Chilled Beam Fin Structure for Coanda Airflow and Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chilled beams often block light sources and can generate condensation that drips on individuals when exposed to low water temperatures or high humidity, posing issues with light and temperature control in HVAC systems.
Innovation Solution
A chilled beam design incorporating a fin structure to create a Coanda effect for air flow modification, integrating a cooling coil and lighting within the fins, along with a control system for humidity and temperature management, including heated pipes to prevent condensation and provide both direct and indirect lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a chilled beam is used to provide cooled air, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but light sources are blocked and condensation is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The chilled beam is divided into multiple fins that create separate air flow paths. This segmentation allows light to pass through the gaps between fins while the fins themselves provide cooling surfaces, resolving the conflict between cooling effectiveness and light blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
Heated pipes are introduced as an intermediary element to prevent condensation on the chilled beam surface. The heated pipes counterbalance the cooling effect locally, maintaining the surface temperature above the dew point while the overall beam continues to provide cooling through the fin structure.
2Temperature
If low water temperatures are used in the chilled beam, then cooling performance is improved, but condensation generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different thermal zones are created within the chilled beam structure. The fins maintain low temperature for effective cooling of ambient air, while the internal heated pipes maintain a locally warmer surface temperature to prevent condensation. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between cooling performance and condensation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Heated pipes are installed in advance within the chilled beam structure to preemptively prevent condensation before it can form on the cooling surfaces, allowing the use of lower water temperatures for improved cooling performance without the harmful side effect of condensation.
3Ease of operation
If a fin structure is used to create Coanda effect for air flow modification, then air flow control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fins are designed with curved surfaces that exploit the Coanda effect to naturally guide air flow along the fin surfaces and direct it horizontally. This geometric curvature provides sophisticated air flow control without requiring complex mechanical actuators or control systems, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
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 effectively controls air flow and temperature while preventing condensation and providing flexible lighting options, enhancing comfort and reducing drafts, allowing for both cooling during the day and heating at night.
Implementation Method 1
A chilled beam is disclosed that uses a fin structure to create a Coanda effect, to modify the flow of air from the chilled beam from a vent disposed in the fin structure
Data Source
AI summary
A device comprising a fin structure, a vent disposed in the fin structure, a cooling coil disposed in the vent, a light disposed in the fin structure and wherein the fin structure is configured to create a Coanda effect for air exiting the vent.