Patent Grant
11371744
The present invention relates to building ceiling systems. Particular embodiments of the invention relate to an air moving system used with a suspended acoustical ceiling system.
Many types of ceiling systems include panels, such as, for example, acoustical panels that are suspended from a building structure and separate a building space into an occupied space below the ceiling system and a plenum space above the ceiling system.
Such suspended ceiling systems can present challenges and with regard to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of the occupied space. Some suspended ceiling systems include grills, registers and diffusers or other openings that allow conditioned air from an HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) system to enter the occupied space.
Various systems and methods for improving thermal comfort in an occupied space exist.
These include using a passive thermal mass such as stone, concrete, brick, or water to passively store and released thermal energy to the thermal benefit of the occupants of the occupied space.
Another way to improve thermal comfort is to use fans to produce the desired airflow across occupants of the occupied space (“adaptive comfort”). Thermally comfortable conditions can be achieved in even very hot environments when air flow is introduced over people's bodies. A significant energy saving benefit can be recognized when an adaptive comfort strategy is used to create desired thermal conditions in the building. With an adaptive comfort strategy, air temperatures can be allowed to increase well above “normal” set point temperatures. For example, set point temperatures may be increased from 75° F. up to 82° F. Typically, this would create a very uncomfortable thermal environment in a building. However, when local air flow is introduced these conditions are perceived as quite pleasant by many occupants. Another very significant benefit to this adaptive comfort strategy is that for each 1° F. increase in set point temperature that is permitted in a building, a resulting energy savings of from 3% to 5% can be realized. Allowing the set point temperature to increase 7° F. (from 75° F. to 82° F.) can produce an energy savings of between 21% and 35%.
Yet another way to improve thermal comfort is the use of radiant heating and cooling systems. Modern, ceiling-based radiant heating and cooling panels offer significant energy savings to the user but are essentially capacity-limited by the rate of radiant heat transfer between the panel and the occupants of the space.
Certain problems exist with each of the three methods for improving thermal comfort described above.
Fans can be added to passive thermal mass systems. However, the acoustical issues with the hard surfaces typically used for these systems would remain. Embodiments of the invention introduce acoustic absorption while simultaneously increasing the thermal performance of the thermally massive material.
Bladed fans, bladeless fans, or “punkah” style fans can be used to create air motion in adaptive comfort strategies. However, these fans are typically very intrusive and very noticeable in the space. In some cases, such as a classroom for children, moving blades might be undesirable as they can be distracting. Embodiments of the invention have no moving parts in the occupied space. The air mover is integrated in the design of the ceiling panel and is essentially hidden from view. Embodiments of the invention use an induction style venturi to induce air motion. This is a very energy efficient way of moving large volumes of air. Embodiments of the invention can also introduce varying flow or oscillating flow rates to simulate a more natural breeze as experienced outdoors in nature.
Fans can be used as separate elements to existing radiant panels. However, adding such fans to an existing system would be inelegant. Embodiments of the invention integrate the air mover fully within the design of a ceiling panel. The ceiling panel is located up in the ceiling void in close proximity to the existing radiant panel system.
Particular embodiments of the invention provide a ceiling system that includes a ceiling structure suspended within a space of a building thereby dividing the space into an occupied space below the ceiling structure and a plenum space above the ceiling structure; a panel structure supported by the ceiling structure and having an opening; a pressurized air passageway aligned with the opening, the pressurized air passageway having an outlet; and an inductive air passageway adjacent the pressurized air passageway, the inductive air passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway are configured such that pressurized air passing through the outlet of the pressurized air passageway induces an induced air flow out of the outlet of the inductive air passageway.
Some embodiments include the induced air flow being air from the plenum that flows through the inductive air passageway.
Some embodiments include the panel structure being an acoustical panel structure.
Some embodiments include the panel structure being a canopy-type panel structure that is configured such that the panel structure is spaced away from a wall of the occupied space.
Some embodiments include the outlet of the inductive air passageway directing the induced airflow toward the occupied space.
Some embodiments include the pressurized air and the induced air flow mixing together at the outlet of the pressurized air passageway.
Some embodiments include the pressurized air passageway being fluidly connected to an air supply space other than the plenum space and drawing the pressurized air from the air supply space.
Some embodiments include the pressurized air passageway being tubular.
Some embodiments include the pressurized air passageway including a venturi.
Some embodiments include the outlet of the pressurized air passageway being a slot.
Some embodiments include the inductive air passageway being formed by an air diverter located near an outside surface of the pressurized air passageway.
Some embodiments include the inductive air passageway comprising two inductive air passageways, each of the inductive air passageways being formed by an air diverter located near an outside surface of the pressurized air passageway.
Some embodiments include the pressurized air passageway being located between the air diverters.
Some embodiments include an air moving device that supplies pressurized air to the pressurized air passageway.
Some embodiments include the pressurized air passageway being ring shaped, and the outlet being a slot in the lower side of the ring shape.
Some embodiments include the pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway being located within a field area of the panel structure, the field area of the panel structure being an area away from all edges of the panel structure.
Some embodiments include the pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway being attached to an edge of the panel structure.
Some embodiments include a plurality of panel structures, wherein the pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway are attached to an edge of one of the plurality of panel structures, and the pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway are located between two adjacent ones of the plurality of panel structures.
Some embodiments include a phase change material attached to, or integral with, the panel structure.
Some embodiments include a water evaporation device, the water evaporation device being configured to present water to the pressurized air or the inductive air flow.
Particular embodiments of the invention provide a method of moving air in an occupied space in a building. The method includes dividing with a ceiling structure the space in the building into an occupied space below the ceiling structure and a plenum space above the ceiling structure; providing an opening in a panel structure supported by the ceiling structure; and inducing an induced airflow out of an outlet of an inductive air passageway by passing pressurized air though an outlet of a pressurized air passageway, the inductive air passageway being adjacent the pressurized air passageway, and the pressurized air passageway being aligned with the opening in the panel structure. The pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway are configured such that pressurized air passing through the outlet of the pressurized air passageway induces an induced air flow out of the outlet of the inductive air passageway.
Some methods of the invention include the induced air flow being air from the plenum that flows through the inductive air passageway.
Some methods of the invention include the panel structure being an acoustical panel structure.
Some methods of the invention include the panel structure being a canopy-type panel structure that is configured such that the panel structure is spaced away from a wall of the occupied space.
Some methods of the invention include the induced airflow being directed toward the occupied space by the outlet of the inductive air passageway.
Some methods of the invention include the pressurized air and the induced air flow being mixed together at the outlet of the pressurized air passageway.
Some methods of the invention include the pressurized air passageway being fluidly connected to an air supply space other than the plenum space and the pressurized air being drawn from the air supply space.
Some methods of the invention include the pressurized air passageway being tubular.
Some methods of the invention include the feature of the pressurized air passageway including a venturi.
Some methods of the invention include the outlet of the pressurized air passageway being a slot.
Some methods of the invention include the inductive air passageway being formed by an air diverter located near an outside surface of the pressurized air passageway.
Some methods of the invention include the inductive air passageway comprising two inductive air passageways, each of the inductive air passageways being formed by an air diverter located near an outside surface of the pressurized air passageway.
Some methods of the invention include the pressurized air passageway being located between the air diverters.
Some methods of the invention include supplying pressurized air to the pressurized air passageway with an air moving device.
Some methods of the invention include the pressurized air passageway being ring shaped, and the outlet being a slot in the lower side of the ring shape.
Some methods of the invention include the pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway being located within a field area of the panel structure, the field area of the panel structure being an area away from all edges of the panel structure.
Some methods of the invention include the pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway being attached to an edge of the panel structure.
Some methods of the invention include locating the pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway between two adjacent ones of a plurality of panel structures, wherein the pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway are attached to an edge of one of the plurality of panel structures.
Some methods of the invention include a phase change material attached to, or integral with, the panel structure.
Some methods of the invention include presenting water to the pressurized air or the inductive air flow with a water evaporation device.
Particular embodiments of the invention provide a ceiling system including a ceiling structure suspended within a space of a building thereby dividing the space into an occupied space below the ceiling structure and a plenum space above the ceiling structure; a first panel structure supported by the ceiling structure and having an edge; a pressurized air passageway attached to the edge of the first panel structure, the pressurized air passageway having an outlet; and an inductive air passageway adjacent the pressurized air passageway, the inductive air passageway being attached to the edge of the first panel structure and having an inlet and an outlet. The pressurized air passageway and the inductive air passageway are configured such that pressurized air passing through the outlet of the pressurized air passageway induces an induced air flow out of the outlet of the inductive air passageway.
Some embodiments include the first panel structure being oriented in a baffle-style arrangement such that the edge of the first panel structure is a lowest edge of the first panel structure, and the inductive air passageway is located below the edge of the first panel structure.
Some embodiments include a second panel structure supported by the ceiling structure.
Some embodiments include the second panel structure having a lower edge, the first panel structure and the second panel structure being oriented in a baffle-style arrangement, and the first panel structure and the second panel structure being attached to each other such that the inductive air passageway is attached to and is located below the lower edge of the first panel structure and the lower edge of the second panel structure.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
All drawings are schematic and not necessarily to scale. Parts given a reference numerical designation in one figure may be considered to be the same parts where they appear in other figures without a numerical designation for brevity unless specifically labeled with a different part number and described herein.
The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
In the description of embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attached,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. The term “fixed” refers to two structures that cannot be separated without damaging one of the structures. The term “filled” refers to a state that includes completely filled or partially filled.
As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.
The term “opening” as used in this application can refer to any passageway through which air can travel.
As explained above, occupant comfort and operating efficiency can be improved by implementing systems and methods according to embodiments of the invention. Particular embodiments use inductive airflow incorporated into a ceiling panel to achieve these benefits.
Many types of ceiling systems and methods for mounting ceiling panels have been used. One type of system uses a suspended metal support grid including an array of orthogonally intersecting grid support members. An array of grid openings are formed between the grid support members. These openings are filled by the ceiling panels. Ceiling panels are mounted to and supported by the support grid using numerous approaches. Other types of ceiling systems can use ceiling panels, such as plank ceiling systems, canopy type ceiling systems and baffle type ceiling systems.
A building panel can be part of a building system such as a ceiling or wall. In particular embodiments, the building panel is part of a ceiling system which separates an occupied space from a plenum space. The occupied space is space below the ceiling system such as office space or the like. The plenum space is space above the ceiling system in which mechanical, electrical and other building systems and equipment can be housed. In some situations, the plenum space is simply an open space above the ceiling system and below the upper structure of the building space.
As shown in
Other examples of the invention draw the induced airflow from an area outside of the occupied space, such as, for example, the plenum space.
Evaporative cooling can be included in any of the embodiments of the invention. An example of such evaporative cooling includes introducing water into the pressurized air passageway or the inductive air passageway. This can be done by, for example, wetting a surface (such as a porous surface or a wick) in one of the passageways or spraying water into one of the air streams.
In the system shown in
In some embodiments of the invention, the ceiling panel is an acoustic panel. The acoustic panel can be made from a range of fibers, porous materials including mineral fiber, wood wool, fiberglass, rock wool, sintered metals, foamed polymeric materials, and perforated metals, for example.
While the air diverters in the examples shown above are curved, linear air diverters can also be used (as seen in the example shown in
As stated above, the fan or other air mover can be mounted on the ceiling panel or can be remotely located. Locating the fan and motor remotely from the occupied space and/or the plenum space has the advantages of removing a source of heat and noise from the occupied space. Also, a single (or multiple) remotely located fan can provide pressurized air to multiple air moving systems.
Another form of suspended ceiling that can be improved by embodiments of the invention is the baffle type ceiling.
In this example, air moving system 800 acts as the structural support for panels 232. As shown in
In this example, the induced airflow will tend to be drawn from the space between baffles 240. Although, some air induced air flow may be drawn from the occupied space. The composition of the induced airflow depends on the relative temperatures of the occupied space and the plenum space, the velocity of the air exiting air moving system 900, and the shape and size of the air diverters. The pressurized air can be fed to the pressurized air passageway by way of a conduit running in a baffle 240 or a conduit running between two baffles 240 that are attached to each other (as shown in
Phase change material 1120 can be a material that changes from a solid to a liquid as it absorbs heat or a material that changes from a liquid to a gas as it absorbs heat. An example of an appropriate phase change material is a salt hydrate phase change material composed of water mixed with calcium chloride and a nucleating agent. Any appropriate phase change material can be used.
While the foregoing description and drawings represent exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope and range of equivalents of the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, sizes, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. In addition, numerous variations in the methods/processes described herein may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will further appreciate that the embodiments may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the disclosure, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles described herein. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the disclosure, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents. In addition, all combinations of any and all of the features described in the disclosure, in any combination, are part of the invention.
This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US17/51571, filed on Sep. 14, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/395,035, filed on Sep. 15, 2016. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2017/051571 | 9/14/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2018/053136 | 3/22/2018 | WO | A |
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