Abstract: A fresh air ventilation system in a building having an outside wall exhausts contaminants, such as stale or noxious air, through the outside wall and takes in fresh air. A remote switch sets a mode of operation of the ventilation system. One or more strategically placed air quality sensors are located within the building. The sensors may be connected wirelessly through a multiplexor interconnect system to operational control the fan of the exhaust system. In response to the detection of a contaminant above a pre-selected level by a sensor, the relay controller for the sensors resets the remote switch for continuous high speed operation to evacuate the contaminants from the building through either special ducts or the conventional air ventilation ducts within the building.

Abstract: Ventilation system (10) comprising resistive heating means (12) for heating gas flowing through the ventilation system (10) and means that are arranged to provide a 5 controlled, continuously variable AC voltage/current to at least part of the resistive heating means (12) of the ventilation system (10) to modulate the power (24) being supplied thereto and to enable continuous regulation of the temperature of gas flowing through the ventilation system (10).

Abstract: A return fan control system for an HVAC system comprises a supply fan control loop, a return fan control loop and a building pressure control system. The supply fan control loop comprises a duct pressure controller arranged to control a supply fan to a duct pressure setpoint. The return plenum pressure control loop comprises a return plenum pressure controller arranged to automatically control a return fan to a return plenum pressure setpoint determined by a setpoint reset function. The building pressure control system is operable to control a building pressure. The building pressure control system may comprise a building pressure control loop and an outside air control loop cooperatively arranged to control an exhaust damper in response to an outside air intake.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a housing defining a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, a fan configured to provide airflow through the compartments, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an airflow passage configured to allow cold air to flow from the freezer compartment to the fresh food compartment, a damper configured to be in an open position under the pressure of airflow flowing through the airflow passage and in a closed position due to a weight of the damper when cold air is flowing through the fresh food compartment. The damper assembly also includes a solenoid element configured to maintain the damper in the closed position regardless of airflow.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The cooling apparatus is adapted to cool a system in which a heat source generating heat is arranged. The cooling apparatus includes an air stream forming unit which cools the heat source to a certain temperature, a sensing unit which includes a supplied-air temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of air supplied into the system, and a discharged-air temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of air discharged out of the system, an altitude detecting unit which detects an altitude of the system, based on the sensed supplied-air temperature and the sensed discharged-air temperature, and a cooling controller which controls the air stream forming unit, based on the detected altitude.

Abstract: A set of methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported greenhouse or other structure requiring pressurization and ventilation. A method for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported structure comprises directing any external wind flow and external wind pressure into mechanical flow means, such as a fan, or fans in parallel, operating in the intake direction, and into the internal space of the air-supported structure and out of the internal space of the air-supported structure through internal pressure regulating exhaust means, whereby the internal space of the structure will be ventilated and pressurized with the assistance of any external wind and the reliability of mechanical flow means (fans).

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of an ultraviolet air treatment device including an ultraviolet lamp positioned to treat air within an air handling system that operates in either an on state or an off state. The method includes activating the ultraviolet lamp, and determining the operational state of the air handling system. The ultraviolet lamp is deactivated upon expiration of a predetermined time period during which the air handling system remains in the off state. The predetermined time period is preferably 30-60 minutes, preferably 40 minutes for residential applications.

Abstract: A fresh air ventilation system in a building having an outside wall exhausts contaminants, such as stale or noxious air, through the outside wall and takes in fresh air. A remote switch sets a mode of operation of the ventilation system. One or more strategically placed air quality sensors are located within the building. The sensors may be connected wirelessly through a multiplexer interconnect system to operationally control the fan of the exhaust system. In response to the detection of a contaminant above a pre-selected level by a sensor, the relay controller for the sensors resets the remote switch for continuous high speed operation to evacuate the contaminants from the building through either special ducts or the conventional air ventilation ducts within the building.

Abstract: To provide a ventilating system and ventilating system control method capable of advancing energy conservation. A controller sets a static pressure setting value based on the airflow of the system as a whole, calculated from the airflow of venturi air valves of fume hoods that are operating, and controls the speed of rotation of a fan based on the static pressure setting value and the static pressure within a main duct. Doing so enables control of the speed of rotation of the fan to be performed while ensuring the airflow of the ventilating system, thus making it possible to prevent wasted motive force of the fan, even when the airflows of each of the venturi air valves are not identical and even when the changes in resistance of the branched duct system relative to the various changes in airflow are not identical, with the result that it is possible to advance energy conservation.

Abstract: An air feed system for a fuel cell cabinet is provided. The air feed system supplies temperature controlled air to a fuel cell. The air feed system includes a controller that controls the air feed system for maintaining a predetermined temperature range of the temperature controlled air entering the fuel cell.

Abstract: A heat exchange type ventilator allows preventing its heat exchanger from being clogged with buildup of ice, and also alleviating cold-draft feeling. This ventilator has an exhaust-air coupling section and a supply-air coupling section, and a ventilating unit which includes an exhaust-air outlet and a supply-air inlet, a motor for driving an exhaust-air fan and a supply-air fan, the heat exchanger for carrying out heat recovery between interior air and outside air, and a cut-off damper for cutting off a supply-air flow in a supply-air channel. Supply-air temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the outside air issues a signal, which prompts the damper to cut off the supply-air flow and reduce a volume of the exhaust-air.

Abstract: A system for reducing effects of adverse air re-circulation in a room containing at least one heat generating component includes an air conditioning unit configured to cool airflow in the room and at least one cooling vent tile operable to deliver the cooled airflow to the at least one heat generating component. The system also includes at least one secondary vent tile positioned and operated to one of, introduce airflow into a re-circulating airflow and remove airflow from a re-circulating airflow, to thereby respectively divert or vary the temperature of the re-circulating airflow and thereby reduce the effects of air re-circulation in the room.

Abstract: An air handling system for an indoor space comprising a first forced indoor air treatment component, an input indoor air duct element and an output treated air duct element respectively coupling said first forced indoor air treatment component to said indoor space, a second forced air treatment component a stale air duct element coupled to said second forced air treatment component and to said input indoor air duct, a return air duct element coupling said second forced air treatment component to said output treated air duct element characterized in that said system comprises a secondary air path means for coupling said return air duct element to said input indoor air duct element.

Abstract: A system and method are provided which capitalize on heating and air conditioning ductwork to draw fresh air through a house and cool the attic. Outside air enters through open windows and is drawn into return air vents. A blower fan, which is housed within the duct assembly or an air handling unit, draws air through the return duct work and exhausts into an exhaust duct. A damper in the exhaust duct has an exhaust position and a return position. In the exhaust position, air exhausts through a vent in an attic space, where the attic space is vented to the outside. In the return position air continues to the heating and air conditioning unit. The present invention provides a means to direct the fresh air flow through a house using return vents while cooling the attic space without the use of an attic fan.

Abstract: A controlled environment cabinet comprises a working chamber made up of clear panels and a stainless steel frame. Two frontal panels may be raised on hinges to access an interior of the chamber. Working armports are provided, closed by a flexible membrane, which is slit such that an operator may pass an arm into the chamber, but the membrane closes around the arm, restricting airflow out of the chamber. An air treatment unit is supplied with air from the chamber by a fan/filter unit. The air treatment unit can raise or lower the temperature and relative humidity of the air, and the fan/filter unit contains a HEPA filter to remove particulates suspended in the air. The treated air is passed back to the chamber. Controls are provided, whereby a desired temperature, humidity and air flow rate or rate of atmosphere exchange within the chamber may be set.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method for temperature sensitive components or equipment housed in an enclosure are provided. The cooling apparatus and method removes hot air from the enclosure upon power or air conditioner failure or rise in temperature. The cooling apparatus and method helps to regulate the temperature of air in the enclosure. The cooling apparatus and method may be combined with existing enclosures either as a primary or auxiliary or “back-up” cooling system.

Abstract: A system and method of reporting and managing real-time air flow within an information handling system is disclosed. In one form, a method of managing airflow can include obtaining airflow data using a range of fan speeds of a first cooling fan within a first information handling system. The method can also include storing the airflow data within a memory accessible to a management controller. The method can further include accessing the airflow data to identify a first airflow output level, and altering an operating speed of the first cooling fan to output the first airflow output level.

Abstract: A cooling and ventilation device comprises a product inlet, a product outlet, a waste inlet, a waste outlet, a waste channel connecting the waste inlet to the waste outlet, an evaporative heat exchanger having a primary channel connected between the product inlet and the product outlet and a secondary channel connected between an outlet from the primary channel and the waste channel, a flaw control element effective to control flow from the secondary channel to the waste channel and a controller selectively controlling the flow control element to thereby control flow from the secondary channel to the waste channel. The product inlet may be connected to a suitable source of outside air and the product outlet supplied to a habitable space such as the interior of a building or vehicle. The waste inlet may receive expelled air from the habitable space, which is subsequently exhausted to the environment via the waste outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a desired air pressure inside a home includes a differential pressure switch/gage having a first port and a second port. The first port is adaptable for sensing a first pressure inside the home; the second port is adaptable for sensing a second pressure outside the home. The differential pressure switch/gage is adaptable for producing a signal in response to a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure. A motorized damper is in signal communication with the differential pressure switch/gage and is operable to control entry of air into the home in response to the signal. A method of maintaining a desired air pressure inside a home comprises sensing a first pressure inside the home, sensing a second pressure outside the home, and introducing air into the home through a controlled opening if said second pressure exceeds said first pressure by a specified amount.

Abstract: A preassembled flow control unit includes a plenum, a flow controller mounted to the plenum, and a flow control sensor mounted to the plenum. An isolation valve selectively blocks the flow of air between the plenum and the flow controller. An optional thermal coil is also mounted to the plenum to control the temperature of air flowing therethrough. In a particular embodiment, the thermal coil is mounted to an open end of the plenum opposite the flow controller, and the fluid lines serving the thermal coil are also mounted to the plenum, with an automatic valve in at least one of the fluid lines. An optional protective bracket protects the automatic valve from incidental damage during transportation an installation of the flow control unit. An electrical disconnect and a power converter are also mounted on the plenum.

Abstract: A refrigerator unit is configured for a container in which it is possible to know the quantity of air that is ventilated. The refrigerator unit is equipped with a ventilation mechanism, an opening degree detecting mechanism, and a recording unit. The ventilation mechanism ventilates the air inside the container. The opening degree detecting mechanism acquires ventilation data related to the quantity of air ventilated by the ventilation mechanism. The recording unit records the ventilation data acquired by the opening degree detecting mechanism.

Abstract: A heat exchanging ventilator comprises a temperature isolating body including an air admitting passageway and an air venting passageway couplingly arranged therein and allowing to conduct heat with each other. The two ends of the air admitting and venting passageways are in communication with the indoors and outdoors, respectively, and the air admitting and venting passageways are provided at inlets thereof with suction fans, individually, so as to let fresh air to be sucked from the suction fan of the air admitting passageway, while the indoor air may be vented from the suction fan of the air venting passageway, thereby exchanging air. Likewise, by means of the heat conductivity of the air admitting and venting passageways with each other, the indoor air temperature inputted from the air admitting passageway is approximately equivalent to room temperature.

Abstract: Fire-extinguishing system in an air filter system has an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber with a filter wall therebetween. The system includes a first and second sensor, a first and second fire extinguisher, and a control unit, the first sensor and the first extinguisher being disposed in the inlet chamber, the second extinguisher in an outlet chamber and the second sensor being disposed in an outlet of the outlet chamber. The control unit is connected to the first and second sensors, and to the first and second extinguishers. The control unit records a first and second fire-detection signal in the inlet chamber and the outlet, respectively; compares the first and second signals to an associated threshold value for fire; determines at which location within the inlet and outlet chamber the fire is burning, depending on the comparison; selects which of the first and at least one second extinguisher is located near the determined position, and activates one or more selected extinguishers.

Abstract: An air distribution system for an air conditioning system includes an air supply and a plurality of air distribution units. The air distribution units are arranged in a side-by-side configuration. The air supply is operably connected to at least one of the air distribution units. Each air distribution unit includes a delivery feature for delivering air from the air supply through the air distribution unit and into an adjacent air distribution unit.

Abstract: The invention describes an outlet system in which a characteristic of one of gas and/or a liquid, for example the percentage CO2 in air, is measured in a central outlet duct (2). The outlet system comprises local outlet ducts (5, 6, 7) that are in flow communication with the central outlet duct (2). The flow through the local outlet ducts is partly determined by corresponding flow regulators (25, 26, 27) By means of selective setting of these flow regulators by a control system (22) the local value of the characteristic can be calculated using measured values in the central outlet duct (2) and the positions of the flow regulators (25, 26, 27). By means of the invention costs of sensor controlled ventilation systems, in, for example, residential and utility building, are reduced.

Abstract: A method for controlling flow rates of outdoor air supplied to a room and room air discharged to an outside of the room in ventilation. The method of the present invention includes the steps of supplying outdoor air drawn through an air supply duct to a room at a first flow rate, and discharging room air drawn through an air discharge duct to an outside of the room at a second flow rate higher than the first flow rate. The first and second flow rates vary with rotation speeds of fans respectively mounted on an air supply duct and an air discharge duct.

Abstract: Airflow rates within a ventilation system are controlled using motor speed or torque and motor electric current or pressure. Fan speed or torque may be varied to compensate for differing restriction in ductwork, and may provide a constant airflow rate over a range of varying airflow restriction. Air handlers or air conditioning units may be mass produced in common configurations, and installed in different buildings or structures with different ductwork configurations. Methods operate a fan motor at a present speed or torque, sample speed or torque, sample current of the fan motor or pressure within the ventilation system, calculate a present airflow rate within the ventilation system, calculate a new input setting using the present airflow rate and a target airflow rate, change the speed or torque to the new input setting, and repeat these steps to converge on the target airflow rate, often avoiding overshoot.

Abstract: The described method and apparatus pertains namely to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) industry, though its many functions extend into any and all forms of air-fluid movement, metering, distribution, and containment. Essentially, the scope of operation of the method and apparatus encompasses all forms of scientific and engineering measurement dealing with fluid dynamics, fluid statics, fluid mechanics, thermal dynamics, and mechanical engineering as they pertain to precise, articulated control of air-fluid distribution and delivery. The described method and apparatus offers complete, comprehensive, and correct utilization of air-fluid movers and terminal devices under unique sensor logic control, from initial lab testing stages through to equipment cataloguing, selection, design and construction of any and all air-fluid distribution systems in entirety, whereas previously there was no such cohesive, total and terminal method of control for these systems or their components.

Abstract: The described method and apparatus pertains namely to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) industry, though its many functions extend into any and all forms of air-fluid movement, metering, distribution, and containment. Essentially, the scope of operation of the method and apparatus encompasses all forms of scientific and engineering measurement dealing with fluid dynamics, fluid statics, fluid mechanics, thermal dynamics, and mechanical engineering as they pertain to precise, articulated control of air-fluid distribution and delivery. The described method and apparatus offers complete, comprehensive, and correct utilization of air-fluid movers and terminal devices under unique sensor logic control, from initial lab testing stages through to equipment cataloguing, selection, design and construction of any and all air-fluid distribution systems in entirety, whereas previously there was no such cohesive, total and terminal method of control for these systems or their components.

Abstract: Control systems for recovery wheels, ventilation systems with recovery devices, buildings having ventilation, and methods of controlling recovery wheels and controlling or modifying ventilation systems. A parameter of ventilation systems or recovery devices, such as the speed of a recovery wheel, may be controlled as a function of pressure, differential pressure, flow rate, or fan speed, for example, to provide appropriate purge flow to maintain purge effectiveness and limit the carry-over of contaminants from a return/exhaust airstream to an outside/supply airstream, for instance, in a variable air-volume system. A purge angle may be set at a minimum position commensurate with a maximum flow rate and recovery-wheel speed may be reduced at lower flows to maintain purge effectiveness. In some embodiments, temperature and humidity are measured, and wheel speed is also controlled as a function of these measurements.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a ventilation system for a building including a conditioning unit, a ventilation unit and a control unit. The conditioning unit is mounted in at least one of a door and a wall of the building for conditioning air as it moves through or into the building. The conditioning unit includes at least one air inlet and an air outlet, spaced from the air inlet. The at least one air inlet communicates with at least one of air within the building and atmosphere and the air outlet communicates with air within the building. The ventilation unit is spaced from and communicates with the conditioning unit for expelling air from the building to atmosphere. The ventilation unit includes an air inlet and an exhaust air outlet, spaced from the air inlet. The air inlet communicates with air within the building and the exhaust air outlet communicates with atmosphere.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling air conditioning and transfer air in an occupied space are described. The example of a commercial restaurant is provided. Features of model based control and integration of load predictors is also described.

Abstract: A totally integrated ventilation system is contained in the outside air inlet stream. The system samples and controls ventilation airflow as it enters a structure. An air valve connecting the outside air inlet stream to the return plenum is controlled by a valve positioning device and a processor that monitors sensors located in the outside air inlet stream, air quality data provided by a telecommunications link and the HVAC system control signals. The air quality data includes locally broadcast air pollution data or air quality alert data related to accidents or terrorist attacks. The processor and valve positioning device simultaneously control a separate pressure relief valve that allows contaminated air to be exhausted from the structure. An alternate configuration uses a supplemental fan to introduce the outside air inlet stream directly into the structure where HVAC systems are not used.

Abstract: Systems and method for controlling the flow of air through a mechanical draft system are disclosed herein. A pressure controller for controlling air pressure comprises an appliance controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of appliances, an intake fan controller configured to control the speed of an intake fan, and an exhaust fan controller configured to control the speed of an exhaust fan. The pressure controller also includes a processor configured to receive a differential pressure signal and to control the operation of the appliances, the speed of the intake fan, and the speed of the exhaust fan in response to the differential pressure signal.

Abstract: A greenhouse has an exterior curtain wall structure formed by spaced tubular posts carrying external transparent panels and bottom non-transparent wall panels below a sill with the panels spanning the posts. A plurality of elongate benches is located within the interior at spaced positions along one side wall with the width of the benches being equal to the post spacing to form an expandable construction. Each bench has associated with it a respective air handling system for conditioning including a duct which is located partly under the respective bench and a fan in a fan housing at the side wall. From the fan a vertical duct section extends to a flexible tube extending over the bench. Air dehumidification, fogging, heating and cooling are provided in the duct under the bench. An alley is arranged along the opposite wall containing electrical controls mounted in cabinets forming panels for mounting in the span between posts.

Abstract: An airflow shutdown system that includes an air distribution system and an air duct closure device. The air duct closure device is adapted to substantially instantaneously block airflow in the air distribution system when activated. The system also includes an integrated control system coupled to the air distribution system and adapted to activate the air duct closure device and stop an operation of other air distribution devices in the air distribution system in order to prevent migration of air through the system.

Abstract: A heat recovery arrangement. The arrangement has a housing including a bathroom exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet, a bathroom exhaust airflow path through the housing from the bathroom exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet, a return air inlet, and a return air path through the housing from the return air inlet to the exhaust outlet. The housing also has an outside air inlet, a supply air outlet, an outside air path through the housing from the outside air inlet to the supply air outlet; and a heat recovery device extracting heat from the exhaust airflow path and the return airflow path and transferring heat to the outside airflow path.

Abstract: A fan unit centrally located within a crawl space includes a fan, a fan motor, an inlet grill, and an outlet grill. A timer connected in the power supply activates the fan motor at periodic predetermined time intervals to move the crawl space air through the fan unit. The fan unit is located and orientated to create a negative pressure to pull air into the crawl space through wall inlet vents and to also create a positive pressure to force air out of the crawl space through wall outlet vents. An outside humidity sensor can be used to insure the outside air has a lower percent humidity than that desired in the crawl space and an inside humidity sensor is used to turn the fan unit off if the crawl space humidity is below an acceptable limit. A temperature sensor is used to turn the fan unit off when the crawl space air temperature gets too low.

Abstract: A fan unit being suspended from a building floor structure within a crawl space. The fan unit includes a fan, a fan motor, an inlet grill, a discharge plenum and an outlet grill. A timer connected in the power supply activates the fan motor at periodic predetermined time intervals to move the crawl space air through the fan unit. The fan unit is located and orientated to create a negative pressure to pull air into the crawl space through wall inlet grills and to also create a positive pressure to force air out of the crawl space through wall outlet grills. An outside humidity sensor can be used to insure the outside air has a lower percent humidity than that desired in the crawl space and an inside humidity sensor is used to turn the fan unit off if the crawl space humidity is below an acceptable limit.

Abstract: A totally integrated ventilation system is contained in the outside air inlet stream. The system samples and controls ventilation airflow as it enters a structure. An air valve connecting the outside air inlet stream to the return plenum is controlled by a valve positioning device and a processor that monitors sensors located in the outside air inlet stream, air quality data provided by a telecommunications link and the HVAC system control signals. The air quality data includes locally broadcast air pollution data or air quality alert data related to accidents or terrorist attacks. The processor and valve positioning device simultaneously control a separate pressure relief valve that allows contaminated air to be exhausted from the structure. An alternate configuration uses a supplemental fan to introduce the outside air inlet stream directly into the structure where HVAC systems are not used.

Abstract: An environmental control unit, and air handling systems using it, that combines, as a unitary packaged unit, equipment and associated functionality for air handling and affording protection to occupants and/or equipment in an enclosure against airborne release of chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR) agents.

Abstract: Systems and method for controlling the flow of air through a mechanical draft system are disclosed herein. A pressure controller for controlling air pressure comprises an appliance controller configured to control the operation of a plurality of appliances, an intake fan controller configured to control the speed of an intake fan, and an exhaust fan controller configured to control the speed of an exhaust fan. The pressure controller also includes a processor configured to receive a differential pressure signal and to control the operation of the appliances, the speed of the intake fan, and the speed of the exhaust fan in response to the differential pressure signal.

Abstract: Confinement houses such as those housing poultry or hogs are artificially ventilated. To provide fresh air, there are openings along the walls. To control the amount of effective opening, fabric curtains are provided to cover the openings to varying degrees, depending on the inside conditions. The curtain opening is manipulated by a linear actuator and a manual hand-crank. When the power grid is interrupted for more than a moment, ventilation fans stop and the livestock become in danger of asphyxiation. As a fallback strategy, the curtains are opened fully by releasing the manual hand-crank, permitting it to spin as the curtains fall open under their own weight. A tension device such as a cord, chain, cable, string or wire runs between the manual hand-crank and a safety ventilation curtain release device. The safety ventilation curtain release device will release the tension device when the power grid has been off for a predetermined time.

Abstract: Internal climate comfort in a living room occupied by human users is controlled by natural ventilation, through at least two external adjustable openings and at least one internal opening, said natural ventilation being determined from a constant physical parameter of said living room and measured parameters relating to wind load and temperature difference to approximate a target air exchange rate for the room. An adjustment parameter (S1, S2) for each external opening is determined to provide air exchange (Qf) to the room on the basis of said target air exchange rate and is modified by application of a set of individual comfort functions (&mgr;) for each opening, taking account at least of outside and inside temperature, air exchange and wind speed and direction. The individual comfort functions (&mgr;) of said set are weighed by fuzzy optimization to produce optimized and substantially equally distributed comfort conditions in positions in the living room adjacent each opening.

Abstract: A gas flow control system (10) for controlling the flow of a gas through an opening of an environment (14), comprising a flow control member (22) adapted to be mounted in the opening and moveable to adopt any of a plurality of positions, a gas pressure indicator (30, 32) which produces at least one indication of the pressure of the gas in the environment (14), and a controller (28) which receives and acts upon the indication of the gas pressure to control the position adopted by the flow control member (22) to control the flow of the gas through the opening.

Abstract: Energy saving in indoor air conditioning is achieved by combining indoor air vertical convection producing means and indoor air conditioning means.

Abstract: A method and system for inferring airborne contaminant concentrations in rooms without contaminant sensors, based on data collected by contaminant sensors in other rooms of a building, using known airflow interconnectivity data. The method solves a least squares problem that minimizes the difference between measured and predicted contaminant sensor concentrations with respect to an unknown contaminant release time. Solutions are constrained to providing non-negative initial contaminant concentrations in all rooms. The method can be used to identify a near-optimal distribution of sensors within the building, when then number of available sensors is less than the total number of rooms. This is achieved by having a system-sensor matrix that is non-singular, and by selecting that distribution which yields the lowest condition number of all the distributions considered. The method can predict one or more contaminant initial release points from the collected data.

Abstract: A data collection system allows occupants in one or more locations to provide indications as to their respective levels of comfort. The indications as to comfort level are preferably provided through personal computers in these locations. Each computer is programmed to display a menu of comfort level options that may be selected by the user of the computer. Each computer is operative to require that any selected comfort level be accompanied by a verification as to the user making the one or more selections. The verification preferably requires an entry of an identification that may be checked against a stored identification. Each computer is operative to timely provide the selections as to comfort level by a recognized user to a network computer. The network computer is operative to analyze the comfort level information from these computers and send one or more commands to an HVAC system providing conditioned air to the locations.

Abstract: Multiple methods of supplying conditioned air to a room and components therefor are provided. A dual plenum system has a supply plenum for delivering supply air to the room and a return plenum for returning room air to an air handling unit. Conduits are provided to permit passage of the return air through the supply plenum without breaching the integrity of the supply plenum. Modular units permit a user to customize the supply and return apparatuses. A terminal unit having a controllable damper blade can be applied to a diffuser to permit the unit to be convertible between a constant volume unit and a variable volume unit. A thermostat generates signals that open and close the damper blade at determined intervals.

Abstract: A method and a system for the regulation of ventilation in a welding workshop, in which method the volume of supply air and/or extract air in the ventilation of the welding workshop is regulated. The basis of regulation of the volume is the load imposed on the electric power network by the welding equipment, e.g. the electric power consumed. The system comprises a set of measuring equipment for generating a measurement signal corresponding to the load imposed by the welding equipment on the electric power network. A set of control equipment has been arranged to regulate the volume of supply air brought into the welding workshop via a supply air duct and/or the volume of extract air removed from the welding workshop via an exhaust duct so as to achieve a level of ventilation proportional to the impurity load.