AU2021218158A1 - Dust control - Google Patents

Dust control Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2021218158A1
AU2021218158A1 AU2021218158A AU2021218158A AU2021218158A1 AU 2021218158 A1 AU2021218158 A1 AU 2021218158A1 AU 2021218158 A AU2021218158 A AU 2021218158A AU 2021218158 A AU2021218158 A AU 2021218158A AU 2021218158 A1 AU2021218158 A1 AU 2021218158A1
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
room
building
filters
pressure
fans
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
AU2021218158A
Inventor
Matthew James GEE
Steven Leslie SMITH
Melton Donald WHITE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MIDECO Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
MIDECO Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MIDECO Pty Ltd filed Critical MIDECO Pty Ltd
Priority to AU2021218158A priority Critical patent/AU2021218158A1/en
Priority to PCT/AU2022/050648 priority patent/WO2023019287A1/en
Publication of AU2021218158A1 publication Critical patent/AU2021218158A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F8/00—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
    • F24F8/10—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by separation, e.g. by filtering
    • F24F8/108—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by separation, e.g. by filtering using dry filter elements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/02—Ducting arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
    • F24F13/10—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
    • F24F3/16—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by purification, e.g. by filtering; by sterilisation; by ozonisation
    • F24F3/167—Clean rooms, i.e. enclosed spaces in which a uniform flow of filtered air is distributed
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
    • F24F11/52—Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/0001—Control or safety arrangements for ventilation
    • F24F2011/0002—Control or safety arrangements for ventilation for admittance of outside air
    • F24F2011/0004—Control or safety arrangements for ventilation for admittance of outside air to create overpressure in a room
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2140/00—Control inputs relating to system states
    • F24F2140/10—Pressure
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
    • Y02B30/70—Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

P1785AU00 ABSTRACT A system (for protecting occupants of a building from particulates) comprising one or more filters, one or more fans (to move air into at least one room of a building via the one or more filters to pressurise the at least one room), and a control 5 system configured to control the fans in response to feedback. 2/2 21' 0 0 0 19 21--- 211FIGURE 4 17' 19' FIGURE 5 1" 1" 61

Description

2/2
21'
0 0
19
21--- 211FIGURE 4
17'
19'
FIGURE 5
1" 1" 61
P1785AU00
1
DUSTCONTROL FIELD
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for protecting building occupants from particulates.
BACKGROUND
Airborne particulates are hazardous to health. In various dusty environments, personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandated before stepping outdoors.
The present inventor has recognised that the dangers associated with airborne particulates can extend indoors.
Accordingly, the invention aims to protect building occupants from airborne particulates.
SUMMARY
One aspect of the invention provides a system, for protecting occupants of a building from particulates, comprising
one or more filters;
one or more fans to move air into at least one room of a building via the one or more filters to pressurise the at least one room; and
a control system configured to control the fans in response to feedback.
The room may have a volume of at least 10 M3 , e.g. at least 20 M3 . The system preferably has a capacity of at least 1000m 3/hr. The system may be AC-powered, e.g. single-phase, 2-phase or 3-phase powered.
P1785AU00
2
The system may comprise a HEPA filter. Preferably, the system comprises a pre-filter upstream of the HEPA filter.
Preferably, the one or more fans are downstream of the one or more filters.
The system may be configured to aim for a target pressure of about 50 Pa. The system preferably comprises an alarm system configured to alarm in response to the pressure falling below a threshold, e.g. below 20 Pa.
The system may be a transportable unit.
Another aspect of the invention provides a system comprising the system for protecting occupants; and
a pressure sensor to provide the feedback.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of protecting occupants of a building from particulates, comprising installing the system for protecting occupants.
The method may comprise installing a conduit to convey air from the system towards the room.
Another aspect of the invention provides a building comprising the system for protecting occupants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a transportable unit;
Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the transportable unit;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of another air supply system;
Figure 4 is cross-section view of another transportable unit;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of three potential installations; and
P1785AU00
3
Figure 6 is a plan view of the three potential installations.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The system 1 is a transportable unit comprising a tubular housing 3. In this example, the housing 3 is metallic. Stainless steel is a preferred material. The housing houses HEPA filter 5 and pre-filter 7. A pre-filter is a filter coarser than, to protect, a downstream filter. The filters 5, 7 are clamped in place inside the housing 3 between filter frame 9 and filter clamp 11. Other mounting arrangements are possible. The HEPA filter 5 is preferably an H13 filter.
Fan 13 resides downstream of the filters 5, 7. In this example, the fan 13 comprises a fan blade 13a and an electric motor 13b. The fan is mounted via mounting bracket 15.
This example of the unit 1 has a generally uniform rectangular profile along its horizontal length. Figure 3 illustrates another example of a transportable unit 1' in which the cross-section varies down its vertical length from a rectangular profile upstream filtration section 3a to a fan unit downstream 3b.
Figure 3 also shows a hood 17 and conduit 19 fitted top and bottom to the transportable unit 1'.
The hood 17 is a peaked lid comprising inlets under its outside ends. The lid is peaked so that water runs off. Arranging the inlet(s) upward to draw in air reduces the intake of water. There is mesh across the air inlets to prevent birds nesting inside. Conduit 19 is an elbow configured to turn the vertically-directed air, coming from the fan module 3b, horizontally. Preferably, the conduit is spanned by a guard such as a mesh grill to block access to the fan.
The units 1, 1' are examples of prefabricated transportable units that can be cost efficiently manufactured, transported and installed. The units are installed on or adjacent to a building and connected thereto to pressurise at least one room thereof. Preferably the units 1, 1' are supplied as parts of kits also comprising one or more (and preferably each) of sealant (e.g. silicone for sealing the wall penetration), a
P1785AU00
4
template for marking out the required penetration and sticky tape for holding the template in place. The unit preferably has one, and only one, power inlet (e.g. power lead) whereby only one onsite electrical connection is required to power the components of the transportable unit.
Preferred variants of the unit 1' incorporate a control system by which the fan 13 is controllable to maintain the pressure in the room. In this way, the fan can be sped up and slowed down as necessary to maintain pressure as leakages about doorways and windows (etc) change from time to time.
Any convenient form of feedback system may be utilised. By way of example, the speed and current drawn by the motor 13b might be monitored to make inferences about the pressure delivered by the fan 13 or, more preferably, a dedicated pressure sensor is provided. Using a dedicated pressure sensor is a simple and convenient means of maintaining pressure even as the filters 5, 7 are loaded with particulates. The pressure sensor may be built in to the unit 1. Alternatively, it may be remotely mounted and provide a feedback signal. The feedback signal may be a wireless signal.
The control system is preferably configured to minimise reaction to transients such as the pressure drop associated with a door being opened, e.g. after a significant pressure drop a signal to change the fan speed might be delayed, e.g. by one minute, until a second pressure reading indicates that the pressure remains low. In one implementation, the fans might be controlled based on historical data (e.g. data over the last five minutes) processed to ignore (or give less weight to) outlying pressure data.
The control system of the unit 1 preferably incorporates an alarm function to warn, e.g. warn the occupants of the room, of a malfunction. Preferably, the control system is configured to alarm in response to the pressure in the room falling below a predetermined threshold, e.g. in response to falling and remaining below a threshold for a delay period. The delay period allows for temporary pressure drops associated with doors being momentarily opened. The alarm could be an audible alarm, a visual
P1785AU00
5
alarm such as a simple LED light, or any other convenient means of alarming, such as a wireless signal.
In preferred implementations, the room pressure is data-logged over time. The data logging and/or alarm functions may be built into the transportable unit. Alternatively, the functions may be provided remotely separate from the unit 1.
Preferably, the control system is also configured to alarm when the filters 5, 7 are loaded to capacity. This may be achieved with dedicated pressure sensors to provide an indication of the pressure drop across the filter 7, or inferences may be drawn based on the pressure sensor in the room and feedback from the motor 13b.
Figures 5 and 6 show three potential installations of an air supplying unit 1". The unit 1" is akin to unit 1 although the downstream end is enlarged to define a plenum space pressurised by the fan 13. The plenum space has a plurality of openings. In this case there are three openings: a front opening, a back opening and an end opening. The unit 1" comprises a set of pieces complementary to the plurality of openings. In this example, the set comprises two impermeable panels 21 and outlet piece 21'. Components 21, 21'are interchangeable to leave only a selected one of the three openings from the plenum open.
In the illustrated installations, the unit 1" is fitted with a hood 17' at its inlet end and ducting 19' at its outlet end. The ducting 19' may be telescopic.
The invention is not limited to the examples discussed herein. Rather, the invention is defined by the claims.
The term "comprises" and its grammatical variants has a meaning that is determined by the context in which it appears. Accordingly, the term should not be interpreted exhaustively unless the context dictates so.

Claims (17)

P1785AU00 6 CLAIMS
1. A system, for protecting occupants of a building from particulates, comprising
one or more filters;
one or more fans to move air into at least one room of a building via the one or more filters to pressurise the at least one room; and
a control system configured to control the fans in response to feedback.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the room has a volume of at least 10 M3
. 3. The system of claim 1 or 2 wherein the room has a volume of at least 20 M3
. 4. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 having a capacity of at least 1000m 3/hr.
5. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4 being AC-powered.
6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 4 being 3-phase powered.
7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6 comprising a HEPA filter.
8. The system of claim 7 comprising a pre-filter upstream of the HEPA filter.
9. The system of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the one or more fans are downstream of the one or more filters.
10. The system of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the system is configured to aim for a target pressure of about 50 Pa.
11. The system of any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising an alarm system configured to alarm in response to a pressure falling below a threshold.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the threshold is 20 Pa.
P1785AU00
7
13. The system of any one of claims 1 to 11 being a transportable unit.
14. A system comprising
the system of any one of claims 1 to 13; and
a pressure sensor to provide the feedback.
15. A method, of protecting occupants of a building from particulates, comprising installing the system of any one of claims 1 to 14.
16. The method of claim 15 comprising installing a conduit to convey air from the system towards the room.
17. A building comprising the system of any one of claims 1 to 14.
AU2021218158A 2021-08-19 2021-08-19 Dust control Pending AU2021218158A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2021218158A AU2021218158A1 (en) 2021-08-19 2021-08-19 Dust control
PCT/AU2022/050648 WO2023019287A1 (en) 2021-08-19 2022-06-24 Dust control

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2021218158A AU2021218158A1 (en) 2021-08-19 2021-08-19 Dust control

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU2021218158A1 true AU2021218158A1 (en) 2023-03-09

Family

ID=85239266

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2021218158A Pending AU2021218158A1 (en) 2021-08-19 2021-08-19 Dust control

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2021218158A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2023019287A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9518748B2 (en) * 2009-08-16 2016-12-13 G-Con Manufacturing Inc. Modular, self-contained, mobile clean room
US11781774B2 (en) * 2013-05-09 2023-10-10 Pathian Incorporated Building pressure control
WO2019194333A1 (en) * 2018-04-05 2019-10-10 (주)화이컴 Clean air supplier, support plate for supporting clean air supplier, window frame on which clean air supplier is installed, and plug for blocking bored hole formed in window frame
KR102307537B1 (en) * 2019-09-20 2021-09-30 한정흠 Air condensing system for preventing inflow of out air
CN113124491A (en) * 2020-01-16 2021-07-16 苏州卡洛尔净化科技有限公司 Intelligent dehumidifying fresh air system

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Publication number Publication date
WO2023019287A1 (en) 2023-02-23

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