Improved device for regulating the temperature of a room

Abstract

Device (22) for regulating the temperature of a room (18) comprising means (24) for supplying pulsed air connected, by air channeling means (26), to air diffusion means (28) intended to diffuse the pulsed air into the room (18). The air channeling means (26) are delimited by a metal wall (46), called a radiation wall, provided with an internal surface (46I) covered by a mass of phase-change material (48) intended to be in contact with the pulsed air, and an external surface (46E) intended to delimit the room (18). Figure for the abstract: figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Improved device for regulating the temperature of a room

[0001] The invention relates to a device intended for regulating the temperature of a room.

[0002] Already known in the prior art, in particular from document FR 2 952 999, is a device intended for regulating the temperature of a room comprising means for supplying pulsed air connected, by air ducting means, to air diffusion means intended to diffuse the pulsed air into the room.

[0003] More particularly, in document FR 2 952 999, the air channeling means are formed by air ducts integrated into a concrete slab intended to separate two floors of a building. The slab forms a floor or a ceiling of the room whose temperature is to be regulated. Thus, the air pulsed into the channeling means can heat the slab which will itself exchange calories with the air in the room by conduction and radiation.

[0004] It should be noted that the mass of the slab gives it a thermal inertia which promotes thermal regulation of the room. Thus, the slab absorbs excess energy when the room reaches a desired temperature and, when the temperature of the room tends to drop, restores this energy to the room, essentially by radiation, due to its thermal inertia.

[0005] The integration of this type of technology is essentially done during the construction of the building, the slab equipped with the means of ducting pulsed air can either be prefabricated then assembled on site or be manufactured on site.

[0006] On the other hand, the technology described in document FR 2 952 999 is much more difficult to implement in an existing building, for example a building that one wishes to renovate. Indeed, in this case it would be necessary to consider redoing the slabs separating the floors of the existing building to integrate the means of ducting forced air, which is dissuasive.

[0007] The invention aims in particular to propose a device intended for regulating the temperature of a room which benefits from a thermal inertia effect and which, where appropriate, is easy to integrate into an existing building which one wishes, for example, to renovate.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a device intended for regulating the temperature of a room comprising means for supplying pulsed air connected, by air ducting means, to air diffusion means intended to diffuse the pulsed air into the room, characterized in that the ducting means air are delimited by a metal wall, called a radiation wall, provided with an internal surface covered by a mass of phase change material intended to be in contact with the pulsed air, and an external surface intended to delimit the room.

[0009] In the above and the following, a phase change material, or PCM, is a material capable of changing state between a liquid phase and a solid phase in a temperature range of 10°C to 80°C.

[0010] The phase change material can store and release large amounts of energy, while remaining at a relatively constant temperature. Indeed, when the material changes phase, it absorbs or releases a significant amount of calories, while the material maintains a relatively constant temperature. Thus, the phase change material has a thermal inertia effect because, on the one hand, it can absorb excess energy when the room reaches a desired temperature and, on the other hand, when the temperature of the room tends to fall, it releases this energy to the room, essentially by radiation.

[0011] The temperature of the pulsed air circulating in the air channeling means can thus be adjusted, according to the seasons, according to a relatively wide range of values, preferably between 6°C and 50°C, without the risk of the air temperature in the room being too high, due to the phase change material absorbing excess calories. The use of a relatively wide range of temperature values ​​makes it possible to limit the power required to heat the pulsed air and therefore makes it possible to limit the carbon footprint of the device intended for regulating the temperature of a room. Indeed, the phase change material makes it possible to restore calories while the pulsed air heating means are stopped.

[0012] The phase change material has a relatively high density, so that it is compact, space-saving and can be distributed on the radiation wall forming a relatively thin layer.

[0013] The metallic radiation wall facilitates the diffusion of heat by radiation. Furthermore, the radiation wall, which is metallic, has a rigidity suitable for carrying the mass of phase change material while being relatively thin so that it is compact.

[0014] The radiation wall covered by the mass of phase change material forms an assembly that is easy to integrate into an existing building. The relative thinness of the metal radiation wall and the compactness of the mass of phase change material limit the size of the air channeling means, which facilitates the integration of the device for regulating the temperature of a room into an existing building.

[0015] Other optional characteristics of this device intended for regulating the temperature of a room will be stated below, which can be taken alone or in combination.

[0016] The melting point of the phase change material is between 15° and 23°C, preferably between 17° and 22°C. This range of values ​​of the melting point of the phase change material is particularly suitable for the temperatures generally desired in an inhabited building.

[0017] The phase change material comprises at least one organic component, chosen in particular from paraffins. This type of material is in fact generally less sensitive to supercooling than a phase change material comprising inorganic components. Alternatively, the phase change material comprises at least one inorganic component chosen in particular from hydrated salts, in particular from alloys of organic salts and water.

[0018] The phase change material is housed in an envelope, preferably made of aluminum, the envelope containing the phase change material covering the inner surface of the radiation wall. Since the phase change material is housed in an envelope, it is easy to arrange on the radiation wall. Furthermore, the aluminum envelope is relatively thin, so that its bulk is negligible. Furthermore, aluminum promotes the transfer of calories.

[0019] The pulsed air supply means comprise an air treatment unit connected to the ducting means by pulsed air flow regulation means. These flow regulation means participate in controlling the thermal regulation of the room.

[0020] The flow control means comprise at least one flow control valve arranged in a pulsed air circulation duct connected to the channeling means via a diffusion plenum.

[0021] The air channeling means delimit a substantially prismatic air circulation channel with a base, called internal, substantially rectangular. Such a shape of the air circulation channel is easy to integrate into a room, in particular into a ceiling of the room.

[0022] The air channeling means are also delimited by side walls substantially perpendicular to the radiation wall, so that the surfaces external to the air circulation channel of the radiation wall and of the side walls substantially delimit a base prism, called external, substantially rectangular, a large side of this external base, formed by the radiation wall, having a length of between 90 and 120 cm, and a small side of this external base, formed by each side wall, having a length of between 5.5 and 15 cm. Such dimensions are particularly well suited to integrating the device intended for temperature regulation in a room in an existing building.

[0023] The radiating wall is intended to form a ceiling of the room.

[0024] The invention also relates to a building comprising a room, characterized in that it is equipped with a device for regulating the temperature of this room as defined above.

[0025] According to another optional characteristic of this building, the air channeling means are further delimited by a slab, preferably made of concrete, separating this room from a floor of this building extending above this room. Brief description of the figures

[0026] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] is a schematic view of a part of a building according to the invention provided of a device according to the invention for regulating the temperature of a room in this building;

[0028] [Fig.2] is a section along line II-II of [Fig.l]. Detailed description

[0029] [Fig. 1] shows a building according to the invention, designated by the general reference 10, comprising a concrete slab 12 separating two floors, respectively lower 14 and upper 16.

[0030] [Fig.l] also shows a room 18 located in the lower floor 14 of the building. The slab 12 therefore separates this room 18 from the upper floor 16 extending above this room 18.

[0031] [Fig.l] also shows a wall 20 delimiting the room 18, forming for example a facade of the building 10.

[0032] The building 10 is equipped with a device 22, according to the invention, for regulating the temperature of the room 18.

[0033] Referring to [Fig.l], it can be seen that the device 22 comprises means 24 for supplying pulsed air connected, by air channeling means 26, to air diffusion means 28 intended to diffuse the pulsed air in the room 18. These air diffusion means 28 are conventional and comprise, for example, an air diffusion grille 29.

[0034] In [Fig.l], the direction of air circulation in the device 22 is indicated by arrows F.

[0035] The means 24 for supplying pulsed air comprise a downstream air diffusion plenum 30 connected to an upstream end 26A of the air channeling means 26. This diffusion plenum 30 allows uniform distribution of the pulsed air in different means of air ducting of the building, in particular other than the air ducting means 26 shown in [Fig.l].

[0036] Preferably, the internal surface of the downstream diffusion plenum 30 is coated with an insulating material 32.

[0037] The means 24 for supplying pulsed air also comprise an air treatment unit 34 comprising conventional means for cooling and heating the air, for example an air / water exchanger or a heat pump, air filtration means and air circulation means, for example a fan.

[0038] In the example illustrated, the air treatment unit 34 is connected to the downstream air diffusion plenum 30 via an upstream air diffusion plenum 36. The upstream 36 and downstream 30 diffusion plenums are connected to each other by means 38 for regulating the flow rate of pulsed air comprising at least one flow rate regulating valve 40 arranged in a duct 42 for circulating pulsed air connecting the upstream 36 and downstream 30 diffusion plenums.

[0039] It will therefore be noted that the duct 42 for circulating pulsed air is connected to the upstream end 26A of the air channeling means 26 via the downstream air diffusion plenum 30.

[0040] It will also be noted that the air treatment unit 34 is connected to the ducting means 26 by the means 38 for regulating the pulsed air flow rate.

[0041] Preferably, as in the example illustrated, the upstream 36 and downstream 30 diffusion plenums as well as the duct 42 are housed in a false ceiling 44 delimiting the top of the room 18.

[0042] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that, in the example illustrated, the air channeling means 26 delimit a substantially prismatic air circulation channel with a base, called internal, substantially rectangular. The air treatment unit 34 may, if necessary, be installed outside the building, for example on a platform located at the top of the building.

[0043] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it can also be seen that the air channeling means 26 are delimited by a metal wall 46, called a radiation wall, and, preferably, as in the example illustrated, by the concrete slab 12. Thus, the radiation wall 46 extends substantially parallel to the concrete slab 12, the pulsed air being intended to circulate between this concrete slab 12 and the radiation wall 46.

[0044] The radiation wall 46 is for example made of steel, preferably galvanized. Alternatively, the radiation wall 46 may be made of another metallic material, for example aluminum or a suitable alloy.

[0045] The radiation wall 46 is provided with an internal surface 461 covered by a mass of phase change material 48 intended to be in contact with the air pulsed, and an external surface 46E intended to delimit the room 18. Preferably, as in the example illustrated, the radiation wall 46 is intended to delimit the top of the room 18 and thus form a ceiling of the room 18.

[0046] Referring to [Fig. 2], it can be seen that the channeling means 26 are also delimited by side walls 50 extending between the radiation wall 46, forming a ceiling, and the concrete slab 12. These side walls 50, substantially perpendicular to the radiation wall 46, are preferably metallic, for example in a material similar to that of the radiation wall 46. Also preferably, the internal surface 501 of the side walls 50 is coated with an insulating material 52.

[0047] The phase change material 48 is housed in an envelope 54, preferably made of aluminum. Thus, the envelope 54 containing the phase change material 48 covers the internal surface 461 of the radiation wall 46.

[0048] Preferably, the melting point of the phase change material 48 is between 15° and 23°C. More particularly, the melting point of the phase change material 48 is between 17° and 22°C.

[0049] Also preferably, the phase change material 48 comprises at least one organic component, chosen in particular from paraffins. This type of phase change material is in fact generally less sensitive to supercooling than a phase change material comprising inorganic (mineral) components.

[0050] For example, the phase change material 48 is a material sold under the trade name RUBITHERM® RT21 or RT21HC by the company Rubitherm Technologies GmbH.

[0051] The risks of supercooling of the phase change material being limited in the most frequently envisaged applications, as a variant, the phase change material comprises at least one inorganic component chosen in particular from hydrated salts, in particular from alloys of organic salts and water.

[0052] The assembly formed by the radiation wall 46 and the mass of phase change material 48 covering the internal surface 461 of this radiation wall 46 has an overall thickness EG of between 0.5 and 5 cm. This overall thickness EG takes into account the very limited thickness of the walls of the envelope 54 in which the phase change material 48 is housed. In the example illustrated, the thickness EP of the radiation wall 46 is equal to 0.2 cm and the thickness EM of the layer of mass of phase change material 48 is equal to 1.3 cm, so that the overall thickness EG is equal to 1.5 cm. Furthermore, in the example illustrated, the distance D between the concrete slab 12 and the layer of mass of phase change material 48 is equal to 4 cm.

[0053] Furthermore, referring to [Fig. 2], it can be seen that the surfaces 46E, 50E external to the air circulation channel of the radiation wall 46 and of the side walls 50 substantially delimit a base prism, called external, substantially rectangular. A large side of this external base, formed by the radiation wall 46, has a length L preferably between 90 and 120 cm, and a small side of this external base, formed by each side wall 50, preferably has a length H between 5.5 and 15 cm.

[0054] The temperature of the room 18 is therefore regulated by the pulsed air diffused into the room 18 through the grid 29 as well as by the radiation emitted by the wall 46 carrying the phase change material 48.

[0055] The air pulsed by the supply means 24 can be cold or hot, depending on the seasons. Heat transmission effects by conduction and convection also contribute to the heating of the room 18. In addition, the heating of the room 18 can continue, while the means 24 for supplying pulsed air are stopped, in particular while the air treatment unit 34 is stopped, thanks to the heat emitted by radiation by the phase change material 48.

[0056] The invention is not limited to the embodiment presented and other embodiments will become clear to those skilled in the art. It is in particular possible to arrange the channeling means 26 in the room 18 so that the radiating wall 46 extends in various orientations, in particular vertically parallel to a wall delimiting the room 18. Furthermore, the slab 12 may be made of a material other than concrete, for example any other material used to separate levels or floors in a building. List of references

[0057] 10: building 12: concrete slab 14: lower floor 16: upper floor 18: local 20: wall 22: device for regulating the temperature of the room 24: means of supplying pulsed air 26: air channeling means, 26A: upstream end of the air channeling means, 28: air diffusion means 29: air diffusion grille 30: downstream air diffusion plenum 32: insulating material 34: air handling unit 36: upstream air diffusion plenum 38: means of regulating the flow of pulsed air 40: valve 42: sheath 44: false ceiling 46: metal radiation wall 46E: external surface of the metallic radiation wall 461: internal surface of the metallic radiation wall 48: mass of phase change material 50: side wall 50E: external surface of the side wall 501: internal surface of the side wall 52: insulating material 54: envelope D: distance between the slab and the mass layer of phase change material EG: overall thickness EM: thickness of the phase change material layer EP: thickness of the metallic radiation wall F: direction of air circulation H: length of the short side of the external base L: length of the large side of the external base

Claims

Claims

1. Device (22) intended for regulating the temperature of a room (18) comprising means (24) for supplying pulsed air connected, by air channeling means (26), to air diffusion means (28) intended to diffuse the pulsed air into the room (18), characterized in that the air channeling means (26) are delimited by a metal wall (46), called a radiation wall, provided with an internal surface (461) covered by a mass of phase change material (48) intended to be in contact with the pulsed air, and an external surface (46E) intended to delimit the room (18).

2. Device (22) according to claim 1, wherein the melting point of the phase change material (48) is between 15° and 23°C, preferably between 17° and 22°C.

3. Device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the phase change material (48) comprises at least one organic component, chosen in particular from paraffins or at least one inorganic component chosen in particular from hydrated salts, in particular from alloys of organic salts and water.

4. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the phase change material (48) is housed in an envelope (54), preferably made of aluminum, the envelope (54) containing the phase change material (48) covering the inner surface (461) of the radiation wall (46).

5. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the assembly formed by the radiation wall (46) and the mass of phase change material (48) covering the internal surface (461) of this radiation wall (46) has an overall thickness (EG) of between 0.5 and 5 cm, for example equal to 1.5 cm.

6. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the means (24) for supplying pulsed air comprise an air treatment unit (34) connected to the ducting means (26) by means (38) for regulating the flow rate of pulsed air.

7. Device (22) according to claim 6, in which the flow control means (38) comprise at least one flow control valve (40) arranged in an air circulation duct (42). pulsed connected to the channeling means (26) via a diffusion plenum (30).

8. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the air channeling means (26) delimit a substantially prismatic air circulation channel with a base, called internal, substantially rectangular.

9. Device (22) according to claim 8, in which the air channeling means (26) are also delimited by side walls (50) substantially perpendicular to the radiation wall (46), so that the surfaces (46E, 50E) external to the air circulation channel of the radiation wall (46) and of the side walls (50) substantially delimit a base prism, called external, substantially rectangular, a large side of this external base, formed by the radiation wall (46), having a length of between 90 and 120 cm, and a small side of this external base, formed by each side wall (50), having a length of between 5.5 and 15 cm.

10. Device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the radiating wall (46) is intended to form a ceiling of the room (18).

11. Building (10) comprising a room (18), characterized in that it is equipped with a device (22) for regulating the temperature of this room (18) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Building (10) according to claim 11, wherein the air channeling means (26) are further delimited by a slab (12), preferably made of concrete, separating this room (18) from a floor (16) of this building (10) extending above this room (18).

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