ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATION SMOKE EVACUATION

• US 20170254556A1
• Filed: 05/22/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ruskin Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Wiley, Josiah, Longman, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,344,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 11/33 to fire, excessive heat or smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/34 by opening air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/35 by closing air passages
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/62 Tobacco smoke
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2203/104 Heat exchanger wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/08 with separate ducts for supplied and exhausted air with provisions for reversal of the input and output systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A control system, comprising one or more smoke sensors, each configured to measure a level of smoke at a location within a building and to output a smoke level signal based at least in part upon the measured level of smoke. A controller configured to receive the smoke level signals and to control an operation of one or more energy recovery ventilation systems in a first mode of operation to recover energy when the smoke level signal is below a predetermined value and in a second mode of operation to evacuate smoke when the smoke level signal is above the predetermined value.

Claims

1. A control system, comprising:

one or more smoke sensors, each configured to measure a level of smoke at a location within a building and to output a smoke level signal based at least in part upon the measured level of smoke; and

a controller configured to receive the smoke level signals and to control an operation of one or more energy recovery ventilation systems in a first mode of operation to recover energy when the smoke level signal is below a predetermined value and in a second mode of operation to evacuate smoke when the smoke level signal is above the predetermined value.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more pressure sensors generating ambient pressure data, wherein the controller is configured to receive the ambient pressure data and to control an operation of one or more fans or dampers.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate in a third mode of operation to control an operation of one or more fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate a predetermined sequence comprising at least one of a purge, pressurization, and/or an exhaust sequence, and/or combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to control an operation of one or more fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said purge sequence comprises:

opening one or more outside air or building exhaust dampers; and

running one or more air intake or building exhaust fans at predetermined/preprogrammed speeds.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said pressurization sequence comprises:

closing an exhaust damper; and

running an air intake or building exhaust fan at a predetermined and/or preprogrammed speed to achieve a proper pressurization.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said exhaust sequence comprises:

closing an outside air damper;

running an exhaust fan at a predetermined and/or preprogrammed speed; and

stopping an outside air fan to achieve negative pressurization.

9-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A system, comprising:

a first smoke sensor configured to measure a first level of smoke at a first location within a building and to output a first smoke level signal based at least in part upon the first measured level of smoke;

a second smoke sensors configured to measure a second level of smoke at a second location within a building and to output a second smoke level signal based at least in part upon the second measured level of smoke; and

a controller configured to receive the first smoke level signal and the second smoke level signal and to control an operation a first energy recovery ventilation system in a first mode of operation to recover energy when the first smoke level signal is below a predetermined value and to control an operation a second energy recovery ventilation system in a second mode of operation to evacuate smoke when the second smoke level signal is above the predetermined value.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising two or more pressure sensors in two or more different locations, each generating ambient pressure data sets, wherein the controller is configured to receive the ambient pressure data sets and to control an operation of one or more fans or dampers as a function of the two or more ambient pressure data sets.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to operate in a third mode of operation to control an operation of two or more fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof, wherein one of the fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof is in a first location and a second of the fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof is in a second location.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to operate a predetermined sequence comprising at least two of a purge, pressurization, and/or an exhaust sequence, and/or combinations thereof.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to independently control an operation of two or more fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof in two or more different locations.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said purge sequence comprises:

opening two or more outside air or building exhaust dampers at different times;

running a first air intake or building exhaust fan at a first predetermined/preprogrammed speed; and

running a second air intake or building exhaust fan at a second predetermined/preprogrammed speeds.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein said pressurization sequence comprises:

closing a first exhaust damper;

closing a second exhaust damper; and

running an air intake or building exhaust fan at a predetermined and/or preprogrammed speed to achieve a proper pressurization as a function of a location of the first exhaust damper and the second exhaust damper.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein said exhaust sequence comprises:

closing an outside air damper;

running an exhaust fan at a predetermined and/or preprogrammed speed after the outside air damper has been closed; and

stopping an outside air fan to achieve negative pressurization.

29. The system of claim 20 further comprising two or more pressure sensors in two or more different locations, each generating ambient pressure data sets, wherein the controller is configured to receive the ambient pressure data sets and to control an operation of one or more fans or dampers as a function of the two or more ambient pressure data sets.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to operate in a third mode of operation to control an operation of two or more fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof, wherein one of the fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof is in a first location and a second of the fans, dampers, and/or thermal wheels, and/or combinations thereof is in a second location.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to operate a predetermined sequence comprising at least two of a purge, pressurization, and/or an exhaust sequence, and/or combinations thereof.

28. A system, comprising:

a smoke sensor configured to measure a level of smoke at a location within a building and to output a smoke level signal based at least in part upon the first measured level of smoke; and

a controller configured to receive the smoke level signal and to control an operation an energy recovery ventilation system in a first mode of operation that includes operation of a first item of equipment, to recover energy when the smoke level signal is below a predetermined value and to control an operation the energy recovery ventilation system in a second mode of operation that includes operation of a second item of equipment, to evacuate smoke when the smoke level signal is above the predetermined value.