Airflow control system, control method, and program

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of making it possible for a person to visually confirm the range reached by a gas. A gas flow control system (100) comprises a gas flow blowing device (1), a supply device (7), a lighting device (8), and a control device. The gas flow blowing device (1) has an outlet (24) through which a directional gas flow is blown out. The supply device (7) can supply a functional component, which is to be blown into air, into the gas flow blown from the outlet (24). The lighting device (8) can shine a directional light (L8) in a direction following along the blowing direction (F3) of the gas flow from the outlet (24) by the gas flow blowing device (1). The control device controls the gas flow blowing device (1) and the lighting device (8).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an airflow control system, a control method, and a program, and more particularly to an airflow control system, a control method, and a program that include an airflow blowout device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a fluid transport device that ejects a transported fluid such as gas or liquid from a jetting part into a space and transports the fluid locally to a target location away from the jetting part while suppressing diffusion.

[0003] In the fluid transporting device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the range of the airflow cannot be visually confirmed by a person. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2014 / 017208 Summary of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an airflow control system, a control method, and a program that allow a person to visually recognize the range of airflow.

[0006] An airflow control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an airflow blowing device, a supplying device, a lighting device, and a control device. The airflow blowing device has an outlet that blows out a directional airflow. The supplying device is capable of supplying a functional component to be blown into the air to the airflow blown out from the outlet. The lighting device is capable of emitting light that has directionality in a direction along the blowing direction of the airflow from the outlet of the airflow blowing device. The control device controls the airflow blowing device and the lighting device. The control device controls the irradiation range of the light emitted from the lighting device in accordance with the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet of the airflow blowout device.

[0008] A control method according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes controlling an airflow blowing device so as to blow out an airflow having directionality from an outlet of the airflow blowing device, and causing a lighting device to emit light having directionality in a direction along the blowing direction of the airflow from the airflow blowing device. The illumination range of the light emitted from the lighting device is controlled in accordance with the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet of the airflow blowout device.

[0009] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer system to execute the control method. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a usage form of the airflow control system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the airflow control system, with a part of the airflow blowout device and the part of the lighting device cut away. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the airflow control system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the airflow blowing device in the airflow control system. [Figure 5] Figure 5A is a plan view of a fan in the airflow blowing device of the airflow control system, Figure 5B is a plan view of a first rectifying device in the airflow blowing device of the airflow control system, and Figure 5C is a plan view of a second rectifying device in the airflow blowing device of the airflow control system. [Figure 6] Fig. 6A is a flow velocity distribution diagram of an airflow blowing device in the airflow control system according to the embodiment, and Fig. 6B is a flow velocity distribution diagram of an airflow blowing device in an airflow control system according to a comparative example. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a usage form of the airflow control system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a usage form of the airflow control system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of the airflow control system. [Figure 10]10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of a lighting device in the airflow control system of the same embodiment, in which the light distribution of emitted light is set to a narrow angle and a wide angle, respectively. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a usage form of the airflow control system according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The drawings described in the following embodiments 1 to 4 are schematic drawings, and the ratios of sizes and thicknesses of the components in the drawings do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratios.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) The airflow control system 100 and control method according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5C.

[0013] (1) Overview The airflow control system 100 is used, for example, for space zoning in a facility. Space zoning is the zoning of air, and means creating an air environment in a specific area within the target space S1 without creating physical barriers such as walls or partitions.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow control system 100 includes an airflow blowing device 1, a supplying device 7, a lighting device 8, and a control device 10 (see FIG. 3). The airflow blowing device 1 has an outlet 24 that blows out a directional airflow. The supplying device 7 is capable of supplying a functional component to be blown into the air to the airflow blown out from the outlet 24. The lighting device 8 is capable of emitting light L8 that has directionality in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 and the lighting device 8.

[0015] The airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowout device 1 in the airflow control system 100 into the target space S1 is a jet, and is a directional airflow with a straight-line tendency. The airflow is a flow of air. The facility is, for example, an office building. The target space S1 is, for example, a free address office in the office building. The target space S1 is not limited to a free address office, and may be, for example, a conference room space. The target space S1 is, for example, a space under the ceiling in the facility. In the target space S1 in the facility, desks 700, chairs, etc. are arranged as furniture that people can use.

[0016] Examples of facilities include office buildings, as well as hotels, hospitals, educational facilities, detached houses, apartment complexes (dwelling units and common areas), stores, commercial facilities, art galleries, and museums.Facilities do not only refer to buildings, but may also include the buildings and the grounds on which they are located, such as factories, parks, amusement facilities, theme parks, airports, train stations, and domed stadiums.

[0017] (2)Details As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow control system 100 includes an airflow blowout device 1, a supply device 7, a lighting device 8, and a control device 10 (see FIG. 3).

[0018] The airflow control system 100 is attached to, for example, a wiring duct 13 provided on the ceiling of a facility. The airflow control system 100 includes a mounting device 14, an arm 15, and a connecting device 16. The mounting device 14 is slidably attached to the wiring duct 13. The arm 15 has a first end 151 and a second end 152. The first end 151 of the arm 15 is connected to the mounting device 14. The connecting device 16 connects the second end 152 of the arm 15 to the cylindrical body 2 of the airflow blowing device 1. By attaching the mounting device 14 to the wiring duct 13, the airflow control system 100 is electrically connected to an AC power supply connected to the wiring duct 13. As shown in FIG. 3 , the airflow control system 100 further includes a first power supply circuit 91, a first drive circuit 101, a second power supply circuit 92, a second drive circuit 102, a third power supply circuit 93, and a third drive circuit 103. The first power supply circuit 91, for example, converts AC voltage from an AC power supply into a first DC voltage and outputs the first DC voltage. The first drive circuit 101 receives the first DC voltage output from the first power supply circuit 91 as input and drives the motor 36 of the fan 3 of the airflow blowing device 1. The second power supply circuit 92, for example, converts AC voltage from an AC power supply into a second DC voltage and outputs the second DC voltage. The second drive circuit 102 receives the second DC voltage output from the second power supply circuit 92 as input and drives the supply device 7. The third power supply circuit 93, for example, converts AC voltage from an AC power supply into a third DC voltage and outputs the third DC voltage. The third drive circuit 103 receives as input a third DC voltage output from the third power supply circuit 93 and drives the lighting device 8. In the airflow control system 100, the first power supply circuit 91, the first drive circuit 101, the second power supply circuit 92, the second drive circuit 102, the third power supply circuit 93, the third drive circuit 103, and the control device 10 are housed, for example, in a housing of an attachment device 14 (see FIG. 1). The arm 15 and the coupling device 16 (see FIG. 1) have spaces through which a portion of a first electric wire 111 connecting the first drive circuit 101 and the motor 36, a portion of a second electric wire 112 connecting the second drive circuit 102 and the supply device 7, and a portion of a third electric wire 113 connecting the third drive circuit 103 and the lighting device 8 can pass.

[0019] (2.1) Airflow blowing device As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the air blowing device 1 includes a cylindrical body 2, a fan 3, a first rectifier device 4, and a second rectifier device 5. The air blowing device 1 can adjust the speed of the air blown out from the outlet 24 by adjusting the rotation speed of the fan 3. The rotation speed of the fan 3 changes in response to a change in the magnitude of the voltage supplied from a first drive circuit 101 to a motor 36. The first drive circuit 101 is controlled by a control device 10 to change the magnitude of the voltage supplied to the motor 36.

[0020] The cylindrical body 2 is, for example, cylindrical. The cylindrical body 2 has a gas inlet 23 at a first end 21 and an outlet 24 at a second end 22. The fan 3 is disposed inside the cylindrical body 2. The first straightening device 4 is located between the fan 3 and the outlet 24 in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, and redirects the swirling airflow F1 (see FIG. 5A). The second straightening device 5 is located between the first straightening device 4 and the outlet 24 in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, and aligns the direction of the airflow along the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The first straightening device 4 has a cylindrical tube portion 41 and multiple fins (stator blades) 42. When viewed from the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, each of the multiple fins 42 is arc-shaped (see FIG. 5B). 5B, the multiple fins 42 protrude from the inner circumferential surface 413 of the tubular portion 41 toward the central axis 40 of the tubular portion 41, and are aligned in a direction along the inner periphery of the tubular portion 41. The second rectifier 5 has multiple flow paths 55 along the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, as shown in FIGS.

[0021] 1 to 4, the cylindrical body 2 is cylindrical. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cylindrical body 2 has a first end 21 and a second end 22, with a gas inlet 23 at the first end 21 and a gas outlet 24 at the second end 22. The material of the cylindrical body 2 is, for example, metal or resin, but is not limited to these.

[0022] The fan 3 (see Figures 3, 4, and 5A) blows air that has flowed in through the inlet 23 of the cylindrical body 2 toward the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2. The fan 3 is an electric axial flow fan that can rotate around a central rotation axis 30 of a rotor (hub) 31 that the fan 3 has. The fan 3 moves the air that has flowed into the fan housing 33 while rotating it in a spiral around the rotor 31, and can flow it downstream. The "downstream side" means the downstream side when viewed in the direction of air flow.

[0023] The fan 3 is disposed inside the cylindrical body 2. The fan 3 is disposed near the first end 21 of the first end 21 and the second end 22 of the cylindrical body 2 in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 2. In the axial direction of the cylindrical body 2, the distance between the fan 3 and the inlet 23 is shorter than the distance between the fan 3 and the outlet 24.

[0024] The fan 3 includes a rotor 31, a plurality of (e.g., four) blades (rotor blades) 32, a fan housing 33, a motor 36, a motor mounting portion, and a plurality of (e.g., three) beam portions. The rotor 31, the plurality of blades 32, and the fan housing 33 of the fan 3 are made of, for example, resin or metal.

[0025] The rotor 31 is rotatable around a central rotation axis 30. When viewed in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, the outer edge of the rotor 31 is circular. The rotor 31 is disposed coaxially with the cylindrical body 2 inside the cylindrical body 2. "The rotor 31 is disposed coaxially with the cylindrical body 2" means that the rotor 31 is disposed so that the central rotation axis 30 of the rotor 31 is aligned with the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2. In the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, the length of the rotor 31 is shorter than the length of the cylindrical body 2. The axial direction D3 of the fan 3 is the direction along the central rotation axis 30. The rotor 31 is cylindrical with a bottom, having a cylindrical portion 311 and a bottom wall 312, and is disposed so that the bottom wall 312 faces the inlet 23 of the cylindrical body 2. The rotor 31 has a boss portion 313 that protrudes from the center of the bottom wall 312 toward the side opposite the inlet 23 of the cylindrical body 2.

[0026] The blades 32 are disposed between the rotor 31 and the fan housing 33 and rotate together with the rotor 31. The blades 32 are connected to the rotor 31 and protrude from the outer peripheral surface 316 of the rotor 31 toward the inner peripheral surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2. When viewed in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, the blades 32 protrude radially from the rotor 31. Each of the blades 32 is disposed such that a gap is formed between the blade 32 and the inner peripheral surface 333 of the fan housing 33 when viewed in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. In other words, in the fan 3, a gap is formed between each of the blades 32 and the inner peripheral surface 333 of the fan housing 33. The blades 32 are disposed at equal intervals when viewed in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The term "equal intervals" as used herein does not necessarily mean that the blades are disposed at exactly the same intervals, but may also mean, for example, intervals within a predetermined error range (e.g., ±10% of the specified interval) with respect to a specified interval. In each of the multiple blades 32, the first end 321 (see Figure 5A) on the inlet 23 side is located forward of the second end 322 (see Figure 5A) on the outlet 24 side in the rotation direction R1 (see Figure 5A) of the rotor 31 of the fan 3.

[0027] The fan housing 33 rotatably houses the rotor 31 and the plurality of blades 32. The fan housing 33 is cylindrical. The outer diameter of the fan housing 33 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 2. In the fan 3, for example, the fan housing 33 is fixed to the cylindrical body 2.

[0028] The motor 36 drives the rotating body 31 to rotate. More specifically, the motor 36 rotates the rotating body 31 around the central axis of rotation 30 of the rotating body 31. The motor 36 is, for example, a DC motor. The motor 36 is driven by the first drive circuit 101 described above. The motor 36 includes a motor body 361 and a rotating shaft 362 that partially protrudes from the motor body 361. In the motor 36, the rotating shaft 362 is connected to the rotating body 31. The rotating shaft 362 of the motor 36 is fixed to a boss portion 313 of the rotating body 31.

[0029] A motor body 361 of the motor 36 is attached to the motor attachment portion. When viewed from the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, the motor attachment portion is located inside the outer edge of the rotating body 31. However, this is not limiting, and for example, the entire motor attachment portion may overlap the entire rotating body 31.

[0030] A plurality of (for example, three) beams connect the motor mounting portion and the fan housing 33. The beams are arranged at equal intervals in a direction along the outer edge of the motor mounting portion.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the first straightening device 4 is located between the fan 3 and the outlet 24 in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The first straightening device 4 redirects the swirling airflow F1 (see FIG. 5A) downstream of the fan 3. The first straightening device 4 redirects the swirling airflow F1 downstream of the fan 3 into an airflow F2 (see FIG. 5B) toward the center of the fan 3. Furthermore, the first straightening device 4 forms a flow velocity distribution in which the airflow speed in a first region is faster than the airflow speed in a second region downstream of the first straightening device 4, as viewed in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. Here, the airflow speed is the speed in the direction along the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The first region is the region (inner region) between the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2 and the inner surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2 that is closer to the central axis 20, and the second region is the region (outer region) between the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2 and the inner surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2 that is closer to the inner surface 27.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5B, the first rectifier 4 has a cylindrical tube portion 41 and a plurality of (for example, 12) fins .

[0033] The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 41 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 2. The inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 41 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the fan housing 33.

[0034] Each of the fins 42 has an arc shape when viewed in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The fins 42 protrude from the inner circumferential surface 413 of the tubular portion 41 toward the central axis 40 of the tubular portion 41 and are aligned in a direction along the inner periphery of the tubular portion 41. Each of the fins 42 has, in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, a first end 421 on the inlet 23 side and a second end 422 on the outlet 24 side.

[0035] Each of the multiple fins 42 is disposed parallel to the axial direction D3 of the fan 3 between the inner circumferential surface 413 of the cylindrical portion 41 and the central axis of the cylindrical portion 41. In each of the multiple fins 42, the first end 421 and the second end 422 overlap when viewed from the axial direction D3 of the fan 3.

[0036] The ends of the multiple fins 42 on the cylindrical portion 41 side are arranged at equal intervals in a direction along the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 41. Here, "equal intervals" does not necessarily mean exactly the same intervals, but may also mean, for example, intervals within a predetermined error range with respect to a specified interval (for example, ±10% of the specified interval). The first rectifier 4 has multiple (for example, 12) flow paths 45 surrounded by two adjacent fins 42 of the multiple fins 42 and the cylindrical portion 41. When viewed from the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, the width of the flow paths 45 in a direction along the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion 41 narrows from the inner circumferential surface 413 of the cylindrical portion 41 toward the central axis 40 of the cylindrical portion 41.

[0037] In the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, the length of each of the multiple fins 42 is the same as the length of the cylindrical portion 41. The length of each of the multiple fins 42 does not necessarily have to be the same as the length of the cylindrical portion 41, and may be longer or shorter than the cylindrical portion 41.

[0038] Each of the multiple fins 42 has a first surface 43 that intersects with the direction along the inner circumference of the cylindrical body 2, and a second surface 44 that intersects with the direction along the inner circumference of the cylindrical body 2 and is on the opposite side to the first surface 43. The first surface 43 is a surface located rearward in the direction along the rotation direction R1 of the rotating body 31 (see FIG. 5A), and the second surface 44 is a surface located forward in the direction along the rotation direction R1 of the rotating body 31. The first surface 43 is a concave curved surface. The second surface 44 is a convex curved surface.

[0039] The material of the first rectifier 4 is metal, but is not limited to this and may be resin.

[0040] The second rectifier 5 (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 5C) is located between the first rectifier 4 and the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2 in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The second rectifier 5 adjusts the flow velocity distribution of the airflow from the first rectifier 4 downstream of the first rectifier 4. The second rectifier 5 has a plurality of flow paths 55 along the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. Each of the plurality of flow paths 55 has an inlet 551 on the first rectifier 4 side and an outlet 552 on the outlet 24 side of the cylindrical body 2. In each of the plurality of flow paths 55, the inlet 551 and the outlet 552 have the same shape. In each of the plurality of flow paths 55, the inlet 551 and the outlet 552 have the same size. The second rectifier 5 includes a flow straightening grid 50 and a cylindrical tube portion 51 surrounding the flow straightening grid 50. The straightening grid 50 has a plurality of partition plate portions 56 that separate any two adjacent flow paths 55 from among the plurality of flow paths 55. Each of the plurality of partition plate portions 56 is arranged along the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The straightening grid 50 has a honeycomb lattice shape. Here, when viewed from the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, the inlet 551 and outlet 552 of each of the plurality of flow paths 55 are regular hexagonal. From another perspective, each of the plurality of flow paths 55 is shaped like a hexagonal pillar.

[0041] The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 51 is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 2. The second flow straightening device 5 is disposed inside the cylindrical body 2 so that the central axis of the cylindrical portion 51 coincides with the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2.

[0042] The material of the second rectifier 5 is resin, but is not limited to this and may be metal.

[0043] (2.2) Feeding device The supply device 7 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) is capable of supplying a functional component to be blown into the air to the airflow blown out from the outlet 24. More specifically, the supply device 7 has a generator 71 and a functional component transport flow path 72. The generator 71 generates, for example, a mist containing the functional component. The functional component transport flow path 72 is connected to the space between the first rectifier 4 and the outlet 24 in the cylindrical body 2. Examples of functional components include deodorizing components, fragrance components, disinfecting components, sterilizing components, cosmetic components, and medicinal components. The supply device 7 is configured to supply the functional component from a functional material containing the functional component. The functional material containing the functional component is, for example, a solution containing the functional component.

[0044] The generator 71 includes, for example, an atomizer that atomizes a solution containing the functional ingredient, and an energy supply device that provides energy to the solution to atomize it in the atomizer. The energy supply device is, for example, an ultrasonic vibrator, but is not limited to this and may be, for example, a SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) device. The generator 71 is driven by a second drive circuit 102.

[0045] In the air blowing device 1, the cylindrical body 2 has a communication hole 25 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) penetrating between the first end 21 and the second end 22 in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the cylindrical body 2. A functional component transport flow path 72 is connected to an outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2 via the communication hole 25. The functional component transport flow path 72 is formed, for example, by attaching a flow path forming member 73 (see FIG. 3) to the cylindrical body 2. The functional component transport flow path 72 is formed between the flow path forming member 73 and the outer peripheral surface (side surface) 28 of the cylindrical body 2, and is connected to the space inside the cylindrical body 2 through the communication hole 25 of the cylindrical body 2.

[0046] In the supply device 7, the mist containing the functional component generated in the generation unit 71 is supplied to the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 through the functional component transport flow path 72 and the communication hole 25. The supply device 7 may transport the mist containing the functional component into the cylindrical body 2 by attracting the mist containing the functional component into the airflow inside the cylindrical body 2, or may be equipped with a fan that sends the mist containing the functional component into the cylindrical body 2. The functional component transport flow path 72 is not limited to being formed using the flow path forming member 73, and may be formed, for example, by a tubular member having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the generation unit 71 and the second end disposed inside the cylindrical body 2 through the communication hole 25.

[0047] (2.3) Lighting equipment 1, the lighting device 8 can emit light L8 having directivity in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The lighting device 8 irradiates the light L8 onto a top surface 701 of a desk 700 that is placed within a range reached by the airflow from the airflow blowing device 1 and the functional components from the supply device 7 in a facility, for example.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the lighting device 8 includes, for example, a mounting substrate 80, a plurality of light sources 81 (22 in the illustrated example) mounted on the mounting substrate 80, and a lens 82 that controls the light distribution of the plurality of light sources 81.

[0049] The mounting substrate 80 is, for example, a printed wiring board. The mounting substrate 80 is, for example, ring-shaped, and is disposed so as to overlap the periphery of the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2.

[0050] The multiple light sources 81 are arranged at equal intervals when viewed in a direction along the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 (i.e., the axial direction D3 of the fan 3). Here, "equal intervals" does not necessarily mean exactly the same intervals, but may also mean, for example, intervals within a predetermined error range with respect to a specified interval (for example, ±10% of the specified interval).

[0051] Each of the multiple light sources 81 includes, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The LED can emit white light. The correlated color temperature of the white light emitted from the LED is, for example, 2700 K or more and 6000 K or less. The LED is, for example, a surface-mounted LED having a blue LED chip, a green LED chip, a red LED chip, and a package accommodating the blue LED chip, the green LED chip, and the red LED chip. The blue LED chip emits blue light. The green LED chip emits green light. The red LED chip emits red light.

[0052] The lens 82 collimates the light emitted from each of the multiple light sources 81. The lens 82 is a plano-convex cylindrical lens and is provided around the entire circumference of the ring-shaped mounting substrate 80. The lens 82 has a bullet-shaped cross section in the thickness direction of the mounting substrate 80. The light L8 emitted from the lighting device 8 is light emitted from the multiple light sources 81 and collimated by the lens 82. The lighting device 8 is arranged around the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2 of the airflow blowing device 1 so that the optical axis L81 of each of the multiple light sources 81 is parallel to the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The optical axis L81 of each of the multiple light sources 81 and the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 are parallel, but they do not have to be strictly parallel; it is sufficient if the angle between the optical axis L81 of each of the multiple light sources 81 and the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 is 10 degrees or less.

[0053] The lighting device 8 is driven by the above-described third drive circuit 103 (see FIG. 3). The third drive circuit 103 has, for example, a blue LED drive unit, a green LED drive unit, and a red LED drive unit. The blue LED drive unit drives a plurality (e.g., 22) of blue LED chips. The green LED drive unit drives a plurality (e.g., 22) of green LED chips. The red LED drive unit drives a plurality (e.g., 22) of red LED chips. In the lighting device 8, the control device 10 (see FIG. 3) controls the blue LED drive unit, the green LED drive unit, and the red LED drive unit to output, as illumination light, any of white light, blue light, green light, and red light, or light of a color obtained by mixing two or more of these. In short, the lighting device 8 can output, as color illumination light or white light, light of a color corresponding to any chromaticity point within a triangle whose vertices are the chromaticity point of blue light emitted from the blue LED chip, the chromaticity point of green light emitted from the green LED chip, and the chromaticity point of red light emitted from the red LED chip in an xy chromaticity diagram of the XYZ color system. The white light is preferably light of a chromaticity corresponding to a chromaticity point on the blackbody locus in the xy chromaticity diagram of the XYZ color system.

[0054] (2.4) Control device The control device 10 (see FIG. 3) controls the air blowing device 1 and the supply device 7. The control device 10 also controls the lighting device 8. The control device 10 controls the first drive circuit 101 to control the fan 3. The control device 10 also controls the second drive circuit 102 to control the supply device 7. The control device 10 also controls the third drive circuit 103 to control the lighting device 8.

[0055] Examples of the control of the airflow blowing device 1 by the control device 10 include starting and stopping the operation of the fan 3, and controlling the rotation speed of the fan 3. The control device 10 controls the drive voltage of the fan 3 (its motor 36) to control the rotation speed of the fan 3, thereby controlling the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The rotation speed and air volume of the fan 3 change in response to changes in the drive voltage. The rotation speed and air volume of the fan 3 increase as the drive voltage increases. In the airflow blowing device 1, the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 increases as the rotation speed of the fan 3 increases.

[0056] Control of supply device 7 by control device 10 includes, for example, starting atomization of the solution in generation unit 71, stopping atomization of the solution, and controlling the amount of atomization of the solution.

[0057] The control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 and the supply device 7 to supply the functional component to be blown into the air to the airflow blown out from the outlet 24. The control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 and the supply device 7 to control the timing at which the functional component to be blown into the air is supplied to the airflow blown out from the outlet 24.

[0058] Examples of the control of the lighting device 8 by the control device 10 include control of the color of the illumination light, turning on / off, blinking, illuminance, etc. The color of the illumination light is white or a color different from white (e.g., red, blue, green, etc.).

[0059] The control device 10 includes a computer system. The computer system is primarily composed of a processor and memory as hardware. The functions of the control device 10 are realized by the processor executing a program stored in the computer system's memory. The program may be pre-stored in the computer system's memory, provided via a telecommunications line, or provided on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, optical disk, or hard disk drive that is readable by the computer system. The processor of the computer system is composed of one or more electronic circuits, including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). The IC or LSI referred to here is referred to by different names depending on the degree of integration, and includes integrated circuits called system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Furthermore, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), which is programmable after the LSI is manufactured, or a logic device capable of reconfiguring the connections within the LSI or the circuit partitions within the LSI, can also be used as a processor. Multiple electronic circuits may be integrated on a single chip or distributed across multiple chips. The multiple chips may be integrated into one device or distributed across multiple devices. The computer system referred to here includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Therefore, the microcontroller also comprises one or more electronic circuits, including semiconductor integrated circuits or large-scale integrated circuits.

[0060] (3) Operation of the airflow control system (3.1) Operation of the airflow blower In the airflow blowing device 1, the rotor 31 and the plurality of blades 32 of the fan 3 rotate in a predetermined rotational direction R1 (see FIG. 5A), causing air to be drawn into the fan 3 from the air inlet 23 side of the cylindrical body 2, and generating an airflow F1 (see FIG. 5A) that swirls within the cylindrical body 2 along the inner circumferential surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2 on the downstream side of the fan 3. The swirling airflow F1 is an airflow that rotates in a three-dimensional spiral.

[0061] In the airflow blowing device 1, airflow F1 (see FIG. 5A) generated downstream of the fan 3 and swirling near and along inner circumferential surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2 is redirected by the first rectifier 4 in a direction approaching the central axis 40 of the first rectifier 4. More specifically, in the first rectifier 4, the airflow F1 (see FIG. 5A) swirling along the inner circumferential surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2 collides with the fins 42, and is thereby redirected into airflow F2 (see FIG. 5B) approaching the central axis 40 of the first rectifier 4. In other words, the first rectifier 4 collects the airflow F1 generated by the fan 3 and swirling along the inner circumferential surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2 toward the central axis 40 of the first rectifier 4, thereby forming a flow velocity distribution downstream of the first rectifier 4 in which the airflow speed in the first region is faster than the airflow speed in the second region. In short, in the airflow blowing device 1, the first straightening device 4 can form a velocity distribution in which the airflow velocity is relatively fast on the inside and relatively slow on the outside. Here, the airflow velocity is the velocity in the direction along the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The first region is a region (inner region) between the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2 and the inner circumferential surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2 and close to the central axis 20, and the second region is a region (outer region) between the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2 and the inner circumferential surface 27 of the cylindrical body 2 and close to the inner circumferential surface 27.

[0062] In the air blowing device 1, the second rectifier 5 downstream of the first rectifier 4 rectifies the direction of the airflow from the first rectifier 4 side in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3.

[0063] In the air blowing device 1 , the airflow rectified by the second rectifying device 5 flows out from the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2 .

[0064] In the airflow blowout device 1, when the fan 3 is driven, the airflow flowing downstream of the fan 3 is rectified by the first rectifier 4 and the second rectifier 5 and is blown out from the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2.

[0065] 6A shows the flow velocity distribution in the vicinity of the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2 of the airflow blowing device 1. In the airflow blowing device 1 in the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment, the air volume of the fan 3 is set to 70 m 3 / h and the structural parameters are set as follows: Fig. 6B shows the flow velocity distribution in an air blowing device according to a comparative example that does not include the first and second flow straightening devices 4 and 5. <Structural parameters> Inner diameter of cylinder 2: 144 mm Number of fins 42 of the first rectifier 4: 12 Length of each fin 42 in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3: 50 mm Inlet 551 of each flow path 55 in the second rectifier 5: regular hexagon with a distance between opposite sides of 8 mm Outlets 552 of each flow path 55 in the second rectifier 5: regular hexagon with a distance between opposite sides of 8 mm Length of each flow path 55 in the second rectifier 5: 30 mm 6A and 6B each show the flow velocity distribution in a cross section including the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2. In each of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the horizontal axis represents the distance from the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2, and the vertical axis represents the flow velocity. Note that with respect to the horizontal axis, the right side of the central axis 20 is "positive" and the left side is "negative (- sign)." The "positive" and "negative (- sign)" are symbols added to distinguish between the distance to an arbitrary position on the right side of the central axis 20 and the distance to an arbitrary position on the left side.

[0066] In the airflow blowing device according to the comparative example, as shown in Fig. 6B, the flow velocity increases with increasing distance from the center of the outlet 24. In contrast, the airflow blowing device 1 in the airflow control system 100 according to embodiment 1 achieves a flow velocity distribution in which the flow velocity in the inner region of the outlet 24 is faster than the flow velocity in the outer region, as shown in Fig. 6A. The airflow blowing device 1 can blow out a double jet flow including a first jet flow ejected from the inner region of the outlet 24 and a second jet flow ejected from the outer region of the outlet 24.

[0067] In the airflow blowing device 1, it is possible to increase the directionality of the airflow (jet flow) blown out from the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2, and to suppress the diffusion of the airflow. Therefore, in the airflow blowing device 1, it is possible to transport the airflow in a spot (local) manner to a specific area in the target space S1.

[0068] (3.2) Operation of the control device The control device 10, for example, controls the airflow blowing device 1 so that it blows out a directional airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1, and causes the lighting device 8 to emit directional light L8 in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the airflow blowing device 1.

[0069] Furthermore, when the control device 10 controls the air blowing device 1 so that an airflow having directionality is blown out from the outlet 24 of the air blowing device 1, the control device 10 causes the supply device 7 to supply a functional component to the airflow.

[0070] When supplying a functional component from supply device 7 to the airflow, control device 10 may, for example, supply the functional component temporarily (instantaneously) to the airflow, or may supply the functional component continuously. For example, when the functional component supplied from supply device 7 to the airflow is an aromatic component, control device 10 causes supply device 7 to supply the functional component intermittently to the airflow. Furthermore, when the functional component supplied from supply device 7 to the airflow is a deodorizing component, a disinfecting component, a sterilizing component, a cosmetic component, or a medicinal component, control device 10 causes supply device 7 to supply the functional component continuously to the airflow.

[0071] The control device 10 may intermittently or continuously emit directional light L8 from the lighting device 8 while controlling the airflow blowing device 1 to blow out a directional airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. Alternatively, the control device 10 may control the lighting device 8 to emit directional light L8 from the lighting device 8 while controlling the airflow blowing device 1 to blow out a directional airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 and supplying a functional component to the airflow from the supply device 7. This enables the airflow control system 100 to present (display) signs related to the reach of the airflow and functional components on the top surface 701 of a desk 700 in the target space S1 of the facility by using the light L8 emitted from the lighting device 8. In the airflow control system 100, the outer periphery of a ring-shaped area A8 on the top surface 701 of the desk 700 onto which the light L8 is irradiated corresponds to the outer periphery of the range E3 reached by the airflow and functional components. The range E3 reached by the airflow and functional component means a range hit by an airflow of a predetermined speed or more, and means a range hit by an airflow containing a functional component of a predetermined concentration or more.

[0072] (4) Control method The control method according to the first embodiment is a control method for a system including an air blowing device 1, a supply device 7, and a lighting device 8.

[0073] The control method according to the first embodiment is realized by the operation of the control device 10. This control method controls the airflow blowing device 1 so that it blows out a directional airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1, and causes the lighting device 8 to emit directional light L8 in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the airflow blowing device 1.

[0074] The control method may include controlling the airflow blowing device 1 to blow out a directional airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1, and controlling the supply device 7 to supply a functional component to the airflow from the supply device 7, while emitting directional light L8 from the lighting device 8 in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the airflow blowing device 1.

[0075] The control method according to the first embodiment is realized by a computer system executing a program. This program is a program (computer program) for causing the computer system to execute the control method.

[0076] (5) Effects (5.1) Airflow Control System The airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment includes an airflow blowing device 1, a supplying device 7, a lighting device 8, and a control device 10. The airflow blowing device 1 has an outlet 24 that blows out a directional airflow. The supplying device 7 is capable of supplying a functional component to be blown into the air to the airflow blown out from the outlet 24. The lighting device 8 is capable of emitting light L8 that has directionality in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 and the lighting device 8.

[0077] The airflow control system 100 includes an airflow blowout device 1 having an outlet 24 that blows out a directional airflow, thereby suppressing the diffusion of the airflow and thus the diffusion of the airflow containing the functional component. The airflow control system 100 includes a supply device 7 and a control device 10, thereby enabling the airflow blown into the target space S1 of the facility to contain the functional component and suppressing the diffusion of the airflow containing the functional component within the target space S1. "Suppressing the diffusion of the airflow containing the functional component" means improving the linearity of the airflow containing the functional component and increasing its directionality. The airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment can suppress a decrease in the concentration of the functional component before it reaches the target space to which it is supplied, thereby enhancing the effect of the functional component.

[0078] The airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment includes a lighting device 8 that can emit light L8 having directivity in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1, thereby enabling a person to visually recognize the reach of the airflow. More specifically, the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment can present a sign related to the reach of the directional airflow blown out from the airflow blowing device 1 on a surface (e.g., the top surface 701 of a desk 700) by using light L8 emitted from the lighting device 8. This makes it possible to visualize the reach of the airflow and enable a person to visually recognize the reach of the airflow. Furthermore, by visualizing the reach of the airflow, the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment enables a person to visually recognize the reach of the functional component supplied to the airflow.

[0079] Moreover, in the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment, the control device 10 controls the supply device 7. As a result, in the airflow control system 100, the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1, the supply device 7, and the lighting device 8, and thereby the control device 10 can control the timing at which a person can visually recognize the reach of the functional component supplied to the airflow.

[0080] (5.2) Control method The control method according to the first embodiment controls the air blowing device 1 so that a directional airflow is blown out from the outlet 24 of the air blowing device 1, and causes the lighting device 8 to emit directional light L8 in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the air blowing device 1. This control method makes it possible for people to visually recognize the reach of the airflow. More specifically, this control method makes it possible to present a sign related to the reach of the airflow to people using a space including the reach of the airflow blown out from the air blowing device 1, thereby visualizing the reach of the airflow and making it possible for people to visually recognize the reach of the airflow. Furthermore, the control method according to the first embodiment makes the reach of the airflow visible, thereby making it possible for people to visually recognize the reach of the functional component supplied to the airflow.

[0081] (5.3) Program The program according to the first embodiment is a program (computer program) for causing a computer system to execute the above-described control method. According to such a program, it is possible to allow a person to visually recognize the reach of the airflow, similar to the above-described control method.

[0082] (Modification 1 of Embodiment 1) The basic configuration of the airflow control system 100 according to Variation 1 of Embodiment 1 is the same as that of the airflow control system 100 according to Embodiment 1, and therefore illustrations and descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the airflow control system 100 according to Variation 1 of Embodiment 1, the control device 10 may have a first control mode and a second control mode different from the first control mode as control modes for the airflow blowing device 1. When the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 in the second control mode, the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 is slower than the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 when the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 in the first control mode. As a result, when the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 in the second control mode, the directionality of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 is lower than the directionality of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 when the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 in the first control mode. Therefore, when the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 in the second control mode, the range reached by the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 is wider than the range reached by the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 when the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 in the first control mode.

[0083] The control device 10 controls the lighting device 8 so that the color temperature of the light emitted from the lighting device 8 differs between when the airflow blowing device 1 is controlled in the first control mode and when the airflow blowing device 1 is controlled in the second control mode. This allows the airflow control system 100 according to the first modification of the first embodiment to vary the color temperature of the light L8 emitted from the lighting device 8 depending on the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. For example, the control device 10 may cause the lighting device 8 to emit bluish white light when the airflow blowing device 1 is controlled in the first control mode, and may cause the lighting device 8 to emit reddish white light when the airflow blowing device 1 is controlled in the second control mode.

[0084] The control device 10 may switch the control mode of the air blowing device 1 in response to the operation of an operating unit (e.g., a remote controller or an operating switch) that can be operated by a person. In this case, the control device 10 may have, for example, a receiving unit that receives a wireless signal from the operating unit.

[0085] The control device 10 may also control the airflow blowing device 1 in one of the first control mode and the second control mode depending on the number of people detected by the human body detection sensor. In this case, the control device 10 may have, for example, a receiver that receives a wireless signal from the human body detection sensor, or the airflow control system 100 may be equipped with the human body detection sensor. The human body detection sensor detects people within a detection area that includes a space to which airflow from the airflow blowing device 1 is supplied. When controlling the supply device 7 depending on the number of people detected by the human body detection sensor, the control device 10 controls the supply device 7 in the first control mode when the number of people is one, and controls the supply device 7 in the second control mode when the number of people is two or more. According to this control method, when the number of people is one, the range to which the functional ingredient is delivered can be narrowed compared to when the number of people is two or more, and the range to which the functional ingredient is delivered can be widened compared to when the number of people is one.

[0086] (Modification 2 of Embodiment 1) The basic configuration of the airflow control system 100 according to the second modification of the first embodiment is the same as that of the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment, and therefore will not be illustrated or described again. In the airflow control system 100 according to the second modification of the first embodiment, similarly to the airflow control system 100 according to the first modification, the control device 10 may have a first control mode and a second control mode different from the first control mode as control modes of the airflow blowing device 1. When the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 in the second control mode, the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 is slower than the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 when the control device 10 controls the airflow blowing device 1 in the first control mode.

[0087] In the airflow control system 100 according to the second modification, the control device 10 may control the lighting device 8 so that the lighting state of the lighting device 8 differs between when the airflow blowing device 1 is controlled in the first control mode and when the airflow blowing device 1 is controlled in the second control mode. This allows the airflow control system 100 according to the second modification to vary the lighting state of the lighting device 8 depending on the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. Examples of the lighting state include a continuous lighting state and a flashing state.

[0088] Furthermore, in the supply device 7 of the airflow control system 100 according to the second modification, the generator 71 has a plurality of atomizing units that atomize solutions containing different functional components. As a result, the airflow control system 100 according to the second modification can change the functional component supplied to the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 by controlling the generator 71 with the control device 10.

[0089] In the airflow control system 100, for example, in the first control mode, the supply device 7 may supply a sterilizing component as a functional component to the airflow, and the lighting device 8 may be controlled to blink. In the second control mode, the supply device 7 may supply an aromatic component as a functional component to the airflow, and the lighting device 8 may be controlled to be continuously lit. Furthermore, when the lighting states are to be varied, the airflow control system 100 may, for example, supply a sterilizing component as a functional component to the airflow from the supply device 7, and turn on the lighting device 8 at a dimming level of 100%, in the first control mode, and turn on the lighting device 8 at a dimming level of 50% in the second control mode. The dimming level is expressed as the ratio [%] of the average power per unit time supplied to the lighting device 8 to the rated power. For example, when the average power per unit time supplied to the lighting device 8 is half the rated power, the dimming level is 50%.

[0090] (Embodiment 2) An airflow control system 100a and a control method according to embodiment 2 will be described below with reference to Fig. 7. Airflow control system 100a according to embodiment 2 differs from airflow control system 100 according to embodiment 1 in that it includes a lighting device 8a instead of the lighting device 8 in airflow control system 100 according to embodiment 1. Regarding airflow control system 100a according to embodiment 2, components that are similar to those in airflow control system 100 according to embodiment 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0091] The lighting device 8a includes a mounting board 80, a plurality of (e.g., four) light sources 81 mounted on the mounting board 80, and a plurality of lenses 82 corresponding one-to-one to the plurality of light sources 81. The number of light sources 81 in the lighting device 8a is smaller than the number of light sources 81 in the lighting device 8a. The plurality of light sources 81 are arranged at equal intervals when viewed from a direction along the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 (i.e., the axial direction D3 of the fan 3). Here, "equal intervals" does not necessarily mean that the light sources 81 are arranged at exactly the same intervals, but may also mean, for example, intervals within a predetermined error range with respect to a specified interval (e.g., ±10% of the specified interval). Each of the plurality of lenses 82 covers a corresponding light source 81. Each of the plurality of lenses 82 is bullet-shaped and collimates light from the corresponding light source 81. The plurality of lenses 82 are arranged at equal intervals when viewed from a direction along the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 (i.e., the axial direction D3 of the fan 3).

[0092] The lighting device 8a can emit light L8a having directivity in a direction along the blowing direction F3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The light L8a emitted from the lighting device 8a is light emitted from a light source 81 and collimated by a lens 82. The lighting device 8a is arranged around the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2 of the airflow blowing device 1 so that the optical axes of the light source 81 and the lens 82 are parallel to the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The optical axes of the light source 81 and the lens 82 are parallel to the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1, but they do not have to be strictly parallel, and it is sufficient if the angle between the optical axes of the light source 81 and the lens 82 and the central axis of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 is 10 degrees or less.

[0093] The lighting device 8a is controlled by the control device 10 (see FIG. 3), similar to the lighting device 8 in the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0094] The airflow control system 100a according to the second embodiment includes an illumination device 8a capable of emitting directional light L8a in a direction along the blowing direction F3 of the airflow from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1, thereby enabling a person to visually recognize the reach of the airflow. The control device 10 may cause the illumination device 8a to emit directional light L8a intermittently or continuously while controlling the airflow blowing device 1 so that a directional airflow is blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. Furthermore, the control device 10 may control the airflow blowing device 1 so that a directional airflow is blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1, and may also control the illumination device 8a to emit directional light L8a while supplying a functional component from the supply device 7 to the airflow. This enables airflow control system 100a to present (display) signs related to the reach of the airflow and functional components on top surface 701 of desk 700 in target space S1 of the facility using light L8a emitted from lighting device 8a. In airflow control system 100a, a portion of the periphery of each of multiple circular areas A8a on top surface 701 of desk 700, onto which light L8a from lighting device 8a is irradiated, overlaps with the periphery of range E3 reached by the airflow and functional components.

[0095] (Embodiment 3) An airflow control system 100b according to a third embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 8, 9, 10A, and 10B. The airflow control system 100b according to the third embodiment differs from the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a lighting device 8b instead of the lighting device 8 in the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment. In the airflow control system 100b according to the third embodiment, components that are the same as those in the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0096] As shown in FIGS. 9, 10A, and 10B, the illumination device 8b includes a light source 81 and a lens 82b. The lens 82b is disposed away from the light source 81 in a direction along the optical axis of the light source 81. The illumination device 8b is disposed inside the cylindrical body 2 so that the optical axis of the light source 81 is aligned with the central axis 20 of the cylindrical body 2. The illumination device 8b is held by the second rectifier 5. The illumination device 8b is disposed at the center of the second rectifier 5 as viewed from the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2. The lens 82b is a plano-convex lens, and a first lens surface 821 on the light source 81 side is flat, and a second lens surface 822 on the opposite side from the light source 81 side is a convex curved surface. The lens 82b controls the light distribution of the light emitted from the light source 81. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the illumination device 8b can change the light distribution of the light emitted from the illumination device 8b by changing the distance between the light source 81 and the lens 82b. The light emitted from illumination device 8b is light emitted from second lens surface 822 of lens 82b.

[0097] The illumination device 8b includes, for example, a cylindrical holder 83 that holds the light source 81, a cylindrical support 84 that houses and supports the lens 82b, and a slide mechanism. The slide mechanism includes, for example, a guide rail 86 that is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the holder 83 and is long in a direction along the optical axis of the light source 81, and a slider that is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the support 84 and slides along the guide rail. In the illumination device 8b, the distance between the light source 81 and the lens 82b can be changed by sliding the slider along the guide rail 86.

[0098] Airflow control system 100b includes an actuator that drives the slide mechanism, in addition to third drive circuit 103 that drives light source 81. The actuator is controlled by control device 10. In airflow control system 100b, the actuator slides a slider of the slide mechanism to adjust the distance between light source 81 and lens 82b. As shown in FIG. 10A, lighting device 8b can widen the illumination range of light emitted from lighting device 8b by shortening the distance between light source 81 and lens 82b compared to the case of FIG. 10B.

[0099] In airflow control system 100b, control device 10 controls the irradiation range (light distribution angle) of light L8b emitted from lighting device 8b according to the speed of the airflow blown out from airflow blowout device 1. In airflow control system 100b, the faster the speed of the airflow blown out from outlet 24 of airflow blowout device 1, the narrower the range on top surface 701 of desk 700 that the airflow reaches, and the slower the speed of the airflow, the wider the range on top surface 701 of desk 700 that the airflow reaches.

[0100] The control device 10 controls the lighting device 8b so as to vary the distance between the light source 81 and the lens 82b in the lighting device 8b in accordance with the speed of the airflow blown out from the airflow blowing device 1. More specifically, the control device 10 controls the lighting device 8b so as to vary the distance between the light source 81 and the lens 82b in the lighting device 8b in accordance with the drive voltage of the motor 36 of the fan 3 in the airflow blowing device 1. This allows the airflow control system 100b to change the irradiation range of the light L8b emitted from the lighting device 8b in accordance with the reach of the airflow blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. Therefore, the airflow control system 100b can align the periphery of the circular area A8b irradiated with the light L8b on the top surface 701 of the desk 700 with the periphery of the area E3 reached by the airflow and functional components.

[0101] The airflow control system 100b of embodiment 3 is equipped with a lighting device 8b that can emit light L8b having directionality along the airflow blowing direction F3 (see Figures 1 and 2) from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1, thereby making it possible for people to visually see the range of the airflow.

[0102] Furthermore, the airflow control system 100b according to the third embodiment can more reliably illuminate an area including at least the center of the reach of the airflow with light L8b from the lighting device 8b. The control device 10 may cause the lighting device 8b to emit directional light L8b intermittently or continuously while controlling the airflow blowing device 1 so that a directional airflow is blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The control device 10 may also control the lighting device 8b to emit directional light L8b while controlling the airflow blowing device 1 so that a directional airflow is blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 and while supplying a functional component to the airflow from the supply device 7. This allows the airflow control system 100b to present (display) a sign related to the reach of the airflow and the functional component on the top surface 701 of the desk 700 in the target space S1 of the facility using light L8b emitted from the lighting device 8b.

[0103] (Embodiment 4) An airflow control system 100c according to a fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 11. The airflow control system 100c according to the fourth embodiment differs from the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a lighting device 8c instead of the lighting device 8 in the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment. In the airflow control system 100c according to the fourth embodiment, components similar to those in the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0104] The lighting device 8c is disposed outside the cylindrical body 2. More specifically, the lighting device 8c is disposed outside the cylindrical body 2 so as not to overlap with the cylindrical body 2 in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 2.

[0105] The lighting device 8c is disposed at a predetermined distance from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 such that the central axis C24 of the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 and the optical axis LA8 of the lighting device 8c intersect. The lighting device 8c includes, for example, a mounting board, a light source mounted on the mounting board, and a lens covering the light source. The light source in the lighting device 8c is, for example, an LED, similar to the light source 81 in the lighting device 8 of the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment. However, the optical axis LA8 of the lighting device 8c is not parallel to the central axis C24 of the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2. The optical axis LA8 of the lighting device 8c is, for example, the same as the optical axis of the light source in the lighting device 8c.

[0106] The predetermined distance is, for example, the distance between outlet 24 and an imaginary plane (top surface 701 of target desk 700) on central axis C24 of outlet 24 of cylindrical body 2. Therefore, in airflow control system 100c according to the fourth embodiment, the intersection of central axis C24 of outlet 24 of cylindrical body 2 and optical axis LA8 of lighting device 8c is located on the imaginary plane.

[0107] The lighting device 8c is controlled by the control device 10 (see FIG. 3), similar to the lighting device 8 in the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0108] The airflow control system 100c according to the fourth embodiment includes a lighting device 8c and a control device 10, thereby enabling a person to visually recognize the reach of the airflow. The control device 10 may cause the lighting device 8c to emit directional light L8c intermittently or continuously while controlling the airflow blowing device 1 so that a directional airflow is blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1. The control device 10 may also control the lighting device 8c to emit directional light L8c while controlling the airflow blowing device 1 so that a directional airflow is blown out from the outlet 24 of the airflow blowing device 1 and supplying a functional component to the airflow from the supply device 7. This allows the airflow control system 100c to present (display) a sign related to the reach of the airflow and the functional component on the top surface 701 of a desk 700 in the target space S1 of the facility using the light L8c emitted from the lighting device 8c. Airflow control system 100c can align the periphery of circular area A8c on top surface 701 of desk 700 where light L8c is irradiated with the periphery of range E3 where the airflow and functional components reach.

[0109] (Variation) The above-described first to fourth embodiments are merely examples of various embodiments of the present invention. The above-described first to fourth embodiments can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved, and different components of different embodiments can be combined as appropriate.

[0110] For example, the functional component supplied from the supply device 7 to the airflow may be charged atomized water particles containing OH radicals. In this case, the generator 71 may be, for example, an electrostatic atomizer that generates charged atomized water particles containing OH radicals. The charged atomized water particles are nanometer-sized atomized ions. For example, an electrostatic atomizer can generate atomized ions with particle diameters of 5 nm to 20 nm by applying a high voltage to water in the air. In the charged atomized water particles, the OH radicals easily react with various substances.

[0111] The supply device 7 may also be equipped with a fan that sends the mist containing the functional component into the cylindrical body 2.

[0112] Furthermore, the LED serving as the light source 81 is not limited to a configuration including a blue LED chip, a green LED chip, and a red LED chip. For example, it may be a configuration including a blue LED chip and a wavelength conversion unit including a wavelength conversion element that converts the wavelength of a portion of the blue light emitted from the blue LED chip and emits light of a wavelength different from the blue light. The wavelength conversion element is a phosphor particle. The wavelength conversion unit includes, for example, a translucent material portion and phosphor particles. In this case, the wavelength conversion unit is formed of a mixture of the translucent material portion and the phosphor particles. In the wavelength conversion unit, a large number of phosphor particles are present in the translucent material portion. The material of the translucent material portion (translucent material) is preferably a material with high transmittance for visible light. The translucent material is, for example, a silicone-based resin. For example, yellow phosphor particles that emit yellow light can be used as the phosphor particles. The light (fluorescence) emitted from the yellow phosphor particles preferably has an emission spectrum with a main emission peak wavelength in a wavelength range of, for example, 530 nm to 580 nm. The yellow phosphor particles are, for example, Ce-activated Y3Al5O 12 However, the wavelength conversion unit is not limited to including only yellow phosphor particles as wavelength conversion elements, and may include, for example, yellow phosphor particles, yellow-green phosphor particles, green phosphor particles, and red phosphor particles. In other words, the wavelength conversion unit may include multiple types of phosphor particles.

[0113] Furthermore, the light source 81 may have, for example, a configuration including a first blue LED chip, a second blue LED chip, a first wavelength conversion unit, and a second wavelength conversion unit. The first blue LED chip emits first blue light. The second blue LED chip emits second blue light. The first wavelength conversion unit includes green phosphor particles that are excited by the first blue light to emit green light. The second wavelength conversion unit includes red phosphor particles that are excited by the second blue light to emit red light. The peak wavelength of the second blue light may be the same as or different from the peak wavelength of the first blue light.

[0114] Furthermore, the light source 81 is not limited to an LED, but may be, for example, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) element or a semiconductor laser.

[0115] Furthermore, the control device 10 of the airflow control system 100 according to the first embodiment may control the airflow blowing device 1 (the fan 3 thereof), the supply device 7, and the lighting device 8 based on information acquired from a sensor, for example. Examples of sensors include an image sensor, a human presence sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a Doppler sensor, a radio wave sensor, a biometric information sensor, a behavior sensor, and an environmental sensor. The image sensor may output information related to a target object (e.g., a person) present in the target space S1, and examples of the image sensor include an infrared image sensor, a CMOS (Complementary MOS) image sensor, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, and a distance image sensor that uses distance as a pixel value. Examples of the biometric information sensor include a wearable device that measures at least the heart rate. Examples of the wearable device that measures at least the heart rate include a wristband-type or watch-type wearable device worn on the wrist of a person entering or leaving the target space S1. The behavior sensor may be configured, for example, by a location information acquisition system. A location information acquisition system acquires location information of a transmitter using a transmitter carried by a person and a receiver installed in a facility. Assuming that the person carries the transmitter, the location of the transmitter is treated as the person's location. The transmitter has a function of transmitting a wireless signal. The transmitter transmits the wireless signal at a predetermined interval. The wireless signal may include identification information of the transmitter. The identification information may be used to distinguish multiple transmitters from one another. In the transmitter, the identification information is stored, for example, in a memory unit of the transmitter. The memory unit is, for example, a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The behavior sensor is a sensor that uses a location information acquisition system that uses a beacon, but is not limited to this and may also be, for example, a sensor that uses a GPS (Global Positioning System). Examples of environmental sensors include an odor sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a CO2 sensor.

[0116] The control device 10 may also control at least one of the air blowing device 1, the supply device 7, and the lighting device 8 in accordance with the output of an AI (Artificial Intelligence) speaker or the like that accepts human voice input. The control device 10 may also control at least one of the air blowing device 1, the supply device 7, and the lighting device 8 based on the sounds of people talking or the like in the target area. The control device 10 may also switch the control mode of at least one of the air blowing device 1, the supply device 7, and the lighting device 8 in accordance with the output of an AI speaker or the like that accepts human voice input.

[0117] Furthermore, each of the multiple fins 42 in the first rectifier 4 is not limited to a configuration in which the entire first end 421 and the entire second end 422 overlap when viewed from the axial direction D3 of the fan 3, but may be a configuration in which at least a portion of the first end 421 and at least a portion of the second end 422 overlap. Furthermore, each of the multiple fins 42 may be configured such that the first end 421 and the second end 422 do not overlap when viewed from the axial direction D3.

[0118] Furthermore, in the second straightening device 5, the straightening grid 50 is not limited to a honeycomb grid, but may be, for example, a square grid or a triangular grid.

[0119] The second straightening device 5 is not limited to the straightening grid 50 described above, but may be a straightening grid in the form of a bundle of a plurality of (e.g., 19) thin tubes, or may be a perforated plate (e.g., punched metal). Each of the thin tubes has a flow path 55. The perforated plate has a plurality of through holes that form the plurality of flow paths 55.

[0120] The airflow blowing device 1 may further include a third rectifier located between the first rectifier 4 and the second rectifier 5 in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The third rectifier includes, for example, an inner cylinder disposed coaxially with the cylindrical body 2 inside the cylindrical body 2, and a plurality of mounting portions for mounting the inner cylinder to the cylindrical body 2. The inner and outer diameters of the inner cylinder decrease toward the outlet 24 in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The third rectifier functions as a restriction that rectifies the airflow downstream of the first rectifier 4 so as to increase the airflow speed in the first region and decrease the airflow speed in the second region. The inner cylinder may be cylindrical, with both the inner and outer diameters constant in the axial direction D3 of the fan 3. The inner cylinder may include a tapered portion whose inner and outer diameters gradually change, and a cylindrical portion whose inner and outer diameters are constant. By including the third straightening device, the air flow blowing device 1 can increase the flow rate in the inner region of the outlet 24 while slowing the flow rate in the outer region compared to when the third straightening device is not included, thereby increasing the difference in flow rate between the inner region and the outer region and improving the directionality of the air flow blown out from the outlet 24.

[0121] In the airflow blowing device 1, the cylindrical body 2 may also serve as the fan housing 33 of the fan 3. In the airflow blowing device 1, the cylindrical body 2 may also serve as the cylindrical portion 41 of the first airflow straightening device 4. In the airflow blowing device 1, the cylindrical body 2 may also serve as the cylindrical portion 51 of the second airflow straightening device 5.

[0122] Furthermore, the cylindrical body 2 only needs to have an inlet 23 at the first end 21 and an outlet 24 at the second end 22, and the shape of the cylindrical body 2 is not limited to a cylindrical shape.

[0123] The air blowing device 1 may be embedded in a ceiling material so that the outlet 24 of the cylindrical body 2 faces the target space S1. The cylindrical body 2 may be attached to a wall or a stand.

[0124] The airflow blowing device 1 may also be configured so that air from an air conditioning facility on the upstream side flows into the inlet 23 of the cylindrical body 2. The air conditioning facility is, for example, a blower, but is not limited to this and may also be, for example, a ventilation device, an air conditioner, an air supply cabinet fan, or an air conditioning system equipped with a blower and a heat exchanger.

[0125] (Aspect) The present specification discloses the following aspects.

[0126] An airflow control system (100; 100a; 100b) according to a first aspect includes an airflow blowing device (1), a supplying device (7), lighting devices (8; 8a; 8b), and a control device (10). The airflow blowing device (1) has an outlet (24) that blows out a directional airflow. The supplying device (7) is capable of supplying a functional component to be blown into the air to the airflow blown out from the outlet (24). The lighting devices (8; 8a; 8b) are capable of emitting directional light (L8; L8a; L8b) in a direction along the blowing direction (F3) of the airflow from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowing device (1). The control device (10) controls the airflow blowing device (1) and the lighting devices (8; 8a; 8b).

[0127] The airflow control system (100; 100a; 100b) according to the first aspect allows a person to visually recognize the range of the airflow.

[0128] In the airflow control system (100; 100a; 100b) according to the second embodiment, the control device (10) controls the supply device (7) in the first embodiment.

[0129] In the airflow control system (100; 100a; 100b) according to the second aspect, the control device (10) controls the airflow blowing device (1), the supply device (7), and the lighting device (8; 8a; 8b), so that the control device (10) can control the timing at which a person can visually recognize the reach of the functional component supplied to the airflow.

[0130] In an airflow control system (100; 100a) according to a third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the airflow blowing device (1) includes a cylindrical body (2). The cylindrical body (2) has a gas inlet (23) at a first end (21) and a gas outlet (24) at a second end (22). The lighting device (8; 8a) is arranged around the gas outlet (24) in the cylindrical body (2).

[0131] The airflow control system (100; 100a) according to the third aspect can prevent the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowout device (1) from being disturbed by the lighting device (8; 8a).

[0132] In an airflow control system (100b) according to a fourth aspect, in the first or second aspect, the airflow blowing device (1) includes a cylindrical body (2). The cylindrical body (2) has a gas inlet (23) at a first end (21) and a gas outlet (24) at a second end (22). The lighting device (8b) is disposed inside the cylindrical body (2).

[0133] The airflow control system (100b) according to the fourth aspect can more reliably illuminate the area reached by the airflow with the light (L8b) from the lighting device (8b).

[0134] In an airflow control system (100b) according to a fifth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control device (10) controls the irradiation range of the light (L8b) emitted from the lighting device (8b) in accordance with the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blow-out device (1).

[0135] The airflow control system (100b) according to the fifth aspect can change the irradiation range of the light (L8b) emitted from the lighting device (8b) according to the reach of the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blow-out device (1).

[0136] In an airflow control system (100; 100a; 100b) according to a sixth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control device (10) has a first control mode and a second control mode different from the first control mode as control modes of the airflow blowing device (1). When the control device (10) controls the airflow blowing device (1) in the second control mode, the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowing device (1) is slower than the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowing device (1) when the control device (10) controls the airflow blowing device (1) in the first control mode. The control device (10) controls the lighting devices (8; 8a; 8b) so that the color temperatures of the light emitted from the lighting devices (8; 8a; 8b) differ between when the airflow blowing device (1) is controlled in the first control mode and when the airflow blowing device (1) is controlled in the second control mode.

[0137] The airflow control system (100; 100a; 100b) according to the sixth aspect makes it possible to vary the color temperature of the light emitted from the lighting device (8; 8a; 8b) depending on the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowout device (1).

[0138] In an airflow control system (100; 100a; 100b) according to a seventh aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control device (10) has a first control mode and a second control mode different from the first control mode as control modes of the airflow blowing device (1). When the control device (10) controls the airflow blowing device (1) in the second control mode, the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowing device (1) is slower than the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowing device (1) when the control device (10) controls the airflow blowing device (1) in the first control mode. The control device (10) controls the lighting devices (8; 8a; 8b) so that the lighting states of the lighting devices (8; 8a; 8b) are different when the airflow blowing device (1) is controlled in the first control mode and when the airflow blowing device (1) is controlled in the second control mode.

[0139] The airflow control system (100; 100a; 100b) according to the seventh aspect can change the lighting state of the lighting device (8; 8a; 8b) depending on the speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowout device (1).

[0140] An airflow control system (100c) according to an eighth aspect includes an airflow blowing device (1), a supplying device (7), a lighting device (8c), and a control device (10). The airflow blowing device (1) has an outlet (24) that blows out a directional airflow. The supplying device (7) is capable of supplying a functional component to be blown into the air to the airflow blown out from the outlet (24). The lighting device (8c) is capable of emitting directional light. The control device (10) controls the airflow blowing device (1) and the lighting device (8c). The airflow blowing device (1) includes a cylindrical body (2). The cylindrical body (2) has a gas inlet (23) at a first end (21) and a gas outlet (24) at a second end (22). The lighting device (8c) is disposed outside the cylindrical body (2). The lighting device (8c) is arranged at a predetermined distance from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowing device (1) so that the central axis (C24) of the outlet (24) of the airflow blowing device (1) intersects with the optical axis (LA8) of the lighting device (8c).

[0141] The airflow control system (100c) according to the eighth aspect allows a person to visually recognize the range of the airflow.

[0142] The control method according to the ninth aspect controls the airflow blowing device (1) so as to blow out a directional airflow from the outlet (24) of the airflow blowing device (1), and causes the lighting devices (8; 8a; 8b) to emit directional light (L8; L8a; L8b) in a direction along the blowing direction (F3) of the airflow from the airflow blowing device (1).

[0143] According to the control method of the ninth aspect, it is possible to allow a person to visually recognize the range of the airflow.

[0144] A program according to a tenth aspect is a program for causing a computer system to execute the control method according to the ninth aspect.

[0145] According to the program of the tenth aspect, it is possible to allow a person to visually recognize the range of the air current. [Explanation of symbols]

[0146] 1 Airflow blowing device 2 cylinders 21 1st end 22 2nd end 23 Inlet 24 Outlet 7 Feeding device 8, 8a, 8b, 8c lighting equipment 10 Control device 100, 100a, 100b, 100c Airflow Control System C24 center axis F3 Airflow direction L8, L8a, L8b, L8c light LA8 optical axis

Claims

1. an airflow blowout device having an outlet for blowing out a directional airflow; a supply device capable of supplying a functional component to be blown into the air to the airflow blown out from the outlet; an illumination device capable of emitting light having directivity in a direction along the blowing direction of the airflow from the outlet of the airflow blowing device; a control device that controls the airflow blowing device and the lighting device, The control device controlling an irradiation range of the light emitted from the lighting device in accordance with a speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet of the airflow blowout device; Airflow control system.

2. The control device controls the supply device. The airflow control system of claim 1 .

3. The airflow blowing device is a cylinder having a gas inlet at a first end and the gas outlet at a second end; The lighting device is disposed around the outlet in the cylindrical body.

3. The airflow control system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The airflow blowing device is a cylinder having a gas inlet at a first end and the gas outlet at a second end; The lighting device is disposed inside the cylindrical body.

3. The airflow control system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. Controlling the airflow blowing device so as to blow out a directional airflow from an outlet of the airflow blowing device, emitting directional light from an illumination device in a direction along the blowing direction of the airflow from the airflow blowing device; controlling an irradiation range of the light emitted from the lighting device in accordance with a speed of the airflow blown out from the outlet of the airflow blowout device; Control method.

6. For causing a computer system to execute the control method according to claim 5, program.

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