Patent Description:
One of the conventional pneumatic radiation air conditioners utilizing air streams is disclosed by, for example, <CIT>. The pneumatic radiation air conditioner disclosed by <CIT> includes: an air feeder configured to discharge air that has been cooled or heated by a heat exchanger, the air feeder discharging the air as a jet flow of air to a space to be air conditioned; an air inducer configured to draw in (i.e., induce) air from the space to be air conditioned by an inducing effect of the jet flow of air discharged from the air feeder; and an air mixer configured to discharge mixed air of the jet flow of air from the air feeder and the air induced by the air inducer to the space to be air conditioned, and radiate the heat of the mixed air to the space to be air conditioned. Owing to a radiation effect and induction reheating effect produced by this structure, comfortable air conditioning that causes neither drafty feeling nor temperature irregularity can be performed. Generally speaking, the term "drafty feeling" means uncomfortableness that a human body experiences when cooled air flows down on the human body in the space to be air conditioned.

<CIT> discloses a pneumatic radiation unit which was published after the priority date of the present patent. <CIT> discloses an air conditioner in which an air heat exchanger for feeding a coolant and air, another air heat exchanger for a coolant and a heat source, and a compressor which constitutes a heat pump. An attraction radiation unit <NUM> attraction-mixes the air for air-feeding from the air conditioner and air in a space to be air-conditioned, blows out the attraction-mixed air to the space to be air-conditioned in a rectified shape, and radiates the heat of the attraction-mixed air to the space to be air-conditioned. <CIT> discloses an air outlet of an air conditioning equipment, which comprises a body with an air inlet, a plurality of arc-shaped protruding parts arranged on the other side of the body, one or more penetration holes formed in the side edge of at least one arc-shaped protruding part, so that gas can pass through from the penetration holes. Air generated by the air conditioning equipment is guided to the penetration holes for dispersing, since the penetration holes are formed in the side edge, the air does not blow downwards and blows to the side edge.

As described above, pneumatic radiation air conditioners serve to create a comfortable space. However, conventional pneumatic radiation air conditioners are complex in structure, and the manufacturing cost thereof is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic radiation air conditioner having a simple structure and yet being capable of performing comfortable air conditioning.

This object is solved by a pneumatic radiation air conditioner having the features of claim <NUM>.

According to the configuration of the above aspect, the pneumatic radiation air conditioner has a simple structure including the two chambers and the air stream adjuster. This makes it possible to lower the manufacturing cost of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner and reduce the weight of the entire air conditioner. As a result, the installation and maintenance of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner can be readily performed. Since the air velocity distribution and air volume distribution of the air-conditioning air are adjusted by the air stream adjuster, the air volume distribution of the air-conditioning air can be made uniform in the second chamber, and consequently, the discharge or radiation of the air-conditioning air to the space to be air conditioned can be made uniform.

In another aspect -not according to the present invention, the air stream adjuster includes a group of first through-holes formed therein, through which the air-conditioning air is discharged to the second chamber. The second chamber includes a group of second through-holes formed therein, through which the air-conditioning air is discharged to the space to be air conditioned. A total area of the group of second through-holes is greater than a total area of the group of first through-holes.

According to the above configuration, the air velocity of the air-conditioning air is gradually reduced by increasing the static pressure of the air-conditioning air in two stages with the group of first through-holes and the group of second through-holes, and thereby the air-conditioning air can be spread over the entire space in both the first chamber and the second chamber. Consequently, the discharge or radiation of the air-conditioning air to the space to be air conditioned can be made uniform, and comfortable air conditioning that causes neither drafty feeling nor temperature irregularity can be performed. In this configuration, a group of through-holes are formed in each of the two chambers, i.e., the structure is simple, which makes it possible to lower the manufacturing cost of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner and reduce the weight of the entire air conditioner. As a result, the installation and maintenance of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner can be readily performed.

According to the present invention, the air stream adjuster includes: a through-hole, through which the air-conditioning air is discharged to the second chamber; a guide disposed in the through-hole and configured to guide an air stream; and an airflow path that is a space between the guide and the through-hole, the airflow path being configured such that an area of passage of the air stream in the airflow path increases from an upwind side to a downwind side.

According to the above configuration, since the area of passage of the air stream in the airflow path increases from the upwind side to the downwind side, the air-conditioning air is diffused while decreasing its air velocity, and thereby the air-conditioning air can be spread over the entire space in the second chamber. Consequently, the discharge or radiation of the air-conditioning air to the space to be air conditioned can be made uniform, and comfortable air conditioning that causes neither drafty feeling nor temperature irregularity can be performed.

According to the present invention, the guide includes: a support portion disposed such that a gap is formed between the support portion and a peripheral surface of the through-hole; and a flap portion provided downwind of the support portion, the flap portion being sloped in a manner to expand from the upwind side to the downwind side, the flap portion being configured to change an advancing direction of the air-conditioning air that passes through the gap between the support portion and the peripheral surface of the through-hole.

According to the above configuration, the support portion is disposed such that the gap is formed between the support portion and the peripheral surface of the through-hole. Accordingly, streams of the air-conditioning air flowing out of the gap between the support portion and the through-hole can be caused to flow away from each other by the flap portion, and thereby the air-conditioning air can be caused to flow uniformly. The air-conditioning air can also be caused to flow in a single direction, i.e., non-uniformly, by the flap portion. Thus, by changing the arrangement of the support portion in the through-hole, the air volume distribution of the air-conditioning air can be adjusted freely.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, an area of passage of the air-conditioning air in the first chamber decreases from an upwind side to a downwind side.

According to the above configuration, the air velocity of the air-conditioning air increases from the upwind side to the downwind side, and thereby the air-conditioning air can be spread over the entire space in both the first chamber and the second chamber. Consequently, the discharge or radiation of the air-conditioning air to the space to be air conditioned can be made uniform, and comfortable air conditioning that causes neither drafty feeling nor temperature irregularity can be performed.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the second chamber includes a heat storage unit constituted by a plurality of plates, the heat storage unit being configured to store the heat of the air-conditioning air discharged from the second chamber and radiate the stored heat. The plurality of plates are arranged such that a gap is formed between every two adjacent plates, the gap allowing the air-conditioning air to pass therethrough.

According to the above configuration, the heat storage unit can be used for both storing the heat of the air-conditioning air and straightening the flow of the air-conditioning air. This makes it possible to improve the thermal radiation performance of the heat storage unit, and assuredly reduce air volume irregularity and temperature irregularity.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the second chamber includes an air discharger that is formed on a part of the second chamber, the part facing the space to be air conditioned. The air discharger has a corrugated shape in which ridges and grooves are alternately arranged in a width direction or a depth direction of the space to be air conditioned.

According to the above configuration, the air discharger of the second chamber, the air discharger facing the space to be air conditioned, has a corrugated shape. Accordingly, the contact area between the air-conditioning air and the air discharger is greater than in a case where the air discharger has a flat shape. This makes it possible to improve the thermal radiation performance of the air discharger.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the pneumatic radiation air conditioner further includes a heat exchanger disposed on an air passage between the fan and the radiation unit, the heat exchanger being configured to perform heat exchange of the air-conditioning air.

The above configuration makes it possible to supply temperature-controlled comfortable air-conditioning air to the space to be air conditioned.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a building structure <NUM>, in which a pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> according to the present invention is installed. Hereinafter, the right-left direction of the building structure <NUM> in <FIG> is referred to as the width direction, and the direction orthogonal to the plane of <FIG> is referred to as the depth direction. The building structure <NUM> includes therein a space S to be air conditioned and a ceiling chamber T. The space S to be air conditioned is, for example, a room. The ceiling chamber T is positioned above the space S to be air conditioned, and a ceiling board <NUM> is installed separating between the ceiling chamber T and the space S to be air conditioned. The ceiling board <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> formed therein, through which air-conditioning air from the pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> is discharged. The pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> is disposed in the ceiling chamber T, and discharges the air-conditioning air to the space S to be air conditioned.

<FIG> is a bottom perspective view of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM>. <FIG> is a bottom view of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM>. <FIG> is a sectional view of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> of <FIG>, taken along a plane including line A-A of <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> of <FIG>, taken along a plane including line B-B of <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> of <FIG>, taken along a plane including line C-C of <FIG>.

The pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> includes: a radiation unit R disposed in a casing <NUM> and configured to discharge the air-conditioning air to the space S to be air conditioned; a heat exchanger <NUM> configured to perform heat exchange of the air-conditioning air, such as outside air and return air; a fan <NUM> configured to feed the air-conditioning air to the radiation unit R; and a drain pan <NUM> positioned below the heat exchanger <NUM>, the drain pan <NUM> serving to collect water produced by the heat exchanger <NUM> during cooling and drain the water to the outside. In the drawings, bold dotted arrows each indicate a direction in which the air-conditioning air flows.

The radiation unit R includes: a first chamber <NUM>, through which the air-conditioning air that has passed through the heat exchanger <NUM> flows; a second chamber <NUM> positioned below the first chamber <NUM>, the second chamber <NUM> being configured to take in the air-conditioning air discharged from the first chamber <NUM> and discharge the air-conditioning air and radiate the heat of the air-conditioning air to the space S to be air conditioned; and an air stream adjuster <NUM> provided between the first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM>, the air stream adjuster <NUM> being configured to adjust the air velocity distribution and air volume distribution of the air-conditioning air that is discharged from the first chamber <NUM> to the second chamber <NUM>.

The pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> is mounted to the opening <NUM> of the ceiling board <NUM> in such a manner that the bottom surface of the second chamber <NUM> faces the space S to be air conditioned. The casing <NUM> includes: a return air inlet <NUM>, through which to take in the air (return air) from the space S to be air conditioned via the ceiling chamber T and a duct (not shown); and an outside air inlet <NUM>, through which to take in the outside air. The outside air inlet <NUM> is connected to the outside of the building structure <NUM> via a duct <NUM>.

Various types of heat exchangers are adoptable as the heat exchanger <NUM>, such as: one type of heat exchanger that performs heat exchange of the air-conditioning air by utilizing cold water or hot water; another type of heat exchanger that performs heat exchange of the air-conditioning air by utilizing a refrigerant; and other types of heat exchangers. As shown in <FIG>, the heat exchanger <NUM> is formed by attaching a group of heat transfer pipes <NUM> to a group of heat transfer plates <NUM> by insertion. A heat exchange medium (cold water, hot water, or a refrigerant) is flowed through the inside of the heat transfer pipes <NUM>, and the air-conditioning air is brought into contact with the heat transfer pipes <NUM> and the heat transfer plates <NUM>. As a result, the air-conditioning air and the heat exchange medium exchange heat with each other, and thereby the air-conditioning air is cooled or heated. Preferably, the outer periphery of each of the heat transfer pipes <NUM> is ellipse-shaped. However, the outer periphery of each of the heat transfer pipes <NUM> may be circular-shaped.

As shown in <FIG>, the air stream adjuster <NUM> includes a group of first through-holes <NUM> formed therein. The air-conditioning air from the first chamber <NUM> flows into the first through-holes <NUM>, and is discharged to the second chamber <NUM> through the first through-holes <NUM>. The second chamber <NUM> includes a group of second through-holes <NUM> formed therein, through which the air-conditioning air is discharged to the space S to be air conditioned. The first chamber <NUM> includes a flat plate-shaped first air discharger <NUM> configured to discharge the air-conditioning air through the air stream adjuster <NUM>. The area of passage of the air-conditioning air in the first chamber <NUM> (i.e., the area of passage as seen in the direction orthogonal to the cross section of <FIG>) decreases from the upwind side to the downwind side. Accordingly, the air velocity of the air-conditioning air increases from the upwind side to the downwind side in the first chamber <NUM>, and thereby the air-conditioning air can be spread over the entire space in both the first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM>.

The second chamber <NUM> includes: a flat plate-shaped second air discharger <NUM> including the group of second through-holes <NUM> formed therein, through which the air-conditioning air is discharged to the space S to be air conditioned; a heat storage unit <NUM> configured to store and radiate the heat of the air-conditioning air; and a flange-equipped frame member <NUM>, to which the second air discharger <NUM> and the heat storage unit <NUM> are mounted. The total area of the group of second through-holes <NUM> is set to be greater than the total area of the group of first through-holes <NUM>. Owing to such setting, the air velocity of the air-conditioning air is gradually reduced by increasing the static pressure of the air-conditioning air in two stages with the group of first through-holes <NUM> and the group of second through-holes <NUM>, and thereby the air-conditioning air can be spread over the entire space in both the first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM>. Conceivable examples of the shape of each of the first through-holes <NUM> and the second through-holes <NUM> include a perfect circle, an ellipse, an elongated hole, and a thin hole.

As shown in <FIG>, the heat storage unit <NUM> is constituted by a plurality of plates <NUM>, which store and radiate the heat of the air-conditioning air. The plates <NUM> are arranged such that a gap is formed between every two adjacent plates <NUM>, the gap allowing the air-conditioning air to pass therethrough. The plates <NUM> are provided upright on the second air discharger <NUM> and extend in a direction in which the air-conditioning air passes. The plates <NUM> and the second air discharger <NUM> are made of, for example, aluminum whose thermal conductivity and thermal radiation rate are higher than those of other metals. By passing through between the plurality of plates <NUM>, the air-conditioning air spreads out, and is discharged to the space S to be air conditioned through the second through-holes <NUM>. The heat of the air-conditioning air is thermally transferred to the plurality of plates <NUM> and the second air discharger <NUM>. The thermally transferred heat is radiated from the plurality of plates <NUM> to the space S to be air conditioned through the group of second through-holes <NUM>, and also radiated from the second air discharger <NUM> directly to the space S to be air conditioned. That is, the heat storage unit <NUM> is used for both storing the heat of the air-conditioning air and straightening the flow of the air-conditioning air.

Each of the first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> is a thin box-shaped chamber. In <FIG> and <FIG>, each of the first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> has a rectangular flattened shape. Other conceivable examples of the shape of each of the first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> include a long and thin shape, a square shape, and a circular shape.

<FIG> show Embodiment <NUM> of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the air stream adjuster <NUM> includes: through-holes <NUM>, through which the air-conditioning air is discharged to the second chamber <NUM>; guides <NUM> disposed in the through-holes <NUM>, respectively; and airflow paths <NUM>. The through-holes <NUM> are formed in the first air discharger <NUM>. The airflow paths <NUM> are formed by: gaps between the guides <NUM> and the through-holes <NUM>, the gaps allowing the air-conditioning air to pass therethrough; and spaces diagonally below the gaps. Each airflow path <NUM> is configured such that the area of passage of an air stream in the airflow path <NUM> (i.e., the area of passage as seen in the direction orthogonal to the cross section of <FIG>) increases from the upwind side to the downwind side.

Each guide <NUM> includes: a support portion <NUM> disposed such that a gap is formed between the support portion <NUM> and the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole <NUM>; and a flap portion <NUM> provided downwind of the support portion <NUM>, the flap portion <NUM> being sloped in a manner to expand from the upwind side to the downwind side. The flap portion <NUM> changes the advancing direction of the air-conditioning air that passes through the gap between the support portion <NUM> and the peripheral surface of the through-hole <NUM>. In <FIG>, for example, a support bar 18a indicated by dotted line may be provided on the upper end of the support portion <NUM>, and the support bar 18a may be brought into contact with the upper peripheral edge of the through-hole <NUM>. This makes it possible to stably support the guide <NUM>.

<FIG> shows one guide <NUM> whose support portion <NUM> is provided such that a gap is formed along the entire inner peripheral surface of the through-hole <NUM>. <FIG> shows another guide <NUM> whose support portion <NUM> is partly fixed to a part of the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole <NUM>. With the guide <NUM> of <FIG>, streams of the air-conditioning air flowing out of the gap between the support portion <NUM> and the through-hole <NUM> can be caused to flow away from each other by the flap portion <NUM>, and thereby the air-conditioning air can be caused to flow uniformly. On the other hand, with the guide <NUM> of <FIG>, the air-conditioning air can be caused to flow in a single direction, i.e., non-uniformly, by the flap portion <NUM>. Thus, by changing the arrangement of the support portion <NUM> in each through-hole <NUM>, the air volume distribution of the air-conditioning air can be adjusted freely. The number of through-holes <NUM>, the number of guides <NUM>, and the number of airflow paths <NUM> are set in accordance with, for example, a preset air volume and a preset air velocity. In <FIG>, the shape of each of the through-holes <NUM>, the guides <NUM>, and the airflow paths <NUM> is long and thin so that they can be readily formed. Other conceivable examples of the shape of each of the through-holes <NUM>, the guides <NUM>, and the airflow paths <NUM> include various shapes, such as a square shape and a circular shape. Since the other configurational features of Embodiment <NUM> are the same as those of Embodiment <NUM>, the description thereof is omitted.

<FIG> show Embodiment <NUM> of the pneumatic radiation air conditioner <NUM> of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the second air discharger <NUM> of the second chamber <NUM>, the second air discharger <NUM> facing the space S to be air conditioned, has a corrugated shape. That is, in the present embodiment, the second air discharger <NUM> is not flat plate-shaped, but has a corrugated shape in which inclined ridges and grooves with sharp ends are alternately arranged in the width direction or depth direction of the space S to be air conditioned. Since the second air discharger <NUM> has a corrugated shape, the contact area between the air-conditioning air and the second air discharger <NUM> is greater than in a case where the second air discharger <NUM> has a flat shape. This makes it possible to improve the thermal radiation performance of the second air discharger <NUM>. The inclination angle and the height of the ridges and grooves, and the number of ridges and grooves, may be set arbitrarily. Since the other configurational features of Embodiment <NUM> are the same as those of Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM>, the description thereof is omitted.

Claim 1:
A pneumatic radiation air conditioner including:
a radiation unit (R) configured to radiate air-conditioning air; and
a fan (<NUM>) configured to feed the air-conditioning air to the radiation unit (R), wherein
the radiation unit (R) includes:
a first chamber (<NUM>), through which the air-conditioning air flows;
a second chamber (<NUM>) configured to take in the air-conditioning air discharged from the first chamber (<NUM>) and discharge the air-conditioning air and radiate heat of the air-conditioning air to a space (S) to be air conditioned; and
an air stream adjuster (<NUM>) configured to adjust air velocity distribution and air volume distribution of the air-conditioning air that is discharged from the first chamber (<NUM>) to the second chamber (<NUM>);
the air stream adjuster including
a through-hole (<NUM>), through which the air-conditioning air is discharged to the second chamber (<NUM>);
characterized in that the air stream adjuster further comprises:
a guide (<NUM>) disposed in the through-hole (<NUM>) and configured to guide an air stream; and
an airflow path (<NUM>) that is a space between the guide (<NUM>) and the through-hole (<NUM>), the airflow path (<NUM>) being configured such that an area of passage of the air stream in the airflow path (<NUM>) increases from an upwind side to a downwind side;
wherein the guide (<NUM>) includes:
a support portion (<NUM>) disposed such that a gap is formed between the support portion (<NUM>) and a peripheral surface of the through-hole (<NUM>); and
a flap portion (<NUM>) provided downwind of the support portion (<NUM>), the flap portion (<NUM>) being sloped in a manner to expand from the upwind side to the downwind side, the flap portion (<NUM>) being configured to change an advancing direction of the air-conditioning air that passes through the gap between the support portion (<NUM>) and the peripheral surface of the through-hole (<NUM>).