Climate island
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating, cooling, and ventilation systems face challenges in achieving thermal comfort and flexibility, as they often rely on either convection or radiation, leading to inefficiencies and discomfort due to air currents or layering phenomena, and require significant airflow or installation over the entire ceiling, limiting adaptability in changing room configurations.
Innovation Solution
A modular island system that combines radiation and thermal convection for heating and cooling, featuring a peripheral frame with a taut fabric diffuser, articulated baffles, and a thermostatic actuation mechanism to adjust airflow angle and velocity based on temperature, allowing for efficient and comfortable thermal distribution without the need for full ceiling coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air blowing at a determined angle (e.g., 45°) is used for heating and cooling, then thermal power transmission is achieved, but diffusion efficiency is not optimal for either mode and general comfort is approximate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs motorized diffusion fins that can dynamically adjust the air blowing angle based on operational mode. The fins are positioned at different angles for heating versus cooling operations, allowing the system to optimize diffusion efficiency for each specific mode rather than using a fixed compromise angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the diffusion parameter (air blowing angle) depending on the operational mode. For heating, air is blown at a specific angle to prevent layering, while for cooling, the angle is adjusted to prevent air current discomfort, thereby optimizing both comfort and efficiency for each mode.
2Ease of operation
If ceiling diffusers blow air horizontally to the ceiling for cooling, then cold air descends naturally toward the room, but hot air stagnates in the upper part creating layering phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different diffusion strategies for different thermal modes. In cooling mode, air is blown horizontally to allow natural descent. In heating mode, the diffusion angle is changed to blow air downward at an angle that prevents layering, ensuring temperature uniformity is maintained for each specific operational condition.
3Temperature
If ceiling diffusers blow air at right angles to the ceiling for heating, then hot air is blown downward to prevent layering, but cold air drops at high speed creating air current phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
The diffusion fins are designed to be movable and are positioned at different angles depending on whether the system is in heating or cooling mode. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the air blowing angle for each mode, preventing both layering in heating and air current discomfort in cooling.
4Ease of operation
If perforated ceilings blow treated air at very low speed, then cooling mode is suitable, but heating mode is inefficient as hot air lacks kinetic energy to reach the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the air blowing velocity parameter based on the operational mode. In cooling mode, low velocity is maintained for comfort. In heating mode, the velocity is increased to provide sufficient kinetic energy for hot air to reach the floor and distribute heat effectively, preventing layering.
5Productivity
If motorized diffusion fins are used to adjust air blowing angle, then diffusion angle can be optimized, but user has to adjust daily which is very difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically adjusts the diffusion fin angles based on the operational mode without requiring user intervention. The control system manages the motorized fins, positioning them at the appropriate angles for heating or cooling mode, thereby maintaining high diffusion efficiency while eliminating the complexity of manual daily adjustment.
6Power
If air blowing convection is used to transmit 100% of thermal power, then thermal transmission is achieved, but significant air flow rates are required generating thermal discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes air flow parameters by blowing treated air at controlled velocities and specific angles depending on the mode. This reduces the overall air flow rate required while maintaining effective thermal transmission, thereby decreasing thermal discomfort associated with high air velocities.
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 provides excellent thermal comfort with uniform temperature distribution and absence of air currents, adapting automatically to temperature changes and allowing for flexible installation on a partial ceiling, enhancing both heating and cooling efficiency while reducing airflow-related discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
heating, cooling and ventilating buildings by radiation and thermal convection
Implementation Method 2
a thermostatic actuation means making it possible to actuate said channel of articulated baffles via an actuation means of the baffles
Data Source
AI summary
A modular island system for heating, cooling and ventilating buildings by radiation and thermal convection as well as for the acoustic treatment of premises.