HVAC Smoke Shutdown Control for Wildfire and Fire Damage Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing HVAC systems continue to circulate smoke, ash, and soot within buildings during fires, causing damage and increasing cleaning and repair costs, especially in newer constructions that use exterior air intake, and there is a difficulty in manually mitigating and detecting smoke events, especially when they occur externally, such as during wildfires.
Innovation Solution
A controller is integrated with the HVAC system to receive alerts from sensors or emergency services, deactivating air circulation functions, including blower components and heat exchangers, and activating dampers to prevent the circulation of smoke and soot within the building, using smart home telematics data to determine the presence of smoke and automatically respond to mitigate damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the HVAC system continues to circulate air during smoke events, then the air circulation function remains active, but smoke and soot are spread throughout the building causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by deactivating the air circulation function before smoke can be widely distributed throughout the building. When smoke is detected by sensors or alerts are received from emergency services, the controller immediately shuts down the HVAC system, preventing the harmful smoke and soot from being circulated and deposited in clean areas, thereby preventing damage before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the harmful air circulation function from the HVAC system during smoke events. The controller separates the air circulation operation from the system by deactivating blowers and fans, while potentially maintaining other HVAC functions. This extraction prevents the spread of smoke through the building without completely disabling the HVAC infrastructure
2Ease of operation
If the HVAC system uses exterior air intake to circulate air, then fresh air is provided to the building, but smoke from external sources is brought into the building
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the air intake function conditional and adaptive rather than static. The controller dynamically adjusts the air intake operation based on real-time smoke detection data and environmental conditions. When smoke is detected externally, the system automatically modifies or shuts down the air intake function, while potentially maintaining it under normal conditions, thereby adapting the system behavior to current environmental threats
3Extent of automation
If manual mitigation of smoke events is used, then some response can be provided, but detection and response time are delayed especially for external smoke events
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies feedback by implementing continuous monitoring of smoke conditions through various sensors both inside and outside the building. The controller receives real-time feedback from smoke detectors, air quality sensors, and emergency service alerts, automatically processing this information and triggering the appropriate response by deactivating air circulation functions. This closed-loop feedback system eliminates the delay inherent in manual detection and response, providing immediate automated mitigation when smoke is detected
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by enabling the HVAC system to automatically detect smoke conditions and mitigate damage without requiring manual intervention. The controller autonomously monitors smoke levels, processes alert information from emergency services, and independently activates the mitigation protocol by shutting down air circulation functions. This self-service capability ensures immediate response to smoke events, eliminating the time loss associated with human detection and manual system operation
Data Source
AI summary
Smoke and/or soot damage to an interior of a property, such as a residential building or home, may be mitigated. A controller is in communication with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the property. The controller is configured to receive an alert and/or intelligent home telematics data generated based upon a potential presence of smoke in a location associated with the property, either exterior or interior to the property. In response to receiving the alert and/or intelligent home telematics data, the controller is further configured deactivate an air circulation function of the HVAC system to mitigate smoke or fire damage to the property. The intelligent home telematics data may be generated by various smoke, fire, audio, visual, infrared, motion, and/or other smart sensors mounted about the interior and/or exterior of the property.