Supply air unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supply air units face limitations in controlling airflow rates and temperature adjustments without requiring nozzle exchanges, leading to inefficiencies in cooling and heating effects.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an airflow controller that directs an additional airflow into a suction chamber, allowing for increased total airflow rates up to 6 times the minimum, while maintaining constant airflow through the mixing chamber, and enabling temperature adjustments through heat exchanger use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the fresh airflow rate is increased to improve cooling and heating effects, then the temperature control effectiveness is improved, but the noise level increases and airflow uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supply air chamber is divided into multiple zones with separate fresh air inlets and outlet openings arranged at different positions and orientations. This segmentation allows the fresh air flow to be distributed into multiple smaller streams rather than one large stream, reducing turbulence and noise while maintaining effective temperature control through distributed air delivery.
2Temperature
If the fresh airflow rate is increased to improve cooling and heating effects, then the temperature control effectiveness is improved, but the airflow uniformity in the room deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Outlet openings are arranged at different positions and orientations within the supply air chamber, with each outlet directed toward specific areas of the room. This local quality approach ensures that different regions of the room receive appropriately directed airflow, maintaining uniform air distribution and temperature control throughout the space even at higher flow rates.
3Measurement precision
If the induction ratio is adjusted to control airflow rates, then the airflow control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The supply air chamber design allows fresh air to be drawn in through multiple inlet openings and naturally distributed through the chamber space to various outlet openings. The system self-regulates airflow distribution through its geometric configuration and pressure gradients, eliminating the need for complex mechanical control devices while maintaining precise airflow control capability.
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 allows for precise control of airflow and temperature distribution, reducing noise and improving air distribution characteristics, while maintaining constant pressure and preventing over- or under-cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger, with which the circulated airflow conducted from the room space to be air-conditioned can be either cooled or heated
Implementation Method 2
the supply airflow induces the circulated airflow from the room to flow through the heat exchanger into the mixing chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The supply air unit (100) comprises a supply air chamber (10), at least one mixing chamber (20a, 20b), nozzles (60a, 60b) or a nozzle gap, through which a fresh airflow (L1) is conducted from the supply air chamber (10) into the mixing chamber (20a, 20b), a suction chamber (40), into which a circulated airflow (L2) is sucked from the air-conditioned room space, at least one outlet opening (25a, 25b). The supply air unit also comprises at least one airflow controller (70), through which an additional airflow (L3) is conducted from the supply air chamber (10) into the suction chamber (40).