Chilled Beam Airflow Control Using Pressure-Based Outlet Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional VAV systems with chilled beams face challenges in accurately controlling air flow to individual rooms due to pressure dependence, leading to inefficiencies and increased energy consumption, as they require multiple dampers and oversized ducts to maintain stable pressure, which occupy space and complicate installations.
Innovation Solution
An air treatment device with a chilled beam equipped with an actuator that measures and adjusts static pressure to calculate actual air flow, allowing for direct VAV regulation at the outlets, eliminating the need for additional dampers and reducing pressure drops, by using a linearly movable cover member to change outlet configurations based on real-time flow measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional VAV systems use multiple dampers and oversized ducts to maintain stable pressure, then pressure stability is improved, but device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure control function from the duct system and relocates it to the chilled beam outlet. By measuring static pressure directly at the outlet and using an actuator to adjust outlet area, the system eliminates the need for multiple dampers and oversized ducts while maintaining pressure stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimension of pressure control from the duct level (macro) to the outlet level (micro). By controlling pressure at the outlet dimension rather than in the main duct, the system achieves pressure stability without requiring complex duct configurations or multiple dampers.
2Ease of operation
If conventional VAV systems use additional dampers for flow control, then flow regulation capability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary pressure drops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate VAV dampers from the system and directly controls flow at the chilled beam outlet. This eliminates unnecessary pressure drops across multiple damper components while maintaining precise flow regulation capability through outlet area adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the pressure drop that would normally occur across multiple dampers into a beneficial direct control mechanism at the outlet. By measuring and controlling pressure directly at the outlet, the system eliminates energy-wasting pressure drops while maintaining flow control precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If oversized ducts are used to reduce pressure dependence, then pressure independence is improved, but installation space and ceiling height requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts pressure control from the duct dimension to the outlet dimension. By controlling outlet area directly at the chilled beam, the system achieves pressure independence without requiring oversized ducts, thereby reducing installation space and ceiling height requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pressure control function from the duct system and places it at the outlet. This eliminates the need for oversized ducts while maintaining pressure independence, as the control action occurs at the point of flow delivery rather than in the duct.
4Measurement precision
If VAV dampers are installed in each room for precise flow control, then flow measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flow control and measurement functions into a single integrated system at the chilled beam outlet. By combining pressure sensing, actuator control, and outlet adjustment in one location, the system achieves precise flow measurement without requiring separate dampers and control systems in each room.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal outlet control mechanism that performs both flow control and flow measurement functions. The actuator-controlled outlet area serves dual purposes: regulating flow and enabling pressure-based flow calculation, eliminating the need for separate measurement devices.
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 enables precise control of air flow to individual rooms without unnecessary pressure drops, reduces energy consumption, and allows for larger airflow variations, while simplifying installations by integrating VAV functionality directly into the chilled beam, making it pressure-independent within certain limits.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator is arranged to measure and register the static pressure in the chilled beam pressure box
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger is liquid connected and cools or heats the air flowing through by heat exchange
Implementation Method 3
an induction flow of room air is created and which is drawn through the chilled beam and an integrated heat exchanger therein
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
Method and air treatment device (1 ) for control of supply air flow (L1 ). The air treatment device (1 ) comprises a chilled beam (2) with a pressure box (5) comprising an inlet (6) for inflow of supply air flow (L1 ) and a plurality of outlets (7) for outflow of the supply air flow (L1 ) out of the pressure box (5). Further the air treatment device (1 ) comprises an actuator (12) for control of supply air flow (L1 ), and the pressure box (5) comprises at least one pressure measuring socket (13), useful for representative control of static pressure (ps) in the pressure box (5). The air treatment device (1) registers the static pressure (ps) in the pressure box (5) and the position of the actuator (12), and based on that calculates the real supply air flow (L1 ) in the chilled beam (2). The actuator (12) is in turn arranged to change the configuration of the outlets (7) by a linear motion of a cover member (9), by which motion the open area of the outlets (7) is changed.