the flow 665 broadly over
the face area of the configurable mixing/displacement ventilation
register 554 as indicated by the arrows 665 and therefore functions
as displacement supply register venting air at a low velocity
through relatively restrictive openings within the outer baffles
604 and the baffle panel 645.
[0033] FIG. 6B illustrates the fifth embodiment of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 554 in mixing, or heating
mode. As the heated air 165 enters the ventilation register plenum
630 it causes the thermal actuator 10 to act upon the push rod 620
to rotate the cap plate 610 on the pivot 615 to open the end of the
plenum 630. This causes engagement of the cap plate 610 and a lever
arm 655 of the baffle panel 645 to swing the baffle panel 645 in an
open position, opening the lower portion of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 554. As a result, the
heated air 165 passes at a relatively high velocity out the lower,
relatively small face area of an open outlet 643 of the
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register 554 so that
it functions as a mixing supply register.
[0034] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a sixth embodiment of a
configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register in
displacement and mixing modes, respectively. FIG. 7A illustrates
the sixth embodiment in displacement, or cooling, mode. Note the
present embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 6A and 6B
so many of the reference numerals are common. As the cool air 160
enters the ventilation register plenum 630 it causes the thermal
actuator 10 to act upon the push rod 620 to rotate the cap plate
610 on the pivot 615 to seal the end of the plenum 630. The cool
air flow 160 is forced to spread over the large face area of the
flow-restricting inner baffle 650 and into the cooling plenum 605.
The resulting configuration illustrated in FIG. 7A allows the cool
air 630 to flow through the flow-restricting inner baffle 650 then
the very open outer baffle 700 of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 555 in the manner of a
displacement supply register. The resistance across the face of the
baffle 650 is such as to cause resistance across the face of the
baffle 650 thereby spreading the flow 750 broadly over the face
area of the baffle 650 and out through the low restriction baffle
700 as indicated by the arrows 710 and therefore functions as
displacement supply register venting air at a low velocity through
relatively restrictive openings within the inner baffles 650 and
the open baffle panel 700.
[0035] FIG. 7B illustrates the sixth embodiment of the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 555 in mixing, or heating
mode. As the heated air 165 enters the ventilation register plenum
630 it causes the thermal actuator 10 to act upon the push rod 620
to rotate the cap plate 610 on the pivot 615 to open the end of the
plenum 630. The heated air 165 thus predominately passes at a
relatively high velocity out the lower, relatively small face area
of an open outlet 643 of the configurable mixing/displacement
ventilation register 555 so that it functions as a mixing supply
register.
[0036] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an alternative embodiment in
which the return registers are changed over from heating to cooling
mode, but the supply registers are in the same configuration in
both heating and cooling mode. Displacement registers 850 are
located in a room 850. Displacement registers 850 are normal
displacement registers installed in a system in which return air
registers 830 and 835 exist. During cooling mode, the displacement
registers 850 deliver cool air at floor level as illustrated and
warm air stratified near the ceiling is returned via return
registers 830. As in previous embodiments, displacement supply air
flow near the floor 821 and is heated by occupants 810 causing
thermal plumes 815 which are indicated by isothermal lines 805.
Warm air 870 near the ceiling is drawn into the return air register
and 830. An air recirculating fan 831, may optionally be provided
to mix warm stratified air in the heating mode. The fan 831 may
positioned at any point in a room including near the floor or in
the middle. Note that where mixing is used, return registers at
only one level may suffice, for example, only one set of return
registers may be used such as those near the ceiling 830 or ones
located at an intermediate height (not illustrated). The
circulating fan 831 may be controlled locally using a sensor for
detecting either cold temperatures near the floor, warm air near
the ceiling, or a floor-ceiling differential temperature.
[0037] FIG. 8B illustrates the alternative embodiment of the
conventional displacement ventilation register 850 in a heating
mode. Heated air enters the room 820 at low velocity and rises. A
return register located near the floor draws cooled air in. By
arranging the return registers at a position remote from the
displacement registers 850, a circulation pattern can be
established in the room that mitigates the undesirable
stratification that can occur when using non-mixing type supply
registers during heating.
[0038] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an alternative embodiment in
which the return registers are changed over from heating to cooling
mode, and hydronic heating is used in place of force air heating.
In the present embodiment, heating is done with a separate heating
system under common control, for example hydronic heating using
hydronic heaters 980. Displacement registers 950 are normal
displacement registers installed in a system in which return air
registers 930 and 935 exist. During cooling mode, the displacement
registers 950 deliver cool air at floor level as illustrated and
warm air stratified near the ceiling is returned via return
registers 930. As in previous embodiments, displacement supply air
flow near the floor and is heated by occupants 915. Warm air 970
near the ceiling is drawn into the return air register and 930.
[0039] FIG. 9B illustrates the alternative embodiment of the
conventional displacement ventilation register 850 in a heating
mode. Heated air enters the room from hydronic heaters. A return
register 935 located near the floor draws cooled air in. By
arranging the return registers at a position remote from the
hydronic heaters 980, a circulation pattern can be established in
the room that mitigates the undesirable stratification that can
occur when using non-mixing type supply registers during
heating.
[0040] In many commercial buildings, heat may be lost through only
one or two walls of an occupied space. For example, in an office
building this is commonly the case. In a preferred embodiment of
the general FIG. 9B embodiment, the rear wall in which at least one
of the return registers 935 is located corresponds to that wall.
This is so that the coldest air, which may be flowing downwardly
along the surface of the "cold" wall, can be drawn into the one or
more return registers 935 rather than mixing with the room air or
causing the lower stratum of the room to get colder. The volume
exchange rate may be sized to match the volume rate of the
convective flow, which is readily predicted based on the outdoor
air temperature, the conductivity and diffusivity of the wall, the
film coefficients and so on according to known techniques. This is
an excellent application for feed-forward or predictive model-based
control because of the unsteady state of the wall system. In a
preferred embodiment, such a model-based control scheme may take
account of outdoor wind speed and direction, in addition to the
obvious one of air temperature. In addition, such preferred
embodiment may take account of conditioned space occupancy and
predicted activity levels (for example, a lookup table based on
time of day) so that activity-induced disturbances in the thermal
convection field can be taken into account.
[0041] Obviously, a feed-forward scheme would not necessarily
explicitly perform all such computations, for example, modeling the
real-time temperature of the wall resulting from internal capacity
and so on. But any control system controlling air exchanges based
on the thermal flow from a cold wall would tend to exchange more
air when it is colder outside than when it is less cold. This makes
the air changes independent of the load, which for a given outdoor
temperature (and possibly other conditions, as discussed), may vary
depending on the activity level, which can add additional heat
generation to the system (e.g. office machinery, lights, etc.). In
addition, many commercial building heating systems do not alter the
air exchange rate in response to load, but instead alter the
delivery temperature. So a system configured to withdraw the air
near a cold wall at a sufficient rate to keep the cold wall-plume
from mixing well with room air would provide a volume flow rate
that is higher when the load is higher (outdoor air is colder). In
addition, the rates would tend to be higher, at times, than the
minimum air change criteria (for ventilation purposes) would
require.
[0042] A simple way of providing the additional level of control
for ameliorating the effect of cold wall convection is to place
temperature sensors on the cold walls or at the level of the floor
near the cold wall or walls.
[0043] In many cases, the cold wall is the outside wall and may be
fitted with a window. This may make the placement of the return
register in the middle of the wall difficult. However, one or more
return registers 935 may be located at the ends of the cold wall on
one or both adjacent perpendicular walls such that air is drawn
from the same lower region of the cold wall.
[0044] The effect of providing substantial air changes in a space
where non-mixing is provided is to push cold air near the floor out
of the room so that warn air, which tends to stratify, can be
pushed down toward the floor. If the flow rate is insufficient, the
floor may remain cold (and therefore uncomfortable), continually
replenished by a cold convective flow from the cold wall (or
walls). Note that a beneficial side effect of this tradeoff of
using displacement registers in heating mode is that the system, by
avoiding mixing, may reduce the risk of injury due to contaminants
in a space. In this case, consider that the general
forced-convective flow is down toward the floor and out the return
register. Referring to FIG. 10, in a central space conditioning
system, one or more contaminant detectors 1016 may be located in a
return air duct and the system shut down if dangerous contaminants
are detected before such contaminants could be distributed in a
building. Examples of detectable contaminants increase all the time
due to enhancements in sensor technology, but examples include
carbon monoxide, volatile organics, opacity, and particulate
counts.
[0045] In many commercial buildings, heat may be lost through only
one or two walls of an occupied space. For example, in an office
building this is commonly the case. In a preferred embodiment of
the general FIG. 9B embodiment, the rear wall in which at least one
of the return registers 935 is located corresponds to that wall.
This is so that the coldest air, which may be flowing downwardly
along the surface of the "cold" wall, can be drawn into the one or
more return registers 935 rather than mixing with the room air or
causing the lower stratum of the room to get colder. The volume
exchange rate may be sized to match the volume rate of the
convective flow, which is readily predicted based on the outdoor
air temperature, the conductivity and diffusivity of the wall, the
film coefficients and so on according to known techniques. This is
an excellent application for feedward or predictive model-based
control because of the unsteady state of the wall system. In a
preferred embodiment, such a model-based control scheme would take
account of outdoor wind speed and direction, in addition to the
obvious one of air temperature. In addition, such preferred
embodiment may take account of conditioned space occupancy and
predicted activity levels (for example, a lookup table based on
time of day) so that activity-induced disturbances in the thermal
convection field can be taken into account. In many cases, the cold
wall is the outside wall and may be fitted with a window. This may
make the placement of the return register in the middle of the wall
difficult. However, one or more return registers 935 may be located
at the ends of the cold wall on one or both adjacent perpendicular
walls such that air is drawn from the same lower region of the cold
wall.
[0046] FIG. 10 is an illustration of a central control system that
may be used with various embodiments discussed herein. A
programmable controller 1000 is connected to various sensors such
as outdoor air temperature 1010, indoor air temperature 1015,
supply air temperature 1030, and return air temperature 1035. The
controller 1000 is also connected to a clock/calendar 1020 and
various actuators for controlling the mechanical state of a space
conditioning system including the actuators of the described
multimode displacement registers, separate heating and cooling
systems, and other mechanical elements described above.
[0047] FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a room with multiple discharge
registers 1125, 1135, and 1145. The discharge pattern of each of
the registers 1125, 1135, and 1145, used individually, is shown at
1100, 1105, and 1110, respectively. In an embodiment of the
invention, to increase mixing with a given volume flow rate and
eliminate dead spots, a single supply volume is differentially
applied to a number of different registers 1125, 1135, and 1145
with the majority of the flow being output by a subset of all the
different registers 1125, 1135, and 1145 at any given time. Thus,
for a given flow volume, the discharge velocity at any given time
will be higher than if the same flow volume were distributed more
uniformly to all registers 1125, 1135, and 1145. The above may be
accomplished with any kind of register equipped with a flow-volume
adjusting capability. The flow pattern may be shifted, for example,
on a time-basis such that all flow is supplied to register 1125 for
a period of a minute, then to register 1135 for a minute, and
finally to register 1145 for a minute, then repeating and so on.
The cycle of shifting can be varied to change faster or slower.
Note that in the above embodiment, registers 1125, 1135, and 1145
may be configurable mixing/displacement ventilation registers
according to any of the embodiments described herein. In one
embodiment of the invention, flow may be cycled among the registers
as described above, but only in the heating mode where a high
velocity mixing effect is used whilst in a cooling mode, all
registers are used since displacement ventilation is employed for
cooling.
[0048] In an alternative embodiment, a single register 1150 has
multiple outlets, each aimed in different directions as indicated
by arrows 1155. The flow is directed to each outlet in turn in a
cycling pattern such that most of the supply flow is directed a
single direction and then shifted to the next direction in turn.
This creates varying flow patterns. The latter may be accomplished
using a ventilation register device with an internal flow director
such that only one inlet connection needs to be made to the supply
ductwork.
[0049] Referring now to FIG. 14, a configurable mixing/displacement
ventilation register 1400 has an internal plenum space 1430 defined
by top, 1484, rear 1481, and side 1482 and 1483 panels and a tilted
baffle plate 1415 toward a front 1440. Air is supplied to the
internal plenum space 1430 through an inlet collar 1460 that is
attachable to an external duct system. A movable bottom plate 1425
is hinged at an edge 1425A thereof. The bottom plate 1425 is shown
in an intermediate position between a heating mode, in which the
bottom plate 1425 drops down allowing air in the plenum space 1430
to exit through a slot 1475 and a cooling mode in which the bottom
plate 1425 is in a raised position forcing all air through the
tilted baffle panel 1415. The slot is partly defined by a
horizontal plate 1420. The bottom plate 1425 may be actuated by,
for example, by a mechanical actuator 1465 which may be a thermal
motor, for example, or an actuator controlled by an external or
internal control mechanism (not shown in the present drawing).
[0050] In the cooling mode, air flows into the plenum space 1430
and is forced through the tilted baffle panel 1415 and then through
a front baffle panel 1410. Little or no air escapes through the
slot 1475 because, in the cooling mode, the bottom plate 1425 is in
the up, or closed, position, thereby separating the plenum space
1430 from the slot 1475. The angle of the tilted baffle panel 1415
makes the plenum-space 1430 progressively narrower toward the end
of the plenum space 1430 that is remote from the inlet collar 1460.
This helps to make the flow through the tilted baffle panel 1415
uniform along its face. Air then exits the configurable
mixing/displacement ventilation register 1400 through the front
baffle panel 1410 by passing through the gap 1435. The size of the
front baffle panel 1410 is relatively large and the average
velocity through the front baffle panel 1410 is relatively low
consistent with the function of a displacement-type register.
[0051] The configurable mixing/displacement ventilation register
1400 is preferably located adjacent or near a floor. In the heating
mode, the bottom plate 1425 drops down allowing air to escape from
the plenum space 1430 into the slot 1475 and out. Although some air
will still escape the plenum space 1430 by flowing through the
tilted baffle panel 1415 and then through the front baffle panel
1410, much of it also escapes through the slot 1475. The
configuration overall may be designed such that the flow through
the slot 1475 in the heating mode is relatively high, consistent
with mixing-type ventilation.
[0052] This causes heated air to be projected (along the floor, in
applications where the configurable mixing/displacement ventilation
register 1400 is located adjacent or near the floor) well into the
ventilated space. The velocity through the slot 1475 may be such
that warm air from the front baffle panel 1410 is induced into the
flow from the slot 1475.
[0053] According to an optional feature of the FIG. 14 embodiment,
one or more flow deflector plates 1455 may be provided to deflect
flow through the tilted baffle panel 1415 in the cooling mode. In
the heating mode, the flow deflector plates 1455 may pivot down and
against the tilted baffle panel 1415.
[0054] In the heating mode the flow deflector plates 1455 may serve
to partially (or completely) block the tilted baffle panel 1415
thereby forcing more air to pass through the slot. An arm may
connect the flow deflector plates 1455 to the bottom plate 1425 so
that the flow deflector plates 1455 are moved in unison with the
bottom plate 1425 by the actuator 1465.
[0055] Note that in various foregoing embodiments, the bottom
portion of the register remains fixed and flow is directed in a
horizontal direction. By comparison, prior art multimode register
devices, generally designed for commercial applications, direct air
downwardly during a heating mode requiring the bottom to change
configuration and may result in a change in overall height of the
unit. According to inventive embodiments described herein, the
bottom remains fixed and the space taken up by the register unit
remains fixed. This is believed to be desirable in a floor-mounted
register. Also, by directing high velocity flow adjacent the floor,
a more persistent jet--a wall jet--may be generated as compared to
a free jet which tends to lose momentum faster.
* * * * *