Flexible Plenum Air Terminal Unit for False Ceiling Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing terminal air treatment units with rigid metal plenums are cumbersome, difficult to install, and occupy space, while flexible alternatives lack practicality and integration into false ceilings.
Innovation Solution
A terminal air treatment unit combining a rigid diffuser with a flexible, deformable plenum made of textile or non-textile materials, allowing reversible deployment and retraction, and featuring airtightness, washability, and additional functionalities like air purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid metal plenum is used, then fire resistance and structural strength are improved, but weight and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible plenum made of deformable material that can be manually shaped, replacing the traditional rigid metal plenum. This flexible construction significantly reduces weight while maintaining the necessary structural function for air distribution in ventilation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite material construction for the flexible plenum, combining materials that provide both flexibility and necessary structural properties. This allows the plenum to be lightweight yet sufficiently strong for its intended application in false ceilings and other installation environments.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid metal plenum is used, then structural stability is improved, but ease of installation and storage flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The plenum transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt its shape. The deformable material allows the plenum to be manually shaped during installation to fit various spatial configurations, greatly improving installation ease while maintaining operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible plenum construction enables the unit to be easily transported in a compact state and then deployed into various shapes during installation. This flexibility directly addresses the installation difficulty associated with rigid metal plenums while maintaining sufficient structural stability for operation.
3Productivity
If a rigid diffuser is used, then aerodynamic efficiency and aesthetics are improved, but integration flexibility into false ceilings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible plenum allows the diffuser assembly to adapt to different false ceiling configurations and available spaces. The deformable material enables the plenum to be shaped to fit constrained environments while the rigid diffuser maintains its aerodynamic efficiency and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible plenum construction provides adaptability for integration into various false ceiling types and configurations. The rigid diffuser remains unchanged to preserve its aerodynamic properties and aesthetics, while the flexible plenum adapts to the installation environment.
4Ease of operation
If a flexible plenum is used, then ease of installation and storage are improved, but airtightness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible plenum is constructed from deformable material that can be manually shaped while maintaining airtightness. The material properties and construction method ensure that the flexible structure achieves sufficient sealing performance for ventilation system operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The terminal unit (1) comprises a rigid diffuser (10) and a flexible plenum (20), as well as means (30) for permanently assembling the diffuser and the plenum. The diffuser comprises a plate perforated by air deflection passages (14) connecting the inner (12) and outer (13) flat faces of the plate and adapted to extend continuously in a plane formed by a false ceiling when the terminal unit (1) is installed in a free space separating a ceiling and a false ceiling. The plenum comprises an enclosure (21) defining an air distribution volume (V21) and made of a material more flexible than the diffuser material and deformable by hand to move the enclosure between expanded and contracted configurations.The envelope includes a main body (22), which closes the air distribution volume except at a first opening (22A), covered by the inner face of the plate, and a second opening (22B), and a sleeve (23) extending lengthwise from the main body outside the air distribution volume between one end (23A) of the sleeve, fitted to the second opening, and an opposite end (23B) of the sleeve, adapted to be connected to a ventilation duct (5).