Laminar Flow Diffuser With Integrated Lighting for Ceiling Space Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laminar flow diffusers occupy substantial ceiling space, creating a trade-off between air distribution and lighting in areas requiring high illumination and low contaminant entrainment, such as hospital operating rooms and industrial clean rooms.
Innovation Solution
Integration of LED lighting within the laminar flow diffuser, utilizing a perforated acrylic light guide or reflector panel to distribute light evenly through a translucent perforated diffuser face, allowing for efficient air flow and balanced air distribution while providing equivalent lighting to separate fixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If separate lighting fixtures and diffusers are used, then lighting coverage is improved, but ceiling space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate lighting fixtures and air diffusers into a single integrated unit. The light guide plate is positioned within the diffuser assembly, allowing both lighting and air distribution functions to occupy the same ceiling space. This merging eliminates the need for separate ceiling allocations for lighting and HVAC, directly resolving the contradiction between lighting coverage and ceiling space consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: the diffuser distributes conditioned air while the embedded light guide plate provides illumination. The perforated diffuser face serves dual purposes as both an air outlet and a light transmission surface. This multi-functionality allows a single ceiling opening to fulfill both lighting and air distribution requirements, reducing overall ceiling space usage.
2Area of stationary object
If integrated lighting is added to diffuser, then ceiling space is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated assembly is divided into distinct functional modules: the diffuser housing, the light guide plate, the LED light source, and the perforated face. Each component maintains its independence while being assembled into a unified structure. The light guide plate is a separate element that can be manufactured and tested independently before integration, reducing the complexity burden of the overall system despite the integration benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate acts as an intermediary element between the LED light source and the perforated diffuser face. It receives light from the LEDs and distributes it uniformly across the diffuser face, mediating the light transmission process. This intermediary component simplifies the optical design by decoupling the light source positioning from the final light distribution pattern, making the integrated system more manageable despite increased complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If light guide plate is positioned close to LED strips, then light transfer efficiency is improved, but air flow restriction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is positioned strategically at specific locations within the diffuser assembly where it can receive light from LED strips without blocking critical air flow paths. The plate's placement is optimized to provide maximum light transfer efficiency in the vertical direction while maintaining adequate clearance from horizontal air flow paths. This localized positioning resolves the contradiction by applying different spatial considerations to different functional requirements within the same assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate utilizes the vertical dimension within the diffuser assembly, positioning itself between the LED light source above and the perforated face below. By operating primarily in the vertical light transmission path, it minimizes interference with horizontal air flow. This dimensional separation allows the light guide to function effectively without significantly restricting air flow through the perforated face, resolving the contradiction between light transfer efficiency and air flow quantity.
4Productivity
If perforated diffuser face is used, then air distribution is improved, but light emission uniformity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate serves as a mediating element between the LED light source and the perforated diffuser face. It receives light from the LEDs and redistributes it uniformly across its surface before the light passes through the perforated face. This intermediary function compensates for the potential non-uniformity that would result from direct LED-to-perforated-face light transmission, maintaining light emission uniformity while preserving the air distribution benefits of the perforated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate's optical parameters are optimized to achieve uniform light distribution. By selecting materials with specific light scattering properties and designing the plate's thickness and surface characteristics, the system transforms the directional light from LEDs into a uniform diffuse light source. This parameter optimization allows the perforated diffuser face to maintain both effective air distribution and uniform light emission, resolving the contradiction between these two functions.
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
This solution integrates lighting and air distribution within the same ceiling space, optimizing space usage in critical areas by ensuring high-quality, even lighting and minimal contaminant entrainment while maintaining effective air flow and distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The light produced by the LED strips passes within the clear acrylic sheet of the light guide, and the light guide equalizes the light within the laminar flow diffuser before the light is emitted from the perforated diffuser face
Implementation Method 2
The reflective metal sheet reflects the light transmitted through the light guide downward toward the perforated diffuser face
Implementation Method 3
Laminar flow diffusers are located in the ceiling of a room immediately above a work area and deliver a controlled downward flow of conditioned supply air with minimal entrainment of residual room air
Implementation Method 4
An aperture plate damper is installed below the air plenum to control air flow through the diffuser
Data Source
AI summary
A laminar flow diffuser with integrated lighting has a frame for supporting an air plenum and a lower housing. The air plenum receives conditioned air from a source of conditioned air. The lower housing is attached to the bottom of the plenum. An aperture plate damper installed below the top plenum regulates the flow of air from the plenum through the laminar flow diffuser. A clear or translucent the perforated diffuser face forms the outlet from the lower housing to the room below. LED strips are positioned around the inside periphery of the lower housing. A perforated reflector panel is position below the aperture plate damper and above the LED strips to spread the light from the LED strips across the perforated diffuser face.