EP0692084B1

EP0692084B1 - Apparatus for cooling room air

Info

Publication number: EP0692084B1
Application number: EP94913235A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Morten Sandbakken
Original assignee: Stifab Farex AB
Current assignee: Stifab Farex AB
Priority date: 1993-04-14
Filing date: 1994-04-14
Publication date: 1999-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-14
Also published as: FI109725B; DE69416827T2; NO954084D0; DE69416827D1; AU6547094A; NO301300B1; FI954820A0; FI954820A; DK0692084T3; NO954084L; EP0692084A1; SE9301237D0; WO1994024491A1; SE9301237L

Abstract

An apparatus for cooling room air, comprising a chamber (14) placed in the area of the ceiling (15) of the room, said chamber being formed by wall sections (10-13) arranged in the vertical and horizontal plane, which thereby close the chamber upwards and sideways. Said chamber having respective inlet and outlet openings (19, 20) for the room air, separately placed at the lower part of the chamber. The apparatus also comprises at least one cooling coil (18). At least one vertically arranged partition wall (16) extends in an upward direction from a lower wall section (13), which section is dismountable from the rest of the chamber. The partition wall defines a flow path, which extends in an upward direction from the inlet opening (19), along one side of the partition wall (16), past its upper end, and downwards along the other side of the partition wall (16) toward the outlet opening (20). The cooling coil (18) is placed in the flow path between the upper end of the partition wall and the outlet opening (20).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention refers to an apparatus of the false ceiling panel or profile type for self-circulation cooling of room air, comprising a chamber placed in the area of the ceiling of the room, said chamber being formed by wall sections arranged in the vertical and horizontal plane, which thereby close the chamber upwards and sideways, said chamber having respective inlet and outlet openings for the room air, separately placed at the lower part of the chamber in a horizontally wall section, means for supply of primary air and a cooling coil, wherein a vertically arranged partition wall extends in an upward direction from the lower wall section between the inlet and outlet openings and wherein said partition wall is connected to the cooling coil which is arranged on the outlet opening-side of the partition wall to delimit a part of the chamber closest to the outlet opening

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of false ceiling panels or false ceiling profiles, provided with cold water chilled elements, for self-circulation type of room air treatment is well known. These systems are advantageous in comparison with common ventilation and air conditioning systems using blowers for sucking air from the room, such as disclosed for example in FR-A-2 560 361, US-A-4 397 157 and GB-A-2 107 856, or nozzle inductors using primary air for drawing air by induction from the room, such as described in GB-A-1468 754 and GB-A-1 011 742, since the self-circulation type systems are power saving and do not generate noise or draught. Such self-circulation type of apparatuses and devices is, for example, disclosed in the patent document US-A-3 833 057. These systems can also be combined with air ducts for supply of non-preconditioned primary air like the nozzle inductor type of apparatus.
The panels usually consist of a frame of metal profiles. These are constructed in such a way, and attached to a ceiling in such a way. that warm room air is admitted to flow vertically, upwards between the panels, whereafter this warm air is chilled by cooling coils in the panel, to sink downwards in the apparatus as a result of its increased density. Thus the panels or profiles produce a self-circulation of air, and a regulation of its temperature inside a room. They can be designed either for merely gravity flow or, as indicated above, in a combination with primary air supply.
A drawback with these self-circulation type panels is that dust and other particles, in time, are gathered on horizontal surfaces. Under certain circumstances, the panels or profiles can also cause formation of condensation fluid, which, in combination with the dust particles, can form a breeding ground for mould fungus. Cleaning of these surfaces usually involves dismounting of the false ceiling, which is both time-consuming and circumstantially. In such apparatuses using supply of primary air the air flow is enforced to partially avoid such problems, but instead draught problems can occur.

THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the false ceiling panel or profile self-circulation type for cooling room air, in a special combination with a supply of primary air, which apparatus provides both an air outflow stream along the underside of the ceiling, which causes a minimum of draught, and which apparatus also presents minimal dust gathering surfaces and is easy to clean.

THE SOLUTION

The above aim is achieved by an apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2. In particular, in the self-circulation false ceiling panel type apparatus for cooling room air according to the invention means for the supply of primary air are arranged so as to supply the primary air to the part of the chamber located closest to the outlet opening and so that the outgoing air through the outlet opening flows along the underside of the ceiling. By this design of the apparatus a short flow path is obtained for the air and an advantageous outgoing air stream direction is provided and the air will further pass surfaces that are smooth and easy to clean.

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to embodiments shown in the enclosed drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 shows a section through an apparatus showing the self-circulating principle, but using merely gravity flow, which does not form part of the claimed invention.
Fig. 2 shows a corresponding section embodiment of the apparatus according to this invention.
Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention, and
Fig. 4 shows, in a corresponding way, a third embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

The apparatus shown in the figures comprises a chamber 14, defined by inclined wall sections 10, vertical wall sections 11 and horizontal upper and lower wall sections 12 respective 13. The same reference numerals have been used for corresponding details in the four figures. The chamber 14 can be of optional length, and is mounted in connection to a false ceiling 15, so that the inclined wall sections 10 connect to the underside of the false ceiling.
Figure 1 shows the general principle and design of an apparatus belonging to the type false ceiling panel or profile system using self-circulation by means of only gravity flow, and, thus, without any means for the supply of primary air and the apparatus in Figure 1, consequently. does not form part of this invention. The apparatus in Figure 1 has a vertical partition wall 16 which extends upwards from the lower wall section 13, to a level which is approximately equivalent to half the height of the chamber. The upper edge of this partition wall 16 is connected to one side of a cooling coil 17, which comprises a large number of convection plates and cooling medium carrying pipes 18, which medium usually consists of water. The cooling coil 17 extends obliquely upwards, toward the corner between the wall section 12 and one of the wall sections 11. The cooling coil can in all apparatus of this type using this self-circulation principle also be arranged horizontally against the wall 11, or be standing vertically against the wall section 12. A gap 19 between one edge of the lower wall section 13 and the left inclined wall section 10, forms an inlet opening to the chamber 14. A gap 20 between the other edge of the lower wall section 13 and the right inclined wall section 10 forms in a corresponding way an outlet opening from the chamber 14. Warmed-up room air enters the chamber 14 via the inlet gap opening 19, and passes the upper edge of the partition wall 16. On exposure to the cooling coil 17, the air will be chilled to increase its density. The air descends thereby at the right side of the partition wall 16, and passes out through the outlet gap opening 20. The generated air flow is illustrated by the arrows 21. In this way, self-circulation of the room air is produced below the false ceiling 15.
An apparatus according to the claimed invention is shown in Figure 2, in which the partition wall 16 is converted into a ventilation air duct 22, having spray nozzle openings 23 for the supply of primary air, as indicated by the horizontal arrow. The primary air contributes to the air circulation through the cooling coil. Furthermore, the primary air flow through the spray nozzle openings 23 is directed in such a way, that the air flows out along the underside of the false ceiling 15.
A variant of the invention is shown in Figure 3, where the inlet gap openings 19 are placed centrally in the chamber wall 13. A ventilation air duct 22 is placed centrally in the chamber 14. Two partition walls 16 extend upwards from the chamber wall 13 on each outside of the duct 22. A cooling coil 18 is placed in a passage between the respective partition wall 16 and the vertical wall sections 11 of the chamber 14. The spray nozzle openings 23 extend from the duct 22, through respective partition wall 16, toward the gap openings 20.
An additional variant of the invention is shown in Figure 4, where centrally placed inlet gap openings 19 let the room air in between two partition walls 16, formed as ventilation air ducts 22 with spray nozzle openings 23. As well as in the embodiment previously described in connection to Figure 3, a cooling element 18 is placed in a passage between the respective partition wall 16 and the vertical wall sections 11 of chamber 14.
All variants of the invention form a construction that is closed in relation to the space between the false ceiling and the floor structure, with inner surfaces which can be easily cleaned without dismounting the false ceiling. The apparatus also forms a unit, which serves as a sound-absorbing baffle at the ceiling of the room, and which thereby can cooperate with other centrally placed units.
The invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, instead more variants are conceivable within the scoop of following claims.

Claims

Apparatus of the false ceiling panel or profile type for self-ciculation cooling of room air, comprising a chamber (14) placed in the area of the ceiling (15) of the room, said chamber being formed by wall sections (10-13) arranged in the vertical and horizontal plane, which thereby close the chamber upwards and sideways, said chamber having respective inlet and outlet openings (19,20) for the room air, separately placed at the lower part of the chamber in the lower horizontal wall section (13), means (22,23) for the supply of primary air, and a cooling coil (18), wherein a vertically arranged partition wall (16) extends in an upward direction from the lower wall section (13) between the inlet and outlet openings (19,20), and the partition wall (16) is corrected to the cooling coil (18), which is arranged on the outlet opening-side of the partition wall (16) to delimit a part of the chamber (14) closest to the outlet opening (20), wherein said means (22,23) are arranged so as to supply the primary air to the part of the chamber (14) located closest to the outlet opening (20) and so that the outgoing air through the outlet opening (20) flows along the underside of the ceiling (15).
Apparatus of the false ceiling panel or profile type for self-circulation cooling of room air, comprising a chamber (14) placed in the area of the ceiling (15) of the room, said chamber being formed by wall sections (10-13) arranged in the vertical and horizontal plane, which thereby close the chamber upwards and sideways, said chamber having respective inlet and outlet openings (19,20) for the room air, separately placed at the lower part of the chamber in the horizontal wall section (13), means (22,23) for the supply of primary air and two or more cooling coils (18), wherein two or more vertically arranged partition walls (16) extend in an upward direction from the lower wall sections (13) between the inlet and outlet openings (19,20), and the partition walls (16) are connected to the cooling coils (18), which are arranged on the outlet opening-sides of the partition walls (16). to delimit a part of the chamber (14) closest to the opening (20), wherein said means (22,23) are arranged so as to supply the primary air to the parts of the chamber (14) located closest to the outlet openings (20) and so that the outgoing air through the outlet openings (20) flows along the underside of the ceiling (15).
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the partition wall or walls (16) are designed as a ventilation duct (22), with at least one spray nozzle opening (23) constituting said means (22,23).
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chamber (14) has an oblong form, and is mounted horizontally in a space between a floor structure and a false ceiling (15), with wall sections (10) connecting to an opening in the false ceiling.