Underfloor Air Duct Layout for Even Airflow and Low Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Under-floor HVAC systems face challenges in maintaining even air distribution due to temperature loss and velocity reduction as air travels to remote registers, and existing duct systems are prone to noise and damage from pressure changes, with custom installations being costly and difficult to design for varied floor layouts.
Innovation Solution
A modular distribution air duct system using pliable tubular segments with adjustable discharge openings and anchoring to pedestals to prevent sliding, allowing for customizable assembly from a predefined assortment of segments to ensure even airflow distribution without overhead support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pliable tubular air duct is installed under-floor to channel supply air to remote registers, then air distribution to remote areas is improved, but the duct retracts and extends in response to pressure changes causing noise and material abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is divided into multiple rigid sections or segments that are connected together. Each segment maintains its shape independently and does not retract or extend with pressure changes, eliminating the noise and abrasion problems while still allowing the duct to reach remote registers.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a flexible pliable duct that moves with pressure changes, the invention inverts the approach by using rigid sections that maintain fixed positions. The rigidity prevents the harmful retraction and extension movements while still achieving the goal of air distribution to remote areas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom-built air duct systems are designed to meet various floor layouts, then adaptability to different configurations is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct system is segmented into standardized modular sections that can be easily assembled and configured to match various floor layouts. This modularity maintains adaptability while significantly simplifying manufacturing compared to custom-built systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid section ducts are designed with universal connection features that allow them to be configured for different floor layouts using the same standardized components. This multi-functionality achieves adaptability without requiring custom manufacturing for each configuration.
3Area of stationary object
If supply air travels a great distance to remote registers, then coverage area is improved, but air temperature changes due to heat transfer with subfloor and velocity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The long duct run is divided into multiple shorter rigid sections with intermediate discharge openings. This segmentation allows air to be discharged at multiple points along the path, preventing excessive travel distance and reducing heat transfer and velocity loss while still achieving wide coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of channeling all air to the most remote register, the system discharges air partially at multiple intermediate points along the duct path. This partial action ensures that air does not travel excessive distances, maintaining temperature and velocity while still providing comprehensive coverage.
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 solution ensures efficient, quiet, and customizable air distribution with reduced energy loss and noise, accommodating various floor layouts by maintaining airflow pressure and stability, thus improving comfort zone conditioning.
Implementation Method 1
a supply air duct discharges fresh or conditioned supply air into the plenum, which in turn conveys the supply air to a series of supply air registers or openings in the floor panels
Implementation Method 2
The resulting sliding movement can create noise and abrade the duct material
Data Source
AI summary
An under-floor HVAC system for a building includes a pliable air duct lying upon a subfloor. A matrix of pedestals resting upon and extending upward from the subfloor supports a set of floor panels, which thus creates a plenum between the subfloor and the set of floor panels. The air duct extends through the plenum to convey conditioned air from a supply air duct to a series of registers in the floor panels. The registers disperse the conditioned air to a room or area just above the panels. To help keep the air duct from repeatedly extending, retracting, and otherwise sliding freely along the subfloor in response to changes in air duct pressure, the air duct is held taut by anchoring a distal downstream end of the duct to one or more of the floor-supporting pedestals. Various air duct configurations can be assembled from a predefined assortment of duct components.