DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING VENTILATION COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS ACCORDING TO THE CONCENTRATION OF FINE PARTICLES
The device with a fine particle sensor and electronic control system addresses the lack of automatic ventilation adjustment in existing systems by enhancing air quality through automatic flow rate increases during high pollutant levels, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023012245
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-24
- Estimated Expiration
- 2033-11-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing ventilation systems in residential and tertiary premises lack automatic control mechanisms to adjust ventilation flow rates based on fine particle concentrations, leading to inconsistent pollutant exposure and potential health risks due to manual and delayed responses.
A device equipped with a fine particle sensor and electronic control system that automatically adjusts ventilation flow rates by increasing them when particle concentrations exceed predefined thresholds, mimicking manual control mechanisms like push buttons or switches.
Enhances air quality by automatically maintaining higher ventilation rates when pollutant levels are high, reducing exposure to harmful particles and ensuring compliance with regulatory flow rates.
Smart Images
Figure 00000007_0000 
Figure 00000007_0001 
Figure 00000008_0000
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING VENTILATION COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS ACCORDING TO THE CONCENTRATION OF FINE PARTICLES
[0001] The invention relates to the field of ventilation systems for premises, such as individual or collective housing, or tertiary premises, comprising one or more rooms. The invention relates more particularly to a device for controlling ventilation systems as a function of the concentrations of fine particles in its immediate environment.
[0002] Air pollution is a proven public health issue. According to Santé Publique France, 40,000 deaths each year and an 8-month reduction in life expectancy are attributable to fine particle air pollution in France. For its part, the Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI) estimates that in enclosed spaces where we spend nearly 80% of our time on average, indoor air contains 5 to 8 times more pollutants of different types.
[0003] Very high concentrations of pollutants can be reached depending on the activities, particularly in housing. In the kitchen, for example, one can be exposed to very high (and sudden) levels of fine particles, particularly during cooking or any activity generating dust, high heat or combustion (cooking, sweeping or vacuuming, toasters, candles, incense, etc.). High levels of pollutants and the resulting exposure of occupants can persist depending on the capacity of the premises to evacuate pollutants via its ventilation system or air leaks from the building from the outside, if present, or the responsiveness of the occupant to ventilate their accommodation by opening windows, for example.
[0004] The Order of March 24, 1982 relating to the ventilation of housing imposes in France a "general and permanent ventilation", with requirements for minimum extracted flow rates to be achieved. Thus, for several decades, almost all new housing in France has had a ventilation system, the vast majority of the single-flow extraction VMC type. These systems, including the so-called hygro-adjustable type, offer for the kitchen, for example, extraction vents controlled by a switch or push button allowing on demand a multiplication of the extracted flow rate in the room, typically between 2.3 and 4.5. It should be noted that ventilation devices controlled by push buttons generally include a time delay to maintain their function (increased flow rate here) after the button is released.
[0005] The device according to the invention (10 or 11) makes it possible to make the manual control (101) automatic depending on the ambient concentration of fine particles. the increase in flow rate by switch or push button present on a ventilation system or device (100).
[0006] The device according to the invention (10 or 11) is installed on existing ventilation systems (100): - either in addition ([Fig.l]) to the initial electric manual control device (101) by switch or push button (101) while maintaining the separate operation of the latter. - either in place of ([Fig.2]) the electric manual control device (101) by switch or push button (101), but then integrating a switch or push button (15) of the same type allowing control to be maintained similar to that originally permitted by the replaced device (101).
[0007] The device according to the invention (10 or 11) comprises: - an electronic sensor (12) measuring the concentration of fine particles in its immediate environment. - an electronic device (13) allowing the reading of the fine particle sensor (12) and the control of an electrical switching device (14) according to one or more preconfigured thresholds for exceeding the fine particle concentration. - a switching device (14) controlled so as to provide functionality similar to that of the switch or push button type of the initial device (101) for controlling the ventilation (100). - a device (15) for manual electric control by switch or push button of the same type as the initial one (101) in the exclusive case of replacing the latter (101) in its place.
[0008] In the case of a measurement by the sensor (12) of the invention of the concentration of fine particles exceeding the preconfigured threshold, the device according to the invention (10 and 11) behaves in a similar manner to the switch or push button initially present (101) on the ventilation system (100) when actuated by the occupant, and consequently controls an increase in the ventilation flow rate.
[0009] In the case of a push button type control, the electrical contact is by nature only made punctually, and not maintained over time. In this case, the device according to the invention (10 and 11) will produce by its switching device (14) a first contact similar to the actuation of a push button as soon as the first measured threshold is exceeded.
[0010] During the continuous duration of exceeding the threshold of the particle concentration measured by the sensor (12) of the device (10 and 11), the control of the increased flow device: - remains active until the concentrations measured by the device return to below the preconfigured threshold in the case of a switch-type action. - may be repeated (because it is one-off) for example every 10 minutes until the concentrations measured by the device return below the preconfigured threshold in the case of a push-button-type action.
[0011] As an example, Table 1 gives the French regulatory flow rates for single-flow extraction ventilation vents in residential kitchens, according to their configurations (depending on the number of main rooms). In this case, the increase factor in flow rates in the kitchen when manually controlled by the occupant is between 2.3 and 4.5 times the usual flow rate. This results in an identical increase in air renewals, and a reduction in pollution generated in the room of the same order of magnitude. [Tables 1] 1 piece 2 pieces 3 pieces 4 pieces >4 pieces Self-regulating ventilation nominal flow (minimum) 20 m3 / h 30 m3 / h 45 m3 / h 45 m3 / h 45 m3 / h Peak flow after push button action 75 m3 / h 90 m3 / h 105 m3 / h 120 m3 / h 135 m3 / h Increase compared to nominal self-regulating x 3.8 x 3.0 x 2.3 x 2.7 x 3.0 Humidity-controlled ventilation (type B) Peak flow after push button action 90 m3 / h 120 m3 / h 120 m3 / h 135 m3 / h 135 m3 / h Increase compared to nominal self-regulating x 4.5 x 3.0 x 2.7 x 2.7 x 3.0
[0012] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the detailed description which is set out below with reference to the appended drawings in which: [Fig.l] is a schematic view of the installation of the device according to the invention (10) in a situation of complement to the manual control device (101) originally present on a ventilation system or component (100); [Fig.2] is a schematic view of the installation of the device according to the invention (11) in a situation of replacement of the manual control device (101) originally present on a ventilation system or component (100); [Fig.3] is a schematic view of the constitution of the device according to the invention (10), concerning the case of an installation in addition to the manual control device (101) originally present on a ventilation system or component (100). It comprises a fine particle sensor (12), management electronics (13) and a switching device (14) for controlling the ventilation (100). [Fig.4] is a schematic view of the constitution of the device according to the invention (11), concerning the case of an installation replacing the manual control device (101) originally present on a ventilation system or component (100). It comprises a fine particle sensor (12), management electronics (13), a switching device (14) for controlling the ventilation (100) and a switch or push button (15) of a type similar to that replaced (101).
Claims
Claims
1. Device (10 and 11) for controlling the increase in ventilation flow rates making it possible to make automatic, as a function of the ambient concentration of fine particles, the manual control (101) for increasing the flow rate by switch or push button present on a ventilation system or device (100) comprising: - an electronic fine particle sensor (12) allowing the measurement of the latter in the immediate environment of the device - an electronic device (13) allowing the reading of the particle sensor (12) and the control of a switching device (14) for controlling the ventilation system or device (100) - a switching device (14) of a nature similar to that of the switch or push button to be completed or replaced (101), allowing the control of the ventilation system or device (100)
2. Device (10 and 11) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it is installed: - either in addition (figure 1) to the device (101) for manual control of flow rate increase by switch or push button present on an existing ventilation system or device (100) - or in place of (figure 2) the device (101) for manual control of flow rate increase by switch or push button present on an existing ventilation system or device (100)
3. Device (10 and 11) according to claim 2 characterized in that the manual control function (101) of increased flow rate present on the ventilation system or device (100) remains maintained.
4. Device (10 and 11) according to the preceding claims, characterized in that when its sensor (12) reads concentrations of fine particles greater than the preconfigured threshold of excess, the device (10 and 11) activates the increased flow control of the system
5. ventilation system (100) in the same way as the action of the occupant on the manual control (101) (switch or push button) present on the ventilation system or device (100) would do. Device (10 and 11) according to the preceding claims characterized in that during the continuous duration of exceeding the threshold of the concentration of the particles measured by the sensor (12) of the device (10 and 11), the control of the increased flow device: - remains active until the concentrations measured by the device return below the preconfigured threshold in the case of a switch-type action. - may be repeated (because it is one-off) until the concentrations measured by the device return below the preconfigured threshold in the case of a push button type action.