GB2127145A

GB2127145A - Air induction ventilators

Info

Publication number: GB2127145A
Application number: GB08324537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Fulton
Original assignee: Flaekt AB
Current assignee: ABB Technology FLB AB
Priority date: 1982-09-14
Filing date: 1983-09-13
Publication date: 1984-04-04
Also published as: GB8324537D0; GB2127145B

Abstract

An apparatus 1 for ventilating a space, comprises an induction chamber 2 having an inlet 3 open to ambient atmosphere, an outlet 4 for fluid communication with a space to be ventilated, and jets 5 directed into and adapted to supply a high velocity medium to the chamber 2 in order to induce a flow of fresh air into and through the chamber 2 from the inlet 3 to the outlet 4. The jets 5 may be part of a system of jets which are for circulating ventilating medium in the space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ventilation Technical field of invention The invention relates to ventilation.

Background art Ventilation of work areas such as aboard oil and/or gas production platforms by purely mechanical means involves a high power input and extensive weight and space for the equipment. Natural ventilation cannot be relied upon, as variations of wind direction and speed will produce conditions when no ventilation takes place. In such work spaces where heat is emitted from equipment or where hydrocarbon gases are likely to gather ventilation is required.

All offshore structures such as production platforms therefore require ventilation to maintain safety standards. Production platforms are becoming large and heavy, with commensurate increase in the size, weight and cost of ventilation equipment.

Safety on board production platforms is also influenced to a large extent by the ventilation systems. Use of systems which reduce weight, space and power needs become more important for deeper water structures and floating/tethered production units. Dispersal of heat and hydrocarbons using similar systems but ensuring safety will assist future planning of such platforms.

Disclosure of invention It is an object of the invention to seek to improve ventilation by mitigating the disadvantages referred to above.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for ventilating a space, comprising an induction chamber having an inlet open to ambient atmosphere, an outletforfluid communication with a space to be ventilated and a jet directed into and adapted to supply a high velocity medium to the chamber in order to induce flow of natural, ambient, atmosphere into the chamber and out through the outlet thereof.

The jet may be substantially vertically oriented in the chamber as considered in use.

The jet may be directed upwardly in the chamber as considered in use.

The jet may be one of two or more jets in the induction chamber.

The or each jet may be connected to a source of ventilating medium distinct from ambient atmosphere or may be connected to a supply means for supplying ambient atmosphere to the induction chamber, which supply means is independent of the inlet through which ambient atmosphere can flow into the induction chamber by induction thereinto on flow of medium from the or each jet into the chamber.

The or each jet directed into the induction chamber may form part of a system of jets for distributing ventilating medium throughout the space.

There may be a shut off means for obturating flow to the or each jet if ambient atmosphere flow under natural conditions is sufficient to flow ambient atmosphere through the induction chamber into the space.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a ventilating system including apparatus as hereinbefore defined.

Apparatus and a system, embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of drawings Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are schematic side elevational views of apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic representation, to a smaller scale than any of Figures 1-4, of a space and a system for ventilating it.

In the drawings like parts are indicated by like reference numerals.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 each one shows apparatus 1 for ventilating a space comprising a chamber 2 which is an induction chamberwhich has an inlet 3 in the form of a grille and an outlet 4 in the form of a grille for fluid communication with a space to be ventilated. In the embodiments shown there is a jet 5 (in Figure 1 there are two jets) directed into and adapted to supply high velocity ventilating medium into the chamber 2. In the embodiments of Figures 1-4, the jets 5 are within the chamber 2 and are directed substantially vertically, the jets of Figures 1-3 being directed upwardly and that in Figure 4 downwardly.It will be understood that the jets could be partially or wholly outside the chamber 2 providing their outlet nozzles are directed into and connected with the interior of the induction chamber to induce flow of ambient air into the chambers through their inlets.

The chamber 2 of Figure 1 has vanes 6 for directing the outgoing atmosphere through 90 to the exit grille. In Figures 2 and 3 the chamber itself has a curved inner surface to effect this deflection, while in Figure 4 the jet 5 is directed at the outlet grille 4.

It will also be understood that in a long induction chamber 2, that is one which has substantial depth in a direction at right angles to the plane of the Figures, there may be a series of jets in a row, one behind the other, only the ones 5 being seen in Figures 1-4.

The apparatus 1 is used where it is desired to have a natural ventilation system, that is to use natural, ambient atmosphere fed directly into a space to be ventilated, and a system to distribute atmosphere in the space around the space by means of high velocity jets of ventilating medium which is fed into the space from jets, nozzles or ejectors fed by a fan.

Such a system 7 combined with apparatus according to the invention is shown in Figure 5, where a space 8 such as a work room on an oil drilling platform is fed with natural ambient atmosphere which is fed into it by induced flow through induction chambers 2.

The flow of air from outside 9 into the induction chambers 2 is induced by jets of ventilating medium exiting from the jets 5 in the chambers 2, the jets 5, themselves being part of the jet, nozzle or ejector system 7 in the room for circulating and distributing atmosphere in the room, the system including fan 10.

The two parts X and Y of system 7 blowing towards one another promote active air circulation when the wind velocity outside the room is zero or substantially so. When the wind blows the wind pressure is sufficient to overcome the horizontal directional effect of the jets of system 7 and the vertical jets 5 will still operate so inducing flow of outside ambient, air into the room 8, where it is distributed.

Alternatively, there may be means (not shown) to shut off flow to jets 5 when the wind speed is sufficiently great to flow from outside the room through the induction chambers 2 without the need to induce that flow. This saves on energy consumption at the jets 5.

By combining high velocity nozzles of the system 7 with apparatus 1 embodying the invention to provide natural ventilation a safe system is maintained at all times, while at the same time space, weight, power installed and power consumed are all reduced. Heat removal and hydrocarbon dispersal is also improved and safety is thus enhanced as compared with conventional ventilation systems.

In all the Figures, ambient air is induced to flow from the outlet 3 through the induction chamber 2 and out of the outlet 4 thereof into the space being ventilated by high velocity air issuing from jet(s) 5.

Claims

1. Apparatus for ventilating a space, comprising an induction chamber having an inlet open to ambient atmosphere, an outlet for fluid communication with a space to be ventilated and a jet directed into and adapted to supply a high velocity medium to the chamber in order to induce flow of natural, ambient atmosphere into and through the chamber from the inlet to exit via the outlet.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the jet being substantially vertically oriented in the chamber, as considered in use.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the jet being directed upwardly as considered in use.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, the jet being one of two or more jets in the induction chamber.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, the or each jet being connected to a source of ventilating medium distinct from ambient atmosphere.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, the or each jet being connected to a supply means for supplying ambient atmosphere to the induction chamber, which supply means is independent of the inlet through which ambient atmosphere can flow into the induction chamber by induction thereinto on flow of medium from the or each jet into the chamber.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 6, the or each jet directed into the induction chamber forming part of a system of jets for distributing ventilating medium throughout the space.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including shut-off means for obturating flow to the or each jet.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the path through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet comprising at least one change in direction of substantially 90".

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, including means to deflect the flow of ambient air through the chamber through substantially 90".

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, the means comprising a plurality of vanes.

12. Apparatus for ventilating a space, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

13. Aventilating system including a apparatus according to any preceding claim, the or each jet being connected to a plurality of other jets in a space being ventilated by the system which other jets are adapted for circulating and distributing atmosphere in the space.

14. Aventilating system according to Claim 13, some of the other jets being directed in one direction and others of the other jets being directed in a direction opposite to the direction of the same other jets.

15. Aventilating system according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, including a fan for passing high velocity low volume air through the or each jet and other jets.

16. Aventilating system including apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.