Air conditioning systems for buildings

Abstract

Providing 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 an underfloor space, and supplying another portion of the conditioned air to an upper space, the air conditioning device comprising: an air conditioning device connected to the underfloor space; one or more first air intakes 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 intakes being provided in a floor adjacent to the lower space; one or more second air intakes for passing another portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device to the upper space, the one or more second air intakes being provided in a ceiling adjacent to the upper space; and one or more exhaust outlets provided at least near the boundary between the lower space and the upper space.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to air conditioning systems for buildings. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Central air conditioning systems for buildings have been known for some time (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] OM Solar Co., Ltd., "What is whole-house air conditioning? How is it different from an air conditioner? A comprehensive explanation of whole-house air conditioning," [online], [searched February 5, 2025], Internet<URL:https: / / service.omsolar.jp / news / detail.php?id=3536> Summary of the Invention [Problem 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 highest floor and return it to the air conditioning unit through an exhaust port on the ceiling of the highest floor, which requires a large amount of power for sucking up and suction. Furthermore, it takes a considerable amount of time for the air from the lowest floor to reach the ceiling of the highest floor, resulting in poor air circulation within the building. Furthermore, it is difficult to maintain the ducts that extend from the air conditioning unit and run throughout the building.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system for a building that circulates air efficiently with relatively low power consumption and is easy to maintain. [Means for solving the problem]

[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 a crawl space and a living space immediately above the crawl space, the living space within the building comprising a lower space and an upper space above the lower space, the upper space being in communication with the lower space, the air conditioning system comprising an air conditioning device for generating conditioned air, supplying a portion of the conditioned air to the crawl space and supplying another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space, the air conditioning device being in communication with the crawl space, and one or more first air intake vents for passing the portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device from the crawl space to the lower space, the one or more first air intake vents being provided on a floor adjacent to the lower space. one or more first air intakes and one or more second air intakes for passing the other portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device to the upper space, the one or more second air intakes comprising one or more second air intakes provided in a ceiling adjacent to the upper space and one or more exhaust outlets provided at least near the boundary between the lower space and the upper space, the part of the conditioned air entering the lower space from the air conditioning device through the underfloor space and the one or more first air intakes and returning from the lower space to the air conditioning device through the one or more exhaust outlets, and the other portion of the conditioned air entering the upper space from the air conditioning device through the one or more second air intakes and returning from the upper space through the one or more exhaust outlets.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning device may be connected to one or more ducts, and the air conditioning device may be in communication with the upper space through the one or more second air supply ports via the one or more ducts, and the air conditioning device may be configured to supply the other portion of the conditioned air to the upper space through the one or more second air supply ports via the one or more ducts.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the building further includes an attic space directly above the living space, the air conditioning device is connected to the attic space and is configured to supply the other portion of the conditioned air to the attic space, and the one or more second air intakes are for connecting the attic space with the upper space, and the other portion of the conditioned air may be supplied from the air conditioning device to the attic space, enter the upper space through the one or more second air intakes, and return from the upper space to the air conditioning device through the one or more exhausts.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the building further comprises a roof, one or more walls, and a foundation, the crawl space being defined by the foundation of the building, the one or more walls, and a floor adjacent to the lower space, the attic space being defined by a 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 insulating structure.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning system may further include one or more first fans in the attic space for promoting the supply of the other portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning unit to the attic space to the upper space through the one or more second air intake ports.

[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 comprise one or more first sensors configured to measure an air temperature in the lower space and one or more second sensors configured to measure an air temperature in the upper space.

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

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning device may be configured to be able 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 for promoting the supply of the portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning unit into the underfloor space to the lower space through the one or more first air intake ports.

[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 a window on a wall defining the lower space, and the one or more first air intakes may be located near a window in the lower space.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioning device may be connected to one or more ducts, and the air conditioning device may be in communication with the underfloor space via the one or more ducts.

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

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper space is connected to the lower space via a connecting space, and the connecting space may include one or both of an open-air space formed across the lower space and the upper space, or a staircase space in which a staircase is installed connecting the lower space and the upper space.

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

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, if the building is two stories high, the lower space may be the first floor space and the upper space may be the second floor space, and if the building is three stories high, the lower space may be the first floor space and the upper space may be the second or third floor space.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the second floor is connected to the first floor through a communication space, and if the building is two stories tall, the one or more exhaust outlets may be located 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 circulates air efficiently with relatively low power consumption and is easy to maintain. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an air conditioning system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the air conditioner 100. [Figure 3] FIG. 3A shows an example of the configuration of the fan 700, and FIG. 3B shows an example of the configuration of the exhaust port 400. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows another example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows another example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The applicant proposes a new air conditioning system to provide buildings where occupants can live more comfortably. This new air conditioning system aims to realize a new air flow within a building by optimizing the supply method of conditioned air and the arrangement of air intakes and exhaust vents. This new air conditioning system allows air flowing upward from the lower floors of the building (e.g., the lower floor space adjacent to the floor of a single-story building, the first floor of a two-story building) and air flowing downward from the upper floors of the building (e.g., the upper floor space adjacent to the ceiling of a single-story building, the second floor of a two-story building) to be exhausted approximately at the center of the building's height, thereby creating a smooth air flow within the building and preventing air stagnation. Therefore, this new air conditioning system can increase the air circulation efficiency within the building while minimizing the stirring up of fine particles such as dust and house dust, thereby maintaining a desired uniform temperature within the building. Furthermore, because this new air conditioning system supplies conditioned air to both the lower and upper floors of the building, it is possible to treat both conditioned cold and warm air in the same way as room-temperature conditioned air, and it is possible to efficiently distribute both conditioned cold and warm air throughout the building.

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

[0029] The building 10 includes at least a crawl space 20 and a living space 30 directly above the crawl space 20. The living space 30 in the building 10 includes 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 FIG. 1, the upper space 32 is in communication with the lower space 31 via a communication space 40. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the building 10 is two-story, the lower space 31 is a space on the first floor, and the upper space 32 is a space on the second floor. The building 10 further includes a foundation 50, one or more walls 60, and a roof 70. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the crawl space 20 is defined by the foundation 50, one or more walls 60, and a floor adjacent to the lower space 31 of the building 10, 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 first floor (i.e., the floor directly above the underfloor space 20), one or more walls 60, and the first floor ceiling, and the upper space 32 is defined by the second floor floor, one or more walls 60, and the second floor ceiling.

[0030] The building 10 preferably has a configuration (so-called external thermal insulation structure) that can achieve high density and high thermal insulation through at least the roof 70, the exterior walls that constitute the wall surfaces 60, and the foundation 50. That is, the roof 70, one or more wall surfaces 60, and the foundation 50 of the building 10 preferably have an airtight and thermally insulating structure. This makes it possible to maintain a substantially constant temperature within the living space 30 throughout the building 10 while preventing condensation and other problems between the exterior and interior walls that constitute the wall surfaces 60. For example, the foundation 50 and one or more wall surfaces 60 preferably have an airtight and thermally insulating structure so that the underfloor space 20 has high airtightness and thermal insulation. For example, the underfloor space 20 can be configured to prevent outside air from entering. This can prevent mold from growing in the underfloor space 20 due to moisture and other factors. Alternatively, the building 10 may have a configuration that can achieve high density and high thermal insulation through the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32, the exterior walls that constitute the one or more wall surfaces 60, and the foundation 50. That is, the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32 of the building 10, one or more wall surfaces 60, and the foundation portion 50 may have an airtight and thermally insulating structure. The airtight and thermally insulating structure of the wall surface 60 can be realized, for example, by using a material with high airtightness and thermal insulation for the exterior wall that constitutes the wall surface 60. The airtight and thermally insulating structure of the foundation portion 50 can be realized, for example, by using a material with high airtightness and thermal insulation for the foundation portion 50.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the building 10 further includes a loft space. The communicating space 40 may extend from the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31 to the floor adjacent to the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the communicating space 40 is an open-ceiling space extending from the lower space 31 to the upper space 32, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The communicating space 40 may be, for example, a staircase space in which a staircase is installed connecting the lower space 31 and the upper space 32, or a combination of an open-ceiling space and a staircase space. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the building 10 is described as being two stories high, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The building 10 may be, for example, three stories high, four stories high, or five or more stories high. If the building 10 is three stories high, the lower space 31 may be a space on the first floor, and the upper space 32 may be a space on the second or third floor.

[0032] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning system of the present invention includes an air conditioning unit 100, one or more first air supply vents 200 provided on the floor adjacent to the lower space 31, one or more second air supply vents 300 provided on the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32, and one or more air exhaust vents 400 provided at least near the boundary between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32 or near the connecting space 40.

[0033] The air conditioner 100 is configured to generate conditioned air. The conditioned air includes room temperature air, cold air, and / or warm air. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the air conditioner 100 is disposed in an air-conditioned room, such as an attic space. The air conditioner 100 is also in communication with the under-floor space 20 and configured to supply a portion of the conditioned air to the under-floor space 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the air conditioner 100 is in communication with the under-floor space 20 via one or more first ducts 110. Thus, a portion of the conditioned air generated by the air conditioner 100 can be supplied to the under-floor space 20 through, for example, the one or more first ducts 110. As long as it is possible for a portion of the conditioned air to be supplied to the underfloor space 20, there may be one or more first ducts 110 extending parallel to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31 in the underfloor space 20 to distribute a portion of the conditioned air throughout the underfloor space 20, or there may not be one or more first ducts 110 extending parallel to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31.

[0034] In addition, the air conditioner 100 is in communication with the upper space 32 and is configured to supply another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioner 100 is in communication with the upper space 32 via one or more second ducts 120. Therefore, another portion of the conditioned air generated by the air conditioner 100 can be supplied to the upper space 32 through the one or more second ducts 120. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the one or more second ducts 120 are connected to one or more second air supply ports 300.

[0035] The operation of the air conditioner 100 can be controlled by a remote controller (e.g., to maintain a desired air temperature in the building 10). The air conditioner 100 is also configured to be able to independently control the supply of a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20 (e.g., via one or more first ducts 110) and the supply of another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32 (e.g., via one or more second ducts 120).

[0036] 1, an example in which the air conditioner 100 is disposed in an air-conditioned room such as an attic space has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The air conditioner 100 may be disposed in any location as long as it is capable of supplying a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20, supplying another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32, and receiving at least a portion of the conditioned air and another portion of the conditioned air from one or more exhaust ports. For example, the air conditioner 100 may be disposed in the lower space 31, the upper space 32, the attic space (i.e., the space between the ceiling of the top floor and the roof 70), or outside the building 10.

[0037] The one or more first air supply openings 200 are for connecting the underfloor space 20 and the lower space 31. Therefore, the lower space 31 can be said to be a space adjacent to the one or more first air supply openings 200. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the one or more first air supply openings 200 are provided near a wall surface adjacent to the lower space 31 (i.e., within a predetermined range (e.g., within 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, or 50 cm) of the wall surface defining the lower space 31). The one or more first air supply openings 200 are preferably provided near a window in the lower space 31 (e.g., below a window on the wall surface defining the lower space 31 or within a predetermined range of a window on the wall surface defining the lower space 31). This makes it possible to reduce the influence of windows on the wall surface defining the lower space 31 that are influenced by the outside air outside the building 10 (e.g., windows that are excessively cooled by the outside air, windows that are excessively heated by the outside air), on the conditioned air in the lower space 31, and to stabilize the temperature of the conditioned air in the lower space 31.

[0038] The one or more second air supply ports 300 are provided to connect the air conditioner 100 and the upper space 32. Therefore, the upper space 32 can be said to be a space adjacent to the one or more second air supply ports 300. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the one or more second air supply ports 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)). The one or more second air supply ports 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 the conditioned air in the upper space 32 on windows on the wall defining the upper space 32 that are influenced by the outside air outside the building 10 (e.g., windows that are excessively cooled by the outside air, windows that are excessively heated by the outside air), and to stabilize the temperature of the conditioned air in the upper space 32.

[0039] The one or more exhaust ports 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 conditioner 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 the one or more exhaust ports 400. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the one or more exhaust ports 400 are connected to one or more third ducts 130, and the air conditioner 100 can 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 via the one or more exhaust ports 400 and the one or more third ducts 130. The one or more exhaust ports 400 are provided near the boundary between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32 (e.g., at least 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, the one or more exhaust vents 400 are configured to be able 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 within a predetermined range from the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31 or within a predetermined range from the floor adjacent to the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the one or more exhaust vents 400 are provided at least near the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31, near the floor adjacent to the upper space 32, or near the communicating 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 communicating space 40" refers to within a predetermined range from the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31, a predetermined range from the floor adjacent to the upper space 32, or a predetermined range from the communicating space 40. The predetermined 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] The flow of conditioned air is indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, some of the conditioned air flows from air conditioner 100 into lower space 31 via underfloor space 20 and one or more first air supply vents 200 and returns from lower space 31 to air conditioner 100 via one or more air exhaust vents 400, while another portion of the conditioned air flows from air conditioner 100 into upper space 32 via one or more second air supply vents 300 and returns from upper space 32 to air conditioner 100 via one or more air exhaust vents 400. In this way, the air conditioning system of the present invention supplies conditioned air from both above and below building 10 and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building's height, thereby creating a smooth flow of conditioned air within building 10 and preventing stagnation of the conditioned air within building 10.This makes it possible to increase the circulation efficiency of the conditioned air within building 10 while minimizing the stirring up of fine matter such as dust and house dust, and to maintain the temperature within building 10 at a uniform 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 the 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. The one or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 may include a filter for filtering dust, house dust, and the like from the air. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the one or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 are connected to one or more third ducts 130. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the one or more third ducts 130 extend into an air-conditioned room, such as an attic space. The air conditioning apparatus 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 the one or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 and the 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 cross multiple floors extend only in one direction (e.g., a direction 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 (e.g., 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 cross multiple floors extend only in one direction, they do not end up in a complex arrangement and can be pulled out in that one direction, which makes it easy to perform maintenance such as cleaning mold, dirt, etc. from the ducts.

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

[0044] The air conditioner 100 is configured to be able to communicate with one or more sensors. For example, the air conditioner 100 may be configured to receive, from one or more first sensors, the air temperature of the lower space 31 measured by the one or more first sensors, and to control the air temperature of the lower space 31 (e.g., automatically or manually) based on the air temperature of the lower space 31 measured by the one or more first sensors. Also, for example, the air conditioner 100 may be configured to receive, from one or more second sensors, the air temperature of the upper space 32 measured by one or more second sensors, and to control the air temperature of the upper space 32 (e.g., automatically or manually) based on the air temperature of the upper space 32 measured by the one or more second sensors.

[0045] The air conditioner 100 is also configured to be able to independently control the temperature of the lower space 31 and the temperature of the upper space 32. For example, the air conditioner 100 is configured to determine 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 the predetermined range, control the temperature of the lower space 31 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 falls within the predetermined range. For example, the air conditioner 100 is also configured to determine whether the temperature of the upper space 32 measured by one or more second sensors is outside the predetermined range, and if it is determined that the temperature of the upper space 32 measured by one or more second sensors is outside the predetermined range, control the temperature of the upper space 32 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 falls within the predetermined range.

[0046] Furthermore, the air conditioning device 100 may be configured to compare the air temperature of the lower space 31 measured by one or more first sensors with the air temperature of the upper space 32 measured by one or more second sensors, determine whether the difference between the air temperature of the lower space 31 measured by one or more first sensors and the air 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 air temperature of the lower space 31 and the air temperature of the upper space 32 exceeds the predetermined value, control the air temperature of the lower space 31 and the air temperature of the upper space 32 by controlling the supply of a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20 and the supply of another portion of the conditioned air to the upper space 32 so that the difference between the air temperature of the lower space 31 and the air temperature of the upper space 32 is below a predetermined range. This enables the air conditioning device 100 to control the temperature of the lower space 31 and the upper space 32 so that there is little difference between the temperatures of the lower space 31 and the upper space 32, and therefore reduces the chances that the residents of the building 10 will feel a difference in temperature between the lower space 31 and the upper space 32, thereby reducing the risk of heat shock and the like.

[0047] The air conditioner 100 is in communication with an outdoor unit 600. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioner 100 is in communication with the outdoor unit 600 via one or more fourth ducts 610 for communicating between the air conditioner 100 and the outdoor unit 600. The air conditioner 100 is configured to cooperate with the outdoor unit 600 to ventilate the building 10 so that the air inside the building 10 is replaced within a predetermined time period. The predetermined time period may be, for example, but is not limited to, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 5 hours, etc.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of an air conditioner 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner 100 is connected to three ducts (i.e., two first ducts 110 and one second duct 120) on one side of the air conditioner 100. The two first ducts 110 and the one second duct 120 may each branch off to supply conditioned air throughout the building 10. The air conditioner 100 is also connected to four third ducts 130 on another side of the air conditioner 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional diameters of the first duct 110, the second duct 120, and the third duct 130 are approximately 100π to approximately 200π, preferably approximately 130π to approximately 170π, and more preferably 150π. The air conditioner 100 is also connected to one fourth duct 610 on the other side of the air conditioner 100 .

[0049] The air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more fans 700 for promoting the supply of a portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 100 into the underfloor space 20 to the lower space 31 via the one or more first air supply ports 200. The one or more fans 700 are disposed in the underfloor space 20. The one or more fans 700 may be provided, for example, near the one or more first air supply ports 200. This makes it possible to more intentionally create an air flow within the building 10 (i.e., an air flow as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 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] FIG. 3A shows an example of the configuration of fan 700. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, fan 700 includes a propeller (not shown) for blowing air and a housing 710 for housing the propeller. The propeller is configured to be easily removable from housing 710 for easy maintenance, cleaning, and the like. Housing 710 includes an air intake 720 and an air discharge 730. Air intake 720 is disposed in underfloor space 20 and configured to take in a portion of the conditioned air supplied to underfloor space 20. Air discharge 730 is disposed facing lower space 31 or within lower space 31. Air discharge 730 may be provided with a lattice-shaped louver as shown in FIG. 3A. Fan 700 is configured to be withdrawn through first air supply port 200, for example.

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

[0052] The air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more other fans for promoting the supply of another portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioner 100 to the upper space 32 via one or more second air supply ports 300. The one or more other fans may be provided, for example, near one or more second air supply ports 300. This makes it possible to more intentionally create an air flow within the building 10 (i.e., an air flow as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 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] The air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more mechanisms or devices for promoting the discharge of a portion of the conditioned air and / or another portion of the conditioned air from the lower space 31 and / or the upper space 32 through one or more exhaust outlets 400. Such one or more mechanisms or devices may be provided, for example, near one or more exhaust outlets 400. This makes it possible to more intentionally create an air flow within building 10 (i.e., an air flow as indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 ) that supplies conditioned air from both above and below building 10 and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building 10 in the height direction.

[0054] FIG. 3B shows an example of the configuration of the exhaust vent 400. The exhaust vent 400 can be installed on a ceiling, a wall, and / or a floor. The exhaust vent 400 may include a lattice-shaped grill as shown in FIG. 3B. The exhaust vent 400 may include a filter for filtering dust, house dust, and the like in the air. Residents of the building 10 can easily clean and / or replace the filter of the exhaust vent 400 by installing the exhaust vent 400 near the ceiling adjacent to the lower space 31, near the floor adjacent to the upper space 32, or near the communicating space 40 (particularly, near the floor adjacent to the upper space 32).

[0055] Fig. 4 shows another example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. Fig. 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 FIG. 4, the building 10′ includes a crawl space 20, a living space 30 directly above the crawl space 20, a connecting space 40, a foundation 50, one or more walls 60, a roof 70, and an attic space 80. The living space 30 in the building 10′ includes a lower space 31 and an upper space 32 above the lower space 31, and the upper space 32 is connected to the lower space 31. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the building 10′ is two-story, the lower space 31 is a first-floor space, and the upper space 32 is a second-floor space. The building 10′ has a configuration (so-called external thermal insulation structure) that can achieve high density and high thermal insulation by at least the exterior walls that form the roof 70 and walls 60, and the foundation 50. In other words, the roof 70, one or more walls 60, and foundation 50 of the building 10′ have an airtight and thermally insulating structure. This allows the temperature in the living space 30 to be maintained substantially constant throughout the building 10', while preventing condensation and the like between the exterior and interior walls that make up the wall surfaces 60. For example, the foundation portion 50 and one or more wall surfaces 60 preferably have an airtight and insulating structure so that the crawl space 20 has high airtightness and insulating properties. For example, the roof 70 and one or more wall surfaces 60 preferably have an airtight and insulating structure so that the attic space 80 has high airtightness and insulating properties. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the attic space 80 is defined by the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32 and the roof 70.

[0057] 4, the building 10 is described as being two stories high, but the present invention is not limited to this. The building 10 may be, for example, three stories high, four stories high, or five or more stories high. If the building 10 is three stories high, the lower space 31 may be a space on the first floor, and the upper space 32 may be a space on the second or third floor.

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

[0059] The air conditioning device 100' is configured to generate conditioned air. The conditioned air includes room temperature air, cold air, and / or warm air. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the air conditioning device 100' is disposed in the attic space 80. The air conditioning device 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 FIG. 4, the air conditioning device 100' is in communication with the underfloor space 20 via one or more first ducts 110. Thus, a portion of the conditioned air generated by the air conditioning device 100' can be supplied to the underfloor space 20 through, for example, the one or more first ducts 110. As long as it is possible for a portion of the conditioned air to be supplied to the underfloor space 20, there may be one or more first ducts 110 extending parallel to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31 in the underfloor space 20 to distribute a portion of the conditioned air throughout the underfloor space 20, or there may not be one or more first ducts 110 extending parallel to the floor adjacent to the lower space 31.

[0060] In addition, the air conditioning device 100' is in communication with the attic space 80 and is configured to supply another portion of the conditioned air to the attic space 80. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the air conditioning device 100' is in communication with the upper space 32 via one or more second ducts 120'. Therefore, another portion of the conditioned air generated by the air conditioning device 100' can be supplied to the attic space 80 through one or more second ducts 120'. The other portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning device 100' to the attic space 80 is supplied to the upper space 32 via one or more second air supply ports 300'. Furthermore, as long as it is possible for another portion of the conditioned air to be supplied to the attic space 80, there may be one or more second ducts 120' extending parallel to the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32 within the attic space 80 to distribute another portion of the conditioned air throughout the attic space 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 conditioner 100' can be controlled by a remote controller (e.g., to maintain a desired air temperature within the building 10'). The air conditioner 100' is also configured to be able to independently control the supply of a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20 (e.g., via one or more first ducts 110) and the supply of another portion of the conditioned air to the attic space 80 (e.g., via one or more second ducts 120').

[0062] 4 has been described as an example in which the air conditioner 100' is disposed within the attic space 80, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The air conditioner 100' may be disposed in any location as long as it is capable of supplying a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space 20, supplying another portion of the conditioned air to the attic space 80, and receiving at least a portion of the conditioned air and another portion of the conditioned air from one or more exhaust ports. For example, the air conditioner 100' may be disposed in the lower space 31, the upper space 32, the attic space (i.e., the space between the ceiling of the top floor and the roof 70), or outside the building 10.

[0063] The one or more first air intake vents 200 and one or more exhaust vents 400 of the building 10' have the same configuration as the one or more first air intake vents 200 and one or more exhaust vents 400 of the building 10 shown in Figure 1, so detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0064] The one or more second air supply vents 300' are provided to connect the attic space 80 and the upper space 32. Therefore, the upper space 32 can be said to be a space adjacent to the one or more second air supply vents 300. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the one or more second air supply vents 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 (e.g., within 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, or 50 cm, but not limited to these)). The one or more second air supply vents 300' are preferably provided near a window in the upper space 32 (e.g., 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 the conditioned air in the upper space 32 on windows on the wall defining the upper space 32 that are influenced by the outside air outside the building 10' (e.g., windows that are excessively cooled by the outside air, windows that are excessively heated by the outside air), and to stabilize the temperature of the conditioned air in the upper space 32.

[0065] The flow of conditioned air is indicated by arrows in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, some of the conditioned air flows from air conditioner 100 into lower space 31 via underfloor space 20 and one or more first air supply vents 200, and returns from lower space 31 to air conditioner 100 via one or more exhaust vents 400, while another portion of the conditioned air flows from air conditioner 100 into upper space 32 via attic space 80 and one or more second air supply vents 300', and returns from upper space 32 to air conditioner 100 via one or more exhaust vents 400. In this way, the air conditioning system of the present invention supplies conditioned air from both above and below building 10 and discharges the conditioned air at approximately the center of the height of building 10', thereby creating a smooth flow of conditioned air within building 10' and preventing stagnation of conditioned air within building 10'.This makes it possible to increase the circulation efficiency of conditioned air within building 10' while minimizing the stirring up of fine matter such as dust and house dust, and to maintain the temperature within building 10' at a uniform desired temperature.

[0066] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, among 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 cross multiple floors extend only in one direction (e.g., a direction 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 (e.g., 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 cross multiple floors extend only in one direction, they do not end up in a complex arrangement and can be pulled out in that one direction, which facilitates maintenance such as cleaning mold, dirt, etc. 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 vents 500 to assist the function of the one or more exhaust vents 400, one or more sensors (not shown) for measuring the air 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 device 100 into the underfloor space 20 to the lower space 31 via one or more first air supply vents 200. The one or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 and the one or more fans 700 of the building 10' have configurations similar to those of the one or more auxiliary exhaust vents 500 and the one or more fans 700 of the building 10 shown in Figure 1, respectively, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0068] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the air conditioning system of the present invention may further include one or more additional fans (not shown) for promoting the supply of another portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioner 100 into the attic space 80 to the upper space 32 via one or more second air supply vents 300'. The one or more additional fans may be provided, for example, near one or more second air supply vents 300'. This makes it possible to more intentionally create air flows within the building 10' (i.e., air flows as indicated by arrows in Fig. 4) that supply conditioned air from both above and below the building 10' and discharge the conditioned air at approximately the center of the building 10' in the height direction.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows another example of the configuration of the air conditioning system of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows an example of a building 10″ in which the air conditioning system of the present invention is installed. The building 10″ includes at least a crawl space 20, a living space 30 directly above the crawl space 20, a foundation 50, one or more walls 60, and a roof 70. The living space 30 in the building 10″ includes a lower space 31 and an upper space 32 above the lower space 31. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower space 31 is in communication with the upper space 32. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the building 10″ is a single-story building, the lower space 31 is a space adjacent to the floor of the building 10″, and the upper space 32 is a 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 includes an air conditioner 100, one or more first air supply vents 200 provided on the floor adjacent to the lower space 31, one or more second air supply vents 300 provided on the ceiling adjacent to the upper space 32, and one or more air exhaust vents 400 provided at least 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 the one or more first air supply vents 200, and the upper space 32 can be said to be the space adjacent to the one or more second air supply vents 300. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the one or more air exhaust vents 400 are provided on one or more wall surfaces 60.

[0071] The one or more exhaust vents 400 are provided at least at a height approximately at the center of the height 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). As a result, the one or more exhaust vents 400 are configured to be able to discharge conditioned air at approximately the center of the height 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 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 makes it possible to increase the circulation efficiency of conditioned air within the building 10'' while minimizing the stirring up of fine matter such as dust and house dust, and to continuously maintain a uniform temperature within the building 10'' at a desired temperature.

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

[0073] Similarly, the air conditioning system of the present invention, which is installed in the 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 the preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to this embodiment. It is understood that the scope of the present invention should be interpreted only by the claims. It is understood that a person skilled in the art can implement an equivalent scope based on the description of the present invention and common technical knowledge from the description of the specific preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0075] The present invention is useful for providing an air conditioning system for a building that can circulate air efficiently with relatively low power and can be easily maintained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10 Building 20 Underfloor space 30 Living space 31 Lower space 32 Upper Space 40 Communication space 50 Basics 60 Wall 70 Roof 80 Attic 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, the building comprising at least a crawl space and a living space directly above the crawl 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 comprising: an air conditioning device that generates conditioned air, supplies a portion of the conditioned air to the underfloor space, and supplies another 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 intakes for passing the portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device from the underfloor space to the lower space, the one or more first air intakes being provided in a floor adjacent to the lower space; one or more second air intake ports for passing the other portion of the conditioned air from the air conditioning device to the upper space, the one or more second air intake ports being provided in a ceiling adjacent to the upper space; one or more exhaust ports provided at least near a boundary between the lower space and the upper space, the one or more exhaust ports being configured to be able to discharge the portion of the conditioned air and the other portion of the conditioned air at approximately the center in the height direction of the living space, the one or more exhaust ports being connected to one or more first ducts; Equipped with the portion of the conditioned air enters the lower space from the air conditioning device via the underfloor space and the one or more first air supply ports, and returns from the lower space to the air conditioning device via the one or more air exhaust ports and the one or more first ducts; An air conditioning system in which the other portion of the conditioned air enters the upper space from the air conditioning device through the one or more second air supply ports and returns from the upper space to the air conditioning device through the one or more exhaust ports and the one or more first ducts.

2. the air conditioner is connected to one or more second ducts; the air conditioner is in communication with the upper space through the one or more second air supply ports via the one or more second ducts, The air conditioning system of 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 supply ports via the one or more second ducts.

3. The building further includes an attic space directly above the living space, the air conditioning device is in communication with the ceiling space and is configured to supply the other portion of the conditioned air to the ceiling space; the one or more second air supply ports are for communicating the attic space with the upper space, The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the other portion of the conditioned air is supplied from the air conditioning device to the attic space, enters the upper space through the one or more second air intake ports, and returns from the upper space to the air conditioning device through the one or more exhaust ports.

4. The building further comprises a roof, one or more walls, and a foundation; the crawl space is defined by a foundation of the building, the one or more walls, and a floor adjacent to the crawl space; The attic space is defined by a ceiling adjacent to the upper space and the roof, The air conditioning system of claim 3 , wherein the roof, the one or more walls, and the foundation of the building comprise an airtight and thermally insulated structure.

5. The air conditioning system of claim 3, further comprising one or more first fans within the attic space for promoting the supply of another portion of the conditioned air supplied from the air conditioning device to the attic space to the upper space through the one or more second air intake ports.

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

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

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

9. 9. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein the air conditioner is configured to be capable of independently controlling the temperature of the lower space and the temperature of the upper space.

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

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 comprises a window on a wall defining the lower space; The air conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more first air supply ports are provided near a window in the lower space.

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

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

15. the upper space is in communication with the lower space via a communication space, The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the communicating space includes one or both of an open-ceiling space formed across the lower space and the upper space, or a staircase space in which a staircase connecting the lower space and the upper space is installed.

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

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

18. The second floor is connected to the first floor via a communication space, 18. The air conditioning system of claim 17, wherein, when the building is two stories tall, the one or more exhaust outlets are provided at least near the ceiling of the first story, near the floor of the second story, or near the communication space.

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