Abstract
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.
Technical Details
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.
Benefit
Reduces energy use and costs associated with heating and cooling systemsAutomatically adjusts ventilation to changes in climate and weather patternsAverage cooling energy savings of 10 percent due to a reduction in latent loadComplies with ASHRAE Standard 62.2Market Application
Residential-scale ventilation productsCan be used with existing energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) or to develop new ERVs to reduce cooling needs significantlyPublications
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
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