Air diffuser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air diffusers face challenges in achieving efficient airflow distribution due to space constraints, leading to increased energy consumption and poor thermal comfort, as they often require higher airflow rates to maintain stable patterns, resulting in wasted energy and inefficient heating or cooling.
Innovation Solution
The air diffuser design features a central axis perpendicular to the diffuser face with radially aligned discharge elements, including peripheral and proximal portions with acute angles and a geometric twist, allowing for adjustable airflow direction and throw, which enhances airflow distribution and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the diffuser size is reduced to meet space constraints, then the diffuser can fit better in ceiling grids, but the airflow rate is restricted to suboptimum values requiring additional diffusers
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser is segmented into multiple discharge elements (typically 4-8 vanes) radially arranged around a central axis. Each vane creates a separate channel for airflow, allowing the diffuser to maintain high airflow rates through multiple parallel flow paths while keeping the overall face area compact and suitable for ceiling grid installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional side-blow horizontal discharge to vertical discharge perpendicular to the ceiling plane. This dimensional change allows the diffuser to project airflow downward into the space, achieving high airflow rates through the vertical dimension while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint that fits standard ceiling grid openings.
2Reliability
If higher airflow rates are used to maintain stable patterns, then thermal comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge elements are designed with specific geometric parameters including vane angles (typically 15-30 degrees relative to the horizontal plane), aspect ratios, and spacing that optimize airflow induction and mixing. These parameter optimizations enable stable thermal comfort patterns at lower airflow rates, reducing fan energy consumption while maintaining reliable airflow distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser utilizes pneumatic principles of air induction and mixing, where the vertical discharge creates a suction effect that draws in surrounding air through the channels between vanes. This induction effect enhances airflow distribution and thermal mixing without requiring proportionally higher fan pressures, improving energy efficiency while maintaining stable patterns.
3Ease of manufacture
If side-blow discharge is used, then installation is simpler, but mixing is poor leading to draughts and stratification
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge elements feature curved or twisted vane surfaces rather than flat planar surfaces. This curvature creates rotational airflow components that enhance mixing as the air descends and spreads across the space. The curved geometry promotes turbulent mixing and eliminates stagnant zones, preventing both draughts and thermal stratification while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
4Reliability
If minimum permissible airflow rate is increased to prevent dumping, then draughts are avoided, but energy is wasted due to higher than required airflow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser design parameters including vane angles, channel dimensions, and discharge area ratios are optimized to maintain stable airflow patterns at lower minimum airflow rates. The vertical discharge geometry and channel configurations prevent dumping and draught formation even at reduced airflow rates, allowing the system to operate efficiently at lower fan speeds and reduce energy waste during part-load conditions.
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 design enables stable and efficient airflow distribution with reduced energy consumption, allowing for smaller diffuser sizes, improved aesthetics, and enhanced thermal comfort by optimizing airflow patterns and reducing fan energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of channels are located about the diffuser central axis. Each channel is formed between adjacent pairs of discharge elements and is configured to guide the air to the space.
Implementation Method 2
The arrangement of the first and second surfaces may be such that the proximal air stream may be induced by the peripheral air stream to form a combined air stream that may be supplied to the space in a direction that is substantially parallel with the diffuser face.
Implementation Method 3
The intermediate portion may include a geometric twist about the radial axis. The geometric twist may comprise a substantially constant helical pitch such that each point on the third air guide surface traverses a substantially equal helical pitch distance parallel to the central axis for a given angle of rotation about the central axis.
Data Source
AI summary
An air diffuser for supplying air to a space is provided, the diffuser having a central axis, a plurality of discharge elements arranged to guide an air stream towards the space and defining a face of the diffuser and a plurality of channels located about the diffuser central axis, with each channel formed between adjacent pairs of discharge elements. An adjustment mechanism is also provided for adjusting a discharge direction of an air diffuser, as well as methods of forming the air diffusers and adjustment mechanisms hereof.