Air-Conditioning System Port Layout to Reduce Cross-Zone Convection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Convection of air between zones in air-conditioning systems reduces the power consumption reduction effect, as conditioned air from occupied zones can flow into unoccupied zones, leading to unnecessary air conditioning and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system with strategically positioned air-supply and air-exhaust ports in each zone, along with detection units to adjust air quantities based on occupancy, ensures that air conditioning is only performed in occupied zones, minimizing cross-zone air flow and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If air conditioning is controlled in each zone based on occupancy detection, then power consumption is reduced, but air convection between zones causes conditioned air to flow into unoccupied zones, reducing the effectiveness of power consumption reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the space into multiple independent zones, each with its own air supply and exhaust ports. By segmenting the air handling system, each zone can be controlled independently based on occupancy, preventing conditioned air from flowing into unoccupied zones and reducing energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements localized air conditioning control in each zone based on occupancy detection. Each zone has its own air supply and exhaust ports that can be independently adjusted, providing different air handling quality to different zones according to their specific needs rather than uniform treatment.
2Productivity
If air supply and exhaust ports are positioned to maximize ventilation efficiency, then air flow between zones increases, but this reduces the ability to maintain temperature separation between occupied and unoccupied zones
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented into zone-specific air supply and exhaust ports. Each zone has dedicated openings that can be controlled independently, allowing the system to maintain temperature separation between zones while still providing effective ventilation to occupied spaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces convection between zones, leading to a significant improvement in power consumption reduction by ensuring that air conditioning is only active where needed, thus enhancing energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
air having the temperature of 26 degrees Celsius in the zone where a person is present may flow into the zone where no person is present because of convection of air between the zone where a person is present and the zone where no person is present
Data Source
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AI summary
A first air-supply port and a first air-exhaust port each disposed in a first zone and used to ventilate the first zone are provided. Further, a second air-supply port and a second air-exhaust port each disposed in a second zone and used to ventilate the second zone are provided, and the second zone is adjacent to the first zone. The first air-supply port, the first air-exhaust port, the second air-supply port, and the second air-exhaust port are disposed on one plane. The first air-supply port, the first air-exhaust port, the second air-supply port, and the second air-exhaust port are disposed in order of the first air-exhaust port, the first air-supply port, the second air-supply port, and the second air-exhaust port in one direction, or in order of the first air-supply port, the first air-exhaust port, the second air-exhaust port, and the second air-supply port in one direction.