Fume Hood Airflow Control Using Image-Based Opening Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fume hoods often face challenges in maintaining optimal airflow, leading to safety issues due to low airflow velocities allowing contaminants to escape, while high airflow rates result in wasteful conditioning and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing sensors to image the fume hood opening, combined with configuration information, to calculate and control the desired airflow through a controller, which communicates with a ventilation device to maintain safe and efficient airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high airflow rate is maintained through the fume hood, then safety is improved by preventing contaminant escape, but energy consumption increases due to wasteful conditioning of large air volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic airflow control by using image sensors to detect the position of sashes or doors and automatically adjusting the ventilation system's airflow rate accordingly. When sashes are partially closed, the system reduces airflow; when fully open, it increases airflow. This dynamic adjustment maintains safety requirements while optimizing energy consumption by matching ventilation capacity to actual opening conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If low airflow rate is used through the fume hood, then energy consumption is reduced, but safety deteriorates as contaminants may exit the fume hood
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control by continuously monitoring the position of sashes or doors through image sensors and using this information to adjust the ventilation airflow rate. The controller receives real-time data about opening status and automatically modulates the ventilation system to maintain appropriate airflow velocities, ensuring safety is never compromised while optimizing energy usage based on actual operational conditions.
3Reliability
If high volume airflow is maintained through the fume hood at all times, then contaminant containment is improved, but cost increases due to conditioning and supplying additional air to replace exhausted air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic airflow control by using image sensors to detect the position of sashes or doors and automatically adjusting the ventilation system's airflow rate accordingly. When sashes are partially closed, the system reduces airflow; when fully open, it increases airflow. This dynamic adjustment maintains safety requirements while optimizing energy consumption by matching ventilation capacity to actual opening conditions.
4Use of energy by moving object
If automated control using image sensors is implemented, then energy optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual monitoring and control mechanisms with an automated optical sensing system. Image sensors capture visual information about sash or door positions, and a controller automatically translates this visual data into appropriate ventilation control signals. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with optical sensing and automated control achieves energy optimization while the added complexity is confined to the sensing and control electronics rather than mechanical components.
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 ensures safe operation by maintaining optimal airflow velocities while reducing energy consumption and conditioning costs by dynamically adjusting airflow based on the fume hood opening size and configuration.
Implementation Method 1
The sensors may include a visible light sensor, an infrared light (IR) sensor, an ultraviolet light (UV) sensor
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to fume hoods, and more particularly to systems and methods for controlling a fume hood airflow using an image (e.g., an optical image, an acoustic image, etc.) of a fume hood opening. A system for controlling a fume hood may include an image capture sensor, a configurator and a controller. The image capture sensor may be positioned to have a field of view that includes at least a portion of a fume hood opening, and may be configured to capture an image that includes at least part of the fume hood opening and/or a person working at the hood. The controller may then provide a control signal to a ventilation device for providing a desired airflow in the fume hood. The control signal may depending on the current size of the fume hood opening as captured by the image capture sensor.