U.S. patent application number 14/959945 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-19 for supply and exhaust air terminal device.
The applicant listed for this patent is HALTON OY. Invention is credited to Kimmo HYOTYNEN, Heimo ULMANEN.
Application Number | 20170016632 14/959945 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51868861 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170016632 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ULMANEN; Heimo ; et
al. |
January 19, 2017 |
SUPPLY AND EXHAUST AIR TERMINAL DEVICE
Abstract
A method and a supply and exhaust air terminal device arranged
in a chilled beam system. The terminal comprises a supply air
chamber into which supply air is led through at least one supply
air opening from a supply air duct, wherein the supply air chamber
is arranged in the first end of the chilled beam; and an exhaust
air chamber through which exhaust air is led from a room space into
an exhaust air duct through at least one exhaust air opening,
wherein the exhaust air chamber is arranged in the second end of
the chilled beam and separated from the supply air chamber. The air
terminal device further comprises an adjusting device configured to
adjust the at least one supply air opening and the at least one
exhaust air opening; and an actuator for displacing the adjusting
device, wherein displacing the adjusting device causes the air flow
to be obstructed through the at least one supply air opening and
through the at least one exhaust air opening.
Inventors: |
ULMANEN; Heimo; (Kausala,
FI) ; HYOTYNEN; Kimmo; (Villahde, FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HALTON OY |
Kausala |
|
FI |
|
|
Family ID: |
51868861 |
Appl. No.: |
14/959945 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2013/0616 20130101;
F24F 1/0047 20190201; F24F 11/75 20180101; F24F 1/0014 20130101;
F24F 1/01 20130101; F24F 1/0041 20190201; F24F 13/12 20130101; F24F
2013/0608 20130101; F24F 11/72 20180101; F24F 1/0035 20190201; F24F
13/26 20130101; F24F 13/072 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 1/00 20060101
F24F001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 7, 2014 |
EP |
14192288.0 |
Claims
1. A supply and exhaust air terminal device configured to be
arranged in a chilled beam system, comprising: a supply air chamber
into which supply air is led through at least one supply air
opening from a supply air duct, wherein the supply air chamber is
configured to be arranged in a first end of a chilled beam; and an
exhaust air chamber through which exhaust air is configured to be
led from a room space into an exhaust air duct through at least one
exhaust air opening, wherein the exhaust air chamber is configured
to be arranged in a second end of the chilled beam and separated
from the supply air chamber; an adjusting device configured to
adjust the at least one supply air opening and the at least one
exhaust air opening; and an actuator for displacing the adjusting
device, wherein displacing the adjusting device causes the air flow
to be obstructed through the at least one supply air opening and
through the at least one exhaust air opening.
2. The air terminal device according to claim 1, the adjusting
device comprising: at least one opening configured to interact with
the at least one supply air opening; and at least one opening
configured to interact with the at least one exhaust air opening,
wherein the form of the at least one opening is configured to cause
the air flow through the supply air opening to correspond to the
air flow though the exhaust air opening.
3. The air terminal device according to claim 1, the adjusting
device comprising a solid regulating plate.
4. The air terminal device according to claim 1, the air terminal
device comprising: a distribution chamber; a nozzle chamber
comprising nozzles or a nozzle gap; at least one mixing chamber;
and at least one heat exchanger, whereby the supply air flow is
guided from the distribution chamber: to the nozzle chamber, from
where the supply air flow is further guided via the nozzles or the
nozzle gap to said at least one mixing chamber, where the supply
air flow induces a circulated air flow to flow from the room being
air-conditioned via said at least one heat exchanger to said at
least one mixing chamber, from which the combined air flow composed
of the supply air flow and circulated air flow is guided to the
room being air-conditioned, and to the supply air chamber, from
which a separate supply air flow is further guided directly to the
room being air-conditioned, wherein the nozzle chamber is divided
into at least two partial nozzle chambers, and wherein the
adjusting device is arranged between the distribution chamber and
the first nozzle chamber, the second nozzle chamber and the supply
air chamber such that the adjusting device is arranged to open and
close the air flow connection from the distribution chamber to the
first partial nozzle chamber and/or the second partial nozzle
chamber and/or the supply air chamber.
5. The air terminal device according to claim 4, wherein the first
partial nozzle chamber, the second partial nozzle chamber and the
supply air chamber each comprise on that surface which is against
the distribution chamber an inlet opening, and that the adjusting
device consists of a regulating plate comprising openings, whereby
the adjusting device is arranged to open and close the desired
connection from the distribution chamber to the first partial
nozzle chamber and/or the second partial nozzle chamber and/or the
supply air chamber.
6. A method for a supply and exhaust air terminal device configured
to be arranged in a chilled beam system, the air terminal
comprising: a supply air chamber into which supply air is led
through at least one supply air opening from a supply air duct,
wherein the supply air chamber is configured to be arranged in a
first end of a chilled beam; and an exhaust air chamber through
which exhaust air is configured to be led from a room space into an
exhaust air duct through at least one exhaust air opening, wherein
the exhaust air chamber is configured to be arranged in a second
end of the chilled beam and separated from the supply air chamber;
and the method comprising: adjusting the at least one supply air
opening and the at least one exhaust air opening by an adjusting
device; and displacing the adjusting device by an actuator, causing
obstruction of the air flow through the at least one supply air
opening and through the at least one exhaust air opening.
7. The method according to claim 6, the adjusting device comprising
at least one opening interacting with the at least one supply air
opening; and the adjusting device comprising at least one opening
interacting with the at least one exhaust air opening; wherein the
form of the at least one opening causes the air flow through the
supply air opening to correspond to the air flow though the exhaust
air opening.
8. The method according to claim 6, the adjusting device comprising
a solid regulating plate.
9. The method according to claim 6, the air terminal device
comprising: a distribution chamber; a nozzle chamber comprising
nozzles or a nozzle gap; at least one mixing chamber; and at least
one heat exchanger; whereby the supply air flow is guided from the
distribution chamber: to the nozzle chamber, from where the supply
air flow is further guided via the nozzles or the nozzle gap to
said at least one mixing chamber, where the supply air flow induces
a circulated air flow to flow from the room being air-conditioned
via said at least one heat exchanger to said at least one mixing
chamber, from which the combined air flow composed of the supply
air flow and circulated air flow is guided to the room being
air-conditioned, and to the supply air chamber, from which a
separate supply air flow is further guided directly to the room
being air-conditioned, dividing the nozzle chamber into at least
two partial nozzle chambers; arranging the adjusting device between
the distribution chamber, the first nozzle chamber and the second
nozzle chamber and the supply air chamber; and arranging the
adjusting device to open and close the air flow connection from the
distribution chamber to the first partial nozzle chamber and/or the
second partial nozzle chamber and/or the supply air chamber.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first partial
nozzle chamber, the second partial nozzle chamber and the supply
air chamber each comprise on that surface which is against the
distribution chamber an inlet opening, and that the adjusting
device consists of a regulating plate comprising openings, whereby
the adjusting device is arranged to open and close the desired
connection from the distribution chamber to the first partial
nozzle chamber and/or the second partial nozzle chamber and/or the
supply air chamber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to European Application No.
14192288.0, filed Nov. 7, 2014, which is hereby incorporated herein
in its entirety by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a supply and exhaust air terminal
device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Supply air terminal devices or chilled beams usually
comprise a supply air chamber, a mixing chamber and a heat
exchanger. A supply air flow is guided from the supply air chamber
via nozzles to the mixing chamber where the supply air flow induces
a circulated air flow to flow from a room being air-conditioned via
the heat exchanger to the mixing chamber. A combined air flow
formed from the supply air flow and the circulated air flow in the
mixing chamber is guided from an output opening of the mixing
chamber to the room being air-conditioned. The same supply air
terminal device can perform the cooling of indoor air in summer and
the heating of indoor air in winter. In summer, the circulated air
of the room is cooled and, in winter, it is heated in the heat
exchanger of the supply air terminal device.
[0004] Recently, closer attention is being paid to the energy
consumption of a building. The chilled beam system has proven to
be, as to both its investment and operational costs, a very
competitive system which can manage the air-conditioning and
cooling and/or heating of a room being air-conditioned. Typically,
the chilled beam operates with minimum air flow, in other words,
only the air volume, which is required by authorities in the room
in question, is guided to the chilled beam.
[0005] The chilled beam system may be modified by adjusting the
flow of the supply air and the flow of the exhaust air. The chilled
beam system may be connected to a constant pressure duct system,
wherein the air flow per room is controlled by air terminals. For
example, the amount of supply air may be fixedly modified by
separating the nozzle chamber into multiple nozzle chambers, and
the air flow resistance may change accordingly. In one embodiment
the chilled beam is used in the single room and the exhaust air
flow should be adjusted to correspond to the supply air flow. The
prior art discloses solutions, wherein the exhaust air and the
supply air flow are controlled individually. The supply air flow
may be adjusted continuously between 0% . . . 100%. The variable
air flow controllers may be inaccurate in the air flow settings
below 10% . . . 20%. Such controllers may be expensive and require
two electric actuators per air terminal, thus increasing the
complexity of the solution.
SUMMARY
[0006] One aspect discloses a supply and exhaust air terminal
device arranged in a chilled beam system, comprising a supply air
chamber into which supply air is led through at least one supply
air opening from a supply air duct, wherein the supply air chamber
is arranged in the first end of the chilled beam. In one embodiment
the supply and exhaust terminal device is arranged in a VAV system
(VAV, Variable Air Volume). The terminal device comprises also an
exhaust air chamber through which exhaust air is led from a room
space into an exhaust air duct through at least one exhaust air
opening, wherein the exhaust air chamber is arranged in the second
end of the chilled beam and separated from the supply air chamber.
The air terminal comprises an adjusting device configured to adjust
the at least one supply air opening and the at least one exhaust
air opening; and an actuator for displacing the adjusting device.
Displacing the adjusting device causes the air flow to be
obstructed through the at least one supply air opening and through
the at least one exhaust air opening.
[0007] In one embodiment the adjusting device comprises at least
one opening configured to interact with the at least one supply air
opening; and at least one opening configured to interact with the
at least one exhaust air opening. The form of the at least one
opening is configured to cause the air flow through the supply air
opening to correspond to the air flow though the exhaust air
opening.
[0008] In one embodiment the adjusting device comprises a solid
regulating plate. The plate may be moved in the supply air chamber
and the exhaust air chamber.
[0009] In one embodiment the air terminal device comprises a
distribution chamber, a nozzle chamber comprising nozzles or a
nozzle gap, at least one mixing chamber, and at least one heat
exchanger. The supply air flow is guided from the distribution
chamber to the nozzle chamber, from where the supply air flow is
further guided via the nozzles or the nozzle gap to said at least
one mixing chamber, where the supply air flow induces a circulated
air flow to flow from the room being air-conditioned via said at
least one heat exchanger to said at least one mixing chamber, from
which the combined air flow composed of the supply air flow and
circulated air flow is guided to the room being air-conditioned.
The supply air flow is also guided from the distribution chamber to
the supply air chamber, from which a separate supply air flow is
further guided directly to the room being air-conditioned. The
nozzle chamber is divided into at least two partial nozzle
chambers. The adjusting device is arranged between the distribution
chamber and the first nozzle chamber, the second nozzle chamber and
the supply air chamber such that the adjusting device is arranged
to open and close the air flow connection from the distribution
chamber to the first partial nozzle chamber and/or the second
partial nozzle chamber and/or the supply air chamber.
[0010] In an embodiment the first partial nozzle chamber, the
second partial nozzle chamber and the supply air chamber each
comprise on that surface which is against the distribution chamber
an inlet opening. The adjusting device consists of a regulating
plate comprising openings, whereby the adjusting device is arranged
to open and close the desired connection from the distribution
chamber to the first partial nozzle chamber and/or the second
partial nozzle chamber and/or the supply air chamber.
[0011] A second aspect discloses a method for a supply and exhaust
air terminal device arranged in a chilled beam system. The method
comprises adjusting the at least one supply air opening and the at
least one exhaust air opening by an adjusting device; and
displacing the adjusting device by an actuator, causing obstruction
of the air flow through the at least one supply air opening and
through the at least one exhaust air opening.
[0012] In an embodiment of the method the adjusting device
comprises at least one opening interacting with the at least one
supply air opening; and the adjusting device comprises at least one
opening interacting with the at least one exhaust air opening. The
form of the at least one opening is causing the air flow through
the supply air opening to correspond to the air flow though the
exhaust air opening. In an embodiment the adjusting device
comprises a solid regulating plate.
[0013] In an embodiment the method comprises dividing the nozzle
chamber into at least two partial nozzle chambers and arranging the
adjusting device between the distribution chamber, the first nozzle
chamber and the second nozzle chamber and the supply air chamber,
arranging the adjusting device to open and close the air flow
connection from the distribution chamber to the first partial
nozzle chamber and/or the second partial nozzle chamber and/or the
supply air chamber.
[0014] The air terminal and the method enable the control of the
supply air flow and the exhaust air flow simultaneously. The
adjustment is accurate even with lower air flows. The solution may
be operated with one actuator, and it is more cost-effective and
robust.
[0015] The embodiments described hereinbefore may be used in any
combination with each other. Several of the embodiments may be
combined together to form a further embodiment. A method, an
apparatus, a computer program or a computer program product to
which the invention is related may comprise at least one of the
embodiments of the invention described hereinbefore. It is to be
understood that any of the above embodiments or modifications can
be applied singly or in combination to the respective aspects to
which they refer, unless they are explicitly stated as excluding
alternatives.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of
this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and
together with the description help to explain the principles of the
invention. In the drawings:
[0017] FIG. 1 axonometrically shows a supply air terminal device in
which the arrangement according to the invention can be
applied,
[0018] FIG. 2 axonometrically shows the supply air terminal device
shown in FIG. 1 such that its inner parts are visible,
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a cross-directional section of the supply air
terminal device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a cross-directional section of another supply
air terminal device in which the arrangement according to the
invention can be applied,
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross section of the supply air
chamber construction of a supply air terminal device,
[0022] FIG. 6 shows the operating principle of the regulation
arrangement in FIG. 5,
[0023] FIG. 7 shows different modes of the supply air terminal
device applying the arrangement according to the invention,
[0024] FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of an alternative regulation
arrangement according to the invention, and
[0025] FIG. 9 axonometrically illustrates the supply and exhaust
air terminal with its inner parts visible.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. The detailed description provided below in
connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description
of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only
forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized.
However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be
accomplished by different examples.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a cross-directional section of a supply air
terminal device in which the adjusting arrangement and the method
can be applied.
[0028] The supply air terminal device 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises
an elongated supply air chamber 10, 11 having a polygonal cross
section and an elongated distribution chamber 20 having a
rectangular cross section located on a side wall of the supply air
chamber 10, 11. A fresh supply air flow L1 is guided from an inlet
opening 21 to the distribution chamber 20 from where the supply air
flow L1 is further guided to the supply air chamber 10, 11. The
supply air flow is guided to the inlet opening 21 of the
distribution chamber 20 by a fresh air channel system extending to
a room being air-conditioned and by a connected blower which is not
shown in the figure.
[0029] Below the supply air chamber 10, 11 is fitted an elongated
heat exchanger 12 having a rectangular cross section. Below the
heat exchanger 12, there is a bottom plate 18 which includes
openings at the point of the heat exchanger 12. A circulated air
flow L2 flows from the room being air-conditioned through the heat
exchanger 12 within the supply air terminal device where it is
mixed with the supply air flow Ll. A combined air flow LA, LB
composed of the supply air flow L1 and the circulated air flow L2
flows out of the supply air terminal device to the sides.
[0030] FIG. 2 axonometrically shows the supply air terminal device
shown in FIG. 1 such that its inner parts are visible. The figure
shows that the supply air chamber 10, 11 consists of the nozzle
chamber 10 and the supplementary air chamber 11. The nozzle chamber
10 is again divided into a first partial nozzle chamber 10a and a
second partial nozzle chamber 10b. The nozzle chamber 10 shows one
nozzle bank 15b. The bottom of the distribution chamber 20 also
shows openings 1a, 2a, 3a leading to each chamber 10a, 10b, 11. The
heat exchanger 12 extends in the longitudinal direction of the
device only in the area of the nozzle chamber 10 but not in the
area of the supplementary air chamber 11. The supplementary air
chamber 11 is an open chamber from the lower part of which a fresh
supplementary air flow L3 flows with a low impulse to the room
being air-conditioned. The supplementary air chamber 11 does not
include nozzles. The lower part of the supplementary air chamber 11
is advantageously covered with a plate with openings, whereby the
supplementary air flow L3 flows through the openings in the plate
to the room being air-conditioned.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a cross-directional section of the supply air
terminal device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cross section shows the
nozzle chamber 10 on a vertical side wall of which is fitted the
distribution chamber 20. Below the nozzle chamber 10, there is the
heat exchanger 12 and, below the heat exchanger 12, the bottom
plate 18, the outer edges of which include folds 18a, 18b. The
bottom wall of the nozzle chamber 10 is of the shape of a spread
letter M and the outer edges of the bottom wall include guide parts
19a, 19b. The bottom wall of the nozzle chamber 10, the guide parts
19a, 19b connected to it and the folds 18a, 18b of the bottom plate
18 form mixing chambers 13a, 13b and output openings 16a, 16b of
the supply air terminal device. The supply air terminal device is
symmetrical in relation to the vertical central axis Y-Y except for
the distribution chamber 20 and the inlet opening 21 leading to
it.
[0032] The supply air flow L1 is guided to the inlet opening 21 of
the distribution chamber 20 by a fresh air channel system extending
to the room being air-conditioned and by a connected blower which
is not shown in the figure. From the distribution chamber 20, the
supply air flow L1 is further guided to the nozzle chamber 10 from
where the supply air flow L1 is guided via a first nozzle bank 15a
to the first mixing chamber 13a and via a second nozzle bank 15b to
the second mixing chamber 13b. A first supply air flow L1 fed to
the first mixing chamber 13a with a relatively high impulse induces
a first circulated air flow L2 to flow from the room being
air-conditioned via the heat exchanger 12 to the first mixing
chamber 13a. A second supply air flow L1 fed to the second mixing
chamber 13b with a relatively high impulse induces a second
circulated air flow L2 to flow from the room being air-conditioned
via the heat exchanger 12 to the second mixing chamber 13a. In each
mixing chamber 13a, 13b, the supply air flow L1 and the circulated
air flow L2 are mixed, after which the combined air flow LA, LB
composed of the supply air flow Li and the circulated air flow L2
is guided to the room being air-conditioned from the output
openings 16a, 16b of the supply air terminal device. The supply air
terminal device 100 is advantageously fitted in connection with the
ceiling of the room being air-conditioned such that the bottom
plate 18 of the supply air terminal device 100 is on the level of
the ceiling of the room being air-conditioned, whereby the combined
air flow LA, LB is guided on both sides of the supply air terminal
device 100 in the direction of the ceiling.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a cross-directional section of another supply
air terminal device in which the arrangement according to the
invention can be applied.
[0034] The supply air terminal device 100 shown in FIG. 4 comprises
the elongated supply air chamber 20 having a rectangular cross
section and, below it, the elongated distribution chamber 10, 11
having a rectangular cross section. The supply air flow is guided
to the inlet opening 21 of the distribution chamber 20 by the fresh
air channel system extending to the room being air-conditioned and
by the connected blower which is not shown in the figure.
[0035] On the left of the distribution chamber 20 is fitted an
elongated first heat exchanger 12a having a rectangular cross
section and on the right of the distribution chamber 20 is fitted
an elongated second heat exchanger 12b having a rectangular cross
section. Below the supply air chamber 10, 11 is fitted a guide
piece 17 of a trapezoidal shape. Below a vertical exterior side
wall of the first heat exchanger 12a is fitted a vertical first
side wall 14a and below a vertical exterior side wall of the second
heat exchanger 12b is fitted a second vertical side wall 14b.
[0036] A space defined by the first side wall 14a, the bottom
surface of the first heat exchanger 12a, the left side wall of the
supply air chamber 10, 11, and the left oblique side surface of the
guide piece 17 forms the first mixing chamber 13a. A space defined
by the second side wall 14b, the bottom surface of the second heat
exchanger 12b, the right side wall of the supply air chamber 10,
11, and the right oblique side surface of the guide piece 17 forms
the second mixing chamber 13b.
[0037] On the left side wall of the supply air chamber 10, 11,
there is the first nozzle bank 15a via which the supply air flow L1
is guided from the supply air chamber 10, 11 to the first mixing
chamber 13a. On the right side wall of the supply air chamber 10,
11, there is the second nozzle bank 15b via which the supply air
flow L1 is guided from the supply air chamber 10, 11 to the second
mixing chamber 13b. The supply air flow L1 directed vertically
downwards from the nozzles 15a, 15b to each mixing chamber 13a, 13b
induces the circulated air flow L2 to run from the room being
air-conditioned via the equivalent heat exchanger 12a, 12b to the
equivalent mixing chamber 13a, 13b.
[0038] The lower part of the first mixing chamber 13a includes the
first output opening 16a from which the combined air flow LA
composed in the first mixing chamber 13a of the supply air flow L1
and the circulated air flow L2 is guided to the left in the room
being air-conditioned. The lower part of the second mixing chamber
13b includes the second output opening 16b from which the combined
air flow LB composed in the second mixing chamber 13b of the supply
air flow Li and the circulated air flow L2 is guided to the right
in the room being air-conditioned. The supply air terminal device
100 is advantageously fitted in connection with the ceiling of the
room being air-conditioned at a distance from the ceiling, whereby
the combined air flows LA, LB are guided on the side in the
direction of the ceiling.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal cross section of the supply air
chamber construction of a supply air terminal device.
[0040] FIG. 5 shows the nozzle chamber 10 and the supplementary air
chamber 11 being its extension. The nozzle chamber 10 is further
divided into two parts, i.e. the first partial nozzle chamber 10a
and the second partial nozzle chamber 10b. The supply air chamber
10, 11 can thus be formed of one elongated chamber which is divided
into three parts air-tightly separated from each other. The
distribution chamber 20 extends to the partial nozzle chambers 10a,
10b and the supplementary air chamber 11. Between the distribution
chamber 20, the partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b and the
supplementary air chamber 11, there is an adjusting device 30 which
here consists of a regulating plate 30 of a rectangular shape. The
regulating plate 30 is connected with an arm 41 to an actuator 40,
whereby the regulating plate can be moved by the actuator 40 in
question. The actuator 40 can be e.g. an arrangement based on an
electric motor or a hydraulic cylinder. The actuator 40 can again
be controlled by a control unit 60 including a programmable
processor which controls the actuator 40 according to a specific
control algorithm. Input signals of the control unit 60 can be e.g.
a measurement signal of a temperature sensor 61 located in the room
being air-conditioned and/or a control device 62 located in
connection with the user's desk in the room being air-conditioned.
The control device 62 enables the manual regulation of the
regulating plate 30 directly by the user. The control device 62 can
also be connected such that it controls the regulating plate 30
together with the automatic regulation based on the measurement
signal of the temperature sensor 61.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows the operating principle of the regulation
arrangement shown in FIG. 5. The figure shows the inlet opening 1a
of the first nozzle chamber 10a, the inlet opening 2a of the second
nozzle chamber 10b and the inlet opening 3a of the supplementary
air chamber 11 and equivalently the openings 1b, 2b, 3b in the
regulating plate 30. The regulating plate 40 can be moved in
opposite directions S1 and S2 by the actuator 40 such that the
desired inlet openings 1a, 2a, 3a and the openings 1b, 2b, 3b of
the regulating plate 30 are set on top of each other. The inlet
openings 1a, 2a, 3a of the partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b and the
supplementary air chamber 11 are located on that wall of the air
chambers 10a, 10b, 11 in question which sets against the
distribution chamber 20. The inlet openings 1a, 2a, 3a of the
partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b and the supplementary air chamber
11 are thus in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 on the side wall of
the chambers in question and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 they
are on the ceiling of the chambers in question. The figure shows a
mode where the regulating plate 30 closes the connection to both
partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b and the supplementary air chamber
11.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows different modes A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 of the
supply air terminal device applying the arrangement according to
the invention. In each mode A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5, the inlet
openings 1a, 2a, 3a of the partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b and the
supplementary air chamber 11 and the equivalent openings 1b, 2b and
3b in the regulating plate 30 are shown as being adjacent, even
though they are on top of each other in reality. By showing the
openings adjacently, the figure is more illustrative.
[0043] In the first mode A1, the supply air flow flowing from the
partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b and the supplementary air chamber
11 to the room being air-conditioned is totally closed, i.e. the
regulating plate 30 covers the inlet opening 1a of the first
partial nozzle chamber 10a, the inlet opening 2a of the second
partial nozzle chamber 10b and the inlet opening 3a of the
supplementary air chamber 11. Thus, air cannot flow from the
distribution chamber 20 to the partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b or
to the supplementary air chamber 11. Indeed, no inlet air flows to
the room being air-conditioned from the supply air terminal device
100. This is the so-called power saving mode which can be employed
e.g. when the room being air-conditioned is temporarily unused.
This mode operates in the same way in an air-conditioning system
based on constant air flow as well as in one based on constant
pressure.
[0044] In the second mode A2, the first, i.e. longer, nozzle
chamber 10a is in use, i.e. the inlet opening la leading to the
first partial nozzle chamber 10a and the first opening 1b of the
regulating plate 30 are on top of each other, but the nozzle plate
30 covers the inlet opening 2a of the second partial nozzle chamber
10b and the inlet opening 3a of the supplementary air chamber 11.
Then, supply air flows from the distribution chamber 20 solely to
the first partial nozzle chamber 10a. When the supply air terminal
device 100 is connected to a constant air flow system and only a
part of the nozzles 15, i.e. the nozzles 15 in the first partial
nozzle chamber 10a, are in use, the pressure in the first partial
nozzle chamber 10a tends to increase, because the constant air flow
system tends to keep the air flow constant. For this reason, the
air discharging from the nozzles 15 of the first partial nozzle
chamber 10a has a higher speed/impulse. The higher speed can be
utilized e.g. in a heating situation whereby warm air blown from
the supply air terminal device 100 to the room being
air-conditioned mixes better to the air of the room being
air-conditioned. When the supply air terminal device 100 is
connected to a constant pressure system and only a part of the
nozzles 15, i.e. the nozzles 15 in the first partial nozzle chamber
10a, are in use, the air flow from the supply air terminal device
100 to the room being air-conditioned decreases in relation to the
dimensions of the partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b. This mode
producing a smaller air volume can be employed e.g. in a situation
where the room being air-conditioned is temporarily empty, thus
improving energy efficiency.
[0045] In the third mode A3, both partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b
are is use, i.e. the inlet opening la of the first partial nozzle
chamber 10a and the inlet opening 2a of the second partial nozzle
chamber 10b and equivalently the first opening 1b and the second
opening 2b of the nozzle plate are on top of each other and the
nozzle plate 30 covers the inlet opening 3a of the supplementary
air chamber 11. In this mode, the cooling capacity (water capacity)
of the supply air terminal device 100 is at its highest, the
opening effective length of the heat exchangers 12, 12a, 12b is
employed and the chamber pressure of the partial nozzle chambers
10a, 10b is on a normal, designed level. This mode operates in the
same way in an air-conditioning system based on constant air flow
as well as in one based on constant pressure.
[0046] In the fourth mode A4, both partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b
are opened and additionally the supplementary air chamber 11 is
totally or partially opened, i.e. the inlet opening la of the first
partial nozzle chamber 10a, the inlet opening 2a of the second
partial nozzle chamber 10b and the inlet opening 3a of the
supplementary air chamber and equivalently the first opening 1b,
the second opening 2b and the third opening 3b of the regulating
plate 30 are on top of each other. In the system based on constant
air flow, the air flow flowing through the nozzles decreases
compared to the third mode A3 when the total air flow stays
constant. As the nozzle air flow decreases, the circulated air flow
induced from the room being air-conditioned also decreases, whereby
the flow speeds of the room being air-conditioned equivalently
decrease and the conditions in the room being air-conditioned are
improved in this sense. In the system based on constant pressure,
this mode achieves the maximum total air volume. The magnitude of
the opening of the supplementary air chamber 11 depends on the
amount of supplementary air required. This enables changing the
intended use of the room being air-conditioned easily from an
office to a conference room.
[0047] In the fifth mode A5, the air flow from the distribution
chamber 20 to the partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b is closed and
the air flow from the distribution chamber 20 to the supplementary
air chamber 11 is totally opened and the inlet opening 3a of the
supplementary air chamber and the third opening 3b of the
regulating plate 30 are on top of each other and the nozzle plate
30 closes the inlet opening la of the first partial nozzle chamber
10a and the inlet opening 2a of the second partial nozzle chamber.
In this mode, the supplementary air volume guided to the room being
air-conditioned is at its maximum. This mode can be employed e.g.
at night, whereby solely cool outdoor air is used for cooling the
room being air-conditioned. This mode operates in the same way in
an air-conditioning system based on constant air flow as well as in
one based on constant pressure.
[0048] FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of an alternative regulation
arrangement according to the invention. The adjusting device in
this embodiment is, instead of the rectangular regulating plate, a
circular regulating plate 50. The outer circle radius of the
circular regulating plate 50 is R1. On the periphery of a circle R2
drawn inside the outer circle of the circular regulating plate 50
are composed openings 1a, 2a, 3a equivalent to the ones of the
rectangular regulating plate. The figure also shows the inlet
openings 1b, 2b, 3b from which there are led channels to the
equivalent chambers, i.e. the first nozzle chamber 10a, the second
nozzle chamber 10b and the supplementary air chamber 11. The
circular regulating plate 50 is rotatably supported from its center
C, whereby the circular regulating plate 50 can be rotated around
the center C clockwise S1 and counter clockwise S2. When the
circular regulating plate 50 is rotated around its center C
clockwise S1 from the position shown in the figure, the five modes
shown in FIG. 5 are provided. The rotation of the circular
regulating plate 50 can be done manually or by the actuator 40 as
in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. The actuator 40 can be e.g. an
electric motor. The figure shows a mode where the regulating plate
30 closes the connection to both nozzle chambers 10a, 10b and the
supplementary air chamber 11. The use of the circular regulating
plate 50 requires a larger area in relation to the rectangular
regulating plate 30 in order to have equal areas for the openings.
The height of the side wall of the supply air chamber 10, 11 does
not usually enable installing of the circular regulating plate 50
on the side wall, but the width of the ceiling surface of the
supply air chamber 10, 11 can enable installing of the circular
regulating plate 50 on the ceiling surface.
[0049] The supply air terminal device shown in FIG. 3 includes only
one nozzle chamber 10 where there are two nozzle banks 15a, 15b
which both feed their own mixing chambers 13a, 13b. The arrangement
also includes only one heat exchanger 12 via which the circulated
air flow L2 is guided to both mixing chambers 13a, 13b. Part of the
heat exchanger 12 serves the first mixing chamber 13a and part of
the heat exchanger 12 serves the second mixing chamber 13b.
[0050] The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 also includes only one nozzle
chamber 10 where there are two nozzle banks 15a, 15b which both
feed their own mixing chambers 13a, 13b. In this arrangement, each
mixing chamber 13a, 13b is connected to its own heat exchanger 12a,
12b via which the circulated air flow L2 is guided to the mixing
chamber 13a, 13b in question.
[0051] The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can e.g. be modified such
that in place of each heat exchanger 12a, 12b are located the
supply air chamber 10, 11 and the distribution chamber 20. In place
of the supply air chamber 10, 11 and the distribution chamber 20 is
again located the heat exchanger 12. Each supply air chamber 10, 11
further consists of the nozzle chamber 10 and the supplementary air
chamber 11 and each nozzle chamber 10 is again divided into at
least two partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b. The nozzles 15 are now
located on the bottom wall of each partial nozzle chamber 10a, 10b
from where the supply air flow L1 is directed to each mixing
chamber 13a, 13b. Such an embodiment can employ a separate
regulating plate 30 between each unit being formed of the
distribution chamber 20 and the supply air chamber 10, 11, whereby
the regulation occurs in each unit controlled by its own regulating
plate. On the other hand, the regulating plates of each unit can be
connected mechanically together, whereby the regulation occurs in
both units simultaneously with one and the same adjusting
device.
[0052] The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can also be modified e.g.
such that the second heat exchanger 12b, the second mixing chamber
13b and the second nozzle bank 15b are totally omitted. The
remainder is a supply air terminal device provided with one mixing
chamber 13a, one heat exchanger 12a, one nozzle bank 15a. The
distribution chamber 20 and the supply air chamber 10, 11 remain as
above.
[0053] In the supply air terminal devices shown in the figures, the
cross sections of different chambers are rectangular but, from the
viewpoint of the invention, the cross sections of the chambers can
naturally be of some other shape, e.g. circular, triangular,
trapezoidal or polygonal.
[0054] The embodiments shown in the figures employ the nozzles 15,
15a, 15b in the nozzle chambers 10a, 10b, but the nozzles 15, 15a,
15b can also be replaced by a nozzle gap.
[0055] In the embodiments shown in the figures, the nozzle chamber
10 consists of two partial nozzle chambers 10a, 10b, but the
arrangement according to the invention can naturally be applied in
a situation where the nozzle chamber 10 is divided into more than
two parts. Then, the device provides even more modes.
[0056] FIG. 9 illustrates axonometrically the supply and exhaust
air terminal device 100 with visible inner parts. The supply air
chamber 10 comprises the nozzle chamber and the supplementary air
chamber. The nozzle chamber may be divided into a first partial
nozzle chamber and a second partial nozzle chamber as described
hereinbefore; the division into multiple nozzle chambers is not
illustrated in FIG. 9. Openings 1a lead to the supply air chamber
10. The elongated distribution chamber 20 having a rectangular
cross section is located on a side wall of the supply air chamber
10. The supply air flow L1 goes from the distribution chamber 20 to
the supply air chamber 10.
[0057] The exhaust air flow enters the terminal 100 and passes
through the opening 92 to the exhaust air chamber 90. The exhaust
air flow is guided through the at least one opening 4a to the
exhaust air duct as the exhaust air flow L4. The duct system may be
a constant pressure system.
[0058] A separating plate 91 divides the air terminal 100 into two
segments, wherein the first end is purposed for the supply air
chamber 10 and a first portion of the distribution chamber 20. The
second end of the air terminal 100 is purposed for the exhaust air,
comprising the exhaust air chamber 90 and a second portion of the
distribution chamber 20.
[0059] In this example the adjusting device 30 is a regulating
plate 30 configured to move simultaneously in the supply air
chamber 10 and the exhaust air chamber 90 or in the distribution
chamber 20. The adjusting device 30 blocks the supply air flow Li
and the exhaust air flow L4 by applying equal air flow resistance
to both flows L1, L4. The adjusting device 30 may alternatively
comprise a circular regulating plate. The adjusting device 30 is
displaced with the actuator as described hereinbefore.
[0060] The openings 1a on the supply side and the openings 4a on
the exhaust side may be formed to allow accurate adjustment of the
air flow on both sides. The air flow adjustment may be set linear
or it may result in a similar function on both sides according to
the percentage of opening, such as the position of the adjusting
device 30 in relation to the openings 1a, 4a. The air flow
resistance may be simulated on both sides or it may be measured;
thereby, the air flow rate as a function of the adjusting device 30
position, between the fully open and the fully closed position, may
be obtained. When the supply air flow resistance function from the
supply side is known, a similar air flow resistance function may be
applied on the exhaust side. The adjusting device 30 may be a plate
that may be modified according to predefined settings. The plate
may comprise precut positions that are removed from the plate
according to the position of the separating plate 91.
[0061] If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be
performed in a different order and/or concurrently with each other.
Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described
functions may be optional or may be combined. Although various
aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims,
other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of
features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims
with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the
combinations explicitly set out in the claims.
[0062] It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that with the
advancement of technology, the basic idea of the invention may be
implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are
thus not limited to the examples described above; instead they may
vary within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *