EP1530109B1 - Ventilator and method for controlling the air flow through a ventilator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a fan system for controlling the air flow of a fan system.

The present invention particularly, but not exclusively, relates to fan airflow control for mitigating noise in a fan in a clean room facility.

In modern manufacturing and testing facilities, it is common practice to control the amount of air particles circulating in a clean room facility to ensure the quality of the clean room facility output. Regardless of whether they are semiconductor wafers, CD's, or diskette disk drives, efficient fan systems are required to not only keep the particle content within the clean room within acceptable limits, but also to circulate the air inhaled by workers allow. As such, fan systems tend to be relatively efficient.

However, such powerful fan systems cause excessive noise. Insulating material has been used to cover the insides of the housing to mitigate the noise generated by the wind turbine fans. However, such an elementary method often does not attenuate the noise to a satisfactory level for workers in the clean room facility. The problem associated with noise in a clean room facility worsens in tight spots or surrounds, such as a multi-level chip manufacturing facility. Where there is a low clear height, the noise from fan systems may be quite pronounced.

In the GB 2 354 802 , A is described a filter-fan system having an inlet opening in an upper part of a housing. Inside the housing, a fan is mounted on a plate. The air flow entering via the inlet opening is guided by the fan via four guide elements to baffle plates, which are arranged at an acute angle to one another. Underneath these baffles, there is provided an outlet opening arranged on the underside of the housing, through which the air flows. The baffles reduce air turbulence. This reduces the noise coming from the fan unit.

In the US 6,217,281 B1 a fan system is described, which is integrated in a housing, wherein an opening in the top of the housing forms an inlet opening and an opening in the bottom of the housing an outlet opening for the air flowing through. A fan is mounted in the inlet opening of the housing.

Below the fan is a guide plate for guiding the air flow in the edge region of the housing. Below the guide plate, further noise reduction panels are provided at the edge of the housing, defining a central opening which is smaller than the outlet opening below.

The invention has for its object to provide fan systems of the type mentioned, in which the disadvantages mentioned no longer occur.

To solve this problem, the features of claim 1 are provided. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

• ein Kopfteil mit einer Einlassöffnung,
• mindestens eine Seite, die die Ventilator-Anlage umschließt,
• eine Auslassöffnung,
• ein auf einem Gebläse-Gestell sitzendes Windradgebläse, wobei das Windradgebläse dem Einblasen von Luft durch die Einlassöffnung und dem Ausstoßen von Luft durch die Auslassöffnung dient,
• mindestens ein Paar Leit-Ablenkplatten, die sich von einem niedrigeren Ende von mindestens einer Seite zur Auslassöffnung nach innen erstrecken und die Auslassöffnung definieren, wobei das genannte Paar Leit-Ablenkplatten und das Gebläse-Gestell einen dazwischen liegenden Luftstromkanal bilden. Der Luftstromkanal bildet zur Bildung einer Lufthochdruckzone eine Verengung des Luftstromes, wodurch die gesamte Luft gezwungen ist durch den Luftstromkanal zu fließen und dadurch im Wesentlichen einen Luftstrom mit reduzierter Turbulenz in einer Richtung im Luftstromkanal und durch die Auslassöffnung zu erzeugen, so dass der Lärm aus besagter Ventilator-Anlage abgeschwächt wird.

The fan system according to the invention comprises the following:

• a head part with an inlet opening,
• at least one side enclosing the fan unit,
• an outlet opening,
• a fan blower seated on a fan frame, the fan blower serving to inject air through the inlet port and expel air through the outlet port,
• at least one pair of baffles extending inwardly from a lower end of at least one side to the outlet opening and defining the outlet opening, said pair of baffles and the fan frame forming an airflow channel therebetween. The air flow channel forms a constriction of the air flow to form an air high pressure zone, thereby forcing all the air to flow through the air flow channel and thereby substantially produce a reduced turbulence air flow in one direction in the air flow channel and through the outlet opening, so that the noise from said air flow channel Fan system is weakened.

There may be two pairs of baffles arranged in the fan unit, the baffles each being vertical. The baffles define the outlet opening. The guide baffles can at an angle of 90 ° and 60 °, preferably 90 ° to at least one

Be arranged side. The baffle plates can be perforated. The perforation may extend over all or a portion of the baffles, and the baffles may be covered by a cloth. Additionally, or alternatively, the baffles may be bent or flat.

The outlet opening may take the form of: circular, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal or octagonal.

There may also be included at least one pair of plates disposed in the fan assembly and extending between the top and at least one side and connected thereto, at least one pair of plates defining an enclosed space behind. There may be two pairs of plates, each plate being vertical. At least one of the plates can be perforated. The perforations may extend over the entire area or over part of at least one of the plates. The plates may be curved or flat, and the plates may be covered by a cloth. The enclosed space may be filled with a noise insulating material.

A noise insulating material may be used to line an interior surface of one or more of the following parts: at least one side, the header, the baffle plates, and the plates.

On the surface of the fan frame, a noise insulating material may be attached. The surface can be a bottom. The blower rack may be in the form of a reverse floor with associated side walls with the noise insulating material in the floor.

The headboard may have a central opening. The central opening may have an inlet cover with the inlet opening disposed in the inlet cover.

A filter may be located below the outlet opening.

At least one side may consist of four vertical sides, wherein the sides are also perpendicular to the headboard.

Furthermore, a method for controlling the air flow is provided.

Brief description of the drawings

Figur 1:

Eine perspektivische Vorderansicht in aufgelösten Einzelteilen einer bevorzugten Form der hier vorliegenden, als Teil einer Ventilator-Anlage ausgebildeten Erfindung.

Figur 2:

Ein erhöhter Querschnitt der Anordnung gemäß Figur 1 beim Einbau.

Figur 3:

Ein vollständiger Querschnitt längs den Geraden A-A und entlang der Richtung der Pfeile A-A gemäß Figur 2.

Figur 4:

Eine der Figur 3 entsprechende Ansicht einer alternativen Ausfübrungsform.

Figur 5:

Darstellung der Orte, wo die Geschwindigkeit des Luftstromes gemessen wurde.

Figur 6:

Ein Diagramm mit dem Vergleich der durchschnittlichen Geschwindigkeit des Luftstromes und dem Geräuschpegel der bevorzugten Form der hier vorliegenden Erfindung mit den Werten der nicht bevorzugten Form.

Figur 7:

Ein erhöhter Querschnitt einer alternativen Ausführungsform Verkörperung des unteren Teils der zusammengebauten Anordnung gemäß Figur 1.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily practiced, by way of non-limiting example only, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described, the description of which is made with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

FIG. 1:

An exploded front perspective view of a preferred form of the present invention as part of a fan unit.

FIG. 2:

An elevated cross section of the arrangement according to FIG. 1 during installation.

FIG. 3:

A complete cross section along the straight line AA and along the direction of the arrows AA according to FIG. 2 ,

FIG. 4:

One of the FIG. 3 corresponding view of an alternative Ausfübrungsform.

FIG. 5:

Representation of the places where the speed of the air flow was measured.

FIG. 6:

A graph comparing the average velocity of the air stream and the noise level of the preferred form of the present invention with the values of the non-preferred form.

FIG. 7:

An elevated cross-section of an alternative embodiment of the embodiment of the lower part of the assembled assembly according to FIG FIG. 1 ,

Description of the preferred embodiments

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, e.g. Baffles and baffles to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. In other case examples, well-known items such as e.g. the motors for the fan frame and connected to the fan systems channels not shown and / or described, so as not to obscure the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of parts of a preferred embodiment of the present invention as part of a fan system. The fan unit comprises four vertical side walls 22 and an annular head portion 17 with a central opening 10. Although the fan unit is shown in a square shape, it can be a have any shape, such as cylindrical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, octagonal, etc.

The central opening 10 is shown in square. It may also take another suitable form, e.g. round, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, octagonal, etc. Preferably, the shape of the central opening 10 is similar to the shape of the fan unit.

The air inlet cover 11 lies above the central opening 10 and closes it off. The cover 11 covers the central opening 10 and is larger in size than the opening 10, so that it contacts the head part 17 along the outer surface of the opening 10. The cover 11 is secure, removable and largely flush sealed connected to the head part 17. The cover 11 is also annular and has a central air inlet opening 18. The inlet opening 18 is shown as being round. It may take any form as required or desired, e.g. triangular, quadrangular, rectangular, pentagonal, octagonal, etc. There may be more than one inlet port 18.

A wind turbine fan 12 is mounted on a fan blower frame 14 which may have contiguous side walls 15 therewith. Alternatively, the frame 14 may be flat. The frame 14 may also be reversible. Attached to the fan frame 14 there extend from there four rods 13 which are also detachably connected to the air inlet cover 11. A motor for generating rotational movements for the wind turbine fan 12 is not shown, but required for the normal operation of the fan system. The frame 14 may be larger in size than the outlet port 19 in the horizontal plane so as to extend over the outer surface of the outlet port 19. The frame 14 may also be smaller in dimensions than the outlet opening 19 in the horizontal plane. The dimensions of the frame 14 may be of the dimensions of the wind turbine 12th be dependent. The size of the wind turbine fan 12 may depend on the performance requirements of a user. The frame 14 need not be a custom windmill frame.

In this way, the wind turbine fan 12 may be located in the fan unit and may be mounted on its frame 14. The frame 14 may hang down from the head part 17 via the connection of the rods 13 with the inlet cover 11, and the inlet cover 11 may be supported by the head part 17. Thereby, in the case of care, maintenance or replacement, the fan 12 can be easily removed through the central opening 10. The central opening should have a corresponding size.

The fan unit automatically blows outside air through the air inlet 18 as indicated by arrows 1 in FIG FIG. 2 shown. The air is expelled through the outlet port 19 as indicated by arrows 2 in FIG FIG. 2 shown. Above the outlet opening 19 may be a filter 32 for removing large particles or contaminants. The outlet opening 19 is shown in square. It may take any suitable or desired shape, such as circular, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, octagonal, etc. There may be more than one outlet port 19. The filter 32 may be arranged with clearance in front of the outlet opening 19, or it may be located immediately adjacent to the outlet opening 19.

In FIG. 1 For example, the baffles 28 are located at strategic locations within the fan unit to mitigate the noise there and may also be along the path of the airflow. The baffles 28 extend inwardly from the lower end of the side 22. At least a pair of the baffle plates 28 are mounted on opposite sides of the outlet port 19 and extend inwardly from the side walls 22 to the outlet port 19. The baffles 28 of the pair are substantially identical, opposite, parallel and coplanar. The guide baffles 28 form with the side walls at an angle of 90 ° to 60 °, preferably 90 °. There are preferably also two such pairs of baffles 28, each of which is perpendicular to form a bottom of baffles 28 around the outlet opening 19. The baffle plates 28 may also define the outlet port 19. The baffles 28 may be planar, as shown, or they may be curved. When curved, they may be curved downwardly toward the outlet opening 19. This is in FIG. 7 illustrated.

FIG. 3 shows a complete cross section along the line AA in FIG. 2 and highlights the baffle plates 28. The baffles 28 are arranged to receive the expelled air from the fan blower 12 (see dashed circle) and to direct the airflow 3 within the fan system to and through the outlet port 19 with a minimum of turbulence.

Furthermore, at least one pair of plates 26 may be provided for further attenuation of the noise generated by the airflow 3 from the wind turbine fan 12.

Preferably, there are two pairs of plates 26, each perpendicular to each other. The plates 26 extend between the head portion 17 and the sides 22 and are preferably at an angle between 30 ° and 60 °, preferably 45 °, to the sides 22, and thus at an angle between 60 ° and 30 °, preferably 45 ° to the head portion 17. Each plate 26 may be a metal cladding, and may have a matrix with holes or perforations over all or part of its surface.

There may be noise insulating materials 6 and / or for example in the form of sponge, fiberglass, rock wool, linen cloth, etc. on the plates 26 and / or the guide baffles 28 and / or the head part 17 are mounted on an airflow 1, 2 and 3 opposite inner surface. The plates 26 are preferably mounted at the angles indicated above to mitigate the noise generated by the airflow 3 from the wind turbine fan 12 and / or to assist in the control of the airflow 3.

As mentioned above, each plate 26 may contain perforations. The size of the perforations can determine if the air slows down as it passes through the perforations. As the plates 26 extend between the head portion 17 and the sides 22, a gap 31 is created between each plate, the head portion 17 and the side 22. Due to the gap 31 behind the plates 26, the air pressure in gap 31 increases and is thus identical to the pressure on the perforations from the air flow 3 air pressure at the highest speed. As a result, the air is forced out through the perforations in the plates 26, where the airflow 3 is not so fast. The space 31 may be provided with insulation or other material to mitigate the noise caused by air turbulence. The plate 26 may also be completely or partially perforated.

Noise insulating materials may be used to partially or completely fill the gap 31. The noise insulating material may consist of sponge, glass fiber, rock wool, linen cloth, etc. If desired, the head portion of the insulation opposite to the air flow 3 may be provided with a protective layer to further strengthen the insulating material against displacement and decay over time.

To further mitigate the noise level, the insulating material 16 may also be mounted on a lower surface of the fan blower frame 14 to further absorb the noise generated by the airflow 3 and the blower 12. The insulating material 16 may be applied to other surfaces of the Frames 14 are attached. If the frame 14 is a reverse floor (as shown), the insulating material 16 may be located within the floor 14. The frame 14 preferably has sides that extend vertically at a height greater than or equal to the thickness of the insulating material 16.

One or more of the baffles 28 may be porous, if desired. The porosity can be achieved by perforations over the area of the baffles 28. The perforations may extend over all or part of their surface.

If insulated, baffle covers may be placed over baffles 28 and plates 26 over all or a portion of the insulating material or beyond the perforations to reduce the likelihood of air displacement and contamination. The perforations may be helpful in securing the insulating material of the baffles 28 and plates 26.

The baffle plates 28 direct the airflow 3 to the outlet port 19 and may be flat or curved.

The side walls 22 may have insulation 36 over all or part of their interior surfaces. The insulating material 36 may have a greater thickness than the insulating material (s) 6 and / or 16. It may consist of sponge, fiberglass, rock wool, linen cloth and may have a cloth covering. Some or all of the insulating materials 6, 16, 36 may have reinforcing frames as required or desired.

As the fan frame 14 extends across the outer surface of the outlet port 19 as shown, the guide baffles 28 and the fan frame 14 between them create one or more air flow channels 20 through which the air is blown to the outlet port 19 and thus through the filter 32. Preferably, the air flow passages extend around the outer surface of the outlet port 19.

The outlet airflow 2 may circulate through the filter 32. This also applies to the embodiment as in FIG. 7 shown. The air flow channels 20 create a constriction of the air flow, and therefore form an air high pressure zone. The air flows from high pressure to low pressure. This forces all of the air to flow through the channels 20, causing the airflow to move very strongly in only one direction through the outlet port 19, since the air generally does not flow from low pressure to high pressure. As a result, the turbulence in the channels 20 and the outlet opening 19 are considerably reduced. As such, the noise is significantly attenuated and airflow throughput is increased.

FIG. 6 Figure 11 is a graph comparing the average velocity v of the airflow and the noise level N of a fan system of the present invention with the values without the present invention. The average speed v of the air flow is measured at 24 different points in the installation installation of the fan, as in FIG. 5 is illustrated. In FIG. 6 (a) a conventional fan system is shown, whereas the FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c) are related to the present invention. The average velocity v of the air at both of FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c) is higher, and the noise level N is lower than in FIG. 6 (a). As such, the pressure loss of the fan units 6 (b) and 6 (c) is smaller than in FIG. 6 (a). Therefore, energy savings can be achieved over time.

Finally, and most important of all, the noise level N in decibels from a fan unit of the preferred form of the present invention is compared to a non-preferred form, and it starts measured a spot 1.5 meters below the outlet of the plant. As measuring at a location 1.5 meters below a fan unit, one embodiment of the present invention may allow the fan unit to be operated with less noise than a fan unit of the prior art.

While the present invention in particular with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 7 With emphasis on a method and system for mitigating noise in a fan unit, it should be understood that the figures are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting the invention. In addition, it will be appreciated that the method and apparatus of the present invention provide benefits for many applications where airflow control is required. It is intended that many changes and modifications may be made to the skill of the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(1)

Intake air flow

(2)

Outlet air flow

(3)

Internal airflow

(6)

insulating material

(10)

Central opening

(11)

Air inlet cover

(12)

fan

(13)

rods

(14)

Blower-frame

(15)

Pages of 14

(16)

insulating material

(17)

headboard

(18)

Air inlet opening

(19)

air outlet

(20)

Air flow channels

(22)

side walls

(26)

plates

(28)

Leit baffles

(31)

Gap behind 26

(32)

filter

(36)

insulating material

Claims (28)

1. Ventilator installation comprising: a head part with an inlet opening (18), at least one side, which surrounds the ventilator installation, an outlet opening (19), a wind-wheel fan (12) seated on a frame (14), wherein the wind-wheel fan (12) serves for blowing in air through the inlet opening (18) and expelling air through the outlet opening (19), characterised in that at least one pair of guide deflecting plates (28) is provided, which plates extend inwardly from a lower end of the at least one side towards the outlet opening (19) and define the outlet opening (19), wherein formed between the at least one pair of guide deflecting plates (28) and the frame (14) is an air flow channel (20) which produces a constriction of the air flow (3) for formation of an air high-pressure zone, whereby the entire air is constrained to flow through the air flow channel (20) and thereby to produce a substantially directed air flow (3) with reduced turbulence in the air flow channel (20) and through the outlet opening (19), so that the noise of the said ventilator installation is reduced.
2. Ventilator installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the frame is a fan frame (14).
3. Ventilator installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that two pairs of guide deflecting plates (28) are mounted within the ventilator installation, wherein the guide deflecting plates (28) are respectively disposed to be perpendicular.
4. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the guide deflecting plates (28) are arranged at an angle between 90° and 60° relative to at least one side.
5. Ventilator installation according to claim 4, characterised in that the angle is 90°.
6. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the guide deflecting plates (28) are perforated.
7. Ventilator installation according to claim 6, characterised in that the perforations extend over only a part of the guide deflecting plates (28).
8. Ventilator installation according to claim 6, characterised in that the perforations extend over the entire guide deflecting plates (28).
9. Ventilator installation according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the perforations are covered by a cloth.
10. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the outlet opening (19) is formed to be circular, triangular, quadrangular, rectangular, pentagonal or octagonal.
11. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the guide deflecting plates (28) are curved.
12. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that this has at least one pair of plates (26), which are mounted in the ventilator installation and extend between the head part (17) and at least one side, wherein each of the at least one pair of plates (26) defines a closed intermediate space between each of at least one pair of plates (26), the head part (17) and at least one side.
13. Ventilator installation according to claim 12, characterised in that the plates (26) stand at an angle between 30° and 60° relative to the head part (17).
14. Ventilator installation according to claim 13, characterised in that the angle is 45°.
15. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that two pairs of plates (26) are present and the plates (26) are respectively disposed to be perpendicular.
16. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that at least one pair of plates (26) is perforated.
17. Ventilator installation according to claim 16, characterised in that the perforations extend over the entire plates (26) of the at least one pair.
18. Ventilator installation according to claim 16, characterised in that the perforations extend over only a part of the plates (26) of the at least one pair.
19. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterised in that the perforations are covered by a cloth.
20. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 12 to 19, characterised in that the plates (26) are curved.
21. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 12 to 20, characterised in that the closed intermediate space is filled at least partly with noise insulating material (6).
22. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 21, characterised in that a noise insulating material (16) is used in order to line an inner surface of one or more of the following parts: at least one side, head part (17), guide deflecting plates (28) and plates (26).
23. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 22, characterised in that a noise insulating material (36) is mounted at the surface of the fan frame (14).
24. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 23, characterised in that the fan frame (14) has the form of an inner base with side walls (22) connected therewith and that the noise insulating material (36) is disposed in the base.
25. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterised in that the head part (17) has a central opening (10) which has an inlet cover, wherein the inlet opening (18) is disposed in the inlet cover.
26. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterised in that this has a filter (32) mounted below the outlet opening (19).
27. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterised in that at least one side comprises four respectively perpendicular side walls (22) and that the side walls (22) are respectively also arranged perpendicularly to the head part (17).
28. Ventilator installation according to one of claims 1 to 27, characterised in that the deflecting plates (28) used in the ventilator installation are formed as scatter deflecting plates or guide deflecting plates.

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