Patent Publication Number: US-2011056666-A1

Title: Modular panel for the formation of systems for ambient cooling or heating

Description:
This invention concerns a metal modular panel conceived for the formation of fluid circulation radiant systems both for the cooling and heating of dwellings, offices, laboratories, public places and the like. 
     An objective of this invention is to provide a simple and functional modular panel, having at least one conduit in which a thermovector fluid flows, and shaped for its easy connection to other similar panels in order to create ample thermal exchange flat surfaces, which can be easily adapted to any ambient requiring air-conditioning. 
     Another objective of the invention is to provide a modular panel usable both for ambient cooling and heating, simply by changing the position: in the ceiling, on the floor or along the walls, in the manner of a skirting board, and choosing from time to time a cold or hot thermal thermovector fluid to be circulated. 
     Said objectives and implicit advantages deriving from them are achieved, according to the invention, with a modular panel comprised of metal panel body with a length chosen according to requirements and having:
         a substantially flat front surface defined in width by two opposite longitudinal sides,   at least one rear longitudinal conduit in an intermediate portion between said opposite sides and extending according to the length of said panel body,   a thickness decreasing towards the two opposite longitudinal sides starting from the intermediate portion carrying the longitudinal conduit, and   along the two longitudinal sides, two lateral tabs protruding towards the rear and provided to fix the panel body to a supporting surface and/or for a side by side connection of contiguous panels for the configuration of a thermal radiation system.       

     The body of the panel is made of a metal with good thermal conductivity, in particular aluminium or its alloy, and can be made by extruding process. Its longitudinal conduit can have a circular cross section, but, preferably, it has an elliptical cross-section with major axis parallel to the front face of the plate to benefit from an increase in port and a larger thermal exchange surface without influencing the thickness of the panel. 
     The rear of the panel body, between the intermediate portion holding the longitudinal conduit and its lateral tabs can be provided with reinforcing beads or ribs. Furthermore, on the rear of the metal body, between the lateral tabs, can be positioned a layer of insulating material for the thermal insulation of each panel with regard to the supporting surface the thermal radiation system will be connected to. 
    
    
     
       The modular panel according to the present invention is however illustrated in greater detail in the continuation of the description made in reference to the attached purely indicative drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an end view of a first modular panel form; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of a second modular panel form; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section of panels placed side by side to form a thermal radiation system; 
         FIG. 4  is a detail of a way of fixing a panel to a supporting surface; 
         FIG. 5  is in detail of a way of connecting panels in line; 
         FIGS. 6 and 6   a  are a detail of two ways of connecting panels at an angle; and 
         FIG. 7  is the connection of a tube of fluid to the conduit of a panel. 
     
    
    
     As shown, each modular panel comprises a panel body  11  which, as stated above, can be made of aluminium or its alloys and through an extruding process. The body  11  can have a length chosen each time and a set width, defined by two opposite longitudinal sides  12 . 
     More precisely, the body  11  has a front surface  13  which is substantially flat and has on its rear face at least one longitudinal conduit  14 , provided on a level with an intermediate portion  14 ′ and which extends for all the length of the body. The longitudinal conduit  14  can be circular as in  FIG. 1  or, better, elliptical, as in  FIG. 3 , with the major axis parallel to the front face of the front face of the plate to benefit from an increase in port and a larger thermal exchange surface without influencing the thickness of the plate. Furthermore, in a transversal direction, the body  11  has a variable thickness in the sense that it decreases starting from the area contiguous to the conduit towards the opposite longitudinal sides  12 . Two tabs  15 ,  16 , are provided along these longitudinal sides, one per part, protruding on the back of the body  11 . Such tabs can be flat as in  FIG. 1 , or shaped, preferably with the tab  15  along a side shaped differently from the tab  16  along the opposite side, but however with complementary shapes—FIG.  2 —for a side by side fitting of the panels as in  FIG. 3 . In both cases each tab  15 ,  16  has an angled end  17  bent towards the intermediate portion  14 ′ and having, on the internal side, a slanting surface  18 . 
     To be noted that on the back of the body, between the conduit  14  and the lateral tabs  15 ,  16 , longitudinal ribs or reinforcing beads can be provided, even if not shown. Finally, a layer of insulating material  19  can be provided in the spaces between said lateral tabs  15 ,  16 . 
     The panel configured in this way can be used individually or placed side by side and/or in line with other similar panels, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to create thermal radiation systems of the required size for cooling or heating installations. They can be placed in the ceiling, on the floor or along the walls, in the manner of a skirting board, with the interposition, where required, of the insulating material  19  between the panel and a surface  20  it is resting against. 
     For example, each panel can be installed and fixed using brackets  21  to the supporting surface  20  and constrained to the slanting surface  17  of at least one of the lateral tabs of the panel as in  FIG. 4 . The connection of the panels placed in line can be carried out by means of a linear joint  22  shaped to be inserted in the contiguous ends of their longitudinal conduits as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the panels are positioned at an angle, they can be connected by means of an angular joint  23  engaged in the ends of the respective conduits as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6   a.    
     The longitudinal conduits  14  will however be connected to end manifolds—not shown—for the circulation of a thermovector fluid, the most typically water, which will be cool in the cooling systems or hot in the heating ones. 
     Furthermore, where required, the longitudinal conduit  14  of at least one panel can be connected to the return tube  24  of the thermovector fluid in circulation. The connection of the tube can, for example, be carried out by means of a plate  25  fixed to the intermediate part of the panel and a turning coupling  26  connected to a part of said plate and by the other to said tube as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The panel, and consequently the system in which it is used, has the advantage of having a raised front surface in relation to its volume, which ensures great radiation capacity and high thermal exchange performance. In addition, the conformation of its section, also in the presence of a single conduit for the circulation of the thermal carrier fluid, enables a uniform temperature to be reached for the whole extension of its surface and by this a uniform thermal radiation towards the area to be air conditioned. Furthermore, the front surface of each panel can be painted or treated advantageously to hide it or to match its colour with that of the surroundings. 
     It should also be noted that the system achieved with the above described panel can also be used as a thermal radiant platform also in external areas, as a heater for the soil in glasshouses or the like, let alone as thermal solar collectors to heat water to be stored and kept at disposal in a tank for various needs.