Columnar air moving devices, systems and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air moving devices, such as ceiling fans and fans connected to vertical tubes, are ineffective in maintaining a columnar air pattern from ceiling to floor, leading to significant energy loss and aesthetic issues in large spaces, and existing solutions with modular components are difficult to modify and assemble.
Innovation Solution
A columnar air moving device with modular stator vanes arranged in a radial pattern, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and a rotary fan with a specific gap size between blades and vanes to minimize turbulence and noise, directing air in a high-velocity axial flow with minimal lateral dispersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional ceiling fans with flat or airfoil blades are used, then air can be pushed upwards or downwards, but the air diverges or spreads out due to drag component causing tangential or centrifugal flow
Solution Approach 1:
A stator assembly with radially extending vanes is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotary impeller and the air outlet. The stator vanes convert the tangential velocity component from the impeller into radial velocity, directing air axially through the housing outlet while minimizing lateral dispersion and maintaining columnar air flow stability.
2Temperature
If fans connected to vertical tubes are used to push air from floor to ceiling or vice versa, then air de-stratification can be achieved, but the device interferes with floorspace use and is not aesthetically pleasing when located in open spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a compact housing containing the impeller and stator assembly, eliminating the need for a long vertical tube. The housing can be mounted near the ceiling, allowing air de-stratification without occupying significant floorspace or interfering with the aesthetic of open spaces.
3Ease of manufacture
If a large gap exists between impeller blades and stationary vanes, then assembly is easier, but a vortex and turbulence are created due to centrifugal air flow bouncing off the inner walls
Solution Approach 1:
The gap between the impeller blades and stator vanes is optimized to a specific small dimension. This parameter change minimizes the vortex and turbulence that would otherwise occur due to centrifugal air flow bouncing off the inner walls, while still allowing for practical assembly.
4Quantity of substance
If a rotary fan with large impeller diameter is used to move air, then more air can be moved, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to mold with removable components
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separable components including the impeller assembly and stator assembly, allowing for easier manufacturing and maintenance without requiring a bulky integrated structure. This segmentation enables the device to maintain effective air moving capability while reducing overall 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 device effectively de-stratifies air in large spaces with minimal energy loss and low noise, reducing heating and cooling costs, and can be easily configured and maintained with interchangeable components.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary fan mounted in the housing near the air inlet and having an impeller with a diameter and a plurality of blades that produce an air flow with rotary and axial air flow components
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of vane members are arranged in a circular pattern around a longitudinally extending axis such that the vane members point in a generally radial direction away from the longitudinal axis
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A
Figure 4B~4C
AI summary
A columnar air moving device can comprise separately formed modular stator vanes in a stator vane assembly. The stator vanes can be arranged in a radial pattern, and can direct air in an axial direction. The modular stator vanes, as well as other components of the stator vane assembly, can be replaced, adjusted, and/or removed from the columnar air moving device.