Device for generating an air wall

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for generating an air wall across a passage opening (100), which passage opening (100) has lateral edges and a top edge, comprising: a first and second blowing device (10, 20), arranged at the lateral edges in such a way that planar air streams are blown over the height and respective parts of the width of the passage opening (100); wherein the device (1) is provided with regulating means (13; 23) for regulating the blowing speeds of the blowing devices; and wherein the first blowing device (10) and the second blowing device (20) are provided with secondary blower slits (12; 22) which are parallel to the respective primary blower slits (11; 21), which secondary blower slits (12; 22) are connected to secondary means for drying and/or heating air to be blown.

Claims

1. Device (1) for generating an air wall across a passage opening between a first space and a second space, wherein the first space and the second space have a mutually different temperature and/or humidity, which passage opening (100) has a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and a top edge, the device (1) comprising: a first blowing device (10) with a first primary blower slit (11), arranged at the first lateral edge of the passage opening (100) in such a way that a first substantially planar air stream is blown over substantially the entire height and at least a first part of the width of the passage opening (100); and a second blowing device (20) with a second primary blower slit (21), arranged at the second lateral edge of the passage opening (100) in such a way that a second substantially planar air stream is blown over substantially the entire height and at least a second part of the width of the passage opening (100); wherein the device (1) is further provided with regulating means (13;23) for regulating the respective blowing speeds of the first blowing device and the second blowing device; and wherein the first blowing device (10) and the second blowing device (20) are provided with secondary blower slits (12; 22) which are parallel to the respective primary blower slits (11; 21), which secondary blower slits (12; 22) are connected to secondary means for drying and/or heating air to be blown.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the primary blower slits (11; 21) have a width in the range of 10-40 mm and a length in the blowing direction of 5-40 cm.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first blowing device (10) and the second blowing device (20) are constructed from vertically adjoining modules (10a, 10b, 10c; 20a, 20b, 20c), wherein the regulating means (13; 23) are designed to regulate a blowing speed for each module.

4. Device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first blowing device (10) and the second blowing device (20) are designed to vary the blowing direction over the height of the passage opening (100).

5. Device (1) according to claim 3, further provided with a bridging element which extends from an end of the first blowing device (10) to a corresponding end of the second blowing device (20), wherein the bridging element is arranged at the top edge of the passage opening (100) in such a way that a third substantially planar air stream is blown over substantially the entire width and at least part of the height of the passage opening (100).

6. Method for screening a passage opening (100) between a first space and a second space by means of an air wall, wherein the first space and the second space have a mutually different temperature and/or humidity, which passage opening (100) has a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and a top edge, the method comprising: generating a first substantially planar air stream over substantially the entire height and a first part of the width of the passage opening (100) by means of a first blowing device (10) with a first primary blower slit (11), arranged at the first lateral edge of the passage opening (100); and generating a second substantially planar air stream over substantially the entire height and a second part of the width of the passage opening (100) by means of a second blowing device (20) with a second primary blower slit (21), arranged at the second lateral edge of the passage opening (100); and generating respective secondary air streams by means of secondary blower slits (12; 22) which are provided in the first blowing device (10) and the second blowing device (20) are parallel to the respective primary blower slits (11; 21), wherein the air to be blown through the secondary blower slits (12; 22) is dried and/or heated; wherein the first blowing device (10) and the second blowing device (20) provide respective blowing speeds, which are regulated by regulating means (13; 23) in such a way that the first air stream and the second air stream cover the width of the passage opening (100), and that the occurrence of turbulence is minimized in an area where the first air stream and the second air stream meet.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the primary blower slits (11; 21) have a width in the range of 10-40 mm and a length in the blowing direction of 5-40 cm.

8. Method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the first blowing device (10) and the second blowing device (20) are constructed from vertically adjoining modules (10a, 10b, 10c; 20a, 20b, 20c), and wherein the blowing speed of each module is regulated.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the blowing direction varies over the height of the passage opening (100).

10. Method according to claim 8, further comprising generating a third substantially planar air stream over substantially the entire width and at least part of the height of the passage opening (100) by means of a bridging element which is arranged at the top edge of the passage opening (100) and extends from an end of the first blowing device (10) to a corresponding end of the second blowing device (20).

11. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the primary blower slits (11; 21) have a width in the range of 10-40 mm and a length in the blowing direction of 10-30 cm.

12. Method according to claim 6, wherein the primary blower slits (11; 21) have a width in the range of 10-40 mm and a length in the blowing direction of 10-30 cm.

Description

(1) These and other technical effects and advantages of the invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an outline drawing of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a detail drawing of a module for constructing a device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a detail drawing of a module for constructing a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, suitable for use on the opposite side of a passage opening relative to the module of FIG. 2.

(5) The general construction of a device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is represented in FIG. 1. The device is formed by a pair of vertical blowing devices or blowing columns 10, 20 on either side of the passage 100 to be screened, connected to a common air supply system 50. Without any loss of generality, a device is illustrated without a horizontal blower prism which generates an additional air layer from above. The placement of such a prism will nevertheless be immediately clear to a person skilled in the art.

(6) Both the primary air stream and the secondary air stream are actively generated by the device. For this purpose the air supply system 50 comprises a branching 51 which divides the supplied pressure between a primary channel and a secondary channel. The primary channel opens out in each of the blowing columns 10, 20 in the chamber which is connected to the primary blower slit 11, 21, with the secondary channel opening out in each of the blowing columns 10, 20 in the chamber which is connected to the secondary blower slit 12, 22. In the illustrated embodiment, a conditioning unit 52 is provided only in the secondary channel, for heating and/or drying the air in the secondary air wall. In this way, it is possible to provide an effective air wall between spaces with very different atmospheres in an energy-efficient manner. Embodiments are also possible in which the primary air stream is also conditioned.

(7) In the illustrated arrangement, each of the two blowing columns 10, 20 is constructed from three modules 10a-c, 20a-c. The number of modules has been selected purely by way of example; the person skilled in the art will understand that a greater or smaller number of modules may be selected depending on the requirements of the specific situation, or that it is even possible to use columns which consist of one piece. Apart from the necessary connection elements, the respective modules of a column preferably have a substantially identical form.

(8) FIG. 2 illustrates a possible embodiment of a module for use in the device according to the present invention, module 10b being used as an example. FIG. 2 illustrates a functionally identical module 20b arranged for use on the opposite side of the passage opening. For the sake of clarity, the end plates are not shown; said end plates contain the connection elements which are needed to be able to stack the modules on top of one another and to guarantee the supply of air to the primary and secondary chambers.

(9) The primary chamber, i.e. the chamber which is connected to the primary blower slit 11, 21, contains regulating means 13, 23 to regulate the flow rate of the primary air stream. In the illustrated embodiment, the regulating means comprise a plate which can be moved to a greater or smaller distance from the funnel-shaped inlet of the blower slit by means of a bolt or threaded rod, as a result of which (for a specific pressure of the supplied air) respectively a greater or smaller air flow rate through the primary blower slit is set.

(10) In the illustrated embodiment, there are no regulating means in the secondary chamber, i.e. the chamber which is connected to the secondary blower slit 12, 22, since the regulating means are merely optional here.

(11) By providing the regulating means at the level of the individual modules 10a-c, 20a-c, it is possible to vary the flow rate of the planar air streams along the vertical axis. It is thus possible to counteract air flows in the direction transverse to the plane of the passage opening 100 in an optimum manner.

(12) For further details about the possible construction of the blowing devices reference is explicitly made to WO 2009/051482 A1 and WO 2010/085861 A2, both in the name of the applicant.

(13) Although the invention has been described above on the basis of specific embodiments, these serve merely for clarification and do not constitute a limitation of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the attached claims.