U.S. patent application number 12/300359 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-23 for component for sound absorption and air conditioning.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.. Invention is credited to Klaus Breuer, Philip Leistner, Klaus Sedlbauer.
Application Number | 20090183943 12/300359 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38191292 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090183943 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leistner; Philip ; et
al. |
July 23, 2009 |
COMPONENT FOR SOUND ABSORPTION AND AIR CONDITIONING
Abstract
The invention relates to a component for sound absorption and
air conditioning (2), which is characterized in that a
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) is coated with
photocatalytically active material that can be irradiated by UV
light sources (3), wherein the air can be guided along the planar
structure (1) and/or through the planar structure (1). The
component thereby has a front side facing towards a room (5) and a
rear side facing away from a room, the rear side being coated with
photocatalytically active material.
Inventors: |
Leistner; Philip;
(Stuttgart, DE) ; Breuer; Klaus; (Aschau, DE)
; Sedlbauer; Klaus; (Holzkirchen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur
Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
Munchen
DE
|
Family ID: |
38191292 |
Appl. No.: |
12/300359 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
April 28, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2007/003781 |
371 Date: |
December 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
181/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 8/167 20210101;
F24F 13/24 20130101; A61L 9/205 20130101; F24F 3/16 20130101; F24F
8/22 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
181/224 |
International
Class: |
E04F 17/04 20060101
E04F017/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 022 083.8 |
Claims
1. Component for sound absorption and air conditioning (2) with a
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) coated with photocatalytically
active material, which planar structure can be irradiated by UV
light sources (3), characterized in that the air can be guided
along the planar structure (1) and/or through the planar structure
(1), wherein the component has a front side facing towards a room
(5) and a rear side facing away from the room, the rear side being
coated with photocatalytically active material.
2. Component according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the sound-absorbing planar structure (1) is a
microperforated plate, film or membrane or a plate absorber.
3. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
photocatalytically active material comprises or contains, e.g., the
photocatalytically active form of titanium dioxide.
4. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) or the rear side (2) thereof
is embodied in a structured manner to increase the
photocatalytically active surface and has webs or ribs, for
example, for this purpose.
5. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that an active
supply of the air to be conditioned to the rear space behind the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) can be achieved by means of
devices for air conveying (4), for example, ventilators.
6. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) has additional openings in
order to ensure a lower pressure loss with flow-through.
7. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the UV
light sources (3) are, e.g., UV light-emitting diodes or the UV
light sources (3) at the same time emit visible light for direct or
indirect lighting.
8. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) can be heated and/or cooled or
has an inner layer (7) that can be heated or cooled.
9. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) is transparent and on the rear
side (2) of which the photocatalytically active material is applied
on some parts.
10. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
room-delimiting surface lying opposite the rear side (2) of the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) is likewise coated with
photocatalytically active material or is, e.g., mirrored as a
reflective surface.
11. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
component is part of a channel (8) or chamber of a ventilation
system.
12. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
component can be attached or is attached to room-delimiting
surfaces in buildings.
13. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
component can be attached or is attached in the interior space or
engine compartment of means of transport, e.g., as part of the
cladding.
14. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the
component is part of an enclosure or housing for machines or
equipment.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a component for sound absorption
and air conditioning with which the acoustic and thermal room
properties and the lighting quality and air quality in rooms and
means of transport are controlled.
PRIOR ART
[0002] A number of concepts and components for sound absorption are
known in acoustics, in particular in room acoustics. In recent
years, considerable progress has been made in creating components
that have low space and material requirements and can be integrated
into the desired architectural room design.
[0003] One group of these components are microperforated absorbers.
For example, a microperforated sound absorber is known from DE 197
54 107 C1, which comprises microperforated foils or thin panels.
Several foils or panels are thereby provided in any arrangement to
one another and are hung horizontally or diagonally in the room. An
extension of the functionality results when these panels are parts
of ventilation ducts, as described, e.g., in DE 197 30 355 C1. In a
transparent embodiment according to DE 43 15 759 C1, additional
design possibilities likewise result, such as, e.g., as insulating
elements in front of windows as well as in front of lights. Links
are hitherto unknown which serve for the simultaneous control of
other room properties, such as room air temperature and room air
quality. In order to make rooms cozy overall, however, it is also
necessary to regulate these parameters in addition to acoustic
conditioning. In particular the removal of undesirable foreign
substances (contaminants) in the air or undesirable (volatile
organic odorous) substances from the air is a crucial task that is
difficult to achieve by air circulation alone.
[0004] Of course, numerous types of air conditioning are known on
which, however, economic demands are also made, and they should
also manage with a minimum of space if possible. A special form for
the combined influencing of room acoustics and room air quality is
described in DE 101 49 414 A1. Perforated gypsum fiber board or
gypsum plaster board are thereby covered with vessels or flat
elements that absorb sound due to their fibrous or porous nature
and with corresponding material selection (e.g., zeolite) are also
suitable for passive air purification (incorporation of
contaminants). Apart from the question of the exhaustion of the air
purifying effect of these passive effects, they differ from the
so-called semi-active principles (photocatalysis) on the one hand
in terms of substance (e.g., titanium dioxide as an additive) and
on the other hand through the independence from UV light. UV light
(daylight) is a prerequisite for photocatalysis that is used or
exploited, e.g., with enriched wall coatings (textiles, wallpaper).
The deficits of all of these components are the limited design
range, the lack of multifunctionality and thus the applicability in
interior rooms, also in view of the minimal available space.
[0005] DE 693 24 574 T2 describes an air conditioning method for
rooms on the basis of photocatalysis. To this end, an electric
general-purpose light is attached in a room. Furthermore, a thin
film of a photocatalyst of solid semiconductor material is applied
at least to a part of the internal surface of the room. Thin film
and lamp are arranged such that the thin film is illuminated by the
lamp. In the wavelength range between 300 nm and the band gap
energy of the solid semiconductor material, the light intensity
striking the thin film is 0.001-1 mW/cm.sup.2. It is discernible
that with this approach to room air conditioning it is to be
accepted that the thin film is visible and the room has to be
illuminated.
Specification
[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a
space-saving possibility that can be adapted to a desired room
design for damping the sound, influencing the temperature and
improving the air quality. This object is attained through the
component according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous
embodiments are found in the subordinate claims. To solve the
problem, a component for sound absorption and for air conditioning,
in particular for room air conditioning, is proposed. The component
has a sound-absorbing planar structure coated with
photocatalytically active material, which planar structure can be
irradiated by UV light sources. It is characterized in that the air
can be guided along the planar structure and/or through the planar
structure. A planar structure is thereby to be understood to be not
only a structure with a flat surface. Of course, it can also be any
other surfaces, such as also curved or domed surfaces. In general,
the surface of the planar structure will be adapted to the form of
the room-enclosing surface.
[0007] The component is further characterized by a front side
facing towards the room and a rear side facing away from the room,
the rear side being coated with photocatalytically active material.
In this case, the room means the room in which the air is to be
conditioned and in which the noise level is to be reduced. This is
not the space that is located between the rear side of the
component and a room-enclosing surface, such as a wall. The UV
light sources and the photocatalytically active material can thus
be arranged on the rear side that is invisible to a person located
in the room, which means architectural requirements can be met.
Furthermore, it is possible to allow the air to be conditioned to
flow past the rear side, whereby a higher proportion of the air
flows past the surface than on the front side, since a larger space
is available there. Furthermore, with a component of this type with
a small space requirement, the function of sound absorption as well
as of air conditioning can be achieved.
[0008] A suitable sound-absorbing planar structure is a
microperforated plate, film or membrane or a microperforated plate
absorber. Microperforated components of this type have proven
useful for sound absorption. With the component that is to be used
for sound absorption as well as for room air conditioning, a
microperforated, sound-absorbing planar structure has the advantage
that the conditioned room air can flow into the room through the
microperforation.
[0009] A suitable photocatalytically active material comprises, for
example, the photocatalytically active form of titanium dioxide. It
is also possible for it to have further constituents and this
contains only titanium dioxide. The photocatalytically active form
of titanium dioxide has proven to be suitable for air
conditioning.
[0010] In order to increase the effectiveness of the component for
room air conditioning, an increase of the photocatalytically active
surface can be achieved by it being embodied in a structured manner
and having webs or ribs, for example, for this purpose. With at
most a small increase in the space needed for the component, its
functionality can thus be increased or a smaller component can be
used with the same functionality. Accordingly, the same
functionality can also be achieved more cost-effectively.
[0011] To improve the room air conditioning, an active supply of
the air to be conditioned to the rear space behind the
sound-absorbing planar structure can be achieved by means of
devices for air conveying, for example, with ventilators. The
disadvantage frequently associated with air-conveying devices of
increased noise emission is less serious with the component
according to the invention, since a sound absorption is
provided.
[0012] Additional openings in the sound-absorbing planar structure
reduce the sound absorption only to a relatively small extent. The
flow resistance occurring with the flowing-through of the planar
structure with the conditioned room air, however, is markedly
reduced by the openings.
[0013] UV light-emitting diodes, for example, are suitable as UV
light sources. They provide sufficient UV radiation for
photocatalytic room air conditioning with low energy consumption.
If UV light sources are used that at the same time emit visible
light, the visible light can be used for direct or indirect
lighting. The requirements of the room air conditioning and
lighting with cost-effective light sources with relatively low
energy consumption can thus be met. With this embodiment, a
transparent planar structure should be used. Light can thus
penetrate into the room at least through these areas to which no
photocatalytically active material is applied.
[0014] If the sound-absorbing planar structure can be heated and/or
cooled or has an inner layer that can be heated or cooled, the
component can also be used for air conditioning the room. A further
function can thus be achieved without any appreciably increased
space requirement of the component.
[0015] Corresponding architectural requirements can be met through
the use of a transparent sound-absorbing planar structure on the
rear side of which the photocatalytically active material is
applied on some parts. The desired functionality is maintained
thereby.
[0016] To improve the room air conditioning, the room-delimiting
surface lying opposite the rear side of the sound-absorbing planar
structure can likewise be coated with photocatalytic material. A
much more effective surface for photocatalytic conditioning is thus
available. If the room-delimiting surface is embodied as a
reflective surface, an increased UV radiation strikes the
photocatalytically active rear side of the sound-absorbing planar
structure without more powerful UV light sources that are thus more
expensive in acquisition and/or operation having to be used.
[0017] The component is also suitable as a part of a channel or
chamber of a ventilation system. The conditioned air that is
supplied to the room thus does not carry so much noise into the
room. In the channel or the chamber of the ventilation system a
sound damper is thus realized with which an air conditioning is
possible at the same time.
[0018] Since the component is suitable for room air conditioning
and sound absorption in rooms of a building, it is advantageous if
it can be attached or is attached to room-delimiting surfaces in
buildings.
[0019] Air conditioning and sound absorption also play a role in
particular in interior spaces of means of transport. Here it is
favorable if the component can be attached or is attached as part
of the cladding, for example. The same applies to the engine
compartment of means of transport, in particular when they are
accessed by people for whom a conditioned air must be available in
the engine compartment. Even if a complete closure of the engine
compartment from the environment is not possible, so that an air
exchange is unavoidable, it is favorable if the air in the engine
compartment is conditioned. This thus avoids poor air being emitted
into the environment with the unavoidable air exchange. This
applies in particular when it is not possible to exchange air in a
controlled manner and to condition only the exchanged air. With the
noise emission of means of transport, sound proofing is generally
necessary.
[0020] The component is also suitable as a part of an enclosure or
housing for machines or equipment. This is above all the case when
sound damping is necessary and at the same time uncontrolled air
exchange with the environment is unavoidable. The above-referenced
considerations for engine compartments of means of transport apply
analogously.
[0021] The invention is described in more detail below based on the
figures. They show:
[0022] FIG. 1: Diagrammatic representation of the sound-absorbing
planar structure (1), e.g., as a microperforated plate, the rear
side (2) of which is provided with a coating of photocatalytically
active material and is irradiated by UV light sources (3) and past
which the air (6) of the room (5) is guided.
[0023] FIG. 2: Sectional representation of a section of the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1), the rear side (2) of which
and the openings of which are provided with a coating of
photocatalytically active material.
[0024] FIG. 3: Sectional representation of a section of the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) in structured form, e.g., with
webs on the rear side, with photocatalytically active coating of
the rear side (2).
[0025] FIG. 4: Sectional representation of a section of the
sound-absorbing planar structure (1) with an inner layer (7) that
can be heated or cooled.
[0026] FIG. 5: Diagrammatic representation of the sound-absorbing
planar structure (1) as part of a channel (8).
[0027] According to the invention it was recognized that it is
possible to use the rear space necessary for the acoustic effect of
a thin sound-absorbing planar structure (1), e.g., comprising
microperforated plates, for the function of the active improvement
of the air quality (purification), FIG. 1. To this end the rear
side (2) and the openings (walls of the microperforations) of the
planar structure (1) are to be provided with a coating of
photocatalytically active material, e.g., of the photocatalytically
active form of titanium dioxide, FIG. 2. If the coating has a
certain porosity or roughness, this contributes to the increase of
the sound-absorbing effect of the microperforation. At the same
time, a coating of this type contributes to the self-cleaning of
the openings.
[0028] To activate the air purification, air (6) is guided out of
the room (5) through the rear space of the planar structure (1) and
optionally through the openings thereof, and at the same time the
coated rear side (2) thereof is irradiated by artificial UV light
sources (3), e.g., preferably UV light-emitting diodes. The use of
UV light-emitting diodes a few millimeters in size promises a
particularly space-saving embodiment of the components.
[0029] To increase the photocatalytically active surface, the
planar structure (1) can be correspondingly structured, e.g., in
the form of webs or ribs, FIG. 3. A coating of the other surface
limiting the rear space behind the planar structure (1) with a
photocatalytically active material or its embodiment as a
(light)-reflecting surface, e.g., in the form of a mirrored
surface, serves the same purpose.
[0030] To meet another room function, the light sources (3) can be
used for direct or indirect illumination. If a use of the light
sources (3) is also desirable for direct lighting purposes, a
transparent microperforated material can be selected for the planar
structure (1) and the coating of the rear side (2) carried out only
over part of the surface. The permeability for the UV portion of
the light can likewise be ensured by material selection. The
portion penetrating through the microperforations is negligible in
view of the perforation surface proportion of up to under one
percent.
[0031] With suitable positioning in the room (5), the air guidance
can be driven by the given room air flow or supported by air
conveyance devices (4), e.g., ventilators. If a flow-through of the
openings of the planar structure (1) is provided, additional
ventilation openings in the planar structure (1) can prove to be
useful in order to carry out this air transport with a lower
pressure loss.
[0032] The particular freedom of choice of material (metal,
plastic) for microperforated planar structures (1) offers the best
prerequisites for a geometrical formability and for an optimal
coating of the rear side (2). At the same time it allows the
simplest possible integration of a further function: the thermal
conditioning (heating, cooling). To this end, e.g., a metallic
microperforated planar structure (1) can be used as a heated or
cooled plate. As an alternative thereto, an interior layer (7) much
less than one millimeter in thickness, FIG. 4, can act between two
congruent parts of the microperforated planar structure (1). In
this case--apart from a paint coat--a four-layer arrangement
results, the thickness of which, however, can easily be less than
one millimeter.
[0033] The thermal function of the planar structure (1) has a
positive effect in two respects. Firstly, it contributes to the
thermal conditioning of the room (5) and secondly it increases the
effectiveness of the active air purification.
[0034] The thermally active interior layer (7) can also comprise a
membrane or film with integrated heating coils, wherein
plane-parallel surfaces must be ensured hereby. With respect to a
cost-saving and precise manufacture, it is advantageous to carry
out the microperforation of the planar structure (1) after
assembling the individual layers.
[0035] Overall, it is therefore a matter not only, for instance, of
the addition of functions, but instead of the targeted use and
integration of interactions between the design features of the
individual functions. These cannot be achieved with separate
functional components. It is important to achieve a reduction of
assembly costs through the combination. Furthermore certain
requirements, e.g., for sound absorption and air conditioning,
often occur together. Thus machines that require a special sound
damping can also require a special room air conditioning. Problems
of noise and air deterioration associated with a machine can thus
be solved with one component.
[0036] Suitable embodiments for the thin sound-absorbing planar
structure (1) are also foil absorbers or even unperforated plate
absorbers. Through the active supply of the air to be conditioned,
the quantity of the air to be conditioned can be substantially
increased. The fundamentally disadvantageous flow noises, e.g., of
the ventilator, are reduced in the rear space of the planar
structure (1) by the sound-absorbing effect thereof, so that this
common disadvantage of devices for air conditioning actively flowed
through is omitted with the combination with a sound absorber. In
fact, this connection can also be utilized when component and
planar structure (1) are parts of a channel (8), e.g., sound
absorber, or of a partial area of a ventilation system, FIG. 5.
[0037] The largely free formability of the planar structure (1)
renders possible applications in buildings as well as in means of
transport.
* * * * *