Fan device

Abstract

To provide a fan device that can distribute a sufficient amount of wind to suppress at least one of the dew condensation and mold to the ceiling efficiently for more wide range.SOLUTION: A fan device 1 includes blades B and a motor M. The motor M rotates the blades B to generate a wind W. The wind W impinges on a ceiling C. An angle of the direction of the wind W to the ceiling C is 45° or more and 90° or less. In the fan device 1, rotating the blades B by the motor M blows a wind W out upward so as to impinge on the ceiling C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fan device that suppresses the occurrence of at least one of dew condensation and mold (hereinafter referred to as "dew condensation, etc.") on the ceiling of a store or the like.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-15488 (Patent Document 1) discloses an air heating and circulation device under a ceiling. In this device, a blower 4 and a heat exchanger 3 are arranged in a wind tunnel 2 installed above the ceiling, and a horizontal flow of air within 1 m (meter) below the ceiling surface is generated from the opening 9 on the air blowing side of the ceiling to the opening 1 on the air suction side of the ceiling. Such horizontal wind suppresses significant dew condensation, etc. on the ceiling, including stores cooled by cold heat radiation and cold air leakage from a refrigerated display case, during high humidity.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above device, since the air under the ceiling flows horizontally between the openings 1 and 9, there is a limit to the extent of the area where the wind that can suppress dew condensation, etc. on the ceiling can spread. This area is difficult to expand in a direction intersecting the straight-ahead direction due to the wind flowing straight between the openings 1 and 9. Moreover, although this area can be expanded by increasing the length between the openings 1 and 9, it is necessary to lengthen the wind tunnel 2 above the ceiling and increase the capacity of the blower 4 accordingly, resulting in increased costs. Furthermore, even if the length between the openings 1 and 9 is increased, the property that the wind is difficult to spread in a direction intersecting the straight-ahead direction does not change, and the efficiency of expanding the area is poor. Furthermore, in the above-described device, since only the air under the cooled ceiling circulates, there is room for improvement in thermal efficiency.

[0005] Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a fan device in which a sufficient amount of wind for suppressing condensation or the like efficiently spreads over a wider range with respect to the ceiling. Moreover, a second object of the present invention is to provide a fan device having better thermal efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This specification discloses a fan device. The fan device may include blades and a motor. Wind may be generated when the blades are rotated by the motor. The wind may hit the ceiling. The angle of the wind direction with respect to the ceiling may be 45° or more and 90° or less. Alternatively, the fan device may include blades and a motor. When the blades are rotated by the motor, the wind may be blown upward so as to hit the ceiling.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] A first effect of the present invention is that a fan device is provided in which a sufficient amount of wind for suppressing condensation or the like efficiently spreads over a wider range with respect to the ceiling. Moreover, a second effect of the present invention is that a fan device having better thermal efficiency is provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention and modified examples thereof will be described based on the drawings as appropriate. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and modified examples.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fan device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1. The fan device 1 of the first embodiment includes a housing 2, a plurality (here, four) of vertical bars 4, a plurality (here, five) of fans 6, a plurality (here, two) of heaters 8, a cover 10, and control means 12.

[0011] The housing 2 is a metal box-shaped body that is long in one direction. The upper side of the housing 2 is open. For convenience of explanation, the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 is defined as the front-rear direction of the fan device 1. The vertical direction of the housing 2 is defined as the vertical direction of the fan device 1. The direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction of the fan device 1 is defined as the left-right direction of the fan device 1. Note that the direction may change due to the movement of the members or parts of the fan device 1. Also, the direction of the fan device 1 may be set in a manner other than the above. Furthermore, the form of the housing 2 may be changed from that described above, and for example, it may be cubic or made of plastic.

[0012] Each vertical bar 4 is rod-shaped and extends vertically. The lower end of each vertical bar 4 is arranged at any one of the four corners of the upper part of the housing 2. The upper end of each vertical bar 4 is fixed to the ceiling C. The ceiling C is horizontal. Note that the ceiling C may not be horizontal. The fan device 1 is suspended from the ceiling C and attached to the ceiling C by each vertical bar 4. Note that the form of the vertical bar 4 or the form of fixing the fan device 1 may be changed from those described above. For example, the vertical bar 4 may be provided with 3 or less, or 5 or more including 1, and may be plate-shaped. The length of each vertical bar 4 may be variable manually or electrically. Also, the fan device 1 may be installed on a step portion formed on the wall portion and adjacent to the ceiling C.

[0013] Each fan 6 is formed in the same manner as each other. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, one fan 6 will be described as a representative. Note that the number of fans 6 may be 4 or less including 1, or 6 or more. The fan 6 has a motor M, blades B, and a case E. The motor M is electric, is connected to the blades B, and rotates the blades B. The motor M is connected to a power source (not shown). Note that a plurality of blades B may be connected to one motor M, or a plurality of motors M may be connected to one blade B. The blades B cause an air flow, that is, wind W, by rotation. The case E is box-shaped and covers other than the upper side. The case E holds the motor M. The upper opening of the case E is arranged adjacent to the blades B. Note that the case E may be omitted, or may hold one or a plurality of motors M. The fan 6 is held by the housing 2 in a posture with the blades B on the upper side. The housing 2 holds the motor M via the case E. The fan 6 sends the wind W upward. The fan 6 directs the wind W toward the ceiling C. The fan 6 directs the wind W in the direction of the perpendicular line of the ceiling C. The angle A of the direction of the wind W from the fan 6 with respect to the ceiling C is 90 degrees. The wind W from the fan 6 hits the ceiling C, changes its direction to the front, rear, left, and right, and spreads. The wind W hitting the ceiling C spreads particularly to the left and right. Each fan 6 is arranged in the front-rear direction.

[0014] Each heater 8 is rod-shaped and extends in the front-rear direction. Each heater 8 has an outer tube and a heating element. The outer tube is a tube that allows heat to pass through. The heating element generates heat when energized. The heating element is connected to a power source (not shown). The on / off of the power supply to the heating element can be executed independently of the on / off of the motor M of each fan 6. Incidentally, the on / off of the power supply to the heating element may be interlocked with the on / off of the motor M. Each heater 8 is held by the housing 2. Each heater 8 is located above each fan 6 and is arranged on the left and right sides of the upper opening of the housing 2. When each heater 8 is on, the heating element generates heat, and the wind W is heated and warmed.

[0015] The cover 10 is plate-shaped and extends in the front-rear, left-right directions. The cover 10 is held by the housing 2. The cover 10 is located above each fan 6 and is arranged at the center of the upper opening of the housing 2. The cover 10 is arranged between the two heaters 8 in the left-right direction. The cover 10 protects each fan 6. The cover 10 adjusts the blowing mode of the wind W. The cover 10 makes the heating efficiency of the wind W by each heater 8 better than when the cover 10 is not provided.

[0016] The control means 12 is a means for controlling various members or parts in the fan device 1. The control means 12 is a computer such as a single-board computer, for example. The control means 12 is electrically connected to each fan 6 and controls the motor M of each fan 6 to control the on / off and air volume of the wind W. Incidentally, the control means 12 does not have to control the air volume. Also, the control means 12 may perform different controls for each fan 6. The control means 12 is electrically connected to each heater 8, controls the heating element of each heater 8, and controls the on / off of the heating of the wind W and the heating amount. Note that the control means 12 does not necessarily have to control the heating amount. Also, the control means 12 may perform different controls for each heater 8.

[0017] When the user gives an input to the control means 12 to command the operation of the fan device 1 by means of an input means such as a switch, the control means 12 turns on each fan 6 and rotates it. Also, when the user gives an input to the control means 12 to command the operation of the heater 8 by means of an input means such as a switch, the control means 12 turns on each heater 8 and causes it to generate heat. Note that at least any one of the on / off and air volume of each fan 6, and the on / off and heating amount of each heater 8 may be automatically controlled by the control means 12. In such automatic control, the control means 12 is based on temperature information indicating the temperature from a temperature sensor provided in the housing 2 or the like that detects the ambient temperature, and controls at least any one of the on / off and air volume of each fan 6, and the on / off and heating amount of each heater 8. In this case, when the temperature related to the temperature information becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, the control means 12 may turn on each fan 6, or may turn on each fan 6 and each heater 8. Alternatively, when the temperature related to the temperature information becomes equal to or lower than a first threshold value, the control means 12 turns on each fan 6, and when the temperature related to the temperature information becomes a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, the control means 12 may further turn on each heater 8. Also, when the temperature related to the temperature information exceeds various threshold values, the control means 12 may turn off the corresponding device, or may turn off the corresponding device at a threshold value different from the various on-threshold values. By the operation of each fan 6, the air below is sucked in and the wind W is generated. The temperature of the air below the fan device 1 is higher than the temperature of the air adjacent to the ceiling C. Therefore, compared with the case where the wind of the fan is blown horizontally and the air adjacent to the ceiling C is sucked in, in the fan device 1, air with a higher temperature is used for blowing, and suppression of condensation and the like is achieved more efficiently. Furthermore, the wind W hits the ceiling C upward. The wind W that hits the ceiling C diffuses in the front, rear, left, and right directions just below the ceiling C, and particularly diffuses to the left and right. The generated condensation or the like on the ceiling C is suppressed over a wide range by the diffused wind W.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fan device 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The fan device 101 of the second embodiment is configured in the same manner as the fan device 1 of the first embodiment, except for the configuration related to the blowing direction of the wind W. Hereinafter, for the fan device 101, members and parts having the same configuration as those of the fan device 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the fan device 1, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0019] The front and rear wall bodies of the housing 102 of the fan device 101 are parallelograms when viewed from the front or the rear. The lower wall body and the upper opening of the housing 102 are inclined obliquely with respect to the ceiling C. In the fan device 101, two other vertical bars 104 that are longer than the two vertical bars 4 are provided. With such a housing 102 and vertical bars 104, in the fan device 101, each fan 6 and cover 10 are inclined obliquely with respect to the ceiling C. Further, the right heater 8 is positioned below the left heater 8.

[0020] When the fan device 101 is turned on, the downward air is sucked by the inclined fans 6, and the wind W hits the ceiling C obliquely. The direction of the wind W until it hits the ceiling C is from the lower left to the upper right. The angle A on the side smaller than 90° (here, the left side) between the ceiling C and the direction of the wind W is about 65° in FIG. 3. From the viewpoint of hitting the wind W firmly against the ceiling C and sufficiently diffusing it, the angle A is preferably 45° or more. The angle A is 90° in the fan device 1 of the first embodiment. Note that the angle A is 0° for the wind W parallel to the ceiling C. The wind W that hits the ceiling C diffuses in the front, rear, left, and right directions just below the ceiling C, and particularly diffuses to the right. By using the relatively warm lower air and the diffused wind W, the occurrence of condensation or the like on the ceiling C is efficiently suppressed over a wide range. The fan device 101 is more suitable for installation at a location where a wall is adjacent on the left side compared to the fan device 1. In addition, in the fan device 101, the wind W may be blown out in a state where the angle A is other than 65°, or may be blown out in a state where the direction until it hits the ceiling C is from the lower right to the upper left. Also, at least one of the angle and direction of the wind W with respect to the ceiling C may be variable. In this case, for example, by independently changing the lengths of the respective vertical bars 4, at least one of the angle and direction of the wind W with respect to the ceiling C may be changed.

Example

[0021] Hereinafter, each simulation related to each example of the fan devices 1 and 101 and a comparative example of a fan device not belonging to the present invention will be described. Each simulation was performed by executing calculations on a computer. In each simulation, the average blowing wind speed was set to 9 m / s (meters per second). Further, the maximum capacity of all the heaters 8 combined was set to 3 kW (kilowatts). In addition, the size of the housing 2 was 200 mm (millimeters) in the vertical direction, 200 mm in the left - right direction, and 1200 mm in the front - rear direction. Also, in each simulation, assuming the ceiling C of a store handling refrigerated and frozen products as the installation location of the fan devices 1 and 101, the size of the ceiling C was set to 24 m (meters) in the left - right direction and 12 m in the front - rear direction. Also, the height from the floor of the store to the ceiling C was set to 3.5 m. Further, the indoor temperature of the store was set to 20°C. Furthermore, the indoor humidity of the store was set to 60%. Also, assuming that the temperature of the ceiling C was cooled by the cold radiation of the store's refrigerated and frozen equipment and the air - conditioning of the store, it was set to 10°C.

[0022] And, as shown in the columns of "Settings" and "Blowing Center Height" in Table 1 below, each example and comparative example were set.

[0023]

Table 1

[0024] That is, first, in Case (examination example) 1 according to the comparative example, the fan device was attached to the ceiling C so as to blow horizontally (sideways) to the left without vertical bars. In the comparative example, the fan device was arranged at the center of the ceiling C in the front-rear direction and 4.8 m away from the right wall of the store in the left-right direction.

[0025] Also, in Cases 2-1 to 2-5 according to the embodiment, the fan device 1 that blows the wind W vertically (upward) against the ceiling C was installed at the center of the ceiling C according to the length of each vertical bar 4. In Cases 2-1 to 2-5, the total air volume of all the fans 6 was set to 1500 m 3 / h (cubic meters per hour). Also, by changing the length of the vertical bar 4, the blowing center height, which is the distance from the blowing center of the fan device 1 to the ceiling C, can be changed. In Cases 2-1 to 2-5, the blowing center heights were set to 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m in order. In addition, in Cases 2-1 to 2-5, each heater 8 was not operated.

[0026] Furthermore, Cases 3-1 to 3-5 according to the embodiment were set in the same manner as Cases 2-1 to 2-5 except for the operation of each heater 8.

[0027] On the other hand, Cases 4-1 to 4-3 according to the embodiment were set in the same manner as Cases 2-1 to 2-3 except that the blowing direction of the wind W is diagonal (diagonal blowing) like the fan device 101 and the arrangement of the fan device 101 is the same as that of the comparative example. The angle A of the wind W with respect to the ceiling C was set to 45°.

[0028] Also, Cases 5-1 to 5-3 according to the embodiment were set in the same manner as Cases 4-1 to 4-3 except for the operation of each heater 8.

[0029] Furthermore, in Cases 6-1 to 6-3 according to the embodiment, the total air volume of all the fans 6 was reduced by half to 750 m3 Except for the setting of / h (half air volume), it was set in the same manner as in Case2-1, 2-3, and 2-5.

[0030] In addition, Case7-1 to 7-3 according to the examples were set in the same manner as Case6-1 to 6-3, except for the operation of each heater 8.

[0031] For each case, the moisture distribution on the ceiling C was calculated, and the dew condensation elimination area was calculated. The dew condensation elimination area is the area of the part on the ceiling C that satisfies the condition of 0 g / m 2 ·h (grams per square meter per hour) per hour, that is, the area of the dew condensation elimination part. In the part that satisfies this condition, the occurrence of dew condensation and the like is sufficiently suppressed. In addition, the magnification of the dew condensation elimination area of each case with respect to the dew condensation elimination area of Case1, that is, the magnification with respect to Case1, was calculated. The dew condensation elimination area (unit "m 2 ") and the magnification with respect to Case1 (unit "times") are shown in the corresponding columns of Table 1. FIG. 4 is an image showing the moisture distribution according to Case1. FIGS. 5 to 9 are images showing the moisture distribution according to Case2-1 to 2-5. FIGS. 10 to 14 are images showing the moisture distribution according to Case3-1 to 3-5. FIGS. 15 to 17 are images showing the moisture distribution according to Case4-1 to 4-3. FIGS. 18 to 20 are images showing the moisture distribution according to Case5-1 to 5-3. FIGS. 21 to 23 are images showing the moisture distribution according to Case6-1 to 6-3. FIGS. 24 to 26 are images showing the moisture distribution according to Case7-1 to 7-3. In FIGS. 4 to 26, the part with a large moisture content (5 g / m 2 ·h) becomes gray, and the black part becomes the dew condensation elimination part.

[0032] In the horizontal blowing Case1 as a comparative example, the dew condensation elimination area was 17 m 2 . On the other hand, in the upward blowing Case2-1 to 2-5, the dew condensation elimination areas were 27, 29, 31, 32, and 35 m 2 in order, which were 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, and 2.1 times that of Case1. That is, when the air volume remains unchanged from Case 1, changing from the horizontal blowing in Case 1 to the upward blowing in Case 2-1 to 2-5 can ensure a dew condensation elimination area that is 1.6 to 2.1 times that of Case 1.

[0033] Moreover, in Case 3-1 to 3-5 where each heater 8 was operated with upward blowing, the dew condensation elimination areas were 34, 34, 37, 38, and 41 m 2 respectively, which were 2.0, 2.0, 2.2, 2.2, and 2.4 times that of Case 1. That is, when the heat generation of each heater 8 was added to Case 2-1 to 2-5, the dew condensation elimination area further increased.

[0034] Furthermore, in Case 4-1 to 4-3 with 45° diagonal blowing, the dew condensation elimination areas were 15, 19, and 19 m 2 respectively, which were 0.9, 1.1, and 1.1 times that of Case 1. That is, just by changing the wind direction obliquely from Case 1 to Case 4-1 to 4-3, except for the severe condition of being too close to the ceiling C (i.e., Case 4-1 with a blowing center height of 0.3 m), the dew condensation elimination area increased.

[0035] Moreover, in Case 5-1 to 5-3 where each heater 8 was operated with diagonal blowing, the dew condensation elimination areas were 21, 20, and 22 m 2 respectively, which were 1.2, 1.2, and 1.3 times that of Case 1. That is, when the heat generation of each heater 8 was added to Case 4-1 to 4-3 to make it Case 5-1 to 5-3, the dew condensation elimination area further increased.

[0036] In addition, in Case 6-1 to 6-3 with upward blowing and an air volume half that of Case 1, the dew condensation elimination areas were 17, 22, and 21 m 2 respectively, which were 1.0, 1.3, and 1.2 times that of Case 1. That is, even when the air volume was halved from the horizontal blowing in Case 1, in the upward blowing Case 6-1 to 6-3, a dew condensation elimination area equal to or greater than that of Case 1 was ensured.

[0037] Also, in Case 7-1 to 7-3 where the upper blowing is performed with an air volume half that of Case 1 and each heater 8 is operated, the dew condensation elimination areas are 28, 30, and 30 m 2 respectively, which are 1.6, 1.8, and 1.8 times that of Case 1. That is, when the heat generation of each heater 8 is added to Cases 6-1 to 6-3 to obtain Cases 7-1 to 7-3, the dew condensation elimination area further increases, and a dew condensation elimination area similar to that in Cases 2-1 to 2-5 of upper blowing where each heater 8 does not operate at twice the air volume is obtained.

[0038] Hereinafter, the configurations and effects of the embodiments and examples will be described. The fan devices 1 and 101 in Cases 2-1 to 7-3 (the first and second embodiments) include a blade B and a motor M. When the blade B is rotated by the motor M, wind W is generated. The wind W hits the ceiling C. The angle A of the wind W with respect to the ceiling C in the direction of the wind W is 45° (Cases 4-1 to 5-3, the second embodiment), or 90° (Cases 2-1 to 3-5, Cases 6-1 to 7-3, the first embodiment) within the range of 45° or more and 90° or less. Therefore, due to the collision of the wind W against the ceiling C, a fan device 1 is provided in which a sufficient amount of the wind W for suppressing dew condensation and the like efficiently spreads over a wider range with respect to the ceiling C. Also, since the angle A of the wind W with respect to the ceiling C in the direction of the wind W is within the range of 45° or more and 90° or less, warmer lower air is used in the generation of the wind W compared to the upper air, and thus a fan device 1 with better thermal efficiency is provided.

[0039] Also, the fan devices 1 and 101 in Cases 2-1 to 7-3 (the first and second embodiments, particularly Cases 2-1 to 3-5, Cases 6-1 to 7-3, the second embodiment) include a blade B and a motor M. When the blade B is rotated by the motor M, the wind W is blown upward so as to hit the ceiling C. Therefore, a fan device 1 is provided in which a sufficient amount of the wind W for suppressing dew condensation and the like efficiently spreads over a wider range with respect to the ceiling C. Also, a fan device 1 is provided in which lower air is used and the thermal efficiency is better.

[0040] Furthermore, the fan devices 1 and 101 in Case 3-1 to Case 3-5, Case 5-1 to Case 5-3, and Case 7-1 to Case 7-3 (the first and second forms) are provided with a heater 8 for heating the wind W. Therefore, compared with the case where the heater 8 is not provided, condensation and the like are suppressed in a wider range. Furthermore, the fan devices 1 and 101 in the first and second forms are provided with a housing 2. The housing 2 holds the motor M and is attached to the ceiling C. Therefore, each fan 6 for causing the wind W to collide with the ceiling C can be provided more simply without obstructing the lower space. In addition, the housings 2 and 102 are attached to the ceiling C via the vertical bars 4 and 104. Therefore, each fan 6 can be provided more simply without obstructing the air flow in the portion adjacent to the ceiling C as much as possible.

[0041] Also, in the fan devices 1 and 101 in Case 2-1 to Case 7-3 (the first and second forms), a plurality of blades B are provided in a lined-up state. Therefore, compared with the case of a single blade B, the wind W spreads over a wider range, and the range of suppressing condensation and the like is further expanded. Furthermore, the fan device 1 in Case 2-1 to Case 3-5 and Case 6-1 to Case 7-3 is provided at the center of the ceiling C. Therefore, the wind W easily spreads over the entire ceiling C, and the suppression of condensation and the like on the ceiling C becomes even more effective.

Explanation of Signs

[0042] 1 ··· Fan device, 2 ··· Housing, 4 ··· Vertical bar, 8 ··· Heater, A ··· Angle (with respect to the ceiling C in the direction of the wind W), B ··· Blade, C ··· Ceiling, M ··· Motor, W ··· Wind.

Claims

**Claim 1** comprising a blade and a motor, wherein the blade is rotated by the motor to generate wind, the wind hits the ceiling, and an angle of the wind direction with respect to the ceiling is 45° or more and 90° or less. A fan device characterized by the above. **Claim 2** comprising a blade and a motor, wherein the blade is rotated by the motor to blow the wind upward so as to hit the ceiling. A fan device characterized by the above. **Claim 3** further comprising a heater, wherein the heater heats the wind. The fan device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the above. **Claim 4** further comprising a housing, wherein the housing holds the motor and is attached to the ceiling. The fan device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the above. **Claim 5** wherein the housing is attached to the ceiling via a vertical bar. The fan device according to claim 4, characterized by the above. **Claim 6** wherein a plurality of the blades are provided side by side. The fan device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the above. **Claim 7** being provided at the center of the ceiling. The fan device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the above.

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