Supply air duct with integral nozzles for diffusing supply air along the length of the supply air duct

Abstract

An exposed high induction supply air duct is provided and is adapted to be installed in an open ceiling environment. Conditioned air is diffused from the supply air duct through an array of nozzles disposed along the length of the supply air duct. At the same time, existing air in an open space underlying the duct is induced upwardly towards the nozzles where the existing air is efficiently mixed with the supply air being exhausted by the nozzles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of dispersing conditioned supply air to an open space for heating and cooling the open space, the method comprising:
 suspending or supporting a supply air duct over the open space;   directing pressurized conditioned supply air into and through the supply air duct;   dispersing the conditioned supply air from the supply air duct generally uniformly along the length of the supply air duct by:
 dispersing jet streams of the conditioned supply air from the supply air duct through an array of nozzles in the outer wall of the supply air duct; and 
 wherein the array of nozzles is generally uniformly spaced and extend in a generally linear direction along the length of the supply air duct. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nozzles are formed by openings in the outer wall of the supply air duct and wherein the open space includes an occupiable area; and wherein the method includes sizing the openings and arranging the spacing of the openings such that the velocity of the jet streams of the supply air is less than 50 feet per minute in the occupiable area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further including:
 as the jet streams of the pressurized supply air are dispersed through the nozzles, the method includes generating a negative pressure around the supply air duct and the nozzles therein; 
 inducing existing air in the open space to be drawn into the negative pressure area; and 
 mixing the jet streams of supply air with the existing air in the negative pressure area. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nozzles include two groups of spaced apart nozzles;
 and the method includes dispersing conditioned supply air from each group of the nozzles into the open space. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the supply air duct includes a plurality of duct sections secured end-to-end; each duct section including outwardly extending flanges on opposite ends thereof; wherein selective duct sections include at least one gasket permanently secured to an outer side of one flange; and wherein connecting the duct sections end-to-end forms a joint comprising a pair of flanges from two different duct sections and the gasket interposed therebetween and wherein there is a securing band that extends around the joint and effectively secures the two duct sections together. 
     
     
         6 . An exposed supply air duct designed to enhance the mixing of supply air and existing air in an open space containing the supply air duct, comprising:
 a series of duct sections secured together in end-to-end relationship which forms the supply air duct;   the supply air duct configured to contain pressurized supply air and configured to be suspended or supported in the open space for heating and cooling the open space;   an array of nozzles in the outer wall of the supply air duct and configured to disperse the pressurized supply air from the supply air duct in the form of an array of jet streams;   the array of nozzles formed in a generally linear direction along the length of the supply air duct and including nozzles arranged in rows and generally uniformly spaced along the length of the supply air duct; and   the array of nozzles configured to disperse the pressurized supply air through the nozzles and generally uniformly along the length of the supply air duct.   
     
     
         7 . The supply air duct of  claim 6  wherein the nozzles are split into two or more spaced apart groups of nozzles with each group of nozzles extending generally linearly along the length of the supply air duct. 
     
     
         8 . The supply air duct of  claim 6  wherein each duct section includes a flange formed on opposite ends thereof; and wherein at least some of the duct sections include a gasket permanently secured to an outer side of at least one flange. 
     
     
         9 . The supply air duct of  claim 6  wherein the supply air duct is disposed in an upper portion of an open space;
 a negative pressure area formed around the supply air duct and the nozzles; and 
 wherein the negative pressure area induces the existing air in the open space to move into the negative pressure area and mix with the jet streams of the supply air being discharged by the nozzles. 
 
     
     
         10 . The supply air duct of  claim 8  wherein the supply air duct includes a series of spaced apart securing bands that secure the duct sections together in end-to-end relationship; and wherein each securing band extends around a joint formed by a pair of opposed flanges of a pair of duct sections and the gasket interposed being between the two opposed flanges.