Air diffuser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air diffusers face challenges in providing efficient airflow distribution due to space constraints, leading to energy wastage and poor thermal comfort, especially in variable airflow rate systems, where minimum airflow rates result in higher energy consumption and inefficient mixing patterns.
Innovation Solution
An air diffuser design with a central axis perpendicular to the diffuser face, featuring adjustable discharge elements and guide vanes that can translate and rotate, allowing for varying airflow direction and width, thereby optimizing airflow patterns and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the diffuser size is reduced to meet space constraints, then the ceiling grid dimensions are satisfied, but the maximum airflow rate per diffuser is restricted to a less than optimum value
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser incorporates an adjustable mechanism that allows the diffuser blade angle to be varied dynamically. This enables the same compact diffuser unit to adapt its airflow characteristics, maximizing the airflow rate within the constrained face area by optimizing the blade angle for different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the diffuser by allowing adjustment of the blade angle. This parameter change enables the compact diffuser to achieve optimal airflow performance despite the reduced face area, effectively decoupling the physical size constraint from the airflow rate limitation.
2Reliability
If the minimum permissible airflow rate is increased to ensure stable air patterns, then draughts are prevented, but energy is wasted due to higher than required airflow rates under low load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable blade angle mechanism allows the diffuser to dynamically adapt to varying airflow rates. At low load conditions, the blade angle can be adjusted to maintain stable air patterns and prevent dumping, while at higher airflow rates, the angle optimizes for maximum efficiency, thereby reducing overall energy consumption across different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the blade angle parameter based on operating conditions, the diffuser maintains reliable air patterns across a wider range of airflow rates. This parameter adjustment allows the system to operate efficiently at lower airflow rates without sacrificing stability, reducing the minimum permissible airflow rate requirement and thereby reducing fan energy consumption.
3Loss of energy
If side-blow discharge is used to reduce energy consumption, then airflow rates can be lowered, but mixing is poor leading to draughts and high level stratification
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable diffuser blade allows dynamic control of the airflow discharge angle. This enables the system to optimize both mixing quality and energy consumption by adjusting the blade angle to create appropriate air patterns that promote thorough mixing while maintaining lower, more energy-efficient airflow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
By adjusting the blade angle parameter, the diffuser can achieve superior mixing characteristics compared to fixed side-blow registers. This parameter change allows the air stream to be directed and shaped in a way that promotes better mixing and eliminates stratification, while still operating at lower energy consumption levels.
4Productivity
If additional diffusers are installed to compensate for restricted airflow rate, then the required airflow coverage is achieved, but the expense of additional diffusers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable mechanism allows each diffuser unit to maximize its airflow capability within its constrained face area. By optimizing the blade angle, each diffuser operates at peak efficiency, reducing the total number of diffusers needed to achieve the required airflow coverage and thereby reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the operational parameters through blade angle adjustment, each compact diffuser achieves maximum airflow performance. This parameter optimization allows fewer diffusers to be installed while still meeting the total airflow requirements, reducing the quantity of diffusers and associated costs.
Data Source
Figure 1~2d
Figure 3
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
An air diffuser for supplying air to a space, the diffuser having a central axis and comprising; a plurality of discharge elements arranged to guide an air stream towards the space, the plurality of discharge elements having respective edge regions that define a face of the diffuser; wherein a plurality of channels are located about the diffuser central axis, each channel being formed between adjacent pairs of discharge elements and configured to guide the air to the space. Wherein at least one of the discharge elements comprises a peripheral portion and a proximal portion relative to the central axis, and wherein the peripheral portion has a first air guide surface positioned at a first acute angle to the diffuser face, and the proximal portion has a second air guide surface positioned at a second acute angle to the diffuser face, the second angle being different to the first.