Air movement system

Abstract

An air movement system ( 10 ) is provided which comprises at least one fan ( 40 ), a plurality of exhaust ( 70 ) and/or supply points connected to the at least one fan by ducting ( 50 ), a plurality of dampers ( 80 ) each associated with at least one exhaust and/or supply point for regulating air flow through it, a plurality of sensors ( 90 ) each associated with at least one exhaust and/or supply point for sensing a predefined activity within a predefined locale of the at least one exhaust and/or supply point, and a programmable controller ( 120 ). The controller is connected to the fan, the dampers and the sensors, and is configured to automatically adjust a damper associated with an exhaust and/or supply point, and adjust the at least one fan, in response to a signal generated by a sensor associated with the same exhaust and/or supply point.

1 . An air movement system programmable controller for operating an air movement system, the air movement system comprising:
 at least one fan;   a plurality of exhaust and/or supply points connected to the at least one fan by ducting;   a plurality of dampers, each damper associated with one of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points, each damper for regulating air flow through the respective associated exhaust and/or supply point; and   a plurality of sensors, each sensor associated with either:
 one of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points for sensing a predefined activity within a predefined locale of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points; or 
 a predefined point in the ducting; 
   wherein the programmable controller is connectable to the fan, the dampers and the sensors, and is configured to:
 automatically adjust the damper associated with one of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points; and 
 adjust the at least one fan; 
 in response to a signal generated by the sensor associated with the same one of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air movement system programmable controller of  claim 1 , further configured to:
 determine if the at least one fan is fixed-speed or variable-speed;   determine which dampers are open;   receive a signal generated by the plurality of sensors, the signal indicative of a sensed predefined activity;   in response to a determination that the at least one fan is a fixed-speed fan, operate the at least one fan in accordance with a pre-set rule, the pre-set rule selected from a plurality of pre-set rules in response to a determination as to which dampers are open, and in response to a reception of the signal indicative of the sensed predefined activity; and   in response to a determination that the at least one fan is a variable-speed fan, operate the at least one fan such that the speed of the at least one fan is set to be approximately proportional to the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of all of the plurality of dampers that are open to the cross-sectional area of a predefined duct.   
     
     
         3 . The air movement system programmable controller of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust at least one damper and the at least one fan to maintain a minimum or maximum airflow through the air movement system at predetermined times of day and for a predetermined period of time regardless of sensed activity or inactivity. 
     
     
         4 . The air movement system programmable controller of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes an override setting such that each damper and the at least one fan are controllable individually and distinct from any pre-programming. 
     
     
         5 . The air movement system programmable controller of  claim 3 , wherein the controller includes a pre-determinable time period after which the override setting will be cancelled returning the controller to run in accordance with its pre-programming. 
     
     
         6 . The air movement system programmable controller of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to prevent the fan being operated at a predetermined volume-flow rate when a predetermined number of dampers are in the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The air movement system programmable controller of any preceding claim, including a memory for storing system events over time. 
     
     
         8 . The air movement system programmable controller of  claim 1 , including a filter for filtering air as it passes into or out of the air movement system. 
     
     
         9 . The air movement system programmable controller of  claim 8 , wherein the filter is connected to the controller. 
     
     
         10 . The air movement system programmable controller of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are any one or more of a PIR, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a current sensor and a switch. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating an air movement system comprising the steps of:
 providing an air movement system comprising:
 at least one fan; 
 a plurality of exhaust and/or supply points connected to the at least one fan by ducting; 
 a plurality of dampers, each damper associated with one of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points, each damper for regulating air flow through the respective associated exhaust and/or supply point; and 
 a plurality of sensors, each sensor associated with either:
 one of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points for sensing a predefined activity within a predefined locale of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points; or 
 a predefined point in the ducting; 
 
   providing an air movement system programmable controller according to any one of the preceding claims; and   operating the programmable controller to automatically adjust the damper associated with one of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points, and adjust the at least one fan, in response to a signal generated by the sensor associated with the same one of the at least one exhaust and/or supply points.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining if the at least one fan is fixed-speed or variable-speed;   determining which dampers are open;   receiving a signal generated by the plurality of sensors, the signal indicative of a sensed predefined activity;   in response to a determination that the at least one fan is a fixed-speed fan, operating the at least one fan in accordance with a pre-set rule, the pre-set rule selected from a plurality of pre-set rules in response to a determination as to which dampers are open, and in response to a reception of the signal indicative of the sensed predefined activity; and   in response to a determination that the at least one fan is a variable-speed fan, operating the at least one fan such that the speed of the at least one fan is set to be approximately proportional to the ratio of the total cross-sectional area of all of the plurality of dampers that are open to the cross-sectional area of a predefined duct.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein if the ratio is less than a predefined threshold value the fan is operated at a pre-set speed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined duct is the main intake and/or exhaust duct. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the air movement system includes a filter and the method further comprises the steps of determining if the at least one fan is operational and operating the at least one fan in accordance with said determination.