Abstract:
An air conditioning module applicable to a partition panel is disclosed herein. The air conditioning module includes a heat exchanger and a blower mounted inside the panel. The partition panel is suitable for assembling a modular personal working compartment in an office. A heat transfer medium is provided to the air conditioning module for generating cooled or heated air for the personal working space. The operation of the air conditioning module can accommodate individual needs, as well as save energy.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an air conditioning module built in a room partition unit, and more particularly relates to an air conditioning module built in a modular partition panel for a personal working compartment, in which a heat exchanger, conduits for a heat transfer medium and a blower are incorporated into the partition panel. 
     2. Related Art 
     A conventional air conditioning system mainly includes several air vents located in the ceiling at different positions for spreading conditioned air to certain portions of a room or rooms. This kind of system has the following disadvantages: 
     a) Unnecessary power consumption is caused by the system because a temperature is preset to manage the operation purpose without considering the number of people in the room; 
     b) The efficiency of the refrigeration system is relative low since the supply air-flow rate is smaller and the temperature difference is larger at the exit, so that the temperature of the discharged and returned water is lower, or the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant is lower; 
     c) The load and power consumption of the system will increase because the radiation heat from the lighting devices,the ceiling and the walls is brought into the room. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an air conditioning module built in a room partition panel. The panel can be freely assembled, and meets the requirements of air-conditioning in a personal working compartment. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning module built in a room partition panel, which can base on the actual needs of an individual in a specific working compartment, and prevent from wasting electrical energy. 
     To achieve the aforesaid objects, an air conditioning module built in a room partition panel according to the present invention includes at least a heatexchanger and a slim blower incorporated into a vertically standing partition panel. The air conditioning module can be applied as an individual element, or combined with a plurality same type modules, Then the modules can match with the ducts of heat transfer mediums to form office partitions. Furthermore, it can assemble with office desks and chairs to become office furniture. 
     The partition panel with air conditioning module is thus applicable to construct a personal working compartment in a room. By using the heattransfer medium from a supply system through ducts to the air conditioning module, the partition panel can provide cool or warm air to the person who uses the working compartment. 
     An embodiment of the partition panel with air conditioning module according to the invention further includes the air filters, the activated charcoal and the ozone cleaning apparatus inside the partition panel for removing particles dust, and some harmful airborne materials, in order to achieve the air cleaning effect. 
     Further scope of applicability of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and drawings provided below. However these drawings are for the purposes of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an air conditioning module built in a partition panel according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a configuration of a partition panel with air conditioning module according to the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is another embodiment of an air conditioning module built in a partition panel according to the invention; 
     FIGS. 4 through 8 are sectional views of the invention showing embodiments of interior structure thereof; 
     FIG. 9 is a further embodiment of an air conditioning module built in a partition panel according to the invention, showing a detachable return-air panel and filter; 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views of an air-conditioning module built in a partition panel according to the invention, showing a structure of the guide vans at the air outlet; 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views, each showing an air-conditioning module built in a partition panel and incorporating a filter; 
     FIGS. 13A and 13B are sectional views of an air-conditioning module built in a partition panel connecting with an outside air supply apparatus; 
     FIG. 14 is a applied example of the air-conditioning modules of the invention, showing the partitions of an office; 
     FIG. 15 is a applied example of two air-conditioning modules of the same type in parallel; 
     FIGS. 16A and 16B are partial views of an air-conditioning module of the invention, showing the configurations for connecting and sealing ducts of air or heattransfer mediums; 
     FIG. 17 is a partial view of an air-conditioning module of the invention, showing a comer connector built in a comer column for connecting and sealing ducts with an angle; 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view of an air-conditioning module of the invention connecting with a refrigerant supply system; 
     FIG. 19 is a sectional view of an air-conditioning module of the invention connecting with an chilled water supply system; 
     FIG. 20 is a sectional view of an air-conditioning module of the invention connecting with a hot water supply system; 
     FIGS. 21A through 21C are flow control methods for refrigerant, applied to an air-conditioning module of the invention; 
     FIGS. 22A through 22C are flow control methods for icy or hot water, applied to an air-conditioning module of the invention; 
     FIG. 23 is a sectional view showing a controller for adjusting the temperature of discharged air of an air-conditioning module of the invention; and 
     FIG. 24 is a further embodiment of an air-conditioning module built in a partition panel according to the invention, showing a human detector incorporated. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an air conditioning module built in a room partition panel according to the invention includes a partition panel  10  composed of a side frame  101  and two opposite vertical panels  11   a ,  11   b . The side frame  101  and the vertical panels  11   a ,  11   b  form the partition panel  10  with an interior cavity. The partition panel  10  further includes at least an air outlet  12 , a return air inlet  13  and an air passage linked the air outlet with the air inlet inside the partition panel  10 . A supplying duct  20  is used for delivering the heattransfer medium, such as refrigerant, chill water or hot water, into the partition panel  10 . The ends of the supplying duct  20  are defined as an inlet port  201  for connecting to a supplier of the heat transfer medium, and a connecting port  202  for linking to an inlet port  201   a  of a supplying duct  20   a  of a same type partition panel (as shown in FIG.  15 ). Thus, a plurality of the same type partition panels  10  can share the heat transfer medium from the same supplier. A returning duct  21  is used for delivering the heat transfer medium back to the supplier. The ends of the returning duct  21  are defined as an outlet port  211  for connecting to a suction end of the supplier, and a connecting port  212  for linking to an outlet port  211   a  of a same type returning duct  21   a  (as shown in FIGS.  15  and  16 A). Thus, a plurality of the same type partition panels  10  can return the heat transfer medium to the same supplier. A heat exchanger  30  installed inside the partition panel  10  includes an entrance  301  connecting to the supplying duct  20 , and an outlet  302  connecting to the returning duct  21 . Therefore, the heat transfer medium coming from the supplier will pass through the supplying duct  20 , the heat exchanger  30 , the returning duct  21 , and finally return to the supplier. A blower  40  suck air from a return air inlet  13 , and delivers them through the surface of the heat exchanger  30 , then discharges cool or warm air into the room via an air outlet  12 . 
     FIG. 3 is another embodiment of an air conditioning module built in a partition panel according to the invention. This embodiment is based on the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, but including a water reservoir  31  and a drain  32  located under the heat exchanger  30 . When the air conditioning module operates, water will condense on the surface of the heat exchanger  30 . The condensed water will then be collected in the water reservoir  31  and discharged from the drain  32 . 
     The partition panel  10  is composed of a side frame  101  and two opposite vertical panels  11   a  and  11   b . Stands  14  are formed in the bottom of the partition panel  10  so as to stand it on the ground. Of course, if necessary, the partition panel  10  can be fixed or lean against a wall. 
     The return air inlet  13  and the air outlet  12  are basically openings connected between the interior and the exterior of the partition panel  10 . They can be located on one of the following: 
     a) They can both be placed on a single panel, such as on the vertical panel  11   a , as shown in FIG. 4, or on the two vertical panels  11   a  and  11   b  respectively, as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     b) The return air inlet  13  can be located on one of the vertical panels  11   a  or  11   b , while the air outlet  12  is located on top of the partition panel  10 , i.e., on the top rim of the frame  101   a  (as shown in FIG.  6 ), for discharging air in an upward direction. 
     c) The return air inlet  13  can be located on one of the vertical panels  11   a  or  11   b . The air outlet  12  can then be located on the upper portion of the partition panel  10 , i.e., on the top rim of frame  101   a  and on the upper portions of the two vertical panels  11   a  and  11   b  (as shown in FIG.  7 ), in order to discharge air in a eadiaut direction. 
     For providing cool air, the air outlet  12  is preferably located in a higher position, while the return air inlet  13  is located in a lower position. Because of the principle of natural convection currents, the discharged cool air willful and spread in the room. When providing warm air, however, the air outlet  12  is preferably located in a lower position, while the return air inlet  13  is located in a higher position. Thus, the discharged warm air can rise naturally and spread in the room, as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The air outlet  12  and the return air inlet  13  can be made as detachable panels mounted on the vertical panels  11   a  and  11   b . For example, as shown in FIG. 9, an air outlet panel  12   a  and an air inlet panel  13   a  are mounted on one of the vertical panels  11   a  or  11   b  by means of screws or fasteners. Therefore, they can be easily removed for cleaning. 
     The air outlet  12  and the return air inlet  13  can be formed with the guide vans  15 . An automatic swinging mechanism, such as that driven by a small size motor  161  and worm gear  162 , can be used to operate the guide vans  15 , as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Or, manually operated guide vans can also be used. Therefore, the discharged air can be guided in desired directions to avoid directly blowing to a person and causing discomfort. 
     The blower  40  is substantially a fan, such as a centrifugal fan or an axial fan, mounted inside the partition panel  10 . The blower  40  sucks air from the return air inlet  13 , and delivers them through the heat exchanger  30 , then discharges the conditioned air into the room via the air outlet  12 . In the air passage inside the partition panel  10 , there is an air cleaning device, such as the air filters  17 , the activated charcoal or the ozone cleaning apparatus  18  (as shown in FIG.  7 ), for removing particles and some harmful airborne materials, in order to achieve the air cleaning effect. The filter  17  is preferably mounted on the return air inlet  13 , as shown in FIG. 11, so as to keep the interior of the partition panel  10  clean. Or, the filter  17  can also be mounted on the air outlet  12 , as shown in FIG.  12 . When a detachable air outlet panel  12   a  or air inlet panel  13   a  is applied, the filter  17  can be mounted on or near the panel  12   a  or  13   a  so that it can be easily replaced or cleaned after the panel is removed. 
     FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which an outside air supplying duct  19  is incorporated with the partition panel  10 . The room or building is equipped with an outside air import duct  50  and other required devices, such as a blower  51  and an air filter  52 , so as to provide fresh air to the room. The fresh air is delivered through the outside air import duct  50  to the outside air supplying duct  19 , then it passes through the heat exchanger  30 , and is discharged into the room from the air outlet  12 . The outside air supplying duct  19  is located at the bottom of the partition panel  10 . The cross-sectional dimension of the outside air supplying duct  19  is as large as possible when fitting with the partition panel  10 , so as to obtain the largest quantity of fresh outdoor air. As shown in FIG. 13B, the supplying duct  20  and the returning duct  21  for the heat exchanger  30  can also be included in the outside air supplying  19 , so as to save the space inside the partition panel  10 . 
     The air conditioning module of the invention mainly satisfies the requirements of personal air conditioning, and is suitable for the application of office partitions and for separating personal working spaces. According to the actual space requirements, a plurality of partition panels with air conditioning modules can be assembled to partition several personal working spaces, as shown in FIG.  14 . In addition, considering the location of the air outlet  12 , the partition panel  10  can link with a desk board  60  on either of the vertical panels  11   a  or  11   b  to form a desk. Therefore, a person sitting in front of the desk can enjoy the cool or warm air coming from the air outlet  12  of the air condition module built in a room partition unit. 
     In the modular design, the ducts of the partition panel can be suitably located so as to make two adjacent partition panels use common ducts for the air or heat transfer medium. As shown in FIG. 15, when two partition panels  10  are adjacently mounted, the two supplying ducts  20 , returning ducts  21 , condensed water drains  32  and outside air supplying ducts  19  link together respectively, so that the two partition panels  10  share the same heat transfer medium, the same fresh outside air, and the same condensed water drain. 
     The connection of supplying ducts  20 , returning ducts  21 , and condensed water drains  32  of two partition panels can be fulfilled in different ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 16A, when two partition panels  10  link sequentially in a plane, a common duct  33  can be used to link them, e.g., two returning ducts  21  and  21   a . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16B, when only one partition panel  10  is used, or at the end of the dust, a closed element  35  is used to seal the returning duct  21  (or the supplying duct  20  or drain  32 , which are not shown). For the convenience of the installation, a removable cover  36 , as shown in FIG. 15, is installed in a suitable position on the vertical panel  11   a  or  11   b , so that a worker can easily install the common duct  33  or the closed element  35 . As shown in FIG. 17, when two partition panels  10  link at an angle, e.g., in a corner, a corner column  102  and a bended connector  37  located in the corner column can be used to connect the two supplying ducts  20 , returning ducts  21  and drains  32 . At the bottom of the corner column  102 , a passage  103  is designed to connect the two outside air supplying ducts  19  of the partition panels  10 . 
     Since the partition panel of the invention does not include a built-in heat transfer medium supply system, the heat transfer medium has to be delivered from a separate source. The embodiments of the heat transfer medium supply system will be described below. 
     a) Using a refrigerant supply system  70 : when it is required to provide the function of cold air and dehumidification, the heat exchanger  30  of the air conditioning module of the invention serves as an evaporator for the refrigerant supply system  70 . As shown in FIG. 13A, the refrigerant is compressed by a compressor  71  into hightemperature refrigerant vapor, then it discharges its heat at a condenser, to become liquid refrigerant and passes through piping  81  to the partition panel  10 . After that, the liquid refrigerant passesthrough the supplying duct  20  and the expansion valve or capillary  38  to the heat exchanger  30 , the liquid refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates at the heat exchanger  30 , so as to cool down the air passing through the surface of the heat exchanger  30 . The evaporated refrigerant then returns to the refrigerant sypply system  70  via the returning duct  21  and the piping  81 .The water condensed on the surface of the heat exchanger  30  can drop into a reservoir  31  and discharges from the drain  32  to the drainpipes  82  of the building. On the other hand, when the heating function is required, the heat exchanger  30  of the air conditioning module of the invention serves as a condenser of the refrigerant supply system  70 , as shown in FIG.  18 . The compressed refrigerant discharges its heat at the heat exchanger  30 , so as to heat up the airflow passing through the surface of the heat exchanger  30 . The heated air then comes out from the air outlet  12 . 
     b) Using achilled water system  72 : as shown in FIG. 19, the chilled water system  72  provides the chilled water which flows through the heat exchanger  30 ,so that the cold air can come out from the supply air outlet  12 . 
     c) Using a hot water system  73 : as shown in FIG. 20, the hot water system  73  provides the chilled water which flows through the heat exchanger  30 , so that the warm air can come out from the supply air outlet  12 . 
     In general, the aforesaid heat transfer medium supply system are located outside, the buildings, they can deliver the heat transfer medium to each partition panel through the piping  81  installed under the floor  80 , as shown in FIG.  18 . According to the location of the partition panel, the piping  81  is arranged in order to meet the requirements of each partition panel  10 . Furthermore, the pipings can from a supply network. 
     In addition, the piping  81  can also be located in the ceiling  83 , as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The piping  81  is extended in the ceiling to the preset positions, and is connected to each partition panel  10  via conduits in the wall or dummy hollow columns  84 . 
     The heat exchanger  30  can be designed with different capacities to meet different requirements of air conditioning. The supply air temperature is controlled by using a temperature sensor  41  and a controller  42 , as shown in FIG.  23 . By regulating the speed of the blower  40 , the flow rate of the heat transfer medium or the speed of the compressor  71 , (for example: the inverter-type compress)the supply air temperature can be controlled. To take a refrigeration system with a compressor  71  as an example, the flow rate of refrigerant can be controlled in one of the following ways. 
     a) As shown in FIG. 21A, a thermostat expansion valve  38   a  is fixed on the supplying duct  20  for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant. The expansion valve  38   a  is controlled by the temperature at the outlet  302  of the heat exchanger  30 . An on/off valve  91 , such as solenoid valve, is installed before the expansion valve  38   a  to control the flow of the refrigerant. 
     b) As shown in FIG. 21B, a throttle valve  92  is connected between the supplying duct  20  and the heat exchanger  30 ,in order to control the flow rate of refrigerant passing through a capillary or an expansion device  38  to the heat exchanger  30 . 
     c) As shown in FIG. 21C, the refrigerant in the supplying duct  20  is selectively provided to a plurality of branch tubes  30   a   1 ,  30   a   2 ,  30   a   3 , each branch tube is respectively the necessary equipped with expansion devices  38   a ,  38   b ,  38   c  and an on/off valves  91   a ,  91   b ,  91   c  at the inlet, in order to control the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the branch tubes  30   a   1 ,  30   a   2 ,  30   a   3 . 
     FIGS. 22A,  22 B and  22 C are examples for the air conditioning modules using hot water or chilled water as heattransfer mediums. In these examples, the temperature of the supply air is completely controlled by the flow rate of the heat transfer medium in the heat exchanger  30 . 
     In FIG. 22A, a three-way valve  93  is used to control the flow rate of heat transfer medium in the heat exchanger  30 . The three ports of the three-way valve  93  respectively connect with the supplying duct  20 , the returning duct  21  and the inlet  301  of the heat exchanger  30 . If the heat transfer medium is partially guided into the returning duct  21 , the flow rate of the heat transfer medium is decreased in the heat exchanger  30  Otherwise, the flow rate of the heat transfer medium is increased in the heat exchanger  30 . 
     In FIG. 22B, a two-way valve  94  is used to control the flow rate of the transfer medium in the heat exchanger  30 . 
     In FIG. 22C, the heat transfer medium in the supplying duct  20  is selectively provided to a plurality of branch tubes  30   a   1 ,  30   a   2 ,  30   a   3  each branch tube is respectively equipped with the on/off valves  91   a ,  91   b ,  91   c  at the inlet, in order to control the flow rate of the heat transfermedium in the branch tubes  30   a   1 ,  30   a   2 ,  30   a   3 . 
     The temperature of the supply air can also be controlled by adjusting the airflow rate at the air outlet  12 , such as by adjusting the flow rate of the blower  40  or by adjusting the area of the air outlet  12 . In a preferable embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 23, a controller  42  is mounted on the vertical panel  11   a  of the partition panel  10 . The controller  42  includes at least: a start button  421  for turning on the air conditioning module; a flow rate control button  422  for adjusting the flow rate of the blower  40 ; and a temperature control circuit unshown in FIG. 23 for adjusting the temperature of supply air by controlling the speed of the blower  40 , the speed of the compressor  71 , or the flow rate of the heat transfer medium, as shown in FIGS. 21A to  21 C, and FIGS. 22A to  22 C. 
     Of course, if an ozone cleaning apparatus  18  or an automatic guide vane  15  is incorporated, the relative control buttons have to be included in the controller  42 . A temperature display  43  can also be incorporated for providing better operation. 
     In FIG. 24, a partition panel  10  with an air conditioning module according to the invention further includes a human occupied sensor  44 , in order to detect the working space covered by the supply air whether it is occupied by a person. If there is a person, the air conditioning function is turned on, and it is shut off when the person leaves. The human occupied sensor  44  automatically controls the air conditioning function based on the appropriate responses in order to save the energy and the costs. 
     In conclusion, a partition panel with air conditioning module according to the invention has at least the following advantages. 
     a) It is a modular unit suitable for the assembly of personal working compartments. The air conditioning module in the partition panel can accommodate individual requirements. 
     b) The air conditioning module is designed only for the personal working space. No extra heat load from the ceiling or the wall need to cover, so it saves energy. 
     c) Fresh supply air can be provided by equipped for the air conditioning module, so that the person in the working space can enjoy the best quality air. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.