Method for improving the ventilation effectiveness of large conditioned air plenum environments including such environments in multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems

Abstract

The present invention is intended for use in large conditioned air plenum environments and particularly in the plenum environment of multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems. The invention comprises the step of providing at least one height change of dedicated conditioned air plenum, which alters the plenum's volume. This makes it possible to maintain the preferred static pressure and velocity for conditioned air throughout the entire plenum even as the amount of air in the plenum decreases as conditioned air discharges into the intended space outside of the plenum.

Claims

1. A method for improving the ventilation effectiveness of a raised floor electromechanical distribution system that has a walking surface and a conditioned air distribution plenum below the walking surface, at least a part of the conditioned air distribution plenum being defined beneath a conductor support floor disposed below the walking surface, said method comprising: providing at least one plenum height variation in the part of the conditioned air distribution plenum defined beneath the conductor support floor such that there is at least a higher height plenum portion and a lower height plenum portion, a height of the higher and lower height plenum portions measured from a lower surface common to both the higher and lower height plenum portions and the conductor support floor; said higher height plenum portion and said lower height plenum portion being in fluid communication with one another; and wherein when the raised floor electromechanical distribution system is in use, the higher height plenum portion receives conditioned air into the higher height plenum portion and conveys the conditioned air along the common lower surface and beneath the conductor support floor to the lower height plenum portion.

2. The method of claim 1, including providing a second plenum height variation in the conditioned air distribution plenum at a point downstream of the at least one plenum height variation and thereby creating a third plenum portion in communication with and downstream of the lower height plenum portion, the height of the third plenum portion being lower than the height of both the lower height plenum portion and the higher height plenum portion.

3. The method of claim 1, including positioning the higher height plenum portion nearer a source of conditioned air than the lower height plenum portion.

4. The method of claim 1, including defining the higher height plenum portion and the lower height plenum portion at least in part by an under surface of the conductor support floor below a wire way level that is disposed in between the conductor support floor and the walking surface.

5. The method of claim 4, including disposing an air barrier along a border between the higher height plenum portion and the lower height plenum portion, the barrier extending vertically along the border between vertically spaced-apart ends of the conductor support floor and fluidly separating the conditioned air distribution plenum from the wire way level.

6. The method of claim 5, including making said air barrier from modular barrier sections.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the third plenum portion includes defining the third plenum portion at least in part by an under surface of the conductor support floor below a wire way level that is disposed in between the conductor support floor and the walking surface.

8. The method of claim 1, including the step of distributing the conditioned air from at least the lower height plenum portion into a space above the walking surface via at least one air conduit that extends from the lower height plenum portion to the walking surface through a wire way level disposed between the conductor support floor and the walking surface.

9. The method of claim 4, comprising fluidly connecting at least one of the lower height plenum portion and the higher height plenum portion to a space above the walking surface via at least one air conduit, the step of fluidly connecting including extending the at least one air conduit through the wire way level, and creating an air barrier between the wire way level and the conditioned air distribution plenum.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising defining at least one of the lower height plenum portion and the higher height plenum portion by a building slab disposed below the conductor support floor, the building slab defining the common lower surface.

11. A method for ventilating a multilevel raised floor air distribution system having an air distribution plenum receiving conditioned air from a source of conditioned air, and at least one conduit conveying, when the air distribution system is in use, the conditioned air from the air distribution plenum into a space that has a walking surface, at least in part through the walking surface, the method comprising: providing at least a part of the air distribution plenum below a conductor support floor that is disposed below the walking surface; and providing, in the air distribution plenum, a higher height plenum portion below the conductor support floor and a lower height plenum portion below the conductor support floor, a height of the higher and lower height plenum portions measured from a lower surface common to both the higher and lower height plenum portions and the conductor support floor, the lower height plenum portion being in fluid communication with the higher height plenum portion; and configuring the higher height plenum portion to receive the conditioned air and convey the received conditioned air along the common lower surface and beneath the conductor support floor into the lower height plenum portion when the air distribution system is in use.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising fluidly separating the higher height plenum portion and the lower height plenum portion from a volume disposed between the conductor support floor and the walking surface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluidly separating includes providing an air barrier along a border between the higher height plenum portion and the lower height plenum portion, the air barrier extending vertically along the border between vertically spaced-apart ends of the conductor support floor.

14. The method of claim 11, comprising fluidly connecting at least one of the higher height plenum portion and the lower height plenum portion to the space via the at least one conduit fluidly connected to the space via the walking surface.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein: the higher height plenum portion is a first higher height plenum portion disposed on a first side of the lower height plenum portion; and the method further includes providing a second higher height plenum portion in the part of the air distribution plenum below the conductor support floor on another side of the lower height plenum portion and in fluid communication with the lower height plenum portion, each of the first and second higher height plenum portions having a larger height than the height of the lower height plenum portion, the first and second higher height plenum portions receiving the conditioned air from the source of the conditioned air and conveying the conditioned air to the lower height plenum portion when the air distribution system is in use.

16. The method of claim 11, comprising making the lower height plenum portion smaller in volume than the higher height plenum portion.

17. A raised floor air distribution system, comprising: a walking surface defining a space above the walking surface; a conductor support floor disposed below the walking surface and defining a wire way level disposed under the walking surface and above the conductor support floor; an air distribution plenum defined at least in part by the conductor support floor below the conductor support floor, the conductor support floor defining: a first height plenum portion of the air distribution plenum, the first height plenum portion receiving conditioned air into the first height plenum portion when the raised floor air distribution system is in use; and a second height plenum portion of the air distribution plenum, the second height plenum portion being in fluid communication with the first height plenum portion and receiving the conditioned air from the first height plenum portion when the raised floor air distribution system is in use, the second height plenum portion having a height lower than a height of the first height plenum portion, the height of the first and second height plenum portions measured from a lower surface common to both the first and second height plenum portions and the conductor support floor; and an air conduit fluidly connecting the second height plenum portion to the space above the walking surface.

18. The raised floor air distribution system of claim 17, wherein the air conduit is a second air conduit and further comprising a first air conduit fluidly connecting the first height plenum portion to the space above the walking surface, and wherein at least one of the first and second air conduits passes through the wire way level.

19. The raised floor air distribution system of claim 18, comprising an air barrier fluidly separating the air distribution plenum from the wire way level, the air barrier extending vertically between vertically spaced-apart ends of the conductor support floor.

20. The raised floor air distribution system of claim 18, wherein the first and second height plenum portions are defined by an under surface of the conductor support floor and the wire way level is disposed above the first and second height plenum portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as it becomes better understood when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate the same or similar parts in each, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view, in part diagrammatic in character, of the present invention being utilized in a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system. Portions of the system have been cut-away and certain parts removed for illustrative purposes, such as the closure extending around the outer perimeter of the wire way level of the system, and the vertical members supporting the system. Depictions and descriptions of those structures can be found in the inventor's '035 patent mentioned above. The drawing depicts application of the invention in an air plenum configuration having two heights, which differing heights are created by the respective vertical distances from the building floor of a greater height section and a lesser height section of the conductor support floor.

(3) FIG. 2 is a side view similar to that of FIG. 1, but illustrating the system's air plenum having two different heights wherein the lower height plenum portion is positioned in-between two higher plenum portions. This configuration would be used primarily in a very large room where conditioned air is introduced into the system from two opposite sides of the room.

(4) FIG. 3 presents a side view of the system similar to what is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, except that in this drawing there are three (3) conductor support floor heights creating a highest plenum portion, and intermediate height plenum portion, and a lowest height plenum portion.

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view detail showing a version of a plenum transition barrier adapted to be mechanically attached to portions of a higher conductor support floor section and a lower conductor support floor section.

(6) FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing a version of a plenum transition barrier adapted to be received by and attached to a higher conductor support floor section and a lower conductor support floor section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) While it will be understood that the concept of the invention is applicable to a number of installations, and that constructional details of it may be varied, a description of the preferred form of the inventive method will be given.

(8) Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 a portion of a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system generally designated 101 installed on building slab 100. Below the system's walking surface 102 and vertically spaced apart from it is the system's conductor support floor, generally designated 103. In FIG. 1, conductor support floor 103 comprises a higher conductor support floor section 104 and a lower conductor support floor section 106, which together are substantially co-extensive in area with the walking surface. The volume between the underside of walking surface 102 and the upper surface of the conductor support floor 103 comprises the system's wire way level 110. Electrical conductors 120 are shown housed in the wire way level and lying on the conductor support floor. Beneath the conductor support floor 103 is the system's dedicated, isolated conditioned air plenum, generally designated 105. The air plenum is substantially co-extensive in area with walking surface 102 and conductor support floor 103. The air plenum has a higher portion 112 and a lower portion 114 created by the higher conductor support floor section 104 and the lower conductor support floor section 106, respectively. At the point where higher conductor support floor section 104 and lower conductor support floor section 106 meet, which is also the transition between higher plenum height portion 112 and lower plenum height portion 114, there is positioned a plenum transition barrier 108 extending substantially vertically from the edge of the higher conductor support floor section to the edge of the lower conductor support floor section to close off the vertical gap between them as shown. Plenum transition barrier 108 stops conditioned air 116 in air plenum 105 from entering the wire way level 110, and also stops electrical conductors 120 housed in the wire way level from entering the air plenum, through said vertical gap. Conditioned air 116 travels through the plenum and above walking surface 102 through air passages 118 extending vertically from conditioned air plenum 105 and through wire way level 110. Conditioned air 116 is introduced from air conditioning units, not shown, into higher plenum portion 112. As the conditioned air 116 travels through conditioned air plenum 105 some of it leaves the plenum through vertical air passages 118 and so the amount of air in the plenum decreases, losing velocity and related favorable pressure characteristics. When the remaining air reaches lower height plenum portion 114 the decrease plenum volume created by the decreased plenum height restores the desired air movement and pressure, making it possible to distribute conditioned over a far greater distance than would otherwise be possible.

(9) FIG. 2 illustrates a variation of the two plenum height configuration depicted in FIG. 1. Once again there is shown a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system 101 disposed on building slab 100. There is a conductor support floor 103 having a higher section 104 and a lower section 106. There is a conditioned air plenum 105 through which conditioned air 116 flows until it is discharged above walking surface 102 through vertical air passages 118 that extend upward through the system's wire way level 110. As in FIG. 1 conditioned air plenum 105 comprises a higher plenum portion 112 and a lower plenum portion 114. The difference between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, is that in the latter drawing the lower height plenum portion 114 divides the higher plenum portions 112 in two. In other words, it is disposed between two parts of the higher plenum portion. This means that there are two places where conductor support floor 103 transitions from a higher conductor support floor section 104 to a lower conductor support floor section 106, which in turn necessitates the placement of two plenum transition barriers 108. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 would be used primarily in a very large room where conditioned air is introduced into the system from two opposite sides of the room. At each end of the room conditioned air 116 would be introduced into the respective parts of divided higher plenum portion 112 through which it would be distributed with some air leaving the plenum through vertical air passages 118. By the time conditioned air 116 reaches the approximate midpoint of the room its volume will have substantially lessoned and its static pressure become unfavorable thereby decreasing its velocity. When the remaining air squeezes into the smaller volume of the lower height plenum portion desired pressure and velocity will be restored, thereby improving the already remarkable ventilation effectiveness of the system.

(10) FIG. 3 illustrates a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system 101 supported on the building slab 100. In this configuration the system's conditioned air plenum 105 has three height variations, namely a higher plenum portion 112 a lower height plenum portion 114, both of which are illustrated and discussed in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and an intermediate height plenum portion 113. The variations in plenum height are created by the varied heights of the conductor support floor 103 comprising in this configuration a higher conductor support floor section 104 a lower conductor support floor section 106 and an intermediate height conductor support floor section 107. The intermediate conductor support floor section 107 is disposed between the higher conductor support floor section and the lower conductor support floor section such that there is a conductor support floor height transition at each end of the intermediate height section. This creates the three plenum height portions, 112, 113, and 114 identified above and necessitates the positioning and installation of a plenum transition barrier 108 at each of the two conductor support floor height transitions as shown. Conditioned air 116 is shown flowing through the plenum 105, into and through vertical air passages 118 extending through the wire way level 110, and being confined to the plenum by lower conductor support floor section 106.

(11) FIG. 4 is another cut-away side view of a portion of a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system 101 showing a detail of a version of a plenum transition barrier generally designated 108 in position for attachment to higher plenum conductor support floor section 104 on its one end and to lower conductor support floor section 106 on its other end. In this particular version the plenum barrier comprises two outwardly, horizontally positioned flanges, 109 and 111, that extend in opposite directions from one another and which are substantially perpendicular to a portion 115 that extends between and connects them. Flange 109 and flange 111 are adapted to be received on the respective higher conductor support floor section and lower conductor support floor section and to be attached thereto using mechanical fasteners 33. Conditioned air 116 flowing in the conditioned air plenum 105 formed by the upper surface of building slab 100 and the under surface of conductor support floor 103 is confined to the plenum at the height transition between higher conductor support floor section 104 and lower conductor support floor section 106 by plenum transition barrier 108 when installed as described. Conditioned air is thus prohibited from entering wire way level 110, which comprises the volume between the upper surface conductor support floor 103 and the underside of walking surface 102, and electrical conductors 120 housed in the wire way level 110 cannot enter the conditioned air plenum 105.

(12) FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a portion of a particular version of a plenum transition barrier generally designated 108 as shown and discussed in connection with FIG. 4 and other Figures. The FIG. 5 the barrier's two flanges, 109 and 111 are provided with preinstalled holes 35 to facilitate the use of mechanical fasteners for the mechanical attachment of the plenum transition barrier 108 to portions of a higher conductor support floor section 104 and a portion of a lower conductor support floor section 106, respectively.

(13) What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions, and figures used are set forth for purposes of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the by the following claims and their equivalents, in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.