Aeration structure in buildings

Abstract: Aeration structure for a multi-storied building (10) having living rooms (11) on each floor; wherein an air supply hole (12) for inletting outdoor air and an air exhaust hole (13) are provided in a lower section and an upper section of each living room respectively, and an air supply path (16) and an air exhaust path (17) communicate with the air supply hole and air exhaust hole of each living room, said air supply path and said air exhaust path extending in the vertical direction.

Description: The present invention relates to aeration structures in buildings, and more specifically to aeration structures for making use of natural aeration based on heat generated in a living room space. In recent years, the degree of airtightness in buildings, both in detached houses and multiple dwelling houses, has been increasing. On the other hand, the demand for aeration and ventilation so as to introduce fresh air into a living space has also been increasing. Generally, electrical or mechanical energy is used for aeration and ventilation as well as in the control thereof, which causes high energy consumption betraying expectations for energy saving. Further in cases of natural disasters such as earthquakes, the so-called life-line goes down, and also the supply of electricity is stopped, so that aeration or ventilation systems will not function, and sometimes a risk to human life due to oxygen deficiency may be caused. In addition, if a fire occurs in a highly airtight space in a house, less smoke will be discharged from the space which may become filled with smoke and this is also hazardous to human life. It is assumed herein that, as shown in Fig. 1, an air supply hole 2, open to atmosphere, is provided in a lower section of a living room 1 and an air exhaust hole 3 is provided at a height difference H above the air supply hole 2 in an upper section of the living room. Therefore, assuming that the specific weight of the outdoor air is τ d , the temperature of the outdoor air is T d , the specific weight of the indoor air is τ r , and the temperature of the indoor air is T r , the draft pressure P ch generated in the living room 1 is expressed by the following expression (1): P ch = H ( τ d - τ r ) Herein, assuming that an air pressure is P and a specific volume is V, and a gas constant is R, an equation for the gas is expressed by PV = RT, and also as V = 1/τ, the expression (1) can be rewritten with the following expression (2). P ch = P o H/R(1/T d - 1/T r ) P o in this expression indicates atmospheric pressure. When a man goes into the living room 1, because of his body temperature, or various types of device carried by the person which generate heat, heat is generated and accumulated in the living room 1, and T d becomes lower than T r (T d < T r ). For this reason, in the expression (2), P ch becomes larger than zero ( P ch > 0), and a draft pressure as indicated by an arrow mark in Fig. 1 is generated in the living room. Namely, the outdoor air flows into the living room through the air supply hole 2 and is exhausted from the air exhaust hole 3. It should be noted that, as the temperature increases in the living room 1, the volume of air will expand and therefore that the cross-sectional area of the air exhaust hole 3 should preferably be larger than that of the air supply hole 2. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 2, in a U-shaped air path comprising vertical paths 4,5 and a horizontal path 6, assuming that the specific weight of air in the vertical path 4 is τ d , its temperature is T d , the specific weight of air in the vertical path 5 is τ u , and its temperature is T u , the draft pressure P ch of air flowing through the path indicated by points a, b, c, and d is expressed by the following expression (3) as for expression (1): P ch = H ( τ d - τ u ) And, also as for expression (2), expression (3) can be rewritten with the following expression (4): P ch = P o H/R . ( 1/ T d - 1/ T u ) In expression (4), if T d is equal to T u ( T d = T u ), P ch becomes zero (P ch = 0), so that no draft power is generated. Herein, it is assumed that the living room 1 shown in Fig. 1 is located in a horizontal section 6 of the U-shaped aeration path shown in Fig. 2 and the air supply hole 2 is opened in the side of the vertical path 4 with the air exhaust hole 3 opened in the side of the vertical path 5. As described above, heat is generated inside the living chamber 1, so that an air flow is generated by which air in the vertical path 4 flows through the air supply hole 2 into the living room 2 and the heated air is then exhausted through the air exhaust hole 3 into the vertical path 5. As a result, in the expression (4), T d becomes lower than T u (T d < T u (=T r )), namely P ch becomes larger than zero ( P ch > 0), and draft pressure is generated causing an air flow from the point a to points b and c and then to the point d. The inventor of the present invention has paid special attention to generation of natural draft pressure due to generation of heat inside a living room as described above. GB 711,753 discloses a method of constructing a tropical house in which air can enter a room of the house via an opening at the base thereof to be exhausted from an opening at the top of the room before being exhausted from the house via a chimney provided above a loft space. Viewed from a first aspect the present invention provides a plural storey building having a natural aeration structure which comprises: at least one living room on each storey thereof; an air supply passage extending substantially vertically over the height of the building and having an opening therein to allow the intake of outdoor air; and an air exhaust passage extending substantially vertically over the height of the building and having an opening therein to allow exhaustion of air to the exterior of the building, wherein an air supply hole is provided in a lower section of each living room, each air supply hole being in communication with said air supply passage so as to let outdoor air into each respective living room, and an air exhaust hole is provided in an upper section of each living room, each air exhaust hole being in communication with said air exhaust passage so as to exhaust air from each respective living room. Preferably the air supply passage and the air exhaust passage are arranged to communicate with a plurality of living rooms on a single said storey, via respective air supply holes and air exhaust holes. In a preferred embodiment the air supply path and air exhaust path are formed outside a frame of a building. In a further preferred embodiment the air supply path and air exhaust path are provided inside a frame of a building and the paths extend through each of the living rooms on each floor. In a further preferred embodiment an air exhaust fan is provided at an exit section of the air exhaust path. In a further preferred embodiment the air supply path and the air exhaust path are provided by partitioning a double shaft (for example a double cylinder) comprising an internal shaft and an external shaft. In a further preferred embodiment a span member is provided between the external shaft and each node of the building frame. In a further preferred embodiment a structural support shaft (for example a cylinder) is arranged around the external shaft, a span member is provided between the structural support shaft and a node of the building frame, and piping, e.g. for equipment, is accommodated in a space between the external shaft and the structural support shaft. In a further preferred embodiment a water gathering section for gathering rain water is formed in a roof portion of the building frame with the internal and external shafts projecting into the water gathering section, and a rain water pipe open in the water gathering section is accommodated in the air exhaust path. Some preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a living room to assist understanding of a principle of the present invention; Fig. 2 is another diagrammatic view to assist understanding of a principle of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the same; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a tenth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the line B-B in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a front view for an eleventh embodiment of the present invention showing a roof section of the building; and Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in Fig. 16. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a building 10 comprises concrete construction based on a multi-storied structure with living rooms 11 in each floor. An air supply hole 12 is provided in a lower section of each living room, and an air exhaust hole 13 is provided at a height difference H above the air supply hole 12 in an upper section of each living room. In this embodiment, the air supply hole 12 and air exhaust hole 13 are provided on opposite walls. A supply shaft 14, contacting an external surface, and an air exhaust shaft 15, contacting an external surface on the opposite side, are provided outside a frame 10a of the building 10. Both the air supply shaft 14 and air exhaust shaft 15 which have a rectangular cross section and are made from concrete have an air supply path 16 and an air exhaust path 17 formed therein. The air supply path 16 and air exhaust path 17 are communicated to the air supply hole 12 and the air exhaust hole 13 respectively in each living room 11 on each floor. A relation between a cross-sectional area F0 of the air supply path 16 and a cross-sectional area F1 of the air exhaust path 17 is expressed by the expression F1 ≥ F0 (The relation is applicable in each of the embodiments described below). In Fig. 3, the reference numeral 10b indicates a water drain. In this embodiment, as explained in relation to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, natural aeration is generated in which outdoor air flows via the air supply flow path 16 and the air supply hole 12 into the living room 11 and is exhausted through the air exhaust hole 13 and the air exhaust flow path 17. Fig. 5 shows a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, the air supply shaft 14 and air exhaust shaft 15 are provided in parallel to each other on the same external surface of the frame 10a. Fig. 6 shows a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, the air supply shaft (internal one) 14 and air exhaust shaft (external one) 15 together constituting a double shaft extend through each living room 11 on each floor. The air exhaust path 17 is provided between the air supply shaft 14 and air exhaust shaft 15. The air exhaust hole 13 is provided in the air exhaust shaft 15 and the air supply hole 12 and air supply path 16 are communicated to each other by a piping 22 which passes through the air exhaust shaft 15. The air supply shaft 14 and air exhaust shaft 15 which together constitute a double shaft may be provided outside the frame 10a as in the first embodiment. Fig. 7 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, the air supply shaft 14 and air exhaust shaft 15, each having a rectangular cross section and being made from concrete, extend through the two living rooms adjoining each other, the shafts occupying a portion of each of the living rooms 11, in each floor, and the air supply path 16 and air exhaust path 17 being shared by the two adjoining living rooms. Fig. 8 shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, an air supply/exhaust shaft in the form of a cylinder 23 having a round cross section extends through the living room 11 in each floor, and the air supply/exhaust cylinder 23 is partitioned by a partitioning body 24 into the air supply path 16 and air exhaust path 17. Fig. 9 shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, the air supply cylinder 14 and air exhaust cylinder 15 form a double cylinder having a round cross section, and the air supply cylinder 14 and air exhaust cylinder 15 extend through each living room 11 in each floor. A plurality of air supply holes 12 and air exhaust holes 13 are provided in the air exhaust cylinder 15, and the air supply holes 12 and the air supply path are communicated to each other by the piping 22. Fig. 10 shows a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, additional components are added to the sixth embodiment. The air supply cylinder 14 and air exhaust cylinder 15 extend through a substantially central portion of the living room, and a span member 28 is provided between the air exhaust cylinder 15 and a node 27 of the frame 10a. The span member 28 is made from a turnbuckle, but may be made with concrete. In this embodiment, the exhaust cylinder 15 and the span member form a monolithic body, and function as a structural support for the building. It should be noted that, in Fig. 10, the reference numeral 29 indicates a public corridor and the reference numeral 30 indicates a veranda. Fig. 11 indicates an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, additional components are added to the seventh embodiment. Namely a pipe shaft 31 is provided around the external periphery of the air supply/exhaust cylinders 14,15 having therein the air supply path 16 and air exhaust path 17 so that a triple cylinder is formed as a whole. In this preferred embodiment the air supply/exhaust cylinders 14, 15 and the pipe shaft 31 are made from copper. The air supply hole 12 and air exhaust hole 13 are provided in the pipe shaft 31, and the air supply hole 12 and the air supply path 16 are communicated to each other by the piping 22. A span member 28 is provided between the pipe shaft 31 and a node 27, and the pipe shaft 31 functions as a structural support and also as a space for accommodating therein various types of equipment and piping for the equipment. For example, accommodated in a space 33 formed between the pipe shaft 31 and the air exhaust cylinder 15 are a hot water supplier 34, a cooling medium piping 35 for an air conditioner 35, and piping 37 such as a gas pipe, a water pipe, or a pipe for drainage. In a case where the hot water supplier 34 is based on a combustion system, the hot water supplier 34 is communicated through a pipe 38 to the air supply path 16. Fig. 12 shows a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, the air supply/exhaust cylinders 14, 15, hot water supplier 34, cooling medium pipe 35, and piping 37 are accommodated in a meter box 42 formed within the living room 11. As for the eighth embodiment, the air supply hole 12 and air supply path 16 are communicated to each other through the pipe 22, and the air exhaust hole 13 and air exhaust path 17 are communicated to each other through the pipe 32. It should be noted that, in Fig. 12, the reference numeral 41 indicates an outdoor portion of an air conditioner, and that, in Fig. 13, the reference numeral 42 indicates an indoor portion of an air conditioner. Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 show a tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, additional components are added to the first embodiment of the present invention. An entrance 43 to the air supply path 16 and an exit 44 from the air exhaust path 17 face sidewards, and the exit 44 of the air exhaust path 17 consists of two exits 44a and 44b. An air exhaust fan 45 is provided at the exit 44a. Forcible air exhaustion is executed by the air exhaust fan 45, but during a power failure air exhaustion is executed from the other exit 44b. Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 show an eleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention, and in this embodiment, a roof surface 50 of the building 10 has a V-shaped form, and a water gathering section 51 is formed at the central portion. An aeration cover 53 with aeration openings 52 on the peripheral surface is set at the top of the air supply/exhaust cylinders 14, 15 together constituting a double cylinder. The drainage pipe 54 is accommodated in the air exhaust path 17, and an upper edge of this drainage pipe 54 extends through the air exhaust cylinder 15 and is opened in the water gathering section 51. When it rains, rain water is gathered into the water gathering section 51, and flows down through the drainage pipe 54. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, when it rains, rain water flows in the drainage pipe 54, therefore the temperature in the drainage path 17 drops so that the difference between T d and T u in the expression (4) becomes larger, and thus aeration is promoted. For this reason, as a large draft pressure can always be obtained, in each of the embodiments described above, it is possible to accommodate a cooling pipe for water, gas, a cooling medium or the like in the air supply path 16 and also to accommodate a heating pipe for warming, hot water supply, or for central hot water in the air exhaust path 17. In addition, as the roof surface 50 has a V-shaped form, it is excellent for wind resistance, and thus prevents air turbulence around the aeration opening 52 ensuring good aeration. In each of the embodiments described above in which air supply/exhaust shafts comprise a double shaft, the internal shaft functions as an air supply shaft and the external shaft as an air exhaust shaft, but the internal shaft may function as an air exhaust shaft and the external shaft as an air supply shaft. Thus at least the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide: an aeration structure for buildings giving energy savings in relation to aeration and ventilation systems; an aeration structure for buildings in which the aeration or ventilation system does not stop functioning even if the life line goes down in natural disasters; an aeration structure for buildings in which the air paths and components each constituting the same may be used for various purposes; an aeration structure for buildings, allowing the reduction in length of concrete spans, thus simplifying the structure and also allowing an improvement in antiseismic capability of a building. As described above, it is possible to save energy required for aeration and ventilation, and the functions for aeration and ventilation are not lost even if the life line goes down in a disaster. Further the air supply path and components thereof can be used for various purposes.

Claims: A plural storey building having a natural aeration structure which comprises: at least one living room (11) on each storey thereof; an air supply passage (16) extending substantially vertically over the height of the building and having an opening therein to allow the intake of outdoor air; and an air exhaust passage (17) extending substantially vertically over the height of the building and having an opening therein to allow exhaustion of air to the exterior of the building, wherein an air supply hole (12) is provided in a lower section of each living room, each air supply hole being in communication with said air supply passage so as to let outdoor air into each respective living room, and an air exhaust hole (13) is provided in an upper section of each living room, each air exhaust hole being in communication with said air exhaust passage so as to exhaust air from each respective living room. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air supply passage (16) and the air exhaust passage (17) are arranged to communicate with a plurality of living rooms (11) on a single said storey, via respective air supply holes (12) and air exhaust holes (13). A building as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said air supply passage (16) and said air exhaust passage (17) are formed outside the building frame (10a). A building as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said air supply passage (16) and said air exhaust passage (17) are provided inside the building frame (10a) and extend through each living room (11) on each floor. A building as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein an air exhaust fan (45) is provided at an exit section (44a) of said air exhaust passage (17). A building as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said air supply passage (16) and said air exhaust passage (17) are arranged in a double shaft comprising an internal shaft (14) and an external shaft (15). A building as claimed in claim 6, wherein a span member (28) is provided between said external shaft (15) and a node (27) of the building frame (10a). A building as claimed in claim 6, wherein a structural support shaft (31) is arranged around said external shaft (15), a span member (28) is provided between said structural support shaft (31) and a node (27) of the building frame (10a) and piping (37;35) is accommodated in a space (33) defined between said external shaft and said structural support shaft. A building as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein a water gathering section (10) for gathering rain water therein is formed in a roof of the building, said internal (14) and external (15) shafts projecting into said water gathering section, and wherein a drainage pipe for rain water (54) received in said water gathering section is accommodated in said air exhaust passage (17).

Inventors: MARUYAMA NOBORU, MARUYAMA, NOBORU
Applicants: MARUYAMA NOBORU, MARUYAMA, NOBORU
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F24F7
IPC codes: E04B1, F24F7, E04F17