Passive ventilation control system

• US 20070072541A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carolina O'Hagin, William Daniels
• Original Assignee: Carolina O'Hagin, William Daniels
• Inventors: O'Hagin, Carolina, Daniels, William
• Granted Patent: US 10,197,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/365
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/43 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/40 Control units therefore
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/21 of identical elements, e.g. of identical compression springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/67 Materials; Strength alteration thereof
• 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 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2007/004 Natural ventilation using convection
• 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 7/003 in combination with air cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/02 Roof ventilation ventilation of roof coverings E04D
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A passive ventilation control system and method. The system includes passive vents throughout a building. The vents may be arranged in multiple sets, with each set being substantially vertically aligned through multiple floors or the entire height of the building. Sensors are positioned inside and/or outside the building for sensing different environmental parameters or atmospheric conditions. The sensors send signals to a controller, which automatically adjusts airflow through the vents in response to the signals from the sensors.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a system of passive vents arranged within a building, comprising:

measuring one or more atmospheric conditions associated with the building; and

automatically adjusting flow areas of one or more of the vents in response to the measuring.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the atmospheric conditions include one or more of:

a) a pressure differential between an interior of the building and an exterior of the building;

b) a temperature differential between the interior of the building and the exterior of the building;

c) a humidity differential between the interior of the building and the exterior of the building;

d) a rate of airflow through at least one of the vents;

e) a rate of air changes in the building;

f) a concentration of particulate matter in the building interior;

g) absolute pressure;

h) absolute temperature;

i) absolute humidity.

j) toxicity;

k) ambient light level; and

l) precipitation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring comprises sensing at least one of the atmospheric conditions using at least one sensor positioned inside or outside the building.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting at least one signal from the sensor to a controller configured to automatically adjust flow areas of one or more of the vents.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically adjusting flow areas of one or more of the vents comprises moving a slidably mounted plate on at least one of the vents.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the vent comprises the slidably mounted plate and a plate having openings, and wherein moving the slidably mounted plate adjusts airflow through the openings.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically adjusting flow areas of one or more of the vents comprises rotating a plurality of louvers rotatably mounted on a vent.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vents is a roof-vent in a roof of the building.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the roof-vent is a self-controlling vent based on ambient temperature.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein automatically adjusting flow areas of one or more of the vents comprises moving a vent door on the roof-vent.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising a servo motor configured to adjust the vent door.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the vent further comprises a solar panel configured to power the vent door.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vents is in a floor of the building.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vents is in a ceiling of the building.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the vents is substantially vertically aligned.

16. A method of controlling a system of passive vents arranged within a building, comprising:

substantially vertically aligning multiple groups of the vents so that each group promotes a substantially vertical flow of air through the vents of that group;

measuring one or more atmospheric conditions associated with the building; and

adjusting flow areas of one or more of the vents in response to the measurements.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the atmospheric conditions include one or more of:

a) a pressure differential between an interior of the building and an exterior of the building;

b) a temperature differential between the interior of the building and the exterior of the building;

c) a humidity differential between the interior of the building and the exterior of the building;

d) a rate of airflow through at least one of the vents;

e) a rate of air changes in the building;

f) a concentration of particulate matter in the building interior;

g) absolute pressure;

h) absolute temperature;

i) absolute humidity.

j) toxicity;

k) ambient light level; and

l) precipitation.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein substantially vertically aligning the multiple groups of vents comprises substantially vertically aligning the groups throughout an entire height of the building.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein substantially vertically aligning the multiple groups of vents comprises substantially vertically aligning through multiple stories of a building.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein substantially vertically aligning comprises positioning each of the vents in a corner section, wherein a corner section is an area within about 36 inches of an intersection of three dividing structures of the building.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein substantially vertically aligning comprises providing vents in at least half of the corner sections of each of a floor, ceiling, and ceiling-floor of the building.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein substantially vertically aligning comprises providing vents in at least half of the corner sections of a roof of the building.

23. A system for controlling passive ventilation, comprising:

a plurality of passive vents arranged throughout a building;

sensors for measuring one or more atmospheric conditions associated with the building; and

a controller configured to receive measurement signals from the sensors and automatically adjust flow areas of the vents in response to the signals.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the atmospheric conditions include one or more of:

a) a pressure differential between an interior of the building and an exterior of the building;

b) a temperature differential between the interior of the building and the exterior of the building;

c) a humidity differential between the interior of the building and the exterior of the building;

d) a rate of airflow through at least one of the vents;

e) a rate of air changes in the building;

f) a concentration of particulate matter in the building interior;

g) absolute pressure;

h) absolute temperature;

i) absolute humidity.

j) toxicity;

k) ambient light level; and

l) precipitation.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of vents comprises multiple sets of vents, the vents of each set being substantially vertically aligned so as to promote a substantially vertical flow of air through the vents of that set.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein vents are in at least half of the corner sections of a roof of the building, wherein a corner section is an area within about 36 inches of an intersection of three dividing structures of the building.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein vents are in at least half of the corner sections of exterior walls of the building, wherein a corner section is an area within about 36 inches of an intersection of three dividing structures of the building.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the sensors include one or more of barometers, thermometers, pyrometers, and hygrometers.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the vents includes a control interface configured to receive a signal from the controller to adjust the flow area of the vent.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the vents comprises a slidably mounted plate and a plate having openings, wherein the slidably mounted plate is configured to adjust airflow through the openings.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the vents comprises a plurality of rotatably mounted louvers.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the vents is a roof-vent in a roof of the building.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the roof-vent comprises a vent door.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising a servo motor configured to adjust the vent door.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the vent further comprises a solar panel configured to power the vent door.

36. A roof vent comprising:

a vent member including an opening, the vent member configured to be secured at an aperture in a roof so that the opening permits airflow through the aperture and the opening between regions above and below the roof;

a vent door operatively connected to the vent member, the vent door having an open position in which the vent door permits airflow through the opening and a closed position in which the vent door substantially prevents airflow through the opening; and

an actuator configured to move the vent door between the open and closed positions based on ambient temperature.

37. The roof vent of claim 36, wherein the actuator comprises a bimetallic strip.

38. The roof vent of claim 36, wherein the actuator comprises a bimetal motor.

39. The roof vent of claim 36, wherein the vent member further comprises a plurality of louvers configured to facilitate airflow between the regions above and below the roof.

40. The roof vent of claim 36, wherein the vent member comprises a vent base member and a vent cover configured to reside over the vent base member;

wherein the vent base member comprises a first opening in fluid communication with the aperture;

wherein the vent cover comprises a second opening in fluid communication with the first opening; and

wherein the vent door is operatively connected to the vent cover.

41. The roof vent of claim 36, wherein the vent door is configured to cover substantially an entire top surface of the vent member in the closed position.

42. A roof vent comprising:

a vent member including an opening, the vent member configured to be secured at an aperture in a roof so that the opening permits airflow through the aperture and the opening between regions above and below the roof;

a vent door operatively connected to the vent member, the vent door having an open position in which the vent door permits airflow through the opening, and a closed position in which the vent door substantially prevents airflow through the opening;

a motor configured to move the vent door between the open and closed positions; and

a controller configured to be in electrical communication with the motor, the controller being configured to drive the motor based on at least one environmental parameter.

43. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising:

a solar panel positioned to receive solar radiation; and

a battery electrically connected to the solar panel and in electrical communication with the motor, the battery being configured to supply power to the motor, wherein the motor is driven by the power.

44. The roof vent of claim 43, wherein the battery is configured to provide electrical power to the controller.

45. The roof vent of claim 42, wherein the at least one environmental parameter comprises one or more of temperature, temperature differential, humidity, humidity differential, precipitation, moisture, toxicity, airflow, ambient light level, pressure, and pressure differential.

46. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one environmental parameter comprising a temperature signal produced by the temperature sensor.

47. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising a humidity sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one environmental parameter comprising a humidity signal produced by the humidity sensor.

48. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising a precipitation sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one environmental parameter comprising a precipitation signal produced by the precipitation sensor.

49. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising a moisture sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one environmental parameter comprising a moisture signal produced by the moisture sensor.

50. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising a toxicity sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one environmental parameter comprising a toxicity signal produced by the toxicity sensor.

51. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising an airflow sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one environmental parameter comprising an airflow signal produced by the airflow sensor.

52. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising an ambient light level sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one environmental parameter comprising an ambient light level signal produced by the ambient light level sensor.

53. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one environmental parameter comprising a pressure signal produced by the pressure sensor.

54. The roof vent of claim 42, further comprising a user interface configured to allow a user to control the motor.

55. The roof vent of claim 54, wherein the user interface permits wireless control of the motor.

56. The roof vent of claim 42, wherein the controller is configured to finely control a size of a ventilation path through the roof vent.