EP4296584A1

EP4296584A1 - Fan coil unit

Info

Publication number: EP4296584A1
Application number: EP23180601.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Valerio Giordano Riello
Original assignee: Aermec SpA
Current assignee: Aermec SpA
Priority date: 2022-06-23
Filing date: 2023-06-21
Publication date: 2023-12-27

Abstract

A fan coil unit (1) comprising: a rigid box-like outer casing (2) with a self-supporting structure, which is provided with a through-duct (3) adapted to be crossed by the external air; a heat exchanger (5) which is located inside the through-duct (3) so as to be lapped/crossed by the air flowing along the duct; electrically-operated ventilation means (4) that are adapted to circulate the external air along said through-duct (3); and an electrically-operated humidifier assembly (9) that is adapted to introduce water vapor inside the place to be air-conditioned and includes a removable modular unit (20) that produces water vapor upon command and is inserted/insertable in removable manner into a corresponding housing seat (21), which is accessible from the outside of the same box-like casing (2) and prolongs/extends inside said box-like casing (2).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102022000013351 filed on June 23, 2022 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fan coil unit.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a wall-type fan coil unit, to which the following disclosure will explicitly refer without thereby losing generality.

BACKGROUND

As is known, wall-type fan coil units are apparatuses substantially parallelepiped in shape, which are arranged in vertical position inside the place to be air-conditioned, usually close to the floor and grazing one of the walls of the place, and are adapted to heat or cool the air present inside the place.
More specifically, the fan coil units currently on the market usually comprise: a rigid and substantially parallelepiped-shaped, box-like outer casing which is structured to be firmly fixed to the wall in vertical position, at more or less ten centimetres from the floor, and is internally provided with a large air-circulation duct, which extends vertically and in pass-through manner from one side to the other of the box-like casing, and is closed at the top by a large protective grid; an air/liquid heat exchanger, which is located inside the air-circulation duct so as to be lapped /crossed by the air flowing along the duct, and is connected to an external hydraulic circuit so as to be additionally continuously crossed by a flow of hot or cold water; and an electrically-operated fan, which is located inside the vertical through-duct, under the heat exchanger, and is adapted to produce an upward airflow that crosses the entire length of the air-circulation duct, crossing/lapping the heat exchanger.
Clearly, when crossing/lapping the heat exchanger, the airflow produced by the fan absorbs or releases heat to the water respectively hot or cold coming from the external hydraulic circuit.
In addition, the aforementioned fan coil units usually comprise also: a condensate collection tray, which is located inside the box-like casing, immediately beneath the heat exchanger, and is adapted to collect the drops of condensed water that, in use, fall from the heat exchanger when the latter is crossed by cold water; and a plate-like air filter, which is arranged to close the bottom mouth of the air-circulation duct, beneath the fan, and is adapted to hold the dusts in suspension in the air.
Unfortunately, when used for heating the environment, the fan coil units currently on the market tend to exceedingly dry the air inside the place where they are located, thus creating a microclimate which is unpleasant for some people, with the comfort problems that this entails.
To overcome this drawback, over the past few years there have been marketed fan coil units that are internally provided also with an electrically-operated humidifier device, which is able to introduce water vapor in the airflow that crosses the air-circulation duct, so as to increase the moisture content of the airflow exiting from the fan coil unit.
More specifically, these fan coil units are provided with an ultrasonic water-vapor generator and with a water-vapor distribution pipe that extends horizontally inside the air-circulation duct, spaced apart above the heat exchanger, and is laterally provided with a series of openings through which the water vapor coming from the vapor generator is introduced in the airflow coming out of the fan coil unit.
Unfortunately, this humidifier device is relatively complicated to mount inside the fan coil unit, with the ensuing high production costs.
Furthermore, experimental tests have highlighted the difficulty of a correct dynamic balance between the airflow treated by the fan coil unit and the water vapor flow. Difficulty that often leads to excessive fluctuations of the moisture content of the air present inside the place, which is an unpleasant phenomenon for many people.

SUMMARY

Aim of the present invention is to realize a wall-type fan coil unit, which is more cost-effective to produce and is moreover exempt from the above-described drawbacks.
In accordance with the aforementioned aims, according to the present invention there is provided a fan coil unit as defined in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any of the claims dependent thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a nonlimiting example embodiment thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wall-type fan coil unit realized according to the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity's sake;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of the fan coil unit illustrated in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view of the fan coil unit illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, sectioned along the midplane and with parts removed for clarity's sake;
Figure 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the fan coil unit illustrated in the previous figures, with parts removed for clarity's sake;
Figure 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of some components of the fan coil unit illustrated in Figure 4, with parts removed for clarity; whereas
Figure 6 is a second perspective view of the upper part of the fan coil unit illustrated in the previous figures, with the humidifier device extracted from its seat.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, with number 1 it is denoted, as a whole, a wall-type fan coil unit which is adapted to heat or cool the air present inside a generic place to be air-conditioned, and is particularly adapted to be arranged inside the place to be air-conditioned in a substantially vertical position, preferably grazing one of the walls of the place and preferably at a short distance from the floor.
In addition, fan coil unit 1 is particularly adapted to be also firmly anchored to the wall of the place to be air-conditioned.
More specifically, the fan coil unit 1 is provided with a substantially rigid, box-like outer casing 2 with a self-supporting structure, which is preferably substantially parallelepiped in shape, and is structured so as to be set against and, optionally, also firmly anchored to the wall P of the place to be air-conditioned in a substantially vertical position.
In other words, the box-like outer casing 2 is adapted to be fixed to the wall.
The fan coil unit 1 moreover comprises: a large through-duct 3, which extends in pass-through manner across the box-like casing 2 preferably while remaining astride of the midplane M of the fan coil unit, and is adapted to be crossed by the external/ambient air; at least one electrically-operated fan 4 or similar device, which is located inside the through-duct 3 and is adapted to circulate an airflow f along the through-duct 3; and at least one air/liquid heat exchanger 5, which is located inside the through-duct 3 so as to be crossed/lapped by the airflow crossing the through-duct 3, and is adapted to subtract or release heat to the same airflow.
More specifically, the heat exchanger 5 is preferably located spaced apart above the fan 4, and is specifically structured for being connected to an external hydraulic circuit (not shown) so as to be additionally continuously crossed by a flow of water or other heat-transfer liquid at a preset temperature.
The heat exchanger 5 is thus adapted to heat or cool the air that flows along the through-duct 3, depending on the temperature of the water or other heat-transfer liquid crossing it. Preferably, the value of the temperature of the water or other heat-transfer liquid is furthermore controlled by an outer cooling and/or heating system.
In addition, the fan coil unit 1 is also provided with an electronic control unit 6, which is preferably located inside the box-like casing 2, and is adapted to control the fan 4.
More specifically, the electronic control unit 6 is preferably programmed/configured to activate and deactivate the fan 4 based on signals coming from at least one temperature sensor (not shown in the figures), which is adapted to measure the temperature of the air present inside the place to be air-conditioned, and is preferably placed outside of the box-like casing 2. In other words, said temperature sensor is advantageously placed outside of the fan coil unit 1.
With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the fan coil unit 1 preferably additionally also comprises a condensate collection tray 7 and/or an air filter 8.
The condensate collection tray 7 is located immediately beneath the heat exchanger 5, so as to be able to collect the drops of condensed water that, in use, form and fall by gravity from the heat exchanger 5 when the exchanger cools the airflow crossing/lapping it.
The air filter 8, in turn, is located along the through-duct 3, preferably upstream of the heat exchanger 5 and/or of the fan 4, and is adapted to hold the dust and the other impurities in suspension in the air that flows along the through-duct 3.
With reference to Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, the fan coil unit 1 additionally comprises an electrically-operated humidifier assembly 9, which is at least partially housed/ recessed inside the box-like casing 2, and is adapted to increase, on command, the moisture content of the air contained in the place to be air-conditioned.
More specifically, the humidifier assembly 9 is adapted to introduce water vapor inside the place to be air-conditioned, and is preferably substantially entirely housed inside the box-like casing 2.
The electronic control unit 6, in turn, is preferably programmed/configured to control, or rather activate and deactivate, the humidifier assembly 9 depending on signals coming from at least one humidity sensor (not shown in the figures), which is adapted to measure the moisture content of the air present inside the place to be air-conditioned, and is preferably placed outside of the box-like casing 2.
In other words, said humidity sensor is advantageously placed outside of the fan coil unit 1.
With reference to Figures 1 to 6, in particular the box-like casing 2 preferably has a substantially flat, front face 2a and a substantially flat, rear face 2b which are opposite and advantageously also substantially parallel to each other, and are both arranged astride of the midplane M of the fan coil unit, substantially perpendicular to the latter; a substantially flat, upper face 2c and a substantially flat, bottom face 2d which are opposite and advantageously also substantially parallel to each other, and are both arranged astride of the midplane M of the fan coil unit, substantially perpendicular to the latter and to the front 2a and rear 2b faces; and finally two, substantially flat, side faces 2e which are opposite and advantageously also substantially parallel to each other, and are arranged spaced apart on opposite sides of the midplane M of the fan coil unit, substantially perpendicular to the latter and to the front 2a, rear 2b, top 2c and bottom 2d faces.
In addition, the box-like casing 2 is preferably structured so that its rear face 2b can be set against and preferably also firmly anchored to the wall P of the place to be air-conditioned, simultaneously arranging the front face 2a and the two side faces 2e in a substantially vertical position, and the upper face 2c and the bottom face 2d in a substantially horizontal position.
Preferably, the box-like casing 2 of fan coil unit 1 is moreover adapted to be set against or fixed to the wall P of the place to be air-conditioned, with the bottom face 2d at a distance of approximately 5-25 cm (centimetres) from the floor.
The through-duct 3, in turn, is preferably substantially rectilinear, and preferably extends from one side to the other of the box-like casing 2 in a substantially vertical direction, so that its two mouths are located one on the upper face 2c and the other on the bottom face 2d of the box-like casing 2.
The fan 4, on the other hand, is preferably structured so as to generate an upward airflow that enters the through-duct 3 via the mouth placed on the bottom face 2d of the box-like casing 2, flows along the through-duct 3 crossing/ lapping the heat exchanger 5, and then comes out of the fan coil unit 1 via the mouth placed on the upper face 2c of the box-like casing 2.
Therefore, the inlet mouth 3a of through-duct 3 is preferably located on the bottom face 2d of box-like casing 2, whereas the outlet mouth 3b of through-duct 3 is preferably located on the upper face 2c of box-like casing 2.
In addition, with particular reference to Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, the box-like casing 2 of fan coil unit 1 preferably comprises: an inner frame 10 having a rigid and self-supporting structure, which is preferably at least partially made of metal material, and is structured so as to be set against and preferably also firmly anchored to the wall P, at a preset distance from the underlying ground; and a substantially rigid, outer shell 11 having a roughly concave half-shell shape, which is preferably at least partially made of metal material, and is fitted and fixed to the inner frame 10 so as to surround and substantially cover the entire inner frame 10, preferably also arranging itself grazed to the wall P.
The outer shell 11 is thus adapted to form the front face 2a and the two opposite side faces 2e of box-like casing 2, and optionally additionally the upper face 2c and/or the bottom face 2d of box-like casing 2.
In the example shown, in particular, the outer shell 11 is preferably shaped like a substantially rectangular basin.
With reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4, the outer shell 11 preferably moreover comprises: a substantially rectangular-shaped and preferably made of metal material, large central plate 12 which is substantially U-folded so as to form the front face 2a and the two side faces 2e of the box-like casing 2; a plate-like upper panel 13, which is preferably made of plastic material, and is fixed to the upper edge of the central plate 12 so as to form the upper face 2c of box-like casing 2; and optionally also a plate-like bottom panel 14, which is preferably made of plastic material, and is fixed to the bottom edge of the central plate 12 so as to form the bottom face 2d of box-like casing 2.
The central flat sector of central plate 12 forms the front wall of outer shell 11, or rather the front face 2a of casing 2. The plate-like upper panel 13 forms the upper wall of outer shell 11, or rather the upper face 2c of box-like casing 2. The plate-like bottom panel 14, in turn, forms the bottom wall of outer shell 11, or rather the bottom face 2c of the box-like casing 2.
The inlet mouth 3a of through-duct 3 is preferably located on the plate-like bottom panel 14 of shell 11, and is optionally closed by a protection grid advantageously incorporated in the same plate-like bottom panel 14.
The outlet mouth 3b of through-duct 3, on the other hand, is preferably located on the plate-like upper panel 13 of shell 11, and is preferably closed by a protection grid 15 that is advantageously incorporated in upper panel 13 and is optionally provided with manually openable and/or adjustable deflector fins.
With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the inner supporting frame 10 of box-like casing 2, in turn, preferably has a substantially U-shaped structure, and the through-duct 3 extends vertically inside the supporting frame 10.
In other words, through-duct 3 is laterally delimited by the two wings of the U-shaped inner supporting frame 10.
Inner frame 10 and outer shell 11 of box-like casing 2 are thus structured so as to jointly form/delimit the through-duct 3.
More specifically, the inner supporting frame 10 is preferably made of metal sheet, and preferably comprises: a preferably approximately rectangular in shape, central flat partition or segment 16 which is arranged substantially perpendicular to the midplane M of the fan coil unit, and is adapted to be rested and preferably additionally firmly anchored to the wall P; and a pair of preferably substantially rectangular in shape, lateral flat partitions or segments 17 which are integral with and extend cantilevered from the central flat partition 16 on opposite sides of the latter, so as to be arranged substantially parallel to and facing each other, spaced apart on opposite sides of the midplane M of the fan coil unit.
The outer shell 11, in turn, is preferably shaped like a substantially rectangular basin, and is preferably fitted onto the U-shaped supporting frame 10, so as to arrange its front wall, or rather the bottom of the basin, resting on the outer side edges of the two fins of the inner frame 10, i.e. on the outer edges of the two lateral flat partitions 17.
Furthermore, in the example shown, the plate-like bottom panel 14 of outer shell 11 is preferably fixed in rigid manner beneath the inner supporting frame 10.
Preferably, the through-duct 3 is thus laterally delimited by the two lateral flat partitions 17 of the inner frame 10, and is delimited at the back by the central flat partition 16 of the same inner frame 10. In addition, the through-duct 3 is delimited at the front by the front wall of outer shell 11, or rather by the central flat sector of plate 12.
With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the fan 4 is preferably located in the starting/bottom length of through-duct 3, i.e. immediately downstream of the inlet mouth 3a.
The heat exchanger 5, in turn, is preferably located in the final/upper length of through-duct 3, i.e. immediately upstream of the outlet mouth 3b. Thus, the heat exchanger 5 is preferably located spaced apart above the fan 4.
Furthermore, the heat exchanger 5 preferably has a plate-like structure, and is preferably arranged crosswise between the two lateral supporting partitions 17 of inner frame 10, substantially perpendicular to the midplane M of the fan coil unit.
Preferably, the heat exchanger 5 is moreover firmly fixed to both lateral supporting partitions 17.
In addition, the heat exchanger 5 is preferably also inclined with respect to the vertical, or rather to the longitudinal axis of through-duct 3, by an angle advantageously ranging between 30° and 60°, and it is advantageously also dimensioned so as to substantially take up the entire free section of through-duct 3 in order to be crossed/lapped by substantially the whole air flowing along the through-duct 3.
In the example shown, in particular, the heat exchanger 5 is preferably a finned-pack heat exchanger, roughly rectangular in shape.
The fan 4, in turn, is preferably a centrifugal blower and is advantageously provided with two twinned impellers, which are arranged on opposite sides of the midplane M.
With reference to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, preferably the box-like casing 2 is internally also provided with two lateral service compartments 18 and 19, which are located on opposite sides of the through-duct 3 and of the midplane M of the fan coil unit, so as to be both grazed/adjacent to the wall P of the place to be air-conditioned.
In other words, the inner supporting frame 10 is preferably shaped/structured so as to additionally delimit, inside the shell 11, the lateral service compartments 18 and 19.
The service compartment 18 preferably accommodates the electronic control unit 6 and optionally also the electrical connector(s) that allow connecting the fan coil unit 1, or rather the fan 4, to the external electric grid (not shown).
The service compartment 19, in turn, preferably houses the hydraulic fittings, the on-off valves and/or the other hydraulic components (not shown in the figures) that allow connecting the heat exchanger 5 to the external hydraulic circuit (not shown).
With particular reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the condensate collection tray 7, on the other hand, is preferably oblong in shape and extends in bridge-like manner between the two lateral supporting partitions 17 of inner frame 10, immediately underneath the heat exchanger 5, and preferably additionally immediately above the fan 4.
In addition, the condensate collection tray 7 is preferably made of plastic material, and is preferably structured so as to discharge by gravity the condensed water outside of the fan coil unit 1, preferably in an external discharge duct (not shown).
More specifically, the condensate collection tray 7 is preferably oblong in shape and extends in bridge-like manner between the two lateral flat partitions 17 of the inner supporting frame 10, immediately under the heat exchanger 5, i.e. between the heat exchanger 5 and the fan 4.
Preferably, the condensate collection tray 7 is furthermore dimensioned so as to take up the entire section of the through-duct 3.
In addition, the delivery mouth(s) of the centrifugal fan 4 are preferably inserted in the condensate collection tray 7 so as to protrude cantilevered above the condensate collection tray 7. Therefore, the airflow f crossing the through-duct 3 overtakes the condensate collection tray 7 passing inside the volute(s) of the centrifugal fan 4.
The bottom of condensate collection tray 7, furthermore, is preferably inclined towards one of the two lateral supporting partitions 17 of inner frame 10, and is there preferably also provided with a small drain pipe (not shown in the figures), which is adapted to be connected in known manner to the external discharge duct, and is suitably inclined downwards so as to make the drops of condensed water flow by gravity from the tray.
With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, on the other hand the air filter 8 preferably has a plate-like structure and is preferably located at the inlet mouth 3a of through-duct 3.
Moreover, the plate-like air filter 16 is preferably dimensioned so as to substantially take up the entire passage section of the through-duct 3, so as to be able to filter substantially the all airflow crossing the through-duct 3.
More specifically, the air filter 8 is preferably located on the plate-like bottom panel 14 of outer shell 11, and is preferably fixed or coupled to the latter in a rigid and stable, though easy manually removable manner.
In other words, the air filter 8 is preferably fixed/ attached to the box-like casing 2, or rather to the outer shell 11 and/or to the inner supporting frame 10, in an easy removable manner.
With reference to Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, the humidifier assembly 9, in turn, includes a removable modular unit 20 that produces the water vapor on command, and is inserted/ insertable in easy removable manner into a corresponding housing cavity or seat 21, which is immediately accessible from the outside of box-like casing 2 and prolongs/extends inside the box-like casing 2.
More specifically, the removable modular unit 20 is preferably an ultrasonic humidifier device.
Preferably, the removable modular unit 20 is moreover electrically connected to the internal electrical circuit (not shown in the figures) of the fan coil unit 1, so as to be powered together with the rest of the electrical and/or electronic components of fan coil unit 1.
In addition, the removable modular unit 20 is preferably also electronically connected to the electronic control unit 6 so as to be controlled by the latter depending on signals arriving from said at least one humidity sensor (not shown in the figures).
Preferably, the removable modular unit 20 is furthermore structured/dimensioned so as to be substantially entirely contained inside the housing seat 21.
In addition, the fan coil unit 1, or rather the box-like casing 2, is preferably additionally provided with a small movable door, which is adapted to selectively close the access opening of housing seat 21, advantageously so as to substantially conceal the entire removable modular unit 20 from view.
More specifically, the removable modular unit 20 is preferably provided with a delivery mouth through which the water vapor comes out, and such delivery mouth is preferably structured/shaped so as to surface or extend outside of the box-like casing 2 when the removable modular unit 20 engages the housing seat 21.
In addition, the housing seat 21 is preferably located inside one of the two service compartments 18 and 19 present inside the box-like casing 2.
Preferably the removable modular unit 20, or rather the ultrasonic humidifier device, is furthermore fixed/coupled in removable manner to the box-like casing 2, or rather to the inner supporting frame 10 of box-like casing 2, by means of a sliding interlocking coupling.
More specifically, with reference to Figures 1 to 6, the access opening of housing seat 21 is preferably located on the upper face 2c of box-like casing 2, or better on the plate-like upper panel 13 of shell 11, advantageously on a side of the outlet mouth 3b of through-duct 3.
In addition, the housing seat 21 preferably extends/ prolongs inside the service compartment 18 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper face 2c of box-like casing 2, i.e. in a substantially vertical direction.
Preferably, the access opening of housing seat 21 is moreover closed in removable manner by a manually- movable or removable auxiliary door 22, which is advantageously incorporated in the box-like casing 2, or rather in the plate-like upper panel 13 of shell 11, beside the outlet mouth 3b of through-duct 3, and is structured/dimensioned so as to conceal from view the same access opening of housing seat 21 .
Furthermore, the removable modular unit 20 is preferably fixed/coupled in removable manner to the box-like casing 2, or rather to the inner supporting frame 10 of box-like casing 2, by means of a sliding interlocking coupling with fitting and extraction direction advantageously substantially perpendicular to the upper face 2c of box-like casing 2, i.e. with a substantially vertical fitting and extraction direction.
More specifically, with particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, inside the housing seat 21 there is preferably located a rectilinear rail 23 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the same housing seat 21, or rather in a substantially vertical direction, and is advantageously fixed in rigid manner to one of the two lateral flat partitions 17 of inner supporting frame 10.
The removable modular unit 20 is preferably structured so as to interlock in a freely slidable manner on the rectilinear rail 23.
In addition, inside the housing seat 21, the fan coil unit 1 preferably additionally comprises a first quick-coupling electric connector 24, which is in electrical continuity with the internal electrical circuit (not shown in the figures) of the fan coil unit 1 and/or with the electronic control unit 6.
In the example shown, in particular, the quick-coupling electric connector 24 is preferably located on the rectilinear rail 23.
More specifically, the quick-coupling electric connector 24 is preferably located on the upper end of rectilinear rail 23.
The removable modular unit 20, in turn, is preferably provided with a second quick-coupling electric connector, which is adapted to couple to electric connector 24 when the removable modular unit 20 engages/fits the housing seat 21, so as to connect the removable modular unit 20 to the internal electrical circuit (not shown in the figures) of fan coil unit 1 and/or to the electronic control unit 6.
With reference to Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, on the other hand, the removable modular unit 20 preferably comprises: a closed container for liquids, which is adapted to contain the water to be introduced/released in form of water vapor into the place to be air-conditioned, and which is superiorly provided with a small delivery mouth through which the water vapor can freely come out of the container; and a floating body, which is arranged inside the container for liquids so as to be able to float on the water contained therein, and accommodates a vibrating foil atomizer that is capable of producing the water vapor in known manner.
Preferably, the container for liquids is moreover structured so as to attach/fix in easy removable manner to the box-like casing 2, or rather to the inner supporting frame 10 of box-like casing 2, via said sliding interlocking coupling.
More specifically, the removable modular unit 20 preferably comprises: a liquid vessel 25 advantageously with a tub structure, which is adapted to contain the water to be introduced/released in form of water vapor into the place to be air-conditioned, and has a capacity preferably ranging between 0,5 and 4 litres; a floating body 26, which is arranged inside the vessel 25 so as to be able to float on the water contained therein, and accommodates inside itself a vibrating foil atomizer (not shown in the figures) which is capable of vibrating preferably with ultrasonic frequencies, so as to produce the water vapor; and a removable lid 27, which is arranged to close the vessel 25 advantageously substantially liquid-tight, and is provided with a small delivery mouth 27a via which the water vapor can freely come out of the vessel 25.
More specifically, the delivery mouth 27a preferably protrudes cantilevered from the top of lid 27.
In addition, the delivery mouth 27a of top lid 27 is preferably structured/dimensioned so as to protrude or surface, when the removable modular unit 20 is fitted into the housing seat 21, outside of the box-like casing 2 engaging a notch or recess specially made in the perimeter rim of the access opening of the housing seat 21 and/or in the perimeter edge of the movable door 22.
In the example shown, in particular, the delivery mouth 27a advantageously has a substantially duckbill shape.
In addition, the lid 27 preferably accommodates therein the electronic board (not shown in the figures) that controls said vibrating foil atomizer, and is thus electrically connected to the floating body 26 advantageously by means of a flexible cable.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5, moreover the vessel 25 of the removable modular unit 20 is preferably structured so as to attach in easy removable manner to the box-like casing 2, or rather to the inner supporting frame 10 of box-like casing 2, by means of said sliding interlocking coupling.
The top lid 27, in turn, preferably accommodates the second quick-coupling electric connector.
More specifically, the vessel 25 is preferably provided with at least one vertical rectilinear groove that has a shape substantially complementary to that of the rectilinear rail 23, so as to be able to couple to the latter in an axially slidable manner.
The second quick-coupling electric connector, in turn, is preferably located on the top lid 27 vertically aligned to the vertical rectilinear groove of vessel 25.
With reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6, in the example shown, in particular, the vessel 25 is preferably provided with two vertical rectilinear grooves 28, which are located on opposite sides of the vertical midplane of the removable modular unit 20, so as to allow the removable modular unit 20 to slidingly couple to a rectilinear rail 23 located inside the housing seat 21, indifferently on the right side or on the left side of the removable modular unit 20.
Similarly, the top lid 27 is preferably provided with two distinct second quick-coupling electric connectors 29, which are located on opposite sides of the vertical midplane of the removable modular unit 20, so as to allow the removable modular unit 20 to electrically connect to a quick-coupling electric connector 24 located inside the housing seat 21, indifferently on the right side or on the left side of the removable modular unit 20.
In addition, with particular reference to Figure 5, the delivery mouth 27a of top lid 27 is preferably located on a revolving tower 30 which is capable of freely swinging about an axis A substantially perpendicular to the lying plane of the lid 27, i.e. substantially vertical.
In this manner, a same removable modular unit 20 can be inserted indifferently in a housing seat 21 located inside the service compartment 18 or inside the service compartment 19.
Operation of the fan coil unit 1 is easy inferable from what described above and thus does not require further explanations.
The advantages connected to the particular structure of the humidifier assembly 9 are remarkable.
The removable modular unit 20 is extremely quick to mount inside the box-like casing 2, with the drastic reduction in the assembly time of the fan coil unit 1 which this entails.
Furthermore, the removable modular unit 20 can be manufactured separately from the rest of the fan coil unit 1 with the production simplifications and the savings that this entails.
Last, but not least, the cleaning and/or the filling of the removable modular unit 20 can be performed autonomously by the final user, thus simplifying the ordinary maintenance operations.
Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the fan coil unit 1 and to its humidifier assembly 9 without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in a different embodiment the through-duct 3 of the fan coil unit 1 may have a substantially T-shaped structure, with an inlet mouth and two distinct outlet mouths.
The inlet mouth is preferably located on the front face 2a of the outer casing 2, or rather on the front wall of the outer shell 11. A first outlet mouth is preferably located on the upper face 2c of the outer casing 2, or rather on the plate-like upper panel 13 of outer shell 11. The second outlet mouth, in turn, is preferably located on the bottom face 2d of outer casing 2, or rather on the plate-like bottom panel of outer shell 11.
In other words, the through-duct 3 begins at the front face 2a of outer casing 2, and then forks inside the casing 2 in two distinct branches which end one at the upper face 2c and the other one at the bottom face 2d of casing 2.
In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 5 is located inside the through-duct 3, upstream of the forking of the duct, so as to be still crossed or anyway lapped by the air entering the through-duct 3 via the inlet mouth.
The centrifugal fan, in turn, 4 is replaced by a pair of tangential fans, which preferably extend in a bridge-like manner between the two lateral partitions 17 of the inner supporting frame 11, downstream of the forking of the through-duct 3 and each inside a respective branch of the through-duct 3. The electronic control unit 6, obviously, controls both tangential fans.
Also in this embodiment, the humidifier assembly of the fan coil unit 1 includes a removable modular unit 20, which is inserted/insertable in easy removable manner into a corresponding housing cavity or seat 21, which preferably extends inside one of the two lateral service compartments 18 and 19 of the fan coil unit 1, and preferably has the access opening located on the upper face 2c of the box-like casing 2, advantageously beside the upper outlet mouth of the through-duct 3.
Moreover, also in this case the removable modular unit 20 is preferably structured/dimensioned so as to be substantially entirely contained inside the housing seat 21, and is preferably electrically connected to the internal electrical circuit of fan coil unit 1, so as to be powered together with the rest of the electrical and/or electronic components of the fan coil unit 1 and/or so as to be controlled by the electronic control unit 6 based on signals coming from said at least one humidity sensor.
Finally, in a more sophisticated not-shown embodiment, the removable modular unit 20 may be provided with an electronic control unit of its own (not shown in the figures), separate and distinct from the electronic control unit 6, which is preferably incorporated/housed in the same removable modular unit 20, and is adapted to control the removable modular unit 20 depending on signals coming from at least one humidity sensor (not shown in the figures), which is adapted to measure the moisture content of the air present inside the place to be air-conditioned and is advantageously installed in the same removable modular unit 20.
In this embodiment, therefore, the removable modular unit 20 is not controlled by the electronic control unit 6.
In other words, in this embodiment the removable modular unit 20 is simply electrically connected to the internal electrical circuit (not shown in the figures) of the fan coil unit 1, so as to be powered together with the rest of the electrical and/or electronic components of the fan coil unit 1.

Claims

A fan coil unit (1) comprising: a rigid box-like outer casing (2) with a self-supporting structure, which is provided with a through-duct (3) adapted to be crossed by the external air; a heat exchanger (5) which is located inside the through-duct (3) so as to be lapped/crossed by the air flowing along the duct; electrically-operated ventilation means (4) that are adapted to circulate the external air along said through-duct (3); and an electrically -operated humidifier assembly (9) adapted to introduce water vapor inside the place to be air-conditioned;
said fan coil unit (1) being characterized in that the humidifier assembly (9) includes a removable modular unit (20) that produces water vapor and is inserted/insertable in removable manner into a corresponding housing seat (21), which is accessible from the outside of the same box-like casing (2) and prolongs/extends inside said box-like casing (2) .
The fan coil unit according to Claim 1, wherein the box-like casing (2) is provided with a substantially horizontal upper wall (2c) and the access opening of said housing seat (21) is located on said upper wall (2c).
The fan coil unit according to Claim 2, wherein said through-duct (3) has at least one outlet mouth (3b) which is located on said upper wall (2c) of the box-like casing (2); the access opening of said housing seat (21) being arranged on a side of said outlet mouth (3b).
The fan coil unit according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said removable modular unit (20) is substantially entirely recessed inside said housing seat (21).
The fan coil unit according to Claim 4, wherein the box-like casing (2) is provided with an auxiliary door (22), which is adapted to close the access opening to said housing seat (21) concealing said removable modular unit (20) from view.
The fan coil unit according to Claim 5, wherein the removable modular unit (20) is provided with a delivery mouth (27a) from which the water vapor exits; said delivery mouth (27a) being structured/shaped so as to surface or extend outside of the box-like casing (2) when the removable modular unit (20) engages said housing seat (21).
The fan coil unit according to Claim 6, wherein the delivery mouth (27a) of the removable modular unit (20) has a substantially duckbill-shaped structure.
The fan coil unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said removable modular unit (20) is fixed to the box-like casing (2) by a sliding interlocking coupling.
The fan coil unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said removable modular unit (20) is electrically connected to the internal electrical circuit of the fan coil unit, so as to be powered together with the rest of the electrical and/or electronic components of the fan coil unit (1).
The fan coil unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said removable modular unit (20) is an ultrasonic humidifier device.
The fan coil unit according to Claim 10, wherein said removable modular unit (20) comprises: a closed liquid container (25, 27) which is adapted to contain the water to be introduced/released in form of water vapor into the place to be air-conditioned, and is superiorly provided with a delivery mouth (27a) through which the water vapor can freely come out of the container (25, 27); and a floating body (26) which is arranged inside the liquid container (25, 27) so as to be able to float on the water contained therein, and accommodates a vibrating foil atomizer which is capable of producing the water vapor.
The fan coil unit according to Claim 11, wherein said container for liquids (25, 27) is structured so as to be attached/fixed in removable manner to the box-like casing (2) via said sliding interlocking coupling.
The fan coil unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said box-like casing (2) is additionally internally provided with two lateral service compartments (18, 19) that are arranged on opposite sides of said through-duct (3); said housing seat (21) extending inside one of said lateral service compartments (18, 19).
The fan coil unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by additionally comprising an electronic control unit (6) that controls said removable modular unit (20) based on signals coming from at least one humidity sensor, which is adapted to measure the moisture content of the air present inside the place to be air-conditioned.
The fan coil unit according to Claim 14, wherein said electronic control unit (6) additionally controls also said ventilation means (4) based on signals coming from at least one temperature sensor, which is adapted to measure the temperature of the air present inside the place to be air-conditioned.
The fan coil unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the box-like casing (2) is substantially parallelepiped in shape.