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University of Central Florida researchers have developed a smart ventilation system that can be used with new or existing residential heating and cooling systems to improve indoor air quality, reduce costs and save energy. Most ventilation control systems are simplistic, using only temperature to try and optimize air quality and system usage. In contrast, the UCF invention has a more comprehensive approach to system optimization. It evaluates not only temperature but also other parameters, such as humidity, occupancy and utility peak conditions.
The invention comprises a smart ventilation control system and methods for optimizing the mechanical ventilation airflow of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A unique weather-adaptive algorithm enables the system to interpret measurements of outdoor temperature and moisture patterns and then vary ventilation conditions to minimize sensible and latent load impacts. The system works to shift ventilation from periods that have large indoor-outdoor temperature and moisture differences to periods when the differences are smaller, and their effects on energy and comfort are expected to be less. The UCF Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) conducted simulations to tune the algorithm with differing flow targets and seasonal adjustment factors to maximize heating and cooling energy savings. The scheme maintained similar indoor relative humidity and relative exposure targets (compared to continuous ventilation) with respect to ASHRAE Standard 62.2. One simulation suggested that compliant annual average and acute RE could be maintained with 73 percent sensible and 9 percent latent load reductions during cooling conditions.
Field and Laboratory Testing of Approaches to Smart Whole-House Mechanical Ventilation Control, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information, 2018. DOI: 10.2172/1416954
