Dropped ceiling fan
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ceiling fans are ineffective in directing air to focused locations within commercial or industrial settings with high ceilings and aisles, leading to inefficient heating and cooling due to their design that disperses air over a wide area rather than concentrating it.
Innovation Solution
The development of modular dropped ceiling fan housing units with a fluid impelling device and a grid system that directs air downward and outward, allowing for focused air circulation by drawing air from both below and above the ceiling, and optionally connecting to HVAC ductwork for enhanced airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional ceiling fans disperse air over a wide area, then air circulation coverage is improved, but air focus and localized heating/cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fan assembly is divided into multiple blade segments (first blade, second blade, third blade, fourth blade) arranged at different angles, each contributing to different aspects of airflow. This segmentation allows the fan to simultaneously achieve wide area coverage and focused air delivery by distributing the air-moving function across multiple oriented elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The blades are designed with asymmetric orientations relative to the horizontal plane, with each blade having a unique angle (first angle, second angle, third angle, fourth angle). This asymmetric configuration creates a balanced yet focused airflow pattern that disperses air widely while maintaining a concentrated central column, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and temperature uniformity.
2Speed
If conventional ceiling fans are used in commercial settings with high ceilings, then general air movement is achieved, but effective circulation in aisles and display areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fan design incorporates blades oriented at various angles to the horizontal plane, adding vertical and diagonal airflow dimensions. This multi-dimensional approach allows the fan to effectively reach down into aisles and display areas from high ceiling installations, improving localized circulation effectiveness while maintaining overall air movement speed.
3Temperature
If more air and energy are used to overcome temperature gradients, then room temperature uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan operates at optimized speeds (e.g., 1725 RPM, 2875 RPM) with specifically angled blades to maximize airflow efficiency. By changing the operational parameters including blade angles and rotation speed, the system achieves effective temperature uniformity with reduced energy consumption compared to conventional fans operating at standard configurations.
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 modular dropped ceiling fan units efficiently circulate air to specific areas, reducing temperature gradients and energy consumption by directing a focused column of air, improving heating and cooling efficiency in commercial settings.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid impelling device and a grid system that directs air downward and outward
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a dropped ceiling fan that includes an elongated body with a fan inside the elongated body that move air downward in the elongated body with a plate positioned below the fan with a hole in the airflow of the fan, a peripheral intake that surrounds the plate and several inclined elements that direct air that is adjacent to the elongated body into the peripheral intake. The elongated body includes a hole in the top that, in combination with the peripheral intake, defines the intake for the fan, to take inlet air from either the room below or both the room below and the space above the dropped ceiling. Also disclosed is a mounting bracket to permit HVAC ducting to be coupled to the hole on top of the body to permit the fan to be used as a powered register with an HVAC system.