RADIATION AIR-CONDITIONER

Abstract: A radiation air-conditioner capable of being freely moved to and set in different positions, and used to deal with the problems concerning the unevenly distributed heat loads in a closed office in which a plurality of office automation (0A) machines are installed. This radiation air-conditioner consists of a radiation endothermic/radiating plate including a radiation generating surface (21) formed on one side surface of a panel (20), a plurality of thermoelectric elements (22) attached to the other side surface of the panel (20), and a plurality of heat exchanger means (25) attached to the other surfaces of these thermoelectric elements (22). Accordingly, noise does not occur in this radiation air-conditioner, and maintenance work therefor is substantially not required. Since this radiation air-conditioner can be installed in a small space owing to its small weight and thickness and compact structure, it is used very extensively.

Description: The invention relates to an air-conditioning unit comprising a body having an intake, an outlet opening in the uppermost part of the body, a ventilation passage inside the body between the intake and the outlet opening, a cross-flow fan being installed inside the ventilation passage, a plurality of thermo-electric elements being exposed to the stream of air inside the ventilation passage, a controller controlling the air-conditioning unit. The invention particularly refers to a unit of this kind for use as an office air-conditioner for a computer corner in an enclosed room, an office room, a conference room etc., and also as an air-conditioner for home use. The DE-B-1 301 454 discloses an air-conditioning unit of this kind working according to the heat pump principle. A first stream of air is passing the evaporator of the heat pump and is blown off as cooling air into a room, while a second stream of air passing the condenser is blown off and out of the window or to a part of the room which is not used by persons. According to one embodiment, Peltier-elements are used instead of a heat pump, one of the streams of air passing the cold side and the other one the hot side thereof. The present invention refers to a radiative-type air-conditioning unit. The EP-A-0 034 986 describes a radiation heat absorbing and emitting board having a radiant heat transfer surface on one side, a plurality of thermoelectric elements mounted on the other side of the surface of the panel and a plurality of heat exchange means mounted on the opposite side surface of the thermo-electric elements. In recent years, office automation equipment has come into wide use in offices, and if the number thereof increases, the heat developed by them causes an unduly increased room temperature. It is not easy to regulate the temperature by air-conditioning in the whole room, and particularly it is almost impossible to create an air-conditioning effect suitable for an individual person. Thus it is the object of the invention to provide a portable, radiative-type air-conditioning unit suitable for local air-conditioning without the need of piping work, the unit utilizing the Peltier-effect and being noiseless. To comply with this object, the air-conditioning unit according to the invention is characterized in that the body is formed by a partitioning panel member having a frame, a front panel and a rear panel, a window opening being formed in the upper half of at least one of the panel members, a radiation heat absorbing and emitting board being mounted in said window opening in such a manner that the radiant heat transfer surface is formed on the side exposed through the window and a plurality of heat exchange means mounted through a plurality of thermo-electric elements on the opposite side is located In the ventilation passage. The panel is a partitioning panel member which is comprised of a frame, a piece of front panel and a piece of rear panel that are formed on both surfaces of the frame, and the unit further comprises cross-flow fan means installed inside of the panel member; air intakes formed in the portions of the front panel opposite to the cross-flow fans; an opening formed in the uppermost end of the panel member; a window opening formed in the upper half of the panel member and adapted to be fitted with the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board, the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board being mounted in the window opening in such a manner that the radiant heat transfer surface faces the front panel and the heat exchange means are located in the ventilation passage for the cross-flow fan means defined within the panel member; and controller means for controlling the thermoelectric elements of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board and the cross-flow fan means. The cross-flow fan means have a vertically aligned positional relationship with each other and comprise a first cross-flow fan located at an upper position and a second cross-flow fan located at a lower position, and said unit further comprises first air intakes formed in the portions of the rear panel opposite to the first cross-flow fan; blowoff ports for the first cross-flow fan which open upwardly inside of the panel member; second air intakes formed in the portions of the front panel opposite to the second cross-flow fan; and blowoff ports for the second cross-flow fan formed in the portions of the front panel opposite to the second cross-flow fan and at a position lower than the second air intake. The above-mentioned and other advantages, manners and objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by making reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of example only. Fig. 1 is a schematic, exploded perspective view showing components of the radiative panel type air-conditioning unit according to the present invention; Figs, 2 and 3 are an assembled perspective view and a schematic longitudinal sectional view, respectively of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a schematic, perspective view showing an example using the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are a schematic, longitudinal sectional view and a schematic, perspective view, respectively, showing two variant examples of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6; and Figs. 7 and 8 are a schematic, partially cut-away perspective view and a schematic, longitudinal sectional view, respectively, showing a further embodiment of the radiative panel type air-conditioning unit according to the present invention. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an air conditioning unit in the shape of a partitioning panel member, in disassembled condition, for use in a radiative type air-conditioner according to the present invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a schematic, longitudinal sectional view, respectively, of the assembly of the invention. In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a frame or framework shown with the uppermost end kept open. A front panel 2 and a rear panel 3 are fixedly secured to the front and rear surfaces, respectively, of the frame 1 to form a hollow partitioning panel 4 with an open top end. This frame 1 has a cross-flow fan 5 mounted on the lower part thereof. And, the front panel 2 has air inlets 6 formed in the lower part thereof at positions opposite to the cross-flow fan 5. This front panel 2 has a window opening 7 having a large area formed in the upper half thereof. Reference numeral 8 denotes a radiation heat absorbing and emitting board adapted to be fitted in the opening 7 from inside thereof. This radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 is made up of two pieces of panels 8a and 8b having a plurality of thermoelectric elements 9 mounted lengthwise and breadthwise in a regular manner between them. Moreover, the rear panel 8b has radiating fins 10 mounted on the outer surface thereof at positions opposite to the thermoelectric elements 9. Further, the thickness of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 including the radiating fins or heat emitting or absorbing fins 10 is slightly less than that of the frame 1 so that they can be accommodated in the inner space of the partitioning panel 4. Moreover, the radiating fins 10 are adapted to conduct heat exchange with the air flow flowing vertically through the interior of the partitioning panel member 4, and the vertilating air passage extends vertically therein. Filters 11 are mounted inside of the air inlets 6 in the panel 2, and an upper cover 13 is fitted fixedly in an upper opening 12 formed in the upper end of the partitioning panel member 4. Further, in the drawings, reference numeral 14 denotes a controller fixedly secured to the frame 1 in the air flow passage formed inside of the partitioning panel member 4. This controller 14 is adapted to control the turning on and off of the cross-flow fans 5, the turning on and off of electricity to the thermoelectric elements 9, the direction of electric current flow through the thermo-electric elements 9 and the intensity of the electric current. The above-mentioned partitioning panel member 4 is 60 to 80 mm thick and is of a size which is nearly the same as that of an ordinary low partitions, and as occasion demands a plurality of such panel members 4 may be used by placing them laterally in a row. In the above-mentioned arrangement, when the controller 14 is operated to feed an electric current to the thermoelectric elements 9 so that the front side of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 is cooled and the heat is emitted through the rear side thereof by "Peltier Effect", and the cross-flow fan 5 is driven, heat is absorbed through the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 whose surface area is defined by the aperture 7 in the front panel 2 of the partitioning member 4 so that the front or outer side of the partitioning member 4 is cooled. Whilst, at that time, the heat emitted towards the rear side of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 is transferred to the air flow which is delivered by the cross-flow fan 5, passes through the radiating fins 10 and exhaust from the upper opening 12. At that time, the controller 14 is also cooled by the wind flowing through the interior of the above-mentioned partitioning panel member 4. Fig. 4 shows an example wherein the above-mentioned partitioning members 4 are used. Each of the partitioning members 4 is located with the front panel 2 thereof facing the interior at intervals of 0.5 to 1.0 meter away from an worker. The controller 14 is controlled in such a manner that the temperature of the front surfaces of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting boards 8 may be kept at 10 to 15° when the room temperature is 23 to 28°C. As a result, a heat transfer by radiation is generated between the operator and the partitioning members 4 so that the operator is subjected to a cooling effect. Although the above-mentioned invention shows a single-side type one wherein the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 is located only on one side of the panel member 4, a both-side type one as shown in Fig. 5 may be used instead. Stating in brief, the latter type one is comprised of a pair of heat absorbing and emitting boards 8 and 8', each consisting of two pieces of panels 8a and 8b having thermoelectric elements 9 sandwiched between them, the boards 8 and 8' having radiating fins 10 mounted between them and being adapted to be fitted in apertures 7 formed in both sides of a partitioning panel member 4'. According to this arrangement, both sides of the partitioning panel member 4' are cooled or heated. Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the surfaces of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting boards 8 and 8' are cooled or heated by radiation by changing the direction of flow of electric current through the thermoelectric elements 9. Further, if the direction of flow of electric current through some of the thermoelectric elements 9 on each of the radiation surfaces of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting boards 8 and 8' is selectively changed, then the radiant air-conditioning function on the radiation surfaces can be controlled. Further, this air-conditioning functional control may be conducted by controlling the intensity of the electric current flow through the thermoelectric elements 9. Furthermore, it is possible to allow the upper portions of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting boards 8 and 8' to fulfil their cooling function and the lower portions thereof to fulfil their heating function by selectively changing the direction of the electric current flow through the thermoelectric elements 9 by group. Therefore, by increasing the vertical dimension of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting boards 8 and 8' to increase their areas and making controls so that they can fulfil the above-mentioned functions, the upper half of worker's body can be cooled, and the lower half thereof can be heated so that an ideal working environment wherein he may feel refreshed at his head and get warm at his legs. As a means for obtaining the above-mentioned air-conditioning effect, a panel heater 15 may be mounted on the lower part of the partitioning panel member 4 as shown in Fig. 6. the arrangement is made such that the switching on and off of this panel heater 15 and the temperature thereof can be controlled by the controller 14 which controls the thermoelectric elements 9 and the cross-flow fan 5 at the same time. Further, as another means for attaining the above-mentioned comfortable condition wherein the worker may feel refreshed at his head and get warm at his legs, it is possible to reverse the direction of flow of the wind delivered by the cross-flow fan 5 so as to allow warm air resulting from the heat-exchange by the radiation heat absorbing and emitting surfaces 8 and 8' to be sent into the office room from the air inlets 6 formed in the lower part of the partitioning panel member 4 or 4'. In this case, an electric heater may be installed upstream of the cross-flow fan 5. Moreover, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and the two variant embodiments shown in Figs. 5 and 6, although the controller 14 is fixedly secured to the frame 1 in the air current passage defined inside of the partitioning panel member 4, it may be mounted on a member or article other than the air-conditioning panel; in other words; it may be located outside the panel. In these drawings, the cross-flow fan 5 is shown installed near the lowermost part of the air-conditioning panel, however, it may be installed just below the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8. Subsequently, a third embodiment of the radiant panel air-conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. Further, in Figs. 7 and 8, components designated by the same reference numerals as those used to indicate components of the second embodiment in Figs. 1 to 3 have the same functions, and therefore the description of them is omitted to avoid duplication of the explanation thereof. The characteristic feature of the third embodiment is as follows. A first cross-fan 5₁ and a second cross-flow fan 5₂ are mounted below the above-mentioned radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 in a vertically spaced apart relationship with each other within the partitioning panel member 4. The above-mentioned second cross-flow fan 5₂ is adapted to send out a gentle air. The above-mentioned first cross-flow fan 5₁ has air intakes 6 formed in a rear panel 3 of a partioning panel member 4, and an air blowoff port 16 directed upwardly in the partitioning panel member. Whilst, the second cross-flow fan 5₂ has air intakes 6₂ and air blowoff ports 17 formed in a front panel 2 at upper and lower positions, respectively in a vertically spaced apart relationship. The partitioning panel member 14 has a hot air outlet 12 formed in the uppermost end thereof. The arrangement is made such that the wind sent out by the first cross-flow fan 5₁ through the blowoff ports 16 is allowed to pass through the radiating fins 10 of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 and exit from the hot air outlet 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes a controller installed in the lower part of the partitioning panel member 4. This controller 14 is adapted to control the switching on and off of the first and second cross-flow fans 5₁ and 5₂, the turning on and off of electricity to the thermoelectric elements 9, changing the direction of electric current flow through the thermoelectric elements 9, and the intensity of the electric current. The above-mentioned partitioning panel member 4 is 60 to 80 mm thick and is of a size which is nearly the same as that of an ordinary low partition, and as occasion demands a plurality of such panel members may be used by placing them laterally in a row. Fig. 7 shows an embodiment wherein the partitioning members 4 are used as low partitions surrounding a work table 18. The air intakes 6₂ and the blowoff ports 17 of the second cross-flow fan 5₂ are located above the work table 18. In the above-mentioned arrangement, when the controller 14 is operated to feed electric current to the thermoelectric elements 9 so that heat is absorbed by the front side of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8, and the heat thus absorbed is emitted through the rear side thereof by "Peltier Effect", and both the cross-flow fans 5₁ and 5₂ are driven, heat is absorbed by the front side of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 thereby cooling by radiation the front side of the partitioning panel member 4. Whilst, at that time, the air behind the partitioning panel member 4 is drawn in by the first cross-flow fan 5₁, which is then driven, through the air intakes 6₁ and discharged from the blowoff ports 16 so that it may pass through a plurality of radiating fins 10 mounted on the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 and exit from the hot air outlet 12. As a result, the heat emitted to the rear side of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 is transferred to the above-mentioned air flow, and is dissipated upwardly through the interior of the partitioning panel member 4. Further, the air in front of the partitioning panel member 4 and just below the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 is drawn in by the second cross-flow fan 5₂, which is then driven, through the air intakes 6₂ and is expelled downwardly through the blowoff ports 17. Thus, the air which is cooled by the front surface of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 and has descended is sucked in by the second cross-flow fan 5₂ and is blown off by it onto the work table 18 as a gentle air. Due to the above-mentioned air-conditioning effect, the worker sitting at the work table 18 is cooled by the radiant cooling effect caused by the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8, and by the cool air delivered by the second cross-flow fan 5₂ as a gentle air. Further, the gentle air delivered by the second cross-flow fan 5₂ should preferably have a flow belocity of about 0.3 m/ρ. The number of revolutions of the second cross-flow fan 5₂ can be set as described by means of a switch at hand. If the direction of electric current flow through the thermoelectric elements 9 is changed so that heat may be absorbed by the rear side of the radiation heat absorbing and emitting board 8 and the heat thus absorbed may be emitted by the front side thereof, then the front side of the partitioning panel member 4 is heated by radiation. At that time, the wind delivered by the second cross-flow fan 5₂ serves to circulate air. Further, in case of heating, the second cross-flow fan 5₂ may be stopped. Furthermore, whilst the above-mentioned embodiment shows a case where the blowoff port 17 for the second cross-fan 5₂ is located above the work table 18, it is needless to say that hte blowoff port 17 may be located below the work table 18, and the aforementioned partitioning panel member 4 may be used as a partition board.

Claims: Air-conditioning unit comprising a body (4) having an intake (6), an outlet opening (12) in the uppermost part of the body, a ventilation passage inside the body (4) between the intake and the outlet opening, a cross-flow fan (5) being installed inside the ventilation passage, a plurality of thermo-electric elements (22) being exposed to the stream of air inside the ventilation passage, and a controller (14) controlling the air-conditioning unit, characterized in that the body is formed by a partitioning panel member (4) having a frame (1), a front panel (2) and a rear panel (3), a window opening (7) being formed in the upper half of at least one of the panel members (2,3), a radiation heat absorbing and emitting board (8) being mounted in said window opening in such a manner that the radiant heat transfer surface is formed on the side exposed through the window and a plurality of heat exchange means mounted through a plurality of thermo-electric elements (21) on the opposite side is located in the ventilation passage. An air-conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a second cross-flow fan (5₂) in a position below the window-opening (7) of the front panel (2), the second cross-flow fan (5₂) being located inside the partitioning panel member (4) in a ventilation passage between a second air intake (6₂) and a blowoff port (17) located in the front panel (2) below the window. An air-conditioning unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said radiation heat absorbing and emitting board (8) includes a first panel (20a) having a metallic radiation and sound absorbing material (21) adhesively bonded onto one side surface thereof and a plurality of thermo-electric elements (22) adhesively bonded onto the other side surface thereof, a second panel (20b) having a plurality of heat exchange means (25) mounted on the surface thereof on the opposite side of the first panel, and a heat insulating and sound absorbing material (28) is filled in the spaces defined between these panels and said plurality of thermo-elastic elements. An air-conditioning unit as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said radiation and sound absorbing material (21') is made of an alloy produced by sintering aluminium powder, and said heat insulating and sound absorbing material (28) is glass wool.

Inventors: KADOTANI KANICHI, ONISHI TETSUO, KADOTANI, KANICHI, ONISHI, TETSUO
Applicants: KAJIMA CORP, KOMATSU MFG CO LTD, KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOMATSU SEISAKUSHO, KAJIMA CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F24F1
IPC codes: F24F1, F25B21, A47G5, F24F5, E04B2