Combined micro-perforated channel

Abstract

Combined channel (10), micro -perforated, suitable for a combined system (100) for conditioned air distribution and hot fumes extraction, the combined channel (10) having a substantially cylindrical shape and comprising a plurality of cylindrical sections (15) connected by means of sealing joints (50), wherein a separating septum (20) divides the combined channel (10) longitudinally into a first semicircular portion (30) in which the conditioned airflows and into a second semicircular portion (40), above the first portion, in which the hot fumes flow.

Description

[0001] COMBINED MICRO-PERFORATED CHANNEL

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an innovative combined microperforated channel having a dual function of air distribution and fumes extraction.

[0005] Background art

[0006] In the context of industrial and / or commercial buildings, the quality of the air conditioning conveyed into the rooms is today an aspect that is of primary importance in the choice of clients, designers and installers. A high level of performance must be guaranteed by all the components of the aeraulic system and therefore also by the air distribution channels.

[0007] Micro-perforated channels are known in the state of the art for the distribution of an air flow, for example of treated air to condition an environment: cooled air, heated air and the like.

[0008] With reference to figure 1, a micro-perforated channel 1, of a known type, is provided with a plurality of holes 2. The channel is designed to maximize the principle of induction of the conditioned air, which depends on the speed of the air flow and serves to reduce the mixing times between the outgoing air and the surrounding air, thus limiting the air stratification effect. The application of this feature to channels allows the movement of more volumes of air than those introduced (from 5 to 20 times depending on the type of system) and consequently the diffusion in the environment is more homogeneous compared to traditional systems with diffusers or vents. Furthermore, by drastically reducing stratification, system commissioning and maintenance times are reduced.

[0009] The micro-perforations carried out on the channels allow the air to flow inside the channel, creating particular swirling motions, to then escape from the channel and spread into the area of use. In this way, condensation is prevented from forming both inside and outside the channel (therefore without requiring insulation on the channels).

[0010] By optimizing the number of exit holes, or their density along the part of the channel, and the shape characteristics of the aforementioned holes, it is also possible to minimize the formation of colonies and clusters of bacteria and mites inside the channel and near the holes. As the size of the building increases, the canalization required for good air conditioning of the rooms becomes increasingly complex and complex.

[0011] Systems for extracting fumes in the event of fires are also known. The current UNI standard (UNI 9494-2) in fact requires that in such buildings a layer of smoke-free air be maintained on the floor, to allow the evacuation of people, above which the layer of smoke and hot gases floating it is conveyed outside through the use of fume extraction / aspiration systems. These systems require careful sizing of the fume suction line so that the suction is equally distributed along the entire extraction channel. The complexity of this type of system is also strongly linked to the size of the building.

[0012] Therefore, in all industrial and commercial buildings it is necessary to size, design and install two different types of systems, often having a very complex layout. This implies a significant economic burden for the construction of the building, in addition to the emergence of aesthetic problems linked to the coexistence of the two channels.

[0013] There is, therefore, the need to create an innovative solution for the air distribution system and for the fume extraction system that considerably mitigates the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0014] Summary of the invention

[0015] The present invention aims to optimize air distribution systems and fume extraction systems through the design of a system which is based on a combined and micro-perforated channel, equipped with both functions, air distribution air and fume extraction.

[0016] This aim, which is the scope of the present invention, is achieved by dividing the combined channel with a sheet metal separating septum containing an internal layer of thermally insulating material. Therefore, according to the present invention, a combined channel suitable for air distribution and fume extraction is defined, as specified in the attached independent product claim.

[0017] According to a further purpose, a system for air distribution and fume extraction is defined according to the attached independent system claim.

[0018] Further preferred and / or particularly advantageous ways of implementing the invention are described according to the characteristics set out in the attached dependent claims.

[0019] Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of embodiments, wherein:

[0020] - figure 1 shows a micro-perforated channel for air distribution, according to the known art,

[0021] - figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a combined and micro-perforated channel for air distribution and fume extraction, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

[0022] - figure 3 is a front view of the combined channel of figure 2, according to the present invention,

[0023] - figure 4 illustrates an adjustable shutter for the extraction of fumes from the combined channel of figure 2,

[0024] - figure 5 schematically illustrates a system for air distribution and fume extraction equipped with the combined channel of figure 2,

[0025] - figure 6 schematically illustrates in a perspective view a system for air distribution and fume extraction, equipped with the combined channel of figure 2, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, and

[0026] - figures 7 and 8 illustrate, respectively in a lateral view and a perspective view, an element of the system of figure 6.

[0027] Detailed description

[0028] With reference to figures 2 and 3, the present invention relates to a micro-perforated channel similar to those used for air conditioning (both for blowing hot air and for blowing cold air) in offices, shopping centres, industrial buildings and similar, micro-perforated channel which can also be used for the extraction of smoke in the event of fire. It is, therefore, a combined channel 10, micro-perforated, by means of which the conditioned air can be distributed to the rooms and the hot fumes extracted, in the event of fire, according to the regulations in force (for example, the UNI 9494- 2).

[0029] The combined channel 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided with a separating septum 20 which divides it longitudinally into a first semicircular portion 30 and a second semicircular portion 40, above the first portion. The combined channel is formed by a plurality of cylindrical sections 15 connected to each other by means of sealing joints 50. The combined channel 10 is part of a system comprising a plurality of channels such as the combined channel 10. The number of channels depends on of the layout of the specific building in which the system is installed.

[0030] The first semicircular portion 30 of the combined channel 10, the one below the separating septum 20, is dedicated to air treatment, therefore connected to an air handling unit (AHU), which will send the hot "treated" air or cold in the system ducts and therefore to the combined channel 10. The first portion 30 is provided with a plurality of anticondensation holes 60 and a plurality of aeration holes 70 for introducing conditioned air into the surrounding environment.

[0031] The second semicircular portion 40 of the combined channel 10, the one above the separating septum 20, is dedicated to the extraction of hot fumes, in the event of a fire. The second semicircular portion 40 is provided with a plurality of suction holes 80 for the suction of hot fumes. The intake holes are optimized in number, section and density to guarantee a uniform flow rate of fumes along the different sections of the combined channel and along the different channels of the system.

[0032] Advantageously, as will be better explained below, the second semicircular portion 40, in the absence of fires and fumes to be aspirated, can also be used to convey the recirculation of the treated air.

[0033] The division of the combined channel 10 into two portions with a semicircular section involves the resolution of further technical problems.

[0034] In fact, the separation septum 20 which separates a hot area (fumes) from a cool area (treated air) must guarantee in all operating conditions:

[0035] - fume extraction according to current regulations, therefore with fume temperatures up to 600°C, for 120 minutes. Therefore, the separation baffle must resist high temperatures;

[0036] - furthermore, the separation septum 20 must be an excellent thermal insulator so as not to jeopardize the correct temperature of the conditioned air;

[0037] - finally, the separation septum 20 must avoid condensation of the vapor droplets on its surface.

[0038] The solution adopted and engineered is to divide the combined channel 10 with a separating septum 20, substantially parallelepiped in shape and with a reduced thickness compared to the other two dimensions, made with two external layers of sheet metal and an internal layer of thermally insulating material.

[0039] For example, the thermally insulating material can be rock wool. Rock wool is a material with excellent insulating capabilities and with thermal conductivity values (A) in winter (cold) behavior between 0.033 and 0.042 W / (mK). This allows you to prevent condensation from forming on the semicircular septum not involved in the induction of air around the circular canal.

[0040] The rock wool will be enclosed between two sheets of metal in order to avoid contaminating the clean air during the air treatment and conditioning of the rooms.

[0041] In the event of a fire and activation of the smoke extraction system upstream of the channels, the hot smoke will pass through the appropriate suction holes 80 in the upper part of the channel, with high temperatures of up to 600°C.

[0042] The separating septum 20 comprising the rock wool will be perfectly able to withstand the temperatures indicated above. In fact, the fibers resist temperatures above 1000°C, maintaining their insulating properties and dimensional stability.

[0043] This aspect is of particular importance since even after a possible fire, the combined channel 10 can be reused for air treatment, keeping the insulation properties of the separating septum 20 intact.

[0044] According to another example, the thermally insulating material can be glass wool, or alkaline earth silicate wool. This wool, for example, can contain:

[0045] - SiO2: 50-82%,

[0046] - CaO+MgO: 19-43%,

[0047] - AI2O3, TiO2 <6%, and

[0048] - traces of other oxides. These products are used in thermal insulation as thermal barriers, gaskets and expansion joints in industrial ovens, tunnel ovens, boilers and other industrial equipment, as well as in passive fire protection systems.

[0049] Advantageously, the second semicircular portion 40 can be provided with at least one adjustable shutter 90 (illustrated in figure 4), certified for smoke extraction systems. The shutter is provided with a plurality of holes 95.

[0050] On the fume extraction points, obtained with the holes 80 suitably made on the second semicircular portion 40, it will therefore be possible to insert the adjustable shutter 90 in order to regulate the passage of air (hot fumes) and regulate the correct extraction flow rate of the fumes on each extraction point. It should be noted that this shutter does not automatically self-regulate (by gravity or otherwise), but exclusively manually and presettable, using a specific computer program, depending on the application.

[0051] With reference to figure 5, a combined system 100 for air conditioning and fume extraction, in a first embodiment, includes a control device 250 and a machine 200 for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, i.e., the so-called AHU machine. The treated air is inserted into a treated air delivery pipe 110 and, via at least one intermediate pipe 120, reaches the combined and micro-perforated channels 10, in particular, the first semicircular portion 30 of the combined channels 10.

[0052] The separating septum 20 therefore prevents the air treated by the AHU machine from escaping from the holes 80 dedicated to the extraction of fumes, affecting the correct functioning of the combined microperforated channel 10. The ambient air to be recirculated returns to the machine 200 by means of a recirculation channel 130.

[0053] In the event of a fire, the machine 200 will be stopped, a first shutter 140 will close on the treated air delivery and at the same time first smoke control shutters 180, located between the intermediate pipe 120 and the first semicircular portion 30 of each combined channel 10, will close and second smoke control shutters 190, located between the intermediate pipe 120 and the second semicircular portion 40 of each combined channel 10, will open. A second shutter 150 will also open which will connect the intermediate pipe 120 with a smoke intake pipe 160 which leads to certified hot fumes extractors 170.

[0054] Therefore, since the second smoke control shutters 190 are open, the hot fumes will be sucked in by the suction holes 80 (with the adjustable shutter 90) suitably distributed on the combined channels 10, they will proceed along the second semicircular portion 40, then they will cross the intermediate pipe 120 and through the second shutter 150, open, they will reach the intake pipe 160 and the extractors 170. In other words, the flow of extracted air, dense with hot fumes, will be conveyed directly to the extractors 170.

[0055] Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a combined system 300 for air conditioning and fume extraction. In this system, the second semicircular portion 40 of the combined channel 10, in the absence of fires and fumes to be aspirated, is used to convey the recirculation of the treated air. The combined system 300 also includes a control device and a machine 200 for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, i.e., the so-called AHU machine.

[0056] The system 300 also includes, as in the embodiment already described, a plurality of combined channels 10 and a plurality of channel through which three flows pass (but never simultaneously): treated air and recirculated air in normal operating conditions and fumes in emergency conditions due to the presence of fires.

[0057] In particular, the treated air is inserted into a treated air delivery pipe 110, passes through a first shutter 140 (open, in normal operating conditions) and through at least one intermediate pipe 120, reaches the plurality of combined and micro-perforated channels 10, in particular, at the first semicircular portion 30 of the combined channels 10.

[0058] The ambient air to be recirculated is sucked in by the suction holes 80 suitably distributed on the second semicircular portion 40 of the combined channels 10 and returns to the machine 200 passing through an intake pipe 310, a second shutter 320 (open in normal operating conditions) and a further duct 330 in communication with the machine 200 for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

[0059] In the event of a fire, the machine 200 will be stopped, the first shutter 140 on the treated air delivery and the second shutter 320 on the air recirculation will close. At the same time, a third smoke control shutter 340 will open (closed in normal conditions) located between the pipe 310 (used in normal conditions for air recirculation) and a further intake pipe 350 in communication with the hot fumes certified extractors 170. Therefore, the third smoke control shutter 340 being open, the hot fumes will be sucked in by the suction holes 80 (with the adjustable shutters 90) suitably distributed on the second semicircular portions 40 of the combined channels 10, they will proceed along the second semicircular portions 40, then they will cross the pipe 310 and through the open third shutter 340, they will reach the intake pipe 350 and the extractors 170.

[0060] Advantageously, between each combined channel 10 and the intermediate pipe 120 and intake pipe 310 for recirculation air or fumes it is possible to insert a plenum 400.

[0061] With reference to figures 7 and 8, the plenum 400, of substantially rectangular shape, includes a separating septum 420 which divides it into a first box-shaped portion 430 and a second box-shaped portion 440. In this way it is possible to put the first semicircular portion 30 of the combined channel 10 and the intermediate pipe 120, as well as putting the second semicircular portion 40 of the combined channel 10 and the intake pipe 310 of the air to be recirculated or of the fumes directly in communication with each other.

[0062] Therefore, the treated air coming from the machine 200 passes through the intermediate pipe 120, the first box-shaped portion 430 of the plenum 400 and the first semicircular portion 30 of the combined channel 10 to exit from the aeration holes 70. Conversely, the air to be recirculated or the fumes are sucked in by the suction holes 80, pass through the second semicircular portion 40 of the combined channel 10, then the second boxshaped portion 440 of the plenum 400 and finally the pipe 310. Please note that the fume extraction holes are located on the upper part of the channel, as it is more efficient to extract the fumes in the upper part of the room, where they accumulate. Furthermore, by operating in this way the smoke extraction holes and the related adjustable shutters are not visible and this gives the combined duct a better aesthetic.

[0063] In addition to the ways of implementing the invention, as described above, it should be understood that numerous further variations exist. It must also be understood that said methods of implementation are only illustrative and do not limit the object of the invention, nor its applications, nor its possible configurations. On the contrary, although the above description makes it possible for the skilled man to implement the present invention at least according to one of its exemplary configurations, it must be understood that numerous variations of the described components are conceivable, without thereby departing from the object of the invention, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 23 February 2024 (23.02.24)1. Combined channel (10), micro-perforated, suitable for a combined system (100) for conditioned air distribution and hot fumes extraction, the combined channel (10) having a substantially cylindrical shape and comprising a plurality of cylindrical sections (15) connected by means of sealing joints (50), the combined channel (10) being characterized in that it is provided with a separating septum (20) which divides the combined channel (10) longitudinally into a first semicircular portion (30) in which the conditioned air flows and into a second semicircular portion (40), above the first portion, in which the hot fumes flow.

2. Combined channel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the recirculation of the conditioned air flows in the second semicircular portion (40).

3. Combined channel (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the separating septum (20), substantially parallelepiped in shape and with reduced thickness compared to the other two dimensions, is made of two external layers of sheet metal and an internal layer in thermal insulating material.

4. Combined channel (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermal insulating material is rock wool or glass wool.

5. Combined channel (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first semicircular portion (30) is provided with a plurality of anti-condensation holes (60) and with a plurality of aeration holes (70).16AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)6. Combined channel (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second semicircular portion (40) is provided with a plurality of suction holes (80).

7. Combined channel (10) according to claim 6, wherein the second semicircular portion (40) is provided with at least one adjustable shutter (90) in turn provided with a plurality of holes (95).

8. Combined channel (10) according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of holes (95) of the adjustable shutter (90) makes it possible to regulate the passage of hot fumes and adjust the correct fume extraction flow rate on each extraction point.

9. Combined system (100) for conditioned air distribution and hot fume extraction, comprising:- at least one combined channel (10) according to any of the preceding claims,- a machine (200) for heating, ventilation and air conditioning,- a delivery pipe (110) of the conditioned air- an intake pipe (160) for the hot fumes- hot fume extractors (170).- at least one intermediate pipe (120) in communication with the delivery pipe (110) and with the intake pipe (160)- a control device (250)- first smoke control shutters (180), normally open, placed between the intermediate pipe (120) and the first semicircular portion (30) of each combined channel (10) and configured to close in case of fire and prevent17AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)the flow of hot fumes from the intermediate pipe (120) to the first semicircular portion (30) of the at least one combined channel (10),- second smoke control shutters (190), normally closed, placed between the intermediate pipe (120) and the second semicircular portion (40) of each combined channel (10) and configured to open in case of fire and to put in communication the second semicircular portion (40) of the at least one combined channel (10) with the intermediate pipe (120).

10. Combined system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the communication between the delivery pipe (110) and the intermediate pipe (120) is regulated by a first shutter (140) and the communication between the intake pipe (160) and the intermediate pipe (120) is regulated by a second shutter (150).

11. Combined system (300) for the distribution of conditioned air and extraction of hot fumes, including:- at least one combined channel (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8,- a machine (200) for heating, ventilation and air conditioning,- a control device,- hot fumes extractors (170)- a delivery duct (110) for the conditioned air- at least one intermediate duct (120) in fluid communication with the delivery duct (110) and with the first semicircular portion (30) of the combined channel (10),18AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)- a duct (310) for the extraction of hot fumes or the recirculation of conditioned air in fluid communication with the second semicircular portion(40) of the combined channel (10),- a further duct (330) in fluid communication with the suction duct (310) and with the machine (200),- a further suction duct (350) in fluid communication with the suction duct (310) and the certified hot fume extractors (170),- a first shutter (140), normally open, placed between the delivery duct (110) and the intermediate duct (120)- a second shutter (320), normally open, placed between the suction duct (310) and the further duct (330), and- a third shutter (340), normally closed, placed between the suction duct (310) and the further suction duct (350).

12. Combined system (300) according to claim 11, in which a plenum (400) is present between each combined channel (10) and the intermediate (120) and suction ducts (310).

13. Combined system (300) according to claim 11, wherein the plenum (400), substantially rectangular in shape, includes a separating partition (420) which divides the plenum (400) into:- a first box-shaped portion (430) in fluid communication with the first semicircular portion (30) of the combined channel (10) and with the intermediate duct (120), and- a second box-shaped portion (440) in fluid communication with the second semicircular portion (40) of the combined channel (10) and with the duct (310) for suction of the air to be recirculated or of the fumes.19AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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