Chilled beam with fans

Abstract

A heating and air conditioning unit includes a manifold having an induction aperture and a discharge slot, the induction aperture permitting passage of ambient air into the heating and air conditioning unit from a space outside of the manifold, and the discharge slot permitting passage of mixed air from the heating and air conditioning unit. An array of fans is mounted within the manifold in communication with the induction aperture, the array of fans selectively inducing a flow of the ambient air into the heating and air conditioning unit through the induction aperture. A heat exchanger is mounted within the manifold on an upstream side of the array of fans, the heat exchanger treating the flow of ambient air pulled through the heat exchanger by the array of fans.

1 . A chilled beam unit, comprising:
 a manifold having at least one induction aperture and at least one discharge slot, said induction aperture enabling a passage of air into said chilled beam unit from a space below said chilled beam unit and said discharge slot enabling a passage of air out of said chilled beam unit;   at least one fan mounted within said manifold about said induction aperture and configured to induce a flow of air from said space below said chilled beam unit into said chilled beam unit through said induction aperture; and   a heat exchanger mounted within said manifold on an upstream side of said array of fans and configured to accept a flow of air therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The chilled beam unit of  claim 1  wherein the at least one fan is an array of fans. 
     
     
         3 . The chilled beam unit of  claim 1  further comprising at least one temperature sensor mounted on the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The chilled beam unit of  claim 3  wherein the at least one temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor that turns on the at least one fan if the coil is cold, and a second temperature sensor that turns on the at least one fan if the coil is hot. 
     
     
         5 . A heating and air conditioning unit, comprising:
 a manifold having an induction aperture and a discharge slot, said induction aperture permitting passage of ambient air into said heating and air conditioning unit from a space outside of said manifold, and said discharge slot permitting passage of mixed air from said heating and air conditioning unit;   an array of fans mounted within said manifold in communication with said induction aperture, said array of fans selectively inducing a flow of said ambient air into said heating and air conditioning unit through said induction aperture; and   a heat exchanger mounted within said manifold on an upstream side of said array of fans, said heat exchanger thereby treating said flow of ambient air pulled therethrough via said array of fans.   
     
     
         6 . The heating and air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said discharge slot extends substantially the entire length of said manifold.   
     
     
         7 . The heating and air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor mounted in communication with said heat exchanger.   
     
     
         8 . The heating and air conditioning unit of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said temperature sensor selectively turns on said fan when said temperature sensor determines said heat exchanger is below a predetermined temperature, and selectively turns off said fan when said temperature sensor determines said heat exchanger is above a predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         9 . The heating and air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said heat exchanger includes fluid carrying piping.   
     
     
         10 . The heating and air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each fan in said array of fans is powered by low voltage.   
     
     
         11 . A method of conditioning ambient air within an enclosure, said method comprising the steps of:
 arranging a manifold to be in fluid communication said enclosure, said manifold having an induction aperture and a discharge slot, said induction aperture permitting passage of said ambient air into said manifold from outside of said manifold, and said discharge slot permitting passage of mixed air from said manifold;   mounting a fan within said manifold in communication with said induction aperture, said fan selectively inducing a flow of said ambient air into manifold through said induction aperture; and   mounting a heat exchanger within said manifold on an upstream side of said fan, said heat exchanger thereby conditioning said flow of ambient air pulled therethrough via said fan.   
     
     
         12 . The method of conditioning ambient air within an enclosure according to  claim 11 , said method further comprising the steps of:
 powering said fan with a 12 volt supply of electricity.