Air filtration system

Abstract

An air filtration system may monitor and control air quality within a building with the use of multiple housings strategically placed throughout the building. Each housing includes a motor driving a fan and an air filter. Selective activation of a cleaning mode removes particulates from the filter within each housing, cleaning only the air filter within the housing that requires cleaning. Air filter cleaning time and power consumed for cleaning is thereby reduced. Also, filtration is improved by locating a filter and a motor at key locations.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An air filtration system comprising:
 a first housing with an air filter configured to capture a plurality of airborne particulates;   a motor associated with the first housing configured to flow an ambient air through the first housing and air filter;   a variable-frequency drive configured to control a speed of the motor by varying a motor input frequency or a voltage;   an air filtration control unit configured to activate and deactivate the air filtration system based on a predetermined filter pressure and control the motor based on a sensed air filter pressure;   a first transducer in communication with the air filtration control unit configured to monitor air filter pressure; and   a second transducer in communication with the air filtration control unit configured to monitor air filter pressure;   
     
     
         2 . The air filtration system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second housing in fluid communication with the first housing;   an air filter cleaning control unit associated with the second housing;   an air filter cleaning mode programmed into the air filter cleaning control unit and configured to selectively stop the motor associated with the first housing;   an access gate associated with the first housing configured to be selectively opened and closed by the air filter cleaning control unit; and   a secondary motor controlled by the air filter cleaning control unit in fluid communication with the first and second housing configured to reverse a flow of air through the air filter thus releasing a plurality of particulates from the air filter through the access gate.   
     
     
         3 . The air filtration system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a heat sensor in communication with the air filtration control unit configured to sense a fire and activate an alarm or stop the air filtration system based on sensed heat levels; and   a smoke sensor in communication with the air filtration control unit configured to sense smoke or fire-related airborne particulates and activate an alarm or stop the air filtration system based on sensed smoke levels.   
     
     
         4 . The air filtration system of  claim 2 , further comprising a master control unit configured to communicate with and remotely manage the air filtration control unit and the air filter cleaning control unit. 
     
     
         5 . The air filtration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lights in communication with the air filtration control unit and configured to indicate a status of the air filter. 
     
     
         6 . The air filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the air filtration control unit includes a programmable logic controller configured to control a power distribution panel for supplying power to the motor, variable-frequency drive, and first transducer. 
     
     
         7 . The air filtration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a network linking a plurality of first housings each with a motor and variable-frequency drive in communication with the air filtration control unit. 
     
     
         8 . The air filtration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of motorized louvers configured to direct a flow of exhaust air from the motor. 
     
     
         9 . The air filtration system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air regulator in communication with the air filtration control unit configured to allow a remote monitoring of compressed air within the first housing. 
     
     
         10 . The air filtration system of  claim 1 , wherein the air filtration control unit is configured to log and display performance data in a graphical interface.