WO2020204694A1

WO2020204694A1 - A fluid discharge conduit assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2020204694A1
Application number: PCT/MY2020/050019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zheng Huai KEE; Zulkhilmi BIN KHALIL; Yee Hsin LOW
Original assignee: Daikin Research & Development Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Priority date: 2019-04-02
Filing date: 2020-03-30
Publication date: 2020-10-08
Also published as: CN113795716B; CN113795716A

Abstract

The invention provides a fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) of a device comprising at least one conduit (110) having a shape that alleviates substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow prior to being discharged out of the conduit (110) to an extent such that internal fluid turbulence and turbulence induced noise are mitigated, wherein the shape induces a Coanda effect in the fluid flowing through the conduit (110) prior to being discharged out of the conduit (110). An air conditioning unit (200) comprising such fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) is also provided.

Description

A FLUID DISCHARGE CONDUIT ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of fluid flow, particularly a fluid discharge conduit assembly. The fluid discharge conduit assembly of the invention is suitable for use in an air conditioning system for mitigating internal fluid turbulence and/or turbulence induced noise that arise due to substantial and/or sudden expansion of fluid flow prior to the discharge of the fluid from the air conditioning system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a variety of air conditioners in the market that accommodate different user needs. In general, air conditioners are divided into several groups, including the wall mounted type and the floor- standing type. Wall mounted air conditioners are commonly used to provide an even distribution of cool or hot air in buildings, especially those with obstructions to the air flow. In situations where wall mounted air conditioning is not possible, floor- standing air conditioners are used. Floor-standing air conditioners are known for their versatility and convenience of use.

Both the wall mounted and the floor-standing air conditioners can be quite noisy when there is a sudden expansion of fluid flow in the fluid conduit, especially at the fluid discharge outlet of the air conditioners. When fluid experiences sudden flow area expansion with sharp edges, low pressure regions are formed immediately downstream of the abrupt expansion, particularly at the sharp edges, where fluid is sucked back into these regions from the main flow and creating a circulating vortex or turbulence. Turbulence in the fluid conduit causes large fluctuations in fluid pressure and vibration of the conduit, and consequently creates noises.

Reduced fluid flow is also common in the case of sudden fluid area expansion. Fluid pressure moves fluid through the fluid conduit until discharge from the air conditioners. Formation of turbulence in the fluid conduit due to sudden expansion of fluid flow causes loss of fluid pressure. As fluid pressure drops, fluid flow rate becomes slower. As a result, efficiency of the air conditioners is impaired.

Patent document no. US4326452 disclosed a fluid diverting assembly particularly suited for use as a component for a fluid exit structure of an air-conditioner, which has a passageway through which a fluid medium flows. The passageway comprises a nozzle for issuing a fluid stream as the fluid medium passes therethrough, a pair of spaced opposed guide walls having a shape diverging from each other in a direction downstream with respect to the direction of flow of the fluid stream and opening outwardly in a direction away from the nozzle and a deflecting blade supported in the passageway between the upstream and downstream ends of the nozzle. The fluid diverting assembly is able to deflect the flow of fluid stream at a relatively wide deflection angle without compromising the fluid flow rate. Nevertheless, it fails to provide a solution to mitigate fluid turbulence and turbulence-induced noise caused by sudden expansion of fluid flow immediately before discharging the fluid from the air conditioner.

There exists a need for a fluid discharge conduit or an assembly thereof for an air conditioning unit capable of mitigating internal fluid turbulence, turbulence-induced noise and/or reduced fluid flow that arise as a result of sudden expansion of fluid flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fluid discharge conduit assembly of a device comprising at least one conduit having a shape that alleviates substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow prior to being discharged out of the conduit to an extent such that internal fluid turbulence and turbulence induced noise are mitigated. Particularly, the device is an air conditioning unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid discharge conduit assembly of a device, particularly an air conditioning unit, comprising at least one conduit having a shape whereby the shape induces Coanda effect in the fluid flowing through the conduit prior to being discharged out of the conduit. Further another object of the invention is to provide a fluid discharge conduit assembly of a device, particularly an air conditioning unit, comprising at least one conduit having an outwardly flaring side wall. More particularly, the side wall is flared outwards along an entire length between the ceiling and the base of the conduit. The side wall has a substantially or partially flat, curved, or slanted inner surface. Cross-sections of the side wall can be in the shape of a triangle, a trapezium or both, and can be constant or varied throughout the entire length of the side wall.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fluid discharge conduit assembly of a device, particularly an air conditioning unit, where fluid is subjected to both an expansion in flow area and a change in flow direction. Preferably, the device comprises at least one conduit having an outwardly flaring side wall, wherein the side wall has a triangular cross-section at one end where the fluid flows through at a relatively high velocity and a trapezoidal cross-section at another end where fluid flows through at a relatively low velocity.

Further another object of the invention is to provide a fluid discharge conduit assembly of a device, preferably an air conditioning unit, comprising two or more conduits being arranged in a side-by-side manner, wherein adjacent outwardly flaring side walls of the conduits are adjoined together to form a single partition wall in between the conduits.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioning unit comprising the aforementioned fluid discharge conduit assembly. Particularly, the air conditioning unit is a floor-standing air conditioning unit with a draw-through configuration.

At least one of the preceding objects is met, in whole or in part, by the present invention, in which the embodiment of the present invention describes a fluid discharge conduit assembly of a device comprising at least one conduit having a shape that alleviates substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow prior to being discharged out of the conduit to an extent such that internal fluid turbulence and turbulence induced noise are mitigated, wherein the shape induces a Coanda effect in the fluid flowing through the conduit prior to being discharged out of the conduit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conduit is substantially straight or shaped in a way such that a fluid flow within the conduit is caused to change direction before being discharged out of the conduit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conduit comprises at least one outwardly flaring side wall.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall is flared outwards along an entire length between a ceiling and a base of the conduit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall has a substantially or partially flat, curved, or slanted inner surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall has constant cross-sections throughout its entire length.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall has varying cross-sections throughout its entire length.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall has a triangular cross-section, a trapezoidal cross-section, or both.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall has a triangular cross-section at one end where the fluid flows through at a relatively high velocity and a trapezoidal cross-section at another end where the fluid flows through at relatively low velocity.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid discharge conduit assembly comprises two or more conduits, the conduits being arranged in a side-by-side manner such that adjacent outwardly flaring side walls of the conduits are adjoined together to form a single partition wall in between the conduits.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is an air conditioning unit. The present invention also describes an air conditioning unit comprising the aforementioned fluid discharge conduit assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air conditioning unit is a floor-standing air conditioning unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air conditioning unit has a draw-through configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages will be readily understood and appreciated.

Figure 1 shows a front view of the fluid discharge conduit assembly having two conduits being arranged in a side-by-side manner.

Figure 2 shows (a) top view of the device in which internal fluid turbulence is present before the discharge of the fluid from the device due to substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow, and (b) top view of the device with the fluid discharge conduit assembly in which the internal fluid turbulence is mitigated.

Figure 3 shows perspective cross-sectional views of side walls.

Figure 4 illustrates the fluid flow and possible fluid turbulence in fluid discharge conduit assemblies having a turn and (a) side walls with triangular cross-section and trapezoidal cross-section at different ends; (b) side walls with triangular cross- section at both ends; or (c) side walls with trapezoidal cross-section at both ends. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiment described herein is not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

The present invention describes a fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) of a device capable of alleviating undesired effects of substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow, including internal fluid turbulence as well as noise and reduced fluid flow induced by turbulence. Preferably, the device is an air conditioning unit (200). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) comprises at least one conduit (110) having a shape that alleviates substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow prior to discharge of the fluid out of the conduit (110) to an extent such that internal fluid turbulence and turbulence induced noise are mitigated. Particularly, the shape of the conduit induces a Coanda effect in the fluid flowing through the conduit prior to being discharged out of the conduit (110). The conduit (110) may be substantially straight or shaped in a way such that a fluid flow within the conduit (110) is caused to change direction before being discharged out of the conduit (110). An illustration of internal fluid turbulence resulted from substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow is provided in Figure 2 (a). It can be seen from Figure 2 (b) that the fluid flow is substantially laminar with inclusion of the fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) in the device.

The fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) serves to alleviate the effects of substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow as fluid transmits from a region with limited flow area to a region with a wider flow area. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) is included in the device at a position downstream of a blower unit in terms of fluid flow. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the conduit assembly (100) is included in the device as the last conduit where the fluid flowing therethrough will immediately be discharged from the device into the ambient environment as shown in Figure 2 (b). An exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figures 1 and 2 (b). Particularly, Figure 1 and Figure 2 (b) respectively show a front view and a top view of a fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) (indicated by the dashed box in Figure 2 (b)) having two conduits (110) arranged in a side-by-side manner whereby adjacent side walls (113) of the conduits (110) are adjoined together at the outer surfaces (113b) to form a single partition wall (1133) in between the conduits (110). Referring to Figure 1, conduit (110) of the fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) is a hollow section with substantially square or rectangular cross-section. The conduits of the assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 (b) are shaped in a way such that fluid flow within the conduits is caused to change direction, such as a 90 ° turn.

Pursuant to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the conduit (110) is shaped in a way that at least one of its side walls (113) is flared outwards. More preferably, both side walls (113) of the conduit are flared outwards. Particularly, the side wall (113) is flared outwards along an entire length between the ceiling (111) and the base (112) of the conduit. The outwardly flaring side wall (113) allows the fluid flowing therethrough to experience a gradual increase in flow area. As a result, the fluid flow within the conduit (110) is substantially laminar and internal fluid turbulence is thereby mitigated. In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 2 (b) and Figures 4 (a) - (c), the side walls (113) of the conduit (110) are in close vicinity if not in contact with the opening (211) of an upstream fluid passageway (210) and flared outwards therefrom. Such structure further mitigates the internal fluid turbulence near the intersection of the opening (211) of the upstream fluid channel and the conduit (110). In another preferred embodiment of the invention in which two conduits (110) are present in the conduit assembly (100), particularly in a side-by-side manner, the adjacent side walls (113) of each conduit (110) are flared outwards until the outer surfaces (113b) of the adjacent side walls (113) are adjoined and form a single partition wall (1133) between the conduits (110). Accordingly, internal fluid turbulence would not be formed at the gap between the neighboring conduits (110).

The outwardly flaring side wall (113) of the conduit (110) may have a substantially or partially flat, curved, or slanted inner surface (113a). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall (113) has constant cross-sections throughout its entire length.“Cross-section” as used herein refers to traverse cut through of the side wall. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the side wall (113) has varying cross-sections throughout its entire length. The inner surface (113a) of the side wall (113) may look curved about or slanted from the longitudinal axis (x). The side wall (113) of the conduit can be in any profile provided that it is flared outwards and its inner surface (113a) is shaped in a way that it always allows laminar transmission of fluid through the conduit (110).

Referring to Figure 2 (b), the outer surface (113b) of the conduit is substantially flat while the inner surface (113a) of the conduit substantially flares outwards. The cross-sections of the conduit side wall (113) can be triangular or trapezoidal in shape. The cross-sections may be of similar or different shapes at both ends. Figure 3 illustrates the perspective cross-sectional view of side walls (113) depicted in Figures 1 and 2 (b). It can be seen that side walls (1131, 1132) at opposite sides of the conduits have triangular cross-sections at the upper end while the single partition wall (1133) in between two adjacent conduits (110) has a cross-section formed of two adjoining triangular cross-sections at the upper end. Cross-sections at the lower end of the side walls (1131, 1132) at opposite sides of the conduits are in the shape of trapezium (not shown in Figure 3) while the cross-section at the lower end of the single partition wall (1133) is in the shape of two trapeziums being combined together.

As mentioned previously, the conduits (110) in the assembly (100) shown in Figures 1 and 2 (b) are shaped in a way that causes change in direction of the fluid flow within the conduit (110). Particularly, the fluid flow within the conduit (110) is caused to make a 90 ° turn before being discharged from the device. This configuration of the conduit creates a region of fluid flow with relatively high velocity and a region of fluid flow with relatively low velocity. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the event where fluid flow within the conduit is caused to change flow direction, the side walls (113) of the conduit (110) have triangular cross-sections at one end and slowly transit to trapezoidal cross-sections at the other end, making the inner surfaces (113a) of the side walls (113) to appear curved about its longitudinal axis (x). An illustration of which can be found in Figure 4 (a). Preferably, the side wall (113) has triangular cross-sections at the end where fluid flows through at a relatively high velocity and trapezoidal cross-sections at the other end where fluid flows through at relatively low velocity. Inclusion of side walls (113) with triangular cross-section at the high fluid velocity region provides gradual change in static pressure without incurring any unnecessary pressure loss to the fluid flow. Consequently, the fluid flow rate is kept at the desired level. Side walls (113) with trapezoidal cross-sections are provided at the low fluid velocity region to induce a Coanda effect in the fluid flowing therethrough to promote laminar fluid flow within the conduit (110). Preferably, the side walls (113) are extended forward alongside the opening (211) of upstream fluid passageway (210) and flared outwards. More preferably, minimal or no gap is left between the side walls (113) and the opening (211) in order to prevent formation of fluid turbulence at the gap which may offset the Coanda effect.

It is less preferred that the side walls (113) of the conduit (110) have just triangular or trapezoidal cross-sections at both ends when the conduit (110) is provided with a 90 ° turn. Figures 4 (b) and (c) respectively illustrate the likelihood of fluid turbulence formation near the side walls (113) when the side walls (113) have triangular cross-sections at low fluid velocity region and trapezoidal cross-section at high fluid velocity region. In Figure 4 (b) where the side walls have constant triangular cross-sections along its entire length, gap is formed between the side wall (113) and the opening (211), leading to formation of fluid turbulence at the low fluid velocity region. Fluid turbulence formed near the side walls (113) can cause loss of fluid pressure.

Moreover, the present invention also provides an air conditioning unit (200) comprising the aforedescribed fluid discharge conduit assembly (100). The air conditioning unit (200) can be any type in which internal fluid turbulence, turbulence-induced noise and turbulence-induced reduced fluid flow are observed prior to the discharge of the fluid out of the conduit in the absence of the aforedescribed fluid discharge conduit assembly. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air conditioning unit (200) is a floor- standing air conditioning unit. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the air conditioning unit (200) has a draw-through configuration.

Figures 1 and 2 (b) show an air conditioning unit (200) including a fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) described in the preceding description. Particularly, the air conditioning unit (200) comprises two fluid passageways (210) through which fluid flows and eventually discharges from the air conditioning unit (200). The fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) of the invention is installed immediately downstream, in terms of fluid flow, of the fluid passageways (210) and immediately before the fluid discharges from the air conditioning unit (200) to the surroundings. Particularly, the fluid passageways (210) are positioned downstream of a blower unit (not shown in Figure 3). Referring to Figures 1 and 2 (b), the fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) comprises two conduits (110), each for connecting to an upstream fluid passageway (210). As gap between adjacent conduits (110) will create room for fluid turbulence, the adjacent side walls (113) of each conduit (110) are flared outwards until the outer surfaces (113b) of the adjacent side walls (113) are adjoined and form a single partition wall (1133) between the conduits (110).

Claims

1. A fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) of a device, comprising

at least one conduit (110) having a shape that alleviates substantial or sudden expansion of fluid flow prior to being discharged out of the conduit (110) to an extent such that internal fluid turbulence and turbulence induced noise are mitigated;

wherein the shape induces a Coanda effect in the fluid flowing through the conduit (110) prior to being discharged out of the conduit (110).

2. A conduit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the conduit (110) is substantially straight or shaped in a way such that a fluid flow within the conduit (110) is caused to change direction before being discharged out of the conduit (110).

3. A conduit assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conduit (110) comprises at least one outwardly flaring side wall (113).

4. A conduit assembly according to claim 3, wherein the side wall (113) is flared outwards along an entire length between a ceiling (111) and a base (112) of the conduit.

5. A conduit assembly according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the side wall (113) has a substantially or partially flat, curved, or slanted inner surface (113a).

6. A conduit assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the side wall (113) has constant cross-sections throughout its entire length.

7. A conduit assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the side wall (113) has varying cross-sections throughout its entire length.

8. A conduit assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the side wall (113) has a triangular cross-section, a trapezoidal cross-section, or both.

9. A conduit assembly according to claim 8, wherein the side wall (113) has the triangular cross-section at one end where the fluid flowing through at a relatively high velocity and the trapezoidal cross-section at another end where the fluid flowing through at relatively low velocity.

10. A conduit assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the assembly (100) comprises two or more conduits (110), the conduits (110) being arranged in a side-by-side manner such that adjacent outwardly flaring side walls (113) of the conduits (110) being adjoined together to form a single partition wall (1133) in between the conduits (110).

11. A conduit assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the device is an air conditioning unit (200).

12. An air conditioning unit (200) comprising a fluid discharge conduit assembly (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. An air conditioning unit (200) according to claim 12, wherein the air conditioning unit (200) is a floor- standing air conditioning unit.

14. An air conditioning unit (200) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the air conditioning unit (200) has a draw-through configuration.