The present invention relates to an aeraulic device and radiant ceiling thermal system with internal air mixing.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel aeraulic device for air mixing and a related radiant thermal system with radiant elements or panels arranged in a false ceiling for heating and cooling provided with internal air mixing for closed spaces.
In the field of air-conditioning for heating/cooling of spaces or rooms, radiant hydronic system or radiant panel systems are widely used, especially in large spaces or rooms having high ceiling height, systems that are generally integrated into the room surfaces on walls, floors and even ceilings. These radiant type systems are fully built-in with the structure of the space to be air-conditioned and are invisible for the benefit of aesthetics and better use of space.
Said systems generally consist of a plurality of modular elements or radiant panels that define the radiant surface. Each modular element or panel is generally assembled with a rigid supporting frame, typically rectangular in shape, within which is housed, with a typically coil arrangement, the pipeline for the passage of the thermal-carrier fluid. Said panel pipeline is typically provided on the ends with connectors arranged at one or more sides of the panel in such a way that the pipeline of each modular element or panel defining the ceiling can be arranged in a fluid connection.
Said modular elements or panels including typically also one or more insulating layers or one or more conductive layers in such a way as to transfer or receive heat uniformly and preferentially from the side of the panel facing the room and insulate the side of the panel facing the wall or surface outside the room to be conditioned.
It is also known that hydronic systems with radiant panels for space cooling also including dehumidifier devices to eliminate the phenomenon of water vapor condensation in the room. Among the various types of technical and architectural embodiments of hydronic radiant panel for heating and cooling systems, arrangements with radiant panels arranged in false ceilings in such a way as to radiate or to absorb heat from above the room to be air-conditioned are increasingly used.
The false ceiling arrangement of radiant systems can be of the “closed” type, that is, when the plurality of elements or panels defining the false ceiling cover and completely od partially closing the upper slab, typically leaving a space, upper volume or cavity between the false ceiling formed by the panels and the upper slab of the room to be air-conditioned, or can be on the other way of the “open” type, when the false ceiling only partially covers the upper slab surface.
An example of these radiant ceiling thermal systems is described in the European Patent Application EP 3 309 314 A1.
Further examples of these known radiant ceiling thermal systems are described in Chinese document CN 105756256 B and German document DE 10 2011 108090 A1.
A limitation of these known radiant ceiling thermal systems for heating and cooling is that the internal air tends to stratify and accumulate in the spaces above the ceiling.
More specifically, when the radiant system is operating in heating mode, for example, supplying heat energy to the room, the warmer air tends naturally to vertically stratify by convection in the upper part of the room, particularly in the space or plenum between the false ceiling and the upper slab in such a way to preventing the mixing of the room air.
Even if the radiant elements or panels defining the radiant surface or false ceiling are provided with an insulation layer arranged on the face opposite to that facing the internal room, heat loss (or heat absorption in the case of cooling) to the smaller spaces between the false ceiling and the upper slab will still be present generating and maintaining an unused thermal energy reservoir.
This limitation and drawback of radiant ceiling thermal systems is also present in the case of radiant system operation in cooling mode, where it has been noted that even the air at lower temperature tends to stratify in the volume or space above the internal room close to the top of the ceiling, also generating condensation phenomena if the ceiling surface is close to dew point temperature, that can lead to unhealthy conditions in the internal room.
Air mixing increases the heat exchange capacity of the radiant system, as well as energy savings.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome and obviate, at least in part, the drawbacks and operating limitations of the above-mentioned radiant ceiling thermal systems. More particularly, object of the present invention is to provide to the user a radiant ceiling thermal system or installation with improved mixing of the air inside the room, without stratification phenomena of air at different temperatures in the upper part between the false ceiling and the upper slab of the room or space to be air-conditioned.
A further object of the present invention is to make available to the user a radiant ceiling thermal system with air mixing that can be easily installed or integrated with pre-existing systems and rooms.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and energy-saving radiant ceiling thermal system with air mixing;
Still further object of the present invention is to provide a radiant ceiling thermal system with a simplified air mixing that capable of a high level of durability and reliability over time and such as that it can also be easily and economically achievable.
These and other objects are achieved by the radiant ceiling thermal system with air mixing which is the subject of the present invention according with the independent claim.
The structural and functional features of the radiant ceiling thermal system with air mixing can be better understood from the detailed description that follows, in which reference is made to the attached drawing figures which representing several preferred and non-limiting embodiments, where:
In this description, the terms “false ceiling” and “radiant surface” are intended to refer both to surfaces configured to transfer heat in the form of thermal energy to the internal room 100 and surfaces configured to absorb heat by extracting thermal energy from the internal room 100.
It will also resulting evident from the following to the person skilled in the art how the radiant thermal system also comprises a traditional thermal machine, or it is otherwise configured to operate in cooperation with a traditional thermal machine, refrigerating machine, or heat pump for thermal heat generation and/or absorption.
In the following description, the term “internal air” refers to the air present in the internal room below the false ceiling also including the upper volume or plenum above the false ceiling, without air recirculation or exchange with the outdoor environment.
With reference starting to
Said aeraulic device 1, 1′ is configured and suitable to be arranged in an upper volume or plenum 20 of said internal room 100 above the false ceiling 14 of said radiant system 10.
Said inlet opening 3 and outlet opening 4 are configured and suitable to be placed in fluid connection with said internal room 100 and said upper volume or plenum 20 in cooperation with at least two openings 18 of the false ceiling 14, so that said fan 30 is apt to generate an air-mixing flow between said internal room 100 and said upper volume or plenum 20 of a conventional radiant ceiling thermal system 10.
Said fans 30 can advantageously be traditional axial impeller fans configured to move the airflow but can also comprise any type of fan capable of moving airflow such as radial fans or vaneless fans, typically driven by an electric motor.
The inlet and outlet openings 3, 4 of said aeraulic device 1 are generally formed into the case body 2 and can define a linear direction, a 90° direction or an angled direction of the airflow passing through the aeraulic device 1, 1′. Said inlet and outlet openings 3, 4 also can be more than one and can be provided with known connecting means (not shown) to openings 18 of a radiant false ceiling 14 such as elbows or connector pipes.
Said aeraulic devices 1 can also comprise at the inlet and outlet openings 3, 4 diverting and conveying means 5 of the airflow selected from a group comprising, for example, fixed or adjustable vanes or blades, conveyors, slits formed directly into the case body 2 or baffle elements separated from the case body 2 and such as to allow the direct of the airflow, and the flow-rate calibration and adjustment of the airflow.
With reference again to
The aeraulic device 1 can also be provided with a sound-absorbing or thermo-acoustic insulation material layer 8 arranged internally (as in the example in
With reference only to
The radiant ceiling thermal system 10 comprises in its general embodiment:
Said false ceiling 14, formed by one or more interconnected radiant panels 12, is provided with at least two openings 18 suitable for placing in inlet and outlet fluid connection said internal room 100 with said upper volume or plenum 20.
Said radiant ceiling thermal system 10 is provided of the innovative feature of comprising at least one aeraulic device 1, 1′, above described, arranged above said false ceiling 14 between said internal room 100 and said upper volume or plenum 20, said aeraulic device 1, 1′ being suitable for circulating air in such a manner as to mixing said circulating internal air through said openings 18 and prevent its stratification at different temperatures.
The false ceiling 14 generally has an exposed surface in direct contact with the internal room 100 and can have a smooth or micro-perforated finish and can be made of metal, plasterboard, or other compatible building materials.
With particular reference to the “closed” embodiment form of
In other possible further variant embodiments said openings 18 can be defined by the absence or by the array interruption of one or more elements or radiant panels 12 to form the ceiling 14.
Said at least an aeraulic device 1 for air circulation can be arranged with the inlet opening 3 or outlet opening 4 placed at said at least two openings 18 and configured in such a way as to move the inlet and outlet internal air into the upper volume or plenum 20.
Said radiant ceiling thermal system 10 can be provided with an external support structure 16 suitable for attaching said panels to the load-bearing surfaces of the internal room 100 or upper slab 102 and configured in such a way as to define the vertical height of said volume or plenum 20.
Again with reference to
Said support structure 16 can also be independent of the radiant panels 12 and stabilized to the load-bearing structure of the internal room 100 prior to the arrangement and connection of the same radiant panels 102 to form the false ceiling 14.
Again with reference to the embodiment form of
With special reference to
For a very extensive radiant surface 14 additional return fans 30 can be arranged configured to maintain a constant and uniform flow of circulating internal air within the upper volume 5 or plenum 20.
With reference again to
In an alternative “open” type embodiment, with special reference to
Again with reference to the embodiment of
Said at least an aeraulic device 1 suitable for air circulation can be arranged on the top of the false ceiling 14 and stabilized directly on the radiant panels 12, said aeraulic device 1 being configured in such a way as to move the incoming and outcoming air into the upper volume or plenum 20, even if not integrally bounded by the false ceiling 14.
The fan 30 arranged within the aeraulic device 1 can be any type of fan, or blower, such as a radial type impeller fan, an axial bladed fan, or an axial vaneless fan.
If the ceiling 14 surface is very wide, additional transmission fans 30 can be provided, configured to keep the internal air flow constantly circulating within the internal volume or plenum 20.
In the embodiments of
In a further embodiment of the radiant system 10, with particular reference to
The radiant panel 12 can advantageously comprises a support structure 16 or frame configured to maintain the pipeline 15 support surface at a distal position from the thermal insulating layer 42 in such a way that an upper volume or plenum 20 arranged between the false ceiling 14 and the thermal insulating surface 44 can be realized in cooperation with a plurality of radiant panels 12.
Said support structure 16 can also be advantageously fixed to the load-bearing structure of the internal room 100.
Still with reference to
In the latest embodiment also, said fans 30 of the aeraulic devices 1, 1′ can be radial fans configured to move the air flow by changing its direction by 90° but can also comprise any type of fan suitable for moving the air such as axial blade fans or axial vaneless fans.
With reference to all the embodiments, said aeraulic devices 1, 1′ can be fixed directly to the false ceiling 14 on the radiant panels 12, to the support structure 16 or to the surface of the upper slab 102, or they can be fixed by an auxiliary support frame (not shown).
The radiant panels 14 can be advantageously shaped in such a way as to allow the opening 18 to be made for the passage of air flow and for anchoring the support frame of the aeraulic devices 1, 1′.
The pipeline 15 of the thermal carrier fluid of the radiant panels 12 can also be shaped and arranged in such a way as to allow the opening 18 for the passage of air flow to be obtained subsequently, in order to have a radiant panel 12 having a single shape suitable to defining the false ceiling 14 once installed.
Said auxiliary support frame (not shown) of the aeraulic devices 1, 1′ can also be advantageously orientable in such a way as to direct the airflow of the aeraulic devices 1, so as to define preferential flows within the upper volume or plenum 20.
The radiant ceiling thermal system 10 subject of the present invention can also comprise a fan control system 30 of the aeraulic devices 1 controlled by a logic unit in such a way as to operate continuously or intermittently. Said control system can also comprise temperature sensors arranged in the whole room 10 and upper volume 20 in such a manner as to operate the fans 30 for example when the logic unit detects a temperature differential above a certain limit.
From the description of the aeraulic device 1 and the radiant ceiling thermal system 10 subject of the present invention it is possible understanding the operation described below.
With reference starting to
Said device is arranged above the radiant ceiling 14, as in the examples of
The aeraulic device 1 is arranged at or near each opening 18 and for each aeraulic device 1 configured to feed air into the upper volume or plenum 20 from the internal room 100, an additional aeraulic device 1 configured to take air from the upper volume or plenum 20 and feed it back into the internal room 100 can be coupled for greater efficiency.
It is evident how the inlet and outlet openings 3 and 4 are defined by the direction of the airflow movement given by fan 30 and can be reversed.
The fan 30 inside the case body can be configured to move the airflow in either direction.
In a preferred embodiment of
The optional presence of a filter element collects dust and particles present in the air while the presence of an air sanitizing device 7 or system releases sanitizing and bactericidal substances contained in a reservoir into the airflow, so as to purify and sanitize the mixing airflow.
The presence of an additional sound-absorbing layer 8 in the case body 2 makes the device quieter by eliminating noise and vibration due to the fan 30 and its electric motor.
Again with reference to
With initial reference to
Also in the embodiment of
With reference to all embodiments, the mixing of internal air generated by the at least one aeraulic device 1, through the openings 18, is capable to equalize the temperature TA [° C.] of the internal room 100 and limit energy consumption by going to use the energy stored in the air stratified in the upper volume or plenum 20 above the false ceiling 20.
The technical solution subject of the present invention is also further advantageous because it allows the use of simpler and lighter radiant panels 12 without the need for an insulating layer on the opposite face to the face facing the internal room 100, or advantageously allows the thermal insulating layer to be replaced by an acoustic insulating layer.
With particular reference to
In this particular embodiment, the aeraulic device 1 can have the size and the structure of a traditional radiant panel 12, comprising pipeline 15 and hydraulic connecting means to the other radiant panels 12 in such a way as to be integrated into the structure of the radiant surface or false ceiling 14.
The aeraulic device 1 can also comprise an insulating layer 42 arranged in contact with or opposite to the part containing the pipeline 15 with the inner volume or plenum between the pipeline and the insulating layer 42, as in the example in
This embodiment is advantageously applicable on installations in which the upper volume or plenum 20 has considerable dimensions for which an efficient recirculation flow of internal air would not be achievable.
In this case, the aeraulic devices 1 convey air drawn from the internal room 100 into the upper volume or plenum 20 arranged between the pipeline 15 of the false ceiling 14 and an insulating layer 42 and then feed it back into the internal room. The recirculation airflow shown in
This solution, in addition to allowing a uniformity of the temperature TA [° C.] of the internal room 100, allows energy saving by avoiding mixing of the internal air of rooms in very high ceilings or vaults, also allowing the use of an insulating layer 42 and a less thick insulating surface 44, thus advantageously allowing the addition of, for example, other layers of sound insulation while at the same time maintaining compact radiant panel dimensions 12.
The management of the speed of the fans 30 of the aeraulic device 1 by means of an electrical or electronic system allows to realize a mixing system that can be manually controlled or automatically operated by a desired operating logic.
The above operation considerations, carried out by considering the embodiments of the radiant ceiling thermal system 10 in an exemplary starting condition as in
It will also obviously result to the person skilled in the art that in cooling operation mode, the radiant system 10 subject of the present invention also comprises a dehumidifier device for lowering the humidity level of the air in the internal room 100.
As can be seen from the foregoing are evident the advantages that the aeraulic device 1 and the radiant ceiling thermal system 10 subject of the present invention achieve.
The aeraulic device and the radiant ceiling thermal system 10 subject of the present invention are particularly advantageous because thanks to the mixing the internal air of a room, it allows the improvement of living comfort and equalizes the temperature of the internal room by avoiding stratification of air at different temperatures and reducing energy consumption.
Mixing enhances convective motions that are already naturally present, extending them to areas of the radiant ceiling thermal system with high energy potential that would otherwise be less involved. The increase in said motions allows an improvement in the convective heat transfer of the ceiling.
Further important advantage due to the aeraulic device 1 and radiant ceiling thermal system 10 is to provide the user with a simple, thin radiant panel, without the need for a layer with thermally insulating features or replaceable with an acoustic insulating layer or also having acoustic insulating features.
A further advantage of the radiant ceiling thermal system is to provide the user with a radiant ceiling thermal system 10 that can also be easily integrated even on pre-existing installations with very high ceilings or vaults.
Although the invention has been described above with particular reference to several preferred embodiments, given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, numerous modifications and variations will become apparent to a person skilled in the art in the light of the above description. The present invention is therefore intended to embrace all modifications and variations falling within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102021000018194 | Jul 2021 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2022/056199 | 7/5/2022 | WO |