DESC:Field of the Invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to management of air quality in an environment.
Background
[0002] In environments, such as households, office spaces, a number of air quality management equipment or devices are used. For example, an air conditioner may be used to manage the temperature of air within the environment. In another example, an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) system may be implemented for managing the quality of air within the environment.
[0003] As is known, a user present in the environment, often operates such equipment as per his own judgement. In certain cases, this may not result in an optimized approach of managing the air quality within the room. For instance, a user may operate either of the devices at an operation setting that may increase the load and energy consumption of at least one such device present in the environment. This, as may be gathered, is undesirable as unnecessary load may cause the device life to shorten and increase operation costs.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for solution to best operate the devise present in the environment to achieve optimized air quality management and address at least one deficiency associated with isolation operation of the aforementioned devices.
Summary
[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
[0006] In an example embodiment, An air quality management system for managing air quality in an environment is disclosed. The system includes an ERV device, an Air conditioner, a plurality of temperature sensors, wherein at least one temperature sensor is configured to measure air temperature inside the environment, wherein at least one temperature sensor is configured to measure air temperature outside the environment, and a control station communicatively coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors, the ERV device, and the air conditioner. The control station is configured to receive temperature data from the plurality of temperature sensors, receive operation data indicative of an operation state of the ERV device from the ERV device, and receive desired temperature data indicative of a desired temperature from the air conditioner. The control station further is to determine a difference in temperature of the air within the environment and outside the environment based on the temperature data, determine a control action for managing the air quality within the environment based on the difference in temperature, the operation data, and the desired temperature.
[0007] The system as claimed herein, wherein the control station is further configured to determine an operation state of the air conditioner based on at least one of: the difference in temperature (P1), a parameter determined based on the desired temperature data, and a control action database including a plurality of presumed operation states of the Air conditioner mapped with a plurality of values of the difference in temperature and a plurality ov values of the parameter (P3).
[0008] The system as claimed herein, wherein the control station is configured to transmit a control signal to the ERV device for performing the control action.
[0009] The system as claimed herein, wherein the control station is configured to transmit a control signal to the Air conditioner for performing the control action.
[0010] The system as claimed herein, wherein the control station is provided integral to one of the ERV device or the air conditioner.
[0011] The system of as claimed herein, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors is provided integral to the ERV device.
[0012] The system as claimed herein further comprising a plurality of sensors configured to generate sensor data associated with the quality of air within the environment.
[0013] The system as claimed herein, wherein the control station is further configured to determine an operation speed of the ERV device based on the sensor data.
[0014] The system as claimed herein, wherein the plurality of sensors is provided in the ERV device.
[0015] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0016] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
[0017] Fig. 1(a)-(c) illustrates an environment implementing an air quality management system, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0018] Fig. 2 illustrates a control action database, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0019] Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
Detailed Description of Figures
[0020] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
[0021] The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”
[0022] The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
[0023] More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”
[0024] Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skills in the art.
[0026] Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
[0027] Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
[0028] Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
[0029] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0030] Environments, such as households, a workspace, enterprise floor spaces, conference rooms, etc. implement one or more electronic devices for managing the air quality within the environment. For instance, an Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) device and an Air conditioner may be implemented in a workspace for managing the quality of air in the workspace.
[0031] Typically, a human administrator may be assigned with the task of operating the Air conditioner and the ERV device. That is, the human administrator may switch ON switch OFF the Air conditioner and the ERV device, as per his judgement of the air quality within the environment. In cases where the human administrator is not skilled, the load on the electronic devices may be increased. For instance, the human administrator may operate the Air conditioner at a lower temperature to cool the workspace and at the same time may operate the ERV device at a high speed for high air circulation in the workspace. In such a case, as the cooled air is being replaced at a higher rate in the workspace, the load on the Air conditioner may be increased. Thus, the efficiency of the Air conditioner may also be affected.
[0032] Thus, such a non-intelligence operation of the electronic devices results in increasing the load on devices and reduces their efficiency. Accordingly, there is a need to have an intelligent solution to the aforementioned deficiency.
[0033] Fig. 1(a)-(c) illustrates an environment 100, according to some embodiments of the present subject matter. The network environment 100 comprises a plurality of sensors 102-1 to 102-N, collectively referred to as “the sensors 102” and individually referred to as “the sensor 102”. Examples of the sensors 102 may include, but are not limited to, a PM 2.5 sensor, a CO2 sensor, and a VOC sensor. The environment 100 further comprises a control station 104. Examples of the control station 104 may include a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a server, and the like.
[0034] The environment 100 further includes at least one ERV device 106. The ERV device 106 may be configured to draw in fresh air from the outside and draws out the stale present inside. In an example, the ERV device 106 may include a PM 2.5 filter and a heat exchange coil. Furthermore, the ERV device 106 exchanges heat /cold with cold/hot air at the heat exchange coils. Accordingly, the ERV device 106 keeps the room cool/warm depending upon the outside temperature.
[0035] In an example embodiment, the sensors 102 may be provided in a standalone manner. In another example embodiment, the sensors 102 may be provided such that they are integral to the ERV device 106, for example as shown in Fig. 1(b) and Fig. 1(c).
[0036] The environment 100 may further include a plurality of temperature sensors 108. In an example, the temperature sensors 108 may include two temperature sensors, where one temperature sensor 108-1 is configured to measure air temperature inside the environment 100 and one temperature sensor 108-2 is configured to measure air temperature outside the environment 100.
[0037] Accordingly, in an example embodiment, the temperature sensor 108-1 may be implemented inside the environment 100 and the temperature sensor 108-2 may be implemented, for example, outside the environment 100.
[0038] In another example embodiment, the temperature sensor(s) 108 may be implemented within the ERV device 106, as shown in Fig. 1(b) and Fig. 1(c). In the said example embodiment, the ERV device 106 may be so positioned within the environment 100, such that the temperature sensors 106 are able to measure the temperature inside the environment 100 and outside the environment 100.
[0039] In an example, each of the temperature sensors 108 may be configured to generate the temperature data that includes details of the air temperature. For instance, the temperature sensor 108-1 may generate temperature data that includes details of the air temperature within the environment 100. Likewise, the temperature sensor 108 may generate temperature data that includes details of the air temperature outside the environment 100.
[0040] The generated temperature data is transmitted to a control station 104 that provided in the environment 100 for managing the quality of air in the environment 100. Examples of the control station 104 may be a device that includes one or more of a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor. In other examples, the control station 104 may be a gateway, a router, a server, and an electronic device, such as for example, a tablet, a laptop, etc. In an example embodiment, the control station 104 may be implemented within the ERV device 106, for example, as shown in Fig. 1(b) and Fig. 1(c). In an example, the control station is configured to receive the temperature data from the plurality of temperature sensors 108.
[0041] In an example embodiment, the control station 104 may be configured to determine a difference in temperature of the air within the environment 100 and outside the environment 100 based on the temperature data. In embodiments described herein, the control station 104 makes use of the difference in temperature to manage the air quality.
[0042] The environment 100 may further include an Air conditioner (AC) 110. In an example embodiment, the environment 100 further comprises a temperature sensor 112 and a humidity sensor 114, coupled to the AC 110. In an example, based on the sensor data received from the sensor 112 and the sensor 114, the AC 110 may be configured to manage its operation based on the measurements made by the temperature sensor 112 and the humidity sensor 114. Furthermore, the AC 110 may also be further configured to operate based on one or more control signals from the control station 104. For example, the AC 110 may be switched ON/OFF, or its temperature settings may be changed based on the control signals sent by the control station 104.
[0043] In an example embodiment, the control station 104 may be communicatively coupled to the sensors 102, the ERV device 106, the temperature sensors 108, and the AC 110. In said example embodiment, the control station 104 may be configured to send control signals to the ERV device 106 and the AC 110, to control operation thereof. Furthermore, in an example, the ERV device 106, the control station 104, and the AC 110 may include one or more of a controller, a processor, a microcontroller, a wireless communication unit, and other circuitry as required to send and receive control signals, data, messages, etc.
[0044] According to an example embodiment of the present subject matter, for managing the air quality in the environment 100, the control station 104 may be configured to manage or control the operation of the ERV device based on a plurality of parameters. In an example, the plurality of parameters may include, but is not limited to, the difference in temperature of air within the environment 100 and outside the environment 100, the operation state, i.e., whether ON or OFF and speed, of the ERV device 106, and a desired temperature change within the environment 100. The desired temperature change may be understood as difference in the temperature in the environment 100 and the temperature set for the AC 110.
[0045] By managing or controlling the operation of the ERV device 106 based on the above parameters, the control station 104 is able to control the circulation speed of air within the environment 100. As a result, the load and energy consumption of the AC 110 is managed effectively. Managing and controlling the ERV device 106, as used herein, may be understood as controlling an air circulation speed of the ERV device 106, switching it ON if it is OFF, and vice-versa. Herein, in a non-limiting example, the management of the air quality includes managing at least one of the air quality and the air temperature.
[0046] In an example embodiment, the control station 104 may be configured to manage the air quality within the environment 100. For managing the air quality, in an example embodiment, the control station 104 may be configured to determine a control action based on the set of predetermined parameters. The set of predetermined parameters include, in an example embodiment, the difference in temperature (P1), a current operational state of the ERV device 106 (P2), and a desired temperature change inside the room (P3). Accordingly, based on a current value of each of these parameters, the control station 104 may determine a control action that is to be performed.
[0047] In an example, the control action may include an action that may be performed by the ERV device 106. In another example, the control action may include an action that may be performed by the AC 110. In yet another example, the control action may include an action for each of the ERV device 106 and the AC 110.
[0048] In an example, the parameter P1 is based on temperature of air outside the environment 100 (TO) and temperature of air inside the environment 100 (TI). In an example, the judgement also changes depending on a change in the positive direction or a change in the negative direction. In the example illustrated in reference to Fig. 2, TO>TI is assumed, but there are times when TO