method for controlling a central ventilation system and ventilation system configured to perform this method

Abstract

Method for controlling a central ventilation system and ventilation system configured to perform this method. The present invention relates to a method for controlling a central ventilation system to perform flow measurements, the ventilation system comprising a ventilation unit, a central fan (3) within the ventilation unit, several ducts connected to the ventilation unit for supplying and / or extracting air to and / or from the ventilation unit using the central fan (3), and a control unit (1) for controlling the central fan (3). The central ventilation system is disconnected and reconnected to the power supply, such that the control unit (1) executes a startup program, controlling the central fan (3) for a test duration in accordance with a prescribed test program (5). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a ventilation system configured to perform this method.Figure for the abridged version: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Method for controlling a central ventilation system and ventilation system configured to carry out this method

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of controlling a central ventilation system to perform flow measurements, the ventilation system comprising a ventilation unit, a central fan mounted in the ventilation unit, several ducts connected to the ventilation unit to convey and / or extract air to and / or from the ventilation unit using the central fan and a control unit for controlling the central fan, wherein a test program imposed according to standards, rules and legislation is determined and wherein the central fan is first controlled according to a normal operating program, is then controlled according to the test program imposed to perform flow measurements, and is then controlled again according to the normal operating program.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to such a central ventilation system configured to perform such a process.

[0003] These central ventilation systems are used for the ventilation of buildings, generally for residential applications. Examples of such central ventilation systems are described and illustrated in documents BE1018155A5, BE1018969A5 and BE1019913A5.

[0004] These central ventilation systems, depending on the presence of ducts for air supply and / or ducts for air outlet, are divided into the following types of ventilation systems: - Type B, mechanically pulsed, where air is drawn into the building using the fan. The ducts connected to the ventilation unit are then designed for air supply and are connected to the various rooms of the building to be ventilated to provide air. - Type C, with mechanical extraction, where air is extracted from the building using a fan. Ducts are then installed for air extraction and are connected to different rooms in the building requiring ventilation. These spaces are generally so-called wet areas, including bathrooms, kitchens, and toilets, but sometimes also, for example, bedrooms where excessive levels of CO or NOx are measured. - Type D, with mechanical pulse and extraction, where air is both drawn in and extracted from the building using a fan. There are then one or more supply ducts connected to one or more rooms of the building to be ventilated and one or more exhaust ducts extraction systems connected to one or more rooms of the building to be ventilated.

[0005] The ventilation systems to which the invention relates are, after the necessary initial adjustments and configurations, controlled according to a normal or ordinary operating program in accordance with the applicable regulations and legislation.

[0006] For these ventilation systems, standardized flow measurements must be carried out on delivery and during certain inspections to verify the flow rates in accordance with the standards, rules and legislation applicable by country or region.

[0007] These imposed standardized flow measurements do not affect the aforementioned settings and configurations. The ventilation system parameters during its setup and configuration, such as installation settings or user settings and parameters to ensure the operating program complies with applicable regulations and legislation, remain unchanged. After these flow measurements are performed, the ventilation system is normally re-controlled according to its normal or ordinary operating program.

[0008] Mechanical ventilation flow rates must be measured separately for each room during these flow rate measurements. The European standard EN 16211 was developed for this purpose. In Belgium, flow rate measurement methods for residential applications are described in the NDN standard EN 12599. In France, these flow rate measurement methods are prescribed in the "RE2020 Ventilation Protocol". In the Netherlands, there is an approved methodology described in the TKI SecureVent document for the quality assurance of ventilation systems.

[0009] The nature of the prescribed flow rate measurements depends, among other things, on the type of ventilation system. For example, they may depend on the presence of exhaust ducts and / or air supply ducts. Furthermore, they may depend on the presence or absence of adjustable dampers or other flow regulators per duct and on the possibility of regulating the ventilation system based on measurements from, for example, a humidity sensor, etc.

[0010] In order to be able to carry out these flow measurements, the fan is controlled according to an imposed test program, this test program depending on the standards, rules and legislation in force in each country or region.

[0011] The control unit in question is mounted on the ventilation unit. In order to control the fan using this control unit according to the prescribed test program, depending on the current central ventilation system, the control unit can either be operated manually at the ventilation unit itself, or remotely controlled via an application.

[0012] The first existing solution has the disadvantage that flow measurements are normally carried out by two people. One person must control my Manually, the control unit is located at the ventilation unit, while a second person takes flow measurements in the different rooms at the various duct connections. This first option presents an additional problem: the ventilation unit is often mounted in a hard-to-reach location, such as a crawl space in an attic, which complicates manual operation of the control unit.

[0013] As for the option via an application, it requires a network connection and the installation of a program to control the control unit. However, the corresponding flow measurements are generally carried out upon delivery of the building, and it is then rare for a network to be available to allow control.

[0014] The object of the present invention is to provide a solution for easily controlling the central ventilation system in order to perform flow measurements under various possible conditions.

[0015] This object is achieved by means of a method for controlling a central ventilation system for carrying out flow measurements, the central ventilation system comprising: - a ventilation unit; - a central fan, mounted in the ventilation unit; - several ducts connected to the ventilation unit to supply and / or extract air to and / or from the ventilation unit using the central fan; and - a control unit for the control of the central fan, equipped with a storage unit in which several test programs are stored and equipped with a selection unit to retain one of the test programs as the imposed test program; in which a test program imposed according to standards, rules and legislation is determined by the selection unit and in which the central fan is controlled according to a normal operating program, the process of disconnecting the central ventilation system from the power supply and reconnecting this ventilation system, so that the control unit executes a start-up program, in which the central fan is controlled according to the imposed test program for a test period, to carry out flow measurements and, at the end of the start-up program, the central fan is again controlled according to the normal operating program.

[0016] In this solution, the activation device, which controls the central fan according to the prescribed test program, cuts off and restores power to the central ventilation system. This is easily accomplished without requiring direct access to the ventilation unit and without an available network connection. Typically, this will be possible via the junction box. Fuses, for example. This fuse box must always be located in an easily accessible place. Alternatively, such a central ventilation system can be connected to a plug-in socket, which can be unplugged and plugged back in. As a further alternative, the central ventilation system can be connected to the electrical grid via a switch, allowing the ventilation system to be switched on and off using this switch. Such a socket and / or switch can also be located in a more accessible place than the ventilation unit itself. Switching the ventilation system on and off using the fuse box has the advantage, compared to such a socket and / or switch, of not requiring an additional socket and / or switch, nor additional wiring.

[0017] This solution does not require the presence of the installer during inspections carried out by an official inspector.

[0018] The central fan is operated for a limited time to perform this test program, generally between 15 and 45 or 30 minutes, the time required to take the flow measurements. If the central ventilation system is switched off for another reason and then switched back on, this limited time during which the central fan operates according to this test program will not be considered inconvenient.

[0019] The additional advantage is that it is not necessary to restore the user settings of the central ventilation system; rather, at the end of the startup program, the control unit can again control the central fan according to a normal operating program. This allows, in particular, the user settings, the installation settings, and the parameters ensuring that the operating program complies with applicable regulations and legislation.

[0020] The object of the present invention is also achieved by providing a central ventilation system, comprising - a ventilation unit; - a central fan, mounted in the ventilation unit; - several ducts connected to the ventilation unit to supply and / or extract air to and / or from the ventilation unit using the central fan; and - a control unit for operating the central fan, equipped with power supply means for switching the central ventilation system off and on, equipped with a storage unit in which several test programs are stored, equipped with a selection unit to retain one of the test programs as the required test program according to standards and rules and legislation, and equipped with a normal operating program and a start-up program, for the execution of a process according to the present invention.

[0021] To avoid problems caused by an unexpected and sudden power outage in the middle of the night, the control unit, in a preferred embodiment, is equipped with a timing module and only drives the central fan according to the test program when the time between a start time and an end time falls within the time frame specified during the execution of the startup program. By judiciously choosing the start and end times, the start of the test program can, for example, be set between 9 p.m. for the end time and 8 a.m. for the start time. Time tracking can be performed via an integrated (real-time) clock or a clock connected to a control unit linked to the internet.

[0022] The control unit can optionally be configured to delay the start of the test program for several specified periods.

[0023] The control unit may further be equipped with a readout unit for reading user settings and / or system settings, for initial setup and / or configuration of the ventilation system or for subsequent setup and / or configuration. The control unit is therefore preferably provided in a known manner to control the central fan according to these settings. This control unit is thus intended to adjust said operating program or to select several operating programs according to these settings in order to determine the normal or ordinary operating program on the basis of which the ventilation system is controlled.

[0024] This reading unit can therefore be designed to read these settings directly in the ventilation unit and / or to read them via a network.

[0025] In the latter case, the control unit is configured to communicate wirelessly, for example by means of a network connection.

[0026] User settings may include, for example, a temperature setting to control the central ventilation system in a larger air conditioning system with an operating program to maintain certain temperatures in the building or, for example, a setting indicating the desire for night cooling.

[0027] Installation parameters may include, for example, the country of installation, the number of supply ducts, the number of exhaust ducts, the presence of controllable dampers and / or flow regulators and / or sensors, etc.

[0028] The central ventilation system can be provided in different ways to read these parameters.

[0029] The installation parameters can, for example, be read using an installation device as described in WO2021 / 234470A1.

[0030] The test program will depend on the installation parameters defined by the installer at the time of installation and will therefore vary depending on the country or region. Thus, for the same ventilation system in France (set at installation), when the corresponding procedure is launched, the flow rates in the kitchen switch to the "Timed Ventilation" or "Peak Ventilation," while the airflow in other rooms switches to / remains at normal, demand-controlled rates. For a more precise measurement, it could also be a combination of "Timed ventilation" in the kitchen and a minimum flow rate in the other rooms. In Belgium, the flow rates would then return to "nominal values" in each room, as described in the unified technical specifications STS-P-73-1. Or, if the ventilation system has the capability, it is possible to place the "wet" and "dry" rooms separately in test mode, as specified by BCCA.

[0031] This selection unit can thus be configured, for example, in a manner analogous to the control units provided for adjusting or selecting the normal operating program on the basis of said settings, to select the test program on the basis of the installation settings read, for example, using said reading unit.

[0032] In a particular embodiment, the control unit may further be equipped with a boost program, by which the central fan is operated at maximum power, and an activation device for activating said boost program. The central ventilation system may, for example, be equipped with a switch for activating this boost program and / or the control unit may be configured to run the boost program for a certain duration. This boost program may be designed, for example, to extract air at maximum flow rate in a single room, such as a kitchen, for example, to replace a kitchen hood. This boost program may also be designed, for example, to provide maximum airflow in one or more rooms.When one or more exhaust ducts and / or one or more supply ducts are fitted with adjustable valves or other flow regulators, the control unit is then configured to operate these valves or flow regulators.

[0033] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is also achieved by the provision of a computer program product, comprising computer-readable code, which, when this code is executed on a control unit of a central ventilation system described above according to the present invention, has the effect of controlling the central ventilation system according to a method described above according to the present invention.

[0034] Finally, the object of the present invention is also achieved by providing a machine-readable, non-volatile storage medium on which such computer program product according to the present invention.

[0035] The present invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of central ventilation methods and systems according to the present invention. The purpose of this description is solely to provide explanatory examples and to indicate other advantages and details of this invention, and it therefore cannot be construed as a limitation of the scope of the invention or of the patent rights claimed in the claims.

[0036] In this detailed description, reference is made to the attached figure which schematically represents an operating mode for controlling a central ventilation system according to the invention.

[0037] In this figure, the parts present in a basic embodiment are represented in solid lines and the optional elements are represented in dashed lines.

[0038] The method according to the present invention is applicable to various types of central ventilation systems. These central ventilation systems always comprise a ventilation unit containing a central fan (3). One or more supply ducts and / or one or more exhaust ducts are connected to this ventilation unit on the one hand and to the rooms of a building to be ventilated on the other. The ventilation unit is equipped with a control unit (1) for controlling the central fan (3).

[0039] Fig. 1 shows how this control unit (1) is equipped with an operating program (2) to control the central fan (3), with restrictions according to the standards, rules and legislation applicable by country or region (9) and according to the installation settings (11) and the possible user settings (10) and according to the sensor data (14).

[0040] The sensor data (14) can come from one or more sensors. These sensors can be installed in the ventilation unit, in the central control unit (1), at the central fan (3) or at one or more actuators, or decentralized in certain areas of the building to be ventilated, or a combination of these elements (for example, central and decentralized).

[0041] The control unit (1) may optionally be equipped with a reading unit for reading standards, rules and legislation and the settings of the ventilation unit and / or via a network connection (11). This control unit (1) is also intended to control several regulating dampers (131-13n) or other flow regulators arranged in the various supply and / or exhaust ducts.

[0042] A central ventilation system and its control unit (1) can therefore be constructed and configured in a known manner.

[0043] The control unit (1) is further equipped with power supply means (4) to switch the central ventilation system off and on again. This can be done, for example, using a fuse box and / or a plug / socket and / or a switch.

[0044] According to the invention, this control unit (1) is now equipped with a start-up program to control the central fan (3) according to a prescribed test program (5). After switching the central ventilation system off and then back on using the power supply device (4), the control unit (1) is able to control the central fan (3) for a test period in accordance with this test program (5). This test period is the time required to perform the prescribed flow measurements and can be, for example, between 15 and 45 minutes.It is possible to control the central fan (3) according to the prescribed test program (5) each time the central ventilation system is switched back on, or the control unit (1) can be equipped with a time module (8) to track the time and, using a decision module (15) configured to check this time against a start time and an end time when the start program is executed and to control the central fan (3) according to the test program (5) only when the time is between the start time and the end time.

[0045] The control unit (1) is further designed to continue to control the central fan (3) according to the normal operating program (2) once the start-up program is completed.

[0046] The control unit (1) is further equipped with a storage unit containing several test programs and a selection unit allowing one of the test programs to be selected as the required test program (5). The selection can thus be made according to the standards, rules and legislation applicable by country or region (9) and according to the parameters of the installation (11).

[0047] Furthermore, the control unit (1) can be equipped with a boost program (7), by which the central fan (3) is controlled at maximum power, and can be equipped with an activation device (6) to activate this boost program (7). A switch (6) can, for example, serve as the activation device (6) to activate this boost program (7).

[0048] Thus, the control unit (1) can be configured by means of a corresponding decision module (16) to control the central fan (3) according to the boost program (7) when the switch (6) is activated, and to terminate this boost program (7) when the switch (6) is deactivated and continue to control the central fan (3) according to the normal operating program (2).

[0049] The switch (6) can be installed in a kitchen, for example, to use the central ventilation system as a hood when the boost program (7) is activated.

Claims

Demands

1. Method of controlling a central ventilation system to perform flow measurements, the ventilation system comprising: - a ventilation unit; - a central fan (3), mounted in the ventilation unit; - several ducts connected to the ventilation unit to supply and / or extract air to and / or from the ventilation unit using the central fan (3); and - a control unit (1) for controlling the central fan (3); in which a test program (5) is determined, imposed according to standards, rules and legislation, and in which the central fan (3) is first controlled according to a normal operating program (2), is then controlled according to the imposed test program (5) to perform flow measurements, and is then controlled again according to the normal operating program (2), with the characteristic that the control unit (1) is provided with a storage unit in which several test programs are stored and is provided with a selection unit for retaining one of the test programs as the imposed test program (5), that the imposed test program (5) is retained by the selection unit, and that the central ventilation system is switched off and switched back on so that the control unit (1) goes through a start-up program,controlling the central fan (3) for a test period in accordance with the prescribed test program (5), to perform flow measurements and, at the end of the start-up program, again controls the central fan (3) in accordance with the normal operating program (2).

2. Central ventilation system, comprising: - a ventilation unit; - a central fan (3), mounted in the ventilation unit; - several ducts connected to the ventilation unit to supply and / or extract air to and / or from the ventilation unit using the central fan (3); and - a control unit (1) for controlling the central fan (3); characterized in that the control unit (1) is equipped with power supply means (4) for switching the central ventilation system off and on, and is equipped with a storage unit in which several test programs are stored, and is equipped with a selection unit to retain one of the test programs as test program (5) imposed according to standards, rules and legislation, and equipped with a normal operating program (2) and a start-up program, for the execution of a process according to claim 1.

3. Central ventilation system according to claim 2, with the feature that the control unit (1) is equipped with a time module (8) to keep track of time and is equipped to operate the central fan (3) according to the test program (5) only when the time is between a start time and an end time when the start time is reached.

4. Central ventilation system according to any one of claims 2 to 3, with the feature that the control unit (1) is provided with a reading unit for reading the user settings (10) and / or the installation settings (11) and that the control unit (1) is designed to control the central fan (3) according to these settings (10, H).

5. Central ventilation system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, having the characteristic that the control unit (1) is provided with a boost program (7), by means of which the central fan (3) is controlled at maximum power and is provided with an activation device (6) for the activation of this boost program (7).

6. Computer program product, comprising computer-readable code, which, when executed on a control unit (1) of a central ventilation system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, has the effect of controlling the central ventilation system in a manner according to claim 1.

7. A machine-readable, non-volatile storage medium on which a computer program product according to claim 6 is stored.

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