Laboratory Fume Hood Airflow Setback Using Usage Condition Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laboratory fume hoods consume excessive energy due to high airflow requirements, leading to high operating costs and environmental impact, while existing solutions for reducing airflow often compromise safety and are inefficient or prone to malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
Implement a system that automatically reduces the minimum airflow setting of a fume hood when it is determined to be in a non-use condition, using a multipoint air sampling system and equipment detection to ensure safety and energy efficiency, allowing for phased minimum flow reductions based on usage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the minimum airflow through a fume hood is reduced to save energy, then energy consumption decreases, but safety and containment performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the minimum airflow setting of the fume hood based on real-time monitoring of usage conditions. When the hood is determined to be in non-use condition through multipoint air sampling and equipment detection, the system automatically reduces the minimum airflow setting to save energy. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize energy consumption while maintaining safety during actual use periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring through a multipoint air sampling system that detects airborne contaminants and equipment detection sensors that monitor hood usage status. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about hood conditions, enabling the control system to make informed decisions about airflow adjustment. The feedback ensures that safety is maintained by detecting when contaminants are present or when equipment indicates active use, preventing unsafe reduction of airflow.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the minimum airflow setting is automatically reduced based on usage conditions, then energy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified control platform that combines multipoint air sampling, equipment detection, usage condition determination, and minimum airflow adjustment. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single integrated solution, reducing overall system complexity while achieving energy efficiency goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines usage conditions and adjusts minimum airflow settings without requiring manual intervention or complex external control systems. The multipoint air sampling system and equipment detection work together to self-assess hood status and trigger appropriate airflow adjustments, eliminating the need for additional complex control infrastructure.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented to ensure safety during airflow reduction, then safety is maintained, but energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic air sampling and monitoring rather than continuous high-intensity monitoring. The multipoint air sampling system operates at intervals to detect contaminants and assess usage conditions, providing sufficient safety assurance while consuming less energy than continuous monitoring would require. This periodic approach balances safety requirements with energy conservation goals.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus are described which can safely reduce a laboratory fume hood's minimum airflow and energy consumption when it is determined that the fume hood is not in active use, based on a condition monitoring approach. The condition monitoring approach may incorporate a combination of setback criteria to reliably determine if the fume hood is or is not in use. When a determination has been made that a fume hood is not in use, energy reduction is achieved via automatic methods of hood minimum airflow setback. Fume hood minimum flow reductions are automatically disabled when it is determined that the hood is in active use.