Diffuser module

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a diffuser module that can be used to air condition a space. The space may comprise the interior space(s) of buildings such as hospitals, enclosed shopping malls, warehouses, factories, etc. The module may comprise a body defining an interior chamber, the body having an upper end able to be connected to the air conditioning unit (AHU) and an opposing lower end. The module may also comprise a first channel disposed in the chamber for receiving a first air stream from the unit. The module may also comprise at least one diffuser connected to the lower end of the body, the at least one diffuser able to receive the first air stream from the first channel and discharge it to the space.

1 . A diffuser module for connection to an air conditioning cooling or heating unit arranged to condition air in a space, the module comprising;
 a body defining an interior chamber, the body having an upper end able to be connected to the air conditioning unit and an opposing lower end;   a first channel disposed in the chamber, the first channel having an inlet at an in-use upper end of the channel for receiving a first air stream from the unit in a first direction, and an outlet at an in-use lower end of the channel for discharging the first air stream in the first direction; and   at least one diffuser connected to the lower end of the body adjacent to the outlet of the first channel to receive the first air stream from the first channel in the first direction and to discharge the first air stream to the space;   wherein the at least one diffuser is able to discharge to the space at least a portion of the first air stream at a substantially constant discharge velocity or throw when the airflow rate of the first air stream is varied.   
     
     
         2 . A diffuser module according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diffuser is a high induction swirl diffuser, and wherein a central axis of the swirl diffuser is parallel to or aligned with a longitudinal axis of the module. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A diffuser module according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper end comprises a mounting flange that facilitates attachment of the body to a support structure of a building, optionally the support structure is a roof and, in use, the lower end of the body is suspended below the roof of the building and defines an underside of the body. 
     
     
         5 . A diffuser module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second channel disposed in the chamber for returning a second air stream from the space to the unit. 
     
     
         6 . A diffuser module according to  claim 1 , wherein the direction of the first air stream discharged by the at least one diffuser is adjustable, and wherein the discharge direction of the first air stream is able to be adjusted between a first direction, which lies in a first plane that is substantially parallel to the face of the diffuser, and in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the face of the diffuser. 
     
     
         7 . A diffuser module according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diffuser is configured to discharge at least a portion of the first air stream substantially parallel to the face of the diffuser at a substantially constant discharge velocity when the airflow rate of the first air stream is adjusted. 
     
     
         8 . A diffuser module according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one diffuser is configured to discharge at least a portion of the first air stream substantially parallel to the face of the diffuser with a substantially constant throw when the airflow rate of the first air stream is adjusted. 
     
     
         9 . A diffuser module according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one diffuser is a high induction swirl diffuser, wherein a central axis of the swirl diffuser is parallel to or aligned with a longitudinal axis of the module, wherein the swirl diffuser comprises primary vanes, each configured to rotate about a substantially radial axis that extends radially out from the central axis of the swirl diffuser, and wherein the airflow direction discharged by the swirl diffuser is adjustable within a first range of rotation of at least one primary vane, and wherein the airflow rate discharged by the swirl diffuser, for a constant total supply air pressure, may be adjustable within a second range of rotation of at least one primary vane. 
     
     
         10 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , wherein, the first range of rotation varies between:
 an airflow direction of the first air stream being discharged to be substantially perpendicular to the face of the diffuser for a steep angle of primary vane rotation; and   an airflow direction of the first air stream being discharged to be substantially parallel to the face of the diffuser for a shallower angle of primary vane rotation; whereby the steep angle of rotation is greater than the shallower angle of rotation relative to the face of the diffuser.   
     
     
         11 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , wherein within the second range of rotation of the at least one primary vane the airflow direction of the first air stream discharged by the diffuser is substantially parallel to the face of the diffuser. 
     
     
         12 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , wherein within the second range of rotation, the airflow rate discharged by the diffuser varies between a substantially maximum airflow rate at a steep angle of rotation and a substantially minimum airflow rate at a shallow angle of rotation, and wherein the steep angle of rotation is greater than the shallow angle of rotation of the at least one primary vane relative to the face of the diffuser. 
     
     
         13 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , wherein the steep angle of rotation of the at least one primary vane in the first range of rotation is greater than the steep angle of rotation of the at least one primary vane in the second range of rotation relative to the face of the diffuser. 
     
     
         14 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , wherein the first range of rotation is employed when the first air stream temperature is warmer than the air in the space, and wherein the second range of rotation is employed when the first air stream is cooler than the air in the space. 
     
     
         15 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , wherein the swirl diffuser further comprises at least one secondary vane;
 the at least one secondary vane is arranged to discharge a secondary airstream such that it generally flows from the diffuser in a plane that is substantially parallel to the face of the diffuser; and   the at least one primary vane is arranged to discharge a primary airstream that is able to be induced by the secondary airstream such that the direction of the primary airstream is able to be substantially determined by the direction of travel of the secondary airstream.   
     
     
         16 . A diffuser module in according to  claim 15 , wherein rotation of the at least one primary vane is able to vary the airflow rates of the secondary airstream and of the primary airstream, and wherein rotation of the at least one primary vane is able to vary the airflow rates of the primary airstream and of the secondary airstream substantially independently of one another. 
     
     
         17 . A diffuser module according to  claim 16 , wherein;
 a given rotation of the at least one primary vane in a portion of the second range of rotation is able to reduce the airflow rate of the primary airstream without substantially changing the airflow rate of the secondary airstream; and   a given rotation of the at least one primary vane within a portion of the first range of rotation is able to reduce the airflow rate of the secondary airstream without substantially changing the airflow rate of the primary airstream.   
     
     
         18 . A diffuser module according to  claim 15 , wherein the direction of the first air stream discharged by the at least one diffuser is adjustable, and wherein the discharge direction of the first air stream is able to be adjusted between a first direction, which lies in a first plane that is substantially parallel to the face of the diffuser, and in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the face of the diffuser, and wherein the airflow rate of the first air stream discharged by the swirl diffuser remains substantially constant, for a constant total supply air pressure, across a given range of airflow direction adjustment, and optionally wherein the primary vanes each have an equal angular extent of rotation. 
     
     
         19 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , wherein, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the predominant airflow pattern discharged by the swirl diffuser covers an are of 360°, and optionally wherein at least one of the primary vanes is able to be fixed at a shallow angle of rotation within the second range of rotation, while the other primary vanes can remain rotatable or are able to be fixed at an angle greater than the shallow angle such that, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the predominant airflow pattern discharged by the swirl diffuser covers an arc of less than 360°, and optionally wherein the diffuser module further comprises at least one removable blocking element which is able to substantially block the air path to the at least one fixed primary vane, such that it is able to substantially reduce the airflow discharged by that fixed primary vane. 
     
     
         20 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , further comprising a crown gear configured to rotate about the central axis of the diffuser, the crown gear being further configured to engage and rotate at least one bevel gear connected to a respective primary vane to thereby rotate the primary vane about its substantially radial axis. 
     
     
         21 . A diffuser module according to  claim 9 , wherein in profile, the primary vane comprises a planar surface and an angled lip along its trailing edge, such that when the primary vane is closed, the angled lip is orientated at a greater angle to the face of the diffuser relative to the angle between the planar surface and the face of the diffuser. 
     
     
         22 . A diffuser module according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of the body is profiled to fit within an aperture in a roof, the upper end having a mounting flange that facilitates attachment of the diffuser module to a support structure located at the roof aperture, and optionally wherein the upper end of the body is able to provide support for an end of the unit, or optionally wherein the upper end of the body is profiled to fit within an aperture in a wall, the upper end having a mounting flange that facilitates attachment of the diffuser module to a support structure of the wall. 
     
     
         23 . A method of installing an HVAC system in the roof or wall of a building, the method comprising;
 fabricating supporting framework protruding as a flange from a diffuser module;   lowering or positioning the diffuser module through a hole in a structure of the building until the flange rests on the structure of the building surrounding the hole, the diffuser module comprising:   a body defining an interior chamber, the body having an upper end able to be connected to an air conditioning unit and an opposing lower end, the upper end being configured to receive a first air stream from the air conditioning unit in a first direction;   the lower end being configured for discharging the first air stream in the first direction through an outlet; and   at least one diffuser mounted to the lower end of the body adjacent to the outlet to receive the first air stream from the body interior chamber and discharge the first air stream to a space;   the method further comprising securing the air conditioning unit outside the roof or wall to the structure of the building such that the unit is in communication with the diffuser module; and   wherein the at least one diffuser is mounted to the lower end of the body when lowered or positioned through the hole in the roof or wall.   
     
     
         24 . A method of installing an HVAC system in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the diffuser module the at least one diffuser of the diffuser module is able to discharge to the space at least a portion of the first air stream at a substantially constant discharge velocity or throw when the airflow rate of the first air stream is varied.