Air purification system

Abstract

Provided is an air cleaning system that efficiently cleans the air inside a space composed of a plurality of rooms inside a building, thereby making it possible to maintain the comfort of people present in the rooms. This air cleaning system comprises: an exhaust device (10) that discharges air inside a first room (100a) to the outside of the room; a first air supply device (11) that supplies outside air to a second room (100b); a first air cleaning device (13) that cleans the air inside the second room (100b); and a switching hub (20) that acquires environmental data including at least one among data about the contamination state of the air in the building and data about the contamination state of the air outside the building, and that controls the air volume of the exhaust device (10), the first air supply device (11), and the first air cleaning device (13) in accordance with the acquired environmental data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air purification system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an air purification system that efficiently purifies indoor air to prevent indoor environmental pollution and maintain the comfort of people present indoors.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The air purification system described in Patent Document 1 focuses on purifying air in a single room and does not consider air movement between multiple rooms in a building.

[0005] The present disclosure is for solving the above problems. The object of the present disclosure is to provide an air purification system capable of efficiently purifying air in a space composed of multiple rooms in a building and maintaining the comfort of people present indoors.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The air purification system according to this disclosure includes: an exhaust device installed in a first room within a building that discharges the air from the first room to the outside of the first room; a first air supply device installed in a second room within the building that supplies air from outside the second room to the second room; a first air purification device installed in the second room that purifies the air within the second room; a communication unit capable of acquiring environmental data including at least one of data on the air pollution status inside the building and data on the air pollution status outside the building; and a control unit that controls the exhaust device, the first air supply device, and the first air purification device. A second air supply device installed in a third room within the building, which supplies air from outside the third room into the third room; and a second air purifier installed in the third room, which purifies the air inside the third room. The building includes a ventilation air passage leading from the first air supply device to the exhaust device. and a ventilation air passage from the second air supply device to the exhaust device. The following is configured. The control unit, in accordance with the environmental data acquired by the communication unit, controls the exhaust device and the first air supply device. 、 The first air purifier , the second air supply device and the second air purifier Controls the airflow. The control unit increases the airflow of the first air supply device and the second air supply device when the airflow of one of them is reduced, and increases the airflow of the air purifier, which is installed in the room where the first air supply device is installed, when the airflow of the first air supply device and the second air supply device is reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide an air purification system that can efficiently purify the air in a space consisting of multiple rooms within a building, thereby maintaining the comfort of people inside the room. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the arrangement of the equipment constituting the air purification system of Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the air purification system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the operation of the air purification system of Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart illustrating a modified example of Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This figure illustrates the operating state of the air purification system in a modified example of Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Common or corresponding elements in each drawing will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be simplified or omitted in this disclosure. This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below, but may include any combination and modification of the configurations disclosed in the embodiments below.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the equipment constituting the air purification system of Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the air purification system of Embodiment 1. The air purification system according to this embodiment is a system that purifies the air in a space consisting of multiple rooms within a building. Each piece of equipment constituting the air purification system according to this embodiment is installed across multiple rooms within the building.

[0011] The air purification system according to this embodiment includes an exhaust device 10 that discharges indoor air to the outside. The exhaust device 10 is installed in a first room 100a within the building. The exhaust device 10 discharges the air inside the first room 100a to the outside of the first room 100a. For example, the exhaust device 10 discharges the air inside the first room 100a to the outside of the building.

[0012] As an example, the exhaust system 10 includes an intake port for taking in indoor air, an outlet port for expelling air to the outside, and a fan for generating airflow. The exhaust system 10 is configured to have a variable airflow.

[0013] The air purification system according to this embodiment includes a first air supply device 11 that takes in outside air into the room. The first air supply device 11 is installed in a second room 100b, which is different from the first room 100a. The first room 100a and the second room 100b are located within the same building. The first air supply device 11 supplies air from outside the second room 100b into the second room 100b. For example, the first air supply device 11 takes in outside air, which is air from outside the building, and supplies this outside air into the second room 100b.

[0014] As an example, the first air supply device 11 includes an intake port for taking in outside air, an outlet port for supplying outside air into the room, and a fan for generating airflow. The first air supply device 11 is configured to have a variable airflow rate. However, the first air supply device 11 may also be configured as a device without a fan, for example, an air supply port with a variable opening area.

[0015] The air purification system according to this embodiment may include a second air supply device 12 that takes in outside air into the room. This second air supply device 12 is installed in a third room 100c, which is different from the first room 100a and the second room 100b. The third room 100c is located within the same building as the first room 100a and the second room 100b. The second air supply device 12 supplies air from outside the third room 100c into the third room 100c. For example, the second air supply device 12 takes in outside air, which is air from outside the building, and supplies this outside air into the third room 100c. The second air supply device 12 may be configured in the same way as the first air supply device 11. The second air supply device 12 is configured to have a variable airflow. The second air supply device 12 may or may not have a fan.

[0016] In describing this embodiment, one or both of the first air supply device 11 and the second air supply device 12 may be referred to simply as "air supply device" without reference numerals. The air purification system according to this disclosure may have at least one air supply device, or it may have three or more air supply devices.

[0017] The air taken in by the air supply device flows into the first room 100a through a room 100d which is a space corresponding to, for example, a corridor or a common area. Also, the air in the first room 100a is discharged by the exhaust device 10. In the building where the air purification system according to the present embodiment is installed, a ventilation air passage from the air supply device to the exhaust device 10 is configured.

[0018] Note that the movement of air between rooms in the building does not necessarily have to pass through the room 100d which is a space corresponding to a corridor or a common area, etc., and may be directly performed between adjacent rooms. Also, the movement of air between rooms may be performed, for example, through an undercut of a door partitioning the rooms, or may be performed through a ventilation hole or a ventilation duct provided between rooms separately from the undercut of the door.

[0019] The air purification system according to the present embodiment includes a first air purification device 13 for purifying indoor air. The second room 100b where the first air supply device 11 is installed is a space located on the upstream side of the ventilation air passage in the building. The first air purification device 13 is installed in this second room 100b. The first air purification device 13 purifies the air in the second room 100b. Also, the air purification system according to the present embodiment may include a second air purification device 14 for purifying indoor air. The third room 100c where the second air supply device 12 is installed is a space located on the upstream side of the ventilation air passage in the building. The second air purification device 14 is installed in this third room 100c. The second air purification device 14 purifies the air in the third room 100c.

[0020] In the present disclosure, one or both of the first air purification device 13 and the second air purification device 14 may sometimes be simply referred to as an "air purification device" without being assigned a reference sign. Note that the air purification system according to the present disclosure only needs to include at least one air purification device, and may include three or more air purification devices.

[0021] An air purifier is a device that draws in indoor air, performs a purification process to remove pollutants contained in the inhaled air, and circulates the purified air back into the room. An air purifier comprises an intake port for drawing air into the device and an outlet port for supplying the purified air. The air purifier is configured to have a variable airflow. The purification process performed by the air purifier can include, for example, physical filtration using an air filter, gas adsorption using a deodorizing filter, electrostatic precipitation, ultraviolet irradiation, and radical or ozone generation by electrical discharge, or one or more of these methods.

[0022] The air purifier is installed in the middle of the ventilation air duct. The air purifier is installed so as to follow the airflow in the ventilation air duct. It is desirable that the intake port of the air purifier be positioned toward the supply air side of the ventilation air duct, i.e., toward the supply air device side. It is also desirable that the outlet port of the air purifier be positioned toward the exhaust side of the ventilation air duct, for example, toward an undercut in a door. The air purifier may be installed near the ceiling or on a wall, or it may be installed on the floor.

[0023] Furthermore, the air purification system according to this embodiment includes a switching hub 20. The switching hub 20 has a function to control the operation of each device and a function to acquire various types of information. As shown in Figure 2, the switching hub 20 includes a communication unit 21 capable of acquiring environmental data including at least one of data on the air pollution status inside the building and data on the air pollution status outside the building, and a control unit 22 that controls the exhaust device 10, the supply air device, and the air purification device. The communication unit 21 and the control unit 22 may be configured as a single device such as the switching hub 20, or they may be configured as separate devices.

[0024] In the example shown in Figure 1, a switching hub 20 is provided for each of the exhaust system, supply system, and air purifier. Multiple switching hubs 20 communicate information with each other. The control of the exhaust system, supply system, and air purifier may be performed by a single control unit 22, and the acquisition of environmental data may be performed by a single communication unit 21.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the switching hub 20 can connect to an external network. The switching hub 20 is connected to the cloud server 31, for example, via a network router 30. The switching hub 20 and the cloud server 31 communicate information with each other.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, the switching hub 20 can acquire environmental data from, for example, a weather information server 34 via the network router 30 and the cloud server 31. Environmental data that can be acquired from the weather information server 34 includes, for example, data on the pollution status of the outside air and weather information. Also, as shown in Figure 2, the switching hub 20 can acquire user input information or equipment operation information from an external terminal's equipment operation application 32.

[0027] Furthermore, the switching hub 20 can acquire data on the air pollution status inside the building, which is detected by environmental sensors 33 installed within the building. Environmental sensors 33 are sensors capable of detecting airborne pollutants. Examples of pollutants include particulate matter such as dust originating from outside air, represented by PM2.5 and PM10, pollen, fungi, and viruses. Other examples of pollutants include gaseous substances such as VOCs and exhaust gases. Environmental sensors 33 are capable of detecting at least one of the above-mentioned pollutants. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, environmental sensors 33 can connect to and communicate with a network router 30, etc. Although not shown in Figure 1, environmental sensors 33 are installed in each room within the building.

[0028] In this embodiment, the switching hub 20 is configured to also transmit information to the outside via the network router 30. The information transmitted to the outside includes, for example, operating information of each device connected to the switching hub 20, such as the airflow and power consumption of each device.

[0029] For example, external information acquired from the equipment operation application 32 and the weather information server 34, as well as operating information of each device transmitted to the outside from the switching hub 20, are aggregated in the cloud server 31. Based on the aggregated information, the cloud server 31 may determine the control content for implementing automatic control of the air purification system. The control content information determined by the cloud server 31 is sent to the switching hub 20. The control unit 22 of the switching hub 20 controls the exhaust system, supply system, and air purification system based on the control content information determined by the cloud server 31.

[0030] Thus, the control of the exhaust system, supply system, and air purification system may be performed by the control unit 22 coordinating with an external device such as a cloud server 31. However, the determination of the control content for implementing automatic control of the air purification system may be performed by an internal device of the air purification system, such as the control unit 22, rather than by an external device such as a cloud server 31.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the switching hub 20 acquires data on the pollution status of the outside air from the weather information server 34. Outside the building, for example, a sensor for detecting the pollution status of the outside air may be installed. The switching hub 20 may also acquire data on the pollution status of the outside air from this sensor.

[0032] The air purification system according to this embodiment is characterized by controlling the airflow of the exhaust device 10 installed in the first room 100a, the supply air device and air purification device installed in a room other than the first room 100a, in accordance with environmental data acquired by the communication unit 21 of the switching hub 20. The control of the airflow of each device is performed by the control unit 22. The environmental data includes at least one of data on the air pollution status inside the building and data on the air pollution status outside the building. With an air purification system configured in this way, it is possible to efficiently purify the air in a space consisting of multiple rooms within a building and maintain the comfort of people inside the room.

[0033] An example of the control of the air purification system in this embodiment will be briefly described. For example, if the outside air is not clean, the airflow rate of both the exhaust device 10 and the supply air device may be reduced to suppress the intrusion of contaminated outside air into the room, and the airflow rate in the air purification process by the air purification device may be increased. Alternatively, if the indoor air is not clean, the ventilation rate in the ventilation air passage may be increased, or the airflow rate in the air purification process by the air purification device may be increased.

[0034] With further reference to the drawings, a more detailed specific example of the control of the air purification system in this embodiment will be described. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a specific example of the operation of the air purification system of Embodiment 1. In the flowchart of Figure 3, the exhaust device 10, the supply air device, and the air purification device are assumed to be operating 24 hours a day at a predetermined airflow rate as the basic operation. Furthermore, the determination process and control process at each step of the flowchart in Figure 3 are performed, for example, by the control unit 22.

[0035] When the air purification system starts operation, first, environmental data is acquired (step S001). Then, based on the acquired information, it is determined whether the outside air is clean (step S002). If it is determined that the outside air is clean, it is determined whether the indoor air of the building where the air purification system is installed is clean (step S003). If it is determined that both the outside air and the indoor air are clean, the exhaust device 10, the supply air device, and the air purification device continue basic operation for a predetermined time (step S004). After that, the process of step S001, i.e., the acquisition of environmental data, is performed again.

[0036] If the outside air is determined to be clean but the indoor air is not, a process is performed to determine the location of contamination within the room. Specifically, it is determined whether contamination was detected in the room where the air supply device is installed (step S005).

[0037] If contamination is detected in a room where an air supply device is installed, the airflow rate of the air purifier installed in the room where contamination was detected is increased (step S006). Also, the airflow rate of the air supply device installed in the room where contamination was detected is decreased (step S007). Through the processes of steps S006 and S007, air purification is efficiently performed in the room where contamination was detected. Furthermore, the airflow rate of the air supply device in rooms where contamination has not been detected is increased (step S008). By decreasing the airflow rate of one of the first air supply device 11 and the second air supply device 12 and increasing the airflow rate of the other, the amount of ventilation in the building can be ensured. After maintaining the operating state of each device controlled by the processes of steps S006 to S008 for a predetermined time (step S009), the process of step S001 is performed again.

[0038] If contamination is not detected in the room where the air supply device is installed, that is, if contamination is detected in the room where the exhaust device 10 is installed, the airflow of the exhaust device 10 is increased (step S010). In addition, the airflow of all air supply devices and air purifiers installed on the upstream side of the ventilation air passage is increased (steps S011, S012). After maintaining the operating state of each device controlled by the processes from steps S010 to S012 for a predetermined time (step S013), the process of step S001 is performed again.

[0039] Furthermore, if it is determined in step S002 that the outside air is not clean, the airflow of the exhaust device 10 and all supply air devices is reduced (steps S014, S015), and the airflow of all air purifiers is increased (step S016). After the operating state of each device controlled by the processes in steps S014 to S016 is maintained for a predetermined time (step S017), the process in step S001 is performed again.

[0040] According to the operation described above, if contamination is detected upstream of the ventilation air duct, the amount of air supplied from the upstream side is reduced and the airflow of the air purifier is increased, thereby suppressing the propagation of contamination to another room downstream of the ventilation air duct. Furthermore, if contamination is detected downstream of the ventilation air duct, the airflow of the exhaust and supply air purifiers is increased to promote the introduction of fresh outside air, allowing contaminated air to be discharged outside at an early stage. In addition, by increasing the airflow of the air purifier, purified air can be transported from the upstream side to the downstream side of the ventilation air duct.

[0041] When increasing the airflow of an air purifier, the air purification capacity of the air purifier may also be increased. For example, if the air purifier performs electrostatic precipitation, the air purification capacity may be increased by increasing the input current to the electrostatic precipitating electrode. Also, if the air purifier purifies the air by ultraviolet irradiation, the air purification capacity may be increased by increasing the intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet light. Furthermore, if the air purifier purifies the air by generating radicals or ozone through electrical discharge, the air purification capacity may be increased by increasing the amount of radicals or ozone generated.

[0042] Next, specific modifications of the air purification system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of Embodiment 1. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the operating state of the air purification system in the modification of Embodiment 1.

[0043] In the illustrated modified example, the air purifier is installed on the ceiling or a wall near the ceiling of the room. Since the exhaled breath of people in the room is generally warmer than the room air, it rises to the upper part of the room due to the temperature difference. By installing the air purifier on the ceiling or a wall near the ceiling, contaminants such as viruses contained in the rising exhaled breath can be efficiently treated.

[0044] In the illustrated modified example, the air purification system includes a breath detection unit that detects exhaled breath from a person. This breath detection unit can be configured, for example, as a sensing device integrated with the environmental sensor 33, or as a separate device from the environmental sensor 33. Any method can be used to detect exhaled breath, such as using real images captured by a camera, using thermal images, using a CO2 concentration sensor, or using sound detection.

[0045] Furthermore, the air purifier's outlet and intake may each be equipped with a louver to control the airflow direction. By controlling this louver, the direction of the airflow drawn in and blown out by the air purifier can be controlled. It is desirable that the louver be movable both vertically and horizontally. For example, the louver may be movable vertically within a 90-degree range from horizontal to vertically downward relative to the ceiling surface. Also, the louver may be movable horizontally within a range of 180 degrees, for example, 90 degrees to the left and 90 degrees to the right relative to the direction the outlet is facing.

[0046] Referring to the flowchart in Figure 4, a specific example of the operation of this modified version will be explained. Note that the flowchart in Figure 4 focuses on control in response to exhalation detection and only shows the differences from the flowchart in Figure 3 described above.

[0047] First, environmental data is acquired (step 101). This environmental data includes detection data from the breath detection unit. Based on the acquired data, it is determined whether the amount of exhaled breath generated in the room has increased compared to normal levels (step S102). If no increase in exhaled breath is detected, basic operation continues (step S103).

[0048] If an increase in exhaled air is detected, a process is performed to determine the location within the room where the increase in exhaled air was detected. Specifically, it is determined whether the increase in exhaled air was detected in the room where the air supply device is installed (step S104).

[0049] If an increase in exhaled air is detected in a room where an air supply device is installed, the airflow of the air purifier installed in the room where the increase was detected is increased (step S105). Also, as shown in Figure 5, the louvers of the air intake of the air purifier are changed to face directly downwards, opening the intake (step S106). Furthermore, to avoid obstructing the collection of exhaled air by the air purifier, the louvers of the air outlet of the air purifier are changed to face horizontally (step S107).

[0050] Furthermore, the airflow rate of the air supply device installed in the room where an increase in exhalation is detected is reduced, and the airflow rate of the air supply device in the room where an increase in exhalation is not detected is increased (steps S108, S109). The operating state of each device controlled by the processes in steps S105 to S109 is maintained for a predetermined time (step S110).

[0051] If no increase in exhalation is detected in the room where the air supply device is installed, that is, if an increase in exhalation is detected in the room where the exhaust device 10 is installed, the airflow rate of the exhaust device 10 is increased (step S111). In addition, the airflow rates of all air supply devices and air purifiers installed on the upstream side of the ventilation air passage are increased (steps S112, steps S113). Then, the operating state of each device controlled by the processes from steps S111 to S113 is maintained for a predetermined time (step S114).

[0052] According to the modified operation described above, when there is an increase in exhaled air in the room, the airflow of the air purifier is increased and the louvers are controlled to open the intake port, allowing for more efficient collection of exhaled air. Furthermore, by orienting the louvers of the outlet horizontally, the air in the room can be purified and circulated without obstructing the upward flow of exhaled air. [Industrial applicability]

[0053] The air purification system described herein can be used to purify the air inside a building. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 10 Exhaust system, 11 First air supply system, 12 Second air supply system, 13 First air purifier, 14 Second air purifier, 20 Switching hub, 21 Communication unit, 22 Control unit, 30 Network router, 31 Cloud server, 32 Equipment operation application, 33 Environmental sensor, 34 Weather information server, 100a First room, 100b Second room, 100c Third room, 100d Room

Claims

1. An exhaust system installed in a first room within the building, which discharges the air from the first room to the outside of the first room, A first air supply device installed in a second room within the building, which supplies air from outside the second room into the second room, A first air purifier installed in the second room for purifying the air inside the second room, A communication unit capable of acquiring environmental data including at least one of data on the air pollution status inside the building and data on the air pollution status outside the building, A control unit that controls the exhaust device, the first air supply device, and the first air purifier, A second air supply device is installed in a third room within the building and supplies air from outside the third room into the third room. A second air purifier installed in the third room for purifying the air inside the third room, Equipped with, Within the building, a ventilation air passage is provided that leads from the first air supply device to the exhaust device, and a ventilation air passage is provided that leads from the second air supply device to the exhaust device. The control unit controls the airflow of the exhaust device, the first air supply device, the first air purifier, the second air supply device, and the second air purifier according to the environmental data acquired by the communication unit, and increases the airflow of the other when the airflow of one of the first air supply device and the second air supply device is decreased, and increases the airflow of the air purifier installed in the room where one of the first air supply device and the second air supply device is installed when the airflow of one of the first air supply device and the second air supply device is decreased, in an air purification system.

2. The air purification system according to claim 1, wherein the intake port of the first air purifier is positioned toward the supply air side in the ventilation air passage, and the outlet port of the first air purifier is positioned toward the exhaust side in the ventilation air passage.

3. Equipped with environmental sensors to detect the level of air pollution inside the building, The air purification system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication unit acquires the environmental data from the environmental sensor.

4. It is equipped with a breath detection unit that detects exhaled breath from a person, The first air purifier is equipped with louvers that control the direction of airflow, The air purification system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit controls the louvers in accordance with the exhalation information detected by the exhalation detection unit.

Images