HVAC Blower Control for Continuous Air Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems do not provide continuous air cleaning when there is no need to heat or cool the environment, leading to unclean air during periods of stable temperature, and require user intervention to maintain air quality, which can result in unnecessary energy usage.
Innovation Solution
An active air cleaning controller that monitors air quality and blower runtime, autonomously activating the HVAC system to ensure continuous air cleaning and notifies users when filter replacement is needed, allowing for user-selectable cleaning levels and types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the HVAC system runs continuously to provide air cleaning, then air quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses air quality sensors to continuously monitor conditions and provides feedback to the controller, which automatically adjusts blower operation. This closed-loop control ensures the blower runs only when air quality deteriorates, resolving the contradiction between maintaining air quality and minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously monitors air quality and controls the blower without user intervention. The controller automatically determines when cleaning is needed and activates the blower, eliminating the need for users to manually manage the system while optimizing energy usage based on actual air quality conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the HVAC system runs only when heating or cooling is needed, then energy consumption is reduced, but air cleaning is not provided during stable temperature periods
Solution Approach 1:
The blower system serves multiple functions: heating, cooling, and air cleaning. The controller manages the blower to fulfill all three functions as needed, allowing the single system to provide diverse services without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors both temperature conditions and air quality conditions, using feedback from both parameters to control blower operation. This dual-monitoring approach ensures the blower runs for air cleaning even when temperature is stable, resolving the contradiction between energy savings and continuous air cleaning.
3Use of energy by moving object
If manual control is used to activate the HVAC system for air cleaning, then energy usage is optimized, but user intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system autonomously monitors air quality and controls the blower without user intervention. The controller automatically determines when cleaning is needed and activates the blower, eliminating the need for users to manually manage the system while optimizing energy usage based on actual air quality conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses air quality sensors to continuously monitor conditions and provides feedback to the controller, which automatically adjusts blower operation. This closed-loop control ensures the blower runs only when air quality deteriorates, resolving the contradiction between maintaining air quality and minimizing energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
An active air cleaning controller is connected to a forced air heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The active air cleaning controller uses call signals from a thermostat to the HVAC system and/or sensor signals to determine when, and for how long, the blower of the HVAC system has been active and whether to independently activate the blower. The active air cleaning controller uses at least the collected information regarding the blower run time to determine when to activate the blower, in addition to its use within the HVAC system, to cycle and thus clean the air in a living environment independently of call signals used to activate heating and/or cooling functions of the HVAC system.