Multi-Floor Air Distribution Using Upper-Room Coupling Fans
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-heat-insulating and airtight residential buildings, the inefficiency of laying air-conditioning pipes between upper and lower floors leads to space inefficiency and increased part types, compromising the unit method's advantages.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system with an air-conditioning apparatus on the upper floor, conveyance fans for upper rooms, coupling fans to connect upper and lower rooms, and a system controller to manage air conditioning, ventilation, and fan operations, enabling efficient air distribution between floors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pipes are laid from the air-conditioning room to all rooms including lower floors, then air-conditioning coverage is improved, but space efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary pipe spaces in the unit method construction
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning system is segmented into floor-specific zones: upper floor rooms are air-conditioned independently, while lower floor rooms use a separate air supply system that draws air from upper floors. This segmentation eliminates the need for pipes running through all floors, as each floor has its own air supply strategy.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper floor rooms serve as an intermediary air source for the lower floor rooms. Instead of directly piping air from the air-conditioning room to lower floors (which would require pipes through unnecessary spaces), the system uses upper floor room air as a mediator, transferring it to lower floors through dedicated pathways.
2Area of stationary object
If pipes are laid for only some rooms, then space efficiency is improved, but the types of parts increase and the unit method advantage is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The upper floor rooms serve multiple functions: they are both occupied spaces for users and air supply sources for lower floor rooms. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pipe systems, as the upper floor rooms themselves perform the air distribution function.
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply function is merged with the upper floor room structure itself. Instead of adding separate pipe infrastructure, the system combines the air-conditioning function with the existing room structure, eliminating unnecessary pipes while maintaining system simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pipes are laid between upper and lower floors, then air-conditioning is achieved, but construction efficiency deteriorates due to the unit method's standardized assembly process
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning system is segmented by floor, with each floor having its own air supply strategy. This segmentation allows each floor to be constructed and assembled independently using standardized unit method processes, without requiring complex inter-floor pipe installations that would disrupt the assembly workflow.
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 efficiently blows air between upper and lower floors, optimizing space use and maintaining target temperatures and humidity levels in both areas, thus enhancing the unit method's effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of conveyance fans that conveys the air in the air-conditioning room to a plurality of upper rooms positioned at the higher floor
Implementation Method 2
coupling fans that couple the plurality of upper rooms and a lower room positioned at a lower position of the plurality of upper rooms to blow air from the plurality of upper rooms to the lower room
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an air-conditioning system that air-conditions a house having an upper floor and a lower floor positioned at a lower position than the upper floor. The air-conditioning system includes an air-conditioning apparatus that conditions air in an air-conditioning room provided at the upper floor or at a higher position than the upper floor, a plurality of conveyance fans that conveys the air in the air-conditioning room to a plurality of upper rooms positioned at the higher floor independent of the air condition room, and is provided to correspond to the plurality of upper rooms, coupling fans that couple the upper rooms and lower rooms positioned at lower positions of the upper rooms to blow air from the upper rooms to the lower rooms, and a system controller that controls the air-conditioning apparatus, the conveyance fans, and the coupling fans.