Fan array fan section in air-handling systems

• US 7,597,534 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Huntair Incorporated (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Hopkins, Lawrence G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Ninh H
• Application Number:
  US11/097,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20050180846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 415/119, 415/60, 416/500, 416/120
• US Class Current: 415/119
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/12 Combinations of two or more pumps combinations with priming pumps or booster pumps to counteract vapour-lock F04D9/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/00 Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/166 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/664 by means of sound absorbing material
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/511 augmenting, i.e. with intercepting fluid flow cross sectional area greater than the rest of the machine behind the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/96 Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/24 Means for preventing or suppressing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/242 Sound-absorbing material
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/06 with forced air circulation, e.g. by fan positioning of a ventilator in or against a conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/065 fan combined with single duct; mounting arrangements of a fan in a duct
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49245 Vane type or other rotary, e.g., fan
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A fan array fan section in air-handling system includes a plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array. Each fan unit is positioned within a fan unit chamber/cell. Each fan unit chamber/cell has at least one acoustically absorptive insulation surface. The insulation surfaces of the fan unit chamber/cells together form a coplanar silencer. Sound waves from the fan units passing through the insulation surface at least partially dissipate as they pass therethrough. In one preferred embodiments the fan unit chamber/cell is a cell having a frame that supports the insulation surface.

Claims

1. A fan array fan section in air-handling compartment which is part of an air-handling for conditioning the air of a structure, said fan array fan section comprising:

(a) a plurality of fans units;

(b) said plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array;

(c) each of said plurality of fans units positioned within a fan unit chamber/cell;

(d) each fan unit chamber/cell having at least one acoustically absorptive insulation surfaces;

(e) said insulation surface of said fan unit chamber/cells together form a co-planar silencer;

wherein

(f) each of said plurality of fan units is suspended within a fan unit chamber/cell such that there is an air relief passage which is isolated from the remainder of said fan unit chamber/cells so that a portion of the air drawn by said fan unit passed through said air relief passage without passing through said fan unit.

2. A fan array section in an air-handling compartment which is part of an air-handling system for conditioning the air of a structure, said fan array fan section comprising:

(a) a plurality of fans units;

(b) said plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array;

(c) each of said plurality of fans units positioned within a fan unit chamber/cell which substantially surrounds said fan unit;

(d) each fan unit chamber/cell having at least one acoustically absorptive insulation surfaces;

(e) said each fan unit chamber/cell being arranged within an air-handling compartment such that the air from all of said fan units is mixed before it enters the structure;

wherein; and

(f) each of said plurality of fan units is suspended within a fan unit chamber/cell such that there is an air passageway therebelow.

3. A fan array fan section in air-handling system comprising:

(a) at least three fan units;

(b) each of said at least three fan units positioned within a fan unit chamber/cell which substantially surrounds said fan unit;

(c) each fan unit'"'"'s chamber/cell having at least one insulating surface;

(d) said at least three fan units arranged in a fan array;

(e) wherein said fan unit chamber/cell is cube-shaped;

(f) said cube having a frame which forms four edges of said cube; and

(g) said insulation surfaces are independent of said frame and from the portion of said cube not formed by said frame.

4. The fan array section in a air-handling system of claim 3, said insulation surface of said fan unit chamber/cell together forming a co-planar silencer

5. The fan array section in a air-handling system of claim 3, wherein each said insulation surface is acoustically absorptive material.

6. The fan array section in a air-handling system of claim 3, wherein sound waves from said fan units passing through said insulation surfaces are at least partially dissipated as they pass therethrough.

7. The fan array fan section in air-handling system of claim 3, wherein each of said at least three fan units is suspended within a fan unit chamber/cell such that there is an air relief passage therebelow.

8. The fan array fan section in air-handling system of claim 3, wherein said at least three fan units are a plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array configuration selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a true array configuration;

(b) a spaced pattern array configuration;

(c) a checker board array configuration;

(d) rows slightly offset array configuration;

(e) columns slightly offset array configuration; and

(f) a staggered array configuration.

9. The fan array fan section in an air-handling system of claim 3, wherein said at least three fan units are plenum fans including at least two vertically arranged fan units.

10. The fan array fan section in an air-handling system of claim 3, wherein each of said at least three fan units is mounted in a grid system.

11. The fan array fan section in an air-handling system of claim 3, said fan unit chamber/cells being modular units for in a modular unit system.