Air convection system

Abstract

An air convection system configured for use in building structure having a suspended ceiling dividing the building structure to an upper plenum in airflow communication with an HVAC unit, and a lower area, said air convection system comprising; an air convection module having a plenum opening configured to face said plenum, a lower area opening configured to face said lower area; a controllable airflow facilitating unit configured to selectively facilitate airflow at least form said plenum opening to said lower area opening; and a control system configured to receive an operational signal indicative of at least one operational parameter of said HVAC unit, and operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said operational signal.

1 . An air convection system configured for use in a building structure having a suspended ceiling dividing the building structure to an upper plenum in airflow communication with an HVAC unit, and a lower area, said air convection system comprising:
 an air convection module having a plenum opening configured to face said plenum, a lower area opening configured to face said lower area;   a controllable airflow facilitating unit configured to selectively facilitate airflow at least from said plenum opening to said lower area opening; and   a control system configured to receive an operational signal indicative of at least one operational parameter of said HVAC unit, and operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said operational signal.   
     
     
         2 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said airflow facilitating unit is integral in the air convection module between said plenum opening and said lower area opening. 
     
     
         3 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said airflow facilitating unit is further configured to selectively facilitate airflow from said lower area opening to said plenum opening. 
     
     
         4 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said airflow facilitating unit is configured to actively generate airflow. 
     
     
         5 . The air convection system according to  claim 4 , wherein said air convection module is configured to substantially maintain temperature or humidity of air conveyed therethrough from said plenum opening to said lower area opening. 
     
     
         6 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plenum opening and said lower area opening define together an air flowing path extending therebetween and therebeyond, and wherein said airflow facilitating unit extends at least partially at said air flowing path. 
     
     
         7 . The air convection system according to  claim 6 , wherein said lower area opening is configured to be integrated in a surface of at least one of a wall of said building structure and said suspended ceiling, and defines an effective air outlet plane spanning parallel to said surface. 
     
     
         8 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said air convection module comprises a fixed portion configured to be constantly fixed to a wall of the building structure, and a detachable portion containing at least said airflow facilitating unit, configured to be detachably attached to said fixed portion. 
     
     
         9 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control system comprises a thermal comfort sensing system configured to provide a thermal comfort signal indicative of thermal comfort in said lower area, and wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with said thermal comfort signal. 
     
     
         10 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said air convection module is a first air convection module, and said air convection system comprises a second air convection module similar to the first air convection module, and wherein said control system is configured to operate both modules in synchronization. 
     
     
         11 . The air convection system according to  claim 10 , when dependent in  claim 3 , wherein said synchronization comprises facilitating airflow from a plenum opening to a lower area opening of one of said air convection modules, while facilitating airflow from a lower area opening to a plenum opening of another of said air convection modules, thereby inducing circulation of air between said plenum and said lower area. 
     
     
         12 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control system further comprises a pressure sensing system configured to sense a pressure parameter indicative of air pressure within said plenum, and wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit in accordance with readings of said pressure sensing system. 
     
     
         13 . The air convection system according to  claim 12 , wherein said control system is configured to operate said airflow facilitating unit to maintain a predetermined value of said pressure parameter. 
     
     
         14 . The air convection system according  claim 1 , wherein said air flowing path is at least partially C-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said plenum opening has an effective air intake axis along which air is configured to flow into the air convection module, and wherein said lower area opening has an air outtake axis along which air is configured to flow out from said air convection module, and wherein said axes are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         16 . The air convection system according to  claim 1 , further comprising said HVAC unit; wherein said HVAC unit is configured to generate said operational signal, and wherein said control system is further configured to operate said HVAC unit and said airflow facilitating unit in conjunction. 
     
     
         17 . A wall comprising a socket configured to accommodate an air convection module of the air convection system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The wall according to  claim 17 , wherein said socket is accessible only from one side of the wall for installing said air convection module. 
     
     
         19 . The wall according to  claim 17 , being formed integrally with said air convection module, such that both openings are in airflow communication with the same side of the wall. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising said suspended ceiling, and wherein said openings of said air convection module are spaced from each other to a distance greater than a thickness of said suspended ceiling, and wherein said suspended ceiling is a radiant ceiling configured to exchange heat with said plenum, and correspondingly emit or absorb heat from said lower area by radiation. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)