Multipoint air sampling system having common sensors to provide blended air quality parameter information for monitoring and building control

• US 20060234621A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aircuity Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aircuity Incorporated
• Inventors: Desrochers, Eric M., Sharp, Gordon P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,147,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/239
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/76 by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/66 Volatile organic compounds [VOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/70 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/00 Control inputs relating to users or occupants
• 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 3/0442 with volume control at a constant temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2273 Atmospheric sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/26 with provision for intake from several spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0063 using a threshold to release an alarm or displaying means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A system for monitoring air quality conditions, comprising, a multi-point air monitoring system comprising, a plurality of sensors for collecting air quality data from a plurality of at least partially enclosed areas; one or more data processing units for processing one or more air quality parameters based on the collected air quality data; and one or more communication devices for communicating the data from the sensor to the processing unit; and a signal processing controller that generates one or more blended air quality parameter signals via the multi-point air monitoring system based at least in part on one or more of the processed air quality parameters representative of data from a plurality of the sensors.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring air quality conditions, comprising,

a multi-point air monitoring system comprising,

a plurality of sensors for collecting air quality data from a plurality of at least partially enclosed areas;

one or more data processing units for processing one or more air quality parameters based on said collected air quality data; and

one or more means for communicating said data from said sensor to said processing unit; and

a signal processing controller that generates one or more blended air quality parameter signals via said multi-point air monitoring system based at least in part on one or more of said processed air quality parameters representative of data from a plurality of said sensors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said areas are remote from said sensors.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said multi-point air monitoring system further comprises a multi-point air sampling system comprising,

one or more air solenoids proximate said area for collecting air samples from said area, and

one or more tubes for transporting said air samples from said areas to said sensors.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said multi-point air monitoring system is selected from a group of systems consisting of a star-configured system and a networked air sampling system.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said multi-point air monitoring system further comprises a photonic sampling system comprising,

a light detector,

a light emitter for emitting packets of light,

an optical sensor located proximate said area,

a means for transmitting said packets of light from said emitter to said optical sensor,

said light detector for detecting packets of light from said optical sensor and generating data based on said detected packets of light,

a means for transmitting said packets of light from said optical sensor to said detector, and

a means for communicating said data from said detector to said processing unit.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said photonic sampling system is selected from a group of systems consisting of a star-configured system and a backbone system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said sensors is selected from a group of sensors consisting of electrochemical, optical, infrared absorption, photo-acoustic, polymer, variable conductivity, flame ionization, photo-ionization, solid state, mixed metal oxide, ion mobility, surface acoustic wave, and fiber optic.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor is selected from a group of sensors consisting of wired and wireless.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said air quality parameters are selected from a group consisting of air contaminants, air comfort parameters, and carbon dioxide.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said air contaminants comprises one or more contaminants selected from a group consisting of:

chemical, biological, and radiological composition elements;

particles having a diameter between about 0.01 microns to about 100 microns;

carbon monoxide;

smoke;

aerosols;

TVOC'"'"'s consisting of formaldehyde, NO, NOX, SOX, SO2, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrocarbons, ammonia, refrigerant gases, radon, ozone, radiation, biological terrorist agents and chemical terrorist agents;

toxic gases;

mold; and

bacteria.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said air comfort parameters comprises one or more parameters selected from a group consisting of:

temperature; and

psychrometric parameters consisting of humidity, relative humidity, dewpoint temperature, absolute humidity, wet bulb temperature, and enthalpy.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said blended air quality parameter signals is selected from a group consisting of:

analog, digital, and optical.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising,

at least one airflow control device to airflow volume to and from one or more of said areas;

and

an airflow controller that uses said blended air quality parameter signal to at least partially control airflow volumes to and from one or more of said areas.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least two said areas are located in two separate buildings.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said sensors is a shared sensor and one or said sensors is a local room sensor.

16. A method for monitoring air quality conditions, comprising the steps of,

providing a multi-point air monitoring system;

collecting air quality data from a plurality of at least partially enclosed areas via a plurality of sensors;

communicating said data from said sensor to said processing unit;

processing said collected air quality data using one or more data processing units for processing one or more air quality parameters based on said collected air quality data; and

generating a blended air quality parameter signal via said multi-point air monitoring system using a signal processing controller that generates said blended air quality parameter signals based at least in part on one or more of said processed air quality parameters representative of data from a plurality of said sensors.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein one or more of said sensors is selected from a group of sensors consisting of electrochemical, optical, infrared absorption, photo-acoustic, polymer, variable conductivity, flame ionization, photo-ionization, solid state, mixed metal oxide, ion mobility, surface acoustic wave, and fiber optic.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said sensor is selected from a group of sensors consisting of wired and wireless.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein one or more of said air quality parameters are selected from a group consisting of air contaminants, air comfort parameters, and carbon dioxide.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said air contaminants comprises one or more contaminants selected from a group consisting of:

chemical, biological, and radiological composition elements;

particles having a diameter between about 0.01 microns to about 100 microns;

carbon monoxide;

smoke;

aerosols;

TVOC'"'"'s consisting of formaldehyde, NO, NOX, SOX, SO2, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrocarbons, ammonia, refrigerant gases, radon, ozone, radiation, biological terrorist agents and chemical terrorist agents;

toxic gases;

mold; and

bacteria.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said air comfort parameters comprises one or more parameters selected from a group consisting of:

temperature; and

psychrometric parameters consisting of humidity, relative humidity, dew point temperature, absolute humidity, wet bulb temperature, and enthalpy.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein one or more of said blended air quality parameter signals is selected from a group consisting of:

analog, digital, and optical.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein said further comprising the steps of,

providing at least one airflow control device to airflow volume to and from one or more of said areas;

and

providing an airflow controller that uses said blended air quality parameter signal to at least partially control airflow volumes to and from one or more of said areas, and

adjusting said airflow volume in one or more of said areas based on said blended air quality parameter signal.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein at least two of said areas are located two separate buildings.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein one of said sensors is a shared sensor and one or said sensors is a local room sensor.