Additional control device, ventilation assembly, ventilation system, operating method for an additional control device, computer program product
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Solution Overview
Problem
Decentralized ventilation systems face challenges in maintaining a constant delivery volume flow due to external counter-pressures, such as wind, which can disrupt the operation of ventilators, and existing solutions with additional sensors are costly and complex.
Innovation Solution
An additional control device that can be retrofitted to ventilators to adapt the control signal based on power measurement variables, such as electric current, to maintain a constant delivery volume flow without the need for additional sensors, using a delivery rate determining unit and a control signal adapting unit to adjust the control signal in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a central control device feeds the same control signal to each ventilator, then the control solution remains simple and requires little technical effort, but individual disturbances such as wind-induced counter-pressure cause deviations from reference conditions and reduce delivery volume flow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the centralized control system into decentralized control units, with each ventilator equipped with its own control device that independently measures local counter-pressure and adjusts its operation. This segmentation allows each ventilator to adapt to local conditions while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces feedback mechanisms where each ventilator's control device continuously measures the counter-pressure at its location and uses this information to adjust the control signal. This closed-loop feedback ensures reliable delivery volume flow despite varying external conditions like wind.
2Reliability
If ventilators are equipped with additional pressure sensor systems to measure counter-pressure, then the delivery volume flow can be maintained constant despite counter-pressure changes, but equipment expenditure, maintenance costs, and repair efforts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the existing motor in each ventilator perform multiple functions: not only driving the fan but also serving as a sensor for detecting counter-pressure through monitoring current consumption. This eliminates the need for separate pressure sensors while maintaining reliable delivery volume flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilator system uses its own existing components (motor, control unit) to measure counter-pressure and adjust operation, rather than requiring external sensors or additional equipment. The motor's electrical characteristics provide self-service sensing capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control device feeds different control signals to different subsets of ventilators, then the desired air flow can be achieved in respective rooms, but the control system becomes more complex and requires synchronized coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the control system so that each ventilator operates independently with its own control unit that autonomously measures local counter-pressure and adjusts its control signal. This eliminates the need for complex centralized coordination while maintaining adaptability to local conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Each ventilator's control unit acts as an intermediary that locally processes the relationship between counter-pressure and required delivery volume flow, translating global control objectives into local adjustments without requiring direct centralized coordination.
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 the maintenance of a constant delivery volume flow across ventilators despite varying counter-pressures with minimal equipment expenditure and installation effort, reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a delivery rate determining unit (140), which is configured to capture a power measurement variable correlating with an actual delivery rate of the ventilator
Implementation Method 2
a control signal adapting unit (150), which is configured to determine a desired control signal in dependence on the received actual control signal and the captured power measurement variable
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention has an additional control device for locally adapting a control signal to be fed to a device-external ventilator having a supply input, a supply output to provide a ventilator supply voltage to the device-external ventilator, a control input, which is configured to receive an actual control signal to be fed to the external ventilator, which actual control signal specifies a desired delivery rate to the ventilator, a control unit with a delivery rate determining unit to capture a power measurement variable correlating with an actual delivery rate of the ventilator, a control signal adapting unit to determine a desired control signal, and a power control unit to output either the received actual control signal or the desired control signal at a control output to the external ventilator in dependence on the result of the comparison.