AIR CONVECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

An air convection system configured for use in building structure having a suspended ceiling dividing the building structure to an upper plenum in airflow communication with an HVAC unit, and a lower area, said air convection system comprising; an air convection module having a plenum opening configured to face said plenum, a lower area opening configured to face said lower area; a controllable airflow facilitating unit configured to selectively facilitate airflow at least form said plenum opening to said lower area opening; and a control system configured to receive an operational signal indicative of at least one operational parameter of said HVAC unit, and operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said operational signal.

Claims

1. An air convection system configured for use in a building structure having a suspended ceiling dividing the building structure to an upper plenum in airflow communication with an HVAC unit, and a lower area, said air convection system comprising: an air convection module having a plenum opening configured to face said plenum, a lower area opening configured to face said lower area; a controllable airflow facilitating unit configured to selectively facilitate airflow at least from said plenum opening to said lower area opening; and a control system configured to receive an operational signal indicative of at least one operational parameter of said HVAC unit, and operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said operational signal.

2. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said airflow facilitating unit is integral in the air convection module between said plenum opening and said lower area opening.

3. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said airflow facilitating unit is further configured to selectively facilitate airflow from said lower area opening to said plenum opening.

4. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said airflow facilitating unit is configured to actively generate airflow.

5. The air convection system according to claim 4, wherein said air convection module is configured to substantially maintain temperature or humidity of air conveyed therethrough from said plenum opening to said lower area opening.

6. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said plenum opening and said lower area opening define together an air flowing path extending therebetween and therebeyond, and wherein said airflow facilitating unit extends at least partially at said air flowing path.

7. The air convection system according to claim 6, wherein said lower area opening is configured to be integrated in a surface of at least one of a wall of said building structure and said suspended ceiling, and defines an effective air outlet plane spanning parallel to said surface.

8. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said air convection module comprises a fixed portion configured to be constantly fixed to a wall of the building structure, and a detachable portion containing at least said airflow facilitating unit, configured to be detachably attached to said fixed portion.

9. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a thermal comfort sensing system configured to provide a thermal comfort signal indicative of thermal comfort in said lower area, and wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said thermal comfort signal.

10. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said air convection module is a first air convection module, and said air convection system comprises a second air convection module similar to the first air convection module, and wherein said control system is configured to operate both modules in synchronization.

11. The air convection system according to claim 10, when dependent in claim 3, wherein said synchronization comprises facilitating airflow from a plenum opening to a lower area opening of one of said air convection modules, while facilitating airflow from a lower area opening to a plenum opening of another of said air convection modules, thereby inducing circulation of air between said plenum and said lower area.

12. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said control system further comprises a pressure sensing system configured to sense a pressure parameter indicative of air pressure within said plenum, and wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with readings of said pressure sensing system.

13. The air convection system according to claim 12, wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit to maintain a predetermined value of said pressure parameter.

14. The air convection system according claim 1, wherein said air flowing path is at least partially C-shaped.

15. The air convection system according to claim 1, wherein said plenum opening has an effective air intake axis along which air is configured to flow into the air convection module, and wherein said lower area opening has an air outtake axis along which air is configured to flow out from said air convection module, and wherein said axes are substantially parallel.

16. The air convection system according to claim 1, further comprising said HVAC unit; wherein said HVAC unit is configured to generate said operational signal, and wherein said control system is further configured to operate said HVAC unit and said airflow facilitating unit in conjunction.

17. A wall comprising a socket configured to accommodate an air convection module of the air convection system according to claim 1.

18. The wall according to claim 17, wherein said socket is accessible only from one side of the wall for installing said air convection module.

19. The wall according to claim 17, being formed integrally with said air convection module, such that both openings are in airflow communication with the same side of the wall.

20. The system according to claim 1, further comprising said suspended ceiling, and wherein said openings of said air convection module are spaced from each other to a distance greater than a thickness of said suspended ceiling, and wherein said suspended ceiling is a radiant ceiling configured to exchange heat with said plenum, and correspondingly emit or absorb heat from said lower area by radiation.

21. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an air convection module of an air convection system according to an example of the presently disclosed subject matter, and particularly, an air convection module, embedded in a wall of a room;

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the room of FIG. 1, with one wall removed for illustration purposes, where the air convection system is shown with its control system schematically illustrated;

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a room installed with an air convection system according to another example of the presently disclosed subject matter, comprising two air convection modules similar to the air convection module of FIG. 1; and

[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates an air convection module according to yet another example of the presently disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0052] Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the drawings illustrating an air convection system 1 according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0053] The air convection system 1 is positioned in a room 2 installed with a suspended ceiling, i.e., stretch ceiling 3, dividing the room to a plenum 5 constituting a utility area of the room 2, and a lower living area 6 configured to accommodate residentials of the room.

[0054] The plenum 5 is confined between the stretch ceiling 3, the actual ceiling of the room 7, and respective potions of walls 2a-2d of the room 2, and installed with an HVAC unit in the form of a fan coil unit 8, configured to circulate air within the plenum 5 while cooling/heating that air as it flows therethrough.

[0055] The fancoil unit 8 is connected to an appropriate ductwork 8a passing through wall 2c of the room 2, configured to facilitate that cooling/heating.

[0056] The air convection system 1 is configured to facilitate air conditioning to the lower area 6, and particularly, convection of the heated/cooled air from the plenum 5 to the lower area 6, as will be explained hereinafter.

[0057] It should be appreciated that the stretch ceiling 3 functions as a radiant ceiling configured to exchange heat with the heated/cooled air in the plenum 5 by convection, and correspondingly emit/absorb heat to/from the lower area 6 by radiation.

[0058] Particularly, the ceiling 3 is configured to acquire or give away energy from/to air in the plenum, by means of said heat convection, obtain a temperature different than the temperature at the lower area 6, and use that temperature difference to exchange heat with the lower area, and particularly surfaces disposed therein such as floor 6a, by radiation.

[0059] To make the stretch ceiling 3 susceptible to changes in air temperature within the plenum 5, the ceiling 3 is thin, and is formed from a material rendering it low U-value (thermal transmittance due to conduction), and low heat capacity.

[0060] The thickness of the ceiling 3 and the material from which it is made, i.e., a stretchable thin membrane (0.1 mm-1 mm) made of non-metallic PVC also rendering the ceiling 3 high emissivity, i.e., 0.7-0.95, which provide the ceiling the ability to emit and absorb radiation effectively. Further, the spreading of the ceiling 3 across the entire room 2 render it a large view factor with objects at the lower area 6.

[0061] It should be appreciated that although radiant cooling/heating from the ceiling 3 can be thermal comfortable for residents of the lower area 6, it can sometimes be needed to boost the radiation effect with another aspect of heat transfer. One option to do so is by convection of cooled/heated air from the plenum 5 to the lower area 6, by means of the air convection module 10, as will be explained hereinafter.

[0062] As seen in the figures, the air convection module 10 is embedded in a wall 2a of the room 2, at an area from which the stretch ceiling 3 perpendicularly extends. The air convection module 10 has a plenum opening 15 facing the plenum 5, a lower area opening 16 facing the lower area 6, and an airflow facilitating unit in the form of an impeller fan 11 disposed therebetween. The impeller 11 is configured to convey air from the plenum opening 15 to the lower area opening 16 while maintaining the cooled/heated temperature of the air conveyed therethrough.

[0063] The openings 15,16 are spaced from each other to a distance greater than a thickness of the stretched ceiling 3, such that they define together an air flowing path P, bypassing the stretched ceiling 3.

[0064] As seen in the figures, the openings 15,16 are disposed in airflow communication with the same side of the wall 2a, i.e., such that the air flowing path P obtains a C-shape therebetween.

[0065] Specifically, the air flowing path P extends along an effective air intake axis I of the plenum opening 15, along which air is configured to flow into the air convection module 10, and along an effective air outtake axis O of the lower area opening 16, along which air is configured to flow out from the air convection module 10.

[0066] Particularly, the air outtake axis O extends parallel to the axis I, and perpendicularly to an effective air outlet plane PL of the lower area opening 16, spanning parallel to the wall 2a.

[0067] When activated, the impeller fan 11 actively generates airflow along the airflow passageway P, from the plenum into the plenum opening 15, from the plenum opening to the lower area opening 16, and out therefrom to the lower area 6. It should be appreciated that the air convection module 10 is built such that when the impeller fan 11 is turned off, airflow along the passageway P is prevented, thereby facilitating selective generation of airflow between the openings 15,16.

[0068] To contribute to the thermal comfort in the lower area, the air flowing path P, i.e., the air outtake axis O extends parallel and adjacent the stretched ceiling 3, thereby avoiding direct impact with residentials of the lower area 6.

[0069] It should be appreciated that the air convection system 1 further comprises a control system 20, schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, configured to operate the impeller fan 11.

[0070] In general, the impeller 11 is configured to be operated by the control system 20 when the ceiling 3 radiates/absorbs heat to/from the lower area 6. Particularly, a user operating a user interface, or a sensor operatively connected to the control system 20, can decide that the heating/cooling of the lower area by radiation is insufficient, and activate the impeller 11 by the control system 20, to boost cooling/heating of the lower area 6 by conveying the cooled/heated air from the plenum 5 into the lower area 6.

[0071] Herein, the control system 20 comprises a thermal comfort sensing system 25 operatively positioned at the lower area 6, which is configured to sense a thermal comfort related parameter, e.g., temperature, at the lower area 6.

[0072] Correspondingly, the thermal comfort sensing system 25 is configured generate a thermal comfort signal indicative to said parameter, for the control system 20, which in turn is configured to operate the impeller 11 in accordance with said signal, i.e., in accordance with a sensed value of said parameter.

[0073] To ensure effective boosting of heating/cooling, i.e., to ensure that the air being conveyed by the impeller 11 from the plenum 5 to the lower area 6 is either heated or cooled with respect to the air at the lower area 6, the control system 20 is configured to operate the impeller only after receiving indication of operation of the fan coil unit, i.e., an operational signal indicative of an operational parameter of the fan coil unit 8.

[0074] The operational parameter can be for example current air temperature sensed by a respective temperature sensor disposed in the plenum 5, current operational state ON/OFF of the fan coil unit 8, recent operational state ON/OFF of the fan coil unit 8, or any other parameter indicative of operation of the fan coil unit 8.

[0075] The operational state parameter can be determined according to a level of electric current/voltage currently passing in operational components of the fan coil unit 8, or according to any other reading indicative to weather the fan coil unit 8 is currently operating or recently has been operating.

[0076] It should be appreciated that when the signal is generated directly by the fan coil unit 8, the control system 20 should be operatively connected thereto to receive that signal.

[0077] In the example shown herein, the control system 20 constitutes a part of a general climate control system of the room 2, and is operatively connected to both the fan coil unit 8 and the impeller 11, so that indication of operation of the fan coil unit 8 is received internally.

[0078] It should be appreciated that the control system 20 is configured at least to operate the fan coil unit 8 alone, the impeller 11, under a condition that the fan coil unit 8 is already operated or recently has been in operation, or both the impeller 11 and the fan coil unit 8 to simultaneously to boost rapid cooling/heating of the lower area 6.

[0079] The control system can be operatively connected to the fan coil unit 8 and the impeller 11 by wired/wireless communication, e.g., IR, Bluetooth, Wifi, etc.

[0080] FIG. 3 illustrates another example of a living room 50 according to the present disclosure, in which two air convection modules 60,70 are incorporated, constituting a part of an air convection system 100. The living room 50 comprises a stretch ceiling 53, dividing the room to a plenum 55 in which a fan coil unit 58 is installed, and a lower area 56 configured to accommodate residentials of the room 50. The air convection modules are functionally similar to the air convection module 10, so that each of which has a plenum opening 65,75, a lower area opening 66,76, and an impeller disposed therebetween. The impeller of the module 70 is shown in the figure and is designated as 71, while the impeller of the module 60 is hidden within a wall 52a in which the module 60 is embedded.

[0081] Opposed to the impeller 11, the impellers herein are configured to generate airflow in both directions, i.e., from the plenum opening 65,75 to the lower area opening 66,76, and from the lower area opening 66,76 to the plenum opening 65,75.

[0082] The air convection system 100, further comprises a control system 80 configured to operate both modules impellers of the modules 60 and 70 in synchronization.

[0083] The synchronization herein is such that the control system 80 facilitates airflow from a plenum opening 65,75 to a lower area opening 66,76 of one of the air convection modules 60,70, while facilitating airflow from a lower area opening 66,76 to a plenum opening 65,75 of another of the air convection modules 60,70, thereby inducing circulation of air between the plenum 55 and the lower area 56.

[0084] Such arrangement can solve pressure accumulation problems at the plenum 55 caused by one sided extraction/insertion of air thereinto, which can in turn, cause distortion of the stretch ceiling 53.

[0085] Another way of solving such pressure accumulation problems is to operate one or both impellers in an intermittent back-and-fourth mode, where on or both impellers are operated for a predetermined time to generate airflow in one direction, and later for another predetermined time to generate airflow in the opposite direction.

[0086] The two predetermined times can be identical.

[0087] Further, the control system 80 can also include a pressure sensing system 88 incorporated with a pressure gauge configured to sense a pressure parameter indicative of air pressure within the plenum 55. The control system 80 can be configured to operate, one or both impellers, in accordance with readings of the pressure gauge, i.e., in accordance with a sensed value of the parameter, to extract or insert air into/from the plenum 55 and prevent excess pressure or under pressure issues.

[0088] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an air convection module 110 similar to the previously presented air convection modules 10,60,70. The air convection module 110 comprises a single opening 112 divided by an impeller 111 into a plenum area 112a constituting a plenum opening, and a lower area 112b constituting a lower area opening. The air convection module 110 is configured to be installed in a designated socket of a wall (not illustrated) at an area from which a suspended ceiling extends, such that the impeller 111 is aligned with the suspended ceiling.

[0089] The air convection module 110 herein comprises two detachably attached portions, i.e., a fixed portion 110a configured to be constantly fixed to the socket in the wall, and a detachable portion 110b containing the impeller 111. The fixed portion 110a includes an electric socket 117 configured to be operatively connected to the room electricity infrastructure, and the detachable portion 110b includes a respective plug (not seen) configured to be connected to the socket 17 to facilitate power supply for the impeller 111. Such arrangement facilitates easy maintenance of the impeller 111, i.e., easy removal e.g., for cleaning purposes.