Building management system with particulate sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building management systems lack efficient methods for real-time particulate sensing and control of air quality within buildings, particularly in managing HVAC systems to maintain optimal indoor air quality and reduce contaminants.
Innovation Solution
An integrated sampling system for HVAC units that includes piping, sensors, and a processing circuit to collect and analyze air stream samples, estimating air quality indicators and controlling HVAC equipment based on these measurements, including size-resolved particulate analysis and filtration efficiency assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple separate sensors are used to measure different air quality parameters, then measurement coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (particulate matter sensor, CO2 sensor, VOC sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor) into a single integrated sensor assembly that samples air through a common sampling port. This merging approach maintains comprehensive air quality measurement coverage while reducing system complexity by consolidating multiple measurement functions into one unified device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor assembly serves multiple measurement functions simultaneously through a single device. The sampling system universally collects air samples that are distributed to multiple sensor types, allowing one sampling infrastructure to support diverse air quality parameters including particulates, gases, temperature, and humidity measurements.
2Measurement precision
If continuous air sampling is performed across multiple zones, then air quality monitoring accuracy is improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sampling cycles where the sampling pump operates intermittently rather than continuously. The switching manifold directs samples from different zones in sequence during each sampling cycle, allowing comprehensive multi-zone monitoring while reducing energy consumption by keeping the pump dormant between sampling intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling system is segmented into multiple independent sampling lines, each serving different air zones or parameters. The switching manifold divides the sampling flow into separate channels that can be activated selectively, allowing the system to monitor multiple zones with reduced energy expenditure by activating only the necessary sampling paths at any given time.
3Reliability
If integrated sampling is implemented in the air handling unit, then air quality control effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling system is merged directly into the air handling unit structure, with sampling ports positioned at strategic locations within the HVAC system. This integration consolidates air quality monitoring functions with the existing air handling infrastructure, improving control effectiveness by measuring air quality at the source while minimizing additional installation complexity by utilizing the HVAC unit's existing housing and airflow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sampling system acts as an intermediary between the air handling unit and the building zones it serves. By positioning sensors and sampling ports within the air handling unit, the system monitors air quality conditions in the conditioned air stream before distribution, providing reliable control data while simplifying installation by leveraging the existing HVAC infrastructure rather than requiring separate monitoring installations in each zone.
4Productivity
If real-time air quality data is collected and analyzed, then HVAC control optimization is improved, but data processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback control where sensor measurements of air quality parameters (particulates, CO2, VOCs, temperature, humidity) are continuously fed back to the air handling unit controller. This feedback loop enables automatic HVAC optimization by adjusting ventilation rates, filtration, and temperature control based on actual measured conditions, improving productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized control algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for particulate sensing of a building. Some embodiments relate to an air handling unit of an HVAC system of a building. The air handling unit includes ducting, one or more air dampers coupled to the ducting, and an integrated sampling system including piping coupled to at least one of the ducting or the one or more air dampers and configured to collect a plurality of air stream samples, a plurality of integrated sensors configured to measure the air stream sample, wherein a first integrated sensor is configured to measure a first species of the air stream sample, and wherein a second integrated sensor is configured to measure a second species of the air stream sample, and a processing circuit configured to estimate one or more air quality indicators of the air handling unit.