Decentralised air renewal and treatment system, and air renewal and treatment device for such a system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized air conditioning systems in buildings require bulky equipment and long ducts, making them difficult to manage and maintain, especially in smaller spaces where different rooms have varying air renewal and thermal comfort needs, leading to inefficiencies and complications in air flow management.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized air renewal and treatment system with a compact, independent module placed above a false ceiling, featuring a climatic treatment unit and an air renewal unit connected by a recirculation chamber, allowing for individualized air management and energy consumption in each room, eliminating the need for long ducts and enabling flexible adaptation to different configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a centralized air handling unit is used to process large volumes of air, then air renewal and thermal comfort can be ensured for multiple rooms, but the system requires bulky equipment and long technical ducts that are difficult to manage and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the centralized air handling function into multiple decentralized air renewal units, each serving a specific room or zone. This segmentation eliminates the need for long duct runs and complex centralized equipment while maintaining effective air renewal capacity for each space independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The air renewal units are installed in the vertical plenum space above the false ceiling rather than occupying floor area or requiring horizontal duct extensions. This dimensional relocation to the overhead plenum space simplifies the system architecture and eliminates complex duct management while preserving air renewal effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If decentralized air treatment devices are installed near windows or on the floor, then air renewal can be provided for individual rooms, but the devices require relatively large floor area or increase ceiling height
Solution Approach 1:
The air renewal unit is relocated from floor-level or window-proximity installation to the overhead plenum space above the false ceiling. This vertical relocation eliminates floor area occupation while providing individualized air renewal for each room through strategic placement in the available overhead space.
Solution Approach 2:
The air renewal unit is nested within the existing plenum space above the false ceiling, utilizing the available vertical volume without requiring additional floor area or increasing the building's ceiling height. This nested installation integrates the decentralized unit into the existing architectural envelope.
3Adaptability or versatility
If air renewal units are installed in raised floors, then individual room air treatment is achieved, but the system increases ceiling height between floors and requires floor grilles susceptible to damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of installing air renewal units in the raised floor below the ceiling level, the system inverts the installation location to the plenum space above the false ceiling. This inversion eliminates the need to increase ceiling height between floors while achieving the same individual room air treatment objective.
Solution Approach 2:
The air renewal function is relocated from the horizontal floor plane to the vertical plenum space above the ceiling. This dimensional change to the overhead space eliminates the need for floor grilles and avoids increasing the ceiling height between floors while maintaining individual room air treatment capability.
4Productivity
If standard installations designed for high flow rates are used, then adequate air renewal is provided for larger spaces, but the system is unsuitable for small premises requiring flow rates less than 250 m3/hour
Solution Approach 1:
The decentralized air renewal unit is designed with adjustable flow rate parameters that can be configured for small premises requiring less than 250 m3/hour, unlike standard installations fixed for high flow rates. This parameter adjustability enables the same unit design to serve both small and larger spaces effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides locally optimized air renewal capacity for each room based on its specific requirements, allowing small premises to receive appropriate low flow rates while larger spaces can utilize higher capacities. This local quality optimization ensures each space receives precisely the air renewal it needs without oversizing.
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 system optimizes air flow management and energy consumption independently for each room, reducing energy waste and microbial dissemination, while being easy to install and maintain, and allows for flexible adaptation to various thermal comfort needs without increasing floor height.
Implementation Method 1
the module comprises a heat exchanger arranged to bring the incoming fresh air into contact with the outgoing inside air
Implementation Method 2
a first fan arranged to blow the fresh air into the recirculation chamber, a second fan arranged to blow the air drawn from the room towards the heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The decentralized air renewal and treatment system for a room (1) located in a building, comprises a climatic treatment unit (22) and an air renewal unit (21), combined in a single independent module ( 2) arranged to be placed in a plenum (14) located above a false ceiling (11) of the room, and comprising for this purpose orifices (2111, 2171) for communication with the outside of the building, arranged on the air renewal unit (21) and connectable to respective vents (32, 34) formed in the exterior wall (12) of the building, to suck in fresh exterior air and reject interior air, and orifices (231, 232, 2281) for communication with the room (1), arranged on the climatic treatment unit (22) and connectable to outlets (38, 36) arranged in the false ceiling to ensure circulation of air in the room, and connection means (5) arranged on the climatic processing unit (22) to connect one or more mo cooling and/or heating means (41, 42, 43, 44, 61, 71, 45), the climatic treatment unit (22) and the air renewal unit (21) being located on either side on the other side of a recirculation chamber (23) where a mixture of air drawn in from the room and fresh air from the air renewal unit takes place.