U.S. patent application number 14/734119 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for hybrid fan assembly and active heating pumping system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Phononic Devices, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert B. Allen, Daniel Barus, Jesse W. Edwards, Justin W. English, Paul Brian McCain, Mattias K-O Olsson, Ricardo E. Rodriguez, Marshall Stanley, Robert Joseph Therrien, Abhishek Yadav.
Application Number | 20150354869 14/734119 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53490271 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150354869 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Edwards; Jesse W. ; et
al. |
December 10, 2015 |
HYBRID FAN ASSEMBLY AND ACTIVE HEATING PUMPING SYSTEM
Abstract
Embodiments of a hybrid fan and active heat pumping system are
disclosed. In some embodiments, the hybrid fan and active heat
pumping system comprises a fan assembly and an active heat pumping
system comprises a heat pump. The active heat pumping system is
integrated with the fan assembly and is operable to actively cool
or heat air as the air passes through the fan assembly. In some
embodiments, the heat pump comprised in the active heat pumping
system is a solid-state heat pump, a vapor compression heat pump,
or a Stirling Cycle heat pump.
Inventors: |
Edwards; Jesse W.; (Wake
Forest, NC) ; Therrien; Robert Joseph; (Cary, NC)
; Olsson; Mattias K-O; (Durham, NC) ; Allen;
Robert B.; (Winston-Salem, NC) ; Yadav; Abhishek;
(Cary, NC) ; McCain; Paul Brian; (Chapel Hill,
NC) ; Rodriguez; Ricardo E.; (Raleigh, NC) ;
English; Justin W.; (Apex, NC) ; Barus; Daniel;
(Raleigh, NC) ; Stanley; Marshall; (Chapel Hill,
NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Phononic Devices, Inc. |
Durham |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53490271 |
Appl. No.: |
14/734119 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62009499 |
Jun 9, 2014 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/324.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 13/125 20130101;
F24F 5/001 20130101; F28D 15/0266 20130101; F28D 15/0275 20130101;
F04D 29/30 20130101; F04D 29/584 20130101; F25B 23/006 20130101;
F25B 30/02 20130101; F24F 5/0021 20130101; F28D 15/0208 20130101;
F24F 7/007 20130101; F24F 5/0096 20130101; F04D 25/088 20130101;
F24F 2221/54 20130101; F24F 5/0042 20130101; F04D 29/5826 20130101;
F25B 21/02 20130101; Y02E 60/14 20130101; F04D 17/16 20130101; F04D
29/38 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25B 30/02 20060101
F25B030/02 |
Claims
1. A hybrid fan and active heat pumping system, comprising: a fan
assembly; and an active heat pumping system comprising a heat pump,
the active heat pumping system being integrated with the fan
assembly and being operable to actively cool or heat air as the air
passes through the fan assembly.
2. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1 wherein
the heat pump comprised in the active heat pumping system is one of
a group consisting of: a solid-state heat pump, a vapor compression
heat pump, and a Stirling Cycle heat pump.
3. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1 wherein
the fan assembly comprises a moving blade assembly, and the active
heat pumping system comprises a static heat exchanger array that is
thermally coupled to the moving blade assembly of the fan assembly,
the static heat exchanger array being actively cooled or heated by
the active heat pumping system.
4. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1:
wherein the fan assembly comprises a moving blade assembly
comprising a plurality of fan blades; and the active heat pumping
system is configured to directly cool or heat the plurality of fan
blades.
5. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1:
wherein the fan assembly comprises a moving blade assembly
comprising a plurality of fan blades; and the active heat pumping
system is configured to directly cool or heat at least one of the
plurality of fan blades.
6. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1 wherein
the active heat pumping system is a cooling system that actively
cools the air as the air passes through the fan assembly, and heat
of work and heat pumped by the heat pump comprised in the active
heat pumping system is managed by one or more techniques from a
group consisting of: directing the heat of work and heat pumped by
the heat pump to and storing the heat of work and heat pumped by
the heat pump in a phase change material; directing the heat of
work and heat pumped by the heat pump away from an immediate
vicinity of users in an occupied space cooled by the hybrid fan and
active heat pumping system by a pumped fluid loop; directing the
heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump away from an
immediate vicinity of users in an occupied space cooled by the
hybrid fan and active heat pumping system by a forced convection
system; and directing the heat of work and heat pumped by the heat
pump away from an immediate vicinity of users in an occupied space
cooled by the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system and allowed
to pool naturally in upper levels of the occupied space.
7. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1 wherein
the active heat pumping system is a cooling system that actively
cools the air as the air passes through the fan assembly, and heat
of work of the heat pump comprised in the active heat pumping
system is removed from an occupied space cooled by the hybrid fan
and active heat pumping system to an isolated and external heat
sink or condensing assembly.
8. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1 wherein
the fan assembly comprises a plurality of blades.
9. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 8 wherein
the fan assembly further comprises a housing, wherein the heat pump
is comprised in the housing.
10. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 8
wherein the active heat pumping system is a cooling system that
further comprises a cold side heat exchange assembly that is
operable to transfer heat from at least one of the plurality of
blades to a cold side of the heat pump such that the at least one
of the plurality of blades is actively cooled by the heat pump.
11. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 10
wherein the cold side heat exchange assembly comprises a
thermosiphon assembly that is integrated with the at least one of
the plurality of blades.
12. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 10
wherein the fan assembly is a ceiling fan assembly operable to blow
the air cooled by the active heat pumping system downward into an
occupied space, and the active heat pumping system further
comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to
reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an upper
area of the occupied space.
13. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 10
wherein the fan assembly is a ceiling fan assembly operable to blow
the air cooled by the active heat pumping system downward into an
occupied space of a residential or commercial structure, and the
active heat pumping system further comprises a hot side heat
exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of work and heat
pumped by the heat pump to an unoccupied space of the residential
or commercial structure.
14. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 10
wherein the fan assembly is a ceiling fan assembly operable to blow
the air cooled by the active heat pumping system downward into an
occupied space of a residential or commercial structure, and the
active heat pumping system further comprises a hot side heat
exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of work and heat
pumped by the heat pump to an area external to the residential or
commercial structure via an external reject assembly.
15. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 14
wherein the hot side heat exchange assembly further comprises a
heat transport mechanism operable to transport heat from a hot side
of the heat pump to the external reject assembly.
16. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 10
wherein the fan assembly is a standing fan assembly.
17. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 16
wherein the active heat pumping system further comprises a hot side
heat exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of work and
heat pumped by the heat pump to a remote reject assembly.
18. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 8
wherein the active heat pumping system is a cooling system, and the
active heat pumping system comprises a stator that is actively
cooled by the heat pump, the stator being operable to cool the air
as the air passes through the fan assembly.
19. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1
wherein: the fan assembly is an impeller-based ceiling fan assembly
comprising a plurality of rotating discs that operate as horizontal
impellers that draw air from a lower region of an occupied space
cooled or heated by the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system
into a central region of the plurality of rotating discs and then
propels the air radially outward from the plurality of rotating
discs; and the active heat pumping system is operable to cool or
heat the air as the air is drawn into the central region of the
plurality of rotating discs from the lower region of the occupied
space.
20. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 19
wherein outer edges of the plurality of rotating discs are
structured to direct the air that is propelled radially outward
from the plurality of rotating discs at a downward angle.
21. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 19
wherein the active heat pumping system further comprises a hot side
heat exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of work and
heat pumped by the heat pump to an upper area of the occupied
space.
22. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 19
wherein the occupied space is in a residential or commercial
structure, and the active heat pumping system further comprises a
hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of
work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an unoccupied space of the
residential or commercial structure.
23. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 19
wherein the occupied space is in a residential or commercial
structure, and the active heat pumping system further comprises a
hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of
work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an area external to the
residential or commercial structure via an external reject
assembly.
24. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 1
wherein: the fan assembly is an centrifugal fan assembly comprising
a plurality of vertical impellers, an air inlet, and an air outlet,
the plurality of vertical impellers operable to rotate around the
air inlet to draw the air into the air inlet and blow the air out
of the air outlet, the centrifugal fan assembly being configured as
a ceiling fan such that the centrifugal fan assembly is operable to
draw air from a lower region of an occupied space cooled or heated
by the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system into the air inlet
and blow the air out of the air outlet; and the active heat pumping
system is operable to cool or heat the air as the air is drawn into
the air inlet of the centrifugal fan assembly from the lower region
of the occupied space.
25. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 24
wherein the active heat pumping system further comprises a hot side
heat exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of work and
heat pumped by the heat pump to an upper area of the occupied
space.
26. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 24
wherein the occupied space is in a residential or commercial
structure, and the active heat pumping system further comprises a
hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of
work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an unoccupied space of the
residential or commercial structure.
27. The hybrid fan and active heat pumping system of claim 24
wherein the occupied space is in a residential or commercial
structure, and the active heat pumping system further comprises a
hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to reject heat of
work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an area external to the
residential or commercial structure via an external reject
assembly.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent
application Ser. No. 62/009,499, filed Jun. 9, 2014, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to fans (e.g.,
ceiling fans or standing fans) and more particularly relates to a
hybrid fan assembly and active cooling or heating system.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Traditional systems used to pump heat to and from a room to
reduce or increase air temperature have several shortcomings. In
particular, they become inefficient at smaller capacities, they
generate an uncomfortable level of noise in occupied spaces from
the mechanical components, they can be cumbersome and even
dangerous to install, they often require dedicated electrical power
outlets to manage surge loads, and they often use toxic and
environmentally harmful refrigerants to provide heat pumping.
[0004] A common alternative to these traditional systems is to
simply use a basic fan (e.g., a ceiling fan or a standing fan). A
typical fan can provide an apparent and virtually silent
improvement in comfort level derived from either the enhancement of
the body's natural cooling system or increase in the delivery rate
of warmed air to a user of the fan. This effect is provided simply
by the localized increase in the mass flow of air, not by any
reduction or increase in air temperature. In humid climates this
effect is greatly reduced and the apparent relief is largely
eliminated because the air cannot easily absorb any additional
water vapor. In hot humid environments, when trying to provide a
cooling effect, a fan, at best, simply stirs the hot, moist air
around, ensuring uniform discomfort. At worst, the mechanical and
electrical work done by a fan will actually warm the air being
moved, thereby reversing the desired effectiveness of the appliance
in providing cooling relief to the user. In cold, dry environments,
additional air flow from a fan without a true increase in air
temperature can actually cause the user to feel colder and less
comfortable by the same mechanism that provides the cooling effect
in warmer conditions.
[0005] In light of the discussion above, there remains a need for
systems and methods for cooling or heating an occupied space (e.g.,
a room, an outdoor patio, etc.) that address at least some of the
aforementioned problems associated with traditional systems for
pumping heat and traditional fans.
SUMMARY
[0006] Embodiments of a hybrid fan and active heat pumping system
are disclosed. In some embodiments, a hybrid fan and active heat
pumping system comprising a fan assembly and an active heat pumping
system comprising a heat pump are provided. The active heat pumping
system is integrated with the fan assembly and is operable to
actively cool or heat air as the air passes through the fan
assembly. In some embodiments, the heat pump comprised in the
active heat pumping system is a solid-state heat pump, a vapor
compression heat pump, or a Stirling Cycle heat pump.
[0007] In some embodiments, the fan assembly comprises a moving
blade assembly, and the active heat pumping system comprises a
static heat exchanger array that is thermally coupled to the moving
blade assembly of the fan assembly. The static heat exchanger array
is actively cooled or heated by the active heat pumping system.
[0008] In some embodiments, the fan assembly comprises a moving
blade assembly comprising multiple fan blades, and the active heat
pumping system is configured to directly cool or heat the plurality
of fan blades. In some embodiments, the fan assembly comprises a
moving blade assembly comprising multiple fan blades, and the
active heat pumping system is configured to directly cool or heat
at least one of the plurality of fan blades.
[0009] In some embodiments, the active heat pumping system is a
cooling system that actively cools the air as the air passes
through the fan assembly, and the heat of work and heat pumped by
the heat pump comprised in the active heat pumping system is
managed by one or more techniques. These one or more techniques
include directing the heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump
to and storing the heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump in
a phase change material, directing the heat of work and heat pumped
by the heat pump away from an immediate vicinity of users of the
fan assembly in an occupied space cooled by the hybrid fan and
active heat pumping system by a pumped fluid loop, directing the
heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump away from an
immediate vicinity of users in an occupied space cooled by the
hybrid fan and active heat pumping system by a forced convection
system, and/or directing the heat of work and heat pumped by the
heat pump away from an immediate vicinity of users in an occupied
space cooled by the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system and
allowed to pool naturally in upper levels of the occupied
space.
[0010] In some embodiments, the active heat pumping system is a
cooling system that actively cools the air as the air passes
through the fan assembly, and the heat of work of the heat pump
comprised in the active heat pumping system is removed from an
occupied space cooled by the hybrid fan and active heat pumping
system to an isolated and external heat sink or condensing
assembly.
[0011] In some embodiments, the fan assembly comprises multiple
blades. Further, in some embodiments, the fan assembly further
comprises a housing, wherein the heat pump is comprised in the
housing.
[0012] In some embodiments, the active heat pumping system is a
cooling system that further comprises a cold side heat exchange
assembly that is operable to transfer heat from at least one of the
blades of the fan assembly to a cold side of the heat pump such
that the at least one of the blades is actively cooled by the heat
pump. In some embodiments, the cold side heat exchange assembly
comprises a thermosiphon assembly that is integrated with the at
least one blade.
[0013] In some embodiments, the fan assembly is a ceiling fan
assembly operable to blow the air cooled by the active heat pumping
system downward into an occupied space, and the active heat pumping
system further comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly that is
operable to reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump to
an upper area of the occupied space.
[0014] In some embodiments, the fan assembly is a ceiling fan
assembly operable to blow the air cooled by the active heat pumping
system downward into an occupied space of a residential or
commercial structure, and the active heat pumping system further
comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to
reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an
unoccupied space of the residential or commercial structure.
[0015] In some embodiments, the fan assembly is a ceiling fan
assembly operable to blow the air cooled by the active heat pumping
system downward into an occupied space of a residential or
commercial structure, and the active heat pumping system further
comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to
reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an area
external to the residential or commercial structure via an external
reject assembly. Further, in some embodiments, the hot side heat
exchange assembly further comprises a heat transport mechanism
operable to transport heat from a hot side of the heat pump to the
external reject assembly.
[0016] In some embodiments, the fan assembly is a standing fan
assembly. Further, in some embodiments, the active heat pumping
system further comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly that is
operable to reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump to
a remote reject assembly.
[0017] In some embodiments, the active heat pumping system is a
cooling system, and the active heat pumping system comprises a
stator that is actively cooled by the heat pump. The stator is
operable to cool the air as the air passes through the fan
assembly.
[0018] In some embodiments, the fan assembly is an impeller-based
ceiling fan assembly comprising multiple rotating discs that
operate as horizontal impellers that draw air from a lower region
of an occupied space cooled or heated by the hybrid fan and active
heat pumping system into a central region of the rotating discs and
then propels the air radially outward from the rotating discs. The
active heat pumping system is operable to cool or heat the air as
the air is drawn into the central region of the rotating discs from
the lower region of the occupied space. In some embodiments, outer
edges of the rotating discs are structured to direct the air that
is propelled radially outward from the rotating discs at a downward
angle.
[0019] In some embodiments, the active heat pumping system further
comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to
reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an upper
area of the occupied space. In other embodiments, the occupied
space is in a residential or commercial structure, and the active
heat pumping system further comprises a hot side heat exchange
assembly that is operable to reject heat of work and heat pumped by
the heat pump to an unoccupied space of the residential or
commercial structure. In other embodiments, the occupied space is
in a residential or commercial structure, and the active heat
pumping system further comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly
that is operable to reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat
pump to an area external to the residential or commercial structure
via an external reject assembly.
[0020] In some embodiments, the fan assembly is a centrifugal fan
assembly comprising multiple vertical impellers, an air inlet, and
an air outlet. The vertical impellers are operable to rotate around
an air inlet to draw the air into the air inlet and blow the air
out of the air outlet. The centrifugal fan assembly is configured
as a ceiling fan such that the centrifugal fan assembly is operable
to draw air from a lower region of an occupied space cooled or
heated by the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system into the
air inlet and blow the air out of the air outlet. The active heat
pumping system is operable to cool or heat the air as the air is
drawn into the air inlet of the centrifugal fan assembly from the
lower region of the occupied space.
[0021] In some embodiments, the active heat pumping system further
comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly that is operable to
reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump to an upper
area of the occupied space. In other embodiments, the occupied
space is in a residential or commercial structure, and the active
heat pumping system further comprises a hot side heat exchange
assembly that is operable to reject heat of work and heat pumped by
the heat pump to an unoccupied space of the residential or
commercial structure. In other embodiments, the occupied space is
in a residential or commercial structure, and the active heat
pumping system further comprises a hot side heat exchange assembly
that is operable to reject heat of work and heat pumped by the heat
pump to an area external to the residential or commercial structure
via an external reject assembly.
[0022] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the
present disclosure and realize additional aspects thereof after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0023] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming
a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the
disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the
principles of the disclosure.
[0024] FIGS. 1A through 1C illustrate exemplary embodiments of a
hybrid fan and active heat pumping assembly in which blades of a
fan assembly are cooled and heat is rejected to upper layers of an
occupied space;
[0025] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate exemplary embodiments of a hybrid
fan and active heat pumping assembly in which blades of the fan
assembly are cooled and heat is rejected to an unoccupied
space;
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid fan
and active heat pumping assembly in which cooling is provided by
one or more stators and heat is rejected to an unoccupied
space;
[0027] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary embodiments of a hybrid
fan and active heat pumping assembly in which blades of the fan
assembly are cooled and heat is rejected to an external
reject/condensing assembly;
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid fan
and active heat pumping assembly in which cooling is provided by
one or more stators and heat is rejected to an external
reject/condensing assembly;
[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid fan
and active heat pumping assembly in which the fan assembly is an
impeller based fan assembly; and
[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid fan
and active heat pumping assembly in which the fan assembly is a
standing fan assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary
information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the
embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the
accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will
understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize
applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein.
It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall
within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.
[0032] The natural cooling effect provided by moving air can
significantly improve the apparent comfort level of a user of a fan
in some conditions. Further cooling, or warming in colder
conditions, the real temperature of the flowing air, by even a
small margin, can realize significant gains in comfort level. As
such, the real and apparent comfort level felt by the user of the
fan can be greatly enhanced, in all conditions, by the addition of
a heat pumping system to provide actively heated or sub-cooled air
to the occupied environment. Some embodiments of the present
disclosure utilize active heat pumping (e.g., solid state, vapor
compression, Stirling Cycle heat pump or similar) to provide
heating or cooling for either a static heat exchanger array that is
thermally coupled to a moving blade assembly of a fan (by some heat
transport fluid such as a traditional refrigerant, air, water,
etc.) or direct heating or cooling of the moving fan blades
themselves to generate heated or sub-cooled air that is then
delivered to the user by the fan assembly. In some embodiments, the
heat of work from the active heat pumping system and the heat
pumped from the occupied space is managed by one or more
combinations of: [0033] Directed to and stored in a Phase Change
Material (PCM), [0034] Directed away from the user's immediate
vicinity by a pumped fluid loop and/or forced convection system, or
[0035] Allowed to pool naturally in the upper levels of the
occupied space, taking advantage of natural air exchange between
the occupied space and the external environment through existing
ventilation paths.
[0036] In other embodiments, the heat of work generated by the
active heat pumping system is removed from the occupied space
completely, e.g., to an isolated and external sink or
reject/condensing assembly by one or some combination of, but not
limited to, the following: a forced convection system, a pumped
single phase fluid loop, a conductive plate, a passive/active two
phase transport system, or some other heat transport system.
[0037] Before continuing the description of embodiments of the
present disclosure, it is beneficial to define some terms, as
follows: [0038] Fan Assembly: As used herein, a "fan assembly"
refers to any device for producing a current of air. In some
embodiments, a fan assembly is any of various devices consisting
essentially of a series of radiating vanes or blades attached to
and revolving with a central hub-like portion to produce a current
of air (e.g., a ceiling fan, a wall fan, a standing fan, a
centrifugal fan (i.e., a squirrel cage fan), or the like). In other
embodiments, a fan assembly is a bladeless fan assembly (e.g., a
bladeless fan assembly that produces a current of air via impeller
technology). [0039] Hybrid Fan and Active Heat Pumping System: As
used herein, a "hybrid fan and active heat pumping system" is a
system that integrates a fan assembly and an active heat pumping
system. [0040] Active Heat Pumping System: As used herein, an
"active heat pumping system" is any system that utilizes a heat
pump to actively pump heat. The active heat pumping system can be a
cooling system that utilizes a heat pump to actively cool or a
heating system that utilizes a heat pump to actively heat. [0041]
Cooling System: As used herein, a "cooling system" is any active
heat pumping system that utilizes a heat pump for cooling. A
cooling system includes a heat pump, a cold side heat exchange
assembly (e.g., a thermosiphon assembly), and a hot side heat
exchange assembly (e.g., a heat sink). The heat pump operates to
cool that which is in thermal contact with the cold side exchange
assembly and to reject, or remove, the heat of work and heat pumped
by the heat pump via the hot side heat exchange assembly. [0042]
Heating System: As used herein, a "heating system" is any active
heat pumping system that utilizes a heat pump for heating. [0043]
Heat Pump: As used herein, a "heat pump" is any system or device
that actively moves heat from one location (the "source") at a
lower temperature to another location (the "sink") at a higher
temperature. Some examples of a heat pump are a solid-state heat
pump, a vapor compression heat pump, and a Stirling Cycle heat
pump. While not being limited thereto, in some embodiments, a heat
pump is a solid-state heat pump including one or more
thermoelectric modules, where each thermoelectric module includes
multiple thermoelectric devices (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
8,216,871, entitled METHOD FOR THIN FILM THERMOELECTRIC MODULE
FABRICATION, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for
its teachings of a thermoelectric module).
[0044] FIGS. 1A through 1C illustrate some examples of a hybrid fan
and active heat pumping system 10 according to some embodiments of
the present disclosure. In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the hybrid
fan and active heat pumping system 10 includes a fan assembly and a
heat pumping system that is integrated with the fan assembly. In
this example, the fan assembly is a ceiling fan assembly configured
to hang from a ceiling of an occupied space 12 in a residential
structure (e.g., a home, an apartment, an outdoor patio, etc.) or a
commercial structure (e.g., a restaurant, an office, a warehouse,
etc.). The fan assembly includes a housing 14 and a number of
blades 16 that rotate around a central axis of the fan assembly.
The active heat pumping system includes one or more heat pumps (not
shown) within the housing 14 that actively cool one or more (and
possibly all) of the blades 16 of the fan assembly via
corresponding cold side heat exchange assemblies 18 (e.g.,
thermosiphons) that is (are) integrated with (i.e., within or
attached to) the corresponding blades 16. The active heat pumping
system also includes a hot side heat exchange assembly (e.g., a
metal heat sink) (not shown) that operates to, in this example,
reject the heat of work and heat pumped by the heat pump(s) to
upper levels of the occupied space 12.
[0045] FIG. 1B is another illustration of the hybrid fan and active
heat pumping system 10 of FIG. 1A that illustrates a heat pump(s)
20 and a hot side heat exchange assembly 22 within the housing 14
of the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system 10.
[0046] FIG. 1C is a more detailed illustration of one specific
implementation of the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system 10
of FIG. 1A. The implementation of FIG. 1C is a non-limiting
example. As illustrated, a motor 24 (e.g., a Direct Current (DC)
motor) turns a shaft 26 that is connected to the housing 14 to
thereby rotate, in this example, both the housing 14 and the blades
16 of the fan assembly. In this example, the heat pump(s) 20 are,
e.g., solid-state heat pumps or heat pumps including a
Thermoelectric Module(s) (TEM(s)). For each of the blades 16 that
is cooled, the cold side heat exchange assembly 18 for that blade
16 is a thermosiphon assembly including a thermosiphon 18A that is
integrated with the blade 16 and a heat exchanger 18B, or
condenser, that operates to provide heat exchange between
evaporated coolant from the thermosiphon 18A and the cold side of
the corresponding heat pump 20. As will be appreciated by one of
ordinary skill in the art, the thermosiphon 18A provides passive
two-phase heat transport between the corresponding blade 16 and the
cold side of the corresponding heat pump 20. Notably, while the
thermosiphon 18A is used in this example, other heat transport
mechanisms may be used for heat exchange between the blades 16 and
the cold side of the heat pump(s) 20. In this example, the hot side
heat exchange assembly 22 is a heat sink. Further, in this example,
insulation 28 is included in the housing 14 to insulate the active
heat pumping system from the housing 14.
[0047] During operation, the heat pump(s) 20 are active while the
fan assembly is turned on. As air passes through the fan assembly,
the air is cooled by the (cooled) blades 16 such that cooled air is
blown downward into the occupied space 12 by the hybrid fan and
active heat pumping system 10. In this example, the heat of work
and heat pumped by the heap pump(s) 20 is rejected to the upper
levels of the occupied space 12 by the hot side heat exchange
assembly 22. This heat is removed from the occupied space 12 via
natural air exchange or, e.g., a Heating, Ventilating, and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) return of a HVAC system that otherwise cools
the occupied space 12.
[0048] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate embodiments of the hybrid fan and
active heat pumping system 10 that are similar to that of FIGS. 1A
and 1B, respectively, but where the heat of work and pumped heat
are rejected to an unoccupied space 30. More specifically, the
occupied space 12 is a space within a larger structure, which may
be a residential structure or a commercial structure. The
unoccupied space 30 is a space within the larger structure that is
not occupied by people (e.g., an attic). In this example, the
hybrid fan and active heat pumping system 10 includes an air duct
32 that directs the heat rejected by the hot side heat exchange
assembly 22 to the unoccupied space 30 above the occupied space 12.
Note that the air duct 32 may, in some embodiments, be part of the
housing 14 of the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system 10.
While not illustrated, in one specific embodiment, the active heat
pumping system is as descried above with respect to FIG. 1C.
[0049] Thus far, the embodiments described with respect to FIGS. 1A
through 1C and FIGS. 2A and 2B cool the blades 16 of the fan
assembly. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
In some embodiments, rather than (or in addition to) cooling the
blades 16 of the fan assembly, the active heat pumping system
includes a static heat exchanger that cools the air either before
or after the air passes through the blades 16 of the fan assembly.
In this regard, FIG. 3 illustrates one example of the hybrid fan
and active heat pumping system 10 that includes one or more cooled
stators 34 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
In this example, the blades 16 are not cooled directly.
[0050] As discussed above, the fan assembly includes the housing 14
and the blades 16 that rotate around the central axis of the fan
assembly. The active heat pumping system includes one or more heat
pumps (not shown) within the housing 14 that actively cool the
stators 34 via corresponding cold side heat exchange assemblies
(e.g., thermosiphons) that is (are) integrated with (i.e., within
or attached to) the corresponding stators 34. The active heat
pumping system also includes a hot side heat exchange assembly
(e.g., a metal heat sink) (not shown) that operates to, in this
example, reject the heat of work and heat pumped by the heat
pump(s) 20 to the unoccupied space 30. Note, however, that in other
embodiments, the heat may be rejected to the upper layers of the
occupied space 12 in a manner similar to that which is done in the
embodiment of FIGS. 1A through 1C. In some particular embodiments,
the details of the active heat pumping system are otherwise the
same as that described above with respect to FIG. 1C.
[0051] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate embodiments similar to that of
FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively, but where the heat is rejected to an
external reject/condensing assembly 36. The external
reject/condensing assembly 36 is "external" in that it is external
to the larger structure (e.g., on the outside of a house or
building). As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the hot side heat
exchange assembly 22 includes a heat transport assembly 38 that
transports the rejected heat from the heat pump(s) 20 to the
external reject/condensing assembly 36. This heat transport
assembly 38 may be any suitable active or passive heat transport
assembly. Some examples of the heat transport assembly 38 are a
thermosiphon assembly that provides passive two-phase heat
transport and a pumped fluid loop.
[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the hybrid fan and
active heat pumping system 10 that is similar to that of FIG. 3 but
where heat is rejected to the external reject/condensing assembly
36 as described above with respect to FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0053] Thus far, the description has focused on embodiments in
which the fan assembly is a rotary ceiling fan including multiple
blades 16. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
Any suitable fan assembly may be used. In this regard, FIG. 6
illustrates the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system 10
according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure in
which the fan assembly is a horizontal impeller based ceiling fan.
This fan assembly is a bladeless fan assembly that operates based
on impeller technology. As illustrated, the fan assembly includes
multiple discs 40. Each disc 40, other than possibly the upper-most
disc 40, is an annulus or ring (i.e., the center area of the disc
40 is hollow). The hollow center areas of the discs 40 define an
air inlet of the fan assembly. During operation, a motor rotates
the discs 40. The as discs 40 rotate, air is drawn upward from the
occupied space 12 into the center areas of the discs 40 (i.e., into
the air inlet of the fan assembly). This air is then propelled
radially outward from the discs 40 through spaces between the discs
40. While not essential, for more information regarding a
horizontal impeller-based fan assembly, the interested reader is
directed to International Patent Application Publication No. WO
2014/070628 A1 entitled LAMINAR FLOW RADIO CEILING FAN, which
discloses embodiments of an example horizontal impeller-based fan
assembly and is hereby incorporated herein by reference for its
teachings on horizontal impeller-based fan assemblies.
[0054] In FIG. 6, the active heat pumping system is integrated with
the fan assembly. In particular, the active heat pumping system
includes a heat pump(s) 42, a cold side heat exchange assembly 44,
and a hot side heat exchange assembly 46. In this example, the heat
pump(s) 42, the cold side heat exchange assembly 44, and the hot
side heat exchange assembly 46 are stationary (i.e., do not
rotate), whereas the discs 40 do rotate. The heat pump(s) 42
operate to cool the air drawn from the occupied space 12 into the
center area of the discs 40 (i.e., the air inlet of the fan
assembly) via the cold side heat exchange assembly 44. The cold
side heat exchange assembly 44 may include, for example, a heat
sink or similar structure that enables air to flow through the air
inlet of the fan assembly and radially outward through the spaces
between the discs 40 while also providing heat exchange between the
air and the cold side of the heat pump(s) 42 as the air is drawn
into the air inlet of the fan assembly and propelled radially
outward by the rotating discs 40.
[0055] The hot side heat exchange assembly 46 operates to, in this
example, reject the heat of work and heat pumped by the heat
pump(s) 42 to upper levels of the occupied space 12. However, in
other embodiments, the heat may be rejected to an unoccupied space
or to an external reject/condenser assembly. In one particular
example, the hot side heat exchange assembly 46 includes a heat
sink within a housing 48 of the hybrid fan and active heat pumping
system 10 and a heat transport assembly (not shown) for
transporting heat from the hot side(s) of the heat pump(s) 42 to
the heat sink.
[0056] While not illustrated, the discs 40 may be structured to at
least slightly angle the air propelled radially outward from the
discs 40 downward into the occupied space 12. For example, the
outer edges of the discs 40 may be structured to direct the air
downward, at least slightly to encourage the desired air flow
pattern. As one specific example, the outer edges of the discs 40
may include vanes that direct the air downward. As another specific
example, the outer edges of the discs 40 may be tapered (e.g., the
top disc 40 is larger than the next disc 40, which is larger than
the next disc 40, and so on) to encourage the downward flow of the
air.
[0057] Importantly, other types of impeller-based fan assemblies
can be used. For example, in other embodiments, the fan assembly in
FIG. 6 can be replaced with a vertical impeller or centrifugal fan
assembly (also known as a squirrel cage fan) configured, or
arranged, such that air from the lower levels of the occupied space
12 is drawn up into the air inlet of the centrifugal fan assembly
where the air is cooled by the integrated active heat pumping
system. The centrifugal fan assembly then blows the cooled air
horizontally out of an air outlet of the centrifugal fan
assembly.
[0058] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1A through 1C, FIGS. 2A and 2B,
FIG. 3, FIGS. 4A and 4B, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, the fan assembly of
the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system 10 is a ceiling fan
assembly. However, the present disclosure is not limited to a
ceiling fan assembly. In this regard, FIG. 7 illustrates an
embodiment of the hybrid fan and active heat pumping system 10 in
which the fan assembly is a standing fan assembly. The standing fan
assembly includes multiple blades 50 that are cooled by the active
heat pumping system in a manner similar to that described above
with respect to FIGS. 1A through 1C. In particular, the active heat
pumping system includes a heat pump(s) within a housing 52 of the
hybrid fan and active heat pumping system 10. The heat pump(s)
operate to cool one or more of the blades 50 via corresponding cold
side heat exchange assemblies (not shown) that are integrated with
the corresponding blades 50. The cold side heat exchange assemblies
may include any suitable heat transport/exchange mechanism such as,
for example, a pumped fluid loop for exchanging heat between the
blades 50 and the cold side of the heat pump(s). In this example,
the active heat pumping system includes a hot side heat exchange
assembly that rejects the heat of work and heat pumped by the heat
pump(s) to a remote reject/condensing assembly 54 via a suitable
heat transport assembly 56, which in this example is incorporated
into an arm 58 of the standing fan assembly. However, the hot side
heat exchange assembly may alternatively reject the heat via, e.g.,
a local heat sink, which may be located within, e.g., the housing
52.
[0059] Notably, while the embodiments of FIGS. 1A though 1C, FIGS.
2A and 2B, FIG. 3, FIGS. 4A and 4B, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are
embodiments in which the active heat pumping system is a cooling
system, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some
embodiments, the active heat pumping system is a heating system.
For example, the heat pumping systems of FIGS. 1A though 1C, FIGS.
2A and 2B, FIG. 3, FIGS. 4A and 4B, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 may
alternatively be heating systems that operate to heat air blown by
the fan assemblies.
[0060] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and
modifications to the preferred embodiments of the present
disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered
within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims
that follow.
* * * * *