CONTROL UNIT FOR BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEM, BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEM, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING BUILDING VENTILATION SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to providing ventilation in buildings and the related systems. In particular, however, not exclusively, the present invention concerns controlling building ventilation systems.
BACKGROUND
There are known building ventilation systems in which there is one opening in the exterior wall of the room and a counterflow heat exchanger arranged to exchange heat between two channels extending inside the ventilation device and through the one opening. Furthermore, in some other known attempts, the ventilation device can include reversable fans for interchanging between suction and exhaust, thus cycling air in and out of the room in an alternating manner.
There are some drawbacks in the known ventilation devices especially related to the circulation of air inside the room since the air is flowing in and out of the room essentially through a single point, that is, through the position of the opening in the exterior wall. This prevents proper mixing of fresh air. Furthermore, the air is always taken from a single point notwithstanding the environmental conditions existing at that point, such as related to solar insolation. For example, the building would like to be made cooler, however, ventilation draws in hot air from the side of the building to which the sun is shining at.
SUMMARY
An objective of the present invention is to provide a control unit for a building ventilation system, a building ventilation system, a method for controlling a building ventilation system, and a computer program product. Another objective of the present invention is to increase the efficiency and responsiveness of building ventilation systems based on controlling the system by the control unit in accordance with the present invention.
The objectives of the invention are reached by a control unit for a building ventilation system, a building ventilation system, a method for controlling a building ventilation system, and a computer program product as defined by the respective independent claims. According to a first aspect, a control unit for a building ventilation system is provided. The control unit comprises one or more processing units, such as (a) computing processors), and one or more memories, such as (a) computer-readable non-transitory storage medium(s), and is configured to: run a room-based climate model regarding at least energy balance of at least one room of a building, wherein the room-based climate model is configured to utilize at least insolation prediction data and temperature data related to the at least one room as inputs, wherein the insolation prediction data relates to an area of the building and concerns insolation of a future time period, which the future time period is up to at least six hours, or up to 12 or even 18 hours, or anything in that range, from the present, and control operation of air flowing means of the building ventilation system so as to regulate the temperature to be a desired temperature during at least the future time period based on one or more results of the running of the room -based climate model.
Furthermore, the room-based climate model may be configured take into account effect of the operation of air flowing means to the temperature of the room during the future time period.
Alternatively or in addition, the control unit may be configured to store the insolation prediction data, including time information indicating to which time instances the data are related to, into the memory.
In various embodiments, the control unit may be configured to store the result(s) of the running of the room -based climate model.
In various embodiments, the control unit may preferably be further configured to store the temperature data into the memory.
In some embodiments, the room-based climate model may be configured to be adapted based on performance of the building ventilation system, wherein the performance is evaluated based on comparing a determined actual temperature of the room in a time instance relative to the desired temperature regarding the same time instance.
In various embodiments, the control unit may further be configured to store characteristics related to the operation of the air flowing means into the memory. The characteristics may include past control commands to control the operation. In some embodiments, the control unit may be configured to search from the memory a set of past insolation prediction that correspond by its characteristics to characteristics of the present set of insolation prediction data, and to evaluate performance of the building ventilation system during corresponding past time period related to said past insolation prediction data. Furthermore, in addition, the control unit may be configured to adjust the operation of the air flowing means for the future time period, if, as a result of the evaluation of the performance, the control system determines that the performance was suboptimal for the characteristics related to the operation of the air flowing means during said past time period. Optionally, in addition, the suboptimal includes the temperature of the room during said past time period being out of an acceptable temperature range including the desired temperature for said past time period.
Alternatively or in addition, the control unit may be configured to utilize the present and/or a predicted cost of energy as input for the room-based climate model so as to minimize the cost for the future time period.
Furthermore, the insolation prediction data may include information about at least one selected from the group consisting of insolation during the day of the year, coordinates of the building, prediction related to clouds affecting insolation reached by an exterior of the building.
According to a second aspect, a building ventilation system is provided. The building ventilation system comprises at least two ventilation channels extending through an exterior of a building at different positions of the exterior, and air flowing means arranged to cause a flow of air inside the building for providing ventilation via the ventilation channels. The building ventilation system further comprises a control unit in accordance with the first aspect being arranged in connection with the air flowing means and, optionally, in connection with at least one or a plurality of sensors, such as temperature determining sensor(s), arranged to determine temperature of the room or rooms.
The exterior or exterior wall (portion) may refer herein to a wall or roof/ceiling, or even in some cases to a floor, if a ventilation channel may be arranged to extend via the floor.
Furthermore, the building ventilation system may, preferably, comprise at least one selected from the group consisting of a carbon dioxide measurement sensor for determining level of carbon dioxide in the room, a humidity sensor for determining level of humidity in the room, a pressure difference between pressure inside and outside of the building, a volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensor for determining a level of volatile organic compounds in the room. According to a third aspect, a method for controlling a building ventilation system is provided. The method comprises: running, on a processing unit, a room-based climate model regarding at least energy balance of at least one room of a building, wherein the room-based climate model is configured to utilize at least insolation prediction data and temperature data related to the at least one room as inputs, wherein the insolation prediction data relates to an area of the building and concerns insolation of a future time period, which the future time period is up to at least six hours from the present, and control, by a processing unit, operation of air flowing means of the building ventilation system so as to regulate temperature of the room to be a desired temperature during at least the future time period based on a result of the running of the room-based climate model.
According to a fourth aspect, a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a control unit, such as by one or more computing processors, of a building ventilation system, cause the control unit to carry out the steps of the method in accordance with the third aspect.
The present invention provides advantages over known solutions in that the building ventilation systems can operate with less energy whilst still being effective and have accurate control capabilities. In various embodiments, the control unit of the ventilation system can be “trained”, that is its operation adapted, based on predictions and the actual operation in response to the control method taking into account the predictions. For example, the room may be cooled a bit more during night if it seems that next day will be hot.
Various embodiments of the present invention are especially useful when installing a new ventilation system or upgrading an existing ventilation system of an existing, older building (that is, not new building to which ventilation system is installed during the initial construction of the building).
Various other advantages will become clear to a skilled person based on the following detailed description.
The expression "a plurality of’ may refer to any positive integer starting from two (2), that is being at least two, for example, two, three, four, five, six, etc.
The expression “at least one” may refer to either “one” (1) and/or “a plurality of’. The terms “first”, “second”, etc. are herein used to distinguish one element from another element, and not to specially prioritize or order them, if not otherwise explicitly stated.
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention presented herein are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used herein as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also unrecited features. The features recited in the dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The present invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates schematically a control unit for a building ventilation system according to an embodiment.
Figures 2A and 2B illustrate schematically building ventilation systems according to some embodiments.
Figures 3 A and 3B illustrate schematically a building ventilation system according to an embodiment.
Figure 4 illustrates schematically a building ventilation system according to an embodiment.
Figures 5A-5C illustrate schematically a building ventilation system according to an embodiment.
Figures 6A-6C illustrate schematically a building ventilation system according to an embodiment.
Figures 7A-7C illustrate schematically a building ventilation system according to an embodiment. Figure 8 shows a flow diagram of a method in accordance with an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 illustrates highly schematically a control unit 1000 for a building ventilation system 50 according to an embodiment. The building 100 in which the building ventilation system 50 according to an embodiment can be utilized is also illustrated. The building 100 is shown schematically from above/below, or as a floor plan type of view. Fig. 1 also shows windows 9 of the building 100.
The building 100 may comprise at least one or two (as shown in Fig. 1) or three or more rooms 7. Preferably, the building 100 includes an exterior comprising at least two exterior walls 105, or wall portions, on different sides of the building 100, which the walls 105 or portions are facing in different directions. In case of having only one room 7, the room 7 itself is defined/enclosed by at least two exterior walls 105 or portions. In case of a plurality of rooms 7, one, some, or all of the rooms 7 may have only one of their walls or wall portions that is an exterior wall 105.
The ventilation system 50 comprises a control unit 1000 comprising a processing unit and a memory. The control unit 1000 is configured to run, such as execute by the processing unit, a room-based climate model, such as being stored into the memory, regarding at least energy balance of at least one room 7 of a building 100, wherein the roombased climate model is configured to utilize at least an insolation prediction data and temperature data related to the at least one room 7, such measured by a temperature sensor in the room 7, as inputs, wherein the insolation prediction data relates to an area of the building 100, e.g. regarding the coordinates of the building 100, and concerns insolation of a future time period, which the future time period is up to at least six hours from the present.
The insolation prediction data may be stored into the memory beforehand, and optionally updated regularly, or being stored in an external server, or being received from an external source 1100, such as via the internet from the external server or the like storage system which may be a cloud computing system. The external system 1100 may be, or at least the information thereof may come, from a (local or global) weather forecasting institute. The insolation prediction data received from an external server or source 1100 may, preferably, be updated regularly, even in real-time, and includes information at least the amount of insolation and, optionally, about cloud conditions. The insolation prediction data may include at least the insolation, such as level and, optionally, direction of the direct portion thereof relative to the building 100, at approximately six hours from the present, however, it also, preferably, includes information, such as a plurality of insolation data points, concerning insolation between the time instances of the present and the six hours in the future. Thus, there may be prediction information available for the control unit 1000 regarding the development, such as every hour, ten minutes, or every minute or so, of the insolation for the coming at least six hours.
Regarding the area of the building 100, this may entail information regarding overall modeled insolation during different days of the year, for instance, or, additionally or alternatively, more accurate measurement-based data of the location of the area in question. The term “area” may herein refer to a latitude of the building in the coordinate system and more specifically an area up to 10 kilometers around the building.
Regardless of the details of the insolation prediction data in a specific embodiment, the control unit 1000 may in general be configured to also determine the direction of the direct insolation with respect to the exterior walls 105 of the building 100. Thus, the room-based climate model maybe configured to have information about the amount and duration of the direct insolation received by a certain exterior wall 105, or portion thereof, of the building 100, and thus optionally also the amount of insolation received by the room 7 via its window(s), but especially the effect of insolation on the air drawn into the room 7 through (a) ventilation channel(s) 110 of the room 7 on the specific exterior wall 105 or portion thereof. Thus, the temperature of air potentially being drawn into the room 7 may also be predicted based on the insolation prediction data and modeling of increased temperature of the wall surface of the exterior.
As an illustrative example of the operation of the control unit 1000 in accordance with various embodiments, when the sun has shined from one direction to a certain exterior wall 105 of the building 100, the air in the vicinity thereof becomes hotter than on, for example, a different side or, specifically, the opposite side of the building 100. Thus, the control unit 100 may be configured to take this effect into account when controlling the air flowing means 14 of the building ventilation system 50 so as to cause the air being drawn into the room 7 via the specific ventilation channel 110. If heating is desired in order to able to obtain the desired temperature in the coming hours, the air may be drawn in from the hotter side. If cooling is required, the air may be drawn in via a ventilation channel on a side of the building receiving less insolation.
Thus, in various embodiments, the control unit 1000 is, preferably, configured to utilize a prediction concerning environmental conditions regarding area of the building 100, and thereby affecting the building 100, during future time period, such as up to six hours from the present moment, to control the operation of the air flowing means 14 in order to regulate the temperature of the room(s) 7 to be as desired.
The control unit 1000 is thus configured to control operation of air flowing means 14 of the building ventilation system 50 so as to regulate the temperature to be a desired temperature during at least the future time period based on a result of the running of the room -based climate model.
In various embodiments, the room-based climate model may thus be configured take into account effect of the operation of air flowing means 14 to the temperature of the room 7 during the future time period. Depending on the operation of the air flowing means 14, the energy balance of the room 7 is being affected since air with certain properties, such as temperature and, optionally, humidity is being drawn into the room 7 from outside.
Furthermore, as visible in Fig. 1, air may be drawn into a first room 7 via first ventilation channel 110 and then transferred inside the building 100 into a second room 7, and then optionally, being removed from the building 100 via second ventilation channel 110.
Thus, in various embodiments, the control unit 1000 may be configured to control one or several air flowing means 14 so that air is drawn into room 7 and building 100 via the most suitable ventilation channel 110 of various, such as at least two, outlets when taking into account the predictions regarding at least the insolation of upcoming hours (optionally including cloud conditions), and optionally also predictions about outside temperature, and/or wind speed and direction. Other parameters may also be taken into account, such as humidity and/or air pressure outside the building 100.
In various embodiments, the building ventilation system 50 may comprise one or a plurality of sensors 24 for determining temperature inside the at least one room 7 or the plurality of rooms 7.
The control unit 1000 may be configured to store the insolation prediction data, including time information indicating to which time instances the data are related to, into the memory.
In addition, the control unit 1000 may be configured to store the result of the running of the room-based climate model, and optionally the temperature data, into the memory.
In various embodiments, wherein the room-based climate model is configured to be adapted based on performance of the building ventilation system 50, the performance may be evaluated based on comparing a determined actual temperature of the room 7 in a time instance relative to the desired temperature regarding the same time instance.
Furthermore, the control unit may be configured to store characteristics related to the operation of the air flowing means 14 into the memory, such as past control commands to control the operation. The past control commands may thus be mimicked in another time instance in which the conditions and predictions are similar, if it was evaluated that the control was indeed accurate and successful, that is the performance was at a good level.
Alternatively or in addition, the control unit 1000 may be configured to search from the memory a set of past insolation prediction data that correspond by its characteristics to characteristics of the present set of insolation prediction data, and evaluate performance of the building ventilation system 50 during the corresponding past time period related to said past insolation prediction data, and optionally, adapt the operation based on a result of the evaluation. For example, based on the last thirty days of monitoring the performance, and by comparing the operation of the current prediction to some closest past prediction, the operation of the ventilation system 50 be adapted in order to increase the performance.
In some embodiments, the control unit 1000 may be configured to adjust the operation of the air flowing means 14 for the future time period, if, as a result of the evaluation of the performance, the control unit 1000 determines that the performance was suboptimal for the characteristics related to the operation of the air flowing means 14 during said past time period. The suboptimal may include the temperature of the room 7 during said past time period being out of an acceptable temperature range including the desired temperature for said past time period.
In some embodiments, the control unit 1000 may be configured to utilize the present and/or a predicted cost of energy as input for the room-based climate model so as to minimize the cost for the future time period.
In various embodiments, the insolation prediction data may include information about at least one selected from the group consisting of: insolation during the day of the year, coordinates of the building 100, prediction related to clouds affecting insolation reached by an exterior of the building 100.
Figures 2A and 2B illustrate schematically building ventilation systems 50 according to some embodiments. As can be seen in Fig. 2A, the building 100 may include one or several rooms 7 in at least one floor (such as shown in Fig. 2A) or in several floors (see Fig. 2B). At least one of the rooms 7 may, preferably, comprise at least one or at least two exterior walls 105, or wall portions, of the building 100. Term “exterior wall” refers in these embodiments, to a structure in which the opposite side of the exterior wall with respect to the room 7 is outside environment of the building 100. The ventilation system 50 may thus be arranged to draw in air from the outside and into the room 7, and also to remove air from the room 7 and to the outside, thereby providing ventilation of the room 7.
Figures 2A and 2B also show the Sun 5. As can be seen and as is known, the Sun 5 emits radiation in the form of electromagnetic radiation, also known as solar irradiance or insolation as used herein, towards the Earth. A portion of the insolation may be called direct irradiance or insolation and another portion indirect or diffuse irradiance or insolation. The direct insolation travels substantially directly through the atmosphere of the Earth. The diffuse portion is being diffused by the atmosphere of the Earth.
Regarding Figs. 2A and 2B, there may be ventilation units 10 arranged in connection with one or more ventilation channels 110. Each one of the ventilation units 10, preferably, comprises one or more air flowing means 14 therein, such as fans, being able to make the air flowing through and/or by the air flowing means 14. However, even if the ventilation units 10 are shown in Figs. 2 A and 2B as being arranged close to the ventilation channels 110, it is not necessary to arranged them like this. The air flowing means 14 may be arranged basically to any position of the room 7 and/or building 100 in which it can be utilized to generate a pressure difference which causes a flow of air through one or more of the ventilation channels 110. For example, there could be a ventilation unit 10 arranged into the interior wall, such as, above a door. Especially when the door is closed, the operation of the ventilation unit 10 would cause lower pressure on side thereof and increase pressure on the opposite side thereof. Thus, there would be air being drawn into the room 7 having the lower pressure and air being pushed out of the room 7 due to the increased pressure on the opposite side. If the direction of the pressure difference, such as the rotating direction of the fan of the ventilation unit 10, is reversed, the direction of the flow of air would also be reversed.
In some embodiments, as also shown in Figs. 2A and 2B there may be at least two ventilation channels 110 on the same exterior wall (portion) 105, the ventilation channels 110 being spaced apart by a first distance 111. The ventilation channels 110 on the same wall (portion) 105 may be even leading to the same room 7 inside the building 100. Furthermore, the first distance 111 may be at least one meter, preferably at least 1.5 meters. In cases where both of the ventilation channels 110 are on the same wall portion, the first distance 111 may be at most 5 meters.
Thus, in some embodiments, the ventilation units 10, such as comprising ventilation devices and a number of air flowing means 14, of the system 50 may be arranged to be in connection with the two ventilation channels 110 having the first distance 111 therebetween. For example, first ends of the first and second outlet channels of the system 50 and/or the ventilation units 10 of the system 50 may be connected to the two ventilation channels 110.
Still further, alternatively or in addition, Fig. 2A illustrates an optional separate air circulation unit 125 or device 125 which comprise further air flowing means for causing air circulation inside the room 7. Alternatively, the further air flowing means may be integrated into one or many of the ventilation units 10 in the room 7.
Figures 3 A and 3B illustrate schematically a building ventilation system 50. The system 50 may comprise a first outlet channel 11 and a second outlet channel 12, wherein first ends 15A, 15B of the first and second outlet channels 11, 12 may be adapted for connecting to ventilation channels 110, which preferably extend through an exterior wall/ structure of the building 100. As shown in Fig. 3A, the ventilation channels 110 are spaced apart at least by a first distance 111, either on the same wall portion or on different wall portions (such as shown in Figs. 3 A and 3B).
Furthermore, the first and second outlet channels 11, 12 may, respectively, define at least one first opening 16 A, 16B to be arranged into the room. The first air flowing means 13 A, 13B, such as fan(s) or pump(s), or the like, may be arranged to cause flow of air between the first ends 15 A, 15B and the first openings 16A, 16B, respectively. The system 50 may be configured so that air is flowing, by the air flowing means 14, substantially simultaneously towards the first end 15A, 15B in one of the outlet channels 11, 12 and away from the first end 15A, 15B in other one of the outlet channels 11, 12. Still further, the room-based ventilation system 50 may comprise at least two heat storage elements 20A, 20B arranged into the outlet channels 11, 12 for recovering heat from and for providing heat to air flowing in the outlet channels 11, 12.
The room-based ventilation system 50 may also, optionally, comprise at least one further air flowing means 14 A, such as fan(s) or pump(s), or the like, for causing air circulation inside the room. In addition, optionally, the second air flowing means 26 may be arranged to cause air flowing in an air circulation channel 17 of the system 50. As can be seen in Figs. 3 A and 3B, the ventilation system 50 may comprise at least two separate units 10, that is, a first ventilation unit 121 and a second ventilation unit 122. In addition, the further air flowing means 26 may be comprised in one of the first and second ventilation units 121, 122, or may be still a separate air circulation unit 125 or device 125, such as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B.
The ventilation system 50 may preferably comprise the control unit 1000 configured to run a room-based climate model regarding at least energy balance of at least one room 7 of the building 100, wherein the room-based climate model is configured to utilize at least insolation prediction data and temperature data related to the at least one room 7 as inputs, wherein the insolation prediction data relates to an area of the building 100 and concerns insolation of a future time period, which the future time period is up to at least six hours from the present. Furthermore, the control unit 100 may be configured to control at least the operation of the air flowing means 14 based on the information received.
The control unit 1000 may be comprised in the first 121 or the second ventilation device 122, or be a separate unit or device. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the each of the devices 121, 122 (and also 125) may comprise a control subunit (not shown) which is at least arranged to establish communication connection and, optionally, further configured to provide control capabilities in said device.
The ventilation system 50 may preferably comprise communication means, such as wireless and/or wired communication means, arranged to transmit control and/or data signals to and from the control unit 1000 to control operation of the air flowing means 14, and optionally the further air flowing means 26, and/or between the units or devices 121, 122, 125 thereof and the control unit 1000.
The ventilation system 50 may preferably be arranged to transmit control and/or data signals to and from the control unit 1000 to control operation of the air flowing means 14, 26.
The ventilation system 50 may preferably be configured to operate the air flowing means 14 cyclically with time periods in the range of 8, or 70, seconds up to 40 minutes, wherein said cyclically includes at least changing directions of air flows in the outlet channels 11, 12. The cycling can provide improved net exchange efficiency for the ventilation.
The ventilation system 50 may also comprise carbon dioxide determining means (not shown) for determining amount of carbon dioxide in the room. The further air flowing means 26 may be arranged to cause air flowing in an air circulation channel 17 of the system 50, and the carbon dioxide determining means may then be arranged to the air circulation channel 17.
Furthermore, the carbon dioxide determining means may further or alternatively be utilized to detect intruders or broken windows. For example, if the room should be empty and the carbon dioxide level is still rising, it may be concluded that there is a person without a permission inside the room. On the other hand, alternatively or in addition, the carbon dioxide determining means may be utilized to detect if a window of the room is broken or left open based on the measured level of carbon dioxide.
The ventilation system 50 may also comprise one or plurality of sensors 24 arranged to determine air temperature in the room 7 and/or, specifically, in the first and second outlet channels 11, 12 at side of the first ends 15A, 15B relative to the heat storage element 20 A, 20B.
The ventilation system 50 may also comprise humidity determining means (not shown) arranged to determine air humidity in the first and second outlet channels 11, 12 at side of the first ends 15 A, 15B relative to the heat storage element 20A, 20B.
Preferably, the time period of the cyclical operation may be selected based on the determination of at least one of the following: temperature by the temperature determining means, humidity by the humidity determining means, the amount of carbon dioxide in air in the air circulation channel 17.
The ventilation system 50 may also be configured to determine ambient temperature at both of the first ends 15 A, 15B, and, based on the determined ambient temperatures, control operation of the air flowing means 14. This may entail providing air flow into the room via the first outlet channel if there is higher ambient temperature than the room temperature at the first end of first outlet channel and if heating is desired. Alternatively or in addition, the determined ambient temperatures may be utilized by providing air flow into the room via the first outlet channel if there is a higher ambient temperature at the first end of first outlet channel than at the first end of the second outlet channel, and if heating is desired. Similar applies, in both cases as described above, also if the ambient temperature is lower at the first end of first outlet channel compared to the other point, and if cooling is desired.
Regarding the dimensions of the first and second ventilation devices 121, 122 in accordance with various embodiments, they may have the following dimensions: a longitudinal direction in the range of 0.5 meters to 1.7 meters, preferably from about two to about 1.1 meters, a depth direction in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 meters, preferably about 0.2 meters, and a height direction in the range 0.05 to 0.5 meters, preferably about 0.2 meters, for instance.
Figure 4 illustrates schematically a building ventilation system 50 according to an embodiment. The system 50 and the unit(s) 10 in Fig. 4 are similar relative to those illustrated in Fig. 3 A and 3B, and described in connection thereto, however, in this case the ventilation channels 110 are on the same exterior wall (portion) 105, having therebetween the first distance 111.
Figures 5A-5C illustrates schematically a building ventilation system 50 in accordance with an embodiment. Figs. 5A and 5B are sectional views. As can be seen, the first and the second outlet channels 11, 12, the air flowing means 14, and the heat storage elements 20A, 20B are comprised in a third ventilation unit 123, that is, integrated into a single unit or device. Thus, both of the ventilation channels 110 are connected to the single unit or device.
As can be seen, the longitudinal direction 19 of the unit 123 is shown in Fig. 5A, however, in Fig. 5B, the longitudinal direction 19 is extending towards and/or away from the viewer. Fig. 5C shows the third ventilation unit 123 from a perspective view from a viewing point inside the room 7. As can be seen, the ventilation unit 123 may be installed above the window opening 107, if any, and to the upper part of the wall, such as even substantially to the corner between the inner surface of the exterior wall 105 and the inner surface of the ceiling 102 of the room.
As shown in Figs. 5 A and 5B, for example, the ventilation unit 123 may comprise a first outlet channel 11 and a second outlet channel 12. First ends 15 A, 15B of the first and second outlet channels 11, 12 are arranged for connecting to channels 110 of the ventilation system 50. The channels 110 are spaced apart by a first distance 111.
In various embodiments, such as also visualized in Figs. 2A and 2B, the building ventilation system 50 may comprise a plurality of units 121-123, the operation of which may be controlled in a coordinated manner by the control unit 1000 such as described hereinabove.
The first and second outlet channels 11, 12 respectively define at least one first opening 16A, 16B, such as being at the opposite end of the channels 11, 12 with respect to the first ends 15 A, 15B, or alternatively being at least a distance away from the first ends 15 A, 15B, such as having therebetween at least a portion of the heat storage element 20 of the unit 123. Furthermore, air flowing means 14, such as fan(s) or pump(s), or the like, are arranged, such as selectively by controlling the operation thereof, to cause flow of air between the first ends 15 A, 15B and the first openings 16A, 16B, respectively. Thus, air may be arranged to flow towards the first end 15 A, 15B in one of the outlet channels 11, 12 (e.g., the first channel 11 in Fig. 5A) and away from the first end in other one of the outlet channels 11, 12 (the second channel 12 in Fig. 5A).
The third ventilation unit 123 may further comprise the heat storage elements 20 A, 20B arranged to recover heat from air flowing in the one of the outlet channels 11, 12 and to heat air flowing in the other one of the outlet channels 11, 12. Still further, the ventilation device 123 may comprise an air circulation channel 17 defining at least two second openings 18 A, 18B having a second distance 21 between them, and, optionally, comprising further air flowing means 26, such as fan(s) or pump(s), or the like, for causing flow of air in the circulation channel 17 between the at least two second openings 18 A, 18B. As is evident based on Figs. 5A-5C, the air flows in the outlet channels 11, 12 do not, preferably, mix relative to each other within the channels 11, 12. Also, the air flow in the circulation channel 17 is separate with respect to air flows in the outlet channels 11, 12.
The ventilation unit 123 may be operated so that the direction of the flows in the first and second outlet channels 11, 12 and/or in the circulation channel 17 may be changed and the flow of air increased or decreased as desired by operating the first 13 A, 13B and, optionally, further air flowing means 26. The air flowing means 14, 26 may be controlled independently of each other by the control unit 1000 in the device 123 or by a separate control unit 1000.
Furthermore, the third ventilation device 123, such as the first and second ventilation devices 121, 122 in Figs. 3 A-4, may comprise a housing 22. The housing 22 may enclose the components of the unit(s) 121-123 inside of the housing 22, or alternatively, the housing 22 may be a cover basically hiding the components of the unit 121-123 when installed onto the inner surface of the exterior wall 105. As visible in Fig. 5C, there may be an opening or gap 23 (the opening or gap 23 is emphasized by the dashed line drawn along the inner surface of the ceiling 102), or openings, or even a nozzle or nozzles, arranged for allowing the air to flowing into and out of the outlet channels 11, 12 and the circulation channel 17. In various embodiments, such as in the one illustrated in Figs. 5A-5C, the circulation channel 17 is defined by a separate conduit. Alternatively, the circulation channel 17 may be defined by the housing 22 of the ventilation unit 123.
Optionally, the ventilation unit 123 may be configured so that air is arranged to flow in the same direction at the first and second openings 16 A, 16B, 18 A, 18B on same half of the ventilation device 123 with respect to the longitudinal direction 19 of the ventilation device 123. In the situation being illustrated in Figs. 5 A and 5C, this means that the direction of the flow is in the same direction in openings 16A and 18A with respect to each other, and in openings 16B and 18B with respect to each other. Thus, the circulation of air is being amplified within the room. In other embodiments, the direction of flows may be different.
In some preferable embodiments, the ventilation unit 123 may comprise carbon dioxide determining means for determining amount of carbon dioxide in air in the circulation channel 17. The carbon dioxide determining means may be utilized to control the ventilation unit 123 to provide fresh air so as to keep the level of carbon dioxide in the room low enough.
In various preferable embodiments, the ventilation unit 123 may comprises temperature determining means arranged to determine air temperature in the first and second outlet channels 11, 12 at side of the first ends 15 A, 15B with respect to the heat storage element 20. Alternatively or in addition, the ventilation unit 123 may comprise humidity determining means arranged to determine air humidity in the first and second outlet channels 11, 12 at side of the first ends 15A, 15B with respect to the heat storage element 20. The ventilation device 10 may thus be configured to operate the air flowing means 14 and, optionally, the further air flowing means 26, based on the temperature and/or humidity values determined by the temperature and/or humidity determining means.
In various embodiments, the ventilation unit 123 may be configured to operate the first air flowing means cyclically such as described hereinbefore. The cyclic operation may include cycling for a time period in the range of 70 seconds up to 40 minutes, for instance. In some embodiments, the time period may be selected based on the determination of at least one of the following: temperature by the temperature determining means, humidity by the humidity determining means, the amount of carbon dioxide in air in the circulation channel 17. Thus, shorter periods may be utilized if there is not much ventilation and/or heating/cooling needed into the room. Longer periods may be utilized if there is a higher demand for the ventilation and/or heating/cooling. Furthermore, the ventilation unit(s) 10 may be configured to determine ambient temperature at both of the first ends 15 A, 15B, and, based on the determined ambient temperatures, operate the air flowing means 14, such as in cyclic manner. For example, when the room needs heating and sun shines onto one of the ventilation channels 110, air may be drawn in into the room from that outlet continuously (and out from the other outlet), enabling room to be heated. Further still, blowing air continuously in one direction simulates an open window situation. The same principle works with cooling, particularly at night time/early mornings.
Regarding the dimensions of the ventilation device 10 in accordance with various embodiments, the second distance 21 may be at least one meter, preferably at least 1.5 meters, or even at least two meters. Furthermore, the second distance may be at most 5 meters, if the unit 123 is a single, integrated unit. In various embodiments, alternatively or in addition, the third ventilation unit 123 may have the following dimensions: a longitudinal direction in the range of 0.5 meters to 5 meters, preferably from about two to about 3.5 meters, a depth direction in the range of 0.05 to 0.5 meters, preferably about 0.2 meters, and a height direction in the range 0.05 to 0.5 meters, preferably about 0.2 meters.
In various embodiments, the housing 22 of the third ventilation unit 123 may be arranged to extend across the room along the inside surface of the exterior wall 105, such as shown in Fig. 5C.
Figures 6A-6C illustrate schematically a building ventilation system 50. The system 50 may be substantially similar to the one shown in Figs. 5A-5C, however, in this case the air circulation channel 17 is defined by the housing 22, that is, there is not separate air circulation channel 17.
Figures 7A-7C illustrate schematically a building ventilation system 50. The system 50 may be substantially similar to the one shown in Figs. 5A-5C or Figs. 6A-6C, however, in this case essentially the opening or gap 23, such as shown in Figs. 5B, 5C, 6B, and 6C but there are openings, such as having ventilation grates or nozzle or the like, via which the air flows.
Regarding the embodiments of the present invention, filters, such as air filters, may be utilized to filter the air flowing in and/or by the system 50.
Figure 8 shows a flow diagram of a method for controlling a building ventilation system 50 in accordance with an embodiment. Step 800 refers to a start-up phase of the method. Suitable equipment and components are obtained, and systems assembled and configured for operation.
Step 810 refers to running, on a processing unit, such as a computing processor, a room- based climate model regarding at least energy balance of at least one room 7 of a building 100, wherein the room-based climate model is configured to utilize at least insolation prediction data and temperature data related to the at least one room 7 as inputs, wherein the insolation prediction data relates to an area of the building 100 and concerns insolation of a future time period, which the future time period is up to at least six hours from the present. Step 820 refers to control, by a processing unit, operation of air flowing means 14 of the building ventilation system so as to regulate temperature of the room 7 to be a desired temperature during at least the future time period based on one or more results of the running of the room -based climate model.
Method execution may be stopped at step 899. However, also additional steps or acts may be taken in addition to ones defined in steps 810 and 820 above. Additional steps may be, for example, as defined with respect to operation of, such as one or several acts performed, of the control unit 1000 hereinabove.