AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR A ROOM WITH A SEAT, AND METHOD FOR AIR CONDITIONING A ROOM WITH A SEAT

Abstract

Air conditioning system is at least partially located in a room comprising at least one seat. The system comprises at least one main supply air inlet opening into the room and arranged at a height of ≤0.3 m above a floor of the room, or on the floor, at least one air outlet opening into the room and arranged at a height of <0.3 m below a ceiling of the room, or in the ceiling, and at least one assisting supply air inlet opening into the room and arranged at a height between first and second points of the seat. The first point is the point of the seat having the largest distance to the floor of the room in a direction perpendicular to the floor. The second point is the point of the armrest of the seat having the largest distance to the floor in the direction.

Claims

1. Air conditioning system being at least partially located in a room which is to be conditioned and which comprises at least one seat, wherein the air conditioning system comprises at least one main supply air inlet which opens into the room and is arranged at a height of ≤0.3 m above a floor of the room, or on a floor of the room, at least one air outlet which opens into the room and is arranged at a height of <0.3 m below a ceiling of the room, or in a ceiling of the room, and at least one assisting supply air inlet which opens into the room and is arranged at a height between a first point of the seat and a second point of the seat, wherein the first point of the seat is the point of the seat which has the largest distance to the floor of the room in a direction perpendicular to the floor of the room and wherein the second point of the seat is the point of the armrest of the seat which has the largest distance to the floor of the room in a direction perpendicular to the floor of the room.

2. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the height between the first point of the seat and the second point of the seat is a height ranging from ≥0.4 m, preferably ≥0.5 m, above a floor of the room, to ≥0.5 m, preferably ≥0.8 m, more preferably ≥1.1 m, below a ceiling of the room, wherein the height between the first point of the seat and the second point of the seat is especially a height in the range of 0.5 m to 1.4 m from the floor of the room.

3. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning system comprises an air conditioning unit, preferably a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit, which is connected to the at least one main supply air inlet and/or to the at least one assisting supply air inlet, such that conditioned air can be conducted from the air conditioning unit to the respective air inlet(s).

4. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet is a return air outlet which opens into the room and is arranged at a height of <0.3 m below a ceiling of the room, or in a ceiling of the room, and which is connected to the at least one main supply air inlet and/or to the at least one assisting supply air inlet, via the air conditioning system, such that air can be conducted from the at least one return air outlet to the air conditioning unit and from the air conditioning unit to the respective air inlet(s).

5. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising a damper, wherein an inlet of the damper is connected to the at least one air outlet in an air conducting manner, wherein a first outlet of the damper is connected to the at least one main supply air inlet in an air conducting manner and wherein a second outlet of the damper is connected to the at least one assisting supply air inlet in an air conducting manner, wherein the damper is configured to distribute air entering its inlet between its first and second outlet.

6. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fresh air intake which opens to an outside of the room, wherein the fresh air intake is connected to the at least one main supply air inlet and/or to the at least one assisting supply air inlet, preferably via an intake blower, in an air conducting manner.

7. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one air outlet is an exhaust outlet, wherein the air conditioning system further comprises an exhaust blower which is connected to the at least one exhaust outlet, wherein the exhaust blower is configured to blow air entering the blower from the exhaust outlet to an outside of the room.

8. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of main supply air inlets which open into the room and are arranged at a height of ≤0.3 m above a floor of the room, or on a floor of the room, wherein a first fraction of said main supply air inlets is arranged at a first sidewall of the room and a second fraction of said main supply air inlets is arranged at a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall.

9. Air conditioning system according to claim 8, further comprising a main supply damper, wherein an inlet of the main supply damper is connected to the air conditioning unit and/or to a fresh air intake in an air conducting manner, wherein a first outlet of the main supply damper is connected to at least one of the main supply air inlets of the first fraction and a second outlet of the main supply damper is connected to at least one of the main supply air inlets of the second fraction in an air conducting manner, wherein the main supply damper is configured to regulate an amount of air flowing to at least one of the main supply air inlets of the first fraction and to at least one of the main supply air inlets of the second fraction.

10. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of assisting supply air inlets which open into the room and are arranged at a height between a first point of the seat and a second point of the seat, wherein one fraction of said assisting supply air inlets is arranged at a first sidewall of the room and another fraction of said assisting supply air inlets is arranged at a second sidewall of the room opposing the first sidewall.

11. Air conditioning system according to claim 10, further comprising an assisting supply damper, wherein an inlet of the assisting supply damper is connected to the air conditioning unit and/or to a fresh air intake in an air conducting manner, wherein a first outlet of the assisting supply damper is connected to at least one of the assisting supply air inlets of the first fraction and a second outlet of the assisting supply damper is connected to at least one of the assisting supply air inlets of the second fraction in an air conducting manner, wherein the assisting supply damper is configured to regulate an amount of air flowing to at least one of the assisting supply air inlets of the first fraction and to at least one of the assisting supply air inlets of the second fraction.

12. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a controller which is configured to control that the air blown into the room through the i) at least one assisting supply air inlet has a lower volume flow than the air blown into the room through the at least main supply air inlet, preferably only 25% to 90%, more preferably only 40 to 80%, even more preferably only 60% to 70%, especially 67%, of the volume flow of the air blown into the room through the at least one main supply air inlet; and/or ii) at least one main supply air inlet has a higher temperature than the air blown into the room through the at least one assisting supply air inlet, preferably a temperature which is in the range of 1 K to 12 K, more preferably 2 to 10 K, even more preferably 4 to 8, especially 6 K, higher than the air blown into the room through the at least one assisting supply air inlet.

13. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the room is a carriage of a train.

14. Method for air conditioning a room which comprises at least one seat, wherein air is blown into the room through at least one main supply air inlet which opens into the room and is arranged at a height of ≤0.3 m above a floor of the room, or on a floor of the room, wherein air is removed from the room through at least one air outlet which opens into the room and is arranged at a distance of <0.3 m below a ceiling of the room, or in a ceiling of the room, and wherein additionally air is blown into the room through at least one assisting supply air inlet which opens into the room and is arranged at a height between a first point of the seat and a second point of the seat, wherein the first point of the seat is the point of the seat which has the largest distance to the floor of the room in a direction perpendicular to the floor of the room and wherein the second point of the seat is the point of the armrest of the seat which has the largest distance to the floor of the room in a direction perpendicular to the floor of the room.

15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] With reference to the following figures and example, the subject according to the invention is intended to be explained in more detail without wishing to restrict said subject to the specific embodiments shown here.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of an air conditioning system 20 according to the invention which is at least partly located in a room 1 which is to be conditioned and which comprises at least four seats 2. Here, the room 1 is a carriage room of a train. The air conditioning system 20 comprises a main supply air inlet 3 which opens into the room 1 at a first sidewall 13 of the room 1 and a further main supply air inlet 3′ which opens into the room 1 at a second sidewall 14 of the room 1. Both main supply air inlets 3, 3′ are arranged at a height of 0.3 m above a floor F of the room. The air conditioning system 20 further comprises an exhaust outlet 4 which opens into the room 1 and is arranged at a height of 0 m below a ceiling C of the room 1, specifically in a ceiling C of the room 1. Moreover, the air conditioning system 20 comprises an assisting supply air inlet 5 which opens into the room 1 at a first sidewall 13 of the room 1 and a further assisting supply air inlet 5′ which opens into the room 1 at a second sidewall 14 of the room 1. Both assisting air supply inlets 5, 5′ are arranged at a height between a first point 6 of the at least four seats 2 and a second point 7 of the at least four seats 2, wherein the first point 6 of the at least four seats 2 is the point of the at least four seats 2 which has the largest distance to the floor F of the room 1 in a direction perpendicular to the floor F of the room and wherein the second point 7 of the at least four seats 2 is the point of the armrest of the at least four seats 2 which has the largest distance to the floor F of the room 1 in a direction perpendicular to the floor F of the room. Besides, the air conditioning system 20 further comprises a return air outlet 8 which opens into the room and is arranged at a height of 0 m below a ceiling C of the room 1, specifically in a ceiling C of the room 1. The air conditioning system 20 further comprises a damper 9 which is arranged downstream of the conditioned air 19 exiting the air conditioning unit 20 (here: an HVAC unit). Furthermore, the air conditioning system 20 comprises a fresh air intake 10 having an intake blower 11 and being fluidly connected to the air conditioning unit 20. The air conditioning system 20 also comprises an exhaust blower 12 having a fresh air intake 10′ and an exhaust air exit 21, wherein the exhaust blower is fluidly connected to the exhaust outlet 4 via an airduct for exhaust air 18 and is fluidly connected to the air conditioning unit 20. Downstream of the exhaust blower 12 and upstream of the air conditioning apparatus 20, an airduct for return air 17 establishes a fluid connection to the return air outlet 8. The air conditioning apparatus 20 further comprises a main supply damper 15 to regulate the volume flow of air to the main supply air inlets 3,3′ and an assisting supply damper 16 to regulate the volume flow of air to the assisting supply air inlets 5, 5′.

[0036] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show a further schematic drawing of the flow of air in the room to be conditioned. The flow of air is indicated by arrows in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. It can be seen that the air flow from the main supply air inlets 3,3′ enters the room at the floor level and that the air flow from the assisting supply air inlets 5,5′ enters the room between the armchair of the seats of the room and the uppermost (highest) point of the seats of the room.

[0037] FIG. 3A to 3C show the results for the vertical temperature distribution in the room to be air conditioned regarding three different configurations of the controller (cases #1 to #3; see Example below). The air conditioning system of the prior art brings about a linear temperature distribution from the leg region of the seat in the room towards the ceiling of the room, which causes a discomfort for the person sitting in the seat of the room. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the result of case #1. In case #1, the controller is configured to reduce the amount of volume flow of air exiting the assisting supply air inlet to 25% of the amount of volume flow of air exiting the main supply air inlet and to increase the temperature of air exiting the main supply air inlet by 2 K compared to the temperature of air exiting the assisting supply air inlet. This effectuates that the temperature around the legs of the person sitting in the seat is increased compared to prior art air conditioning systems, which results in more air conditioning comfort in the leg region of the person. FIGS. 3B and 3C illustrate the result of case #2. In case #2, the controller is configured to reduce the amount of volume flow of air exiting the assisting supply air inlet to 67% of the amount of volume flow of air exiting the main supply air inlet and to increase the temperature of air exiting the main supply air inlet by 6 K compared to the temperature of air exiting the assisting supply air inlet. This effectuates that This effectuates that the temperature around the legs of the person sitting in the seat is even more increased compared to prior art air conditioning systems and also the temperature in the region of the armchair of the seat is increased compared to prior art air conditioning systems, which results in even more air conditioning comfort in the leg region of the person and more comfort in the region of the armchair of the seat. FIG. 3C illustrates case #3. Case #3 is identical to case #2 except that the total air volume exiting the main supply air inlet and the assisting supply air inlet has been increased to 120% compared to cases #1 and #2 and compared to the prior art. This effectuates that besides the more homogeneous temperature distribution from the leg region to the armchair region of the seat in the room, the temperature distribution also becomes more homogeneous in a direction to the ceiling of the room, which improves both the comfort of persons sitting in the seat of the room and of persons standing in the room. At least in the sitting space, the obtained vertical temperature distribution is regarded as almost constant because the sitting space in a typical train carriage room reaches from around 0 m from the floor of the room to about 1.2 m from the floor of the room towards the ceiling of the room.

Example—Configuration of the Controller of the Air Conditioning System

[0038] The controller can be configured to control that that the air blown into the room through the at least one assisting supply air inlet has a lower volume flow than the air blown into the room through the at least one main supply air inlet, preferably only 25% to 90%, more preferably only 40 to 80%, even more preferably only 60% to 70%, especially 67%, of the volume flow of the air blown into the room through the at least one main supply air inlet.

[0039] Furthermore, the controller can be configured to control that the air blown into the room through the at least one main supply air inlet has a higher temperature than the air blown into the room through the at least one assisting supply air inlet, preferably a temperature which is in the range of 1 K to 12 K, more preferably 2 to 10 K, even more preferably 4 to 8, especially 6 K, higher than the air blown into the room through the at least one main supply air inlet.

[0040] Three cases #1 to #3 regarding the parameters total flow of air, relative flow of air and relative temperature of air exiting the main supply air inlet and the assisting supply air inlet have been evaluated and the vertical temperature from the floor of the room towards the ceiling of the room have been assessed. The configuration of the controller in these three cases are summarized in the following Table.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE Volume flow of air Temperature difference of assisting supply of air of main supply Total air air inlet compared to air inlet compared to Case volume main supply air inlet assisting supply air inlet p.a. 100% 100% (identical) 0 K (identical) #1 100% reduced to 25% increased by 2 K #2 100% reduced to 67% increased by 6 K #3 120% reduced to 67% increased by 6 K p.a. = prior art; K = Kelvin; 100% of total air volume = 1200 m.sup.3/h

[0041] The results regarding the vertical temperature from the floor of the room towards the ceiling of the room for each of the three cases #1 to #3 compared to the prior art are shown in FIG. 3A to 3C. Best results were obtained for cases #2 and #3.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0042] 1: room which is to be conditioned; [0043] 2: at least one seat; [0044] 3, 3′: at least one main supply air inlet; [0045] 4: at least one air outlet (e.g. an exhaust outlet); [0046] 5, 5′: at least one assisting supply air inlet; [0047] 6: first point of the seat; [0048] 7: second point of the seat; [0049] 8: at least one air outlet (e.g. a return air outlet); [0050] 9: damper; [0051] 10, 10′: at least one fresh air intake; [0052] 11: intake blower; [0053] 12: exhaust blower; [0054] 13: first sidewall of the room; [0055] 14: second sidewall of the room; [0056] 15: main supply damper; [0057] 16: assisting supply damper; [0058] 17: airduct for return air; [0059] 18: airduct for exhaust air; [0060] 19: conditioned air; [0061] 20: air conditioning unit (e.g. HVAC); [0062] 21: exhaust air exit; [0063] F: floor of the room; [0064] C: ceiling of the room.