Columnar Air Moving Device for High-Ceiling De-Stratification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air moving devices, such as ceiling fans and fans connected to vertical tubes, are ineffective in de-stratifying air temperatures in high-ceiling rooms due to dispersion of air above the floor, aesthetic issues, and difficulty in installation and air direction in spaces with support beams.
Innovation Solution
A columnar air moving device with a low vertical profile, designed to fit within a ceiling grid structure, featuring a rotary fan assembly and adjustable nozzle to direct air column towards specific areas, allowing for easy installation and adjustment to minimize lateral dispersion and maximize axial airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional ceiling fans are used to move air, then air circulation is achieved, but the air disperses or diffuses well above the floor and fails to maintain a columnar pattern from ceiling to floor
Solution Approach 1:
The fan blades are designed with varying pitch angles along the blade span, with the root section having a different pitch than the tip section. This local variation in blade geometry creates different flow characteristics at different radial positions, collectively forming a coherent columnar air flow pattern from ceiling to floor while preventing lateral dispersion
Solution Approach 2:
The fan operates at optimized rotational speeds that dynamically balance the lift and drag components of blade action. By controlling the rotation speed within specific ranges, the system maintains a stable columnar air flow pattern that reaches the floor without excessive lateral diffusion, adapting the flow dynamics to achieve the desired vertical transport
2Productivity
If a fan connected to a vertical tube is used to push air, then air de-stratification is achieved, but the device interferes with floor space use and is not aesthetically pleasing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the vertical tube component from the air moving system. By using a ceiling-mounted fan with specifically designed blades that can directly generate a columnar air flow pattern, the system achieves the same air de-stratification effect without requiring a physical tube that would occupy floor space or compromise aesthetics
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a vertical-dimensional approach (using a tube extending from floor to ceiling) to a horizontal-dimensional approach (using a ceiling-mounted fan that generates vertical air flow through blade geometry). This dimensional shift allows air de-stratification without physical obstruction of floor space
3Ease of operation
If a fan connected to a vertical tube is confined to wall locations, then aesthetic issues are reduced, but the device may not effectively circulate air near the center of the open space
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling-mounted fan design can be universally installed in various ceiling locations (center, off-center, near walls) and consistently produces effective air circulation. The flexible mounting option allows the device to serve multiple locations and achieve both aesthetic integration and effective air circulation coverage throughout the space
4Power
If conventional ceiling fans are used in high ceiling rooms, then air movement is initiated, but the air is not maintained in a columnar pattern and disperses above the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The fan blades incorporate local quality variations through different pitch angles at different radial positions. The root section, mid-section, and tip section each have optimized pitch angles that collectively maintain the columnar structure of the air flow throughout its entire length, preventing dispersion while preserving the vertical flow pattern
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes specific parameters including blade pitch angle distribution, rotational speed, and blade geometry to maintain stable columnar air flow. By adjusting these parameters within specific ranges, the fan generates sufficient power to reach high ceilings while maintaining flow structure stability and preventing lateral dispersion
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
Effectively de-stratifies air temperatures by maintaining a columnar airflow pattern from ceiling to floor with minimal lateral dispersion, improving air circulation and reducing heating and cooling costs while being aesthetically pleasing and easy to install and maintain.
Implementation Method 1
maximizing axial air flow quantity and velocity, thereby providing a column of air that flows from a high ceiling to a floor in a columnar pattern
Implementation Method 2
a nozzle communicating with and extending downwardly from the rotary fan assembly, the nozzle comprising a structure for further directing the volume of air out of the air moving device
Data Source
AI summary
An air moving system includes an air moving device including a housing member, a rotary fan assembly, and an opening for connection with an airflow duct, the housing including a plurality of air intake vents. A first volume of air can enter the housing through the opening and a second volume of air can enter the housing through the plurality of intake vents. The rotary fan assembly directs the first and second volumes of air.