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WO2003073013A1 - Dispositif et procede de conditionnement d'air - Google Patents

Dispositif et procede de conditionnement d'air Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2003073013A1
WO2003073013A1 PCT/GB2003/000865 GB0300865W WO03073013A1 WO 2003073013 A1 WO2003073013 A1 WO 2003073013A1 GB 0300865 W GB0300865 W GB 0300865W WO 03073013 A1 WO03073013 A1 WO 03073013A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cooling element
cooling
air
airflow
air convection
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2003/000865
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Nicholas Gerald Grey
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AU2003216981A priority Critical patent/AU2003216981A1/en
Publication of WO2003073013A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003073013A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F5/00—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater
    • F24F5/0007—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning
    • F24F5/0017—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater cooling apparatus specially adapted for use in air-conditioning using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/14—Thermal energy storage

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an air conditioning device, more particularly to a device for cooling an airspace, particularly a domestic airspace such as a room of a house.
  • the invention also relates to a method for cooling such a space using the device.
  • Air conditioning units which incorporate a fan and a sealed fluid-filled pumped refrigeration circuit, are the most effective for cooling an airspace. Moreover, they are the only option available for lowering the air temperature as well as humidity. However, air conditioning units are not widespread because they are expensive to buy, they are bulky and invasive, and difficult and costly to install.
  • Air coolers on the other hand, rely on the evaporation of water to lower air temperature.
  • this type of apparatus is not very effective and therefore unsuitable in countries such as the UK where ambient humidity levels are often relatively high.
  • fans are the most widespread since they are relatively inexpensive, portable and easily stored (and since in countries such as the UK actual air cooling devices are needed in only the hottest of weather, which is typically only in high summer) .
  • fans do not actually lower the air temperature or humidity, but merely circulate the ambient air whilst giving a modest cooling effect due only to surface convection.
  • the high airflow characteristic of fans can cause discomfort such as watery eyes and uneven cooling of the airspace concerned.
  • an air conditioning device comprising:
  • At least one cooling element in the form of a casing containing a freezable cooling medium
  • air convection means for generating an air flow across the at least one cooling element
  • the at least one cooling element is removable from the device for the purpose of freezing the cooling medium therein by external means.
  • a method of cooling an airspace comprising the steps of :
  • the at least one cooling element of the air conditioning device of the invention may be in the form of a casing (or shell) containing a freezable cooling medium.
  • the cooling medium is preferably a liquid, and one which freezes at a temperature in the region of 0 degrees Celsius or a few degrees below, for example between -10 degrees Celsius and 1 or 2 degrees Celsius, so that a sufficient cooling effect is achieved when a flow of air passes across its surface.
  • a preferred cooling medium is water.
  • the casing of the at least one cooling element may preferably be of a substantially rigid material, for example plastics or metal, so that it is able to hold its shape when installed in the device and during use the frozen cooling medium melts to a liquid.
  • the at least one cooling element is shaped to have an enhanced cooling surface area by virtue of being formed with a plurality of external surface formations such as ridges, channels, fins or other surface area-increasing features.
  • the casing of the at least one cooling element may be formed with a plurality of hollow legs extending from a main body section, in order to provide an even greater enhanced cooling surface area whilst allowing the flow of air from the convection means to circulate optimally around them.
  • the at least one cooling element may be resealable.
  • the air convection means for generating an air flow across the at least one cooling element is preferably a fan, especially an electrically powered fan.
  • the power supply for the fan may include means to provide for variable speeds of airflow, in order to provide enhanced control and/or comfort when the device is in use.
  • the relative positioning of the at least one cooling element and the air convection means is such that the air convection means is provided adjacent to the region where the surrounding air enters the device.
  • the air convection means draws in air from the surrounding air space and pushes the flow of air towards the at least one cooling element prior to the air exiting the device.
  • the air conditioning device of the invention may also be provided with airflow guide means between the at least one cooling element and the airflow exit from the device, in order to control the direction of flow of cooled air exiting from the device when in use.
  • airflow guide means may comprise, for example, a plurality of directionally adjustable baffles or fins.
  • the relative positioning of the at least one cooling element and the air convection means is such that the air convection means is provided adjacent to the region where the air exits the device.
  • the air convection means draws in air from the surrounding air space past the at least one cooling element before expelling the air out of the device .
  • airflow guide means between the air convection means and the airflow exit from the device, in order to control the direction of flow of cooled air exiting from the device when in use.
  • exit airflow guide means may comprise, for example, at least one array of a plurality of directionally adjustable baffles or fins.
  • the means external to the air conditioning device of the invention by which the cooling medium in the at least one cooling element may be frozen ready for use is preferably a domestic freezer or freezer compartment of a refrigerator. Accordingly the invention is especially applicable to the cooling of an airspace which is a domestic environment, particularly a room of a house, so that the freezing means are readily accessible.
  • the at least one cooling element can be frozen in readiness for use, then installed in the air conditioning device when required and the device operated to provide a cooled circulated airflow in the environment in question.
  • the air is cooled by transfer of heat from the flowing air to the frozen cooling medium, so the cooling medium will gradually melt and thus revert to its preferably normal liquid form.
  • the cooling capability of the device will have been exhausted, until such time as the at least one cooling element has been removed from the device, re-frozen, reinstalled in the device and the cycle begun once again.
  • removable means such as a tray or other container, in the base of the device to catch condensed water derived from the cooled and thus dehumidified air of the atmosphere which may drip or fall from the exterior of the at least one cooling element when the device is in use.
  • the removable means may be provided remote from an area below the position of the air convection means.
  • At least one apertured member may be provided adjacent to blades of the air convection means.
  • the guard mesh may have apertures sufficiently large so as not to interfere with the flow of air through the device but of sufficiently small dimensions that foreign bodies, for example human fingers, cannot be inserted through the apertures and come into contact with the blades.
  • Carrying means for example recesses in the housing of the device, may be provided to facilitate the transportation of the air conditioning device.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an air conditioning device according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a front view of another embodiment of an air conditioning device according to the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of the air conditioning device in Figure 2 ;
  • Figure 4 is a rear view of the air conditioning device in Figures 2 and 3 ;
  • FIG 5 is a schematic view of a cooling element for use in the air conditioning device in Figures 2 to 4.
  • FIG 1 shows a first embodiment of an air conditioning device, indicated generally as 2, comprises cooling element 10, which is in the form of a sealed hollow casing of plastics material substantially filled with water as the freezable cooling medium (the degree of filling taking into account the swelling effect of the cooling medium when it freezes) .
  • the cooling element 10 comprises a main upper body portion 14 and extending downwardly therefrom a plurality of hollow legs 12 which provide a greatly enhanced cooling surface area as well as allowing optimum passage of airflow across the cooling surface of the element 10.
  • the cooling element is mounted within a main housing 40 of the device by any suitable mechanical means to allow its ready removal therefrom and reinstallation thereinto.
  • the cooling element 10 In preparation for use of the device 2, the cooling element 10 is typically placed in a domestic freezer for a period of time sufficient for the cooling medium therein to freeze, for example 1 to 12 hours.
  • the housing 40 may include airflow directing means at its inlet side, such as any number of airflow-directing baffles or fins to assist in directing the airflow around the legs 12 of the cooling element 10.
  • airflow directing means at its inlet side, such as any number of airflow-directing baffles or fins to assist in directing the airflow around the legs 12 of the cooling element 10.
  • shroud 30 which is constructed and arranged to control (by manual or automatic adjustment) the rate or volume of airflow into the device 2.
  • the main housing 40 of the device is supported by a base structure 60 which allows the device 2 to be raised from the floor of a domestic room, for example a bedroom, to allow an adequate flow of air from within the room through the device and out again.
  • a removable tray 46 for catching any condensed water 49 dripping (shown at 48) from the cooling element 10 when the device is in use.
  • an electrically powered, variable speed, fan 20 which creates a flow of air from the ambient atmosphere in the direction of arrows 26 into the device, past and around the legs 12 of the cooling element 10 and out of the device (as indicated by arrows 28) via exit (outlet) section 50 of the device in which is housed an array of directionally adjustable baffles or fins 52, which allow the outflow of cooled air from the device back into the environment to be directionally controlled.
  • FIGS 2 to 4 show a second embodiment of an air conditioning device.
  • the air conditioning device 2 comprises a housing 40 within which are provided a pair of cooling elements 10 and an electrically powered, variable speed, fan 20.
  • the housing 40 includes a plurality of apertures in the rear, airflow inlet side 66.
  • airflow directing means in the form of a pair of independently operatable arrays of a plurality of directionally adjustable baffles 54 which assist in controlling the direction of the airflow on exiting the housing.
  • the angle of each array of baffles relative to the plane of the front side 68 is altered by means of a manually rotatable controller 56.
  • Each of the cooling elements 10 is in the form of a resealable hollow casing of plastics material. If required, the element can be opened by means of removing a cap 62 such that the element can be filled with water as the freezable cooling medium (the degree of filling taking into account the swelling effect of the water when it freezes) prior to the cap being replaced to reseal the element. As shown in Figure 5, two opposing sides of each cooling element 10 comprise an undulating surface 64, in the form of a series of ridges and channels, which provide a greatly enhanced cooling surface area as well as allowing optimum passage of airflow across the cooling surface of the elements 10.
  • the cooling elements 10 are typically placed in a domestic freezer for a period of time sufficient for the cooling medium therein to freeze, for example 1 to 12 hours.
  • the cooling elements in use are mounted within the main housing 40 of the device by means of insertion into apertures, provided in the upper surface of the device, which allow their ready removal therefrom and reinstallation thereinto.
  • An upper covering layer in the form of a lid (not shown) , may be provided over the top surface of the device to enclose the cooling elements within the housing.
  • the cooling elements are located in a region adjacent to the rear side 66 the housing.
  • the electrically powered, variable speed, fan 20 Located to the air outlet side 68 of the device 2 is the electrically powered, variable speed, fan 20.
  • the fan is powered by external means via cable 74.
  • the speed of the fan may be continuously adjustable or a number of discrete speeds may be provided, the speed of the fan being regulated by means of a controller 22.
  • the fan 20 creates a flow of air such that air is drawn into the housing via the apertures in the rear side 66 from the ambient atmosphere, as shown by arrow 26 in Figure 3.
  • the ambient air is drawn past the cooling elements 10 and out of the front side 68 of the device via the baffles 54, as shown by arrow 28 in Figure 3.
  • an apertured member Positioned either side of the blades of the fan 20 is an apertured member, for example a guard mesh (not shown) .
  • the guard mesh has apertures sufficiently large so as not to interfere with the flow of air through the device but of sufficiently small dimensions that foreign bodies, for example human fingers, cannot be inserted through the apertures and come into contact with the blades .
  • the relative arrangement of the cooling elements at the back of the device and the fan at the front of the device is such that any condensed water that may drip from the cooling elements in use does not come into contact with the fan but is collected in a removable tray 46, located remote from an area below the fan, beneath the cooling elements in the base of the housing.
  • Handling means for example recesses 70 in the housing 40 of the device, are provided to facilitate the transportation of the air conditioning device.
  • an air conditioning device as described above with one or more ice-filled cooling elements having a total volume capacity of approximately 2 litres, can provide an adequate degree of ambient air cooling and dehumidifying for a domestic bedroom during hot summer weather for around 2 hours. This period will often be adequate to enable people to get to sleep under such conditions, which they otherwise would have difficulty doing without use of the device of the invention.
  • cooling element 10 is described in the above embodiments as comprising a plastics material, it should be appreciated that in order to optimise the transfer of heat from the ambient air to the cooling element the cooling elements may also comprise a metallic material, for example as the entire surface of the cooling element or as a portion thereof.
  • cooling medium described herein is water it should be appreciated that alternative cooling media may be used, preferably liquids which freeze at a temperature in the range from -10 degrees Celsius to 2 degrees Celsius .
  • the cooling element is removable from the air conditioning device for the purpose of freezing the cooling medium therein by external means, as referred to above.
  • This removable capability means that the cooling element is preferably in the form of a discrete, self-contained unit, removable from and reinstallable in the device as and when required by suitable mounting means.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices For Blowing Cold Air, Devices For Blowing Warm Air, And Means For Preventing Water Condensation In Air Conditioning Units (AREA)

Abstract

Dispositif de conditionnement d'air (2) qui comporte au moins un élément de refroidissement (10) sous forme de boîtier contenant un milieu de refroidissement pouvant être congelé, et un moyen de convection d'air (20) destiné à produire un flux d'air autour de l'élément de refroidissement (10), l'élément de refroidissement (10) pouvant être ôté du dispositif (2) en vue de la congélation du milieu de refroidissement par des moyens externes. Ce dispositif de conditionnement d'air (2) est utilisé pour refroidir un volume d'air. A cet effet, ledit dispositif est placé dans l'espace à refroidir, le milieu de refroidissement contenu dans l'élément de refroidissement (10) est congelé à l'aide de moyens externes au dispositif (2), l'élément de refroidissement (10) congelé est installé dans le dispositif (2) et le moyen de convection d'air (20) est actionné de manière à produire un flux d'air circulant de l'espace environnant en direction de l'élément de refroidissement congelé (10) au moins.
PCT/GB2003/000865 2002-02-28 2003-02-28 Dispositif et procede de conditionnement d'air Ceased WO2003073013A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003216981A AU2003216981A1 (en) 2002-02-28 2003-02-28 Air conditioning device and method

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0204635.7A GB0204635D0 (en) 2002-02-28 2002-02-28 Air conditioning device
GB0204635.7 2002-02-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003073013A1 true WO2003073013A1 (fr) 2003-09-04

Family

ID=9931916

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2003/000865 Ceased WO2003073013A1 (fr) 2002-02-28 2003-02-28 Dispositif et procede de conditionnement d'air

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003216981A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB0204635D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003073013A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2428783A (en) * 2005-08-05 2007-02-07 Stanley George Austin Fan having an auxiliary cooling device
CN109631274A (zh) * 2018-12-29 2019-04-16 青岛海尔空调器有限总公司 空调的控制方法、装置、存储介质及计算机设备
GB2568043A (en) * 2017-10-31 2019-05-08 William Leaney Patrick An air temperature adjustment device

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2749725A (en) * 1956-06-12 Portable air conditioning apparatus
GB1163742A (en) * 1965-09-14 1969-09-10 Eric Ronald Paxman Improvements in or relating to Air Conditioning Systems
DE1604194A1 (de) * 1966-03-08 1970-08-27 Hansa Metallwerke Ag Geraet zur Erzeugung eines kuehlenden Luftstromes
JPS58200944A (ja) * 1982-05-17 1983-11-22 Toshiba Corp 冷風扇
GB2122336A (en) * 1982-06-14 1984-01-11 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Device for supplying cooled air
FR2658596A1 (fr) * 1990-02-21 1991-08-23 Monteil Jean Francois Kit de transformation de glaciere en climatiseur portable.
US5062281A (en) * 1991-01-07 1991-11-05 Samuel C. Oliphant Air conditioning device
US5192464A (en) * 1992-04-23 1993-03-09 Lech Pawlowski Evaporative cooler
EP0534018A1 (fr) * 1991-09-24 1993-03-31 Ragaiy Georg Habeeb Appareil de conditionnement d'air
US5737938A (en) * 1997-01-27 1998-04-14 Continocean Tech Inc. Air-conditioning system with portable air-conditioning unit
US5953933A (en) * 1996-05-17 1999-09-21 Cheng; Chuan-Hsin Water container and cooling fan assembly
US6357251B1 (en) * 2000-05-03 2002-03-19 Worktools, Inc. Personal tabletop air cooler

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2749725A (en) * 1956-06-12 Portable air conditioning apparatus
GB1163742A (en) * 1965-09-14 1969-09-10 Eric Ronald Paxman Improvements in or relating to Air Conditioning Systems
DE1604194A1 (de) * 1966-03-08 1970-08-27 Hansa Metallwerke Ag Geraet zur Erzeugung eines kuehlenden Luftstromes
JPS58200944A (ja) * 1982-05-17 1983-11-22 Toshiba Corp 冷風扇
GB2122336A (en) * 1982-06-14 1984-01-11 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Device for supplying cooled air
FR2658596A1 (fr) * 1990-02-21 1991-08-23 Monteil Jean Francois Kit de transformation de glaciere en climatiseur portable.
US5062281A (en) * 1991-01-07 1991-11-05 Samuel C. Oliphant Air conditioning device
EP0534018A1 (fr) * 1991-09-24 1993-03-31 Ragaiy Georg Habeeb Appareil de conditionnement d'air
US5192464A (en) * 1992-04-23 1993-03-09 Lech Pawlowski Evaporative cooler
US5953933A (en) * 1996-05-17 1999-09-21 Cheng; Chuan-Hsin Water container and cooling fan assembly
US5737938A (en) * 1997-01-27 1998-04-14 Continocean Tech Inc. Air-conditioning system with portable air-conditioning unit
US6357251B1 (en) * 2000-05-03 2002-03-19 Worktools, Inc. Personal tabletop air cooler

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 008, no. 047 (M - 280) 2 March 1984 (1984-03-02) *

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2428783A (en) * 2005-08-05 2007-02-07 Stanley George Austin Fan having an auxiliary cooling device
GB2568043A (en) * 2017-10-31 2019-05-08 William Leaney Patrick An air temperature adjustment device
CN109631274A (zh) * 2018-12-29 2019-04-16 青岛海尔空调器有限总公司 空调的控制方法、装置、存储介质及计算机设备
CN109631274B (zh) * 2018-12-29 2021-09-21 青岛海尔空调器有限总公司 空调的控制方法、装置、存储介质及计算机设备

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0204635D0 (en) 2002-04-10
AU2003216981A1 (en) 2003-09-09

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