Indoor Air Pressure Management

Abstract

A strategy for minimizing or avoiding the so-called stack effect within buildings (20) includes controlling the temperature within a vertically extending shaft (40) such as an elevator hoistway or stairwell. Controlling the air pressure at each of a plurality of levels (A, B, C, D) within the useable or occupied space of a building (20) allows for controlling a pressure differential between the useable or occupied space and an interior of the shaft (40). Maintaining appropriate pressure differential levels allows for minimizing or avoiding the stack effect that otherwise results in undesirably large drafts between the building interior and the outside, surrounding environment.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention generally relates to controlling air pressure within buildings. More particularly, this invention relates to controlling air pressure within a building to avoid pressure differentials that result in undesirable airflow between the interior of the building and the outside, surrounding environment.[0002]DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]There are a variety of situations where airflow management and air pressure[0004]management within a building is desirable and necessary. Various building configurations require controlling airflow between the building interior and the space outside of the building, for example, to prevent undesirably large airflows through passageways (i.e., doorways) that provide access to the building. In some circumstances, the differences in temperature between the inside and outside of the building and the building configuration results in a pressure differential between the inside of the building and the outside envir...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]An exemplary disclosed method of controlling airflow within & building includes controlling airflow through a generally vertical shaft in the building. By maintaining a temperature in the shaft to correspond to an outdoor temperature outside of the building and controlling an air pressure at each level of the building based upon the temperature in the shaft, the disclosed method minimizes the so-called stack effect.

[0015]In one example, a pressure control device controls air pressure on each of the plurality of levels to which the shaft provides access to control a pressure differential between the shaft and an occupied space in the building. By controlling the air pressure on such levels, the pressure differential between the shaft and the floor levels can be controlled in a manner that minimizes the so-called stack effect.

Problems solved by technology

In some circumstances, the differences in temperature between the inside and outside of the building and the building configuration results in a pressure differential between the inside of the building and the outside environment that results in undesirably large drafts or even gusts between the building interior and the outside, surrounding environment.

Such drafts undesirably alter the heat load of the building and may interfere with comfortable passage through a doorway, for example.

One example undesirable airflow through a passageway between a building and an outside area may occur in a high rise building that includes a tall shaft such as an elevator hoistway or a stairwell.

That arrangement has limitations.

This approach is nu ideal because the larger equipment introduces additional cost and requires additional space.

Another drawback associated with revolving doors is that individuals desiring to pass through an automatically moveable door tend to become anxious about timing their entry into the passageway based upon the motion of the door.

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