A ventilation apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilation systems face challenges in efficiently providing rapid purge ventilation rates without increasing costs and spatial requirements, while maintaining energy efficiency and indoor air quality, especially in high-rise buildings where opening windows are not feasible due to security and pollution concerns.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation assembly with a changeover damper that allows selection between supply and extract ventilation modes at the connection point of each habitable room, using a common duct system with independently actuatable closure means to switch between supply and extract airflow paths, minimizing energy losses and noise emissions through optimized elliptical profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If larger, more powerful fans and higher capacity ductwork distribution systems are used to provide purge ventilation, then the purge ventilation rate is improved, but the costs and spatial requirements of the system increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between supply and extract modes using actuatable dampers in each room's ventilation assembly. During purge ventilation, the system transitions from continuous supply mode to extract mode, allowing rapid pollutant removal through existing ductwork without requiring oversized fans or ducts. The damper actuation enables the same infrastructure to adapt to different ventilation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system serves multiple functions: background supply ventilation, boost extract ventilation, and rapid purge ventilation. The same ductwork and fans are used for all three modes by switching the damper positions. The ventilation assembly in each room can independently switch between supply and extract functions, allowing the system to provide purge ventilation at four air changes per hour without requiring dedicated purge infrastructure.
2Productivity
If additional fan systems dedicated to purge ventilation are used, then the purge ventilation rate is improved, but the device complexity and spatial requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing supply and extract fans are used for all ventilation modes including purge ventilation. The ventilation assemblies in habitable rooms can switch between supply and extract functions via damper actuation, allowing the same fan systems to provide both background supply ventilation and rapid purge extract ventilation without requiring additional dedicated fans.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses actuatable dampers to dynamically reconfigure airflow paths. During purge ventilation, dampers in affected rooms switch to close the supply path and open the extract path, allowing the existing extract fan to provide rapid pollutant removal. This dynamic switching enables one fan system to perform multiple functions.
3Productivity
If opening windows are used to provide purge ventilation, then the purge ventilation rate is improved, but security risks and potential ingress of noise or traffic pollution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system uses the building's existing controlled ductwork infrastructure as an intermediary to provide purge ventilation. Instead of opening windows directly to the external environment, polluted air is routed through the insulated ductwork system to the extract fan and discharged through designated extract points. This intermediary pathway maintains security while achieving rapid ventilation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical action of opening windows with a controlled mechanical ventilation system. The actuatable dampers and fans provide the same pollutant removal function as open windows but through a controlled, secure pathway that prevents security risks and pollution ingress.
4Area of stationary object
If a common duct system with changeover dampers is used, then the spatial requirements are reduced, but the complexity of controlling multiple dampers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented into independent ventilation assemblies, each serving a specific habitable room. Each assembly has its own actuatable damper that can be controlled independently. This segmentation allows localized control of purge ventilation in affected rooms without requiring complex centralized control of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The common duct system serves multiple functions: background supply ventilation to all rooms, boost extract ventilation from wet rooms, and rapid purge ventilation from habitable rooms. The actuatable dampers enable the same physical infrastructure to switch between different ventilation modes based on occupancy and environmental conditions.
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
Enables efficient and space-effective provision of rapid purge ventilation rates while maintaining normal and boost ventilation performance, reducing energy consumption and spatial needs, and improving indoor air quality by allowing occupant-controlled or sensor-activated mode switching.
Implementation Method 1
The fresh air passes through the heat exchanger wherein its temperature is increased by the heat transferred from the extract airstream
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A ventilation assembly comprises an air supply fan and an air supply conduit connected to the air supply fan for channelling an air supply within a building. An air extract fan and an air extract conduit connected to the air extract fan are provided for extracting vitiated air from within the building. A plurality of supply outlets are located along the air supply conduit for connecting the air supply conduit to a corresponding plurality of habitable rooms of the building. A first plurality of extract inlets corresponding to the plurality of supply outlets are located along the air extract conduit for connecting the extract conduit to the same plurality of habitable rooms. A plurality of independently actuatable closure means are arranged to in a first condition close one of the extract inlets and open the corresponding supply outlet to permit air to be supplied to said corresponding habitable room by the air supply fan and prevent air from being extracted via the extract fan and in a second condition close the supply outlet and open the corresponding extract inlet to permit air to be drawn from said corresponding room by the air extract fan and prevent air from being supplied by the supply fan.