WO2013121168A1

WO2013121168A1 - Modular air movement apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013121168A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/000063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas Lindsay Gower
Original assignee: Flakt Woods Limited
Priority date: 2012-02-17
Filing date: 2013-02-14
Publication date: 2013-08-22
Also published as: EP2828584A1; SA113340302B1; GB2499582B; GB201202718D0; GB2499582A

Abstract

A modular air movement apparatus has a base module (1) having an air movement fan (7), an air inlet and a plurality of air outlets (11) for directing air in a selected direction or directions, the peripheral profile of the outlets (11) being substantially identical,. The apparatus' further includes a selected one or more of: an exhaust throat (2) adapted to be secured in fluid communication with a selected one of the said outlets (11), a damper unit (3) adapted to be interposed in the air flow path between ah air outlet (11) of the base module (1) and an inlet (12) to the exhaust throat (2), and at least one blanking plate (4) adapted to close ran air outlet (11), the exhaust throat inlet (12), damper unit and blanking plate(s) each having a module engaging profile matching the peripheral profile of said air outlets (11), the blanking plate(s) (4) being adapted to close an associated air outlet when secured thereto.

Description

Modular air movement apparatus

This invention relates to a modular air movement apparatus, particularly but not exclusively, for car parks such as multi-storey car parks or underground car parks.

The ventijation of large spaces such as mujti-storey car parks or underground car parks is a complex problem due to a variety of factors particular to such constructions. A principal problem is the amount of emissions generated by vehicles moving about in an essentially closed space and this problem is exacerbated by the often unusual configuration of the car parks imposed by external configurations such as site size and shape. It is customary to design an extraction system with ^"the flow capacity, expressed in cubic metres per second, sufficient to continually exchange the entire volume of the car pa?k ^"within a predetermined time frame. A typical car park design will have one or a very few extraction points and this leads to a variation in which the air is changed iin the various parts of the car park, particularly when it is a complex shape. Air nearest the extraction point is changed much more frequently than points remote from the extraction poini To solve this problem, deducting it is used to extract air from a number of places in the car park at this leads to increased in resistance with the necessity of having high-powered extraction fans, reduces the headroom and creates difficulties in the installation of other utilities, such as lighting. A further problem where the car park is of a complex shape is the creation of stagnant areas where there is little or no natural air flow. Previous attempts to solve this problem include increasing tie rate of extraction beyond the design level to ejnsure that all parts of the car park are adequately ventilated. This leads to much greater energy consumption than would otherwise be necessary.

To avoid the necessity for elaborate ducting systems, it is known to use fans placed at strategic points throughout the car park to move the air throughout the car park thus avoiding the creation of stagnant areas where pollution would otherwise build up. The known systems are designed as a bespoke solution to provide the right criteria for the particular site in question. Such systems have advantages but the one-off nature of each design leads to a relatively high cost and also causes complexities and extra work in future maintenance. The present invention seeks to provide an air movement apparatus which alleviates these disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a modular air movement apparatus including a base module having an air _^movement fan, an air inlet and a plurality of air outlets for directing air in a selected direction or directions, the peripheral profile of the outlets being substantially identical, the apparatus further including a selected one or more of: an exhaust throat adapted to be secured in fluid communication with a selected one of the said outlets, a damper unit adapted to be interposed in the air flow path between an air outlet of the base module and an inlet to the exhaust throat, and at least one blanking plate adapted to close an air outlet, the exhaust throat inlet, damper unit and blanking plate(s) each having a module engaging profile matching the peripheral profile of said air outlets, the blanking plate(s) being adapted to close an associated air outlet when secured thereto.

Preferably, the base module comprises an air movement centrifugal fan adapted to draw in air in a generally axial direction and discharge the air in a plane perpendicular to said axis, in which case, may be substantially a rectangular box shaped unit having four sides each containing an air outlet, which is preferably substantially rectangular.

Said damper unit or units may have an air flow passage therethrough adapted to be closed by a damper closure element and an air filter may be located in said passage.

The" closure element is preferably adapted to be moved between an open and a closed position in response to an external control signal.

In a preferred arrangement, the exhaust throat has³ an outlet of reduced cross section to increase the velocity of flow, and may be in the form of a rectangular slit, the major axis of the slit being preferably adapted to be essentially horizontal in the installed condition.

In a preferred embodiment, the operation of the fan, and the closure/opening of the closure element is in response to external control signals indicative of ajr quality criteria, which may include means responsive to the presence of smoke to drive the smoke in a predetermined direction. The base unit is preferably adapted to be mounted directly or indirectly to the ceiling of a space being ventilated, such as a car park, the fan drawing in air in a substantially vertical direction and discharging the air substantially horizontally.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows the principal components of a modular air movement apparatus,

Figure 2 shows one form of the apparatus having a single exhaust outlet,

Figures 3a and 3b show an embodiment having tWb opposed exhaust outlets,

Figures 4a and 4b show an embodiment having two exhaust outlets at 90 degrees, Figures 5a and 5b show an embodiment having three exhaust outlets, and

Figures 6a and 6b show an embodiment having four exhaust outlets.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 the principal components of an modular air movement apparatus. The components consist of a main base unit 1 , an exhaust outlet 2, a damper unit 3 and a blanking plate 4. The basic unit 1 consists of a square or rectangular boxlike structure 5 having a base plate 6 in which a centrifugal fan 7 is mounted. The impeller 8 of the fan 7 is located in the box structure 5 and is designed to blow air through 360° in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 7a of the fan 7. In certain installations, a scroll of curved guide (not shown) may be included in the box 5 to direct the airflow more efficiently in a predetermined direction. The base unit 1 may include provision to enable the guide to be fixed in one of a plurality of positions depending upon the direction or directions of airflow required. The opposed face 9 of the boxiike structure 5 is adapted to be secured directly or indirectly to a ceiling of a space being ventilated such as in a multi-storey car park. The four remaining sides 11 of the structure are formed by a framework so that the sides are essentially open rectangles and comprise air outlets from the boxlike structure 5, each having an identical peripheral profile.

The exhaust outlet 2 has an air passage with an inlet 12 having a peripheral profile essentially identical to that of one of the air outlets 11. The air passage has an exhaust outlet throat 13 in the fo,rjn of an elongate slit to increase the flow velocity in which the major axis, in the installed condition, is essentially horizontal. Figure 1 also shows the damper unit 3 which incorporates a closure element in the form of a butterfly valve 14 pivotable between an open position as shown on the left and a closed position on the right in which the passage of air from the fan 7 to the exhaust slit 13 is shut off. The damper unit 3 is essentially a rectangular body and has a peripheral profile on a rear face ί5 which enables it to be secured to an air outlet i 1 and a matching peripheral profile on a front face 16 which enables the damper unit 3 to be inierposed between the base unit 1 and the outlet throat 2. The peripheral profiles are shaped to enable the components to be secured together but to do so in such a way as to form a minimum impact on the size of the air passage and smooth flow of air through the passage. The sides 11 of the base unit which do not have a damper unit 3 or exhaust throat 2 secured thereto are closed by blanking plates 4.

Turning now to Figure 2, there is shown an air movement unit which incorporates a base unit 1 and a single exhaust outlet throat 2 with a damper unit 3 interposed between the two. The remaining three sides of the base unit are closed by blanking plates 4.

Figures 3a and 3b show a further arrangement in which two exhaust throats 2 are mounted to a base unit with damper units 3 located between the base unit 1 and the exhaust throats 2. Figure 3 b illustrates an underside view of the device showing the fan 7, damper units 3 and the exhaust throats 2. The two opposed sides of the base unit are closed by blanking plates 4.

Figures 4a and 4b show an alternative arrangement with two outlet throats 2 in which the outlets are disposed at 90°.

Figures 5a and 5b show a further arrangement with three outlet throats disposed at 90° to each other and Figures 6a and 6b show yet another arrangement in which four outlet throats are provided, again at 90° to each other.

Each of these configurations is assembled from the same starjdardised basic modules as illustrated in Figure 1. In practice, in designing an installation for a new construction, computer modelling can determine with accuracy the positioning and direction of airflow needed to ensure that there are no dead spots in the circulation of air through the car park. The positioning of the units and their configuration is determined primarily by two factors. The first of these is to ensure that adequate uniform ventilation throughout the space being ventilated is achieved and the second is for fire regulation. Each of the damper units is connected to a control system (not shown) which incorporates sensors for measuring environmental factors in strategic locations so that the fans are operated at a speed and time period to give the required ventilation without excessive use of energy. By this means, the main extraction can be powered only when it is required which again results in a reduced energy consumption. By accurately determining the precise environment in this way, it is possible to utilise a smaller extraction system with again a reduction in energy usage. Typically, the units are secured to the ceiling of each level of the car park eithe_r directly or indirectly but in certain circumstances it is possible that the unit might be mounted on a wall so that the major axis of the outiet throat is vertical to provide a vertical wall of air.

Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention has significant safety advantages in the event of smoke or fire. The opening and closing of the damper units is controlled in dependence upon where the fire and/or smoke is detected in order to close certain outlet' throats and to open others ancl to maximise the speed of the fan so as to drive smoke in a predetermined direction, typically towards the main extractor system or to ensure that escape routes for people in the car park are kept clear of smoke.

The use of standard modules fdr each installation greatly facilitates maintenance and repair because of the standardisation of parts. If one component should fail it becomes a relatively easy matter to change just that unit with another standard unit which leads to sjgnjficant savings in maintenance cost and operating downtime.

Claims

1. A modular air movement apparatus including a base module having an air movement ian, an air inlet and a plurality of air outlets for directing air in a selected direction or directions, the peripheral profile of the outlets being substantially identical, the apparatus further including a selected one or more of: an exhaust throat adapted to be secured in fluid communication with a selected one of the said outlets, a damper unit adapted to be interposed in the air flow path between an air outlet of the base module and an inlet to the exhaust throat, and at least one blanking plate adapted to close an air outlet, the exhaust throat inlet, damper unit and blanking plate(s) each having a module engaging profile matching the peripheral profile of said air outlets, the blanking plate(s) being adapted to close an associated air outlet when secured thereto.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the base module comprises an air movement centrifugal fan adapted to draw in air in a generaUy axial direction and discharge the air in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base unit is substantially a rectangular box shaped unit having four sides each containing an air outlet.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the air outlets are substantially rectangular^

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said damper unit or units have an air flow passage theTethrough adapted to be closed by a damper closure element.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the closure element is adapted to be moved between an open and a closed position in response to an external control signal.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the damper unit incorporates an air filter.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exhaust throat has ah outlet of reduced cross sectioh to increase the velocity of flow.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the exhaust outlet throat is in the form of a rectangular slit.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the major axis of the slit is adapted to be essentially horizontal in the installed condition.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the operation of the fan, and the closure/opening of the closure element is in response to external control signals indicative of air quality criteria.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the criteria includes means responsive to the presence of smoke to drive the smoke in a predetermined direction.

13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, adapted to be mounted directly or indirectly to the ceiling of a space being ventilated, the fan drawing in air in a substantially vertical direction and discharging the air substantially horizontally.