AU2017101370A4 - Ventilation System - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A ventilation system for a building comprising a fan module and one or more exhaust modules. The fan module comprises a vent in an outer wall and a fan 5 located within a cavity between the outer wall and an inner wall adjacent a lower end thereof. The fan module is provided to draw air inwardly through the vent and emit air upwardly through the cavity towards a roof cavity of the building. The first exhaust fans are provided to draw air outwardly from the roof cavity. cu CN co I)N (Y) cocoI p. 'O 4 - I. I 'ci-r i ii i I

Description

“Ventilation System”

Field of the Invention [001] The present invention relates to system for providing building ventilation for cooling of the building.

Background to the Invention [002] Buildings in hot environments will capture heat during the day, which will tend to remain within the building. While the heat may be released during the cooler night time periods, this captured heat can take some time to be released, resulting in a gradual heating of the building over extended warm periods.

[003] The present invention relates to a system for providing ventilation in such a way as to transfer heat away from the building over time, thereby resulting in a cooler building and a consequential reduction in the load placed on other cooling devices, such as air-conditioners, that may be required within the building.

Summary of the Invention [004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fan module comprising: a vent in an outer wall and a fan located within a cavity between the outer wall and an inner wall adjacent a lower end thereof, wherein the fan module is provided to draw air inwardly through the vent and emit air upwardly through the cavity towards a roof cavity of the building; and on or more first exhaust fans provided in a roof of the building to draw air outwardly from the roof cavity.

[005] Preferably the fan includes a fan housing having side walls oriented vertically and edge walls connecting the side walls and wherein an inlet is provided on a side wall connected to the vent by a conduit and an outlet is provided on an uppermost of the edge walls.

[006] Preferably solar panels and batteries are provided to power the fan module and exhaust fans.

[007] Preferably a heat sensor is provided such that operation of the fan module and exhaust fans is stopped if a temperature above a predetermined temperature is sensed.

[008] Preferably the conduit comprises a first conduit portion adjacent the first end thereof and a second conduit portion adjacent the second end thereof, the first and second conduits being slidable relative to each other such that the distance between the fan and the vent may be adjusted by sliding the first and second conduit portions relative to each other.

[009] Preferably a second exhaust fan is connected to a duct, an end of which is connected to an opening in a ceiling to draw air outwardly from the inside the building.

[010] Preferably a control box is provided on an external wall of the building for receiving the batteries.

Brief Description of the Drawings [011] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings: [012] Figure 1 is a representation of a ventilation system in accordance with the present invention; and [013] Figure 2 is a top view of the fan module of the ventilation system of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [014] Referring to Figures, there is shown a ventilation system 10 for use within a building 11. The ventilation system 10 includes one or more fan modules 12 and one or more exhaust fans 38.

[015] Each of the fan modules 12 comprises generally a vent 14 and a fan 15. The fan modules 12 are to be mounted adjacent lower ends of walls of the building 11, where the walls comprise an outer wall 16 and an inner wall 18 defining a cavity 17 between the outer and inner walls 16 and 18.

[016] The fan modules 12 are mounted through openings provided within the outer wall 16 such that the vent 14 seals across the opening in the outer wall 16. The vent 14 comprises a faceplate 20 having a filter medium 22 secured across an opening therein, such that air is drawn inwardly through the filter medium 22.

[017] The fan modules 12 include conduits 24 each having a first end connected to an inner side of the openings in the vents 14 and a second end connected to the fan 15. Air is drawn inwardly through the vents 14, into the fan 15 such that the fan 15 expels air upwardly through the cavity 17.

[018] The fan 15 comprises a fan housing 26 having an internal impeller (not shown). The fan housing 26 includes side walls 28 to be oriented vertically in use. The fan housing 26 also includes edge walls 30 connecting between the parallel side walls 28. In the embodiment shown, the fan housing 26 is a rectangular prism in shape such that the side walls 28 and the edge walls 30 are each rectangular. The fan housing 26 is relatively thin such that the edge walls 30 are significantly shorter than the side walls 28.

[019] The fan housing 26 includes an inlet 32 which is connected to the second end of the conduit 24. The fan housing 26 includes also an outlet 34 from which air is emitted. The inlet 32 comprises an opening provided on one of the side walls 28 of the fan housing 26 and the outlet 34 comprises an opening on an uppermost of the edge walls 30. The impeller within the fan housing 26 is oriented to draw air in from the inlet 32 and direct outwardly through the outlet 34.

[020] The conduit 24 comprises a first conduit portion 36 adjacent the first end thereof and a second conduit portion 37 adjacent the second end thereof. The first conduit portion 36 engages slidingly with the second conduit portion 37. In the embodiment shown, the second conduit portion 37 is received in an end of the first conduit portion 36 such that the second conduit portion 37 may slide relative to the first conduit portion 36. The distance between the fan 15 and the vent 14 may therefore be adjusted by sliding the first and second conduit portions 36 and 37 relative to each other.

[021] The exhaust fans 38 are mounted in openings provided within a roof 40 of the building 11. In the embodiment shown, there is provided a first exhaust fan 38a and a second exhaust fan 38b. The first exhaust fan 38a is provided to draw air outwardly from within a roof cavity 42 of the building 11. The second exhaust fan 38b is connected to a duct 44, an end of which is connected to an opening in a ceiling 46 of the building 11. The second exhaust fan 38b therefore acts to draw air outwardly from the inside of the building 11.

[022] The ventilation system 10 is provided also with a solar panel 48 and a control box 50. The solar panel 48 provides power to the fan modules 12 and exhaust fans 38. Batteries are provided within the control box 50 to store energy generated by the solar panels 48 for powering the fan modules 12 and exhaust fans 38.

[023] The ventilation system 10 includes also a heat sensor 52. The heat sensor 52 is connected to the ventilation system 10 such that the heat sensor 52 can switch off the fan modules 12 and exhaust fans 38 when a predetermined temperature has been exceeded.

[024] In use, the fan modules 12 can draw in cool air from adjacent the ground into the cavities 17 of the building 11. This cool air is directed upwardly through the cavities 17 to cool down the walls of the building 11. The heat transferred by this flow of air through the cavities 17 is directred into the roof cavity 42 where it may be extracted outwardly by the exhaust fan 38a. The second exhaust fan 38b acts to further cool the building 11 by drawing warm air outwardly from the inside the building 11. The ventilation system 10 operates entirely from solar power and can therefore operate continuously when required. The heat sensor 52 will switch off the system 10 when it determines that the temperature is low enough for the ventilation system 10 to not be required.

[025] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A ventilation system for a building comprising: a fan module comprising a vent in an outer wall and a fan located within a cavity between the outer wall and an inner wall adjacent a lower end thereof, wherein the fan module is provided to draw air inwardly through the vent and emit air upwardly through the cavity towards a roof cavity of the building; and on or more first exhaust fans provided in a roof of the building to draw air outwardly from the roof cavity.
2. 2. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fan includes a fan housing having side walls oriented vertically and edge walls connecting the side walls and wherein an inlet is provided on a side wall connected to the vent by a conduit and an outlet is provided on an uppermost of the edge walls.
3. 3. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 2, wherein solar panels and batteries are provided to power the fan module and exhaust fans.
4. 4. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 3, wherein a heat sensor is provided such that operation of the fan module and exhaust fans is stopped if a temperature above a predetermined temperature is sensed.
5. 5. A ventilation system in accordance any one of claim 2 to 4, wherein the conduit comprises a first conduit portion adjacent the first end thereof and a second conduit portion adjacent the second end thereof, the first and second conduits being slidable relative to each other such that the distance between the fan and the vent may be adjusted by sliding the first and second conduit portions relative to each other.
6. 6. A ventilation system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second exhaust fan is connected to a duct, an end of which is connected to an opening in a ceiling to draw air outwardly from the inside the building.
7. 7. A ventilation system in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein a control box is provided on an external wall of the building for receiving the batteries.