Module, Device and Method for Providing a Fluid Curtain

Abstract

A module with a flow channel for providing a fluid curtain, such as an air curtain, between different environments, comprises an inlet for introducing a fluid flow through said flow channel of the module and an outlet for introducing said fluid curtain. In addition the module comprises a honeycomb structure with plurality of parallel conduits before the outlet in order to laminarize the flow for the fluid curtain, and guiding the flow and suppressing instabilities in the flow downstream of it. Furthermore the module comprises a mechanical structure before the outlet. The mechanical structure is configured to change the velocity profile of the flow before the honeycomb structure or during the honeycomb structure so that the velocity profile of the flow after the honeycomb structure or outlet is a smooth skewed parabolic velocity profile with a peak shifted from the centre line of the symmetrical parabolic velocity profile.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A module for providing a fluid curtain between different environments, the module comprising:
 an inlet configured to introduce a fluid into a flow channel of the module;   an outlet for the fluid, the outlet configured to create a fluid curtain between different environments;   a honeycomb structure located before the outlet and configured to laminarize the flow of the fluid in the fluid curtain, wherein the honeycomb structure comprises a plurality of substantially parallel conduits configured to guide the flow of the fluid and suppress instabilities in the flow of the fluid; and   a mechanical structure located before the outlet, wherein the mechanical structure is configured to change the velocity profile of the flow before or in the honeycomb structure so that the velocity profile of the flow after the honeycomb structure or the outlet comprises a skewed parabolic velocity profile with a peak shifted from the center line of the symmetrical parabolic velocity profile.   
     
     
         18 . The module of  claim 17 , wherein the mechanical structure comprises a deflector configured to guide the fluid flow from the inlet to the honeycomb structure so that a greater dynamic pressure and greater fluid velocity is introduced at a distance from the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         19 . The module of  claim 18 , wherein the deflector comprises an S-shaped or convex-shaped deflector. 
     
     
         20 . The module of  claim 18 , wherein the form of the deflector downstream of the inlet flow is convergent, continuously convergent, or continuously but non-linearly convergent towards the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         21 . The module of  claim 18 , wherein a first curve of the S-shaped deflector or the peak of the convex-shaped deflector towards the honeycomb structure is located downstream of the inlet flow before the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         22 . The module of  claim 21 , wherein a second curve of the S-shaped deflector in the opposite direction of the first curve is located downstream of the inlet flow after the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         23 . The module of  claim 17 , wherein the mechanical structure comprises the honeycomb structure and wherein the cross sectional area of the conduits of the honeycomb structure located in the downstream direction of the inlet flow before the center line of the honeycomb structure are greater than the diameter of the conduits after the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         24 . The module of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid is air, nitrogen, vapor, stream, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a display device containing a display space and an access opening; and   a module located in front of the display space, the module configured to supply a fluid curtain across the access opening, wherein the module comprises:
 an inlet configured to introduce a fluid into a flow channel of the module; 
 an outlet for the fluid, the outlet configured to create a fluid curtain between different environments; 
 a honeycomb structure located before the outlet and configured to laminarize the flow of the fluid in the fluid curtain, wherein the honeycomb structure comprises a plurality of substantially parallel conduits configured to guide the flow of the fluid and suppress instabilities in the flow of the fluid; and 
 a mechanical structure located before the outlet, wherein the mechanical structure is configured to change the velocity profile of the flow before or in the honeycomb structure so that the velocity profile of the flow after the honeycomb structure or the outlet comprises a skewed parabolic velocity profile with a peak shifted from the center line of the symmetrical parabolic velocity profile. 
   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the mechanical structure comprises a deflector configured to guide the fluid flow from the inlet to the honeycomb structure so that a greater dynamic pressure and greater fluid velocity is introduced at a distance from the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the deflector comprises an S-shaped or convex-shaped deflector. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the form of the deflector downstream of the inlet flow is convergent, continuously convergent, or continuously but non-linearly convergent towards the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein a first curve of the S-shaped deflector or the peak of the convex-shaped deflector towards the honeycomb structure is located downstream of the inlet flow before the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein a second curve of the S-shaped deflector in the opposite direction of the first curve is located downstream of the inlet flow after the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the mechanical structure comprises the honeycomb structure and wherein the cross sectional area of the conduits of the honeycomb structure located in the downstream direction of the inlet flow before the center line of the honeycomb structure are greater than the diameter of the conduits after the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the fluid is air, nitrogen, vapor, stream, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         33 . A method for providing a fluid curtain between different environments, the method comprising:
 introducing a fluid flow into an inlet of a module, the module comprising an outlet configured to create a fluid curtain between different environments;   laminarizing the fluid flow of the fluid curtain via a honeycomb structure which contains a plurality of substantially parallel conduits configured to guide the flow of the fluid and suppress instabilities in the flow of the fluid; and   changing the velocity profile of the flow before or in the honeycomb structure so that the velocity profile of the flow after the honeycomb structure or the outlet comprises a skewed parabolic velocity profile with a peak shifted from the center line of the symmetrical parabolic velocity profile.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the velocity profile is changed by a deflector configured to guide the fluid flow from the inlet to the honeycomb structure so that a greater dynamic pressure and greater fluid velocity is introduced at a distance from the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         35 . A method of  claim 33 , wherein the cross sectional area of the conduits of the honeycomb structure located in the downstream direction of the inlet flow before the center line of the honeycomb structure is greater than the diameters of the conduits after the center line of the honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the fluid is air, nitrogen, vapor, stream, or combinations thereof.