Air outlet and method for operating the air outlet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air outlets for ventilation, heating, and cooling in industrial spaces operate with constant air volume flow, requiring separate sizes for different loads and lacking efficient air distribution, especially at partial loads, and often necessitate mechanical adjustment of the floor for heating and cooling modes.

Innovation Solution

An air outlet with an internal adjusting device, such as a throttle device, maintains high air pressure in the upper area even at partial loads, ensuring mixed air continues to exit from upper outlet openings and displacement air from lower openings, allowing for consistent air distribution across various load conditions without the need for mechanical floor adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the air outlet operates with constant airflow, then the air distribution is simple and reliable, but the air outlet cannot adapt to partial load conditions and maintain mixed air ventilation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to partial loadVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air outlet incorporates a movable floor that can be dynamically adjusted between open and closed positions. This dynamic structure allows the air outlet to adapt its configuration based on load conditions, enabling mixed air ventilation at partial loads while maintaining supply air mode at full load, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the existing air pressure differential created during operation to automatically position the floor without requiring external actuators or complex control systems. The high air pressure at partial loads naturally pushes the floor to the appropriate position, allowing the system to self-regulate and maintain mixed air ventilation based on operating conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the floor is mechanically adjusted for heating and cooling modes, then the air distribution can be optimized for different modes, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemode adjustment capabilityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The floor automatically positions itself based on the air pressure differential generated during operation. During heating mode with high airflow, the pressure differential naturally opens the floor to allow warm air entry. During cooling mode, the pressure conditions naturally close the floor. This eliminates mechanical actuators and complex control systems, significantly improving reliability while maintaining mode adjustment capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses pneumatic pressure from the airflow itself to control the floor position. The air pressure differential acts as the actuating force, replacing mechanical motors and control systems. This pneumatic actuation method simplifies the device structure and improves reliability by eliminating electrical components and complex mechanical linkages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If the air pressure in the upper region decreases at partial load, then the air outlet openings can discharge more air, but mixed air ventilation is lost because air velocity is insufficient for induction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair discharge volumeVSAvoidmixed air ventilation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The movable floor dynamically adjusts the air pressure distribution within the hollow body based on load conditions. At partial loads, the floor position is automatically adjusted to maintain high air pressure in the upper region, ensuring that air outlet openings in the upper region continue to discharge air at sufficient velocity for mixed air induction, thus preserving mixed air ventilation capability while adapting to reduced airflow conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical parameter of air pressure distribution within the hollow body by adjusting the floor position. This parameter change ensures that the upper region maintains sufficiently high air pressure to generate the required air velocity for induction, thereby maintaining mixed air ventilation capability across varying load conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution ensures consistent and efficient air distribution, maintaining a pleasant room climate during all operating modes (ventilation, heating, and cooling) at both full and partial loads, without the need for mechanical floor adjustments, by regulating air pressure and outlet function through the adjusting device.

Implementation Method 1

An actuating device arranged inside the hollow body maintains the air pressure prevailing inside this or an upper region, even under partial load, at such a high level that mixed air continues to exit from at least a proportion of the air outlet openings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThrottling:

Implementation Method 2

In cooling mode, the cool air automatically descends to the floor area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

Opening the bottom allows warm air to enter the floor area of the room being heated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3150936B1Air outlet and method for operating the air outlet
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 LTG AG
  • EP3150936B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3150936B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3150936B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an air outlet (2) in the form of a hollow body (6) which has a lateral surface (22) and opposite end faces, the lateral surface being provided with air outlet openings (21) and one of the end faces having an air inlet, the air outlet openings at full load (21) in an upper area (28) of the hollow body (6) as mixed air outlet openings (30) and in a lower area (32) of the hollow body as displacement air outlet openings (41), and the full load is supplied by the size of the air inlet (2). Volume flow of the air is defined. An adjusting device (26) is provided inside the hollow body (6) which, even at partial load, keeps the pressure of the air inside this or an upper area (28) so high that mixed air (29) consisting of at least one portion the air outlet openings (21). The invention also relates to a method for operating a/the air outlet (2).