System for combined thermal comfort and air quality management

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an air quality and thermal comfort management system. The system may include a blower configured to perform a fresh air exchange on a managed area, an indoor sensor module in the managed area, having at least one sensor configured to measure at least one air quality or thermal comfort parameter, and an outdoor sensor module positioned outside the managed area, having at least one sensor configured to measure at least one air quality / thermal comfort parameter. The system may include a controller having a processor in communication with a memory, configured to receive at least one air quality / thermal comfort signal from at least one of the indoor and the outdoor sensor modules, the air quality / thermal comfort signal being based on the parameters measured by the sensor modules, and in response to these signals, transmit a control signal configured to modify an operating state of the blower.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63 / 544,724 having a filing date of Oct. 18, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated herein.BACKGROUND

[0002] The majority of homes in many regions, such as in Qatar and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, use split air conditioning systems to manage thermal comfort within a home. However, these split air conditioning systems are not equipped to introduce fresh air into the home or to perform any fresh air exchange. As people may spend more than 80% of their time indoors, fresh air is vital to minimize the spread of microbes such as those that are commonly spread through recirculating air, like COVID-19, and improve people's wellbeing. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a solution that manages the thermal comfort of a home and air quality while providing fresh air exchanges.SUMMARY

[0003] Example systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed herein for managing both thermal comfort and air quality.

[0004] In light of the disclosure herein, and without limiting the scope of the invention in any way, in a first aspect of the present disclosure, which may be combined with any other aspect listed herein unless specified otherwise, an air quality and thermal comfort management system may include a blower configured to perform fresh air exchanges on a managed area, where the blower includes a filtration unit, filter, or smart filter. The system may further include an indoor sensor module positioned in the managed area, having at least one sensor configured to measure at least one air quality or thermal comfort parameter. The system may also include an outdoor sensor module positioned outside the managed area, having at least one sensor configured to measure at least one air quality or thermal comfort parameter. Additionally, the system may include a controller having a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor may be configured to receive at least one air quality / thermal comfort signal based on the parameters measured by the indoor sensor module and the outdoor sensor module. In response to receiving an air quality / thermal comfort signal, the processor may transmit a control signal to a blower configured to modify an operating state of the blower, for example, causing the blower to power on and perform a fresh air exchange of the managed area.

[0005] Also, an example system of the present disclosure may include, in response to measurements received by the controller from the sensor modules, ways to adjust the indoor static pressure so that it is always on the positive side from the ambient static pressure thereby preventing leaks, for example, leaks into a home during dust storms or bad air quality days.

[0006] Additional features and advantages are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the Figures. The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the figures and description. In addition, any particular embodiment does not have to have all of the advantages listed herein and it is expressly contemplated to claim individual advantageous embodiments separately. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been selected principally for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for combined thermal comfort and air quality management according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of the communication lines between the components involved within the disclosed system according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic of one embodiment of the disclosed technology operation according to an aspect of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed herein for combined thermal comfort and air quality management.

[0011] While the example methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed herein for combined thermal comfort and air quality management, it should be appreciated that the methods, apparatus, and systems may be operable for other applications.

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an example standalone system 100 for managing both thermal comfort and air quality of a managed area 115. The system 100 may include a blower 105 configured to perform fresh air exchanges on the managed area 115. The blower 105 may be positioned such that is interfaces with both the managed area 115 and the area outside the managed area. For example, the blower 105 may be positioned on or near an exterior wall of a house such that it interfaces with the outside to inject fresh air into the house, i.e. the managed area 115. The blower 105 may include a number of filters through which it passes fresh air before moving this fresh air into the managed area 115, such that the blower 105 is able to circulate clean, fresh air into the managed area 115. The blower 105 may be contained, at least partially, within a blower housing. The blower 105 may include a dedicated blower controller which may be configured to modify an operating state of the blower 105, such as powering on the blower 105 and circulating fresh air from outside the managed area 115 into the managed area 115. The blower 105, or the blower controller, may be configured to measure the power consumption of the blower 105.

[0013] The system 100 may also include an indoor sensor module 118 located in the managed area 115. The indoor sensor module 118 may include a variety of sensors to calculate indices or metrics that identify the indoor air quality level, such as AQI, for the managed area 115, and sensors that measure specific indoor air quality parameters such as PM2.5, PM, 1, PM10, NO2, NOx, NOx, CO, CO2, RH and ambient temperature in addition to static pressure.

[0014] The system 100 may also include an outdoor sensor module 116 located outside the managed area 115. The outdoor sensor module 116 may include a variety of sensors to calculate indices or metrics that identify the outdoor air quality level, such as AQI, for the managed area 115, and sensors that measure specific outdoor air quality parameters such as PM2.5, PM, 1, PM10, NO2, CO, CO2, RH and ambient temperature in addition to static pressure. The outdoor sensor module 116 may be positioned on a portion of the blower housing that is outside of the managed area 115.

[0015] The system 100 may also include a controller, having a memory 111 and a processor 112 in communication with the memory 111. The processor 110 may receive an air quality / thermal comfort signal from at least one of the indoor sensor module 118 and the outdoor sensor module 116. The air quality / thermal comfort signal may correspond to a measured thermal comfort or air quality parameter, such as ambient temperature or CO2 levels, or correspond to a measured parameter exceeding a predetermined threshold of an air quality or thermal comfort parameter. For example, the indoor sensor module 118 may measure and detect an increased level of CO2 present in the air of the managed area 115, or even that the level of CO2 has exceeded a predetermined level. The indoor sensor module 118 may then transmit an air quality / thermal comfort signal to the controller 110 indicating that the CO2 levels in the managed area have exceeded a predetermined threshold.

[0016] The controller may be configured to, in response to receiving an air quality / thermal comfort signal, transmit a signal to the blower 105 to modify or to maintain its operating state. For example, in response to receiving an air quality / thermal comfort signal to the controller 110 indicating that the CO2 levels in the managed area 115 have exceeded a predetermined threshold, the controller 110 may transmit a signal to the blower 105 causing the blower to circulate fresh air from outside the managed area 115 into the managed area 115. The controller 110 may be configured to receive a signal from the blower 105 indicating the blower's power consumption and to store data from the signal in a corresponding log file in the memory 111. The controller 110 may also be configured to send alerts or notifications to a user device based on received measurements from the indoor sensor module 118 and the outdoor sensor module 116. The controller 110 may communicate with the blower 105, the indoor sensor module 118, the outdoor sensor module 118, and user devices over a network, for example the Internet or Bluetooth.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of the communication lines between the components involved within the disclosed system and FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic of one embodiment of the disclosed technology operation.

[0018] In some embodiments, the controller 110 measures both indoor and outdoor environmental quality conditions and determines if an action is needed. This action could be to dilute a bad indoor environmental quality by filtering outside fresh air if and when the outdoor air allows it and or exhausting bad indoor air quality. The amount of incoming and exhausting air flowrate is determined by the controller logic. The controller logic platform is general for all buildings but key variables such as the amount of air flow rates will be determined based on the space requirements. Moreover, in some embodiments, the controller 110 is able to manage exhaust fans, like those in kitchens or bathrooms, to remove air when necessary.

[0019] In alternate embodiments, standalone fresh intake is integrated to an existing AC unit. Here, the standalone fresh intake can include an air filter. For example, standalone fresh intake can be inside the space with possible access to outdoor air through flexible ducting or tube. The access could be through windows, doors, or custom made. Alternatively, the system can be integrated in a wall similar to a window air-conditioning unit, where there is a part outside and outlet is inside next to the split AC intake to help cool the fresh incoming air during summer. The system can also be located next to a heater intake to heat the fresh incoming air during winter.

[0020] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a management or control logic that uses available and future indoor environmental quality indicators or indices to determine the action the fresh air intake will take.

[0021] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system that can work to achieve thermal comfort only, mitigate bad indoor air quality only, or both.

[0022] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system that will use any listed environmental parameters, indices or indicator, such as air quality index (AQI), to determine which action it should take.

[0023] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a holistic solution to the indoor environmental quality by providing a smart controller that measures both indoor and outdoor environmental quality conditions and determines if an action is needed. This action could be to dilute a bad indoor environmental quality by filtering outside fresh air if and when the outdoor air allows it and / or exhausting bad indoor air quality. The amount of incoming and exhausting air flowrate is determined by the controller logic. The controller logic platform w=is general for all buildings but key variables such as the amount of air flow rates will be determined based on the space requirements.

[0024] This disclosure provides a system for managing the thermal comfort and air quality of an area using a single standalone solution that performs thermal comfort management as well as fresh air exchanges to adjust and improve the air quality of the managed area.

[0025] Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can use the preceding description to utilize the claimed inventions to their fullest extent. The examples and aspects disclosed herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and not a limitation of the scope of the present disclosure in any way. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that changes may be made to the details of the above-described examples without departing from the underlying principles discussed. In other words, various modifications and improvements of the examples specifically disclosed in the description above are within the scope of the appended claims. For instance, any suitable combination of features of the various examples described is contemplated.

Claims

1. A system comprising:a blower configured to perform a fresh air exchange on a managed space;an indoor sensor module positioned in the managed area;an outdoor sensor module positioned outside the managed area;a controller, having a memory, anda processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to receive an indoor sensor module signal or an outdoor sensor signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the indoor sensor module comprises at least one sensor configured to measure at least one air parameter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the outdoor sensor module comprises at least one sensor configured to measure at least one air parameter.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the air parameter is one of PM2.5, PM1, PM10, NO2, NOx, CO, CO2, VOC, RH, temperature, or static pressure.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the air parameter is one of PM2.5, PM1, PM10, NO2, NOx, CO, CO2, VOC, RH, temperature, or static pressure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a signal from at least one of the indoor sensor modules or outdoor sensor modules.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the signal from at least one of the indoor sensor modules or outdoor sensor modules corresponds with an air parameter measured by the indoor sensor module or outdoor sensor module.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to the signal from at least one of the indoor sensor module or outdoor sensor module, transmit a control signal to the blower configured to modify an operating state of the blower.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control signal causes the blower to power on and perform a fresh air exchange of the managed space.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is one of an air quality management system or a thermal comfort management system.

11. A system comprising:a blower configured to perform a fresh air exchange on a managed space, wherein the blower comprises a filtration unit;a plurality of sensor modules;a controller, having a memory, anda processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to receive a sensor module signal from the plurality of sensor modules.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is an indoor sensor module position in the managed space, and wherein the indoor sensor module comprises at least one sensor configured to measure at least one air parameter.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is an outdoor sensor module position outside the managed space, and wherein the outdoor sensor module comprises at least one sensor configured to measure at least one air parameter.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the air parameter is one of PM2.5, PM1, PM10, NO2, NOx, CO, CO2, VOC, RH, temperature, or static pressure.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the air parameter is one of PM2.5, PM1, PM10, NO2, NOx, CO, CO2, VOC, RH, temperature, or static pressure.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of sensor modules.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the signal from at least one of the plurality of sensor modules corresponds with an air parameter measured by the at least one of the plurality of sensor modules.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to the signal from at least one of the indoor sensor module or outdoor sensor module, transmit a control signal to the blower configured to modify an operating state of the blower.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the control signal causes the blower to power on and perform a fresh air exchange of the managed space.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is one of an air quality management system or a thermal comfort management system.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is a standalone system for air quality management or thermal comfort management.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is an integrated part of an air quality management system or a thermal comfort management system.

Images