Passive ventilation control system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passive ventilation systems, such as passive stack ventilation, are limited in their ability to adequately ventilate entire buildings due to the small size of stack vents and reliance on wind-induced pressure differences, leading to insufficient airflow and the need for mechanical assistance.
Innovation Solution
A system of passive vents with sensors and a controller that measures atmospheric conditions like pressure, temperature, humidity, and airflow rates to automatically adjust vent flow areas, combined with electromechanically adjustable vents and solar-powered actuators to optimize airflow through roof, wall, and floor vents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If passive stack ventilation is used with small stack vents, then the system avoids mechanical devices and reduces energy consumption, but the airflow rate is insufficient to adequately ventilate the building
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the vent flow areas adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the opening size of vents based on measured atmospheric conditions (pressure differential, temperature differential, humidity differential, airflow rate, air changes, particulate matter concentration) to optimize ventilation effectiveness while maintaining passive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters by adjusting the flow area of vents in response to measured atmospheric conditions. The controller modifies vent openings based on real-time data about pressure differences, temperature differences, humidity differences, airflow rates, air change rates, and particulate concentrations, thereby optimizing ventilation performance.
Solution Approach 3:
The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to continuously monitor atmospheric conditions (pressure differential, temperature differential, humidity differential, airflow rate, air changes, particulate matter) and using this information to automatically adjust vent flow areas. This closed-loop system ensures optimal ventilation response to changing environmental conditions.
2Productivity
If the number of stack vents is increased to improve ventilation coverage, then more rooms can be ventilated, but the system complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a control system that can manage multiple vents through a single centralized controller. The same sensor array and control algorithm serve all vents in the building, allowing the system to scale to cover entire buildings without proportionally increasing complexity. Each vent responds to the same atmospheric condition measurements, creating a unified ventilation approach.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed flow area vents are used, then the system is simpler to manufacture and install, but the ventilation effectiveness cannot adapt to changing atmospheric conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static vents into dynamic systems by incorporating adjustable flow area mechanisms. Each vent can change its opening size in response to measured atmospheric conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying pressure differentials, temperature differences, humidity levels, airflow rates, air change requirements, and particulate concentrations while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing through modular vent designs.
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
Enhances building ventilation by allowing for more comprehensive and efficient airflow without mechanical assistance, improving air exchange rates and reducing the need for mechanical ventilation systems.
Implementation Method 1
buoyancy differences between indoor and outdoor air. If, as is often the case, indoor air temperatures are higher than outdoor temperatures, the warmer and less dense indoor air tends naturally to rise up through the ventilating stack vents.
Implementation Method 2
pressure differences derived from: (1) wind flow passing over the building and the upper end of the stack vent, which causes a venturi effect in the stack vents
Data Source
AI summary
A passive ventilation control system and method. The system includes passive vents throughout a building. The vents may be arranged in multiple sets, with each set being substantially vertically aligned through multiple floors or the entire height of the building. Sensors are positioned inside and/or outside the building for sensing different environmental parameters or atmospheric conditions. The sensors send signals to a controller, which automatically adjusts airflow through the vents in response to the signals from the sensors.