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(11) | EP 4 123 235 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | AIR CONDITIONER |
| (57) A field air-conditioner (1) is described, comprising: - an air-conditioner body (2) comprising an external casing (3); - an internal return duct (10) extended inside said casing (3) and having an inlet (11) for the return air (A1) and an outlet (12) for the return air (A1), said inlet (11) for the return air (A1) being adapted to be put in fluid communication with an environment (500) to be air-conditioned to allow said return air (A1), taken from the environment (500) to be air-conditioned, to enter the internal return duct (10), said outlet (12) for the return air (A1) being provided to discharge the return air (A1) in an environment (600) which is external with respect to the environment (500) to be air-conditioned; - an internal delivery duct (20), independent of the internal return duct (10), which extends inside said casing (3) and comprises an inlet (21) for the external air (A2) and a outlet (22) for the external air (A2), said inlet (21) for the external air (A2) being adapted to allow the external air (A2), taken from said external environment (600), to enter the internal delivery duct (20), said outlet (22) for the external air (A2) being adapted to be put in fluid communication with the environment to be air-conditioned (500) at the same time as the inlet (11) for the return air (A1), to introduce the external air (A2) into the environment to be air-conditioned (500); - a return fan (13) arranged in the internal return duct (10) to take the return air (A1) from the environment to be air-conditioned (500); - a delivery fan (23) arranged in the internal delivery duct (20) to introduce the external air (A2) into the environment to be air-conditioned (500); wherein said return fan (13) and said delivery fan (23) are controllable so as to be capable of regulating the flow of the return air (A1) through the internal return duct (10) and the flow of the external air (A2) through the internal delivery duct (20), respectively, to selectively establish a predetermined positive or negative pressure differential between said environment to be air-conditioned (500) and said external environment (600). |
[0002] Field air-conditioners, i.e., mobile air-conditioners adapted to be used for the air-conditioning of mobile shelters, such as, for example, tents, containers and the like, are known. Field air-conditioners of the prior art are conventionally provided with a monobloc body having a particularly solid structure. Furthermore, such air-conditioners are usually provided with a forkable base which allows the moving thereof, for example, by means of a forklift truck.
[0003] With reference, by way of non limiting example, to mobile shelters used in the military or in situations of health emergencies, it may be required both to air-condition and to properly pressurize/depressurize one or more environments with pressure values which are positive or negative with respect to the pressure of the external environment, based on specific needs. For example, it may be necessary to designate one compartment of a tent as an intensive care unit and another compartment of the same tent as an operating room. In this case, if in the room designated as an intensive care unit there may be a risk of contagion, it is advisable that such environment, in addition to being suitably air-conditioned, is characterized by a negative pressure so as to reduce the risk of contagion by avoiding the escape of pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Conversely, in the room designated as an operating room, it is appropriate to establish a positive pressure to prevent the entry of pathogens into the operating room itself. In cases such as those described above, a drawback of the solutions of the prior art is linked to the fact that a relatively large number of machines may be required depending on the number of environments to be air-conditioned and pressurized/depressurized. In fact, a field air-conditioner and a separate pressurization or depressurization apparatus are usually required for each environment to be air-conditioned and pressurized/depressurized. A further drawback of the solutions of the prior art is linked to the fact that, in some cases, in particular in the medical field, a complete air exchange with external air is required (i.e., 100% or close to 100%) in a given environment. Since field air-conditioners with an air recirculation operation are usually employed, the aforesaid complete air exchange is considerably wasteful from an energy point of view.
[0004] It is a general object of the present invention to provide a field air-conditioner which allows solving or at least partially obviating the drawbacks discussed above with reference to the prior art.
[0005] It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a field air-conditioner which allows reducing the number of machines required to air-condition and pressurize/depressurize a given environment.
[0006] It is a further object of the present invention, in addition or as an alternative to the aforesaid object, to provide a field air-conditioner which allows carrying out a complete air exchange with external air in a given environment, reducing, given the same amount of environment to be air-conditioned, the energy consumption of the air-conditioner with respect to the solutions of the prior art.
[0007] These and other objects are achieved by a field air-conditioner as defined in the appended claim 1 in the most general form thereof, and in the dependent claims in several particular embodiments.
[0009] The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of its embodiments, made by way of example and consequently not limiting in any manner with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows a perspective view from above and from a first side of a field air-conditioner according to a currently preferred embodiment;
- Figure 2 shows a perspective view similar to Figure 1, in which some elements of the field air-conditioner have been removed;
- Figure 3 shows a perspective view from above of the field air-conditioner of Figure 1 in which the air-conditioner is seen from a second side opposite to the first side of Figure 1;
- Figure 4 shows a perspective view similar to Figure 3, in which some elements of the field air-conditioner have been removed;
- Figure 5 shows a perspective view of some internal components of the field air-conditioner of Figure 1;
- Figure 6 shows both a block diagram of the air-conditioner of Figure 1, as well as a diagram of an environment to be air-conditioned.
[0010] Similar or equivalent elements in the accompanying figures will be indicated by the same reference numerals. With reference to Figures 1-6, a field air-conditioner according to a currently preferred embodiment has been overall indicated with reference numeral 1. As it is known, the air-conditioner 1 is an air-conditioner of the mobile type. In particular, in a manner which is known per se, the air-conditioner 1 is adapted to be employed for the air-conditioning of sheltering structures of the mobile type, such as for example tents, containers and the like, which are used, for example and not by way of limitation, in emergency contexts or in the military. The air-conditioner 1 comprises an air-conditioner body 2 comprising an external casing 3. In accordance with an embodiment, the external casing 3 comprises a plurality of metal panels and metal grids. As it may be observed for example in Figures 2-4, in accordance with an embodiment, the air-conditioner body 2 is a substantially monobloc body which preferably has a generally parallelepiped conformation. In a manner which is known per se, in accordance with an embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 is forkable, and may be moved, for example and not by way of limitation, by means of a forklift truck. To this end, the air-conditioner 1 preferably comprises a support base 31, 32 fixed to the external casing 3 and arranged so as to keep the external casing 3 raised with respect to the ground. Preferably, the support base 31, 32 comprises a pair of bars 31, 32 or profiles 31, 32 which are fixed to the external casing 3.
[0011] Again with reference to Figures 1-6, the air-conditioner 1 comprises an internal return duct 10, or suction duct 10, extended inside the casing 3. The duct 10 has an inlet 11 for the return air, or intake air, (the return air or intake air is diagrammatically indicated by the arrows A1 in Figures 5-6). Furthermore, the duct 10 comprises an outlet 12 for the return air A1. The inlet 11 for the return air A1 is adapted to be put in fluid communication with an environment 500 to be air-conditioned, or room 500 to be air-conditioned, to allow the return air A1, taken from the environment 500 to be air-conditioned, to enter the internal return duct 10. The outlet 12 for the return air A1 is provided to discharge the return air A1 in an environment 600 which is external with respect to the environment 500 to be air-conditioned. In accordance with an embodiment, the inlet 11 for the return air A1 and the outlet 12 for the return air respectively comprise an inlet grid 11 for the return air A1 and an outlet grid 12 for the return air A1.
[0012] The air-conditioner 1 comprises an internal delivery duct 20 which is extended inside the external casing 3. The duct 20 comprises an inlet 21 for the external air (the external air, or delivery air, is diagrammatically indicated by the arrows A2 in Figures 5-6) and an outlet 22 for the external air A2. It should be noted that for the purposes of this description, the expressions "external air" or "delivery air" refer both to air taken from an external environment in the open air as well as to air taken from a closed or partially closed environment located outside of the environment to be air-conditioned 500. In other words, the environment to be air-conditioned 500 may be, for example, a room of a tent comprising a plurality of rooms, and the external environment 600 may be an open space outside the tent or a space inside the tent but outside with respect to the environment to be air-conditioned 500. The inlet 21 for the external air A2 is adapted to allow the entry of the external air A2 taken from said external environment 600 into the internal delivery duct 20. The outlet 22 for the external air A2 is adapted to be put in fluid communication with the environment to be air-conditioned 500 to enter the external air A2 into the environment to be air-conditioned 500. In particular, the outlet 22 for the external air A2 is adapted to be put in fluid communication with the environment to be air-conditioned 500 at the same time as the inlet 11 for the return air A1. In accordance with an embodiment, in a manner which is known per se, the inlet 11 for the return air A1 and the outlet 22 for the return air A2 are put in fluid communication with the environment 500 to be air-conditioned each by means of a respective external duct (not shown) preferably comprising a flexible pipe. It should be noted that the duct 20 is independent of the internal return duct 10. In other words, the duct 10 and the duct 20 are configured so as to keep the return air A1 and the external air A2 which cross the ducts 10, 20 separate from one another. In accordance with an embodiment, the inlet 21 for the external air A2 and the outlet 22 for the external air A2 respectively comprise an inlet grid 21 for the external air A2 and an outlet grid 22 for the external air A2.
[0013] With reference to Figures 5-6, the air-conditioner 1 comprises a return fan 13 arranged in the internal return duct 10 to take the return air A1 from the environment to be air-conditioned 500. Furthermore, the air-conditioner 1 comprises a delivery fan 23 arranged in the internal delivery duct 20 to enter the external air A2 into the environment to be air-conditioned 500. Conveniently, the return fan 13 and the delivery fan 23 are controllable so as to be capable of regulating the flow of the return air A1 through the internal return duct 10 and the flow of the external air A2 through the internal delivery duct 20, respectively, to selectively establish a predetermined positive or negative pressure differential between the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and the external environment 600. In other words, by suitably controlling the return fan 13 and the delivery fan 23, it is advantageously possible to regulate the flow of the return air A1 through the internal return duct 10 and the flow of the external air A2 through the internal delivery duct 20, to establish and maintain a predetermined either positive or negative pressure differential between the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and the external environment 600.
[0014] With reference to Figures 4-5, in accordance with an embodiment, the field air-conditioner 1 comprises a cooling device 24 and/or a heating device 25 arranged in the internal delivery duct 20. In accordance with an embodiment, the field air-conditioner 1 comprises both the cooling device 24 and the heating device 25. In accordance with an embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 comprises a refrigeration circuit 70. In accordance with an embodiment, the cooling device 24 comprises the evaporator 24 of the refrigeration circuit 70. In accordance with an embodiment, the refrigeration circuit 70 comprises a condenser (not shown in the Figures and per se known) and a fan 71 preferably arranged on the top of the air-conditioner body 2. In a manner which is known per se, the fan 71 has the function of expelling the heated air from the condenser of the refrigeration circuit 70. In accordance with an embodiment, the heating device 25 comprises one or more electrical resistors which are adapted to heat the external air A2 which crosses the internal delivery duct 20. In accordance with an embodiment, the cooling device 24 and/or the heating device 25 is arranged at an outlet portion 20B of the internal delivery duct 20, preferably downstream of the delivery fan 23.
[0015] With reference to Figure 5, in accordance with an embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 comprises a cross-flow air-to-air heat exchanger 30 at which said internal return and delivery ducts 10, 20 cross each other so as to allow a heat exchange between the return air A1 which crosses the internal return duct 10 and the external air A2 which crosses the internal delivery duct 20. Advantageously, the exchanger 30 has a heat recovery function which allows improving the energy efficiency of the air-conditioner 1. In fact, by virtue of the exchanger 30 it is possible to recover energy from the return air A1 taken from the environment to be air-conditioned 500. Thereby, the air-conditioner 1 requires much less power given the same environment to be air-conditioned 500 with respect to an air-conditioner with an air recirculation operation.
[0016] With reference to Figures 2, 4, 5, in accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 comprises a plurality of air filters 16, 26, 27. The aforesaid plurality of filters 16, 26, 27 comprises at least one first air filter 16 arranged at an inlet portion 10A of the internal return duct 10. In accordance with an embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 may also comprise a plurality of first filters 16, for example two or three filters 16, which are arranged adjacent and in sequence at the inlet portion 10A of the internal return duct 10. In accordance with an embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 comprises at least one second air filter 26 arranged at an inlet portion 20A of the internal delivery duct 20 and/or at least one third air filter 27 arranged at an outlet portion 20B of the internal delivery duct 20. In accordance with an embodiment, the at least one second filter 26 is arranged upstream of the exchanger 30 or it is integrated in such exchanger 30. In accordance with an embodiment, the plurality of air filters 16, 26, 27 comprises at least two different types of filters. For example, the filters 16 and/or 26 and/or 27 may comprise air filters made of polyester, while a further filter of a different type (not shown in the Figures and of a per se known type), preferably an ultraviolet ray filter or purifier, may be arranged in the internal return duct 10, upstream or downstream of the return fan 13. The fact of providing the aforesaid plurality of filters 16,26,27 advantageously allows decontaminating in a particularly effective manner both the return air A1 as well as the external air A2, which is particularly important especially for applications in the medical field.
[0017] With reference to Figure 4, in accordance with an embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 comprises a power supply device 80 provided in the air-conditioner body 2 to allow the power supply of the air-conditioner 1. Preferably, the power supply device 80 comprises a power supply device 80 and more preferably a power socket 80.
[0018] With reference to Figures 4 and 6, according to an embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 comprises a control panel 90 provided in the air-conditioner body 2. In accordance with an embodiment, by means of the control panel 90 it is possible to set the temperature value which is to be established in the environment to be air-conditioned 500. In accordance with an embodiment, by means of the control panel 90, it is possible to set, preferably in addition to the possibility of setting the temperature value, the value of the pressure differential which is to be established between the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and the external environment 600.
[0019] With reference to Figure 6, in accordance with an embodiment, the air-conditioner 1 comprises an electronic control unit 50. In accordance with an embodiment, the electronic control unit 50 is operatively connected to the control device heating 25 and/or to the refrigeration circuit 70. In accordance with an embodiment, the electronic control unit 50 is operatively connected to the control panel 90. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the field air-conditioner 1 comprises at least one pressure sensor 40 which is adapted to be arranged to detect a pressure differential between the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and the external environment 600. In accordance with an embodiment, a plurality of sensors 40 may also be provided, arranged to detect the aforesaid pressure differential between the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and the external environment 600. Advantageously, the at least one pressure sensor 40 is operatively connected to the electronic control unit 50 to allow the electronic control unit 50 to receive or estimate a measurement of the pressure differential between the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and the external environment 600 detected by the at least one sensor 40. The electronic control unit 50 is further operatively connected to the return and delivery fans 13, 23 to control such fans 13, 23 so as to automatically regulate the flow of return air A1 and of external air A2 through the return and delivery ducts 10, 20 by means of a feedback control based on the aforesaid measurement or estimate of the pressure differential detected by the at least one sensor 40. In particular, the automatic regulation of the flow of return air A1 and of external air A2 through the return and delivery ducts 10, 20 by means of the fans 13,23 is preferably carried out using a PID algorithm or the like.
[0020] Thereby, the air-conditioner 1 advantageously allows automatically maintaining the predetermined positive or negative pressure differential which is desired between the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and the external environment 600.
[0021] Again with reference to Figure 6, in accordance with an embodiment, the field air-conditioner 1 comprises a remote control device 60 which is operatively connected to the control unit 50 and which comprises the at least one pressure sensor 40. In accordance with an embodiment, the control device 60 or the at least one sensor 40 is arranged to detect a first internal pressure value Pint at a first measurement point P1 located inside the environment to be air-conditioned 500, and a second external pressure value Pext at a second measuring point P2 located in the external environment 600. In accordance with an embodiment, the at least one sensor 40 and/or the remote control device 60 may be operatively connected to the control unit 50 by means of a connection 61 which may preferably comprise a cable connection, such as, for example, a copper or fiber optic cable, or a radio connection. In accordance with an embodiment, the at least one sensor 40 and/or the remote control device 60 is arranged inside the environment to be air-conditioned 500. In accordance with an embodiment, by means of the remote control device 60 it is possible to set the desired temperature value inside the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and/or the predetermined pressure differential value which is desired between the environment to be air-conditioned and the external environment 600. In accordance with an embodiment, the remote control device 60 also allows selecting and displaying the operating mode of the field air-conditioner 1. In accordance with an embodiment, the remote control device 60 also provides the temperature and humidity values detected in the environment to be air-conditioned 500, to allow the thermoregulation thereof by means of the air-conditioner 1.
[0022] It should be noted that, in accordance with an embodiment, a manual operating mode is provided in the air-conditioner 1, in addition or as an alternative to the above described possibility of automatically regulating the flows of return and delivery air A1,A2, which allows regulating the flows of return and delivery air A1,A2 by manually controlling the return and delivery fans 13, 23, preferably by means of the control panel 90. In this case, the pressure differential between the environment to be air-conditioned 500 and the external environment 600 will be detected by means of the mobile pressure detection instruments (not shown) and the flows of return and delivery air A1, A2 will not be dynamically regulated.
[0023] Still with reference to Figure 6, in accordance with an embodiment, the field air-conditioner 1 comprises a further control system 100, preferably a control system of the type called "KFMS", which allows interconnecting a plurality of field air-conditioners 1 and centralizing the control thereof.
[0024] Based on the foregoing, it can therefore be understood how a field air-conditioner according to the present description can achieve the above-mentioned objects.
[0025] In fact, by virtue of an air-conditioner according to the present description it is advantageously possible to both air-condition and to pressurize/depressurize a given environment without the need to provide pressurization/depressurization apparatuses separate from the air-conditioner. Furthermore, a field air-conditioner according to the present description advantageously allows a complete air exchange with external air to be carried out, requiring much less power given the same environment to be air-conditioned with respect to an air-conditioner with an air recirculation operation. Furthermore, a field air-conditioner according to the present description, by virtue of the fact of providing a multilevel filtration system, advantageously allows an optimal decontamination of both the return air and the external air which cross the internal ducts of the air-conditioner.
[0026] Without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the manufacturing details can be broadly varied with respect to the above description, illustrated purely by way of a non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
1. A field air-conditioner (1), comprising:
- an air-conditioner body (2) comprising an external casing (3);
- an internal return duct (10) extended inside said casing (3) and having an inlet (11) for the return air (A1) and an outlet (12) for the return air (A1), said inlet (11) for the return air (A1) being adapted to be put in fluid communication with an environment (500) to be air-conditioned to allow said return air (A1), taken from the environment (500) to be air-conditioned, to enter the internal return duct (10), said outlet (12) for the return air (A1) being provided to discharge the return air (A1) in an environment (600) which is external with respect to the environment (500) to be air-conditioned;
- an internal delivery duct (20), independent of the internal return duct (10), which extends inside said casing (3) and comprises an inlet (21) for the external air (A2) and a outlet (22) for the external air (A2), said inlet (21) for the external air (A2) being adapted to allow the external air (A2), taken from said external environment (600), to enter the internal delivery duct (20), said outlet (22) for the external air (A2) being adapted to be put in fluid communication with the environment to be air-conditioned (500) at the same time as the inlet (11) for the return air (A1), to introduce the external air (A2) into the environment to be air-conditioned (500);
- a return fan (13) arranged in the internal return duct (10) to take the return air (A1) from the environment to be air-conditioned (500);
- a delivery fan (23) arranged in the internal delivery duct (20) to introduce the external air (A2) into the environment to be air-conditioned (500);
wherein said return fan (13) and said delivery fan (23) are controllable so as to be capable of regulating the flow of the return air (A1) through the internal return duct (10) and the flow of the external air (A2) through the internal delivery duct (20), respectively, to selectively establish a predetermined positive or negative pressure differential between said environment to be air-conditioned (500) and said external environment (600).2. A field air-conditioner (1) according to claim 1, comprising a cooling device (24)
and/or a heating device (25) arranged in the internal delivery duct (20).
3. A field air-conditioner (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a cross-flow air-to-air
heat exchanger (30) at which said internal return and delivery ducts (10, 20) cross
each other so as to allow a heat exchange between the return air (A1) which crosses
the internal return duct (10) and the external air (A2) which crosses the internal
delivery duct (20).
4. A field air-conditioner (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising
a plurality of air filters (16, 26, 27), said plurality of filters (16, 26, 27) including
at least one first air filter (16) arranged at an inlet portion (10A) of the internal
return duct (10) and at least one second air filter (26) arranged at an inlet portion
(20A) of the internal delivery duct (20) and/or at least one third air filter (27)
arranged at an outlet portion (20B) of the internal delivery duct (20).
5. A field air-conditioner (1) according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of air filters
(16, 26, 27) includes at least two different types of filters.
6. A field air-conditioner (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising
an electronic control unit (50) and at least one pressure sensor (40) adapted to be
arranged to detect a pressure differential between the environment to be air-conditioned
(500) and the external environment (600), wherein said at least one pressure sensor
(40) is operatively connected to the electronic control unit (50) to allow the electronic
control unit (50) to receive or estimate a measurement of the pressure differential
detected by the at least one pressure sensor (40), wherein the electronic control
unit (50) is further operatively connected to the return and delivery fans (13, 23)
to control such fans (13, 23) so as to automatically regulate the flow of the return
air (A1) and of the external air (A2) through the return and delivery ducts (10, 20)
by means of a feedback control based on said measurement or estimate of the pressure
differential detected by the at least one pressure sensor (40) .
7. A field air-conditioner (1) according to claim 6, comprising a remote control device
(60) which is operatively connected to the electronic control unit (50) and which
comprises said at least one pressure sensor (40) .
8. A system (1, 500) comprising an environment to be air-conditioned (500) and a field
air-conditioner (1), as defined in any one of the preceding claims, operatively connected
to the environment to be air-conditioned (500).