Method and apparatus for sampling and controlling ventilation airflow into a structure

• US 20040253918A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George D. Ezell, Lynn B. Heitman
• Original Assignee: George D. Ezell, Lynn B. Heitman
• Inventors: Heitman, Lynn B., Ezell, George D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,331,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/239
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/44 Protection from terrorism or theft
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A totally integrated ventilation system is contained in the outside air inlet stream. The system samples and controls ventilation airflow as it enters a structure. An air valve connecting the outside air inlet stream to the return plenum is controlled by a valve positioning device and a processor that monitors sensors located in the outside air inlet stream, air quality data provided by a telecommunications link and the HVAC system control signals. The air quality data includes locally broadcast air pollution data or air quality alert data related to accidents or terrorist attacks. The processor and valve positioning device simultaneously control a separate pressure relief valve that allows contaminated air to be exhausted from the structure. An alternate configuration uses a supplemental fan to introduce the outside air inlet stream directly into the structure where HVAC systems are not used. A status and control panel that provides an interface to the occupants or an automation system is provided along with a test box that can monitor the processor to determine the total volume of ventilation air introduced into the structure. This test data is used to program processor timing inputs to achieve desired ventilation results.

Claims

1. The method of receiving and using regional air quality data to control ventilation airflow into a structure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the regional air quality data includes terrorist attack air quality alerts.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the regional air quality data includes disaster related air quality alerts.

4. A method for sampling and controlling an outside ventilation air stream to determine if it is suitable for introduction into a structure, comprising the steps of:

receiving regional air quality data from at least one communication link;

providing regional air quality data to a processor that produces an air valve control signal in response to the data input;

disposing at least one air valve between at least one supplemental fan and at least one outside ventilation air stream; and

positioning at least one air valve in response to the air valve control signal to provide outside ventilation airflow into the structure.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the regional air quality data includes terrorist attack air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the regional air quality data includes disaster related air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

7. A method for sampling and controlling an outside ventilation air stream to determine if it is suitable for introduction into at least one inlet end of an HVAC system, comprising the steps of:

receiving regional air quality data from at least one communication link;

providing regional air quality data to a processor that produces an air valve control signal in response to the data input and the HVAC system controls;

disposing at least one air valve between at least one outside ventilation air stream and at least one HVAC system inlet; and

positioning at least one air valve in response to the air valve control signal to provide outside ventilation airflow into the HVAC system.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the regional air quality data includes terrorist attack air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the regional air quality data includes disaster related air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

10. A method for sampling and controlling an outside ventilation air stream to determine if it is suitable for introduction into a structure, comprising the steps of:

disposing at least one sensor in an outside ventilation air stream;

sampling at least one sensor with a processor;

producing an air valve control signal in response to at least one sensor input;

disposing at least one air valve between at least one supplemental fan and at least one outside ventilation air stream; and

positioning at least one air valve in response to the air valve control signal to provide outside ventilation airflow into the structure.

11. A method for sampling and controlling an outside ventilation air stream to determine if it is suitable for introduction into at least one inlet end of an HVAC system, comprising the steps of:

disposing at least one sensor in an outside ventilation air stream;

sampling at least one sensor with a processor;

producing an air valve control signal in response to at least one sensor input and the HVAC system controls;

disposing at least one air valve between at least one outside ventilation air stream and at least one HVAC system inlet; and

positioning at least one air valve in response to the air valve control signal to provide outside ventilation airflow into the HVAC system.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of sampling comprises monitoring at least one sensor for a period of time sufficient to obtain an output that is an accurate representation of the outside air inlet stream.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of sampling is augmented by processor inputs from the HVAC system and a processor fan control output to the HVAC system which allows supplemental periods of outside ventilation airflow.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein supplemental periods of outside ventilation airflow are terminated upon the end of a cooling cycle to reduce condensate ingress from the cooling coils.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein supplemental periods of outside ventilation airflow are overridden when at least one sensor indicates the outside air inlet stream is not suitable for introduction into at least one inlet end of an HVAC system at the end of the previous outside ventilation airflow period.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the desired length of said supplemental periods of outside ventilation are determined by measuring the total volume of outside ventilation air that is introduced into the HVAC system over long periods of time to achieve a desired average daily volume.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of positioning comprises controlling the volume of outside ventilation airflow into the HVAC system by controlling the length of time that the air valve is open.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of positioning comprises controlling the volume of outside ventilation airflow introduced into the HVAC system by controlling the location of the air valve relative to the air valve seat.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the air valve control signal operates at least one pressure relief valve to allow contaminated air to be exhausted.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein one temperature sensor is used to provide both a high temperature limit and a low temperature limit.

22. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one sensor is a humidity sensor.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the humidity sensor is ignored when the HVAC system is in a heating mode.

24. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one sensor is an air contamination sensor.

25. A ventilation airflow sampling and control system for receiving and using regional air quality data to control ventilation airflow into a structure.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said regional air quality data includes terrorist attack air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein said regional air quality data includes disaster related air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

28. A ventilation airflow sampling and control system for controlling an outside ventilation air stream to determine if it is suitable for introduction into a structure, comprising:

a receiver that decodes regional air quality data from at least one communication link;

a processor that monitors regional air quality data to produce an air valve control signal in response to the data input;

at least one air valve disposed between at least one supplemental fan and at least one outside ventilation air stream; and

at least one air valve that is positioned in response to the air valve control signal to provide outside ventilation airflow into the structure.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said regional air quality data includes terrorist attack air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein said regional air quality data includes disaster related air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

31. A ventilation airflow sampling and control system for controlling an outside ventilation air stream to determine if it is suitable for introduction into at least one inlet end of an HVAC system, comprising:

a receiver that decodes regional air quality data from at least one communication link;

a processor that monitors regional air quality data to produce an air valve control signal in response to the data input and in response to the HVAC system heat, cool and fan signals;

at least one air valve disposed between at least one outside ventilation air stream and at least one HVAC system inlet; and

at least one air valve that is positioned in response to the air valve control signal to provide outside ventilation airflow into the HVAC system.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said regional air quality data includes terrorist attack air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein said regional air quality data includes disaster related air quality alert data that are displayed on a remote panel with optional audible output capabilities.

34. A ventilation airflow sampling and control system for controlling an outside ventilation air stream to determine if it is suitable for introduction into a structure, comprising:

at least one sensor disposed in an outside ventilation air stream;

at least one sensor monitored by a processor;

an air valve control signal produced in response to at least one sensor input;

at least one air valve disposed between at least one supplemental fan and at least one outside ventilation air stream; and

at least one air valve positioned in response to the air valve control signal to provide outside ventilation airflow into the structure.

35. A ventilation airflow sampling and control system for controlling an outside ventilation air stream to determine if it is suitable for introduction into at least one inlet end of an HVAC system, comprising:

at least one sensor disposed in at least one outside ventilation air stream;

at least one sensor monitored by a processor;

an air valve control signal produced in response to at least one sensor input and in response to the HVAC system heat, cool and fan signals;

at least one air valve disposed between the outside ventilation air stream and at least one HVAC system inlet; and

at least one air valve positioned in response to the air valve control signal to provide outside ventilation airflow into the HVAC system.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein at least one sensor is monitored for a period of time sufficient to obtain an output that is an accurate representation of the outside air inlet stream.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein said HVAC system fan signal is controlled by the processor to allow supplemental periods of outside ventilation airflow.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein supplemental periods of outside ventilation airflow are terminated upon the end of a cooling cycle to reduce condensate ingress from the cooling coils.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein said supplemental periods of outside ventilation airflow are overridden when at least one sensor indicates the outside air inlet stream is not suitable for introduction into at least one inlet end of an HVAC system at the end of the previous outside ventilation airflow period.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein the desired length of said supplemental periods of outside ventilation are determined by using a test box to determine the volume of outside ventilation air that is introduced into the HVAC system over long periods of time.

41. The system of claim 35 wherein the volume of outside ventilation airflow introduced into the HVAC system is controlled by the length of time that the air valve is open.

42. The system of claim 35 wherein the volume of outside ventilation airflow introduced into the HVAC system is controlled by the location of the air valve relative to the air valve seat.

43. The system of claim 35 wherein the air valve control signal operates at least one pressure relief valve to allow contaminated air to be exhausted.

44. The system of claim 35 wherein at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein one temperature sensor is used to provide both a high temperature limit and a low temperature limit.

46. The system of claim 35 wherein at least one sensor is a humidity sensor.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the humidity sensor is ignored when the HVAC system is in a heating mode.

48. The system of claim 35 wherein the sensor is at least one air contamination sensor.