System and Method of Conditioning Recycled Air During Building Construction

Abstract

A system and method that allows the interior air of a building to be conditioned during construction by the installed permanent HVAC systems, the system and method utilizing a portable, temporary, auxiliary air filtering and delivery system that provides filtered clean air to the HVAC system, with the installed air intakes and return air ductwork of the installed HVAC system being sealed such that all air to be conditioned by the HVAC system passes through the air filtering and delivery system, such that particulates and other detrimental airborne contaminants such as dust, fibers, etc. are removed prior to delivering the recycled air into the ductwork, filters and conditioning equipment of the permanent HVAC system. The auxiliary air filtering and delivery system is a combination of a filtering assembly, a fan assembly and delivery assembly, preferably provided in modular form.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of filtering and conditioning air in a building during construction having an operational HVAC system without contaminating the HVAC system, the HVAC system comprising an HVAC unit for conditioning air, an HVAC output plenum, an HVAC return plenum, room air intakes, room air outlets, and ductwork connecting the room air intakes to the HVAC return plenum and connecting the HVAC output plenum to the room air outlets, said method comprising the steps of:
 positioning an auxiliary air filtering and delivery system within the building under construction, said auxiliary air filtering and delivery system comprising a filtering assembly having filters, a fan assembly having a variable speed fan, and a delivery assembly;   connecting said delivery assembly of said auxiliary air filtering and delivery system in fluid communication with the HVAC return plenum;   sealing the room air intakes and other chosen physical openings to define a contained building area limiting the air to be filtered and conditioned;   initiating said auxiliary air filtering and delivery system to draw air from said contained building area through said filtering assembly and initiating the HVAC unit;   delivering said filtered air to said HVAC unit;   conditioning said filtered air; and   returning said filtered and conditioned air to said contained building area through the room air outlets.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 monitoring air flow through the HVAC unit; and   in response to a reduction in air flow through the HVAC unit, increasing the air flow speed of said variable speed fan of said fan assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 replacing said filters of said filtering assembly when said filters become clogged.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning an air flow sensor downstream or upstream of said variable speed fan; and   providing a fan controller in communication with said air flow sensor and variable speed fan, wherein the sir flow speed of said fan is automatically controlled by said fan controller.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning air flow sensors downstream and upstream of said variable speed fan; and   providing a fan controller in communication with said air flow sensors and variable speed fan, wherein the sir flow speed of said fan is automatically controlled by said fan controller.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing said auxiliary air filtering and delivery system as a modular system, wherein at least one of said filtering assembly, said fan assembly and said delivery assembly is separable from the others of said filtering assembly, said fan assembly and said delivery assembly; and   combining said filtering assembly, said fan assembly and said delivery assembly within said building during construction prior to use.   
     
     
         7 . A method of filtering and conditioning air in a building during construction having an operational HVAC system without contaminating the HVAC system, the HVAC system comprising an HVAC unit for conditioning air, room air intakes, room air outlets, and ductwork connecting the room air intakes to the HVAC unit and connecting the HVAC unit to the room air outlets, said method comprising the steps of:
 positioning an auxiliary air filtering and delivery system within the building under construction, said auxiliary air filtering and delivery system comprising a filtering assembly having filters, a fan assembly having a variable speed fan, and a delivery assembly;   connecting said auxiliary air filtering and delivery system in fluid communication with the HVAC unit;   sealing the room air intakes and other chosen physical openings to define a contained building area limiting the air to be filtered and conditioned;   initiating said auxiliary air filtering and delivery system to draw air from said contained building area through said filtering assembly and initiating the HVAC unit;   delivering said filtered air to said HVAC unit;   conditioning said filtered air; and   returning said filtered and conditioned air to said contained building area through the room air outlets.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 monitoring air flow through the HVAC unit; and   in response to a reduction in air flow through the HVAC unit, increasing the air flow speed of said variable speed fan of said fan assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 replacing said filters of said filtering assembly when said filters become clogged.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning an air flow sensor downstream or upstream of said variable speed fan; and   providing a fan controller in communication with said air flow sensor and variable speed fan, wherein the sir flow speed of said fan is automatically controlled by said fan controller.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning air flow sensors downstream and upstream of said variable speed fan; and   providing a fan controller in communication with said air flow sensors and variable speed fan, wherein the sir flow speed of said fan is automatically controlled by said fan controller.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing said auxiliary air filtering and delivery system as a modular system, wherein at least one of said filtering assembly, said fan assembly and said delivery assembly is separable from the others of said filtering assembly, said fan assembly and said delivery assembly; and   combining said filtering assembly, said fan assembly and said delivery assembly within said building during construction prior to use.