Indicator network for managing ventilation, heating and air conditioning components of buildings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems are inefficient as they require large amounts of energy to condition fresh air for the entire building, waste energy by over-conditioning air in unoccupied areas, and lack scalability in monitoring and tracking changes in sensor values across hierarchical structures.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent air processing system with a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) using heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV) technology, equipped with an intelligent gateway that monitors and controls temperature, humidity, and occupancy, separating ventilation from heating/cooling to optimize energy use and indoor air quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a combined HVAC system is used to ventilate a building, then ventilation is provided, but large amounts of energy are required to condition fresh air and no energy is recovered from stale air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV) systems that capture thermal energy from exhaust stale air and transfer it to incoming fresh air. This recovers energy that would otherwise be discarded, reducing the energy required to condition fresh air while maintaining ventilation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates ventilation functions from heating and cooling systems, creating a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) that handles ventilation independently. This segmentation allows optimized heat exchange between fresh and stale air streams without the inefficiencies of combined systems, reducing overall energy consumption.
2Temperature
If centralized air systems with air ducts are used to distribute conditioned air, then air distribution is provided, but some rooms are over-conditioned while others are under-conditioned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements decentralized air handling units that can independently control temperature and ventilation for different zones or rooms. Each unit adjusts conditioning parameters locally based on actual occupancy and environmental conditions, eliminating the over-conditioning of unoccupied areas and under-conditioning of occupied areas that occurs with centralized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts ventilation and conditioning parameters for each zone based on real-time occupancy detection and environmental sensors. This dynamic control allows the system to respond to changing conditions in different areas, providing appropriate temperature control only where needed and reducing energy waste from static centralized control.
3Reliability
If conditioned air is provided to the entire building, then air quality is maintained, but energy is wasted heating and cooling unoccupied rooms
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses occupancy sensors and scheduling systems to detect when rooms are unoccupied and pre-adjusts or shuts down air handling in those areas before conditioning is needed. This preliminary detection and response ensures air quality is maintained in occupied areas while eliminating energy waste in unoccupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters such as airflow rate, temperature setpoint, and ventilation rate based on occupancy status. When rooms are unoccupied, the system adjusts parameters to minimize or eliminate conditioning, while maintaining appropriate parameters in occupied areas, thus balancing air quality requirements with energy conservation.
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
The system reduces energy consumption by up to 50%, provides efficient temperature control, and enhances indoor air quality by recovering heat from stale air to condition fresh air, achieving up to 93% heat recovery and reducing HVACR equipment energy requirements by 50%.
Implementation Method 1
using, for example, heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and/or energy recovery ventilation (ERV)... achieving up to 93% heat recovery
Implementation Method 2
using, for example, heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and/or energy recovery ventilation (ERV)... reducing HVACR equipment energy requirements by 50%
Data Source
AI summary
An air processing system is provided that is configured to monitor and control the quality and temperature of air within a building. The air processing system includes at least one temperature adjustment assembly (e.g., a heating/cooling system) used to heat or cool the air within the building and at least one dedicated outdoor air system ventilator used to circulate fresh air within the building wherein the air processing system is separate from the temperature adjustment assembly. The air processing system also includes an intelligent gateway formed as part of the ventilator and connected to the temperature adjustment assembly and the ventilator so as to monitor and control their operating conditions. The intelligent gateway may send the operating conditions and any sensor measurements to a cloud computing server that a user or technician can use to interface with the air processing system.