Building Ventilation Mode Control for Indoor Climate and Energy Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventilation control systems for buildings do not adequately consider user preferences and environmental/economic factors beyond temperature, leading to suboptimal indoor climate management and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow users to select ventilation modes with adjustable and fixed control parameters, integrating both mechanical and natural ventilation, based on sensor measurements, to achieve a desired indoor climate while considering energy efficiency and user satisfaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ventilation is controlled based only on temperature measurements, then the control system is simple, but user satisfaction and indoor climate quality are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter set used for control decisions from only temperature to multiple parameters including temperature, humidity, air quality (CO2), and user-selected ventilation modes. This allows the system to adapt to different user preferences and environmental conditions while maintaining a relatively simple control architecture.
2Reliability
If mechanical ventilation is used to ensure adequate air quality, then air quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between mechanical ventilation and natural ventilation based on real-time sensor measurements (temperature, humidity, air quality) and the selected ventilation mode. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to use energy-intensive mechanical ventilation only when necessary for air quality, while relying on free natural ventilation when conditions permit, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors multiple environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, CO2 levels) and adjusts ventilation strategy based on these changing conditions. When air quality parameters indicate good outdoor air, natural ventilation is permitted; when parameters deteriorate, mechanical ventilation is activated to maintain air quality standards.
3Use of energy by moving object
If natural ventilation is used to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but control over indoor climate precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic climate control by continuously monitoring environmental parameters and adjusting ventilation strategy. When natural ventilation is used, the system closely monitors temperature and air quality parameters, and can switch to mechanical ventilation if precision requirements are not met, ensuring both energy efficiency and climate control precision are maintained according to user needs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ventilation modes with adjustable parameters are provided, then user satisfaction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct ventilation modes (e.g., comfort mode, energy-saving mode, air-quality-focused mode), each with predefined parameter sets. Users can select from these segmented modes rather than configuring individual parameters, which simplifies the user interface while still providing adaptability to different preferences and conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a system for controlling ventilation of an indoor area of a building, comprising the steps of: ventilating the indoor area by means of mechanical ventilation and natural ventilation according to a ventilation mode selected among a plurality of ventilation modes, a set of adjustable control parameters (31; 32; 33; 34; 35) and at least one measurement value from a sensor, wherein each ventilation mode is associated with the set of adjustable control parameters (31; 32; 33; 34; 35), each having an adjustable value selected among a group of mode dependent adjustable values, and/or a set of fixed control parameters (34) each having a mode dependent fixed value, and controlling the mechanical ventilation and the natural ventilation by comparing the measurement value from the sensor with a corresponding value of the control parameters of the ventilation mode such that a desired indoor climate defined by the ventilation mode is obtained.