SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROL AND REGULATION OF AIR QUALITY IN A CLOSED SPACE

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and regulating air quality in a confined space, comprising: controller; one or more sensors for monitoring one or more environmental parameters within the enclosed space; at least one air flow distribution balancer for receiving a first air flow of outside air from outside the enclosed space and for receiving a second air flow of inside air from inside the enclosed space; wherein the at least one air flow balancer comprises: at least one inlet for air entering the air flow balancer as an inlet air flow; a chamber for receiving air entering the air flow balancer through at least one inlet pipe; an outlet pipe for the air leaving the air flow balancer as an outlet air flow; and a damper adapted to move to a selected position such that at least one inlet pipe is completely closed when the damper is in a first position, completely open when the damper is in a second position, and partially open and partially closed when the damper is in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position; and an air flow generator for generating at least a first air flow of outside air; wherein the controller and one or more sensors are operatively connected to each other in such a way that, during operation, the controller has the ability to receive one or more input signals from one or more sensors, and the controller is configured to generate, in response to receiving one or more input signals, one or more output signals that are transmitted to at least one of such devices as an air flow distribution balancer and an air flow generator, for the purpose of controlling the operation of at least one of such devices as an air flow distribution balancer and an air flow generator, respectively, by adjusting at least one of such parameters as the volume of outside air and the volume of internal air that is supplied to the closed space, as a result of which the regulation of one or more environmental parameters is ensured,related to the quality of air inside a confined space.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, during operation, air cannot pass through at least one inlet pipe when at least one damper is in the first position, so that at least one inlet pipe will be completely closed, and air will enter the chamber through at least one inlet pipe and exit from the outlet pipe when at least one damper is in the second position or in an intermediate position, so that at least one inlet pipe, respectively, will be completely open or at least partially open.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air flow distribution balancer comprises a motor, wherein the damper and the motor are operatively connected to each other in such a way that the motor is configured to drive the damper.

4. The system according to claim 3, in which the engine is configured to drive the damper upon receiving signals from the controller.

5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air flow distribution balancer comprises a first inlet for receiving a first air flow, a second inlet for receiving a second air flow, and an outlet for an outlet air flow.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a first air flow distribution balancer for receiving a first air flow of outdoor air and a second air flow distribution balancer for receiving a second air flow of indoor air.

7. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first bypass valve that allows a portion of the air from the enclosed space to return to the enclosed space instead of entering the second air stream.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a first filter for filtering air before a portion of the air returns to the enclosed space through the first bypass valve.

9. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second bypass valve for directing a portion of the air in the outlet air stream into the enclosed space.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a second filter for filtering air before directing a portion of the air into the enclosed space through the second bypass valve.

11. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air flow generator is arranged so that it can draw air from at least outside the enclosed space and direct it into the enclosed space.

12. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air flow generator is located outside the enclosed space.

13. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air flow generator is located within an enclosed space.

14. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air flow generator comprises an air blower.

15. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air flow generator comprises a blower.

16. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more sensors include one or more of the following sensors: at least one pressure sensor for measuring the pressure inside and outside the enclosed space (i.e. measuring the differential pressure) or only inside the enclosed space; at least one dust sensor for detecting the presence of dirt or dust particles in the enclosed space; at least one CO2 sensor for detecting the presence of CO2 in the enclosed space; at least one air flow sensor for recording the air flow rate; and / or at least one gas sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one gas sensor includes one or more gas sensors for detecting the presence of one or more gases.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more gases comprise hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and / or a gaseous refrigerant.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the gaseous refrigerant comprises R-1234YF.

20. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a primary air cleaner for pre-cleaning air entering the enclosed space from outside before the air enters at least one inlet of the air flow distribution balancer.

21. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one particulate filter for removing particulate matter from at least the first outdoor air stream.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one particulate filter is provided as a separate filter.

23. The system of claim 21 or 22, wherein at least one particulate filter is provided in the air blower.

24. The system of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one activated carbon filter for removing unwanted gases from at least the first air stream and / or the outlet air stream.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one particulate filter is located upstream of the activated carbon filter.

26. An air flow distribution balancer comprising: a housing characterized by the presence of one inlet pipe and one outlet pipe; chamber inside the case; and a damper configured to move to a selected position such that at least one inlet pipe is completely closed when the damper is in a first position, completely open when the damper is in a second position, and partially open and partially closed when the damper is in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position; wherein, during operation, air cannot pass through at least one inlet pipe when the damper is in the first position, so that at least one inlet pipe will be completely closed, and air will enter the chamber through at least one inlet pipe and exit from the outlet pipe when the damper is in the second position or in an intermediate position, so that at least one inlet pipe, respectively, will be completely open or at least partially open.

27. The air flow distribution balancer of claim 26, further comprising a motor, wherein the motor and the damper are operatively connected to each other such that the motor is configured to drive the damper.

28. An air flow distribution balancer according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that the air flow distribution balancer comprises a second inlet pipe.

29. An air flow distribution balancer according to claim 28, wherein the first inlet pipe and the second inlet pipe are provided with a corresponding said damper, configured to move to a selected position.

30. A method for monitoring and regulating air quality in a confined space, comprising: monitoring one or more environmental parameters within a confined space; generating at least a first air flow of outside air coming from outside the enclosed space using an air flow generator; receiving a first air flow of outside air and a second air flow of inside air coming from inside the enclosed space by at least one air flow distribution balancer; supplying air contained in the outlet air flow from at least one air flow distribution balancer into the enclosed space; generating one or more input signals reflecting one or more environmental parameters within the enclosed space; generating one or more output signals upon receipt of one or more input signals; and transmitting one or more output signals to at least one of the air flow distribution balancer and the air flow generator to control the operation of at least one of the air flow distribution balancer and the air flow generator by adjusting at least one of the parameters of the volume of outside air and the volume of inside air supplied to the enclosed space, thereby adjusting one or more environmental parameters related to the quality of the air inside the enclosed space.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein receiving the first air flow of outside air and the second air flow of inside air coming from inside the enclosed space by at least one air flow distribution balancer includes: receiving a first air flow of outside air and a second air flow of inside air by a single air flow distribution balancer.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein receiving the first air flow of outside air and the second air flow of inside air coming from inside the enclosed space by at least one air flow distribution balancer includes: receiving a first air flow of outside air by a first air flow distribution balancer and receiving a second air flow of inside air by a second air flow distribution balancer.

33. The method according to any one of paragraphs 30-32, further comprising returning a portion of the air extracted from the enclosed space back into the enclosed space through the first bypass valve instead of mixing the portion of the air with the second air stream.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising filtering the air before returning a portion of the air to the enclosed space through the first bypass valve.

35. The method according to any one of paragraphs 24-31, further comprising directing a portion of the air in the outlet air stream into the enclosed space through a second bypass valve.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising filtering the air before directing a portion of the air into the enclosed space through the second bypass valve.