Systems and methods with variable mitigation thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current indoor air quality (IAQ) systems in HVAC systems lack effective and adaptive control mechanisms to manage particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide levels, often leading to inefficient operation and potential health issues due to inadequate threshold settings and lack of real-time monitoring.
Innovation Solution
An IAQ system with sensors to measure IAQ parameters, a mitigation module to adjust mitigation devices based on dynamic threshold settings, and a control module to optimize the operation of HVAC and air purification systems, ensuring effective and efficient air quality management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed threshold settings are used for IAQ mitigation, then the control logic is simple, but the system cannot adapt to varying baseline air quality conditions leading to inefficient operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic thresholds that automatically adjust based on measured baseline air quality conditions. The system determines clean baseline values for particulate matter, VOCs, and CO2, then sets mitigation thresholds relative to these baselines rather than using fixed values. This allows the system to adapt to different environments (e.g., buildings near roads vs. rural areas) while maintaining efficient operation through automated adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors IAQ parameters and uses this feedback to establish baseline values and adjust mitigation thresholds accordingly. By comparing current readings against established baselines and automatically adjusting thresholds, the system creates a closed-loop control mechanism that adapts to changing conditions without requiring manual intervention or complex user configuration.
2Reliability
If mitigation devices run continuously to ensure air quality, then air quality is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by activating mitigation devices only when necessary based on real-time IAQ measurements against dynamic thresholds. Instead of continuous operation, the system selectively engages air purifiers, HVAC systems, or ventilation only when particulate matter, VOCs, or CO2 levels exceed the adaptively set thresholds, thereby maintaining air quality reliability while minimizing energy consumption during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by dynamically adjusting mitigation thresholds based on baseline air quality conditions. This allows the system to adapt its response criteria to environmental context - for example, higher thresholds in areas with naturally higher baseline pollution - enabling reliable air quality control while reducing unnecessary mitigation device operation and associated energy use.
3Productivity
If multiple IAQ parameters are monitored with dynamic thresholds, then air quality control is optimized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control framework that handles multiple IAQ parameters (particulate matter, VOCs, CO2) through a single integrated system. The same baseline determination and dynamic threshold adjustment mechanism applies to all parameters, allowing the system to optimize control across multiple pollutants without requiring separate complex control logic for each, thereby improving overall air quality management efficiency while limiting complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts thresholds for each IAQ parameter based on its specific baseline conditions rather than using static values. This dynamic approach allows optimized control for each pollutant type according to its environmental context, improving productivity by ensuring appropriate mitigation responses while maintaining manageable complexity through automated adaptation rather than manual configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor air quality (IAQ) system for a building includes an IAQ sensor that is located within the building and that is configured to measure an IAQ parameter. The IAQ parameter is one of: an amount of particulate of at least a predetermined size present in air; an amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in air; and an amount of carbon dioxide present in air. A mitigation module is configured to: selectively turn on a mitigation device based on a comparison of the IAQ parameter with a first ON threshold and a second ON threshold; and selectively turn off the mitigation device based on a comparison of the IAQ parameter with an OFF threshold. A clean module is configured to determine a clean value for the IAQ parameter. A thresholds module is configured to, based on the clean value, determine the first ON threshold and the OFF threshold.