Residential ventilation systems and ventilation methods

Abstract

This prevents hot, humid air from the attic from being introduced into the living space. [Solution] A ventilation system for a house 1, comprising an attic exhaust fan 51 for exhausting air from the attic 5 to the outside, a kitchen exhaust fan 71 for exhausting air from the kitchen 7 to the outside, an outside air temperature measuring means 12 for measuring the outside air temperature, and a control device 13 for controlling the operation of the attic exhaust fan 51. The control device 13 includes a first acquisition unit for acquiring the outside air temperature, a second acquisition unit for acquiring the operating status of the kitchen exhaust fan 71, and an operation control unit that operates the attic exhaust fan 51 when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the kitchen exhaust fan 71 is in operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation system and a ventilation method for a house.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, the attic that is outside the heat-insulated section becomes hot due to the influence of solar radiation on sunny days in summer. In one example, when the outside air temperature is about 34°C, the attic temperature may exceed 40°C. Also, during the day, the moisture in the plywood of the roof sheathing is released to the attic side, and the attic space has a higher absolute humidity than the outside air.

[0003] Conventionally, various techniques for ventilating the attic have been proposed for the purpose of exhausting heat from the attic and suppressing mold due to condensation (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in the kitchen, bathroom, etc. of a house, an exhaust fan with a relatively large air volume for discharging air indoors is provided. When any of these exhaust fans is operated, the interior of the house becomes negative pressure, and outside air is introduced into the house through an air supply port (for example, an opening, etc.) provided in the house in advance. At the same time, if there are, for example, inspection ports, elevator units, inevitable minute gaps, etc. on the ceiling, although slightly, the hot and humid air in the attic may be introduced into the living room, etc. under the attic through these gaps.

[0006] In such cases, the living space beneath the attic becomes uncomfortably hot due to rising temperatures. Furthermore, the latent heat load increases, making it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room. This is because air conditioners used to regulate the temperature of the room must first cool and dehumidify the hot, humid air before cooling the room itself.

[0007] This invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and its main purpose is to provide a residential ventilation system that can suppress the introduction of hot and humid air from the attic into living spaces. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention relates to a residential ventilation system comprising: an attic exhaust fan for discharging attic air to the outside; a kitchen exhaust fan for discharging kitchen air to the outside; an outside air temperature measuring means for measuring the outside air temperature; and a control device for controlling the operation of the attic exhaust fan, wherein the control device comprises: a first acquisition unit for acquiring the outside air temperature from the outside air temperature measuring means; a second acquisition unit for acquiring the operating status of the kitchen exhaust fan; and an operation control unit for operating the attic exhaust fan when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the kitchen exhaust fan is in operation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] By adopting the above configuration, the ventilation system for houses according to the present invention can suppress the introduction of hot and humid air from the attic into living spaces. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a house equipped with the ventilation system of this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic block diagram of the control device of this embodiment. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows the processing procedure of the control unit in this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings may contain exaggerations or representations that differ from the actual structural dimensional ratios in order to aid in understanding the present invention. Furthermore, where there are multiple embodiments, the same or common elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification, and redundant descriptions are omitted. Moreover, the specific configurations shown in the embodiments and drawings are for the purpose of understanding the content of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations shown in the illustrations.

[0012] [Housing] Figure 1 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a house 1 equipped with the ventilation system S (see Figure 2) of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the house 1 of this embodiment is, for example, a two-story detached house including an underfloor space 2, a first-floor space 3, a second-floor space 4, and an attic space 5. However, the house 1 is not limited to two stories, and may be a single-story house or a detached house with three or more stories.

[0013] [Underfloor space] In this embodiment, the underfloor space 2 is a space enclosed by the foundation 21, the concrete-finished floor 22, and the floor portion 31 of the first-floor space 3. The foundation 21 is fitted with insulation material 23, and the underfloor space 2 is an insulated compartment from the outside air.

[0014] The foundation 21 is provided with an outside air inlet 24, which is an opening. Outside air is drawn into the underfloor space 2 through the outside air inlet 24. The outside air drawn into the underfloor space 2 is heat-exchanged with geothermal energy, which has little temperature fluctuation throughout the year, via the earthen floor 22. Therefore, the underfloor space 2 can store air that is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter compared to the outside air.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment, in the present embodiment, a ventilation fan 25 for supplying the air in the under-floor space 2 to the above-floor space is provided. The ventilation fan 25 is installed, for example, in the under-floor space 2. One end of a ventilation duct 27 is connected to the blowing outlet side of the ventilation fan 25. The other end of the ventilation duct 27 communicates with, for example, the living room 9. When the ventilation fan 25 is operated by the operation of a switch (not shown), outside air is supplied to the space 3 on the first floor (and further to the space 4 on the second floor) via the under-floor space 2 and the ventilation duct 27, and ventilation is performed. The air volume of the ventilation fan 25 may be appropriately set based on the ventilation rate required for the house 1. Note that the house 1 of the present embodiment employs so-called secondary ventilation, and the exhaust is naturally ventilated from exhaust ports (not shown) provided in the outer walls 33, 43, etc.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, a purification filter 26 is provided in the ventilation duct 27, and purified air from which fine particles, viruses, etc. have been removed may be supplied to the living room 9. Also, when ventilation is not required, the operation of the ventilation fan 25 is stopped by the switch.

[0017] [Space on the first floor, space on the second floor] In the present embodiment, the space 3 on the first floor is a space partitioned by a floor part 31, a ceiling part 32, and an outer wall part 33. In the space 3 on the first floor, for example, in addition to the living room 9A and the kitchen 7, a washroom, a hall, etc. (all not shown) are provided. Also, a heat insulating material (not shown) is arranged in the outer wall part 33 of the space 3 on the first floor.

[0018] In the kitchen 7, a kitchen exhaust fan 71 for discharging the air in the kitchen 7 to the outside is provided. The kitchen exhaust fan 71 is operated, for example, when necessary such as during cooking by the operation of a switch (not shown). Then, when cooking is finished, the operation of the kitchen exhaust fan 71 is stopped by the operation of the switch. The kitchen exhaust fan 71 can operate at an air volume larger than, for example, the air volume of the ventilation fan 25. As an example, the kitchen exhaust fan 71 has a ventilation air volume of about 130 to 420 m 3 / h.

[0019] In this embodiment, the second-floor space 4 is a space partitioned by a floor portion 41, a ceiling portion 42, and an outer wall portion 43. An inspection opening 10 that allows access to the attic 5 is provided in the ceiling portion 42. The inspection opening 10 is closed by a door 10A that can be opened and closed except during inspections. An inevitable gap is formed between the door 10A and the inspection opening 10.

[0020] The second-floor space 4 is a general living space where, for example, living rooms 9B and 9C, a bathroom 8, etc. are provided. Also, the second-floor space 4 is fluidly connected to the first-floor space 3 via a staircase, a hall, etc. (not shown). Further, heat insulating materials (not shown) are arranged on the ceiling portion 42 and the outer wall portion 43 of the second-floor space 4.

[0021] The bathroom 8 is provided with a bathroom exhaust fan 81 for discharging the air in the bathroom 8 to the outside. The bathroom exhaust fan 81 is operated, for example, by operating a switch (not shown) for the purpose of discharging the moisture in the bathroom, such as after a bath. Also, the operation of the bathroom exhaust fan 81 is stopped by operating the switch or by a timer function, etc. The bathroom exhaust fan 81 can be operated at a larger air volume than, for example, the air volume of the ventilation fan 25. As an example, the bathroom exhaust fan 81 has a ventilation air volume of about 50 to 100 m 3 / h. In this embodiment, the bathroom 8 is provided in the second-floor space 4, but it may also be provided in the first-floor space 3.

[0022] [Attic] The attic 5 is a non-residential space between the ceiling 42 of the second-floor space 4 and the roof 6. In this embodiment, the attic 5 is outside the insulation compartment and may become hotter and more humid than the outside air in the summer due to the effects of sunlight, etc. For this reason, an attic exhaust fan 51 is provided to expel the air from the attic 5 to the outside. The attic exhaust fan 51 is installed, for example, inside the attic 5. When the attic exhaust fan 51 is operated, the air inside the attic is expelled from the exhaust port 52. In this embodiment, the exhaust port 52 is installed, for example, at the connection between the eaves ceiling and the exterior wall to avoid the entry of wind and rain as much as possible. The attic exhaust fan 51 is not particularly limited, but it is desirable that it has a ventilation airflow greater than that of the kitchen exhaust fan 71 and the bathroom exhaust fan 81. In one example, the attic exhaust fan 51 has a ventilation airflow of, for example, 150 to 500 m 3 It has a ventilation airflow of approximately / h.

[0023] [Means for measuring ambient temperature] House 1 is provided with an outdoor air temperature measuring means 12 for measuring the outside air temperature. In this embodiment, House 1 is provided with an air conditioner 11. The air conditioner 11 is a so-called heat pump type split air conditioner, and includes an indoor unit 11A and an outdoor unit 11B. In this embodiment, the outdoor air temperature measuring means 12 is provided with an outdoor temperature sensor that is pre-installed on the outdoor unit 11B. In other embodiments, the outdoor air temperature measuring means 12 may be a temperature sensor provided separately from the outdoor unit 11B.

[0024] [Control device] The control device 13 is located in a position accessible to users or service personnel, and in this embodiment, it is positioned in the partition wall of room 9A of the house 1. Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the control device 13 in this embodiment. The control device 13 in this embodiment can control the operation and stopping of the attic exhaust fan 51 according to a predetermined processing procedure.

[0025] The control device 13 of this embodiment is configured using a computer, for example, and includes a calculation unit 14 consisting of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage unit 15 in which processing procedures (programs) are stored, and a working memory 16 for reading processing procedures from the storage unit 15. The calculation unit 14 of this embodiment is communicated with the attic exhaust fan 51, the kitchen exhaust fan 71, the bathroom exhaust fan 81, and the outside air temperature measuring means 12.

[0026] In this embodiment, the control device 13 can make the calculation unit 14 function as a first acquisition unit 14A, a second acquisition unit 14B, a third acquisition unit 14C, and an operation control unit 14D by reading a program pre-stored in the storage unit 15 into the working memory 16 and executing it.

[0027] The first acquisition unit 14A can communicate with the outside air temperature measuring means 12 and acquire the outside air temperature from the outside air temperature measuring means 12. The acquired outside air temperature is stored, for example, in the storage unit 15.

[0028] The second acquisition unit 14B can acquire the operating status of the kitchen exhaust fan 71, that is, whether it is running or stopped. The operating status can be determined, for example, by receiving signals from the operation switch of the kitchen exhaust fan 71 or from sensors installed on the power line. Alternatively, the operating status of the kitchen exhaust fan 71 may be acquired by determining the increase in power consumption when the kitchen exhaust fan 71 is running using a power meter installed on the distribution board. The acquired operating status is stored in the storage unit 15.

[0029] The third acquisition unit 14C can acquire the operating status of the bathroom exhaust fan 81, that is, whether it is running or stopped. The operating status can be determined, for example, by receiving signals from the operating switch of the bathroom exhaust fan 81 or from sensors installed on the power line. Alternatively, the operating status of the bathroom exhaust fan 81 may be acquired by determining the increase in power consumption when the bathroom exhaust fan 81 is running using a power meter installed on the distribution board. The acquired operating status is stored in the storage unit 15.

[0030] Figure 3 shows the processing procedure of the operation control unit 14D. As shown in Figure 3, the operation control unit 14D determines whether the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature (step S1). The predetermined temperature can be set as appropriate. In one example, the temperature is set to an outside air temperature that raises the temperature of the attic 5, and may be set from a range such as 22°C ± 3°C. In this embodiment, 20°C is set as the predetermined temperature.

[0031] Next, if the operation control unit 14D determines that the outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature (Yes in step S1), it determines whether or not the kitchen exhaust fan 71 is in operation (step S2).

[0032] Next, if the operation control unit 14D determines that the kitchen exhaust fan 71 is operating (Yes in step S2), it operates the attic exhaust fan 51 (step S3). When the kitchen exhaust fan 71 is operating, the inside of the house 1 becomes negative pressure, which may cause hot and humid air from the attic 5 to be drawn into the living room 9B through gaps in the inspection opening 10, etc. However, according to the ventilation system S of this embodiment, by operating the attic exhaust fan 51 when the outside air temperature is high and the kitchen exhaust fan 71 is operating, it is possible to discharge the hot and humid air from the attic 5 to the outside and prevent it from being drawn into the living room. In this way, by operating the attic exhaust fan 51 at a specific timing, it is possible to suppress the drawing of hot and humid air from the attic 5 into the living room compared to when the attic exhaust fan 51 is not installed. Therefore, the airflow when operating the attic exhaust fan 51 is not particularly limited. In a preferred embodiment, the attic exhaust fan 51 is operated at an airflow rate such that the pressure in the attic 5 is the same as or lower than that of the second-floor space 4. This allows the above-mentioned effects to be more reliably achieved.

[0033] Furthermore, in step S1, if the outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature (No in step S1), the operation control unit 14D stops the operation of the attic exhaust fan 51 (step S5).

[0034] Furthermore, even if the answer in step S2 is No, the operation control unit 14D of this embodiment will operate the attic exhaust fan 51 (step S3) if it determines that the bathroom exhaust fan 81 is operating (Yes in step S4). When the bathroom exhaust fan 81 is operating, the inside of the house 1 becomes negative pressure, which may cause hot and humid air from the attic 5 to be drawn into the living room 9B, etc., through gaps in the inspection opening 10, etc. However, with the ventilation system S of this embodiment, when the outside air temperature is high and the bathroom exhaust fan 81 is operating, operating the attic exhaust fan 51 will allow the hot and humid air from the attic 5 to be discharged to the outside and prevent it from being drawn into the living room.

[0035] If neither the kitchen exhaust fan 71 nor the bathroom exhaust fan 81 is in operation (No in step S4), the operation control unit 14D stops the operation of the attic exhaust fan 51 (step S5).

[0036] As described above, by performing the step of operating the attic exhaust fan 51 when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the kitchen exhaust fan 71 or bathroom exhaust fan 81 is in operation, it is possible to suppress the introduction of hot and humid air from the attic 5 into the living room 9B. Furthermore, when the acquired outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature, or when neither the kitchen exhaust fan 71 nor the bathroom exhaust fan 81 is in operation, the operation of the attic exhaust fan 51 is stopped to suppress unnecessary attic ventilation.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the house 1 is equipped with both a kitchen exhaust fan 71 and a bathroom exhaust fan 81, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a house 1 equipped with only one of these fans.

[0038] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific disclosures described above, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims.

[0039] [Note] The present invention includes the following embodiments.

[0040] [Invention 1] A ventilation system for a house, An attic exhaust fan to expel air from the attic to the outside, A kitchen exhaust fan to expel kitchen air to the outside, An outside air temperature measuring device for measuring the outside air temperature, The control device includes a control device that controls the operation of the attic exhaust fan, The control device is A first acquisition unit that acquires the outside temperature from the aforementioned outside temperature measuring means, A second acquisition unit for acquiring the operating status of the kitchen exhaust fan, The system includes an operation control unit that operates the attic exhaust fan when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the kitchen exhaust fan is in operation, A ventilation system for a house. [2nd Invention] The control device is A ventilation system for a house according to the present invention 1, wherein the attic exhaust fan is stopped when the acquired outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature or when the kitchen exhaust fan is not in operation. [Invention 3] A ventilation system for a house, An attic exhaust fan to expel air from the attic to the outside, A bathroom exhaust fan to expel bathroom air to the outside, An outside air temperature measuring device for measuring the outside air temperature, The control device includes a control device that controls the operation of the attic exhaust fan, The control device is A first acquisition unit that acquires the outside temperature from the aforementioned outside temperature measuring means, A third acquisition unit for acquiring the operating status of the aforementioned bathroom exhaust fan, The system includes an operation control unit that operates the attic exhaust fan when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the bathroom exhaust fan is in operation, A ventilation system for a house. [4th Invention] The control device is A ventilation system for a house according to the present invention, wherein the operation of the attic exhaust fan is stopped when the acquired outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature or when the bathroom exhaust fan is not in operation. [5th ​​Invention] A ventilation system for a house according to any one of inventions 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined outside air temperature is in the range of 22°C ± 3°C. [Invention 6] A house equipped with a ventilation system described in any one of claims 1 to 5 of the present invention. [7th Invention] A method of ventilating a house, Steps to obtain the outside air temperature, The steps include operating the attic exhaust fan installed in the attic when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the kitchen exhaust fan or bathroom exhaust fan is in operation, A method of ventilating a house, including the following. [8th Invention] A method for ventilating a house according to the present invention, comprising the step of stopping the operation of the attic exhaust fan when the outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature, or when neither the kitchen exhaust fan nor the bathroom exhaust fan is operating. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1. Housing 5 Attic 7 Kitchen 8 Bathroom 12. Means for measuring ambient temperature 13 Control device 14A 1st acquisition part 14B 2nd acquisition part 14C 3rd acquisition part 14D Operation Control Unit 51 Attic exhaust fan 71 Kitchen exhaust fan 81 Bathroom exhaust fan S Ventilation System

Claims

1. A ventilation system for a house, An attic exhaust fan to expel air from the attic to the outside, A kitchen exhaust fan to expel kitchen air to the outside, An outside air temperature measuring device for measuring the outside air temperature, The control device includes a control device that controls the operation of the attic exhaust fan, The control device is A first acquisition unit that acquires the outside temperature from the outside temperature measuring means, A second acquisition unit for acquiring the operating status of the kitchen exhaust fan, The system includes an operation control unit that operates the attic exhaust fan when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the kitchen exhaust fan is in operation, A ventilation system for a house.

2. The control device is A ventilation system for a house according to claim 1, wherein the attic exhaust fan is stopped when the acquired outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature or when the kitchen exhaust fan is not in operation.

3. A ventilation system for a house, An attic exhaust fan to expel air from the attic to the outside, A bathroom exhaust fan to expel bathroom air to the outside, An outside air temperature measuring device for measuring the outside air temperature, The control device includes a control device that controls the operation of the attic exhaust fan, The control device is A first acquisition unit that acquires the outside temperature from the outside temperature measuring means, A third acquisition unit for acquiring the operating status of the aforementioned bathroom exhaust fan, The system includes an operation control unit that operates the attic exhaust fan when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the bathroom exhaust fan is in operation, A ventilation system for a house.

4. The control device is The ventilation system for a house according to claim 3, wherein the operation of the attic exhaust fan is stopped when the acquired outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature or when the bathroom exhaust fan is not in operation.

5. The ventilation system for a house according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined outside air temperature is in the range of 22°C ± 3°C.

6. A house equipped with a ventilation system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A method of ventilating a house, Steps to obtain the outside air temperature, The steps include operating the attic exhaust fan installed in the attic when the acquired outside air temperature is above a predetermined temperature and the kitchen exhaust fan or bathroom exhaust fan is in operation, A method of ventilating a house, including the following.

8. A method for ventilating a house according to claim 7, comprising the step of stopping the operation of the attic exhaust fan when the outside air temperature is below a predetermined temperature, or when neither the kitchen exhaust fan nor the bathroom exhaust fan is operating.

Images