Laminar flow diffuser with integrated lighting
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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 light emitting diodes (LEDs) within the laminar flow diffuser, combined with an acrylic light guide to evenly distribute light through a translucent perforated diffuser face, allowing for efficient air flow and balanced lighting without additional lighting fixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laminar flow diffusers are installed to provide air distribution and contaminant isolation, then air quality and contaminant control are improved, but ceiling space for lighting fixtures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the laminar flow diffuser and lighting fixture into a single integrated unit. The diffuser housing contains LED light sources that illuminate through the translucent diffuser face, eliminating the need for separate lighting fixtures and freeing up ceiling space while maintaining both air quality control and illumination functions
Solution Approach 2:
The laminar flow diffuser is designed to perform multiple functions: air distribution, contaminant isolation, and lighting. The integrated LED system allows the diffuser to serve as both an air handling device and a lighting fixture, reducing the total number of ceiling components needed
2Illumination intensity
If separate lighting fixtures are installed to provide high illumination, then lighting quality is improved, but ceiling space occupied by laminar flow diffusers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting function is merged into the diffuser structure, with LED strips mounted inside the diffuser housing and illuminating through the translucent face. This integration provides adequate illumination while eliminating the need for additional lighting fixtures that would occupy valuable ceiling space
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 air distribution and lighting within the same ceiling space, optimizing space usage while maintaining effective air isolation and high-quality illumination in critical environments.
Implementation Method 1
The light produced by the LED strips passes within the clear acrylic sheet of the light guide, and the light guide fully 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 and prevents light from being emitted inefficiently from the top of the light guide
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
The boundary layer of the air mass in the room is the only place where any appreciable entrainment of residual room air may occur
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. 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 engineered, fire rated polymer 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 light guide is installed adjacent the LED lighting strips to spread the light across the area of the perforated diffuser face.