Ventilation System for Underground Environments

Abstract

An underground ventilation system having a fan, a plurality of ducts for the delivery of air to an underground work space, flow control dampers at duct branches, a fan sensor module to detect velocity, pressure, temperature and/or humidity, a work space sensor in each work space, a connection panel in communication with the fan sensors and with each automated flow control damper and configured to exchange status and control information with the fan sensor, the flow control dampers, and work space sensors, a cabling system attached to the ducts and connected to the connection panel and to automated flow control dampers, and a display and control system in electronic communication with the fan, the fan sensor, the automated flow control dampers, and the work space sensors, via the connection panel.

1 . An underground ventilation system comprising:
 at least one fan,   a plurality of ducts situated for the delivery of air from the at least one fan to one or more underground work spaces comprising one or a plurality of duct branches,   an automated flow control damper located at the duct branches,   a fan sensor module located at a fan inlet or outlet to detect one or more of velocity, pressure, temperature and humidity,   a connection panel in electronic communication with said fan sensors and with each said automated flow control dampers and configured to exchange status and control information with said fan sensors, said automated flow control dampers,   a cabling system attached to said plurality of ducts connected at a first end to said connection panel and connected at one or more ends to the automated flow control dampers,   and   a display and control system in electronic communication with said fan, said fan sensors, said automated flow control dampers, via said connection panel.   
     
     
         2 . The underground ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein there is at least one work space sensor located in the work space where ventilation is required, said work space sensor connected to the connection panel or directly to the display and control system. 
     
     
         3 . The underground ventilation system of  claim 1 , said display and control system configured to receive and process data from said fan sensor module, from said automated flow control dampers, and said work space sensors, and to send automated instructions for adjustment to said fan and/or to one or more of said automated flow control dampers based on predetermined thresholds between detected work space conditions and predetermined desired work space conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The underground ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the display and control system is connected to the internet or to the internal network of the underground space allowing the remote control of the ventilation system and the generation of operational and maintenance alerts. 
     
     
         5 . The underground ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection panel is integrated with the sensor module or with the drive panel. 
     
     
         6 . The underground ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibration sensor situated to detect fan vibrations. 
     
     
         7 . The underground ventilation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor temperature sensor situated to detect fan motor temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The underground ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein said ducts are segmented ducts and each duct segment or split piece contains cable connectors at each end to connect to said cabling system of adjacent segmented ducts.