Ventilation system

Abstract

To suppress reduction in an air-conditioning load of a space to be air-conditioned and deterioration in comfort while employing an inexpensive and rational configuration, in a ventilation system comprising a general ventilation device for ventilating the space to be air-conditioned in a building, and control means for controlling operation of the general ventilation device.SOLUTION: A pressurized air supply fan 10 for pressurized smoke control is provided, which operates when a fire has occurred, to pressurize and supply outside air OA to a specific area R1 that leads to a space to be air-conditioned R2, and control means 51 is configured to be able to switch an operation mode between a normal ventilation mode in which the pressurized air supply fan 10 is not operated and an enhanced ventilation mode in which the pressurized air supply fan 10 is operated during a non-fire period other than when a fire has occurred.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation system including a general ventilation device that ventilates a space in a building to be air-conditioned, and a control means that controls the operation of the general ventilation device. [Background technology]

[0002] In addition to ventilating the air-conditioned space in a building using a general ventilation system, it is desirable to reduce the air-conditioning load in the air-conditioned space and prevent a deterioration in comfort by increasing the amount of outside air introduced. For example, if the outside air enthalpy is lower than the inside air enthalpy in the air-conditioned space, the air-conditioning load can be reduced by increasing the amount of outside air introduced into the air-conditioned space. In addition, if the air-conditioned space is used as an evacuation room to accommodate evacuees from a disaster such as a large-scale earthquake, increasing the amount of outside air introduced can prevent a deterioration in comfort caused by an increase in carbon dioxide concentration due to an increase in the number of people in the room. In order to increase the amount of outside air introduced into the space to be air conditioned, it is possible to consider using an intake fan with a large blowing capacity in the general ventilation system, or to add an intake fan capable of introducing outside air into the space to be air conditioned, separate from the general ventilation system; however, both of these methods have problems such as increased costs. On the other hand, there is known a pressurized smoke control and exhaust system that is equipped with a pressurized air supply fan that operates in the event of a fire to forcibly introduce outside air into specific areas within a building, such as emergency elevator halls or rooms adjacent to special evacuation stairs, and pressurize the specific areas, and that can operate the pressurized air supply fan even when there is no fire, thereby introducing outside air into the specific areas and into the air-conditioned spaces leading to the specific areas (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-135666 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in this pressurized smoke control system, as can be seen from the fact that the pressurized intake fan that is operated in the event of a fire is shared with the intake fan of the air conditioning system that is operated in the event of no fire, the pressurized intake fan is always operating in the event of no fire, and the volume of the air sent is set to a relatively small volume that allows the indoor air balance to be appropriately maintained. In other words, as mentioned above, this pressurized smoke control system is not configured to increase the amount of outside air introduced in addition to ventilating the air-conditioned space with the general ventilation device. In view of this situation, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a technology for a ventilation system comprising a general ventilation device for ventilating the air-conditioned space within a building and a control means for controlling the operation of the general ventilation device, which is capable of reducing the air-conditioning load in the air-conditioned space and suppressing a deterioration in comfort while adopting an inexpensive and rational configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A first characteristic configuration of the present invention is a general ventilation device that ventilates an air-conditioned space in a building; A ventilation system comprising: a control means for controlling the operation of the general ventilation device, A pressurized smoke exhaust fan is provided which operates in the event of a fire to pressurize and supply outside air to a specific area connected to the air-conditioned space. The control means is configured to be able to switch the operating mode between a normal ventilation mode in which the pressurized air supply fan is not operated and an enhanced ventilation mode in which the pressurized air supply fan is operated during non-fire conditions other than when a fire has occurred.

[0006] According to this configuration, the pressurized smoke exhaust air supply fan, which operates in the event of a fire to supply pressurized outside air to a specific area connected to the air-conditioned space, can be used appropriately even in non-fire situations other than when a fire occurs, thereby reducing the air-conditioning load of the air-conditioned space and improving comfort. In other words, when an increase in the amount of outside air introduced into the air-conditioned space in the event of a fire can contribute to reducing the air-conditioning load of the air-conditioned space and improving comfort, the operation mode can be switched to the ventilation enhancement mode to operate the pressurized air supply fan to introduce outside air into the specific area and enhance the introduction of outside air into the air-conditioned space connected to the specific area. On the other hand, when an increase in the amount of outside air introduced into the air-conditioned space in the event of a fire cannot contribute to reducing the air-conditioning load of the air-conditioned space or improving comfort, the operation mode can be switched to the normal ventilation mode to ventilate the air-conditioned space as usual using the general ventilation device without operating the pressurized air supply fan. Therefore, the present invention can provide a technology that can reduce the air conditioning load and improve comfort in the air conditioned space while adopting an inexpensive and rational configuration in a ventilation system that includes a general ventilation device that ventilates the air conditioned space within a building and a control means that controls the operation of the general ventilation device.

[0007] A second characteristic configuration of the present invention is a space that can be used as an evacuation room in the event of a non-fire, The control means switches the operation mode from the normal ventilation mode to the enhanced ventilation mode when the air-conditioned space is used as the evacuation room.

[0008] According to this configuration, when the air-conditioned space is used as an evacuation room, the operating mode is switched from normal ventilation mode to enhanced ventilation mode, and the pressurized air supply fan is activated to increase the amount of outside air introduced into the air-conditioned space, thereby suppressing a deterioration in comfort caused by an increase in carbon dioxide concentration due to an increase in the number of people occupying the air-conditioned space used as an evacuation room.

[0009] A third characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the control means performs an outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process to determine whether outdoor air cooling is possible for the air-conditioned space based on the state of the outdoor air, and switches the operating mode from the normal ventilation mode to the enhanced ventilation mode upon determining that outdoor air cooling is possible by the outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process.

[0010] According to this configuration, the above-mentioned outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process determines whether outdoor air cooling is possible for the space to be air conditioned based on the state of the outdoor air, such as the outdoor air enthalpy, and if the outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process determines that outdoor air cooling is possible, the operating mode is automatically switched from normal ventilation mode to enhanced ventilation mode, and the pressurized air supply fan is operated to increase the amount of outdoor air introduced into the space to be air conditioned, thereby reducing the air conditioning load on the general ventilation device and air conditioning device in the space to be air conditioned.

[0011] A fourth characteristic configuration of the present invention is that the control means executes air escape port opening / closing control to close the air escape port of the air conditioned space in the normal ventilation mode and to open the air escape port of the air conditioned space in the enhanced ventilation mode.

[0012] According to this configuration, when the ventilation boost mode is switched to and the pressurized air supply fan is operating during non-fire conditions, the air release port is opened by the air release port opening / closing control, and air in the target space to be air-conditioned is discharged to the outside through the air release port that is opened in conjunction with the pressurized air supply by the pressurized air supply fan. This increases the amount of outside air introduced into the target space to be air-conditioned, thereby increasing the amount of ventilation in the target space to be air-conditioned. On the other hand, when there is no fire, the normal ventilation mode is selected and the general ventilation device ventilates the air conditioned space as usual without operating the pressurized air supply fan, and the air escape port of the air conditioned space is closed by the air escape port opening / closing control, thereby preventing the deterioration of comfort in the air conditioned space due to the opening of the air escape port. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present invention and an operating state in a normal ventilation mode. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the ventilation system of this embodiment and the operating state in enhanced ventilation mode (using an evacuation room). [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present invention and its operating state in enhanced ventilation mode (outdoor air cooling). [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present invention and its operating state when a fire occurs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, in a building in which the ventilation system of this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "this ventilation system") is installed, adjacent to a living room R2, which is a space to be air-conditioned, there are ancillary rooms R1 (an example of a specific area) such as an emergency elevator hall or special evacuation stairs, and an adjacent room R3 such as a toilet or kitchen. The living room R2 and the adjacent room R3 are in communication with each other through a vent 22 such as a louver. The living room R2 and the ancillary room R1 are separated by a fire door (not shown), and a pressure adjustment damper 21 is provided to introduce the air in the ancillary room R1 into the living room R2 while maintaining the pressure in the ancillary room R1 at a desired positive pressure when pressurized air is supplied to the ancillary room R1, as will be described in detail later.

[0015] This ventilation system is configured as a pressurized smoke control and exhaust system for securing an evacuation route from room R2 in good condition in the event of a fire, for example, fire F breaking out in room R2, and as described in detail below, the system includes pressurized air supply fan 10, pressurized air supply control unit 52, air escape port opening and closing device 26, etc., as components for functioning as a pressurized smoke control and exhaust system. Below, the configuration for functioning as this pressurized smoke control and exhaust system will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

[0016] The pressurized air supply fan 10 is configured as a pressurized smoke control fan that operates in the event of a fire to pressurize and supply outside air OA to the attached room R1 that leads to the living room R2. In addition, the control device 50 that controls the operation of this ventilation system is configured to function as the pressurized air supply control unit 52 to control the operation of the pressurized air supply fan 10. Specifically, assuming that a fire F breaks out in occupant room R2 and evacuation and firefighting activities are taking place in an attached room R1 adjacent to said room R2, when the smoke exhaust switch 11 provided in said attached room R1 is pressed, the pressurized air supply control unit 52 operates the pressurized air supply fan 10 in conjunction with the smoke exhaust switch 11 being pressed, and supplies pressurized air to the attached room R1. Then, by supplying pressurized outside air OA to the attached room R1, the air pressure in the attached room R1 rises, creating a positive pressure state where the air pressure is higher than that of the occupant room R2 where the fire F is occurring, preventing smoke from entering the attached room R1. Also, room R2 is provided with an air escape port 25 and an air escape port opening / closing device 26 consisting of a motor damper or the like capable of opening and closing the air escape port 25. In the event of a fire, the pressurized air supply control unit 52 controls the operation of the air escape port opening / closing device 26 to open the air escape port 25 provided in room R2 where fire F is occurring. Then, as the air in the auxiliary room R1 flows into room R2 through the pressure adjustment damper 21, the smoke filling room R2 is exhausted to the outdoors through the air escape port 25.

[0017] In addition to being configured to function as a pressurized smoke control system as described above, this ventilation system also includes a general ventilation device A that ventilates room R2 within the building, and a ventilation control unit 51 (an example of a control means) that controls the operation of the general ventilation device A. The ventilation system also employs a configuration that is inexpensive and rational, while reducing the air conditioning load in room R2 and preventing a deterioration in comfort, and is described in detail below.

[0018] This ventilation system includes an outside air processing air conditioner 31 and an exhaust fan 33 as the general ventilation device A. The outdoor air processing air conditioner 31 is configured to introduce outdoor air OA taken in from outdoors into the living room R2. Although not shown in the drawings, the outdoor air processing air conditioner 31 is provided with a total heat exchanger that exchanges total heat between the outdoor air OA introduced into the living room R2 and the exhaust air discharged to the outdoors. On the other hand, the exhaust fan 33 is configured to take out the air within the adjacent room R3 and discharge it to the outside as exhaust air EA. Furthermore, a carbon dioxide concentration sensor 32 that measures the carbon dioxide concentration in the living room R2 is provided in the living room R2. The outside air processing air conditioner 31 is configured to adjust the amount of outside air introduced into the living room R2 based on the measurement result by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 32, thereby suppressing the carbon dioxide concentration in the living room R2 to a desired set value or lower and maintaining comfort in the living room R2. An air conditioner 34 is provided in the living room R2, which cools or heats the air within the living room R2 while circulating the air, thereby cooling or heating the air. Furthermore, the above-mentioned outdoor air processing air conditioner 31, air conditioning unit 34, and exhaust fan 33 are operated during non-fire periods other than when a fire has occurred to ventilate and condition rooms R2, etc., but are stopped as appropriate in the event of a fire.

[0019] A control device 50 that controls the operation of this ventilation system functions as a ventilation control unit 51 and controls the operation of the outside air processing air conditioner 31 and exhaust fan 33, which are the general ventilation device A, and the air conditioner . The ventilation control unit 51 is configured to be able to switch the operating mode between a normal ventilation mode (see Figure 1) in which the pressurized supply air fan 10 is not operated, and a first ventilation enhancement mode (see Figure 2) or a second ventilation enhancement mode (see Figure 3) in which the pressurized supply air fan 10 is operated, during non-fire conditions other than when a fire has occurred (see Figure 4). An operation mode changeover switch 17 is provided in room R2 to allow the user to switch the ventilation mode, and the ventilation control unit 51 is configured to operate in the operation mode specified at the appropriate time by switching the operation mode changeover switch 17. The details of each operation mode will be explained below in order.

[0020] (Normal ventilation mode) 1, the ventilation control unit 51 ventilates the living room R2 as usual by operating the general ventilation device A, which is the outdoor air processing air conditioner 31 and the exhaust fan 33, without operating the pressurized supply air fan 10. That is, by operating the outdoor air processing air conditioner 31 and the exhaust fan 33, outdoor air OA taken in from outdoors by the outdoor air processing air conditioner 31 is introduced into the living room R2, the air in the living room R2 moves to the adjacent room R3 through the air vent 22, and the air in the adjacent room R3 is exhausted to the outdoors by the exhaust fan 33 as exhaust air EA, thereby ventilating the living room R2 and the adjacent room R3. Furthermore, the ventilation control unit 51 executes air release port opening / closing control, and in the normal ventilation mode, closes the air release port 25 provided in the living room R2 by controlling the operation of the air release port opening / closing device 26. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the comfort of the living room R2 due to the opening of the air release port 25.

[0021] (1st ventilation boost mode) 2, the ventilation control unit 51 operates the pressurized air supply fan 10. Then, outside air OA is introduced into the attached room R1 from the pressurized air supply fan 10, and the introduction of outside air OA into the living room R2 communicating with the attached room R1 is enhanced. Furthermore, the ventilation control unit 51 executes air release port opening / closing control, and in the first ventilation enhancement mode, opens the air release port 25 provided in the living room R2 by controlling the operation of the air release port opening / closing device 26. That is, air escape port 25 is opened in conjunction with the pressurized air supply by pressurized air supply fan 10. Then, the air in room R2 is discharged to the outdoors through air escape port 25. This increases the amount of outside air OA introduced into room R2, and increases the amount of ventilation in room R2. In this embodiment, the airflow rate of the pressurized supply air fan 10 in the first ventilation boost mode is set to the rated airflow rate similar to that in the event of a fire, but this may be changed as appropriate. Also, the airflow rate of the pressurized supply air fan 10 may be controlled according to the conditions in room R2, such as the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration.

[0022] This first enhanced ventilation mode is an operation mode that is switched to when living space R2 is used as an evacuation room R2a to receive evacuees from a disaster such as a large-scale earthquake. That is, when living space R2 is used as an evacuation room R2a, the ventilation control unit 51 switches the operation mode from the normal ventilation mode or the like to the first enhanced ventilation mode in response to a switching operation of the operation mode selector switch 17 by the user. Then, the pressurized air supply fan 10 operates to increase the amount of outside air OA introduced into living space R2, thereby suppressing a deterioration in comfort caused by an increase in carbon dioxide concentration due to an increase in the number of people in living space R2 used as an evacuation room R2a.

[0023] In this embodiment, the ventilation control unit 51 is configured to switch the operation mode to the first ventilation enhancement mode in conjunction with the switching operation to the first ventilation enhancement mode by the operation mode switching switch 17. However, it is also possible to configure the ventilation control unit 51 to automatically switch to the first ventilation enhancement mode when the operation mode is permitted to be switched to the first ventilation enhancement mode by the switching operation to the first ventilation enhancement mode by the operation mode switching switch 17 and the ventilation control unit 51 executes a predetermined determination process in this state and determines that the operation mode should be switched to the first ventilation enhancement mode. For example, in a state in which the operation mode switching switch 17 has been switched to the first ventilation enhancement mode, the ventilation control unit 51 executes an outside air introduction necessity determination process that determines whether or not the introduction of outside air OA is necessary based on the carbon dioxide concentration in the living room R2 measured by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 32. Then, when it is determined that the introduction of outside air OA is necessary in this outside air introduction necessity determination process, the operation mode is automatically switched from the normal ventilation mode or the like to the first ventilation enhancement mode, thereby suppressing the deterioration of comfort caused by an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration due to an increase in the number of people in the living room R2 used as the evacuation room R2a. In addition, regardless of the switching operation by the operation mode changeover switch 17, when the ventilation control unit 51 performs a predetermined judgment such as the above-mentioned process for judging whether or not the outside air needs to be introduced and judges that the operation mode should be switched to the first ventilation enhancement mode, the operation mode can be forcibly switched to the first ventilation enhancement mode.

[0024] (Second ventilation boost mode) 3, the ventilation control unit 51 operates the pressurized air supply fan 10. Then, outside air OA is introduced into the attached room R1 from the pressurized air supply fan 10, and the introduction of outside air OA into the living room R2 communicating with the attached room R1 is enhanced. Furthermore, the ventilation control unit 51 executes air release port opening / closing control, and in the second ventilation enhancement mode, opens the air release port 25 provided in the living room R2 by controlling the operation of the air release port opening / closing device 26. That is, air escape port 25 is opened in conjunction with the pressurized air supply by pressurized air supply fan 10. Then, the air in room R2 is discharged to the outdoors through air escape port 25. This increases the amount of outside air OA introduced into room R2, and increases the amount of ventilation in room R2. In this embodiment, the airflow rate of the pressurized supply air fan 10 in the second ventilation boost mode is set to the rated airflow rate similar to that in the event of a fire, but this may be changed as appropriate. Also, the airflow rate of the pressurized supply air fan 10 may be controlled according to the conditions in room R2, such as the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration.

[0025] This second ventilation enhancement mode is an operating mode that is switched to when the ventilation control unit 51 performs an outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process to determine whether outdoor air cooling is possible for room R2 based on the state of the outdoor air OA taken in from outdoors, and the outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process determines that outdoor air cooling is possible. Specifically, an outdoor temperature and humidity measuring device 12 is provided outdoors, which measures the temperature and humidity of the outdoor air OA and determines the enthalpy of the outdoor air OA (hereinafter referred to as "outdoor air enthalpy") as the state of the outdoor air OA from the measurement results. Then, the ventilation control unit 51 allows the operation mode to be switched to the second ventilation boost mode by switching the operation mode changeover switch 17 to the second ventilation boost mode, and executes the outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process in this state. In the outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process, if the outdoor air enthalpy as the state of the outdoor air OA calculated by the outdoor temperature and humidity measuring device 12 is lower than the target or actual enthalpy (hereinafter referred to as the "indoor air enthalpy") of the air in the living room R2 when conditioning the living room R2, it determines that outdoor air cooling is possible by introducing the outdoor air OA into the living room R2, and automatically switches the operation mode from the normal ventilation mode or the like to the second ventilation boost mode. Then, the pressurized supply air fan 10 operates to increase the amount of outdoor air OA introduced into the living room R2, so that the air conditioning load by the general ventilation device A and the air conditioner 34 in the living room R2 is reduced. The actual indoor air enthalpy in the above-mentioned room R2 can be calculated from the measurement results by measuring the temperature and humidity of the air in the room R2 using an indoor air temperature and humidity measuring device 13 installed in the room R2, in the same manner as the outdoor air enthalpy. The indoor air enthalpy calculated in this manner can be used not only for the above-mentioned outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process, but also for air conditioning of the room R2.

[0026] In this embodiment, the ventilation control unit 51 is configured to permit switching of the operation mode to the second ventilation enhancement mode by a switching operation to the second ventilation enhancement mode by the operation mode switching switch 17, and to automatically switch to the second ventilation enhancement mode when the ventilation control unit 51 executes the outdoor air cooling possibility determination process in this state and determines that the operation mode should be switched to the second ventilation enhancement mode, but it can also be configured to forcibly switch to the second ventilation enhancement mode when the ventilation control unit 51 executes a predetermined determination such as the outdoor air cooling possibility determination process and determines that the operation mode should be switched to the second ventilation enhancement mode, regardless of the switching operation by the operation mode switching switch 17. Also, it may be configured to switch the operation mode to the second ventilation enhancement mode in conjunction with a switching operation to the second ventilation enhancement mode by the operation mode switching switch 17, without executing a predetermined determination such as the outdoor air cooling possibility determination process.

[0027] [Another embodiment] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the configurations of the embodiments described below are not limited to being applied alone, but may also be applied in combination with the configurations of other embodiments.

[0028] (1) In the above embodiment, the air-conditioned space that is the target of ventilation by the general ventilation device A is described as a living room R2, and the specific area that is connected to the air-conditioned space and is the target of pressurized air supply by the pressurized air supply fan 10 is described as an attached room R1. However, these air-conditioned spaces and specific areas can be changed as appropriate.

[0029] (2) In the above embodiment, air release port opening / closing control was executed to close air release port 25 of room R2 in normal ventilation mode (see Figure 1) and to open air release port 25 of room R2 in the first ventilation enhancement mode (see Figure 2) or the second ventilation enhancement mode (see Figure 3). However, if there is another means for releasing air from room R2 or adjacent room R3 in conjunction with the introduction of outside air OA by pressurized air supply fan 10, such air release port 25 and air release port opening / closing control may be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10 Pressurized supply air fan 25 Air Vent 31 Outdoor air processing air conditioner (general ventilation equipment) 33 Exhaust fan (general ventilation equipment) 51 Ventilation control unit (control means) A General ventilation system F fire OA Outdoor air R1 attached room (specific area) R2 Room (air-conditioned space) R2a Evacuation room

Claims

1. A general ventilation device that ventilates the air-conditioned space in the building; A ventilation system comprising: a control means for controlling the operation of the general ventilation device, A pressurized smoke exhaust fan is provided which operates in the event of a fire to pressurize and supply outside air to a specific area connected to the air-conditioned space. The ventilation system is configured such that the control means can switch the operating mode between a normal ventilation mode in which the pressurized air supply fan is not operated and an enhanced ventilation mode in which the pressurized air supply fan is operated during non-fire conditions other than when a fire has occurred.

2. The air-conditioned space is a space that can be used as an evacuation room in non-fire situations, The ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein the control means switches the operation mode from the normal ventilation mode to the enhanced ventilation mode in response to the use of the air-conditioned space as the evacuation room.

3. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the control means performs an outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process that determines whether outdoor air cooling is possible for the air-conditioned space based on the state of the outdoor air, and switches the operating mode from the normal ventilation mode to the enhanced ventilation mode when the outdoor air cooling feasibility determination process determines that outdoor air cooling is possible.

4. The ventilation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means executes air escape opening / closing control to close the air escape opening of the air-conditioned space in the normal ventilation mode and to open the air escape opening of the air-conditioned space in the enhanced ventilation mode.

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