Control for a passive-ventilation system of a building
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current passive-ventilation systems in buildings face challenges in achieving energy efficiency while maintaining thermal comfort, as they rely heavily on active mechanical systems and lack dynamic control mechanisms to adapt to varying indoor and outdoor conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling passive-ventilation systems by determining outdoor and indoor air temperatures, calculating a temperature difference, and adjusting the opening fraction value of passive-ventilation devices such as windows or vents to optimize natural ventilation based on setpoints and environmental conditions, reducing energy consumption and ensuring thermal comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If passive-ventilation systems rely on active mechanical systems, then thermal comfort can be maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the opening fraction of passive-ventilation devices based on real-time temperature measurements and calculated temperature differences. The opening fraction is continuously modified according to a control function that responds to changing environmental conditions, allowing the system to adapt between fully closed and fully open states without requiring active mechanical ventilation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control method changes the physical state parameter (opening fraction) of passive-ventilation devices based on temperature difference parameters. By monitoring indoor and outdoor temperatures and calculating their difference, the system adjusts the opening fraction through a control function, enabling the ventilation system to respond to thermal conditions without active mechanical intervention.
2Loss of energy
If passive-ventilation devices are kept closed, then energy loss is reduced, but thermal comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback control mechanism where temperature sensors continuously monitor indoor and outdoor temperatures, the temperature difference is calculated, and this information feeds into a control function that adjusts the opening fraction. This closed-loop feedback ensures that ventilation openings are optimized to maintain thermal comfort while minimizing energy loss through unnecessary openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive-ventilation system serves itself by using temperature difference information to automatically adjust its own opening fraction without requiring active mechanical systems. The system self-regulates the ventilation openings based on environmental conditions, eliminating the need for external mechanical assistance while maintaining thermal comfort.
3Device complexity
If simple mechanical control is used for venting duct outlets, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying conditions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple mechanical control mechanisms with a sensor-based control system that measures temperature and calculates temperature differences. Instead of relying solely on mechanical apparatus, the system uses electronic sensing and computational control functions to determine opening fractions, providing superior adaptability to varying environmental conditions while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
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
This approach results in a dynamic and energy-efficient passive-ventilation system that adapts to environmental conditions, reducing the reliance on mechanical systems and providing a thermally comfortable internal environment with optimized energy savings.
Implementation Method 1
passive-ventilation system... ventilating the indoor area by means of active mechanical ventilation and a passive natural ventilation
Implementation Method 2
determining an outdoor air temperature of an air in an environment of a building and determining an indoor air temperature of at least one zone
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a passive-ventilation system of a building, comprising: determining an outdoor air temperature of air in an environment of the building; determining an indoor air temperature of at least one zone inside the building; calculating a temperature difference by subtracting the determined outside air temperature from the determined indoor air temperature; and, if the calculated temperature difference is greater than zero, controlling a state of at least one passive-ventilation device of the passive-ventilation system to be in any of a closed state, an open state, and one of one or more intermediate states between closed and open state. Each of the states corresponds to one value of an opening fraction value of the at least one zone inside the building varying between 0 and 1.