Ventilation system and method

• US 20020014234A1
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodlane Environmental Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Woodlane Environmental Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: McCarren, Gregory M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,742,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/515
• CPC Class Codes: F23L 15/04 Arrangements of recuperators
• CPC Class Codes: F23L 17/005 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: F23L 5/02 Arrangements of fans or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/187 Condition responsive controls for regulating combustion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/34 Indirect CO2mitigation, i.e. by acting on non CO2directly related matters of the process, e.g. pre-heating or heat recovery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/901 Heat savers

Abstract

A balanced building ventilation system that employs a fireplace as an element of the ventilation system. The fireplace includes a firebox, and an exhaust gas flue is connected to the firebox for exhausting gas from the firebox to the outdoor ambient. A ventilation channel conveys outdoor ambient air into the building interior. A motor-driven draft inducer is connected to the exhaust gas flue for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient. A motor-driven blower is provided for forcing ventilation airflow through the channel to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow.

Claims

1. A system for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said system comprising:

a fireplace including a firebox;

an exhaust gas flue connected to said firebox for exhausting gas from said firebox to the outdoor ambient;

a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said exhaust gas flue for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;

a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior; and

a motor-driven blower within said channel for forcing ventilation airflow into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow.

2. The system of claim 1, which further comprises a temperature sensor responsive to a temperature rise caused by a fire in the fireplace, and connected to said draft inducer and to said blower for initiating forced exhaust gas flow and forced ventilation airflow when there is a fire in said fireplace.

3. The system of claim 1, which further comprises a temperature sensor responsive to a temperature rise caused by a fire in the fireplace, and connected to said draft inducer and to said blower for increasing the rates of exhaust gas flow and ventilation airflow when there is a fire in said fireplace.

4. The system of claim 1, which further comprises:

a first thermostat responsive to a relatively lower temperature and connected to activate said draft inducer and said blower to operate at reduced speeds when there is a relatively smaller fire in said fireplace; and

a second thermostat responsive to a relatively higher temperature and connected to activate said draft inducer and said blower to operate at full speed when there is a relatively larger fire in said fireplace.

5. The system of claim 1, which further comprises an adjustment to facilitate adjustment so that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow.

6. The system of claim 1, which further comprises an adjustable damper within said channel to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow.

7. The system of claim 1, which further comprises a blower motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow.

8. The system of claim 1, which further comprises:

an adjustable damper within said channel to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; and

a blower motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed.

9. The system of claim 1, which further comprises:

an adjustable damper within said channel to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; and

a draft inducer motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the exhaust gas flow so as to be balanced by the ventilation airflow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed.

10. The system of claim 1, which further comprises:

an adjustable damper within said channel to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; and

a blower motor speed control and a draft inducer motor speed control to facilitate adjustment such that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed.

11. The system of claim 1, which further comprises a heat exchanger for transferring heat from gas exhausted through said exhaust gas flue to air conveyed through said channel so as to warm the outdoor ambient air prior to entry into the building interior.

12. The system of claim 1, which further comprises a heat exchanger for transferring heat from a fire within said firebox to air conveyed through said channel so as to warm the outdoor ambient air prior to entry into the building interior.

14. The device of claim 13, which further comprises a temperature sensor thermally connected to said flue section and electrically connected to said draft inducer and to said blower for initiating forced exhaust gas flow and forced ventilation airflow when there is a fire in the fireplace.

15. The device of claim 13, which further comprises a temperature sensor thermally connected to said flue section and electrically connected to said draft inducer and to said blower for increasing the rates of exhaust gas flow and ventilation airflow when there is a fire in the fireplace.

16. The device of claim 13, which further comprises:

a first thermostat having a relatively lower temperature set point, said first thermostat being thermally connected to said flue section and electrically connected to activate said draft inducer and said blower to operate at a reduced speed when there is a relatively smaller fire in the fireplace; and

a second thermostat having a relatively higher temperature set point by said second thermostat being thermally connected to said flue section and electrically connected to activate said draft inducer and said blower to operate at full speed when there is a relatively larger fire in the fireplace.

17. The device of claim 13, which further comprises an adjustment to facilitate adjustment so that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow.

18. The device of claim 13, which further comprises an adjustable damper to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow.

19. The device of claim 13, which further comprises a blower motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow.

20. The device of claim 13, which further comprises:

an adjustable damper to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; and

a blower motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed.

21. The device of claim 13, which further comprises:

an adjustable damper to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; and

a draft inducer motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the exhaust gas flow so as to be balanced by the ventilation airflow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed.

22. The device of claim 13, which further comprises:

an adjustable damper to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; and

a blower motor speed control and a draft inducer motor speed control to facilitate adjustment such that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed.

24. The method of claim 23, which further comprises increasing the rates of exhaust gas flow and ventilation airflow when there is a fire in the fireplace.

25. The method of claim 24, which further comprises employing a temperature sensor to determine when there is a fire in the fireplace, and automatically increasing the rates of exhaust gas flow and ventilation airflow when the temperature sensor has determined there is a fire in the fireplace.

26. The method of claim 23, which further comprises:

employing a first temperature sensor responsive to a relatively lower temperature to determine when there is a relatively smaller fire in the fireplace, and automatically forcing the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow at reduced rates when the first temperature sensor has determined there is a relatively smaller fire in the fireplace; and

employing a second temperature sensor responsive to a relatively higher temperature to determine when there is a relatively larger fire in the fireplace, and automatically forcing the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow at increased rates when the second temperature sensor has determined there is a relatively larger fire in the fireplace.

27. The method of claim 23, which further comprises making an adjustment so that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow.

28. The method of claim 23, which further comprises employing an adjustable damper to adjust the ventilation airflow into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow.

29. The method of claim 23, which further comprises employing blower motor speed control to adjust the ventilation airflow into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow.

30. The method of claim 23, which further comprises:

employing an adjustable damper to adjust the ventilation airflow into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow when the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow are being forced at relatively increased rates; and

employing blower motor speed control to adjust the ventilation airflow into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow when the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow are being forced at relatively reduced rates.

31. The method of claim 23, which further comprises:

employing an adjustable damper to adjust the ventilation airflow into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow when the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow are being forced at relatively increased rates; and

employing draft inducer motor speed control to adjust the exhaust gas flow so as to be balanced by the ventilation airflow when the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow are being forced at relatively reduced rates.

32. The method of claim 23, which further comprises:

employing an adjustable damper to adjust the ventilation airflow into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow when the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow are being forced at relatively increased rates; and

employing a combination of blower motor speed control and draft inducer motor speed control to adjust the ventilation airflow and the exhaust gas flow when the exhaust gas flow and the ventilation airflow are being forced at relatively reduced rates.

33. The method of claim 23, which further comprises exchanging heat between gas exhausted through the exhaust gas flue and air conveyed through the channel so as to warm the outdoor ambient air prior to entry into the building interior.

34. The method of claim 23, which further comprises exchanging heat between a fire within the fireplace and air conveyed through the channel so as to warm the outdoor ambient air prior to entry into the building interior.

13. A fireplace heat recovery ventilator device for use in combination with a fireplace within the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, the fireplace including an exhaust gas flue connection for exhausting gas to the outdoor ambient, said device comprising:

a flue section connectable in series with the fireplace exhaust gas flue connection between the fireplace and the outdoor ambient;

a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said flue section for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;

a heat exchange structure attached to said flue section;

a housing defining a chamber enclosing said heat exchange structure;

said housing including an inlet connection connectable to one end of a fresh air inlet duct having another end connected to the outdoor ambient, and an outlet connection connectable to one end of a ventilation air delivery duct having another end connected to the building interior, said inlet and outlet connections being arranged such that air entering said inlet connection passes through said chamber past said heat exchange structure and exits via said outlet connection; and

a motor-driven blower connected for forcing ventilation airflow through said chamber and out through the ventilation air delivery duct into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow.

23. A method for ventilating the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, said method comprising:

providing a fireplace which includes an exhaust gas flue open to the outdoor ambient;

providing a channel for conveying outdoor ambient air into the building interior;

forcing exhaust gas flow out through the exhaust gas flue; and

forcing ventilation airflow through the channel into the building interior to balance the exhaust gas flow.