Ventilation unit for a building

Abstract

A ventilation unit for circulating air in a building comprising a housing having a plurality of intake ports and exhaust ports for the intake and exhaust of air within the building. An ERV core within the housing with said ERV core in fluid communication with a stale air intake port and in fluid communication with a stale air exhaust port for removing air from the building and an HRV core within the housing in fluid communication with a recirculated air intake port and in fluid communication with a recirculated air exhaust port for recirculating air in the building. A fresh air intake port in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores and a fresh air exhaust port for introducing fresh air in the building wherein the recirculated air and stale air are impacted by the fresh air in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores.

Description

FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates generally to the field of ventilation units, and more specifically to a ventilation unit for buildings.BACKGROUND

[0002] Ventilation units for building are well known in the industry. However, a number of ventilation units simply move air within a building without proper control of the humidity within a specific region of a building. Known ventilators simply intake fresh air and exhaust stale air.

[0003] As such, there is a need for a novel type of ventilation unit which can more accurately control the humidity within a given region or room in a building that can overcome the problems of the prior art.SUMMARY

[0004] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a ventilation unit for circulating air in a building comprising a housing having a plurality of intake ports and exhaust ports for the intake and exhaust of air within the building; An ERV core within the housing with said ERV core in fluid communication with a stale air intake port and in fluid communication with a stale air exhaust port for removing air from the building; An HRV core within the housing in fluid communication with a recirculated air intake port and in fluid communication with a recirculated air exhaust port for recirculating air in the building; A fresh air intake port in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores and a fresh air exhaust port for introducing fresh air in the building wherein the recirculated air and stale air are impacted by the fresh air in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores.

[0005] The present invention also provides a method a method for controlling a ventilation unit for a building comprising the following steps:

[0006] a. an active mode for activation;

[0007] b. an operation mode based on a measured time lapse and outside temperature measurement;

[0008] c. a defrost more if a certain outside temperature is measured; and

[0009] d. 4 a transfer mode prior to recommencing to activation mode.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The following figures serve to illustrate various embodiments of features of the disclosure. These figures are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ventilation unit with a side cover removed from the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a ventilation unit with a side cover removed from the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 2A is a side view of a ventilation unit with fan placements according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 2B is a side view of a ventilation unit with sensor placements according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing an energy recovery ventilator and a heat recovery ventilator positioned within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of a ventilation unit showing an energy recovery ventilator and an heat recovery ventilator positioned within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of a core for use in the present ventilation unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of a core for use in the present ventilation unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing a fresh air flow trajectory within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing a stale air flow trajectory within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing a recirculated air flow within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing all three flows as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of a unit in four modes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0024] FIG. 10 shows a chart of percentage values for fan speeds relative to the maximum fan speed.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various modifications and / or alterations to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the disclosure and any modifications and / or alterations are within the scope of the contemplated disclosure.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ventilation unit 10 is shown according to one embodiment of the present invention. The ventilation unit 10 has a housing 20 having a plurality of ports for the intake and exhaust of air within a building. A first intake port 30 is for intake of fresh air from outside. In the present embodiment, ventilation unit 10 has one fresh intake port 30 for fresh air from outside but other embodiments could include more than one intake port for fresh air.

[0027] With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit has a second and third intake port (32 and 34) for stale air. Ports 32 and 34 intake stale air from within the building wherein port 32 intakes stale air and has air travel through core 40. Port 32 is a stale air intake port. Port 34 also intakes stale air from the building wherein said air travels through core 50. Port 34 is a recirculated air intake. The travel of air will be further described below with reference to other figures. Core 40 is primarily an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) for the transfer of temperature between fresh air (from outside) and stale air (from inside the building). Core 50 is primarily a heat recovery ventilator for the transfer and control of humidity between fresh air and stale air traveling through ventilation unit 10 of the present invention.

[0028] With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit 10 has an air exhaust port 60 for removing stale air from the building. Port 60 is a stale air exhaust port. A second and third exhaust ports (62 and 64) allow for air to be either recirculated within the building or allows fresh air to enter building. Exhaust Port 62 recirculates air to a specific region within the building and is a recirculated air exhaust port. For example, port 62 could recirculate stale air having traveled through core 50 to a building basement. The recirculated air from port 62 has had its humidity-controlled while being in fluid communication with core 50. Exhaust port 64 is used for allowing fresh air from intake port 30 being in fluid communication with both cores 40 and 50 from entering a building. Port 30 is a fresh air intake port and Port 64 is a fresh air exhaust port for introducing fresh air in a building.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 2A and according to one embodiment of the present invention, fan placement within the unit is shown. Specifically, ventilation unit 10 has three fans, a Supply Fan 70, an Exhaust Fan 72 and a Recirculation Fan 74. Supply Fan 70 draws fresh air from the exterior of the home and circulates it into the interior, generating a supply airflow through the ventilator. Exhaust Fan 72 extracts return air from the interior of the building, for example upper levels, bathrooms, and crawlspaces / basement—and exhausts it to the exterior, creating an exhaust airflow through the exhaust port 60. Recirculation Fan 74 captures return air from the interior of the building, for example, from upper levels, bathrooms, and crawlspaces / basement—and redirects it for basement recirculation, producing a basement recirculation airflow through exhaust port 62.

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention the ventilation unit uses DC fans for all three fans within the unit. The use of DC fans improves the energy efficiency of a ventilation system in terms of electricity consumption as well as improved ventilation effectiveness. It also allows for a potential reduction in the cost of heating and air conditioning a house.

[0031] DC fans exhibit higher efficiency than AC fans, especially when used at variable speeds. In one embodiment of the present invention, the present ventilation system operates with an AC / DC adapter, where the input of the power supply is 220V / 50 Hz, and the output supplying the system is 24V DC.

[0032] The improved energy efficiency is also due to the fan speed control. With conventional ventilation systems, fan speeds are generally limited to “low”, “medium” and “high” settings. In each situation where an airflow greater than that provided by the “medium” settings is required, the airflow provided by the high setting may be excessive. A higher fan speed must be used to ensure an acceptable air quality. This results in increased energy consumption and therefore, reduced energy efficiency. Speed control for the fans allow for the lowest energy consumption while attaining the required ventilation rate. The present invention provides speed controls of DC fans by using pulse width modulation (PWM). It is especially useful when establishing balanced exhaust and supply airflows. In systems with a limited number of discrete speed settings, it is unlikely that the fans can be adjusted in such a way as to equalize the airflows. The use of PWM for speed controls eliminates the disadvantages of high noise, low efficiency and a fixed number of speeds present in commonly used speed-varying techniques used with alternating current (AC) fans.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 2B and according to one embodiment of the present invention, sensors as used in the present ventilation system are shown. The system utilizes two weatherproof humidity & temperature sensors: a Supply Sensor 80 and an Exhaust Sensor 82. Supply Sensor 80 is positioned at a position proximate to intake port 30 where fresh air enters the building from outside. It is strategically placed to ensure the most accurate measurement of humidity, temperature, and pressure. These parameters provide critical data of the outside air entering the house, which is later used in the unit's control logic. Exhaust Sensor 82 is positioned at a position proximate to the intake port 32 (air coming from upper levels, bathrooms and crawlspaces / basement for example. It is positioned to capture precise humidity, temperature, and pressure values. These parameters offer insight into the indoor air conditions, which are then utilized in the unit's control logic. This strategic placement of sensors ensures optimal performance and accurate environmental monitoring for efficient ventilation management. The unit of the present invention also includes a processor controller which enables to store and communicate the measurements captured by the sensors as well as to operate the various fans in the unit.

[0034] With further reference to FIG. 2B and according to one embodiment of the present invention, filters 90 can be positioned within intake ports 30, 32 and 34 to further increase the quality of air entering a building.

[0035] With further reference to FIG. 2B and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a control circuit board receives input from temperature & humidity sensors 80 and 82 to measure the properties of outdoor air, and in the outgoing exhaust air stream, to measure the properties of the stale air. This data is used to determine the flow rates necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the ventilation system, and the duty cycles of the PWM signals for each fan. The control logic of the supply and exhaust airflows prevents the creation of negative or positive pressure in a building having the present ventilation system.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 3 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a ventilation unit 10 is shown having ERV core 40 and HRV core 50 positioned within housing 20. Cores 40 and 50 are positioned in a square configuration wherein the top corners of each core are parallel to one another in reference to the top surface of housing 20.

[0037] The square configuration of the ERV core 40 and HRV core 50 within the housing 20 is designed to optimize airflow distribution, space efficiency, and thermal exchange performance while ensuring seamless integration within the ventilation unit. This arrangement maintains balanced heat, allowing the system to operate efficiently without compromising on structural compactness.

[0038] However, alternative configurations could be used based on design constraints, performance requirements, and available space.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the HRV core has a configuration based on the following parameters:

[0040] Material: FR500 (Flame Retardant)

[0041] Key Properties:

[0042] a. Chemically Inert: No reaction with coatings or chemicals, ensuring long-term durability.

[0043] b. High Mechanical Strength: Excellent impact and tear resistance, maintaining structural integrity under stress.

[0044] c. Compression Resistance: High compressive strength prevents deformation, even under high-pressure conditions.

[0045] d. Waterproof & Reusable: Can be washed and reused without degradation, ensuring extended operational life.

[0046] Structural Design:

[0047] a. Dimensions: 270×120×203 mm

[0048] b. Number of Plates: 26

[0049] c. Inner Spacing: 3 mm

[0050] d. Support Structure: Four structural rails placed at the four corners of the core to ensure stability.

[0051] e. Core Type: Multi-layered plate structure for enhanced heat recovery efficiency.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ERV core has the following parameters:

[0053] Dimensions: 305×305×203 mm

[0054] Inner Spacing: 1.8 mm for optimized air exchange efficiency.

[0055] Support Structure: Four structural rails placed at the four corners of the core to ensure stability.

[0056] Core Type: Multi-layered plate structure designed for enhanced energy recovery through efficient heat and moisture transfer.

[0057] These HRV and ERV cores parameters such as inner spacing, plate configurations, and material compositions provide enhanced performance, durability, and heat / moisture transfer efficiency.

[0058] A key concern regarding HRV and ERV cores is the amount of leakage and contamination between the airflows. In order to reduce the amount of leakage between the airflows, there must be a sufficiently strong seal between the energy & heat recovery cores and the structure of the ventilation system. While a strong seal is desirable, it is necessary for the energy & heat recovery cores to be removable, for cleaning, for example. This requirement necessarily precludes the use of any kind of adhesive between the core and the support structure. To minimize leakage and cross-contamination of airflows, a strong seal is required between the core and support structure.

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ERV core 40 has four plastic L-shaped rails 42 along the edges which are perpendicular to the direction of the airflows. Support rails 42 are attached to the cores using an adhesive sealant.

[0060] Other four L-shaped support rails are secured to the support structure within housing (not shown), as to allow contact with rails 42 on the core. The use of such support rails allows easy insertion and removal of the cores while maintaining an airtight seal. Similar support rails as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B can be used for the support of an HRV core.

[0061] Such configuration allows for air to be in fluid communication with ERV core 40 and HRV core 50. Each core is in specific fluid communications with intake and exhaust ports allowing for the specific control of air within a building.

[0062] With reference to FIG. 5 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit 10 is shown with fresh air flow 100 traveling through said unit. Fresh air intake port 30 allows fresh air to be in fluid communication with core 40 with the fresh air further traveling in fluid communication with core 50 for eventual exit from unit 10 through third exhaust port 64. Fresh air from outside can only travel through this fresh air trajectory 100 which is trough intake port 30, through cores 40 and 50 and exit through exhaust port 64. Fresh air cannot enter the building through any other intake or exhaust port under the present ventilation unit. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar as to how to assure air can only travel through the fresh air trajectory 100 including cores 40 and 50.

[0063] With reference to FIG. 6 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit 10 is shown with outside stale air flow 200 traveling through said unit. Stale air intake 32 allows for stale air to be in fluid communication with core 40 with stale air further traveling in fluid communication with exhaust port 60. Stale air entering through stale air intake 32 can only travel through core 40 and then exhaust through exhaust port 60. Outside stale air flow 200 cannot exhaust outside the building through any other exhaust port under the present ventilation unit. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar as to how to assure outside stale air flow 200 can only travel through core 40 and exhaust port 60.

[0064] With reference to FIG. 7 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit 10 is shown with recirculated air flow 300 traveling through said unit. Stale air intake port 34 allows stale air to be in fluid communication with core 50 with the stale air further traveling in fluid communication with core 50 for eventual exit from unit 10 through third exhaust port 62. Stale air from inside the building entering through intake port 34 can only travel through this recirculate air trajectory 300 which is trough intake port 34, through core 50 and exit through exhaust port 62. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar as to how to assure air can only travel through the recirculated air trajectory 300.

[0065] With further reference to FIG. 7 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, recirculated air flow 300 provides greater control of humidity within a specific region of a building. For example, a building having a humid basement can benefit from the use of the present ventilation unit. In order to provide said advantage, stale air intake 34 is in fluid communication with the same region in which exhaust port 62 is in fluid communication with. By taking humid air from a region within the building and reducing its humidity before returning it to the same region allows for a better control of the humidity. The ventilation unit 10 has a dedicated air flow to said specific region which is the basement in this example. This recirculated air flow provides a closed circuit of air providing for greater control as other ventilation unit simply exhaust humid air outside the building rather than having a closed air circuit as described above.

[0066] With reference to FIG. 8 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, all three air flows 100, 200 and 300 are shown traveling through said unit 10. Indeed, all three air flows, fresh air flow 100, outside stale air flow 200 and recirculated air flow 300 can occur simultaneously, in conjunction or separately as required to provide the desired air quality in a building. Stale air flow 200 travels through the ERV core and recirculated air flow 300 travels through ERV core whereas the fresh air flow travels through the ERV and HRV cores. This configuration allows for the recirculated air and stale air to be impacted by the fresh air in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores.

[0067] With reference to FIG. 9 and according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a flow chart illustrates a series of steps used in the operation of a unit. At step 500 a unit of the present invention is automatically operated in Mode 1 on activation (Activation. At step 510 the fans for moving air in a unit of the present invention will operate at medium speeds. At step 510 if the fans have operated for more than 5 minutes, the unit will transfer operations to Mode 2 (operation mode) at step 600 otherwise the fans will continue to operate at medium speeds. At step 610 and in mode 2, a unit will measure the temperature based on the sensors in the unit. At step 620, if the measured outside air is less than −5° C. then the unit will transfer into Mode 3 (defrost mode) operation at step 700. Otherwise at step 630, the unit will remain in Mode 2 operation until a desired time has passed at step 640. Specifically, the time the fans will remain on will be as follows:

[0068] a) −5° C. to 0° C. the fans will run for 3 minutes;

[0069] b) 0° C. to 5° C. the fans will run for 6 minutes;

[0070] c) 5° C. to 10° C. the fans will run for 9 minutes;

[0071] d) 10° C. to 20° C. the fans will run for 12 minutes; and

[0072] e) >20° C. the fans will run for 15 minutes.

[0073] Once the time set according to the measured temperature is reached at step 640, the unit will transfer into Mode 3 operation.

[0074] With further reference to FIG. 9 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at step 710 the unit will determine if it has operating for 12 hrs which after operating for 12 hrs in Mode 3, the unit will then operate in Mode 4 at step 800. Otherwise, at step 720 the unit will remain in Mode 3 operation. A unit will remain in Mode 4 operation (transfer mode) for a specified time-period for one (1) hour until returning to Mode 1 operation and conducting all the steps shown in FIG. 9. This sequence of Mode operations allows for the unit to perform at an optimal level while carefully controlling the air within a building based on the measured temperature and humidity from the sensors in a unit of the present disclosure.

[0075] With reference to FIG. 10 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the ventilation unit operates each respective fan within the unit as shown in the table. Based on the measured temperature for outside air, each fan will operate at a percentage of speed relative to the maximum fan speed. For example, if the outside air temperature is between 0 and 5° C. then the supply fan will operate between 30%-55%, the exhaust fan will operate between 50%-80% and the recirculation fan will operate at 90%. The specific percentage for each fan will be further influenced based on the mode of operation chosen by a user. In the current example of the outside temperature being between 0 and 5° C., if the mode of operation is Intermediate then the Supply fan will be at 45%, Exhaust fan at 75% and recirculation fan at 90%. This table is used when the unit is in mode 3 as defined under FIG. 9.

[0076] With further reference to FIG. 2A and according to one embodiment of the present invention, humidity is measure at two points being in Fresh Air intake 30 and exhaust port 62 which evacuates air from the building. If the humidity is higher in the Fresh Air (measured at intake port 30) than the humidity in exhaust air (measured at exhaust port 62) then the unit will reduce the speed of the intake fan for fresh air and increase the speed of the exhaust air at exhaust port 62. The unit will do the reverse if the humidity of the exhaust air is higher than the humidity of the fresh air. In other words, the speed fan of the fresh air intake will be increased whereas the speed fan of the exhaust air at exhaust port 62 will be decreased. By varying the speed of the fans in this manner, it allows for a user to control the humidity within a building.

[0077] With reference to FIGS. 1-8 and according to one embodiment of the present invention a ventilation unit for circulating air in a building is shown comprising:

[0078] A housing having a plurality of intake ports and exhaust ports for the intake and exhaust of air within the building;

[0079] An ERV core within the housing with said ERV core in fluid communication with a stale air intake port and in fluid communication with a stale air exhaust port for removing air from the building;

[0080] An HRV core within the housing in fluid communication with a recirculated air intake port and in fluid communication with a recirculated air exhaust port for recirculating air in the building;

[0081] A fresh air intake port in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores and a fresh air exhaust port for introducing fresh air in the building

[0082] a. wherein the recirculated air and stale air are impacted by the fresh air in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores.

[0083] With further reference to FIG. 9 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling a ventilation unit for a building comprising the following steps:

[0084] a. an active mode for activation;

[0085] b. an operation mode based on a measured time lapse and outside temperature measurement;

[0086] c. a defrost more if a certain outside temperature is measured; and

[0087] d. 4 a transfer mode prior to recommencing to activation mode.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various modifications and / or alterations to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the disclosure and any modifications and / or alterations are within the scope of the contemplated disclosure.

[0026]With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ventilation unit 10 is shown according to one embodiment of the present invention. The ventilation unit 10 has a housing 20 having a plurality of ports for the intake and exhaust of air within a building. A first intake port 30 is for intake of fresh air from outside. In the present embodiment, ventilation unit 10 has one fresh intake port 30 for fresh air from outside but other embodiments could include more than one intake port for fresh air.

[0027]With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventil...

FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates generally to the field of ventilation units, and more specifically to a ventilation unit for buildings.BACKGROUND

[0002] Ventilation units for building are well known in the industry. However, a number of ventilation units simply move air within a building without proper control of the humidity within a specific region of a building. Known ventilators simply intake fresh air and exhaust stale air.

[0003] As such, there is a need for a novel type of ventilation unit which can more accurately control the humidity within a given region or room in a building that can overcome the problems of the prior art.SUMMARY

[0004] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a ventilation unit for circulating air in a building comprising a housing having a plurality of intake ports and exhaust ports for the intake and exhaust of air within the building; An ERV core within the housing with said ERV core in fluid communication with a stale air intake port and in fluid communication with a stale air exhaust port for removing air from the building; An HRV core within the housing in fluid communication with a recirculated air intake port and in fluid communication with a recirculated air exhaust port for recirculating air in the building; A fresh air intake port in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores and a fresh air exhaust port for introducing fresh air in the building wherein the recirculated air and stale air are impacted by the fresh air in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores.

[0005] The present invention also provides a method a method for controlling a ventilation unit for a building comprising the following steps:

[0006] a. an active mode for activation;

[0007] b. an operation mode based on a measured time lapse and outside temperature measurement;

[0008] c. a defrost more if a certain outside temperature is measured; and

[0009] d. 4 a transfer mode prior to recommencing to activation mode.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The following figures serve to illustrate various embodiments of features of the disclosure. These figures are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ventilation unit with a side cover removed from the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a ventilation unit with a side cover removed from the housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 2A is a side view of a ventilation unit with fan placements according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 2B is a side view of a ventilation unit with sensor placements according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing an energy recovery ventilator and a heat recovery ventilator positioned within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of a ventilation unit showing an energy recovery ventilator and an heat recovery ventilator positioned within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of a core for use in the present ventilation unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of a core for use in the present ventilation unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing a fresh air flow trajectory within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing a stale air flow trajectory within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing a recirculated air flow within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a side view of a ventilation unit showing all three flows as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 within said unit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of a unit in four modes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0024] FIG. 10 shows a chart of percentage values for fan speeds relative to the maximum fan speed.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various modifications and / or alterations to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the disclosure and any modifications and / or alterations are within the scope of the contemplated disclosure.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ventilation unit 10 is shown according to one embodiment of the present invention. The ventilation unit 10 has a housing 20 having a plurality of ports for the intake and exhaust of air within a building. A first intake port 30 is for intake of fresh air from outside. In the present embodiment, ventilation unit 10 has one fresh intake port 30 for fresh air from outside but other embodiments could include more than one intake port for fresh air.

[0027] With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit has a second and third intake port (32 and 34) for stale air. Ports 32 and 34 intake stale air from within the building wherein port 32 intakes stale air and has air travel through core 40. Port 32 is a stale air intake port. Port 34 also intakes stale air from the building wherein said air travels through core 50. Port 34 is a recirculated air intake. The travel of air will be further described below with reference to other figures. Core 40 is primarily an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) for the transfer of temperature between fresh air (from outside) and stale air (from inside the building). Core 50 is primarily a heat recovery ventilator for the transfer and control of humidity between fresh air and stale air traveling through ventilation unit 10 of the present invention.

[0028] With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit 10 has an air exhaust port 60 for removing stale air from the building. Port 60 is a stale air exhaust port. A second and third exhaust ports (62 and 64) allow for air to be either recirculated within the building or allows fresh air to enter building. Exhaust Port 62 recirculates air to a specific region within the building and is a recirculated air exhaust port. For example, port 62 could recirculate stale air having traveled through core 50 to a building basement. The recirculated air from port 62 has had its humidity-controlled while being in fluid communication with core 50. Exhaust port 64 is used for allowing fresh air from intake port 30 being in fluid communication with both cores 40 and 50 from entering a building. Port 30 is a fresh air intake port and Port 64 is a fresh air exhaust port for introducing fresh air in a building.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 2A and according to one embodiment of the present invention, fan placement within the unit is shown. Specifically, ventilation unit 10 has three fans, a Supply Fan 70, an Exhaust Fan 72 and a Recirculation Fan 74. Supply Fan 70 draws fresh air from the exterior of the home and circulates it into the interior, generating a supply airflow through the ventilator. Exhaust Fan 72 extracts return air from the interior of the building, for example upper levels, bathrooms, and crawlspaces / basement—and exhausts it to the exterior, creating an exhaust airflow through the exhaust port 60. Recirculation Fan 74 captures return air from the interior of the building, for example, from upper levels, bathrooms, and crawlspaces / basement—and redirects it for basement recirculation, producing a basement recirculation airflow through exhaust port 62.

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention the ventilation unit uses DC fans for all three fans within the unit. The use of DC fans improves the energy efficiency of a ventilation system in terms of electricity consumption as well as improved ventilation effectiveness. It also allows for a potential reduction in the cost of heating and air conditioning a house.

[0031] DC fans exhibit higher efficiency than AC fans, especially when used at variable speeds. In one embodiment of the present invention, the present ventilation system operates with an AC / DC adapter, where the input of the power supply is 220V / 50 Hz, and the output supplying the system is 24V DC.

[0032] The improved energy efficiency is also due to the fan speed control. With conventional ventilation systems, fan speeds are generally limited to “low”, “medium” and “high” settings. In each situation where an airflow greater than that provided by the “medium” settings is required, the airflow provided by the high setting may be excessive. A higher fan speed must be used to ensure an acceptable air quality. This results in increased energy consumption and therefore, reduced energy efficiency. Speed control for the fans allow for the lowest energy consumption while attaining the required ventilation rate. The present invention provides speed controls of DC fans by using pulse width modulation (PWM). It is especially useful when establishing balanced exhaust and supply airflows. In systems with a limited number of discrete speed settings, it is unlikely that the fans can be adjusted in such a way as to equalize the airflows. The use of PWM for speed controls eliminates the disadvantages of high noise, low efficiency and a fixed number of speeds present in commonly used speed-varying techniques used with alternating current (AC) fans.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 2B and according to one embodiment of the present invention, sensors as used in the present ventilation system are shown. The system utilizes two weatherproof humidity & temperature sensors: a Supply Sensor 80 and an Exhaust Sensor 82. Supply Sensor 80 is positioned at a position proximate to intake port 30 where fresh air enters the building from outside. It is strategically placed to ensure the most accurate measurement of humidity, temperature, and pressure. These parameters provide critical data of the outside air entering the house, which is later used in the unit's control logic. Exhaust Sensor 82 is positioned at a position proximate to the intake port 32 (air coming from upper levels, bathrooms and crawlspaces / basement for example. It is positioned to capture precise humidity, temperature, and pressure values. These parameters offer insight into the indoor air conditions, which are then utilized in the unit's control logic. This strategic placement of sensors ensures optimal performance and accurate environmental monitoring for efficient ventilation management. The unit of the present invention also includes a processor controller which enables to store and communicate the measurements captured by the sensors as well as to operate the various fans in the unit.

[0034] With further reference to FIG. 2B and according to one embodiment of the present invention, filters 90 can be positioned within intake ports 30, 32 and 34 to further increase the quality of air entering a building.

[0035] With further reference to FIG. 2B and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a control circuit board receives input from temperature & humidity sensors 80 and 82 to measure the properties of outdoor air, and in the outgoing exhaust air stream, to measure the properties of the stale air. This data is used to determine the flow rates necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the ventilation system, and the duty cycles of the PWM signals for each fan. The control logic of the supply and exhaust airflows prevents the creation of negative or positive pressure in a building having the present ventilation system.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 3 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a ventilation unit 10 is shown having ERV core 40 and HRV core 50 positioned within housing 20. Cores 40 and 50 are positioned in a square configuration wherein the top corners of each core are parallel to one another in reference to the top surface of housing 20.

[0037] The square configuration of the ERV core 40 and HRV core 50 within the housing 20 is designed to optimize airflow distribution, space efficiency, and thermal exchange performance while ensuring seamless integration within the ventilation unit. This arrangement maintains balanced heat, allowing the system to operate efficiently without compromising on structural compactness.

[0038] However, alternative configurations could be used based on design constraints, performance requirements, and available space.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the HRV core has a configuration based on the following parameters:

[0040] Material: FR500 (Flame Retardant)

[0041] Key Properties:

[0042] a. Chemically Inert: No reaction with coatings or chemicals, ensuring long-term durability.

[0043] b. High Mechanical Strength: Excellent impact and tear resistance, maintaining structural integrity under stress.

[0044] c. Compression Resistance: High compressive strength prevents deformation, even under high-pressure conditions.

[0045] d. Waterproof & Reusable: Can be washed and reused without degradation, ensuring extended operational life.

[0046] Structural Design:

[0047] a. Dimensions: 270×120×203 mm

[0048] b. Number of Plates: 26

[0049] c. Inner Spacing: 3 mm

[0050] d. Support Structure: Four structural rails placed at the four corners of the core to ensure stability.

[0051] e. Core Type: Multi-layered plate structure for enhanced heat recovery efficiency.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ERV core has the following parameters:

[0053] Dimensions: 305×305×203 mm

[0054] Inner Spacing: 1.8 mm for optimized air exchange efficiency.

[0055] Support Structure: Four structural rails placed at the four corners of the core to ensure stability.

[0056] Core Type: Multi-layered plate structure designed for enhanced energy recovery through efficient heat and moisture transfer.

[0057] These HRV and ERV cores parameters such as inner spacing, plate configurations, and material compositions provide enhanced performance, durability, and heat / moisture transfer efficiency.

[0058] A key concern regarding HRV and ERV cores is the amount of leakage and contamination between the airflows. In order to reduce the amount of leakage between the airflows, there must be a sufficiently strong seal between the energy & heat recovery cores and the structure of the ventilation system. While a strong seal is desirable, it is necessary for the energy & heat recovery cores to be removable, for cleaning, for example. This requirement necessarily precludes the use of any kind of adhesive between the core and the support structure. To minimize leakage and cross-contamination of airflows, a strong seal is required between the core and support structure.

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ERV core 40 has four plastic L-shaped rails 42 along the edges which are perpendicular to the direction of the airflows. Support rails 42 are attached to the cores using an adhesive sealant.

[0060] Other four L-shaped support rails are secured to the support structure within housing (not shown), as to allow contact with rails 42 on the core. The use of such support rails allows easy insertion and removal of the cores while maintaining an airtight seal. Similar support rails as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B can be used for the support of an HRV core.

[0061] Such configuration allows for air to be in fluid communication with ERV core 40 and HRV core 50. Each core is in specific fluid communications with intake and exhaust ports allowing for the specific control of air within a building.

[0062] With reference to FIG. 5 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit 10 is shown with fresh air flow 100 traveling through said unit. Fresh air intake port 30 allows fresh air to be in fluid communication with core 40 with the fresh air further traveling in fluid communication with core 50 for eventual exit from unit 10 through third exhaust port 64. Fresh air from outside can only travel through this fresh air trajectory 100 which is trough intake port 30, through cores 40 and 50 and exit through exhaust port 64. Fresh air cannot enter the building through any other intake or exhaust port under the present ventilation unit. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar as to how to assure air can only travel through the fresh air trajectory 100 including cores 40 and 50.

[0063] With reference to FIG. 6 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit 10 is shown with outside stale air flow 200 traveling through said unit. Stale air intake 32 allows for stale air to be in fluid communication with core 40 with stale air further traveling in fluid communication with exhaust port 60. Stale air entering through stale air intake 32 can only travel through core 40 and then exhaust through exhaust port 60. Outside stale air flow 200 cannot exhaust outside the building through any other exhaust port under the present ventilation unit. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar as to how to assure outside stale air flow 200 can only travel through core 40 and exhaust port 60.

[0064] With reference to FIG. 7 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventilation unit 10 is shown with recirculated air flow 300 traveling through said unit. Stale air intake port 34 allows stale air to be in fluid communication with core 50 with the stale air further traveling in fluid communication with core 50 for eventual exit from unit 10 through third exhaust port 62. Stale air from inside the building entering through intake port 34 can only travel through this recirculate air trajectory 300 which is trough intake port 34, through core 50 and exit through exhaust port 62. A worker skilled in the relevant art would be familiar as to how to assure air can only travel through the recirculated air trajectory 300.

[0065] With further reference to FIG. 7 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, recirculated air flow 300 provides greater control of humidity within a specific region of a building. For example, a building having a humid basement can benefit from the use of the present ventilation unit. In order to provide said advantage, stale air intake 34 is in fluid communication with the same region in which exhaust port 62 is in fluid communication with. By taking humid air from a region within the building and reducing its humidity before returning it to the same region allows for a better control of the humidity. The ventilation unit 10 has a dedicated air flow to said specific region which is the basement in this example. This recirculated air flow provides a closed circuit of air providing for greater control as other ventilation unit simply exhaust humid air outside the building rather than having a closed air circuit as described above.

[0066] With reference to FIG. 8 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, all three air flows 100, 200 and 300 are shown traveling through said unit 10. Indeed, all three air flows, fresh air flow 100, outside stale air flow 200 and recirculated air flow 300 can occur simultaneously, in conjunction or separately as required to provide the desired air quality in a building. Stale air flow 200 travels through the ERV core and recirculated air flow 300 travels through ERV core whereas the fresh air flow travels through the ERV and HRV cores. This configuration allows for the recirculated air and stale air to be impacted by the fresh air in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores.

[0067] With reference to FIG. 9 and according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a flow chart illustrates a series of steps used in the operation of a unit. At step 500 a unit of the present invention is automatically operated in Mode 1 on activation (Activation. At step 510 the fans for moving air in a unit of the present invention will operate at medium speeds. At step 510 if the fans have operated for more than 5 minutes, the unit will transfer operations to Mode 2 (operation mode) at step 600 otherwise the fans will continue to operate at medium speeds. At step 610 and in mode 2, a unit will measure the temperature based on the sensors in the unit. At step 620, if the measured outside air is less than −5° C. then the unit will transfer into Mode 3 (defrost mode) operation at step 700. Otherwise at step 630, the unit will remain in Mode 2 operation until a desired time has passed at step 640. Specifically, the time the fans will remain on will be as follows:

[0068] a) −5° C. to 0° C. the fans will run for 3 minutes;

[0069] b) 0° C. to 5° C. the fans will run for 6 minutes;

[0070] c) 5° C. to 10° C. the fans will run for 9 minutes;

[0071] d) 10° C. to 20° C. the fans will run for 12 minutes; and

[0072] e) >20° C. the fans will run for 15 minutes.

[0073] Once the time set according to the measured temperature is reached at step 640, the unit will transfer into Mode 3 operation.

[0074] With further reference to FIG. 9 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at step 710 the unit will determine if it has operating for 12 hrs which after operating for 12 hrs in Mode 3, the unit will then operate in Mode 4 at step 800. Otherwise, at step 720 the unit will remain in Mode 3 operation. A unit will remain in Mode 4 operation (transfer mode) for a specified time-period for one (1) hour until returning to Mode 1 operation and conducting all the steps shown in FIG. 9. This sequence of Mode operations allows for the unit to perform at an optimal level while carefully controlling the air within a building based on the measured temperature and humidity from the sensors in a unit of the present disclosure.

[0075] With reference to FIG. 10 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, the ventilation unit operates each respective fan within the unit as shown in the table. Based on the measured temperature for outside air, each fan will operate at a percentage of speed relative to the maximum fan speed. For example, if the outside air temperature is between 0 and 5° C. then the supply fan will operate between 30%-55%, the exhaust fan will operate between 50%-80% and the recirculation fan will operate at 90%. The specific percentage for each fan will be further influenced based on the mode of operation chosen by a user. In the current example of the outside temperature being between 0 and 5° C., if the mode of operation is Intermediate then the Supply fan will be at 45%, Exhaust fan at 75% and recirculation fan at 90%. This table is used when the unit is in mode 3 as defined under FIG. 9.

[0076] With further reference to FIG. 2A and according to one embodiment of the present invention, humidity is measure at two points being in Fresh Air intake 30 and exhaust port 62 which evacuates air from the building. If the humidity is higher in the Fresh Air (measured at intake port 30) than the humidity in exhaust air (measured at exhaust port 62) then the unit will reduce the speed of the intake fan for fresh air and increase the speed of the exhaust air at exhaust port 62. The unit will do the reverse if the humidity of the exhaust air is higher than the humidity of the fresh air. In other words, the speed fan of the fresh air intake will be increased whereas the speed fan of the exhaust air at exhaust port 62 will be decreased. By varying the speed of the fans in this manner, it allows for a user to control the humidity within a building.

[0077] With reference to FIGS. 1-8 and according to one embodiment of the present invention a ventilation unit for circulating air in a building is shown comprising:

[0078] A housing having a plurality of intake ports and exhaust ports for the intake and exhaust of air within the building;

[0079] An ERV core within the housing with said ERV core in fluid communication with a stale air intake port and in fluid communication with a stale air exhaust port for removing air from the building;

[0080] An HRV core within the housing in fluid communication with a recirculated air intake port and in fluid communication with a recirculated air exhaust port for recirculating air in the building;

[0081] A fresh air intake port in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores and a fresh air exhaust port for introducing fresh air in the building

[0082] a. wherein the recirculated air and stale air are impacted by the fresh air in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores.

[0083] With further reference to FIG. 9 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling a ventilation unit for a building comprising the following steps:

[0084] a. an active mode for activation;

[0085] b. an operation mode based on a measured time lapse and outside temperature measurement;

[0086] c. a defrost more if a certain outside temperature is measured; and

[0087] d. 4 a transfer mode prior to recommencing to activation mode.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0025]The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various modifications and / or alterations to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the disclosure and any modifications and / or alterations are within the scope of the contemplated disclosure.

[0026]With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ventilation unit 10 is shown according to one embodiment of the present invention. The ventilation unit 10 has a housing 20 having a plurality of ports for the intake and exhaust of air within a building. A first intake port 30 is for intake of fresh air from outside. In the present embodiment, ventilation unit 10 has one fresh intake port 30 for fresh air from outside but other embodiments could include more than one intake port for fresh air.

[0027]With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and according to one embodiment of the present invention, ventil...

Claims

1. A ventilation unit for circulating air in a building comprising:a housing having a plurality of intake ports and exhaust ports for the intake and exhaust of air within the building;an ERV core within the housing with said ERV core in fluid communication with a stale air intake port and in fluid communication with a stale air exhaust port for removing air from the building;an HRV core within the housing in fluid communication with a recirculated air intake port and in fluid communication with a recirculated air exhaust port for recirculating air in the building;a fresh air intake port in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores and a fresh air exhaust port for introducing fresh air in the buildingwherein the recirculated air and stale air are impacted by the fresh air in fluid communication with the ERV and HRV cores.

2. The ventilation unit according to claim 1 further comprising one or more temperature sensors within the housing.

3. The ventilation unit according to claim 1 further comprising one or more humidity sensors within the housing.

4. The ventilation unit according to claim 1 further comprising one or more fans.

5. The ventilation unit according to claim 1 further comprising one or more filters within one or more ports.

6. The ventilation unit according to claim 1 further comprising a processor.

7. A method for controlling a ventilation unit for a building comprising the following steps:an active mode for activation;an operation mode based on a measured time lapse and outside temperature measurement;a defrost more if a certain outside temperature is measured; anda transfer mode prior to recommencing to activation mode.

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