System and/or method for monitoring and/or controlling the relative internal air pressure of a facility

Abstract

A system is provided for maintaining a balanced interior air pressure in a building ( 10 ) having a plurality of different localized areas ( 20 ). The system includes: a main fan or set of main fans ( 12 ) that is selectively controlled to support a desired overall interior air pressure inside the building ( 10 ); a plurality of interior sensors ( 22 ), each interior sensor ( 22 ) arranged to detect a localized air pressure at one of the areas ( 20 ) in the building; a plurality of auxiliary fans ( 26 ), each auxiliary fan ( 26 ) being provisioned to selectively modify the localized air pressure at one of the areas ( 20 ) in the building ( 10 ); and, a control unit ( 11 ) that is in operative communication with the plurality of sensors ( 22 ) to obtain air pressure readings therefrom, in operative communication with the plurality of auxiliary fans ( 26 ) to control operation thereof, and in operative communication with the main fan or set of main fans ( 12 ) to control operation thereof. Suitably, based upon the localized air pressure detected by a given sensor ( 22 ), a corresponding auxiliary fan ( 26 ), provisioned for the area in which the air pressure was detected by the given sensor ( 22 ), is controlled by the control unit ( 11 ) to modify the localized air pressure at the area ( 20 ) in the building ( 10 ) for which the corresponding auxiliary fan ( 26 ) was provisioned.

1 . In a building having a plurality of different localized areas, a system for maintaining a balanced interior air pressure inside the building, said system comprising:
 a main fan or set of main fans that is selectively controlled to support a desired overall interior air pressure inside the building;   a plurality of interior sensors, each interior sensor arranged to detect a localized air pressure at one of the areas in the building;   a plurality of auxiliary fans, each auxiliary fan being provisioned to selectively modify the localized air pressure at one of the areas in the building; and,   a control unit, said control unit being in operative communication with the plurality of sensors to obtain air pressure readings therefrom, said control unit being in operative communication with the plurality of auxiliary fans to control operation thereof, and said control unit being in operative communication with the main fan or set of main fans to control operation thereof;   wherein, based upon the localized air pressure detected by a given sensor, a corresponding auxiliary fan, provisioned for the area in which the air pressure was detected by the given sensor, is controlled by the control unit to modify the localized air pressure at the area in the building for which the corresponding auxiliary fan was provisioned.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the corresponding auxiliary fan is turned on by the control unit to boost the localized air pressure at the area in the building for which the corresponding auxiliary fan was provisioned when the localized air pressure detected by the given sensor fails to satisfy a determined threshold. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit monitors the number of auxiliary fans that are simultaneously turned on, and when that number exceeds a determined amount, then the control unit takes remedial action. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the remedial action includes increasing an operational speed of the main fan or set of main fans. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , said system further comprising:
 a warning signal, wherein if the remedial action does not result in the number of auxiliary fans that are simultaneously turned on dropping to or below the determined amount, then the control unit activates the warning signal.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2 , said system further comprising:
 an exterior sensor arranged to detect an exterior air pressure at a location outside the building, wherein said control unit is in operative communication with the exterior sensor to obtain air pressure readings therefrom.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the threshold is determine relative to the exterior air pressure detected by the exterior sensor. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the interior sensors, the exterior sensor, the auxiliary fans and the main fan or set of main fans are in operative communication with the control unit via at least one of a corresponding wireless or hardwired communication link. 
   
   
       9 . In a building having a plurality of different localized areas, a method for maintaining a balanced interior air pressure inside the building, said method comprising:
 (a) selectively controlling a flow of exterior air into the building to support a desired overall interior air pressure inside the building;   (b) detecting a localized interior air pressure in each of the localized areas in the building, and,   (c) selectively modifying the localized interior air pressure in a given localized area of the building in response to the detected localized interior air pressure at the given localized area varying from the desired overall interior air pressure.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , said method further comprising:
 provisioning the building with a plurality of auxiliary fans, each auxiliary fan being arranged to affect the localized interior air pressure of one of the localized areas, wherein the step of selectively modifying the localized interior air pressure is achieved by selectively controlling the operation of the auxiliary fan provisioned in the building for the given localized area.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , said method further comprising:
 monitoring the number of auxiliary fans that are simultaneously turned on; and,   when the number exceeds a determined amount, taking a remedial action.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the remedial action includes increasing the flow of exterior air into the building. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , said method further comprising:
 outputting a warning signal when the remedial action does not result in the number of auxiliary fans that are simultaneously turned on dropping to or below the determined amount.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , said method further comprising:
 detecting an exterior air pressure at a location outside the building.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the desired overall interior air pressure is determine relative to the detected exterior air pressure. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , said method further comprising:
 provisioning the building with a plurality of interior sensors, each interior sensor detecting the localized interior air pressure at one of the localized areas in the building; and,   providing at least one exterior sensor arranged to detect the exterior air pressure.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , said method further comprising:
 providing at least one of a wireless communication link and a hardwired communication link over which each of the interior sensors, the exterior sensor and the auxiliary fans are in operative communication with a control unit provisioned to control the auxiliary fans based on data received from the sensors.