AU2015202973A1 - A ventilator - Google Patents

Abstract

A VENTILATOR A ventilator (10) employed to take external air of a building and delivers the air into the interior. The ventilator (10) includes a controller (34) that receives information from locations (41 to 44) (by way of air pressure) and uses that information to control dampers (30, 31) and fans (28, 29). Operation of the dampers (30, 31) and fans (28, 29) enables the control of supply and exhaust air irrespective of internal and external pressures. 1 -1

Description

1 A VENTILATOR FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to ventilators for enclosed spaces, and more particularly but not exclusively to ventilators for multi-story buildings. BACKGROUND [0002] Enclosed spaces generally require a supply of fresh air. In buildings, particularly multi story buildings, ventilators are employed to take air external of the building and deliver the air to the interior. Ventilators include fans and other pieces of apparatus that can (a) deliver air under pressure to the enclosed space, (b) extract air under negative pressure from the enclosed space, or (c) both deliver and extract air from the enclosed space. [0003] The ventilators are designed to be adjusted to deliver a desired supply and/or exhaust air flow rate. At the time of installation, or at regular services, the adjustment may be altered to suit the particular circumstances surrounding the ventilator so that a desired flow rate is delivered to the interior and exterior. [0004] A disadvantage of the above described ventilators is that the flow rates will vary as pressures externally and internally of the building change. For example, where the ventilator exterior intake is facing the wind, the pressure will increase and increase the air flow rate. However if the external air inlet is on a face of the building at which the wind causes a negative pressure, the air flow rate into the building will decrease. Similarly where the ventilator exterior outlet is subject to a negative wind pressure, the exhaust air flow rate will increase and where it is subject to a positive wind pressure the air flow rate will decrease. Pressure changes within the enclosed space caused by wind or other mechanical ventilation systems similarly affect the air flow rates of the ventilator. Accordingly as wind direction and velocity changes, the supply and exhaust air flow rate changes. Air flows into and out of the building in some instances occur without mechanical ventilation.

2 OBJECT [0005] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0006] There is disclosed herein a ventilator including: a housing having a first air inlet and a second air inlet, and a first air inlet and a second air outlet; primary ducting providing a first air path along which a first air stream passes from the first air inlet to the first air outlet and a second air path along which a second air stream passes from the second air inlet to the second air outlet, the primary ducting having a first and a second inlet portion, and a first and a second outlet portion, with the first path extending between the first inlet portion and the second outlet portion, and the second path extending between the second inlet portion and first outlet portion; first ducting connecting the first air inlet with the first inlet portion; second ducting connecting the second air inlet with the second inlet portion; third ducting connecting the first outlet with the first outlet portion; fourth ducting connecting the second outlet with the second outlet portion; air flow control means to control the flow of air along the first and/or second path; a controller operable to determine the pressure differences between two points in each air stream and to calculate the air flow through the first and second outlets, and being operatively associated with said control means to cause the delivery of electrical power to said flow control means in response to the pressure differences in each air stream ; and wherein the controller causes operation of the control means in response to the pressure differences so that air flow along the first and/or second path can be maintained within a desired range of flow rates. [0007] Preferably, the primary ducting is a heat exchanger, with the first ducting and the second ducting arranged for heat transfer between air passing along the first path and air passing along the second path.

3 [0008] Preferably, the flow control means includes an inlet motorised damper, located at said second ducting, the inlet damper being operatively associated with the controller so that the inlet damper is operable to aid in regulating flow along said first outlet. [0009] Preferably, flow control means includes an outlet motorised damper, located at said fourth ducting, the outlet damper being operatively associated with said controller so that outlet damper is operable to aid in regulating the flow through said second outlet. [00010] Preferably, the flow control means includes an inlet motorised fan located between said second inlet and said first outlet, the inlet fan being operable to at least aid in causing air to flow from said second inlet to said first outlet via said second path. [0010] Preferably, said inlet fan is located in either said third or second ducting. [0011] Preferably, the flow control means includes an outlet motorised fan located between said first inlet and said second outlet, with said outlet fan being operable to at least aid in causing air to flow from said first inlet to said second outlet. [0012] Preferably, said outlet fan is located in either said fourth or first ducting. [0013] Preferably, said controller is operable to determine the pressure differences between the primary ducting second outlet and the entry to the outlet fan so that said controller, after determining the pressure difference, can operate the outlet fan and second outlet damper in response to differences in pressure. [0014] Preferably, said controller is operable to determine the pressure difference between the primary ducting first outlet and the entry to the inlet fan so that the controller, after determining the pressure difference, can operate the inlet fan and first outlet damper in response to differences in pressure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0015] The accompanying drawing is a schematic isometric view of a ventilator for multi-story buildings.

4 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0016] In the accompanying drawing there is schematically depicted a ventilator 10. The ventilator 10 is intended to be installed in a multi-story building. The ventilator 10 includes a hollow housing 11, preferably formed of sheet metal, providing a number of compartments including a central elongated compartment 12. The compartment 12 receives a heat exchanger 15, such as a heat exchanger described in USA Patents 6829900 and 6935132, Australian Patent Application 2005266840, International Patent Applications PCT/AU2008/001300 and PCT/AU2008/001301, and USA Application 14/089421 lodged on 25 November 2013. [0017] The heat exchanger 15 provides a plurality of first passages providing a first air path 13 and a plurality of passages providing a second air path 14. The passages are arranged in layers, so that air passing along the path 13 will exchange heat or heat and moisture with air passing along the path 14. [0018] The heat exchanger 15 could be replaced with primary ducting that would provide one or more passages providing the first air path 13, and one or more passages providing the second air path 14. In such a modification, there would be no heat and/or moisture transferred between the path 13 and the path 14. [0019] The heat exchanger 15 including a first inlet portion 16, a second inlet portion 17, a first outlet portion 18 and a second outlet portion 19. Air passes from the inlet portion 16, via the path 14, to the outlet portion 19. Air passes from the inlet portions 17, along the air path 13, to the outlet portion 18. [0020] The housing 11 provides a first inlet 20, a second inlet 21, a first outlet 22 and a second outlet 23. The first inlet 20, via first ducting 24, delivers air to the first inlet portion 16. The second inlet 21, via ducting 25, delivers air to the second portion 17. The outlet 22 receives air from the first outlet portion 18, via the ducting 26, the second outlet 23 receives air from the second outlet portion 19 via the ducting 27. [0021] The ventilator 10 is intended to be positioned in a building so that the inlet 21 and outlet 23 are either exposed to or connected to the exterior, while the inlet 20 and outlet 22 are either exposed to or connected to the interior of the building.

5 [0022] To aid in passing air along the path 13 there is provided a motorised inlet fan 28 in the ducting 26, preferably the fan 28 is located between the outlet portion 18 and the outlet 22. [0023] To aid in passing air along the path 14, there is provided a motorised outlet fan 29 in the ducting 27. Preferably the fan 29 is located between the outlet portion 19 and the outlet 23. [0024] Preferably, the inlet 21 is provided with a motorised inlet damper 30, while the outlet 23 is provided with a motorised outlet damper 31. [0025] Mounted in the ducting 27, that is downstream of the portion 19, and before the fan 29, is a pressure measuring point 35. The pressure measuring point 35 may provide a signal indicative of the velocity of air passing the point 35, so that a signal generated provides an indication of the pressure downstream of the portion 19 but before the fan 29. [0026] Mounted in duct 26 is a previous measure point 33 downstream of the portion 18 and therefore the fan 28, that may provide a signal indicative of the velocity of air passing the point 33, so that a signal generated provides an indication of the pressure downstream of the portion 18 and fan 28. [0027] Mounted just before the portion 16 is a filter 36 through which air passes when leaving the inlet 20. Just before the portion 17 is a filter 37, that filters air that has just entered via the inlet 21. [0028] The ventilator 10 includes a controller 34. Extending from the controller 34 are tubes 41 to 44, that provide information (by way of air pressure) for the controller 34. The tube 41 extends from the controller 34 to the location 39 that is immediately downstream of the outlet portion 19. The tube 42 extends from the controller 34 to the location 35 that is immediately upstream of the fan 29, while the tube 43 extends from the controller 34 to the location 38 that is immediately downstream of the outlet portion 18. The tube 44 extends from the controller 34 to the location 33 that is immediately upstream of the fan 28. [0029] The controller 34, by receiving information from the locations 33, 35, 38 and 39 can measure pressure differences, calculate the air flows then operate the fans 28 and 29, and dampers 30 and 31 to govern the flow through the ventilator 10 via the paths 13 and 14.

6 [0030] In particular calculation of the air flows at fans 28 and 29 is used to determine the configuration (resistance to flow) dampers 30 and 31, and to vary the speed or turn off the fans 28 and 29 to supply and exhaust air as programmed and minimize power consumption. [0031] Air flow rates are governed by determining the pressure difference between the locations 33 and 38 (for the path 13), and the locations 35 and 39 (for the path 14). [0032] In operation of the above described ventilator 10, upon being activated, the tubes 41 to 44 provide information (by way of air pressure) for the controller 34. The controller 34 can then detect pressure difference between the location 33 and 38, and locations 35 and 39, and operates the air flow control means, that being the dampers 30 and 31, are the fans 28 and 29. [0033] The above described preferred embodiment has the advantage of independently maintaining, within a desired range, air flow rates through the outlet 22 and inlet 20, that is the preferred embodiments control supply and exhaust air irrespective of internal and external pressures.

Claims (10)

1. A ventilator including: a housing having a first air inlet and a second air inlet, and a first air inlet and a second air outlet; primary ducting providing a first air path along which a first air stream passes from the first air inlet to the first air outlet and a second air path along which a second air stream passes from the second air inlet to the second air outlet, the primary ducting having a first and a second inlet portion, and a first and a second outlet portion, with the first path extending between the first inlet portion and the second outlet portion, and the second path extending between the second inlet portion and first outlet portion; first ducting connecting the first air inlet with the first inlet portion; second ducting connecting the second air inlet with the second inlet portion; third ducting connecting the first outlet with the first outlet portion; fourth ducting connecting the second outlet with the second outlet portion; air flow control means to control the flow of air along the first and/or second path; a controller operable to determine the pressure differences between two points in each air stream and to calculate the air flow through the first and second outlets, and being operatively associated with said control means to cause the delivery of electrical power to said flow control means in response to the pressure differences in each air stream ; and wherein the controller causes operation of the control means in response to the pressure differences so that air flow along the first and/or second path can be maintained within a desired range of flow rates.

2. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein the primary ducting is a heat exchanger, with the first ducting and the second ducting arranged for heat transfer between air passing along the first path and air passing along the second path.

3. The ventilator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the flow control means includes an inlet motorised damper, located at said second ducting, the inlet damper being operatively associated with the controller so that the inlet damper is operable to aid in regulating flow along said first outlet. 8

4. The ventilator of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein flow control means includes an outlet motorised damper, located at said fourth ducting, the outlet damper being operatively associated with said controller so that outlet damper is operable to aid in regulating the flow through said second outlet.

5. The ventilator of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the flow control means includes an inlet motorised fan located between said second inlet and said first outlet, the inlet fan being operable to at least aid in causing air to flow from said second inlet to said first outlet via said second path.

6. The ventilator of claim 5, wherein said inlet fan is located in either said third or second ducting.

7. The ventilator of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flow control means includes an outlet motorised fan located between said first inlet and said second outlet, with said outlet fan being operable to at least aid in causing air to flow from said first inlet to said second outlet.

8. The ventilator of claim 7, wherein said outlet fan is located in either said fourth or first ducting.

9. The ventilator of any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein said controller is operable to determine the pressure differences between the primary ducting outlet and the entry to the outlet fan so that said controller, after determining the pressure difference, can operate the outlet fan and second outlet damper in response to differences in pressure.

10. The ventilator of claims 7, 8 or 9, wherein said controller is operable to determine the pressure difference between the primary ducting first outlet and the entry to the inlet fan so that the controller, after determining the pressure difference, can operate the inlet fan and first outlet damper in response to differences in pressure. Air Change Pty Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON & FERGUSON