Air flow control apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Constant pressure ventilation systems in high-rise buildings face issues with over-ventilation and reduced energy efficiency due to the need for higher airflow resistance in damper grilles to compensate for pressure drops, which cannot be completely eliminated by existing designs.
Innovation Solution
An airflow control apparatus with a housing, controller, sensor, and damper arrangement that adjusts the airflow rate between a room and a ventilation duct to maintain pre-determined target rates, using a static and movable damper plate system driven by a motor and processor, allowing for seamless transition between trickle and boost flow rates based on occupancy detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If airflow resistance in damper grilles is increased to compensate for pressure drops in constant pressure ventilation systems, then pressure stability is improved, but over-ventilation occurs and energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the damper grille airflow resistance variable rather than fixed. The damper grille includes a movable damper element that can adjust its position to change the effective airflow resistance dynamically. This allows the system to maintain pressure stability while preventing over-ventilation by adjusting resistance in real-time based on actual ventilation needs, thereby improving energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of airflow resistance from a fixed value to a variable parameter. By incorporating a controllable damper mechanism, the airflow resistance can be adjusted to optimal levels, preventing the excessive resistance that causes over-ventilation and energy waste while still maintaining adequate pressure stability in the ventilation system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If damper grilles are designed with higher airflow resistance to maintain constant pressure, then pressure control is improved, but ventilation precision deteriorates due to over-ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics to enable real-time adjustment of damper grille resistance, allowing the system to maintain precise ventilation control while stabilizing pressure. The movable damper element responds to control signals that adjust resistance dynamically, preventing the over-ventilation that occurs with fixed high-resistance designs and thereby improving ventilation precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the system monitors ventilation performance and pressure conditions, then adjusts the damper grille resistance accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that pressure control and ventilation precision work together harmoniously, preventing over-ventilation by reducing resistance when appropriate while maintaining pressure stability when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described an air flow apparatus (20) comprising, a housing (21) having an inlet (22) and an outlet (23) and a controller (24) for controlling the flow of air flowing through the housing (21) from the inlet (22) to the outlet (23). A sensor (32) is provided for sensing the flow rate of air flowing through the housing (21) and generating a signal (34) indicative thereof. The controller (24) is arranged to control the flow rate of the air through the housing (21) in dependence upon the sensor output.