Air conditioning systems for buildings

Abstract

To provide air conditioning systems for buildings. [Solution] The air conditioning system is an air conditioning device for generating conditioned air, supplying a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space, and supplying the other portion of the conditioned air to the upper space, the air conditioning device being in communication with the underfloor space, one or more first air inlets for passing a portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device from the underfloor space to the lower space, one or more first air inlets provided in the floor adjacent to the lower space, one or more second air inlets for passing the other portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device to the upper space, one or more second air inlets provided in the ceiling adjacent to the upper space, and one or more exhaust vents provided near the boundary between the lower space and the upper space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for buildings.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, whole-building air conditioning systems for buildings are known (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventional whole-building air conditioning systems suck air from the lowest floor up to the ceiling of the top floor and return it to the air conditioner through the exhaust port above the ceiling of the top floor, which requires large power for suction and intake. In addition, since it takes a considerable amount of time for the air from the lowest floor to reach the ceiling of the top floor, the air circulation efficiency inside the building is poor. Furthermore, maintenance of ducts and the like that extend from the air conditioner and are laid throughout the entire building cannot be performed easily.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioning system for buildings that can circulate air efficiently with relatively low power and facilitate maintenance operations.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, the system of the present invention is an air conditioning system for a building, the building comprising at least an underfloor space and a living space directly above the underfloor space, the living space within the building comprising a lower space and an upper space above the lower space, the upper space communicating with the lower space, the air conditioning system being an air conditioning device for generating conditioned air, supplying a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space, and supplying another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space, the air conditioning device communicating with the underfloor space, and one or more first air inlets for passing a portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device from the underfloor space to the lower space, the one or more first air inlets being provided in the floor adjacent to the lower space The air conditioner comprises one or more first air inlets and one or more second air inlets for passing the other portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioner through to the upper space, wherein the one or more second air inlets are provided in the ceiling adjacent to the upper space and one or more exhaust vents provided near the boundary between the lower space and the upper space, the portion of the conditioned air entering the lower space from the air conditioner through the underfloor space and the one or more first air inlets, and returning to the air conditioner from the lower space through the one or more exhaust vents, the other portion of the conditioned air entering the upper space from the air conditioner through the one or more second air inlets, and returning to the air conditioner from the upper space through the one or more exhaust vents.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning unit is connected to one or more ducts, communicates with the upper space through one or more second air inlets via the one or more ducts, and is configured to supply the other portion of the conditioned air to the upper space through one or more second air inlets via the one or more ducts.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the building further comprises an attic space directly above the living space, the air conditioning system is in communication with the attic space and is configured to supply the other portion of the conditioned air to the attic space, the one or more second air inlets are for connecting the attic space and the upper space, the other portion of the conditioned air may be supplied from the air conditioning system to the attic space, enter the upper space through the one or more second air inlets, and return from the upper space to the air conditioning system through the one or more exhaust vents.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the building further comprises a roof, one or more walls, and a foundation, the underfloor space is defined by the foundation of the building, the one or more walls, and the floor adjacent to the lower space, the ceiling space is defined by the ceiling adjacent to the upper space and the roof, and the roof, the one or more walls, and the foundation of the building may have an airtight and heat-insulating structure.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning system may further include one or more first fans in the ceiling space to facilitate the supply of the other portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning device to the ceiling space to the upper space through one or more second air inlets.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the one or more second fans may be provided near the one or more second air intake ports.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning system may further include one or more first sensors configured to measure the temperature of the lower space and one or more second sensors configured to measure the temperature of the upper space.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning system may be configured to control the temperature of the lower space based on the temperature measured by one or more first sensors, and to control the temperature of the upper space based on the temperature measured by one or more second sensors.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning system may be configured to independently control the temperature of the lower space and the temperature of the upper space.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning system may further include one or more second fans in the underfloor space to facilitate the supply of a portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning device into the underfloor space to the lower space through one or more first air inlets.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the one or more second fans may be provided near the one or more first air intake ports.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the building further comprises windows on a wall that define the lower space, and the one or more first air intakes may be provided at the window sill of the lower space.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning unit is connected to one or more ducts, and the air conditioning unit may communicate with the underfloor space via the one or more ducts.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the one or more ducts do not need to extend between the ceiling adjacent to the lower space and the floor adjacent to the upper space.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper layer space communicates with the lower layer space via a communication space, and the communication space may include one or both of an atrium space formed across the lower layer space and the upper layer space, or a stair space in which a staircase connecting the lower layer space and the upper layer space is installed.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the building is a single-story building, the lower layer space may be a space adjacent to the floor of the building, and the upper layer space may be a space adjacent to the ceiling of the building.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the building is a two-story building, the lower layer space is the space on the first floor, and the upper layer space is the space on the second floor; when the building is a three-story building, the lower layer space is the space on the first floor, and the upper layer space may be the space on the second floor or the third floor.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second floor communicates with the first floor via a communication space, and when the building is a two-story building, the one or more exhaust ports may be provided at least near the ceiling of the first floor, near the floor of the second floor, or near the communication space. Effects of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air conditioning system for a building that can efficiently circulate air with relatively low power and can be easily maintained. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of the configuration of the air conditioner 100. [Figure 3] Figure 3A shows an example of the configuration of the fan 700, and Figure 3B shows an example of the configuration of the exhaust port 400. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows another example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows another example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] The applicant proposes a new air conditioning system to provide buildings where residents can live more comfortably. This new air conditioning system aims to create a new airflow within a building by devising the air supply method and the arrangement of air inlets and exhaust vents. With this new air conditioning system, air moving upward from the lower levels of a building (e.g., the lower space adjacent to the floor of a single-story building, or the first floor of a two-story building) and air moving downward from the upper levels of a building (e.g., the upper space adjacent to the ceiling of a single-story building, or the second floor of a two-story building) can be exhausted approximately at the center of the building's height. This creates a smooth airflow within the building and prevents air stagnation. Therefore, this new air conditioning system can minimize the stirring up of fine particles such as dust and house dust, improve the efficiency of air circulation within the building, and maintain a uniform temperature within the building at a desired temperature. Furthermore, this new air conditioning system supplies conditioned air to both the lower and upper floors of the building, allowing both conditioned cool air and conditioned warm air to be treated in the same way as ambient temperature conditioned air, and enabling efficient distribution of both conditioned cool air and conditioned warm air throughout the entire building.

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. Figure 1 shows an example of a building 10 in which the air conditioning system of the present invention is installed.

[0029] The building 10 comprises at least an underfloor space 20 and a living space 30 directly above the underfloor space 20. The living space 30 within the building 10 comprises a lower space 31 and an upper space 32 above the lower space 31. The upper space 32 is in communication with the lower space 31. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the upper space 32 is in communication with the lower space 31 via a connecting space 40. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the building 10 is two stories high, the lower space 31 is the space on the first floor, and the upper space 32 is the space on the second floor. The building 10 further comprises a foundation 50, one or more walls 60, and a roof 70. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the underfloor space 20 is defined by the foundation 50 of the building 10, one or more walls 60, and a floor adjacent to the lower space 31, and is a space located at a lower height than the floor adjacent to the lower space 31. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the lower space 31 is defined by the floor of the first floor (i.e., the floor directly above the underfloor space 20), one or more walls 60, and the ceiling of the first floor, while the upper space 32 is defined by the floor of the second floor, one or more walls 60, and the ceiling of the second floor.

[0030] Preferably, the building 10 has a configuration (a so-called external insulation structure) that enables high density and high thermal insulation through at least the roof 70, the exterior walls constituting the wall surfaces 60, and the foundation portion 50. That is, the roof 70, one or more wall surfaces 60, and the foundation portion 50 of the building 10 preferably have an airtight and thermal insulation structure. This makes it possible to keep the temperature inside the living space 30 substantially constant throughout the entire building 10, while preventing condensation between the exterior and interior walls constituting the wall surfaces 60. For example, the foundation portion 50 and one or more wall surfaces 60 preferably have an airtight and thermal insulation structure so that the underfloor space 20 has high airtightness and thermal insulation. For example, the underfloor space 20 may be configured so that outside air does not enter. This makes it possible to prevent mold from growing in the underfloor space 20 due to moisture, etc. Alternatively, the building 10 may have a configuration that enables high density and high thermal insulation through the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32, the exterior walls constituting one or more wall surfaces 60, and the foundation portion 50. In other words, the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32 of the building 10, one or more wall surfaces 60, and the foundation 50 may have an airtight and heat-insulating structure. The airtight and heat-insulating structure of the wall surface 60 can be achieved, for example, by employing materials with high airtightness and heat insulation properties for the exterior walls constituting the wall surface 60. The airtight and heat-insulating structure of the foundation 50 can be achieved, for example, by employing materials with high airtightness and heat insulation properties for the foundation 50.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the building 10 further includes a loft space. The connecting space 40 may be a space that penetrates the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31 and the floor adjacent to the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the connecting space 40 is an open space formed across the lower space 31 and the upper space 32, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The connecting space 40 may be, for example, a staircase space in which stairs connecting the lower space 31 and the upper space 32 are installed, or a combination of an open space and a staircase space. Furthermore, although the embodiment shown in Figure 1 describes a two-story building 10, the present invention is not limited thereto. The building 10 may be, for example, three-story, four-story, or five-story or more. If the building 10 is three stories, the lower space 31 is the space of the first floor, and the upper space 32 may be the space of the second or third floor.

[0032] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning system of the present invention comprises an air conditioning device 100, one or more first air intake ports 200 provided in the floor adjacent to the lower space 31, one or more second air intake ports 300 provided in the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32, and at least one exhaust port 400 provided near the boundary between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32 or near the communication space 40.

[0033] The air conditioning unit 100 is configured to generate conditioned air, which includes ambient air, cold air, and / or warm air. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning unit 100 is located in an air-conditioned room, such as an attic space. The air conditioning unit 100 is also in communication with the underfloor space 20 and is configured to supply a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning unit 100 is in communication with the underfloor space 20 via one or more first ducts 110. Therefore, a portion of the conditioned air generated by the air conditioning unit 100 can be supplied to the underfloor space 20, for example, through one or more first ducts 110. Furthermore, as long as it is possible for a portion of the conditioned air to be supplied to the underfloor space 20, there may or may not be one or more first ducts 110 that extend parallel to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31 in order to distribute a portion of the conditioned air throughout the underfloor space 20, or there may not be one or more first ducts 110 that extend parallel to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31.

[0034] Furthermore, the air conditioning unit 100 is in communication with the upper space 32 and is configured to supply the remaining portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning unit 100 is in communication with the upper space 32 via one or more second ducts 120. Therefore, the remaining portion of the conditioned air generated by the air conditioning unit 100 can be supplied to the upper space 32 through one or more second ducts 120. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, one or more second ducts 120 are connected to one or more second air inlets 300.

[0035] The operation of the air conditioning unit 100 can be controlled by a remote controller (for example, to bring the temperature inside the building 10 to a desired temperature). The air conditioning unit 100 is also configured to allow independent control of the supply of a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20 (for example, via one or more first ducts 110) and the supply of the other portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32 (for example, via one or more second ducts 120).

[0036] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, an example was described in which the air conditioning unit 100 is located in an air-conditioned room such as the space above the ceiling, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The air conditioning unit 100 can be located anywhere, as long as it can supply a portion of the conditioned air to the space below the floor 20, supply another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32, and receive at least a portion of the conditioned air and the other portion of the conditioned air from one or more exhaust vents. For example, the air conditioning unit 100 may be located in the lower space 31, in the upper space 32, in the attic space (i.e., the space between the ceiling of the top floor and the roof 70), or outside the building 10.

[0037] One or more first air inlets 200 are for connecting the underfloor space 20 and the lower space 31. Therefore, the lower space 31 can be said to be the space adjacent to one or more first air inlets 200. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, one or more first air inlets 200 are provided near a wall adjacent to the lower space 31 (i.e., within a predetermined range from the wall defining the lower space 31 (for example, within 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, or 50 cm, but not limited to these)). Preferably, one or more first air inlets 200 are provided near a window in the lower space 31 (for example, below a window on the wall defining the lower space 31, or within a predetermined range from a window on the wall defining the lower space 31). This reduces the influence of windows on the wall that define the lower space 31 (for example, windows that are excessively cooled by the outside air or windows that are excessively heated by the outside air) on the outside air outside the building 10, thereby stabilizing the temperature of the air-conditioned air in the lower space 31.

[0038] One or more second air inlets 300 are for connecting the air conditioning unit 100 with the upper space 32. Therefore, the upper space 32 can be said to be the space adjacent to one or more second air inlets 300. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, one or more second air inlets 300 are provided near the wall surface defining the upper space 32 (i.e., within a predetermined range from the wall surface defining the upper space 32 (for example, within 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, or 50 cm, but not limited to these)). Preferably, one or more second air inlets 300 are provided near a window in the upper space 32 (for example, below a window on the wall surface defining the upper space 32, or within a predetermined range from a window on the wall surface defining the upper space 32). This reduces the influence of windows on the wall that define the upper space 32 (for example, windows that are excessively cooled by the outside air or windows that are excessively heated by the outside air) on the outside air outside the building 10, thereby stabilizing the temperature of the air-conditioned air in the upper space 32.

[0039] One or more exhaust vents 400 are for discharging a portion of the conditioned air supplied to the lower space 31 and another portion of the conditioned air supplied to the upper space 32 from the lower space 31 and the upper space 32. The air conditioning unit 100 is configured to receive a portion of the conditioned air supplied to the lower space 31 and another portion of the conditioned air supplied to the upper space 32 through one or more exhaust vents 400. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, one or more exhaust vents 400 are connected to one or more third ducts 130, and the air conditioning unit 100 is able to receive a portion of the conditioned air supplied to the lower space 31 and another portion of the conditioned air supplied to the upper space 32 through one or more exhaust vents 400 and one or more third ducts 130. One or more exhaust vents 400 are located near the boundary between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32 (for example, at a height of about half the height from the floor adjacent to the lower space 31 to the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32). As a result, one or more exhaust vents 400 are configured to discharge conditioned air at approximately the center in the height direction of the building 10 (living space 30). Note that "near the boundary between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32" refers to a predetermined range from the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31 or a predetermined range from the floor adjacent to the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, at least one or more exhaust vents 400 are provided near the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31, near the floor adjacent to the upper space 32, or near the communication space 40. Note that "near the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31, near the floor adjacent to the upper space 32, or near the communication space 40" refers to a predetermined range from the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31, or a predetermined range from the floor adjacent to the upper space 32, or a predetermined range from the communication space 40. The specified range is, for example, within 5 cm, within 10 cm, within 15 cm, within 20 cm, within 25 cm, within 30 cm, within 40 cm, or within 50 cm, but is not limited to these.

[0040] In Figure 1, the flow of conditioned air is indicated by arrows. As shown in Figure 1, a portion of the conditioned air enters the lower space 31 from the air conditioning unit 100 through the underfloor space 20 and one or more first air inlets 200, and returns to the air conditioning unit 100 from the lower space 31 through one or more exhaust outlets 400. Another portion of the conditioned air enters the upper space 32 from the air conditioning unit 100 through one or more second air inlets 300, and returns to the air conditioning unit 100 from the upper space 32 through one or more exhaust outlets 400. Thus, the air conditioning system of the present invention supplies conditioned air from both above and below the building 10 and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building 10 in the height direction, thereby creating a smooth flow of conditioned air within the building 10 and preventing stagnation of conditioned air within the building 10. This minimizes the stirring up of fine particles such as dust and house dust, while increasing the circulation efficiency of conditioned air within the building 10 and enabling the temperature inside the building 10 to be uniformly maintained at a desired temperature.

[0041] The air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 in the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32 and / or at a position higher than the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32, for example, to assist the function of one or more exhaust vents 400. One or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 may also be provided, for example, in the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31. One or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 may be equipped with filters for filtering dust and household dust from the air. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, one or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 are connected to one or more third ducts 130. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, one or more third ducts 130 extend into an air-conditioned room, such as an attic space. The air conditioning unit 100 can receive a portion of the conditioned air supplied to the lower space 31 and / or another portion of the conditioned air supplied to the upper space 32 via one or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 and one or more third ducts 130.

[0042] Of the one or more first ducts 110, one or more second ducts 120, one or more third ducts 130, and one or more fourth ducts 610 of the air conditioning system of the present invention, the ducts that traverse multiple floors extend in only one direction (for example, perpendicular to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31 and / or the floor adjacent to the upper space 32). Therefore, the ducts of the air conditioning system of the present invention do not extend between adjacent floors and ceilings on adjacent floors (for example, they do not extend between the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31 and the floor adjacent to the upper space 32). In this way, because the ducts that traverse multiple floors extend in only one direction, they do not form an intricate arrangement, and it is possible to pull out the ducts along that one direction, making it easy to perform maintenance such as cleaning mold and dirt from the ducts.

[0043] The air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more sensors (not shown) for measuring the temperature inside the building 10. The one or more sensors may include, for example, one or more first sensors configured to measure the temperature in the lower space 31 and one or more second sensors configured to measure the temperature in the upper space 32. One or more first sensors may be installed in the lower space 31, and one or more second sensors may be installed in the upper space 32. If the building 10 is configured to be highly airtight and highly insulated, for example, the number of sensors for measuring the temperature in the lower space 31 may be one, and the number of sensors for measuring the temperature in the upper space 32 may also be one.

[0044] The air conditioning unit 100 is configured to communicate with one or more sensors. For example, the air conditioning unit 100 may be configured to receive the temperature of the lower space 31 measured by one or more first sensors from one or more first sensors, and to control the temperature of the lower space 31 (for example, automatically or by manual setting) based on the temperature of the lower space 31 measured by one or more first sensors. Alternatively, for example, the air conditioning unit 100 may be configured to receive the temperature of the upper space 32 measured by one or more second sensors from one or more second sensors, and to control the temperature of the upper space 32 (for example, automatically or by manual setting) based on the temperature of the upper space 32 measured by one or more second sensors.

[0045] Furthermore, the air conditioning system 100 is configured to independently control the temperature of the lower space 31 and the temperature of the upper space 32. For example, the air conditioning system 100 is configured to control the temperature of the lower space 31 by determining whether the temperature of the lower space 31, measured by one or more first sensors, is outside a predetermined range, and if it is determined that the temperature of the lower space 31, measured by one or more first sensors, is outside a predetermined range, by controlling the supply of a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20 so that the temperature of the lower space 31 is within a predetermined range. Also, for example, the air conditioning system 100 is configured to control the temperature of the upper space 32 by determining whether the temperature of the upper space 32, measured by one or more second sensors, is outside a predetermined range, and if it is determined that the temperature of the upper space 32, measured by one or more second sensors, is outside a predetermined range, by controlling the supply of another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32 so that the temperature of the upper space 32 is within a predetermined range.

[0046] Furthermore, the air conditioning unit 100 may be configured to control the temperatures of the lower space 31 and the upper space 32 by comparing the temperature of the lower space 31 measured by one or more first sensors with the temperature of the upper space 32 measured by one or more second sensors, determining whether the difference between the temperature of the lower space 31 measured by one or more first sensors and the temperature of the upper space 32 measured by one or more second sensors exceeds a predetermined value, and if it is determined that the difference between the temperature of the lower space 31 and the temperature of the upper space 32 exceeds a predetermined value, by controlling the supply of a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20 and the supply of the other portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32 so that the difference between the temperature of the lower space 31 and the temperature of the upper space 32 falls below a predetermined range. As a result, the air conditioning system 100 can control the temperatures of the lower space 31 and the upper space 32 so that there is not much difference between the temperatures of the lower space 31 and the upper space 32. This reduces the opportunities for residents of the building 10 to feel a temperature difference between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32, thus reducing the risk of heat shock and other problems.

[0047] The air conditioning unit 100 is in communication with the outdoor unit 600. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning unit 100 is in communication with the outdoor unit 600 via one or more fourth ducts 610 that connect the air conditioning unit 100 to the outdoor unit 600. The air conditioning unit 100 is configured to work in cooperation with the outdoor unit 600 to ventilate the building 10 so that the air inside the building 10 is replaced at predetermined intervals. The predetermined intervals are, for example, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 5 hours, etc., but are not limited to these.

[0048] Figure 2 shows an example of the configuration of the air conditioning unit 100. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the air conditioning unit 100 is connected to three ducts (i.e., two first ducts 110 and one second duct 120) on one side of the air conditioning unit 100. The two first ducts 110 and the one second duct 120 can each be branched to supply conditioned air into the building 10. The air conditioning unit 100 is also connected to four third ducts 130 on another side of the air conditioning unit 100. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the cross-sectional diameters of the first ducts 110, the second ducts 120 and the third ducts 130 are about 100π to about 200π, preferably about 130π to about 170π, and more preferably 150π. Furthermore, the air conditioning unit 100 is connected to a fourth duct 610 on another side of the air conditioning unit 100.

[0049] The air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more fans 700 to facilitate the supply of a portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning unit 100 into the underfloor space 20 to the lower space 31 via one or more first air inlets 200. The one or more fans 700 are located within the underfloor space 20. The one or more fans 700 may be located, for example, near one or more first air inlets 200. This makes it possible to more intentionally create an airflow within the building 10 (i.e., an airflow as shown by the arrows in Figure 1) that supplies conditioned air from both above and below the building 10 and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building 10 in the height direction.

[0050] Figure 3A shows an example of the configuration of the fan 700. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3A, the fan 700 comprises a propeller (not shown) for blowing air and a housing 710 for housing the propeller. The propeller is configured to be easily removed from the housing 710 for easy maintenance and cleaning, for example. The housing 710 comprises an air intake 720 and an air outlet 730. The air intake 720 is located in the underfloor space 20 and is configured to take in a portion of the conditioned air supplied to the underfloor space 20. The air outlet 730 is located facing the lower space 31 or located within the lower space 31. The air outlet 730 may be provided with a grid-like louver as shown in Figure 3A. The fan 700 is configured to be retractable, for example, through a first air supply port 200.

[0051] Fan 700 is configured to communicate with a remote controller (not shown). The operation of fan 700 can be controlled by the remote controller. The remote controller can, for example, control fan 700 to adjust its airflow.

[0052] Furthermore, the air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more additional fans to facilitate the supply of another portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device 100 to the upper space 32 through one or more second air inlets 300. The one or more additional fans may be provided, for example, near one or more second air inlets 300. This makes it possible to more intentionally create an airflow within the building 10 (i.e., an airflow as shown by the arrows in Figure 1) that supplies conditioned air from both above and below the building 10 and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building 10 in the height direction.

[0053] Furthermore, the air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more mechanisms or devices to facilitate the discharge of a portion of the conditioned air and / or another portion of the conditioned air from the lower space 31 and / or upper space 32 through one or more exhaust vents 400. Such one or more mechanisms or devices may be provided, for example, near one or more exhaust vents 400. This makes it possible to more intentionally create an airflow within the building 10 (i.e., an airflow as shown by the arrows in Figure 1) that supplies conditioned air from both above and below the building 10 and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building 10 in the height direction.

[0054] Figure 3B shows an example of the configuration of the exhaust vent 400. The exhaust vent 400 can be installed on the ceiling, wall, and / or floor. The exhaust vent 400 may be equipped with a grid-like grille as shown in Figure 3B. The exhaust vent 400 may be equipped with a filter for filtering out dust and other airborne particles. Occupants of building 10 can easily clean and / or replace the filter of the exhaust vent 400 because it is located near the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31, near the floor adjacent to the upper space 32, or near the communication space 40 (in particular, near the floor adjacent to the upper space 32).

[0055] Figure 4 shows another example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. Figure 4 shows an example of a building 10' in which the air conditioning system of the present invention is installed.

[0056] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the building 10' comprises an underfloor space 20, a living space 30 directly above the underfloor space 20, a communication space 40, a foundation 50, one or more wall surfaces 60, a roof 70, and an attic space 80. The living space 30 within the building 10' comprises a lower space 31 and an upper space 32 above the lower space 31, with the upper space 32 communicating with the lower space 31. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the building 10' is two stories high, with the lower space 31 being the space of the first floor and the upper space 32 being the space of the second floor. The building 10' has a configuration (a so-called external insulation structure) that enables high density and high thermal insulation through at least the exterior walls constituting the roof 70 and wall surfaces 60 and the foundation 50. That is, the roof 70, one or more wall surfaces 60, and foundation 50 of the building 10' have a structure that is airtight and has thermal insulation properties. This makes it possible to maintain a nearly constant temperature throughout the entire building 10' within the living space 30, while preventing condensation between the outer and inner walls that make up the wall surface 60. For example, the foundation 50 and one or more wall surfaces 60 preferably have an airtight and heat-insulating structure so that the underfloor space 20 has high airtightness and heat insulation. For example, the roof 70 and one or more wall surfaces 60 preferably have an airtight and heat-insulating structure so that the attic space 80 has high airtightness and heat insulation. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the attic space 80 is defined by the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32 and the roof 70.

[0057] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the case where the building 10 is two stories high is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The building 10 may be, for example, three stories high, four stories high, or five stories high or more. If the building 10 is three stories high, the lower space 31 is the space of the first floor, and the upper space 32 may be the space of the second or third floor.

[0058] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the air conditioning system of the present invention comprises an air conditioning device 100', one or more first air intakes 200 provided in the floor adjacent to the lower space 31, one or more second air intakes 300' provided in the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32, and at least one exhaust port 400 provided near the boundary between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32.

[0059] The air conditioning unit 100' is configured to generate conditioned air, which includes ambient air, cold air, and / or warm air. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the air conditioning unit 100' is located in the ceiling space 80. The air conditioning unit 100' is also in communication with the underfloor space 20 and is configured to supply a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the air conditioning unit 100' is in communication with the underfloor space 20 via one or more first ducts 110. Therefore, a portion of the conditioned air generated by the air conditioning unit 100' can be supplied to the underfloor space 20, for example, through one or more first ducts 110. Furthermore, as long as it is possible for a portion of the conditioned air to be supplied to the underfloor space 20, there may or may not be one or more first ducts 110 that extend parallel to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31 in order to distribute a portion of the conditioned air throughout the underfloor space 20, or there may not be one or more first ducts 110 that extend parallel to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31.

[0060] Furthermore, the air conditioning unit 100' is in communication with the ceiling space 80 and is configured to supply the remaining portion of the conditioned air to the ceiling space 80. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the air conditioning unit 100' is in communication with the upper space 32 via one or more second ducts 120'. Therefore, the remaining portion of the conditioned air generated by the air conditioning unit 100' can be supplied to the ceiling space 80 through one or more second ducts 120'. The remaining portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning unit 100' to the ceiling space 80 is supplied to the upper space 32 via one or more second air inlets 300'. Furthermore, insofar as it is possible for the remaining portion of the conditioned air to be supplied to the space above the ceiling 80, there may be one or more second ducts 120' extending parallel to the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32 in order to distribute the remaining portion of the conditioned air throughout the space above the ceiling 80, or there may not be one or more second ducts 120' extending parallel to the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32.

[0061] The operation of the air conditioning unit 100' can be controlled by a remote controller (for example, to bring the temperature inside the building 10' to a desired temperature). The air conditioning unit 100' is also configured to allow independent control of the supply of a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20 (for example, via one or more first ducts 110) and the supply of another portion of the conditioned air to the ceiling space 80 (for example, via one or more second ducts 120').

[0062] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, an example was described in which the air conditioning unit 100' is located in the ceiling space 80, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The air conditioning unit 100' can be located anywhere, as long as it can supply a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20, supply another portion of the conditioned air to the ceiling space 80, and receive at least a portion of the conditioned air and the other portion of the conditioned air from one or more exhaust vents. For example, the air conditioning unit 100' may be located in the lower space 31, in the upper space 32, in the attic space (i.e., the space between the ceiling of the top floor and the roof 70), or outside the building 10.

[0063] Since one or more first air intakes 200 and one or more exhaust ports 400 of building 10' have the same configuration as the one or more first air intakes 200 and one or more exhaust ports 400 of building 10 shown in Figure 1, a detailed explanation of them is omitted here.

[0064] One or more second air inlets 300' are for connecting the ceiling space 80 and the upper space 32. Therefore, the upper space 32 can be said to be a space adjacent to one or more second air inlets 300. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, one or more second air inlets 300' are provided near the wall surface defining the upper space 32 (i.e., within a predetermined range from the wall surface defining the upper space 32 (for example, within 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, or 50 cm, but not limited to these)). One or more second air inlets 300' are preferably provided near a window in the upper space 32 (for example, below a window on the wall surface defining the upper space 32, or within a predetermined range from a window on the wall surface defining the upper space 32). This makes it possible to reduce the influence of windows on the wall surface defining the upper space 32 (for example, windows that are excessively cooled by the outside air or windows that are excessively heated by the outside air) on the outside air outside the building 10' on the conditioned air in the upper space 32, thereby stabilizing the temperature of the conditioned air in the upper space 32.

[0065] In Figure 4, the flow of conditioned air is indicated by arrows. As shown in Figure 4, a portion of the conditioned air enters the lower space 31 from the air conditioning unit 100 through the underfloor space 20 and one or more first air inlets 200, and returns to the air conditioning unit 100 from the lower space 31 through one or more exhaust outlets 400, while another portion of the conditioned air enters the upper space 32 from the air conditioning unit 100 through the ceiling space 80 and one or more second air inlets 300', and returns to the air conditioning unit 100 from the upper space 32 through one or more exhaust outlets 400. Thus, the air conditioning system of the present invention supplies conditioned air from both above and below the building 10 and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building 10' in the height direction, thereby creating a smooth flow of conditioned air within the building 10' and preventing stagnation of conditioned air within the building 10'. As a result, it is possible to minimize the stirring up of fine particles such as dust and house dust, improve the circulation efficiency of conditioned air within the building 10', and maintain a uniform temperature within the building 10' at the desired temperature.

[0066] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, of the one or more first ducts 110, one or more second ducts 120', one or more third ducts 130, and one or more fourth ducts 610 of the air conditioning system of the present invention, the ducts that traverse multiple floors extend in only one direction (for example, perpendicular to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31 and / or the floor adjacent to the upper space 32). Therefore, the ducts of the air conditioning system of the present invention do not extend between adjacent floors and ceilings on adjacent floors (for example, they do not extend between the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31 and the floor adjacent to the upper space 32). In this way, because the ducts that traverse multiple floors extend in only one direction, they do not form an intricate arrangement, and it is possible to pull out the ducts along that one direction, making it easy to perform maintenance such as cleaning mold and dirt from the ducts.

[0067] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more auxiliary exhaust ports 500 to assist the function of one or more exhaust ports 400, one or more sensors (not shown) for measuring the temperature inside the building 10', and / or one or more fans 700 to facilitate the supply of a portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning unit 100 into the underfloor space 20 to the lower space 31 via one or more first air inlets 200. The one or more auxiliary exhaust ports 500 and one or more fans 700 of the building 10' have a similar configuration to the one or more auxiliary exhaust ports 500 and one or more fans 700 of the building 10 shown in Figure 1, and therefore a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[0068] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more additional fans (not shown) to facilitate the supply of another portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning unit 100 into the ceiling space 80 to the upper space 32 through one or more second air inlets 300'. The one or more additional fans may be located, for example, near one or more second air inlets 300'. This makes it possible to more intentionally create an airflow within the building 10' that supplies conditioned air from both above and below the building 10' and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building 10' in the height direction (i.e., an airflow as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4).

[0069] Figure 5 shows another example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. Figure 5 shows an example of a building 10'' in which the air conditioning system of the present invention is installed. The building 10'' comprises at least an underfloor space 20, a living space 30 directly above the underfloor space 20, a foundation 50, one or more walls 60, and a roof 70. The living space 30 within the building 10'' comprises a lower space 31 and an upper space 32 above the lower space 31. As shown in Figure 5, the lower space 31 is in communication with the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the building 10'' is a single-story building, the lower space 31 is the space adjacent to the floor of the building 10'', and the upper space 32 is the space adjacent to the ceiling of the building 10''.

[0070] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the air conditioning system of the present invention comprises an air conditioning device 100, one or more first air intakes 200 provided in the floor adjacent to the lower space 31, one or more second air intakes 300 provided in the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32, and at least one exhaust port 400 provided near the boundary between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the lower space 31 can be said to be the space adjacent to one or more first air intakes 200, and the upper space 32 can be said to be the space adjacent to one or more second air intakes 300. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, one or more exhaust ports 400 are provided on one or more wall surfaces 60.

[0071] One or more exhaust vents 400 are provided at a height approximately in the center of the height direction of the living space 30 of the building 10'' (i.e., approximately half the height from the floor adjacent to the lower space 31 to the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32). This configuration allows one or more exhaust vents 400 to discharge conditioned air at approximately the center of the height direction of the building 10'' (living space 30). In this way, the air conditioning system of the present invention supplies conditioned air from both above and below the building 10'' and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the height direction of the building 10'', thereby creating a smooth flow of conditioned air within the building 10'' and preventing stagnation of conditioned air within the building 10''. This minimizes the stirring up of fine substances such as dust and house dust, while increasing the circulation efficiency of conditioned air within the building 10'' and maintaining the temperature within the building 10'' uniformly at the desired temperature.

[0072] Thus, the air conditioning system of the present invention, which is installed in the two-story building 10 as described with reference to Figure 1, can also be installed in the single-story building 10'' as described with reference to Figure 5.

[0073] Similarly, the air conditioning system of the present invention, which is installed in a two-story building 10' with an attic space as described with reference to Figure 4, can also be installed in a single-story building with an attic space.

[0074] As described above, the present invention has been illustrated using preferred embodiments, but the present invention should not be construed as being limited to these embodiments. It should be understood that the scope of the present invention should be interpreted solely by the claims. Those skilled in the art will understand that, based on the description of the specific preferred embodiments of the present invention and common technical knowledge, an equivalent scope can be implemented. [Industrial applicability]

[0075] This invention is useful in providing an air conditioning system for buildings that can efficiently circulate air with relatively low power and is easy to maintain. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0076] 10 Buildings 20 Underfloor space 30 Living space 31 Lower space 32 Upper Space 40 Communication space 50 Basics 60 Wall surface 70 Roof 80 Ceiling space 100 Air conditioner 200 First air intake 300 Second air intake 400 exhaust port 500 Auxiliary exhaust port 600 outdoor unit 700 fans

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for a building, wherein the building comprises at least an underfloor space and a living space directly above the underfloor space, the living space within the building comprises a lower space and an upper space above the lower space, the upper space is in communication with the lower space, and the air conditioning system is An air conditioning system for generating conditioned air, supplying a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space, and supplying another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space, wherein the air conditioning system is in communication with the underfloor space, One or more first air intakes for passing a portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning unit through the underfloor space to the lower space, wherein the one or more first air intakes are provided in the floor adjacent to the lower space, One or more second air inlets for passing the other portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning unit into the upper space, wherein the one or more second air inlets are provided in the ceiling adjacent to the upper space, At least one exhaust port is provided near the boundary between the lower space and the upper space. Equipped with, A portion of the conditioned air enters the lower space from the air conditioning unit through the underfloor space and one or more first air intakes, and returns to the air conditioning unit from the lower space through one or more exhaust ports. An air conditioning system in which the other portion of the conditioned air enters the upper space from the air conditioning device through one or more second air inlets and returns from the upper space to the air conditioning device through one or more exhaust ports.

2. The aforementioned air conditioning unit is connected to one or more ducts, The air conditioning system is in communication with the upper space through one or more ducts and one or more second air inlets. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning device is configured to supply the other portion of the conditioned air to the upper space through the one or more second air inlets via the one or more ducts.

3. The aforementioned building further includes a ceiling space directly above the living space, The air conditioning unit is in communication with the space above the ceiling and is configured to supply the other portion of the conditioned air to the space above the ceiling. The one or more second air intakes mentioned above are for connecting the ceiling space and the upper space, The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the other portion of the conditioned air is supplied from the air conditioning device to the space above the ceiling, enters the upper space through one or more second air intakes, and returns from the upper space to the air conditioning device through one or more exhaust ports.

4. The aforementioned building further comprises a roof, one or more walls, and a foundation. The underfloor space is defined by the foundation of the building, one or more walls, and the floor adjacent to the lower space. The aforementioned ceiling space is defined by the ceiling adjacent to the upper space and the roof. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the roof of the building, one or more walls, and the foundation portion of the building are provided with an airtight and heat-insulating structure.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, further comprising one or more first fans in the ceiling space for facilitating the supply of the other portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning device to the ceiling space to the upper space through one or more second air inlets.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein the one or more second fans are provided near the one or more second air intakes.

7. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more first sensors configured to measure the temperature of the lower space, and one or more second sensors configured to measure the temperature of the upper space.

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein the air conditioning device is configured to control the temperature of the lower space based on the temperature measured by the one or more first sensors, and to control the temperature of the upper space based on the temperature measured by the one or more second sensors.

9. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein the air conditioning device is configured to independently control the temperature of the lower space and the temperature of the upper space.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more second fans in the underfloor space for facilitating the supply of a portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning device into the underfloor space to the lower space through one or more first air inlets.

11. The air conditioning system according to claim 10, wherein the one or more second fans are provided near the one or more first air intakes.

12. The building further includes windows on the wall that define the lower space, The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the first air intakes are provided at the window sill of the lower space.

13. The aforementioned air conditioning unit is connected to one or more ducts, The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning unit is in communication with the underfloor space via one or more ducts.

14. The air conditioning system according to claim 13, wherein the one or more ducts do not extend between the ceiling adjacent to the lower space and the floor adjacent to the upper space.

15. The upper space is in communication with the lower space via a connecting space. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting space includes either or both of the following: an open space formed across the lower space and the upper space, or a stairwell space in which a staircase connecting the lower space and the upper space is installed.

16. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein, if the building is a single-story building, the lower space is the space adjacent to the floor of the building, and the upper space is the space adjacent to the ceiling of the building.

17. If the building is two stories high, the lower space is the space of the first floor, and the upper space is the space of the second floor. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein, if the building is three stories high, the lower space is the space of the first floor, and the upper space is the space of the second or third floor.

18. The second floor is connected to the first floor via a connecting space. The air conditioning system according to claim 17, wherein, if the building is two stories high, one or more exhaust vents are provided at least near the ceiling of the first floor, near the floor of the second floor, or near the communication space.

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