Patent Application
20120171946
The present invention relates to a device for supplying a cooled airflow to at least one location for cooling. The present invention also relates to supplying a cooled airflow to at least one location for cooling using such a device.
In regions with a warm climate it is usual to provide the spaces where people spend time with an air conditioning with which the air in the space can be conditioned, generally cooled, as required by persons present in the space. This cooling of the air in said spaces entails a considerable energy consumption. There is therefore a need for a device which enhances comfort and which is also energy-efficient.
The device according to the invention comprises a cooling unit for generating a cooled airflow; and a guide duct for guiding the cooled airflow from the cooling unit to the at least one location for cooling, wherein substantially the whole wall of the guide duct is permeable to the air of the cooled airflow, an outflow part of the wall of the guide duct has a first air permeability, and a guide part of the wall has a second air permeability, wherein the outflow part of the wall can be placed close to the at least one location for cooling and the air permeability of the outflow part of the wall is higher than the air permeability of the guide part of the wall.
This device makes it possible, by means of the placing of the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct close to a specific location for cooling within a space, for instance a bed or a workplace, to concentrate the cooled airflow on this specific location. This makes the device according to the invention energy-efficient compared to a device with a supplied airflow which cannot be concentrated on the specific location. Because not only the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct but substantially the whole wall is moreover permeable to the air of the cooled airflow, it is possible here to avoid undesirable effects of the guiding of the cooled airflow through the guide duct, such as condensation on the wall of the guide duct. Such condensation can for instance reduce comfort when the condensation falls from the wall onto the bed, the workplace, or even onto the persons making use thereof. Such condensation is a problem particularly in regions with a relatively high air humidity.
In a favourable embodiment of the device according to the invention the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct can be placed above the at least one location for cooling. This measure makes it possible to use gravitational force to allow the relatively cold air to move downward to the location for cooling and the persons making use thereof. This has the advantage that the outflow speed of the cooled air of the airflow from the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct can be lower, whereby the noise generated by the airflow as it passes through the wall of the guide duct, and thereby the nuisance it causes, is reduced while the persons moreover experience the comfort of a descending cool air.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention the temperature of the cooled airflow is at least 2° C. lower than the temperature of the ambient air. The temperature of the cooled airflow which is at least 2° C. lower relative to the temperature of the ambient air ensures that the cooled air moves downward to the location for cooling by means of gravitational force, wherein the person making use of the location experiences a pleasant cooling without draught.
In a further favourable embodiment of the device, wherein the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct can be placed above the at least one location for cooling, the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct can be placed at a distance of preferably between 100-300 cm, more preferably between 150-250 cm, and still more preferably substantially 200 cm above the at least one location for cooling. This distance of for instance 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300 cm is found to enable a good distribution of the cooled airflow over the location for cooling, while in respect of its height the device is also suitable for placing in an existing space.
In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, wherein the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct can be placed above the at least one location for cooling, the device also comprises a frame with which the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct can be placed above the at least one location for cooling. This measure for instance enables simple placing of the device above the desired location for cooling. The device can thus be embodied for instance as a displaceable unit which can be easily placed in an existing space in order to supply cooled air to a specific location in this space.
In a favourable embodiment hereof the guide duct is suspended in the frame by means of a mounting extending between the guide duct and the frame. This measure makes it possible for instance to physically separate the guide duct from the frame and thus avoid condensation on the frame or on the wall of the guide duct when a relatively cold airflow is supplied. In a further embodiment the mounting has a substantially airtight part extending from the wall of the guide duct over a distance of preferably at least 10 cm, more preferably at least 20 cm, and still more preferably at least 30 cm in the direction of the frame. This measure for instance makes it possible, when a relatively cold airflow is supplied to a location for cooling, to avoid warm air present above the outflow part of the guide duct being entrained by the airflow. The efficiency of the device can hereby be further improved, this making the device more energy-efficient.
In a further favourable embodiment of the device according to the invention the cooling unit comprises a suction mouthpiece for drawing in an airflow for cooling, which suction mouthpiece can be placed under the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct. This measure enables at least partial re-cooling in the cooling unit of a cooled airflow supplied to the location for cooling. The cooled air which has flowed out of the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct placed above the location for cooling will move downward under the influence of gravitational force and is then drawn in again by the cooling unit under the outflow part. Although it will be warmed to some extent before it is drawn in again, the temperature of this air is cooler than the ambient air, whereby only a small measure of additional cooling is necessary, this making the device more energy-efficient.
In a further favourable embodiment of the device according to the invention the wall of the guide duct is of textile. This measure makes it possible for the airflow to leave the guide duct almost silently, thereby maintaining the comfort of the person making use of the location.
In a further favourable embodiment of the device according to the invention the outflow speed of the air of the cooled airflow from the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct is preferably between 0.04-0.12 m/s, more preferably between 0.06-0.10 m/s, and still more preferably substantially 0.08 m/s. These outflow speeds of for instance 0.04; 0.05; 0.06; 0.07; 0.08; 0.09; 0.10; 0.11 and 0.12 m/s, together with the acceleration exerted on the cooled air by gravitational force, ensures that the speed of the airflow is so low when it reaches a person making use of the location for cooling that this person experiences a comfort-enhancing cooling without the airflow being perceived here as draughty.
In a further favourable embodiment of the device according to the invention the air permeability of the outflow part of the wall is preferably between 200-1400 m3/m2/hour at a static pressure of 120 Pa, more preferably between 400-1200 m3/m2/hour and still more preferably between 600-1000 m3/m2/hour. This air permeability of the outflow part of the wall of the guide duct of for instance 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1440 m3/m2/hour at a static pressure of 120 Pa has been found highly suitable for realizing a comfort-enhancing device, and particularly for realizing the above stated outflow speeds of the air of the airflow flowing out of the outflow part of the guide duct.
In a further favourable embodiment of the device according to the invention the air permeability of the rest of the wall is preferably between 10-80 m3/m2/hour at a static pressure of 120 Pa, more preferably between 15-70 m3/m2/hour and still more preferably between 20-60 m3/m2/hour. This air permeability of the rest of the wall of the guide duct of for instance 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 m3/m2/hour at a static pressure of 120 Pa has been found highly suitable for effectively avoiding condensation on the wall of the guide duct.
The invention also relates to a method for supplying a cooled airflow to at least one location for cooling using an above described device.
A favourable embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises the step of placing the outflow part of the wall of the air-permeable guide duct above the at least one location.
The present invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are shown in the accompanying figures. These are non-limitative exemplary embodiments.
In the figures:
a and 5b show a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the guide duct of the device of
a and 6b show a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the guide duct of
The operating principle of a device according to the invention, including devices 1 and 11 of
Device 13 is shown with a cooling unit 3. Cooling unit 3 has a suction mouthpiece 5 and an outlet mouthpiece 6. Cooling unit 3 draws in air in the direction of arrow D via suction mouthpiece 5. The indrawn air is then cooled by means of cooling unit 3 and blown out via outlet mouthpiece 6 as a cooled airflow in the direction of arrow E into guide duct 7. In this exemplary embodiment guide duct 7 guides the cooled airflow to two locations 2a and 2b for cooling. The whole wall 8 of guide duct 7 is permeable to the cooled air of the airflow so that cooled air of the cooled airflow which is guided to the locations 2 for cooling flows out substantially everywhere on wall 8 of guide duct 7, as shown by the airflows shown as zigzag arrows F and G. An outflow part 8a of wall 8 of guide duct 7 placed above each location 2a and 2b for cooling has a first air permeability. A guide part 8b of wall 8 of guide duct 7 has a second air permeability. Because the air permeability of outflow part 8a of wall 8 of guide duct 7 is higher than the air permeability of guide part 8b of wall 8 of guide duct 7, the cooled air of the cooled airflow is guided mainly along guide part 8b of wall 8 so that relatively little air from the cooled airflow flows through guide part 8b of wall 8 (indicated with the relatively short zigzag arrows F), and the cooled air of the cooled airflow flows out mainly at outflow part 8a of wall 8 placed above the locations 2a and 2b for cooling (indicated with the relatively long zigzag arrows G). Because substantially the whole wall 8 is permeable to the cooled air of the cooled airflow blown into guide duct 7, the relatively warm air in the vicinity 14 of wall 8 of guide duct 7 is kept at a distance so that this relatively warm ambient air cannot condense against wall 8 of guide duct 7.
The cooled air flowing out of outflow part 8a of wall 8 moves downward to locations 2a and 2b for cooling in the direction of arrow C as a result of the outflow speed and under the influence of gravitational force and accumulates on ground surface 15, as indicated with hatching H. Because suction mouthpiece 5 of cooling unit 3 is placed under outflow part 8a of wall 8, or downstream relative to the cooled air flowing out of this outflow part 8a (zigzag arrows G), the air which has accumulated, and which has by now warmed up to some extent, is drawn in again by cooling unit 3 via suction mouthpiece 5 in the direction of arrow D and re-cooled.
As shown in
a and 5b show a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of guide duct 7 of device 13 of
a and 6b show a schematic cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the guide duct of
The cross-section of guide duct 7 of
The airtight part of mounting 10 of
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1037249 | Sep 2009 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2010/050518 | 8/18/2010 | WO | 00 | 3/22/2012 |
