System for managing fan units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ventilation management systems in buildings are inefficient and costly due to the need for frequent site visits, curative maintenance, and high energy losses, which can lead to indoor air quality issues and mold problems.

Innovation Solution

A global control system that manages ventilation units at various levels, including a communication module for pollutant detection, a calculation module for motor speed regulation, and a remote management system, allowing for adaptive and efficient ventilation based on real-time data from multiple interior spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional stato-mechanical ventilation devices are used with company-provided maintenance, then ventilation function is maintained, but maintenance costs are high and reliability is low due to curative rather than preventive approach

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation system reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a remote monitoring system that continuously collects operational data from ventilation devices and provides feedback to a central management platform. This enables real-time detection of anomalies and predictive maintenance scheduling, transforming the traditional curative maintenance approach into a preventive one, thereby improving reliability while reducing overall maintenance complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-diagnostic capabilities through automated monitoring of operational parameters. The ventilation devices can self-report their status and require minimal human intervention for routine monitoring, reducing the complexity of maintenance management while maintaining high reliability through continuous surveillance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ventilation systems operate continuously at high capacity, then indoor air quality is maintained, but energy losses increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindoor air qualityVSAvoidventilation energy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of ventilation systems based on real-time monitoring of indoor air quality parameters such as CO2 levels, temperature, and humidity. The system automatically adjusts fan speeds and airflow rates to match actual ventilation needs, maintaining good indoor air quality while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary high-capacity operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (fan speed, airflow rate, valve positions) based on measured environmental conditions and occupancy levels. This allows the ventilation system to adapt its performance to actual needs, maintaining air quality standards while reducing energy losses during periods of lower demand

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If manual site visits are used for ventilation maintenance, then proper operation can be monitored, but time consumption and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation monitoringVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with automated electronic monitoring systems. Sensors continuously measure operational parameters (pressure, temperature, flow rates, motor current) and transmit data remotely, eliminating the need for frequent physical site visits while maintaining comprehensive monitoring of ventilation system operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary automated monitoring platform that acts between the ventilation devices and human operators. This platform collects, processes, and analyzes operational data, providing remote oversight without requiring direct human presence at the site, thereby reducing time consumption while ensuring reliable operation monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3477215B1System for managing fan units
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 AMPHOUX ANDRE
  • EP3477215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3477215B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3477215B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A ventilation unit (18) management system (30) in a building (10) comprises several groups (23) of interior spaces (12), each with an associated ventilation unit. A global management unit (32) communicates with a plurality of local data centralization units (34), each associated with at least one ventilation unit. A communication module (36) is adapted to receive a plurality of data, including data external to the building and at least one local operating parameter of the ventilation unit. A calculation module (38) is adapted to determine at least one global operating parameter of the ventilation units from the plurality of data received by the communication module. A control module (40) is adapted to operate the ventilation units based on said at least one global operating parameter.