Environmental control unit, and air handling systems and methods using same

• US 20040058637A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter J. Laiti
• Original Assignee: Peter J. Laiti
• Inventors: Laiti, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,796,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/229
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/308 Pore size
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/2045 Hydrochloric acid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/2064 Chlorine
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/70 Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/602
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/0225 from chemical or biological warfare
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/401 using a single bed
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4583 for removing chemical, biological and nuclear warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0028 provided with antibacterial or antifungal means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/521 using folded, pleated material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/44 Protection from terrorism or theft
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/044 Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/167 Clean rooms, i.e. enclosed spaces in which a uniform flow of filtered air is distributed air distribution by perforated walls F24F7/10

Abstract

An environmental control unit, and air handling systems using it, that combines, as a unitary packaged unit, equipment and associated functionality for air handling and affording protection to occupants and/or equipment in an enclosure against airborne release of chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR) agents.

Claims

1. An environmental control unit (ECU), comprising, as a unitary packaged unit:

means adapted to receive air conducted via ductwork to the control unit from an enclosed space;

a blower adapted for inducing intake of a stream of external air into the control unit;

means for combining the intake air and air received from the enclosed space to provide an air stream;

a filter apparatus adapted to remove at least one chemical, biological, and/or radiological (CBR) agent from the air stream;

temperature adjustment means adapted to manipulate the temperature of the air stream before or after the air stream passes through the filter apparatus;

means adapted for outputting the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream for conduction of the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream back to the enclosed space.

2. The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein the means adapted for outputting the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream for conduction of the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream back to the enclosed space with creation of a positive air pressure in the enclosed space.

3. The environmental control unit of claim 1, further comprising a HEPA filter adapted to filter particulates from the air stream before the filtration of the air stream by the CBR agent filter.

4. The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein the CBR agent filter comprising:

a filter housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening to permit air flow in through the inlet opening, through the housing and out through the outlet opening;

at least one filter positioned within the filter housing such that air flows through the at least one filter; and

wherein the at least one filter is at least >

99.99% efficient at filtering out DMMP introduced at an intake side of the filter at 500 mg/m³ dimethylphosphonate (DMMP) for at least 20 minutes at 250 fpm face velocity.

5. The environmental control unit of claim 4, wherein the filter includes at least one fibrous layer and activated carbon.

6. The environmental control unit of claim 4, wherein the filter includes at least one fibrous layer and ASZM-TEDA carbon in retentive contact with the fibrous layer.

7. The environmental control unit of claim 4, wherein the carbon comprises small mesh size highly activated carbon.

8. The environmental control unit of claim 4, wherein the CBR agent filter obtains at least approximately the same filtration efficacy yet with a lower pressure drop than that of packed bed carbon filters of comparable dimensions under similar filtering conditions.

9. The environmental control unit of claim 1, wherein temperature adjustment means comprises at least one of a heating means and a cooling means.

10. An air handling system, comprising:

an enclosure comprising partitions defining an airspace to be protected from contamination by CBR agents;

a first ductwork system fluidly connecting an intake air vent of the enclosure airspace to an exhaust manifold of an environmental control unit (ECU);

a second ductwork system fluidly connecting an exhaust air vent of the enclosure airspace to an intake manifold of the ECU; and

the ECU including, as a unitary packaged unit;

means adapted to receive air conducted via the second ductwork system back to the ECU from the enclosure airspace;

a blower adapted for inducing intake of a stream of external air into the ECU;

means for combining the intake air and air received from the enclosed space to provide an air stream,

a filter apparatus adapted to remove at least one CBR agent from the air stream;

temperature adjustment means adapted to manipulate the temperature of the air stream before or after the air stream passes through the filter apparatus;

means adapted for outputting the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream for conduction of the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream back to the enclosure air space via the first ductwork system.

11. The air handling system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ECU being installed outside the enclosure and outside a building structure containing the enclosure, and the system adapted to draw external intake air comprising air drawn from outside the building structure.

12. An air handling system for protecting an enclosure inside a building, comprising:

an enclosure comprising partitions defining an airspace to be protected from contamination by CBR agents;

an environmental control unit (ECU) located inside the enclosure, and the system adapted to draw external intake air comprising air drawn from inside the building structure but outside the enclosure into the ECU, and the ECU including, as a unitary packaged unit;

means adapted to receive air conducted from inside the building structure but outside the enclosure;

an air intake blower adapted for inducing intake of a stream of the air conducted from inside the building structure but outside the enclosure into the ECU to provide an air stream;

a filter apparatus adapted to remove at least one CBR agent from the air stream;

means adapted for outputting the filtered air stream for conduction of the filtered air stream back into the enclosure air space.

13. The air handling system of claim 12, wherein the ECU further comprises a means for combining the intake air with air received from the enclosed space to provide the air stream to be filtered.

14. The air handling system of claim 12, wherein the filter apparatus being selected to be at least >

99.99% efficient at filtering out DMMP introduced at an intake side of the filter at 500 mg/m³ dimethylphosphonate (DMMP) for at least 20 minutes at 250 fpm approach velocity.

19. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the ECU being installed outside the enclosed space and outside a building structure containing the enclosed space, wherein the external intake air comprising air drawn from outside the building structure.

15. A method for protecting an enclosure against an airborne CBR threat, comprising:

a) providing an environmental control unit (ECU) as a unitary packaged unit, comprising;

means adapted to receive air conducted via ductwork to the control unit from an enclosed space;

a blower adapted for inducing intake of a stream of external air into the control unit;

means for combining the intake air and received air to provide an air stream;

a filter apparatus adapted to remove at least one CBR agent from the air stream;

temperature adjustment means adapted to manipulate the temperature of the air stream before or after the air stream passes through the filter apparatus;

means adapted for outputting the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream for conduction of the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream;

a primary air stream blower adapted to draw the air stream into the receiving means and expel the air stream from the outputting means;

b) operating the blower effective to draw the air stream into the receiving means, through the filter apparatus, and then expel the air stream from the outputting means;

c) conducting the output of the ECU to the airspace within the enclosure via the first system of air ducts;

d) conducting air from within the enclosure to the air receiving means of the ECU via the second system of air ducts; and

e) operating the blower before, after or during any of b), c), or d).

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising outputting the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream for conduction of the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream back to the enclosed space at a rate effective for creation of a positive air pressure in the enclosed space.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising outputting the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream for conduction of the filtered, temperature-manipulated air stream back to the enclosed space at a rate effective for creation of a negative air pressure in the enclosed space.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the filter apparatus being selected to be at least >

99.99% efficient at filtering out DMMP introduced at an intake side of the filter at 500 mg/m³ dimethylphosphonate (DMMP) for at least 20 minutes at 250 fpm face velocity.

20. A method for protecting an enclosure inside a building against an airborne CBR threat, comprising:

a) locating an environmental control unit (ECU) inside an enclosure within a building, the ECU comprising, as a unitary packaged unit;

means adapted to receive air conducted from inside the building structure but outside the enclosure;

a blower adapted for inducing intake of a stream of the air conducted from inside the building structure but outside the enclosure into the ECU to provide an air stream;

a filter apparatus adapted to remove at least one CBR agent from the air stream;

means adapted for outputting the filtered air stream for conduction of the filtered air stream back into the enclosure air space;

b) operating the blower effective to draw the air stream into the receiving means, through the filter apparatus, and then expel the air stream from the outputting means into the enclosure.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the ECU being installed outside the enclosed space and inside a building structure containing the enclosed space, and further wherein the enclosed space being provided HVAC support by a separate HVAC system supporting the enclosed space and other airspace within the same building under normal absence of CBR threat conditions, wherein external intake air to the enclosed space being drawn from inside the building structure via the ECU instead of the HVAC system when under CBR threat conditions.