Ventilation system

Abstract

Provided is a ventilation system which can ventilate while individually exchanging heat between air supply and exhaust air for each living room, can ventilate while suppressing loss of thermal energy in each living room, can maintain comfort of a user in the living room, and can simplify a system configuration. To this end, the ventilation system for ventilating the inside of a building in which a living room and a non-living room are provided comprises: a supply air duct for introducing outside air from the outside and supplying the outside air into the building; an exhaust air duct for exhausting the air in the building to the outside; and a heat exchange unit for exchanging heat between the air passing through the supply air duct and the air passing through the exhaust air duct. The living room comprises: a first living room provided with both a supply air unit communicating with the supply air duct and an exhaust air unit communicating with the exhaust air duct; and a second living room provided with a supply air unit communicating with the supply air duct and being capable of circulating air to a non-living room provided with an exhaust air unit communicating with the exhaust air duct. The ventilation system further comprises a ventilation amount changing unit that changes the amount of ventilation of one or both of the supply air unit and the exhaust air unit.

Description

ventilation system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to ventilation systems.

[0002] Among ventilation systems, there is known one that is equipped with a heat exchange ventilator that exchanges heat between outside air supplied from outdoors to indoors and indoor air exhausted from indoors to outdoors, thereby guiding the outside air with a reduced temperature difference into the indoors (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-178396

[0004] However, when the ventilation system shown in Patent Document 1 is applied to a building with multiple rooms, the air is simultaneously supplied and exhausted from both heated and cooled rooms and non-heated rooms, so the heat recovered by the heat exchange ventilation system is also distributed to the non-heated rooms, resulting in some rooms experiencing a large loss of thermal energy.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a ventilation system that can ventilate each room individually while exchanging heat between the supply air and the exhaust air according to the usage status of each room, and that can ventilate while suppressing the loss of thermal energy in each room, while also simplifying the system configuration.

[0006] The ventilation system according to the present disclosure is a ventilation system for ventilating the interior of a building having occupied rooms and non-occupied rooms, and comprises: an air intake duct that introduces outside air from outdoors and supplies it into the building; an exhaust duct that exhausts air from inside the building to the outdoors; and a heat exchange unit that performs heat exchange between the air passing through the air intake duct and the air passing through the exhaust duct, wherein the occupied rooms include a first occupied room that is provided with both an air intake unit that communicates with the air intake duct and an exhaust unit that communicates with the exhaust duct, and a second occupied room that is provided with an air intake unit that communicates with the air intake duct and an exhaust unit that communicates with the exhaust duct, and that allows air to flow to the non-occupied room, and further comprises an air flow rate change unit that changes the air flow rate of one or both of the air intake unit and the exhaust unit.

[0007] According to the ventilation system of the present disclosure, it is possible to ventilate each room individually while allowing heat exchange between the supply air and the exhaust air depending on the usage status of each room, thereby enabling ventilation while suppressing the loss of thermal energy in each room and also achieving a simplified system configuration.

[0008] 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a building in which a ventilation system according to embodiment 1 is installed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a heat exchanger of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining an example of operation of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of operation of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of operation of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of operation of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the operation of a modified example of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining an example of the effect of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1 together with a comparative example. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a building in which a modified example of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1 is installed. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a building in which a modified example of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1 is installed. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration for realizing the functions of a control device of the ventilation system according to embodiment 1.

[0009] Embodiments for implementing a ventilation system according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, identical or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are appropriately simplified or omitted. For convenience, the following description may express the positional relationship of each structure based on the illustrated state. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and any combination of the embodiments, any modification of any component of each embodiment, or any omission of any component of each embodiment are possible within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12. Figure 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a building in which a ventilation system is installed. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a heat exchanger of the ventilation system. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the ventilation system. Each of Figures 4 to 6 is a flow diagram showing an example of the operation of the ventilation system. Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a modified ventilation system. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the effect of the ventilation system together with a comparative example. Each of Figures 9 to 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a building in which a modified ventilation system is installed. Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration for realizing the functions of a control device of the ventilation system.

[0011] The ventilation system according to this embodiment ventilates a building 10. The building 10 includes habitable rooms and non-habitable rooms. The habitable rooms include, for example, a living room, dining room, kitchen, Japanese-style room, bedroom, study, and children's room. The non-habitable rooms include, for example, a hallway, entrance hall, toilet, dressing room, and bathroom. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a building 10 in which a ventilation system according to this embodiment is installed. In the example illustrated in the figure, the building 10 includes three habitable rooms: room A 11, room B 12, and room C 13. room A 11 is a living / dining room and is a room where people spend relatively long periods of time. room B 12 and room C 13 are private rooms such as bedrooms, studies, and children's rooms, and are occupied for shorter periods of time than room A 11. FIG. 1 also illustrates a hallway 14 as an example of a non-habitable room within the building 10. In the illustrated example, room A 11 is located on the first floor of building 10, and room B 12, room C 13 and hallway 14 are located on the second floor of building 10.

[0012] An air conditioner is provided in each of the A room 11, the B room 12, and the C room 13. That is, the A room 11 is provided with a first air conditioner 21. The B room 12 is provided with a second air conditioner 22. The C room 13 is provided with a third air conditioner 23. In the present disclosure, the first air conditioner 21, the second air conditioner 22, and the third air conditioner 23 are collectively referred to as "air conditioners" without distinction. These air conditioners condition the air in the rooms. The air conditioners, for example, cool or heat air to cool or heat each room.

[0013] The ventilation system according to this embodiment includes a ventilation device 30. The ventilation device 30 has a housing. An intake air duct and an exhaust air duct are formed within the housing of the ventilation device 30. The intake air duct and the exhaust air duct of the ventilation device 30 each communicate with the outside of the building 10 via a duct or the like.

[0014] The ventilation system according to this embodiment also includes an air supply duct 40 and an exhaust duct 50 installed in the building 10. The air supply duct 40 is a duct for introducing outside air from outside and supplying it into the building. The exhaust duct 50 is a duct for exhausting air from inside the building 10 to the outside.

[0015] An air supply section is provided in the ceiling of each of the A room 11, the B room 12, and the C room 13. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1 , two first air supply sections 41 are provided in the A room 11. Furthermore, one second air supply section 42 is provided in the B room 12. And one third air supply section 43 is provided in the C room 13. In this disclosure, the first air supply section 41, the second air supply section 42, and the third air supply section 43 are collectively referred to as the "air supply section" without distinction. One end of the air supply duct 40 is connected to the air supply air passage of the ventilation device 30. The other end of the air supply duct 40 branches and is connected to each air supply section. In other words, each of these air supply sections is connected to the air supply duct 40.

[0016] Exhaust sections are provided on the ceilings of the A-room 11 and the corridor 14. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1 , two first exhaust sections 51 are provided in the A-room 11. Also, one second exhaust section 52 is provided in the corridor 14. In the present disclosure, the first exhaust section 51 and the second exhaust section 52 are collectively referred to as "exhaust sections" without distinction. One end of the exhaust duct 50 is connected to the exhaust air passage of the ventilation device 30. The other end of the exhaust duct 50 branches and is connected to each exhaust section. In other words, each of these exhaust sections is connected to the exhaust duct 50.

[0017] In this way, the A-room 11 is provided with both the first air supply section 41 and the first exhaust section 51. The A-room 11 is an example of a first room provided with both the first air supply section 41, which is an air supply section that communicates with the air supply duct 40, and the first exhaust section 51, which is an exhaust section that communicates with the exhaust duct 50.

[0018] Furthermore, room B 12 is provided with a second air supply section 42 but no exhaust section. Room C 13 is similarly provided with a third air supply section 43 but no exhaust section. Meanwhile, hallway 14 is provided with a second exhaust section 52 but no exhaust section. Hallway 14 is an example of a non-occupied room provided with an exhaust section that connects to exhaust duct 50. Air can circulate between room B 12 and room C 13 and the hallway 14. Air can circulate between room B 12 and room C 13 and the hallway 14, for example, through ventilation openings provided in the walls between these rooms and the hallway 14, undercuts in doors leading from these rooms to the hallway 14, or louvers provided in the doors, etc. Room B 12 and room C 13 are examples of second rooms that have an air supply section that connects to air supply duct 40 and allow air to flow between them and corridor 14, a non-residential room that has an exhaust section that connects to exhaust duct 50.

[0019] The ventilation device 30 is equipped with one or both of an intake fan and an exhaust fan (not shown). The intake fan is disposed in the intake air duct described above in the housing of the ventilation device 30. The exhaust fan is disposed in the exhaust air duct described above in the housing of the ventilation device 30.

[0020] When the intake fan of the ventilation device 30 operates, outside air from outside the building 10 is drawn into the intake air duct of the ventilation device 30. The outside air drawn into the intake air duct of the ventilation device 30 is then sent out to the intake air duct 40 by the intake fan. The air sent out to the intake air duct 40 is supplied into each room from the intake section. That is, outside air is supplied into room A 11 from the first intake air section 41. Also, outside air is supplied into room B 12 from the second intake air section 42, and outside air is supplied into room C 13 from the third intake air section 43.

[0021] When the exhaust fan operates, indoor air is drawn from the exhaust section into the exhaust air duct of the ventilation device 30 via the exhaust duct 50. Specifically, air in the A-room 11 is drawn into the exhaust duct 50 from the first exhaust section 51. Air in the corridor 14 is drawn into the exhaust duct 50 from the second exhaust section 52. The air drawn into the exhaust air duct of the ventilation device 30 is then discharged outside the building 10 by the exhaust fan.

[0022] As mentioned above, room B 12 and room C 13 are equipped with only an air supply section and no exhaust section. Furthermore, the hallway 14 is equipped with only an exhaust section and no air supply section. Air can flow from room B 12 and room C 13 to the hallway 14. Therefore, when air is supplied from the second air supply section 42 of room B 12 or the third air supply section 43 of room C 13 and simultaneously exhausted from the second exhaust section 52 of the hallway 14, the air inside room B 12 or room C 13 flows out of these rooms into the hallway 14 and is exhausted from the second exhaust section 52. In this way, room B 12 and room C 13, which are second rooms, can be ventilated via the hallway 14, which is a non-occupied room, and the second exhaust section 52 of the hallway 14.

[0023] As described above, the ventilation device 30 may be equipped with both an intake fan and an exhaust fan, or may be equipped with only one of an intake fan and an exhaust fan. When equipped with both an intake fan and an exhaust fan, the ventilation device 30 can perform type 1 ventilation, which mechanically supplies and exhausts air. When equipped with only an intake fan and no exhaust fan, the ventilation device 30 can perform type 2 ventilation using mechanical intake and natural exhaust. When equipped with only an exhaust fan and no intake fan, the ventilation device 30 can perform type 3 ventilation using natural intake and mechanical exhaust.

[0024] In the ventilation system according to this embodiment, the ventilation device 30 includes a heat exchanger 31. The heat exchanger 31 is provided inside the housing of the ventilation device 30. Inside the housing of the ventilation device 30, the aforementioned intake air duct and exhaust air duct are formed to intersect. The heat exchanger 31 is installed at the intersection of the intake air duct and the exhaust air duct. The heat exchanger 31 is a heat exchange element that exchanges heat between air passing through the intake air duct and air passing through the exhaust air duct.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, the heat exchange section 31 is constructed by alternately stacking flat heat exchange paper 31a and corrugated support paper 31b. The heat exchange paper 31a separates the intake air flow path from the exhaust air flow path. Heat exchange occurs between the intake air and the exhaust air through the heat exchange paper 31a. The support paper 31b supports the heat exchange paper 31a.

[0026] The support papers 31b are arranged so that the longitudinal directions of the groove-like recesses in the corrugated structure are perpendicular to each other between two adjacent support papers 31b sandwiching the heat exchange paper 31a. A plurality of parallel air supply flow paths are formed between the support paper 31b on one side of the heat exchange paper 31a and that side of the heat exchange paper 31a. Furthermore, a plurality of parallel air exhaust flow paths are formed between the support paper 31b on the other side of the heat exchange paper 31a and that side of the heat exchange paper 31a.

[0027] When viewed from a direction perpendicular to the surface of the heat exchange paper 31a, the supply air flow path and the exhaust air flow path are perpendicular to each other. When air flows through these flow paths, the supply air contacting one side of the heat exchange paper 31a and the exhaust air contacting the other side of the heat exchange paper 31a exchange heat through the heat exchange paper 31a without mixing with each other. In other words, the heat of the air with the higher temperature, either the supply air or the exhaust air, is transferred through the heat exchange paper 31a to the air on the opposite side of the heat exchange paper 31a. In this way, heat is exchanged between the supply air and the exhaust air passing through the heat exchange section 31.

[0028] When the ventilation device 30 is operating, indoor air is drawn into the exhaust duct 50 from the exhaust section and guided to the exhaust air duct of the ventilation device 30. The indoor air then passes through the heat exchanger 31. At the same time, fresh outdoor air is guided to the intake air duct of the ventilation device 30. The fresh outdoor air then passes through the heat exchanger 31. At this time, the indoor air and the fresh outdoor air cross each other through the heat exchanger 31, and only heat is exchanged through the heat exchanger 31. The indoor air is then exhausted outdoors. The fresh outdoor air passes through the intake duct 40 and is supplied indoors through the intake port. In this way, the heat exchanger 31 allows heat exchange between the air passing through the intake duct 40 and the air passing through the exhaust duct 50.

[0029] The ventilation system according to this embodiment further includes an airflow rate change unit that changes the airflow rate of one or both of the air intake unit and the exhaust unit. In the exemplary configuration shown in FIG. 1 , the airflow rate change unit changes the airflow rate of both the air intake unit and the exhaust unit. That is, the airflow rate change unit includes an air intake damper provided in each of the first air intake unit 41, the second air intake unit 42, and the third air intake unit 43. The airflow rate change unit can individually change the opening degree of these air intake dampers. By changing the opening degree of these air intake dampers, the airflow rate change unit can change the airflow rate, i.e., the air supply rate, of each of the first air intake unit 41, the second air intake unit 42, and the third air intake unit 43.

[0030] The airflow rate changing unit also includes an exhaust damper provided in each of the first exhaust section 51 and the second exhaust section 52. The airflow rate changing unit can change the opening degree of these exhaust dampers individually. By changing the opening degree of these exhaust dampers, the airflow rate changing unit can change the airflow rate, i.e., the exhaust rate, of each of the first exhaust section 51 and the second exhaust section 52. In the illustrated configuration example, the airflow rate changing unit is located in the intake section or exhaust section at the end of the duct, but this is not limitative. The airflow rate changing unit may also be located midway through the intake duct 40 or the exhaust duct 50.

[0031] The operation of the ventilation system according to this embodiment is controlled by a server 100. Each air conditioner, ventilation device 30, the intake dampers of each air supply section, and the exhaust dampers of each exhaust section are communicatively connected to the server 100. The server 100 is an example of a control device that controls the ventilation device 30, each air supply section, and each exhaust section.

[0032] In the illustrated example, the server 100 is installed outside the building 10. The air conditioners, the ventilation device 30, the air supply units, and the exhaust units communicate with the server 100 via a network 71 and a router 72. The network 71 is, for example, the Internet. Communication between the router 72 and the air conditioners, the ventilation device 30, the air supply units, and the exhaust units is preferably wireless, but is not limited to this and may be wired. The control device may be installed in the building 10 instead of in the server 100 outside the building 10. The control device may also be incorporated into the ventilation device 30 or each air conditioner.

[0033] In the ventilation system according to this embodiment, the server 100, which is a control device, controls the opening degree of the airflow rate change unit, i.e., the intake damper of each intake unit and the exhaust damper of each exhaust unit, depending on the operating state of each air conditioner when the ventilation device 30 is in operation. When the first air conditioner 21 in the A room 11 is not in air conditioning operation, the server 100 reduces the opening degree of one or both of the intake damper of the first intake unit 41 and the exhaust damper of the first exhaust unit 51 compared to when the first air conditioner 21 is in air conditioning operation. Here, when an air conditioner is in air conditioning operation, it means that the air conditioner is operating to mainly adjust the room temperature, i.e., performing cooling or heating operation.

[0034] For example, when the first air conditioner 21 is in air conditioning operation, the server 100 fully opens the intake damper of the first air supply section 41 and the exhaust damper of the first exhaust section 51. When the first air conditioner 21 is not in air conditioning operation, the server 100 fully closes the intake damper of the first air supply section 41 and the exhaust damper of the first exhaust section 51. It is not necessary to fully open or fully close each damper; it is sufficient that the damper opening degree is greater during air conditioning operation than when the air conditioning is stopped. In this way, the airflow rate change unit reduces the airflow rate of one or both of the intake and exhaust sections of the first room when the first room, A room 11, is not air-conditioned, compared to when the first room is air-conditioned.

[0035] Furthermore, when the second air conditioner 22 in room B 12 is not in air conditioning operation, the server 100 reduces the opening degree of one or both of the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52 compared to when the second air conditioner 22 is in air conditioning operation. For example, when the second air conditioner 22 is in air conditioning operation, the server 100 fully opens each of the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. Then, when the second air conditioner 22 is not in air conditioning operation, the server 100 fully closes each of the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52.

[0036] Similarly, when the third air conditioner 23 in room C 13 is not in air conditioning operation, the server 100 reduces the opening degree of one or both of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52 compared to when the third air conditioner 23 is in air conditioning operation. For example, when the third air conditioner 23 is in air conditioning operation, the server 100 fully opens each of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. Then, when the third air conditioner 23 is not in air conditioning operation, the server 100 fully closes each of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. In this way, when the second living room, B living room 12 or C living room 13, is not air-conditioned, the air flow rate change unit reduces the air flow rate of one or both of the air supply section of the second living room and the air exhaust section of the corridor 14, which is a non-living room, compared to when the second living room is air-conditioned.

[0037] The ventilation system configured as described above can ventilate each room individually while exchanging heat between the intake air and the exhaust air depending on the occupancy status of each room. This minimizes the loss of thermal energy in each room, thereby maintaining thermal comfort for users in the rooms. Furthermore, for the first room, where people spend a relatively long time, providing both an intake air section and an exhaust air section allows ventilation solely in the first room. For the second room, ventilation is performed via an adjacent non-occupied room, reducing the number of intake and exhaust air sections, dampers, intake ducts 40, and branching of the intake ducts 40 required, thereby simplifying the system configuration and improving ease of installation and cost performance. Since the second room is occupied for a shorter period of time than the first room, the loss of thermal energy in the second room due to air flow from the second room to the non-occupied room is also limited.

[0038] The ventilation system according to this embodiment may further include one or both of a room temperature sensor that detects the room temperature in each room and an occupancy sensor that detects the presence or number of occupants in each room. In the exemplary configuration shown in Fig. 1 , a first measuring device 61 is installed in room A 11. A second measuring device 62 is installed in room B 12. And a third measuring device 63 is installed in room C 13. In the present disclosure, the first measuring device 61, the second measuring device 62, and the third measuring device 63 are collectively referred to as "measuring devices" without distinction.

[0039] Each measuring device is equipped with a room temperature sensor and / or a human presence sensor. The room temperature sensor detects the room temperature of the room in which the measuring device is installed. The human presence sensor detects the presence or absence of human presence or the number of people in the room in which the measuring device is installed. The human presence sensor may be, for example, a Doppler sensor, an infrared sensor, an image sensor, an illuminance sensor (determined by lighting), or a power sensor (determined by power usage). Each measuring device may also be equipped with other sensors such as a humidity sensor or a carbon dioxide sensor. Each measuring device is communicatively connected to a server 100, which is a control device, via, for example, a router 72 and a network 71. Each measuring device transmits the detection results of the room temperature sensor and / or the human presence sensor to the server 100.

[0040] In this case, the server 100, which is the control device, may control the opening degree of the airflow rate change unit, i.e., the intake damper of each intake unit and the exhaust damper of each exhaust unit, depending on the detection results of the room temperature sensor or occupancy sensor of each measurement device during operation of the ventilation device 30. When the room temperature of room A 11 detected by the room temperature sensor of the first measurement device 61 does not satisfy a preset temperature condition, the server 100 may reduce the opening degree of one or both of the intake damper of the first intake unit 41 and the exhaust damper of the first exhaust unit 51 compared to when the room temperature of room A 11 satisfies the temperature condition. Here, the temperature condition may be considered to be satisfied when, for example, one or more of the following conditions are satisfied. If the temperature condition includes an outside air temperature, for example, an outside air temperature sensor (not shown) may be further provided.

[0041] - In summer, the room temperature of the room is below the predetermined summer standard room temperature. - In winter, the room temperature of the room is above the predetermined winter standard room temperature. - In summer, the difference between the room temperature of the room and the outside temperature is above the predetermined summer standard indoor / outdoor temperature difference. - In winter, the difference between the room temperature of the room and the outside temperature is above the predetermined winter standard indoor / outdoor temperature difference. - The difference between the room temperature of the room and the room temperature of other rooms is below the predetermined standard room temperature difference.

[0042] Under these conditions, the standard summer room temperature is, for example, 27°C. The standard winter room temperature is, for example, 20°C. The standard summer temperature difference between inside and outside the room is, for example, 8K. The standard winter temperature difference between inside and outside the room is, for example, 13K. These standard values ​​may be determined from historical information on past temperatures.

[0043] For example, when the room temperature of room A 11 detected by the room temperature sensor of first measuring device 61 satisfies the temperature condition, server 100 fully opens the intake damper of first air supply unit 41 and the exhaust damper of first exhaust unit 51. When the detected room temperature of room A 11 does not satisfy the temperature condition, server 100 fully closes the intake damper of first air supply unit 41 and the exhaust damper of first exhaust unit 51. In this way, when the room temperature of room A 11, the first room, does not satisfy the preset temperature condition, the airflow rate change unit reduces the airflow rate of one or both of the intake and exhaust units of the first room compared to when the room temperature of the first room satisfies the temperature condition.

[0044] Furthermore, when the room temperature of room B 12 detected by the room temperature sensor of the second measuring device 62 does not satisfy the above-mentioned temperature condition, the server 100 may reduce the opening degree of one or both of the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52 compared to when the detected room temperature of room B 12 satisfies the temperature condition. For example, when the room temperature of room B 12 detected by the room temperature sensor of the second measuring device 62 satisfies the above-mentioned temperature condition, the server 100 fully opens each of the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. When the detected room temperature of room B 12 does not satisfy the temperature condition, the server 100 fully closes each of the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52.

[0045] Similarly, when the room temperature of room C 13 detected by the room temperature sensor of the third measuring device 63 does not satisfy the above-mentioned temperature condition, the server 100 may reduce the opening degree of one or both of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52 compared to when the detected room temperature of room C 13 satisfies the temperature condition. For example, when the room temperature of room C 13 detected by the room temperature sensor of the third measuring device 63 satisfies the above-mentioned temperature condition, the server 100 fully opens each of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. When the detected room temperature of room C 13 does not satisfy the temperature condition, the server 100 fully closes each of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. In this way, when the room temperature of the second living room, B living room 12 or C living room 13, does not satisfy the predetermined temperature conditions, the airflow volume change unit reduces the airflow volume of one or both of the air supply section of the second living room and the air exhaust section of the corridor 14, which is a non-living room, compared to when the room temperature of the second living room satisfies the temperature conditions.

[0046] Furthermore, when the presence sensor of the first measuring device 61 does not detect a person in room A 11, the server 100 may reduce the opening degree of one or both of the air supply damper of the first air supply unit 41 and the exhaust damper of the first exhaust unit 51 compared to when a person is detected in room A 11. For example, when the presence sensor of the first measuring device 61 detects a person in room A 11, the server 100 fully opens the air supply damper of the first air supply unit 41 and the exhaust damper of the first exhaust unit 51. When the presence sensor of the first measuring device 61 does not detect a person in room A 11, the server 100 fully closes the air supply damper of the first air supply unit 41 and the exhaust damper of the first exhaust unit 51. In this way, the airflow rate change unit reduces the airflow rate of one or both of the air supply unit and the exhaust unit of the first room when there is no person in room A 11, compared to when there is a person in the first room.

[0047] Furthermore, when the presence sensor of the second measuring device 62 does not detect a person in room B 12, the server 100 may reduce the opening degree of one or both of the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52 compared to when a person is detected in room B 12. For example, when the presence sensor of the second measuring device 62 detects a person in room B 12, the server 100 fully opens the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. When the presence sensor of the second measuring device 62 does not detect a person in room B 12, the server 100 fully closes the intake air damper of the second air supply section 42 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52.

[0048] Similarly, when the presence sensor of the third measuring device 63 does not detect a person in room C 13, the server 100 may reduce the opening degree of one or both of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52 compared to when a person is detected in room C 13. For example, when the presence sensor of the third measuring device 63 detects a person in room C 13, the server 100 fully opens each of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. Then, when the presence sensor of the third measuring device 63 does not detect a person in room C 13, the server 100 fully closes each of the intake air damper of the third air supply section 43 and the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52. In this way, when there is no one in the second living room B living room 12 or C living room 13, the airflow rate change unit reduces the airflow rate of one or both of the air supply section of the second living room and the air exhaust section of the non-living room corridor 14, when compared to when there is a person in the second living room. Note that the number of people may be detected by a human sensor, and the opening degree of the damper may be controlled in stages in proportion to the number of people detected.

[0049] Figure 3 shows a table summarizing an example of the operation of the ventilation system configured as described above. In the table, a circle in the "Heating / Cooling" column indicates that the air conditioner in the corresponding room is operating, and an "X" in the same column indicates that the air conditioner in the corresponding room is not operating. Furthermore, a circle in the "Supply Air" and "Exhaust Air" columns indicates that the supply air damper in the corresponding room and the exhaust damper in the corresponding room or the exhaust damper in a non-occupied room adjacent to the corresponding room are fully open. An "X" in the "Supply Air" and "Exhaust Air" columns indicates that the supply air damper in the corresponding room and the exhaust damper in the corresponding room or the exhaust damper in a non-occupied room adjacent to the corresponding room are fully closed. Finally, a circle in the "Room Temperature Detection / Human Presence Detection" column indicates that the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor of the measuring device in the corresponding room satisfies the temperature conditions described above, or that a human presence is detected by the human presence sensor of the measuring device in the corresponding room. An "X" in the "Room Temperature Detection / Humanity Detection" column indicates that the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor of the measuring device in the room does not meet the temperature conditions described above, or that no human has been detected by the human sensor of the measuring device in the room.

[0050] Next, an example of operation of the ventilation system configured as described above will be described with reference to the flow charts of Figures 4 to 6. Figure 4 shows an example of operation when the airflow rate change unit, i.e., the supply air damper and exhaust air damper, are controlled according to the operating state of the air conditioner in each room. This operation flow is performed for each room. First, in step S11, the server 100, which is the control device, determines whether the air conditioner in that room is in air conditioning operation. If the air conditioner in that room is in air conditioning operation, the server 100, which is the control device, then performs the process of step S12.

[0051] In step S12, server 100 opens the airflow rate change unit for the room. That is, server 100 fully opens the intake air damper for the room and the exhaust damper for the room or the exhaust damper for a non-occupied room adjacent to the room. On the other hand, if the air conditioner for the room is not in air conditioning operation in step S11, server 100, which is the control device, then performs the process of step S13. In step S13, server 100 closes the airflow rate change unit for the room. That is, server 100 fully closes the intake air damper for the room and the exhaust damper for the room or the exhaust damper for a non-occupied room adjacent to the room.

[0052] 5 shows an example of the operation of controlling the airflow rate change unit, i.e., the intake air damper and exhaust air damper, depending on whether the room temperature in each room satisfies the temperature conditions described above. This operation flow is performed for each room. First, in step S21, the server 100, which is the control device, determines whether the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor of the measuring device in that room satisfies the temperature conditions described above. If the room temperature satisfies the temperature conditions, the server 100, which is the control device, then performs the process in step S22.

[0053] In step S22, server 100 opens the airflow rate change unit for the room. That is, server 100 fully opens the intake air damper for the room and the exhaust damper for the room or the exhaust damper for a non-occupied room adjacent to the room. On the other hand, if the room temperature in the room does not satisfy the temperature condition in step S21, server 100, which is the control device, then performs the process of step S23. In step S23, server 100 closes the airflow rate change unit for the room. That is, server 100 fully closes the intake air damper for the room and the exhaust damper for the room or the exhaust damper for a non-occupied room adjacent to the room.

[0054] 6 shows an example of the operation of controlling the airflow rate changing unit, i.e., the intake air damper and exhaust air damper, depending on whether or not a person is present in each room. This operation flow is performed for each room. First, in step S31, the server 100, which is the control device, determines whether or not the human sensor of the measuring device in that room has detected a person. If the human sensor of the measuring device in that room has detected a person, the server 100, which is the control device, then performs the process of step S32.

[0055] In step S32, server 100 opens the airflow rate change unit for the occupant room. That is, server 100 fully opens the intake air damper for the occupant room and the exhaust damper for the occupant room or the exhaust damper for a non-occupant room adjacent to the occupant room. On the other hand, if the human sensor of the measurement device in the occupant room does not detect a person in step S31, server 100, which is the control device, then performs the process of step S33. In step S33, server 100 closes the airflow rate change unit for the occupant room. That is, server 100 fully closes the intake air damper for the occupant room and the exhaust damper for the occupant room or the exhaust damper for a non-occupant room adjacent to the occupant room.

[0056] In the ventilation system according to this embodiment, the rooms to be ventilated may be rotated at regular intervals. That is, the server 100, which is the control device, may ventilate multiple rooms in a predetermined order. In this case, the airflow rate change unit increases the airflow rate of each air supply unit in the predetermined order for the multiple rooms. When the airflow rate of the air supply unit for one room is increased, the airflow rate of the air supply units for the other rooms is decreased. When the airflow rate of the first air supply unit 41 for the first room, A room 11, is increased, the airflow rate of the first exhaust unit 51 for the first room, A room 11, is increased. When the airflow rate of the air supply unit for the second room, B room 12 or C room 13, is increased, the airflow rate of the second exhaust unit 52 for the hallway 14, a non-occupied room adjacent to these rooms, is increased.

[0057] Figure 7 shows an example of changing the rooms to be ventilated on a regular rotation basis. The "open" symbol in the figure indicates that the air intake damper for that room is opened to increase the airflow rate. The "closed" symbol in the figure indicates that the air intake damper for that room is closed to decrease the airflow rate. The exhaust damper for the first exhaust section 51 of room A 11 is opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of the air intake damper for the first air intake section 41 of room A 11. The exhaust damper for the second exhaust section 52 of the hallway 14 is opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of the air intake damper for the second air intake section 42 of room B 12. The opening and closing of the exhaust damper for the second exhaust section 52 of the hallway 14 is also opened and closed in conjunction with the opening and closing of the air intake damper for the third air intake section 43 of room C 13. That is, the exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52 of the corridor 14 is open both when the air supply damper of the second air supply section 42 of the B room 12 is open and when the air supply damper of the third air supply section 43 of the C room 13 is open. The exhaust damper of the second exhaust section 52 of the corridor 14 is closed when both the air supply damper of the second air supply section 42 of the B room 12 and the air supply damper of the third air supply section 43 of the C room 13 are closed at the same time, that is, when the air supply damper of the first air supply section 41 of the A room 11 is open.

[0058] In the illustrated example, the rooms to be ventilated are rotated every 30 minutes. The time for changing the rooms to be ventilated can be determined based on the ventilation airflow rate of each room so that the average ventilation rate over 24 hours is 0.5 times / h or more. Specifically, for example, if room A 11 has a spatial volume of 100 m^3 and the supply airflow rate to room A 11 is 100 m^3 / h, and room B 12 has a spatial volume of 50 m^3 and the supply airflow rate to room B 12 is 50 m^3 / h, the rooms to be ventilated can be rotated every 30 minutes as shown in the illustrated example.

[0059] Next, an example of the effect achieved by the ventilation system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 8. The figure shows a comparison table comparing the results when room A 11, room B 12, and room C 13 are ventilated individually by the ventilation system according to this embodiment, and the results when three rooms A 11, room B 12, and room C 13 are ventilated simultaneously by a conventional ventilation system.

[0060] In this example, the room temperature of room A 11, which is heated by the first air conditioner 21, is 20°C, the room temperature of room B 12, which is not in heating operation by the second air conditioner 22, is 10°C, and the room temperature of room C 13, which is not in heating operation by the third air conditioner 23, is 10°C. Furthermore, the outside air temperature of the building 10 is 0°C, and the temperature exchange efficiency η of the heat exchanger 31 of the ventilation device 30 is 0.7. The temperature exchange efficiency η is calculated using the following formula (1). The supply air temperature is the temperature of the air flowing through the supply air duct 40, and the return air temperature is the temperature of the air flowing through the exhaust duct 50.

[0061] η = (supply air temperature - outside air temperature) / (return air temperature - outside air temperature) ... (1)

[0062] When the air from room A 11, room B 12, and room C 13 is mixed and returned to the ventilation device 30 as in the conventional comparative example, the supply air temperature is 10.5°C. On the other hand, by using the ventilation system of this embodiment to ventilate room A 11 alone while it is being heated, the supply air temperature to room A 11 is 14.0°C. In this way, compared to when all rooms are ventilated simultaneously and the intake and exhaust air are mixed, ventilating room A 11 alone reduces the air conditioning load due to ventilation, and reduces the amount of energy consumed by the air conditioning operation of the first air conditioner 21 in room A 11.

[0063] The ventilation system according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a ventilation rate changer (i.e., damper) may be provided only in the air supply section, or as shown in FIG. 10, a ventilation rate changer (i.e., damper) may be provided only in the air exhaust section. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, a ventilation rate changer (i.e., damper) may be provided only in the air supply section of rooms B and C, which are second occupants with limited usage hours, and in the air exhaust section of the corridor 14, a non-occupant room adjacent to these rooms. Alternatively, a ventilation rate changer (i.e., damper) may be provided only in the air supply section of rooms B and C, which are second occupants, or a ventilation rate changer (i.e., damper) may be provided only in the air exhaust section of the corridor 14, a non-occupant room adjacent to the second occupants.

[0064] 12 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for realizing the functions of the server 100 in this embodiment. The functions of the server 100 are realized, for example, by a processing circuit. The processing circuit may include a processor 101 and a memory 102. The processing circuit may also be dedicated hardware 103. A part of the processing circuit may be formed as dedicated hardware 103, and the processing circuit may further include a processor 101 and a memory 102. In the example shown in the figure, a part of the processing circuit is formed as dedicated hardware 103. Furthermore, in the example shown in the figure, the processing circuit further includes a processor 101 and a memory 102.

[0065] The processing circuitry, part of which is at least one dedicated hardware 103, may be, for example, a single circuit, a multiple circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. If the processing circuitry comprises at least one processor 101 and at least one memory 102, the functionality of the server 100 may be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware.

[0066] The software and firmware are written as programs and stored in memory 102. The processor 101 realizes the functions of each unit by reading and executing the programs stored in memory 102. The processor 101 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 102 may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, or EEPROM, or a magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, compact disk, minidisk, DVD, etc.

[0067] In this way, the processing circuit of the server 100 can realize each function of the server 100 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these. When the processing circuit of the server 100 includes at least the processor 101 and the memory 102, the processor 101 executes a program stored in the memory 102 in the server 100, and the hardware and software of the server 100 work together to realize the functions of each unit of the server 100. Note that the ventilation system is not limited to a configuration in which operation is controlled by a single server 100. The ventilation system may also be configured such that operation is controlled by multiple devices working together.

[0068] The present disclosure can be used in a ventilation system for ventilating the interior of a building that has occupied rooms and non-occupied rooms.

[0069] 10 Building 11 Room A 12 Room B 13 Room C 14 Corridor 21 First air conditioner 22 Second air conditioner 23 Third air conditioner 30 Ventilation device 31 Heat exchange section 31a Heat exchange paper 31b Support paper 40 Air supply duct 41 First air supply section 42 Second air supply section 43 Third air supply section 50 Exhaust duct 51 First exhaust section 52 Second exhaust section 61 First measuring device 62 Second measuring device 63 Third measuring device 71 Network 72 Router 100 Server 101 Processor 102 Memory 103 Dedicated hardware

Claims

1. A ventilation system for ventilating the interior of a building having occupied rooms and non-occupied rooms, comprising: an air intake duct that takes in outside air from outdoors and supplies it into the building; an exhaust duct that exhausts air from inside the building to the outdoors; and a heat exchange unit that performs heat exchange between the air passing through the air intake duct and the air passing through the exhaust duct, wherein the occupied rooms include: a first occupied room that is provided with both an air intake unit that communicates with the air intake duct and an exhaust unit that communicates with the exhaust duct; and a second occupied room that is provided with an air intake unit that communicates with the air intake duct and an exhaust unit that communicates with the exhaust duct, and that allows air to flow to the non-occupied room, and further comprising an air flow rate change unit that changes the air flow rate of one or both of the air intake unit and the exhaust unit.

2. The ventilation system of claim 1, wherein the airflow rate change unit reduces the airflow rate of one or both of the air supply section and the exhaust section of the first living room when the first living room is not air-conditioned, compared to when the first living room is air-conditioned, and reduces the airflow rate of one or both of the air supply section of the second living room and the exhaust section of the non-living room when the second living room is not air-conditioned, compared to when the second living room is air-conditioned.

3. A ventilation system as described in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a room temperature sensor that detects the room temperature of each of the living rooms, wherein the airflow rate change unit reduces the airflow rate of one or both of the air intake section and the air exhaust section of the first living room when the room temperature of the first living room does not satisfy a predetermined temperature condition, compared to when the room temperature of the first living room satisfies the temperature condition, and reduces the airflow rate of one or both of the air intake section of the second living room and the air exhaust section of the non-living room when the room temperature of the second living room does not satisfy the temperature condition, compared to when the room temperature of the second living room satisfies the temperature condition.

4. A ventilation system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a human sensor that detects the presence or absence of a person in each of the rooms, wherein the air flow rate change unit reduces the air flow rate of one or both of the air supply section and the exhaust section of the first room when there is no person in the first room compared to when there is a person in the first room, and reduces the air flow rate of one or both of the air supply section of the second room and the exhaust section of the non-occupied room when there is no person in the second room compared to when there is a person in the second room.

5. A ventilation system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the airflow rate change unit increases the airflow rate of the air supply section of each of the living rooms in a predetermined order for the living rooms, and when increasing the airflow rate of the air supply section of the first living room, increases the airflow rate of the air exhaust section of the first living room, and when increasing the airflow rate of the air supply section of the second living room, increases the airflow rate of the air exhaust section of the non-living room.

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