Air Handling Unit Scrubbing to Cut HVAC Air Replacement Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
HVAC systems face significant energy consumption due to frequent replacement of air to maintain air quality, which increases thermal load and energy usage, especially in extreme climates.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with gas scrubbers and an oxygen injection system that divert a fraction of circulating air for scrubbing CO2 and other unwanted substances, reducing the need for extensive air replacement and thermal load, while using sensors and controllers to adjust air intake and exhaust rates based on air quality measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent extensive air replacement is performed to maintain air quality, then air quality and composition are maintained, but energy consumption and thermal load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes specific unwanted substances (CO2, VOCs, contaminants) from the circulating air using scrubbers and filtration systems, rather than replacing all air. This selective removal maintains air quality while preserving the majority of conditioned air for recirculation, significantly reducing energy consumption associated with heating and cooling fresh air.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts air replacement rates based on measured concentrations of CO2, VOCs, and other contaminants. By monitoring these parameters and modulating ventilation rates accordingly, the system maintains air quality standards while minimizing unnecessary air replacement and associated energy consumption.
2Reliability
If outside air is injected to replace exhaust air, then oxygen levels are restored and CO2 is reduced, but thermal load on the air handling unit increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unwanted gases (CO2, VOCs, contaminants) from the circulating air stream using scrubbers and filters before recirculation. This extraction process eliminates the need to introduce large amounts of outside air for compositional reasons, thereby reducing the thermal load on the air handling unit while maintaining proper air composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scrubbing and filtration of circulating air before it is recirculated, removing contaminants in advance. This preliminary action prevents the accumulation of unwanted substances, allowing the system to maintain air composition standards with minimal outside air replacement and reduced thermal load.
3Reliability
If higher rates of air replacement are used, then air quality standards are met, but HVAC system energy usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that continuously monitor CO2 levels, VOC concentrations, and other air quality parameters. This feedback information is used to dynamically adjust air replacement rates, ensuring that ventilation is optimized to meet air quality standards without excessive energy consumption. The system responds to actual air quality conditions rather than operating at fixed high replacement rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, fixed air replacement rates to dynamic, variable rates based on real-time air quality measurements. By making the ventilation rate adjustable and responsive to actual contaminant levels, the system maintains air quality standards while optimizing energy efficiency according to occupancy and environmental conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces energy consumption by minimizing air replacement, lowers the thermal load on HVAC systems, and maintains desirable air quality with significant energy savings.
Implementation Method 1
removing unwanted substances such as gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), contaminants, particles, etc. using scrubbers or other devices that can separate these gases from the circulating air
Implementation Method 2
Optionally, the quality of air can be further improved with injection of concentrated oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for circulating air in an enclosed environment are disclosed. An inlet can be provided to receive an outside air from outside of the enclosed environment and an air handling unit coupled to the inlet to receive the outside air through the inlet and configured to receive a circulated air from the enclosed environment. The air handling unit can be configured to affect a temperature of at least one of the received outside air and the received circulated air. Based on the received outside air and the received circulated air, the air handling unit can be further configured to generate air for supplying to the enclosed environment. The current subject matter system can also include an air circulation system configured to circulate the generated air from the air handling unit to the enclosed environment and back to the air handling unit and a scrubbing system coupled to at least one of the air handling unit and the air circulation system and configured to reduce presence of at least one substance in the air supplied to the enclosed environment.