Diffuser Conduit Trap Door for Ground-Level Draught Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air distribution plants face challenges in optimizing residual ground-level air velocity, leading to either temperature homogeneity issues or unpleasant draughts, as they are difficult to adjust post-installation and are sensitive to unpredictable factors like temperature variations and obstacles, resulting in suboptimal energy conservation.

Innovation Solution

An air distribution plant with a discharge trap door and shutter system that allows adjustable air flow regulation, enabling the reduction of air outflow velocity from diffuser holes to prevent unpleasant draughts and optimize temperature homogeneity, even in the face of changing conditions, by creating a flow loss that recovers and re-injects air using inductive effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the air outflow velocity from diffuser holes is increased to improve temperature homogeneity, then temperature distribution improves, but unpleasant draughts and excessive ground-level velocities occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature homogeneityVSAvoidunpleasant draughts
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the air distribution system adjustable through a trap door mechanism. The diffuser conduit can dynamically change its opening area to regulate air flow velocity, allowing the system to adapt between different operational states (higher velocity for temperature homogeneity, lower velocity for comfort) based on actual environmental conditions and user needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the air outflow velocity from diffuser holes is decreased to reduce ground-level velocities, then comfort conditions improve, but temperature homogeneity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveground-level velocityVSAvoidtemperature homogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The trap door mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the diffuser conduit opening, allowing the system to transition between low-velocity (comfort-oriented) and high-velocity (temperature homogeneity-oriented) modes, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the diffuser hole dimensions and distribution are optimized for each plant, then performance is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant performanceVSAvoiddiffuser hole configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than requiring complex custom-designed diffuser hole patterns for each application, the patent uses a simple dynamic adjustment mechanism (trap door) that can be universally applied to standard diffuser conduits, reducing design and installation complexity while maintaining optimal performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameter (opening area) of the existing diffuser conduit rather than modifying its physical structure (hole dimensions and distribution), thereby achieving optimization without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If the air flow regulation is made adjustable post-installation, then adaptability to changing conditions improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow regulationVSAvoidregulation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trap door mechanism provides a simple yet effective dynamic adjustment capability that allows post-installation regulation of air flow velocity, enabling the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions and user requirements without introducing complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 ensures optimal and adjustable air distribution, reducing unpleasant velocities and energy waste by allowing for real-time adjustment of air flow, maintaining comfort and energy efficiency regardless of changes in user activity or environmental factors.

Implementation Method 1

the air exiting the diffuser holes recalls the air from the environment surrounding the diffuser by inductive effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInduction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a succession of flows and/or micro-whirls are created which, as they generate turbulence, facilitate mixing of the air in inflow into the zone of use with the air already present in the zone of use

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP2224183B1Air distribution plant and diffuser conduit therefor
Publication Date: 2015.05.06 ZAMBOLIN MARCO
  • EP2224183B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2224183B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP2224183B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

An air distribution plant comprising a channelling (2) through which an air flow is transferred by a device destined to transmit energy to the air flow via an increase in pressure to a use zone, the channelling (2) comprising at least a transfer conduit (3) placed in fluid communication with the ventilator and at least a diffuser conduit (4) placed in fluid communication with the transfer conduit (3) and provided with a plurality of diffuser holes (8) arranged on at least an external wall thereof in order to inject air into the use zone. The channelling (2) comprises at least an access (9) having larger dimensions than dimensions of each diffuser hole (8) afforded on an external wall (10) of the channelling (2) A discharge trap door (101) is mounted at the access (9) and is mobile among a plurality of stable positions comprised between a closed position of the access (9) and a position of maximum opening of the access (9). The discharge trap door has the function of discharging a part of the delivery air directly into the environment to be treated, thus reducing the outflow velocity from the holes, and then inducing the air such as to regulate an intensity of the air draughts created at ground level.