Pressure controlled fresh air supply ventilation system using soil gas pressure as a reference, and method of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A ventilation system for use in an enclosed space, which enclosed space is equipped with a heating and/or air conditioning system comprised of a cold air return, a blower fan and an air filter;
- which ventilation system comprises, in combination with the heating and/or air conditioning system, a series combination of an air prefilter and fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof, attaches to, and opens into the cold air return of the heating and/or air conditioning system of the enclosed space;
which enclosed space heating and/or air conditioning system is fashioned such that essentially all air entering the cold air return passes through the air filter and is caused by the blower fan of the heating and/or air conditioning system to flow within the enclosed space and either leave through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust systems, or return to the cold air return;
which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise cause operation at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space.
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Abstract
A ventilation system allows for a user adjustable minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate, a user adjustable minimum exhaust air volume outflow rate, for an enclosed space, and provides for automatic adjustment of the air volume flow rate(s) to maintain the air pressure inside the enclosed space at a user selected level which is measured in relation to the relatively constant soil gas pressure beneath the enclosed space, or pressure under the floor of the lowest occupied level, under which floor, soil gas is present.
59 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A ventilation system for use in an enclosed space, which enclosed space is equipped with a heating and/or air conditioning system comprised of a cold air return, a blower fan and an air filter;
- which ventilation system comprises, in combination with the heating and/or air conditioning system, a series combination of an air prefilter and fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof, attaches to, and opens into the cold air return of the heating and/or air conditioning system of the enclosed space;
which enclosed space heating and/or air conditioning system is fashioned such that essentially all air entering the cold air return passes through the air filter and is caused by the blower fan of the heating and/or air conditioning system to flow within the enclosed space and either leave through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust systems, or return to the cold air return;
which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise cause operation at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- which ventilation system comprises, in combination with the heating and/or air conditioning system, a series combination of an air prefilter and fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof, attaches to, and opens into the cold air return of the heating and/or air conditioning system of the enclosed space;
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5. An enclosed space which is equipped with a heating and/or air conditioning system comprised of a cold air return, a blower fan and an air filter;
- which enclosed space also includes a ventilation system, which ventilation system comprises, in combination with the heating and/or air conditioning system, a series combination of an air prefilter and a fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof, attaches to and opens into the cold air return of the heating and/or air conditioning system of the enclosed space;
which enclosed space heating and/or air conditioning system is fashioned such that essentially all air entering the cold air return passes through the air filter and is caused by the blower fan of the heating and/or air conditioning system to flow within the enclosed space and either leave through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust systems, or return to the cold air return;
which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate whenever the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise cause operation at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space. - View Dependent Claims (6)
- which enclosed space also includes a ventilation system, which ventilation system comprises, in combination with the heating and/or air conditioning system, a series combination of an air prefilter and a fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof, attaches to and opens into the cold air return of the heating and/or air conditioning system of the enclosed space;
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7. A method of economically ventilating an enclosed space to provide a healthy environment therein comprising the steps of:
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a. fitting the enclosed space, which enclosed space is equipped with a heating and/or air conditioning system comprised of a cold air return, a blower fan and an air filter;
with a ventilation system, which ventilation system comprises, in combination with the heating and/or air conditioning system, a series combination of an air prefilter and a fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof, attaches to, and opens into, the cold air return of the heating and/or air conditioning system of the enclosed space;
which enclosed space heating and/or air conditioning system is fashioned such that essentially all air entering the cold air return passes through the air filter and is caused by the blower fan of the heating and/or air conditioning system to flow within the enclosed space and either leave through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, chimneys and exhaust systems, or return to the cold air return;
which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise cause operation at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space;b. setting the heating and/or air conditioning system blower fan to continually operate so that a minimum rate of recirculating air flow and constant air filtration will occur in the enclosed space, but allowing the heating and/or air conditioning blower fan to operate at a higher rate during operation of heating and/or cooling systems; c. setting the pressure differential monitoring sensor, the signal developed thereby which acts to control the fresh air supply device, so that the fresh air supply device operates at a user selected level to cause some minimum level of inlet fresh air volume inflow rate from the outside of the enclosed space to be continually entered into the cold air return of the heating and/or air conditioning system of the enclosed space, which level of inlet air volume inflow rate is sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space; d. allowing the ventilation system to operate so that when air inside the enclosed space is expelled through air leaks, chimneys or exhaust fans etc., the fresh air supply device is caused, by a change in the signal from the pressure differential monitor sensor, to operate so as to cause an increased volume of fresh air to flow into the cold air return of the heating and/or air conditioning system and thereby reestablish the relationship between the air pressure inside the enclosed space and the soil gas pressure which was set in step c above, until said increased volume of fresh air inflow is no longer required to maintain the identified relationship between air pressure inside the enclosed space and the soil gas pressure, at which time the fresh air supply device is caused to operate so as to provide the minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space.
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8. A ventilation system for use in an enclosed space, which ventilation system comprises a series combination of an air prefilter and fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof opens into the enclosed space and provides fresh air thereto, which fresh air leaves through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust systems;
- which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise cause operation at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
- which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
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12. An enclosed space, which enclosed space is equipped with a ventilation system, which ventilation system comprises a series combination of an air prefilter and fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof opens into the enclosed space and provides fresh air thereto, which fresh air leaves through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys, and air exhaust systems;
- which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise cause operation at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space.
- which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
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13. A method of economically ventilating an enclosed space to provide a healthy air quality environment therein comprising the steps of:
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a. fitting the enclosed space with a ventilation system, which ventilation system comprises a series combination of an air prefilter and fresh air supply device, which air prefilter and fresh air supply device are attached to one another by way of a common duct, which common duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which common duct, at the other end thereof opens into the enclosed space and provides fresh air thereto, which fresh air leaves through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust systems;
which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise cause operation at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space;b. setting the pressure differential monitoring sensor, the signal developed thereby which acts to control the fresh air supply device, so that the fresh air supply device operates at some user selected level to cause some minimum level of fresh air volume rate from the outside of the enclosed space to be continually entered into the enclosed space, which level of inlet air volume inflow rate is sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space; c. allowing the ventilation system to operate so that when air inside the enclosed space is expelled through air leaks, chimneys or exhaust fans etc. the fresh air supply device is caused, by a change in the signal from the pressure differential monitoring sensor, to operate so as to cause an increased volume of inlet fresh air to flow into the enclosed space and thereby reestablish the relationship between the air pressure inside the enclosed space and the soil gas pressure which was set in step b above, until said increased volume of inlet fresh air inflow is no longer required to maintain the identified relationship between air pressure inside the enclosed space and the soil gas pressure, at which time the fresh air supply device is again caused by the signal from the pressure differential monitoring sensor to operate so as to provide the minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space.
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14. A ventilation system for use in an enclosed space, which ventilation system comprises a fresh air supply device, which fresh air supply device is attached to a duct, which duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which duct, at the other end thereof opens into the enclosed space and provides fresh air thereto, which fresh air leaves through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust systems;
- which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise operate at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space.
- which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
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15. An enclosed space, which enclosed space is equipped with a ventilation system, which ventilation system comprises a fresh air supply device, which fresh air supply device is attached to a duct, which duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which duct, at the other end thereof opens into the enclosed space and provides fresh air thereto, which fresh air leaves through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust systems;
- which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differencial monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise operate at a user selected minimum fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy environment inside the enclosed space. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
- which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
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18. A method of economically ventilating an enclosed space to provide a healthy air quality environment therein comprising the steps of:
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a. fitting the enclosed space with a ventilation system, which ventilation system comprises a fresh air supply device, which fresh air supply device is attached to a duct, which duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which duct, at the other end thereof opens into the enclosed space and provides fresh air thereto, which fresh air leaves through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust systems;
which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the fresh air supply device so as to increase inlet fresh air volume inflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, lower than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is increased, and to otherwise operate at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space;b. setting the pressure differential monitoring sensor, the signal developed thereby which acts to control the fresh air supply device, so that the fresh air supply device operates at some user selected level to cause some minimum level of inlet fresh air volume inflow from the outside of the enclosed space to be continually entered into the enclosed space, which level of inlet fresh air volume inflow is sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space; c. allowing the ventilation system to operate so that when air inside the enclosed space is expelled through air leaks, chimneys or exhaust fans etc. the fresh air supply device is caused, by a change in the signal from the pressure differential monitoring sensor, to operate so as to cause an increased volume of fresh air to flow into the enclosed space and thereby reestablish the relationship between the air pressure inside the enclosed space and the soil gas pressure which was set in step b above, until said increased volume of fresh air inflow is no longer required to maintain the identified relationship between air pressure inside the enclosed space and the soil gas pressure, at which time the fresh air supply device is again caused to operate at a user selected minimum inlet fresh air volume inflow rate so as to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space.
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19. An enclosed space, which enclosed space is equipped with a ventilation system, which ventilation system comprises a fresh air supply device, which fresh air supply device is attached to a duct, which duct, at one end thereof, has access to the atmosphere outside the enclosed space, and which duct, at the other end thereof opens into the enclosed space and provides fresh air thereto, which fresh air leaves through openings in the enclosed space, such as air leaks, open doors or windows, chimneys and air exhaust device, which air exhaust device is attached to a second duct at one end of thereof, which second duct has access to the outside atmosphere at an opposite end thereof;
- which fresh air supply device can be set to operate at an inlet fresh air volume inflow rate by a user;
which ventilation system further comprises a pressure differential monitoring sensor, which pressure differential monitoring sensor monitors the air pressure inside the enclosed space and also monitors soil gas pressure beneath the foundation or floor of the lowest occupied level of the enclosed space, for use as a reference, without significantly altering said soil gas pressure;
which pressure differential monitoring sensor produces a signal in response to the difference between the two identified pressures, which signal is used to regulate the operation of the air exhaust device so as to increase exhaust air volume outflow rate when the air pressure in the enclosed space is at a level, when compared to the soil gas pressure, higher than a user selected level, so that the air pressure inside the enclosed space is decreased, and to otherwise operate at a user selected minimum exhaust air volume outflow rate sufficient to maintain a healthy air quality environment inside the enclosed space. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- which fresh air supply device can be set to operate at an inlet fresh air volume inflow rate by a user;
Specification