초록 ▼

At least one embodiment of the present inventive technology focuses on a vaneless diffuser adapted for establishment extra-radially of a centrifugal fan, wherein the diffuser may effect an optimal transformation of velocity pressure into static pressure of a fluid (e.g., air) impelled by a centrifug

At least one embodiment of the present inventive technology focuses on a vaneless diffuser adapted for establishment extra-radially of a centrifugal fan, wherein the diffuser may effect an optimal transformation of velocity pressure into static pressure of a fluid (e.g., air) impelled by a centrifugal fan by decreasing that fluid's tangential velocity as it travels through the diffuser, without causing recirculation of air output from the diffuser back into the diffuser. Such diffuser may effect such a decrease in tangential velocity by radially extending the interface through which impelled air is output from the diffuser to a downflow fluid handling environment such as, e.g., a scroll and/or a plenum. The diffuser may converge in a direction parallel with the axis of rotation of the centrifugal fan to avoid fluid recirculation and/or may incorporate acoustical material so as to reduce the amount of material necessary for effective noise reduction as compared with convention noise reduction methods.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An impelled air diffusion apparatus comprising a first diffuser form having a first impelled air directing side; and a second diffuser form having a second impelled air directing side; and not comprising vanes, wherein said first diffuser form and said second diffuser form i

What is claimed is: 1. An impelled air diffusion apparatus comprising a first diffuser form having a first impelled air directing side; and a second diffuser form having a second impelled air directing side; and not comprising vanes, wherein said first diffuser form and said second diffuser form is each configured for establishment radially outward of a centrifugal fan having a centrifugal fan axis of rotation, so that: (a) said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side are substantially opposite and converge as a radial distance from said centrifugal fan axis of rotation increases; (b) at least a majority of air impelled by said centrifugal fan passes between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side; and (c) impelled air passing between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side is output to a downflow air handling environment, and so as to: (d) radially extend an interface through which said impelled air passing between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side is output to said downflow air handling element; (e) decrease a first velocity component of said impelled air passing between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side, wherein said first velocity component is substantially parallel to an interface through which the discharged, impelled air is output to said downflow air handling environment; (f) increase the static pressure of said impelled air passing between the first impelled air directing side and the second impelled air directing side as a result of said decrease of the first velocity component of said impelled air; (g) control a second velocity component of said impelled air passing between the first impelled air directing side and the second impelled air directing side so as to avoid recirculation of said impelled air output to a downflow air handling environment back into a space between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side, and (h) a flow turning element to which said impelled air is responsive, wherein said second velocity component is substantially perpendicular to said interface through which said discharged, impelled air is output to said downflow air handling environment, wherein said increase in static pressure is at least 90% the total increase in static pressure observed as said discharged, impelled air travels through said diffuser element, and wherein said downflow air handling environment comprises a plenum. 2. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said impelled air passing between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side is output from said impelled air diffusion apparatus to a downflow air handling environment with a zero net velocity. 3. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said centrifugal fan has a fan blade outlet angle selected to enhance an increase in said static pressure. 4. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said flow turning element comprises an orthogonally turning flow turning element. 5. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein a diffuser outlet area and a diffuser inlet area defined by said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side are approximately equal. 6. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 1 further comprising said centrifugal fan. 7. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus comprising: a first diffuser form having a first impelled fluid directing side; and a second diffuser form having a second impelled fluid directing side; wherein said first diffuser form and said second diffuser form is each configured for establishment radially outward of a centrifugal fan having a centrifugal fan axis of rotation so that said first impelled fluid directing side is substantially opposite said second impelled fluid directing side and so that at least a majority of fluid impelled by said centrifugal fan passes between said first impelled fluid directing side and said second impelled fluid directing side, wherein said first impelled fluid directing side and said second impelled fluid directing side define a diffuser inlet and a diffuser outlet, wherein said first impelled fluid directing side and said second impelled fluid directing side physically closer at said diffuser outlet than at said diffuser inlet, and wherein said downflow fluid handling environment comprises a flow turning element that outputs to a plenum. 8. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said first diffuser form and said second diffuser form is each configured to radially extend an interface through which said impelled fluid is output to a downflow fluid handling environment when established radially outward of a centrifugal fan. 9. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said centrifugal fan has a fan blade outlet angle selected to enhance an increase in said static pressure. 10. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said flow turning element comprises an orthogonally turning flow turning element. 11. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus comprising: a first diffuser form having a first impelled fluid directing side; and a second diffuser form having a second impelled fluid directing side; wherein said first impelled fluid directing side and said second impelled fluid directing side define an impelled fluid directing profile when said first impelled fluid diffuser form and said second diffuser form are established substantially opposite one another and radially outward of a centrifugal fan having a centrifugal fan impeller element, wherein said first impelled fluid directing side and said second impelled fluid directing side define a diffuser inlet and a diffuser outlet; wherein said impelled fluid directing profile effects a decrease in the tangential velocity of, and a resultant increase in the static pressure of a fluid impelled and discharged by said centrifugal fan impeller element when said first impelled fluid diffuser form and said second diffuser form are established radially outward of a centrifugal fan and substantially opposite one another, wherein said impelled fluid directing profile controls the radial velocity of said fluid impelled and discharged by said centrifugal fan impeller element so as to avoid recirculation of a pressurized fluid output from said radially outward established diffuser forms back into a space between said first and second impelled fluid directing sides, and wherein said downflow fluid handling environment comprises a flow turning element that outputs said impelled fluid to a plenum. 12. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said impelled fluid directing profile controls the radial velocity of said fluid impelled by said centrifugal fan and discharged by said centrifugal fan so as to just avoid recirculation of a pressurized fluid output. 13. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said first diffuser form and said second diffuser form is each configured to radially extend an interface through which an impelled fluid is output to a downflow fluid handling environment. 14. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus as described in claim 11 further comprising acoustical material established to reduce noise. 15. An impelled fluid diffusion apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said impelled fluid comprises air. 16. An impelled air diffusion apparatus comprising a first diffuser form having a first impelled air directing side; and a second diffuser form having a second impelled air directing side; acoustical material established outside of and substantially contiguously with said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side, and not comprising vanes, wherein said first diffuser form and said second diffuser form is each configured for establishment radially outward of a centrifugal fan having a centrifugal fan impeller element so that: (a) said first impelled air directing side is substantially opposite and axially converges toward said second impelled air directing side along at least a radial portion of said impelled air diffusion apparatus; (b) at least a majority of air impelled by said centrifugal fan passes between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side; and (c) impelled air passing between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side is output to a plenum, wherein said first diffuser form and said second diffuser form is each configured to radially extend an interface through which air impelled by said centrifugal fan impeller element is output to said plenum so as to decrease the tangential velocity of said impelled air passing between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side, thereby increasing the static pressure of said impelled air passing between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side. 17. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said output to a plenum has a zero net velocity. 18. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said first impelled air directing side is substantially opposite and axially converges toward said second impelled air directing side. 19. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said centrifugal fan has forwardly curved impeller blades. 20. An impelled air diffusion apparatus comprising a first diffuser form having a first impelled air directing side; and a second diffuser form having a second impelled air directing side; and not comprising vanes, wherein said first diffuser form and said second diffuser form is each configured for establishment radially outward of a centrifugal fan having a centrifugal fan axis of rotation, so that: (a) at least a majority of air impelled by said centrifugal fan passes between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side; and (b) impelled air passing between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side is output to a downflow air handling environment, and so as to: (c) decrease a first velocity component of said impelled air passing between the first impelled air directing side and the second impelled air directing side, wherein said first velocity component is substantially parallel to an interface through which said discharged, impelled air is output to said downflow air handling environment, (d) increase the static pressure of said impelled air passing between the first impelled air directing side and the second impelled air directing side as a result of said decrease of said first velocity component of said impelled air; and (e) control a second velocity component of said impelled air passing between the first impelled air directing side and the second impelled air directing side so as to avoid recirculation of said impelled air output to said downflow air handling environment back into a space between said first impelled air directing side and said second impelled air directing side, wherein said second velocity component is substantially perpendicular to said interface through which said discharged, impelled air is output to said downflow air handling environment, and wherein said increase in static pressure is at least 90% the total increase in static pressure observed as said discharged, impelled air travels through said diffuser element. 21. An impelled air diffusion apparatus as described in claim 20 wherein said centrifugal fan comprises forwardly curved impeller blades.