Method and computer program product for selecting ventilation devices to a sustainable ventilation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventilation system design methods do not provide a simple means to calculate the effect of manufacturing material selection on carbon dioxide emissions and to select ventilation devices based on this information, despite increasing environmental consciousness and global warming concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method and computer program product that calculate the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of ventilation devices, determine a comparison value using the design air flow rate and CO2e, and use this value as a selection criterion to choose devices for a sustainable ventilation system, allowing for the creation of variants with different materials and offering compensation schemes for emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional ventilation device selection methods are used, then device performance requirements are met, but carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing are not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) values for ventilation devices during the design and selection phase, before manufacturing and installation. This allows designers to evaluate and compare the environmental impact of different device options upfront, enabling sustainable selection decisions to be made in advance rather than as an afterthought.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational tool or software system that bridges traditional ventilation device selection processes with sustainability evaluation. This intermediary calculates CO2e values based on manufacturing material data and presents comparison values to designers, enabling them to make informed decisions about low-carbon device selection without requiring fundamental changes to existing selection methodologies.
2Productivity
If the number of ventilation devices is increased to meet air flow requirements, then ventilation performance is improved, but overall carbon dioxide emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing the comparison value parameter that combines air flow rate performance with carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. This new parameter allows designers to evaluate ventilation devices based on a unified metric that balances productivity requirements against environmental impact, enabling optimization of both air flow performance and emission reduction simultaneously.
3Ease of manufacture
If ventilation devices with lower carbon footprint are selected, then environmental sustainability is improved, but device performance requirements may not be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the selection criterion by creating a comparison value that integrates both performance parameters (air flow rate) and environmental parameters (CO2e). This parameter transformation allows devices to be evaluated on a unified scale where sustainability and performance are balanced, preventing the selection of devices that might satisfy one criterion while failing the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by providing designers with calculated CO2e values and comparison values for different ventilation device options. This feedback mechanism allows designers to see the environmental impact of their selections and adjust their choices to achieve both performance requirements and sustainability goals, creating a closed-loop decision-making process.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The method for selecting ventilation devices to sustainable ventilation system of a space from a group of ventilation devices comprises steps of determining a design air flow (Qd) for the space, determining design air flow rate (Qv) for the ventilation device, selecting at least one space related technical property for the ventilation devices, determining an approval criterion for the selected said at least one space related technical property and forming a subgroup of ventilation devices from those ventilation devices fulfilling the approval criterion. The method further comprises steps of calculating CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) for the ventilation devices in the subgroup, calculating a comparison value CV for the ventilation devices in the subgroup using equation CV = (design air flow rate Qv of the ventilation device)/(carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of the ventilation device) and using comparison value CV as a first selection criterion when selecting ventilation devices to the ventilation system from the subgroup.