WO1994020798A1 - Hygienically distributed ventilation with recycled heat and point exhaustion - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a ventilation installation for larger buildings which is divided into several ventilation cells where the ventilation of each cell is isolated from the rest of the building. It provides a decentralised ventilation and heat recycling aggregate with its own channel system for air transport within each ventilation cell. The input and exhaust circulation of air takes place through the facade together with the exhaustion (elimination) of certain heavily polluted air, e.g. cooking fumes, which occurs momentarily or is reduced through ventilation chimneys which serve one or several different ventilation cells.

Description

HYGIENICALLY DISTRIBUTED VENTILATION WITH RECYCLED HEAT AND POINT EXHAUSTION.

DESCRIPTION

Investments in more effective energy consumption is today a much better alternative for the consumer, environment and public economy than investments in increased energy production.

The deterioated environment forces us to reduce our energy consumption by 50% in home heating by the year 2020 (Bruntland Report). It has been determined that three times more people die as a result of injurious indoor air than car accidents. About 350.000 to 430.000 people need medical care as a result of bad indoor air. The connection between people who suffer with allergies and those who suffer from respiratory ailments are proven as they spend about 20 hours per day indoors.

Hygienic demands indicate that future ventilation has to be increased 2 or 3 times as compared to now, which means that nearly all ventilation systems are in need of rebuilding. This also signifies that ventilation in the future will absorb 50% of the home-heating costs if the heat from the exhaust air is not used to heat the fresh air.

Many of the existing buildings will still be in use in the year 2030 and less than 20 % of the houses and buildings in Sweden were built before 1941 whereof many are cultural landmarks where central- heating systems cannot or may not be installed.

The invention: HYGIENICALLY DISTRIBUTED VENTILATION WITH RECYCLED HEAT AND POINT EXHAUSTION for every apartment lowers the investment cost for the rebuilding of ventilation to about one-third i.e. approximately 20.000 SEK per apartment at the same time as the equipment provides the character of a household machine for ventilation and energy saving which heat fresh air to more than 90 % with the heat energy reclaimed from used air.

In this way the entire installation cost can be re-paid in only 28 - 30 months through energy savings. One of the advantages of this system is that it isn't necessary to rebuild the whole building in one installation but it can be done one apartment a time. A tenant who suffers from allergies can get a hygienic apartment without the building of an installation for the whole building. Ventilation of larger buildings is usually accomplished by installation of a central ventilation system with natural exhaust, a mechanical exhaust, a mechanical input and exhaust-air system or a mechanical exhaust or a mechanical input and exhaust- air system combined with a heat exchanger.

Central ventilation system are often been dimensioned for an all-too-low air circulation which prevents a volume of hygienic air from being channelled into or out of buildings. This together with the short circuiting and stagnation in the air stream combined with the areas which have a low effectivity in air-exchange activity causes injury to people and damage to buildings. Uneven warm-air supply also brings about a situation where many apartments permanently add extra ventilation by opening windows whereas others block the ventilation in order to avoid cooling the apartment.

It has been proven to be very expensive to rebuild these existing constructions and to supply them with new channelling systems which permit the transport of a greater volume of hygienic air.

It has also been shown that supplementary ventilation such as open windows, small exhaust fans and even small heat exchangers for usage in a single room, bring about increased energy consumption to warm up ventilated air, because of the loss of control over the volume of air needed for ventilating the building as part or whole. The invention is a technically new solution for a energy and climate system which gives a good indoor atmosphere, safety and high -energy effectivity.

A comprehensive estimate of the energy need for 700.000 apartments in Sweden indicated that energy consumption was 210 to 236 kWh/ m2 per year in 1991 and that the average fδr 2.2 million apartments was 192 kWh/m2 per year. The fact that people are living closer together in multiple-family buildings does not explain why the energy consumption in single-family houses only reaches 135 kWh/m2 every year. If the energy consumption in single- family houses, could be at the same level as in single family houses, another 6 billion Swedish Crooner could be saved per year. Considering that about 70% of the energy consumption in housing leaves the buildings or houses in airborne form, it is necessary to achieve an increased possibility to control the inflow of air in every part of the building.

Since it has been established that central-ventilation systems can't control the airflow, these houses will contribute to increased energy consumption and at the same time also contribute that the house as whole, more or less become an open ventilation cell with a large measure of uncontrolled airflow. In order to overcome the indoor-climate problem and the all- too- high energy consumption, it has been necessary to create a system where homes and other premises have separate isolation cells, ventilation cells, sound cells, fire cells, heating cells and/or contamination cells each with it's own ventilation system.

It should be observed that central ventilation consists of a channelling between the different parts that hold the building open and which force a more expensive sectoring which can , therefore, never be made safe or separate. Therefore, it is always the ventilation system of 8 building which is the greatest danger in the spreading of fire, contamination or sound.

In order to accomplish ventilation in larger buildings today, the buildings are subject to expensive rebuilding. The costs are about 40.000 to 60.000 Swedish Crooner per apartment in cases where the steps that have to be taken are not too complicated. Even at this cost level, the alternative of airing by opening the windows and paying for the energy waste is cheaper than rebuilding. The means that high-energy consumption is still there despite the fact that they are multiple-family buildings which should theoretically have lower consumption than the single family houses since the areas of climate protection is considerably smaller per m3 than in single family houses.

The described invention provides a completely new view of ventilation systems in large buildings which have a way of functioning which supplies the different parts of the buildings with a quality which meets the needs of air indoors.

This product is preceded by extensive research with concentration on the achievement of a very high level of effectiveness of the heat exchanger. The aim is to reach such complete control of the building's airflow that the involuntary ventilation in the building can be limited. With the right heat- exchange technology, we can afford to ventilate hygienically with an extensive air turnover, but we must also pay attention to the fact that every heat-exchange system must conform to the natural laws within the technical area as well as the health and safety requirements which arise.

It is also necessary to note that if every apartment is provided with effective ventilation with effective heat recycling, the load on the building's heating system can be regulated so that better heat distribution can be maintained in the whole building. The aim of the invention is to install a channelling system in the ventilation- heat exchanger, to achieve a better air distribution, better filtering, a lower noise level and at the same time make it possible to achieve a usage-friendly operation and maintenance and by providing accessibility while attending the system. Besides that, the electronics which steers the ventilation is adjusted so that it becomes easier to use and guides the one who is to tend the equipment in looking for faults and measures to be taken against them.

Briefly, the ventilation system can be described in such a way that an area of a building usually an apartment, a stairway, or other premises can each be one of a building's separate ventilation's cells (fig. 1:, 10, 11 12 13).

In case it is necessary to remove highly polluted concentrations of air, normally cooking fumes, the ventilation cell is equipped with a completely closeable or limited evacuation arrangements (8) which opens momentarily and releases the polluted air when such accumulates or is brought into the ventilation cell through the ventilation chimney (9) which is taken from the cells through the building's roof so that this air will not cause disadvantages. This channel can also be used at the same time for ventilation's cells in the building and can be kept closed to the other ventilation cells when it isnt in use as well as when it is automatically closed off e.g. in case of fire.

This means that the existing ventilation systems which at present have all-to- meagrely dimensioned channels can be rebuilt to service the need for a ventilation chimney from every apartment or ventilation cell.

All the valves in the actual ventilation cell which emerge into the open or which belong to a central ventilation system, disturb the function of this invention which must then become subordinate to the conditions which, as in the rest of the ventilation system, result in the same involuntary ventilation through crevices in the climate screen of the building or deficiencies in insulation.

People normally eat 1 kg food per day and drink 3 litres of water. They breathe 8 - to 15 kg's of air every 24 hours. The food and water are mainly disposed of trough the toilet but the air evacuation and moisture are sent to the ventilation's cells. If many people are involved, we know that human evacuation and moisture in large quantities causes sickness. We spend about 20 hours of every day indoors and are forced to live in each others air evacuation and moisture which in large quantities causes illness.

If the air from other apartments is directly channelled from the exhaust-air channels to the fresh air channels or if it involuntarily goes from several apartments trough a regenerative warm-air exchanger and is mixed with the fresh air from outside and then lead to the apartments, it (as has been proven) contaminates the air circulated and increases the risk of the contageousness of any diseases prevalent in the air and is a hazard to all residents. Therefore, all regenerative warm-air exchangers should be forbidden when the air from several apartments is lead to the fresh air source. It is much more serious when the communal air from several separate apartments is leas to the communal fresh-air supply.

If a regenerative warm-air exchanger serves only as a ventilation cell, (Fig.1:, 10 , 11 , 12, 13), the communal air in the installations is nothing more than the increased blending of the air. Here, it is more than a matter of choice of air turnover - instead it is a matter of the risks involved in harmful communal air.

The opening for the outside air and exhaust air are taken up through the facade of the ventilation cell. (Fig 1: 1+2), The ventilation aggregate (22+4+5) preferably the regenerative type is most suitably brought to ceiling height in the building to limit the used areas. The ventilation aggregate which also provides easy cleaning, maintenance and operation is provided with a channel arrangement for the ventilation system (Fig 1: 6+7) which gives enough air turnover.

The sound generation from the aggregate's mechanical parts as well as the blowing noise etc. is the problem which is of decisive importance for the function of the product in the room's environment. Therefore, the way of solving this problem is an important part of this invention. Over half of the complaints are now regarding ventilation clatter, rumbling and other noise problems.

Complaints from the residents and users about the room placement of blowers and aggregates are widely known and are a serious obstacle in the initiation of a new and better ventilation's technique.

Extensive research and analysis has led to the result that the moving mechanical parts and air walls of the ventilation installation have to be arranged in compliance with present requirements in order to be able to place them in the interior room environment.

Blowers (17), dampers (16) and the aggregate's channel system (6+7) or the details Fig 8:23a, 27,26, 28, etc.) are to be carried out so that the generation of sound is eliminated by internal soundlosses and so that resonant sound is also prevented.

Movable mechanical parts such as dampers (16) and blowers (17), are placed on elastic sound- and vibration- dampening material in the aggregate (19) so that these parts lie close and tight to the bordering channel parts with centre parts of elastic sound- and vibration-dampening material (18). These parts are placed in an external height (an outer covering) (12, 14, 15) the mass and isolation layer of which give the room sound isolation from the installation's sound source.

The outer covering makes it possible to divide (14.+15) or open the installation easily where by it becomes possible to move the damper housing (16), blowers (17) in the regenerative channel heat exchanger (Fig 5) so that they don't hinder changing, cleaning and maintenance of the heat accumulators (3) toward the outside of the ventilation cells and the replacing, cleaning and maintaining of the filter (21) as well as the electrofilter or air heat on the channel side of the aggregate.

When the cover is opened, the dampers (16) and blowers (17) are elastic fixed on the part which can be opened (14) and dampen the vibration . This is also so with the opening or removal of the part of the cower which can be opened (14) that damper and blowers (16+17) will follow the cower (14). The result of this is that it facilitates service.

The heat exchanger technique should preferably be used since it has been shown that it is possible to save energy from the exhaust which is able to heat incoming air to over 90% efficiency through large heat.-conveying areas.

The corresponding annual average, for example, for the other regenerative heat exchangers lies at 65% to 86 % while the recuperative remains at 50%, however, in the latter, the degree of effectivity can be increased to 76% if considerable amounts of defrosting energy are added as these exchangers are series-coupled.

A sound absorber is placed in the channels trough the aggregate (28, 29, 30). This should preferably consist of high-density baked ceramic which has the ability to greatly reduce sound and thereby lower the occurrence of significant amounts of air sound. These sound absorbers or sound traps are also placed in the filter housing (5), regulating box and even, when needed, in the channel system (6+7) which lead to the different rooms or parts of the ventilation cells such as occurs in combination with air equipment ( 28) or air spreaders and aperture filters. (26).

Mechanical filters for separating air-borne particles are fixed to the aggregate near the blowers (17) or in that part of (5) the to respective from air-channel system which is connected to the aggregate. In order to minimise the need for cleaning the channels, a mechanical filter (26) is also preferably installed in the equipment (26) or the ventilator which opens out to the ventilation cell's different rooms or parts Steps taken also involve the rebuilding of the buildings large central ventilation system in order to serve the ventilation cells' need to transport away the pollution which would convey disadvantages if they were let out through the facade.

Ventilation cells are closed from the central ventilation system.

Ventilation cells are isolated from the surroundings.

Ventilation cells are provided with their own airing and energy-saving aggregate which heats the outside air (fresh air) with its own exhaust air, preferably regeneratively.

The ventilation cells' mechanical -ventilation construction is moved from the building's outer-room environment (attic area) to the ventilation cell's inner-room environment (10, 11, 12, 13), which means that the large noise-making blower systems etc. are divided into several small installations placed in the ventilation cells' inner-room environment

The channel system which presently serves other central- ventilation constructions in buildings brings about intensively increased noise problems when the air exchange is increased to reach a higher hygienic level.

The cost of transporting air is diminished and the possibilities to supply the building's ventilation cells with sufficient amounts of air are increased with this invention.

Greatly increased air channels in the aggregate and air-distribution channels within the ventilation cells decrease the need to build a forced-air system which in turn means low air resistance, reduced need for blower power and a diminished noise problem.

Diminished rumbling and clatter from the blowers is generated and disturbing low- frequency noise is isolated from the system or is eliminated to the degree that it has not been prevented from occurring.

The construction, while in operation, is regulated so that a certain suppression occurs on the premises in order to prevent warm - humid air from penetrating the walls, floors and ceiling construction where it is cooled and precipitated. Instead, cold dry air penetrates through the climate protector whereupon the air is warmed, the moisture is absorbed and the transmitted warm air which would otherwise be led out through the climate covering (e.g. floor, roof and walls). DIAGRAMS:

Fig. 1 Cross section of building with ventilation cells and distributed ventilation.

Fig. 2 Cross section of ventilation aggregate with heat exchange and distribution.

Fig. 3 Drawing of ventilation aggregate with heat exchanger and distribution box.

Fig. 4 Drawing of ditto construction with vibration dampers and dividing system.

Fig. 5 Principle drawing to show opening of aggregate.

Fig.6 Filter cassette with filter housing

Fig. 7 Distribution box (5) with silencer (25), filter (21) moveable divisional wall (25).

Fig. 8 Ventilator with filter and silencer.

Fig. 9 Silencer in baked clay and binding medium for damper, blower and distribution drawer.

Fig. 10 Accumulator part seen toward outside air which at the same time shows the part which is attach toward the damper.

Fig. 11 Accumulator part shows construction put together.

NOTATIONS FOR DRAWINGS

1. To and from air channel toward outside air.

2. From an to air channel toward outside air.

3. Accumulator rolls for short-term storage of energy.

4. Part of ventilation aggregate and heat exchanger with damper (16) and blowers (17)

5. Combined filter (21), silencer (23) and distribution box and divisional wall (25).

6. Inlet ventilator and inlet deplacement ventilator. (Fig. 8 , 23a)

7. Outlet ventilator (Fig, 8, 23a)

9. Evacuation channel from suction point towards outlet exhaust chimney. 10. Ventilation cell apartments

11. Ventilation cell apartments

12. Ventilation cell apartments

13. Ventilation cell staircase.

14. Openable part of covering around the damper housing and blowers.

15. Part of covering around the damper housing and blowers.

16. Damper housing.

17. Blowers.

18. Elastic packing between channel and damper and blower and distribution box.

19. Elastic vibration dampers and / or cover between (14) and (16 + 17).

20. Accumulator cover

21. Filter i the distributor box.

22. Cover around the accumulator channels.

23. Silencer in the distributor box (23 a ) silencer for ventilator.

24. Short connection pipe for channel system.

25. Moveable divisional wall in the distributor box (5) between to and from air channel.

26. Changeable filter in to- and from air equipment in the channel system.

27. Air inlet and outlet ventilator.

28. Sound absorber or silencer for noise reduction through the distributor box.

29. Sound absorber or silencer for noise reduction and lower air resistance in blower (17).

30. Sound absorber or silencer for noise reduction and lower air resistance in the damper (16).

Claims

CLAIMS:

I claim:

Claim 1: Ventilation equipment with heat recovery (figl) for ventilation cell which consists of an isolated part of the building which not is connected open to the central room ventilation for the building and where a smaller amount of polluted air preferably cooking fumes are evacuated from the cells with a special point-exhaust suction (8) characterised by that the ventilation cells bring in fresh air and release used air through the channels (1+2) which is discharged outdoors through a climate screen.

Claim 2: as per Claim 1 , characterised by that the building can consist of several ventilation cells (10, 11, 12, 13) separated for each other which the invention is installed to serve the cells with ventilation.

Claim 3: as per claim 1 and 2, characterised by that the ventilation construction can be complemented with to and from ventilation from the rest of the building.

Claim 4: as per former claims, characterised by that the construction's blowers (17) and damper housing (16) are elastically hung up and connected to the channel system by noise reducing covering (4) (14+15)

Claim 5: as former claims, characterised by that the construction is provided with a channel system for to- and from air (6+7) the inflow and outflow of which are placed inside the ventilation cells.

Claim 6: as per any previous claims .characterised by that inside the channel- system, aggregate, damper, blowers, air distribution box, inlet or outlet ventilator are noise-absorber and noise trap equipment (23, 23A, 28, 29, 30) placed , preferably consisting of baked and sintered clay of various gradients and forms which are held together with a hygroskopic or elastic binder.

Claim 7: as per previous claim characterised by that the construction is provided with an easily exchanged mechanical filter (21, 26) connected to the blowers (17) and in the channel system's respective elimination equipment (26) connected to the blowers (17) and in the channel system's respective inlet and outlet ventilator (26) in the ventilation cells (10, 11, 12, 13). Claim 8: the ventilation construction with a regenerative- heat recycling of a chamber or channel- exchange type (22, 4, 5.) for the ventilation of a part of a building, such as an apartment or other premises, (10, 11, 12, 13 ) which consists of a ventilation cell, contamination cell and noise cell characterised by that return of exhaust air trough the damper only is received by the apartment or premises into which the construction is placed for which it provides ventilation.

Claim 9: the ventilation construction with a regenerative heat exchanger with a dampening function characterised by the aggregate cover (14 + 15) around the dampers and blowers which are openable and that the damper housing (16) as well as the blowers (17) can be moved so that these as well as the accumulators (3) and filters (21, 26) are accessible for changing, maintaining and cleaning.

Claim 10: as per some of the preceding claims characterised by that the damper housing (16) and blowers (17) are fixed to the openable part of the outer cover (14) with elastic vibration dampening attachments (19) and hung together with the openable cover (14) while opening.

Claim 11: as some of the preceding claims characterised by a moveable separating wall (Fig 7, 25) in the distribution box (5) between the to and from air channel during changed position opens and respectively reduces the number of exhaust- air fumes (7) for connection of to or from air channel.