Integrated Air Terminal Lighting for Cleanroom Cooling and Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In clean rooms, separate systems for air purification, surface disinfection, and lighting create complexity in ceiling design, leakage risks, and maintenance challenges due to high temperatures and separate installations.
Innovation Solution
An integrated air terminal device with a built-in light fixture that allows for efficient air diffusion and surface disinfection, featuring a detachable cover panel for easy maintenance, adjustable airflow, and a light fixture cooled by air flow to extend its lifespan, along with a filter for air purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate systems for air purification and lighting are used, then each system can be independently optimized, but the ceiling design complexity and installation difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air terminal device and light fixture into a single integrated unit. The light fixture is mounted within the air terminal housing, allowing both air diffusion and lighting functions to be provided by one device. This merging eliminates the need for separate ceiling installations, reducing ceiling design complexity while maintaining independent optimization of each subsystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions simultaneously: air diffusion, surface disinfection via UV irradiation, and general lighting. The air terminal device serves as both an air handling component and a lighting fixture, reducing the number of separate systems needed and simplifying ceiling design while maintaining functional independence.
2Illumination intensity
If separate light fixtures are installed next to air devices, then lighting can be provided, but the ceiling requires additional holes which impair loadbearing capability and create leakage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The light fixture is integrated within the air terminal device housing, eliminating the need for separate ceiling openings. The air terminal device itself serves as the mounting structure for the light fixture, so only one ceiling opening is required for the air terminal, preserving ceiling loadbearing capability while providing both air diffusion and lighting functions.
3Illumination intensity
If light fixtures operate continuously at high intensity, then sufficient lighting and disinfection is provided, but the high temperature shortens light fixture lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high temperature generated by the light fixture into a beneficial cooling mechanism. The air flow from the air terminal device passes over the light fixture, carrying away excess heat and preventing overheating. This transforms the thermal byproduct into a cooling effect that extends light fixture lifetime while maintaining continuous high-intensity operation for lighting and disinfection.
4Ease of repair
If separate air purification and lighting systems are used, then each system can be independently maintained, but maintenance requires access to ceiling void which is contaminated and difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the light fixture within the air terminal device allows both components to be maintained from the same accessible location. The air terminal device is typically accessible from the room side, eliminating the need to access the contaminated ceiling void for maintenance of either the air handling components or the light fixture. This maintains independent maintainability while dramatically improving accessibility.
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
The solution provides efficient air diffusion and surface disinfection with reduced complexity, improved maintenance accessibility, and extended light fixture lifespan by integrating lighting and air purification within a single device, ensuring effective cleanliness and reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
surface cleaning by irradiation (UV, Blue light)
Implementation Method 2
a light fixture for providing light outside of the air terminal device
Implementation Method 3
the light fixture is configured to be flushed with the received air before the air is diffused out of the air terminal device. The advantage is that the lifetime of the light fixture may be extended when the heat from the light fixture is removed by the air flow.
Implementation Method 4
the device comprises a filter configured to filter the air received into the air chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An air terminal device with integral light fixture for a clean room, comprising a housing having a cover panel comprising at least one opening, a light fixture for providing light outside of the air terminal device, an air chamber configured to receive air and to discharge air out of the air chamber, wherein the air is configured to be transferred through the at least one opening in the cover panel, wherein the light fixture is arranged inside the air chamber, and the cover panel comprises at least one light fixture opening, in which the light fixture is integrated.