WO2022187921A1 - Carbon dioxide sensor and ambient air replacement fan - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide sensor and ambient air replacement fan comprising a device (1) provided with a sensor (2) for detecting harmful concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) that facilitates the replacement of the ambient air in closed spaces by actuating at least one extraction fan (3) installed in an external wall (4) or the ceiling (6) of any building, or coupled to ordinary air-conditioning units (11).

Description

Descriptive Report of the Utility Model Patent for CARBON DIOXIDE SENSOR AND ENVIRONMENT RENOVATION FAN.

INTRODUCTION

[001] The oxide, or carbon dioxide (C0 ₂ ), while essential to sustain life, can be extremely harmful to human health, especially considering the by-product of the human respiratory process, especially indoors.

[002] The harmful effects are mainly caused by particles suspended in the air, of which the thickest are retained in the nose and throat, causing discomfort, irritation in the eyes, nostrils, in addition to facilitating the installation of diseases in the body, such as the flu. , allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and asthma.

[003] Periodically inhaled, the gas is not harmful. However, as it is physiologically active and capable of affecting the circulatory and respiratory systems, concentrations of 2% to 3% have the potential to cause symptoms of asphyxia, drowsiness and vertigo; 3% to 5% can cause rapid breathing, headache and burning of the nose and throat; and up to 15%, headache, excitement, excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness.

[004] At higher concentrations, exposure has the potential to damage the respiratory system and cause circulatory failure, which can lead to more serious diseases such as lung cancer and pneumonoconiosis, with consequences that can range from coma to death. [005] With the advent of air-conditioned environments, it is increasingly common for several people to stay indoors for long periods and, without a permanent exchange of ambient air, these places can become dangerous. [006] Depending on the size of the enclosure, the length of stay and the number of people gathered, it does not take more than a few minutes without air renewal for carbon dioxide (C0 ₂ ) levels to become potentially harmful.

[007] In view of this, the present disclosure proposes a ventilation device driven by a sensor of harmful concentrations of C0 ₂ specifically designed to be installed in closed spaces, having the renewal of ambient air and the consequent dilution of particles suspended in the air to levels not harmful to human health as an effect.

STATUS OF THE TECHNIQUE

[008] Air-conditioned environments are increasingly common and necessary today, even in homes, especially in bedrooms and living rooms, where conditioning equipment is provided for since the architectural projects.

[009] In searches carried out in the state of the art, it was possible to find documents involving some conceptions of this nature, of which, discarded those whose operation obeys concepts dissimilar and not related to those of the present report, the following are selected:

[010] Document US1999027788 with filing date of 11/23/1999, discloses a sensor for the detection of gases, comprising a housing and an active element disposed inside the housing. The active element is surrounded by a porous insulating material with a bulk density not exceeding 0.15 g/cm ^A 3 ^A . Another gas sensor comprises an active element surrounded by a porous insulating material having a surface area not exceeding approximately 200 m ^A 2 ^A /cm ^A 3 ^A . Another gas sensor comprises a copper compound positioned so that the gas comes into contact with the copper compound before contacting the active element. Another gas sensor comprises an active element surrounded by a porous material having an average pore size of at least approximately 100 <134>.

[011] The document DK2005000381 with filing date of 06/10/2005, discloses "IR sensor (1), especially a C0 ₂ sensor, with a filter arrangement (6), behind which an detector (7), and an evaluation device (8) which is connected with the detector arrangement (7), the filter arrangement (6) having a first filter (9) and a second filter (10) which are configured as passband filters and which each have one pass and of which the first filter (9) allows a predetermined IR band to pass and the second filter (10) does not, and the detector arrangement has two detectors (14, 15), each of which is combined with a filter (9, 10). The aim is to simplify the application of such an IR sensor. For this purpose, it is foreseen that the passband of a filter (10) is arranged inside of the passband of the other filter (9) and the evaluation device (8) takes a difference in the signals (S1, S2) of the detectors (1 4,15) and adapts it to the signal (S1) of a detector (14)". (free translation)

[012] BRPI0601721 -5A2 with deposit date on 05/04/2006, teaches "a process of determining ozone in the atmosphere, through spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric measurements, using filters impregnated with indigo blue to collect the gas. at 600nm, the process most commonly described in the literature, were significantly sensitive to the action of interferences, compared to measurements made at 250nm. These data allow us to conclude that more reliable determinations of ozone are obtained in the ultraviolet region. Using the process whose determination is spectrofluorimetric, the measurements were quite sensitive, since it is possible to distinguish between close concentrations, which are often not differentiated by the spectrophotometric process. In addition, the selectivity was also superior to the technique spectrophotometric analysis, since there was no interference from any other gaseous species, even when present in a concentration much higher than that of ozone".

[013] The document DE2008000422 with filing date on 03/10/2008, under the title "METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PHASES IN AIRPLANE INTERIOR SPACES" teaches "a generic method for the detection and identification of gases in indoor spaces of the airplanes and an associated device, small and manageable, has a simple design and allows the immediate and simultaneous detection and identification of the gases to be examined. This is achieved in the fact that the supply air of the interior space of the airplane (20) is fed to a measuring device (1) and the measurement results of the measuring device (1) are analyzed using mathematical methods. Such methods and associated devices for the detection and identification of gases in aircraft interior spaces are used to detect and verify gases, particularly odors and explosive gases and/or gases harmful to people's health", (free translation)

[014] The document IB2010051043 with filing date on 03/10/2010, under the title "GAS SENSING USING ULTRASOUND", deals with "a sensor chip (1030) for gas, equipped with cells (200) to emit and receive ultrasound and is configured for a sufficiently large frequency range and to measure the concentration of at least one of the gas components based on at least two responses within the range. The frequency range can be achieved by varying the size of cell membranes (230) by varying the polarization voltages and/or varying the air pressure. The sensor chip can be applied, for example, in capnography. A measuring air chamber (515) is implemented in the airway (400) and it and/or the pathway can be designed to reduce turbulence in the exhaled breath (120) subject to ultrasound interrogation. The chip (1030) can be implemented as a standalone monitoring device. parameters, avoiding the need for off-chip sensors".

[015] Document EP2011068984 with filing date on 10/28/2011, under the title "A METHOD OF CALIBRATING IN THE AIR SENSOR", reveals an air treatment device comprising: "an air purification unit, configured to purify the air; an air sensor configured to measure a first quantity of air and provide a measurement output, wherein the first quantity of air comprises air purified by the air purification unit; and a processor configured to generate a first value based on the measurement output of the air sensor, in order to calibrate the air sensor. With the air handling device of an embodiment of the invention, clean air is generated locally by the air handling device in order to calibrate the air sensor, without the need to generate clean air externally, which brings convenience to the user or other operators performing the air sensor calibration of the air handling device. Another embodiment of the invention also provides a method for To calibrate an air sensor of an air handling device. The method comprises the steps of: purifying the air using the air handling device; and measuring a first amount of air using the air sensor to obtain a first value in order to calibrate the air sensor, wherein the first amount of air comprises purified air".

[016] Document IB2012053501 with filing date on 07/09/2012, under the title "GAS SENSING APPARATUS", deals with "method to selectively detect the concentration of a target gas in polluted ambient air, comprising: providing a target gas (220) sensitive to the target gas; providing a first stream of gas derived from ambient air, from which first stream the target gas is substantially removed; providing a second stream of gas derived from ambient air, comprising substantially the same concentration of gas target than ambient air; expose the target gas sensor to the first flow of gas during a first time interval and obtaining from the sensor a first output signal (Smf); exposing the target gas sensor to the second gas stream for a second time interval not overlapping the first time interval and obtaining a second output signal (Smu); calculating the difference (S?) between the first and second output signals; calculate the target gas concentration from the calculated signal difference (S?)".

[017] Document EP2014061811 with filing date on 06/06/2014, under the title "USE OF BARRIER CONTACT MÉDIUM FOR CHEMO-CHEMO-OPTICAL SENSORS IN TRANSCUTANEOUS APPLICATIONS", concerns "a chemo-optical sensor unit for measurement transmission of a concentration of a gas, comprising: at least one detection layer adapted to be irradiated with a predetermined radiation; and at least one gas permeable layer adjacent to one side of at least one detection layer adapted to for passing the gas whose concentration is to be measured through the gas permeable layer towards the detection layer; wherein said chemo-optical sensor unit is adapted to operate with a contact means between the gas permeable layer and the skin , wherein said contact means comprises a barrier layer that is permeable to gases and impermeable to water and ions; and wherein the chemo-optical sensor unit is adapted to measure an optical response of at least one layer. the detection one, whose optical response depends on the gas concentration. The present invention also relates to a system comprising such a chemo-optical sensor, as well as a method for conditioning a chemo-optical sensor unit to measure a concentration of a gas and a conditioned sensor thereby obtained. .

[018] The document US2016/0103111 A1 with filing date on 10/14/2014, under the title "OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEM WITH C02 DETECTION" teaches "a security system for vehicle occupants includes a carbon dioxide (C0 ₂ ) sensor and a controller. The C0 ₂ sensor is configured to determine a concentration of C0 ₂ in a passenger cabin of the vehicle while the vehicle is not in operation, i.e. parked. The controller is configured to determine that the passenger cabin is occupied by an occupant based on the concentration of C0 ₂ in a passenger cabin while the vehicle is not in operation. If C0 ₂ concentration is a concern while the vehicle is not in operation, the system may respond by activating a means of notification such as a vehicle horn or alarm, or by venting the passenger cabin, opening the windows, or operating a ventilation fan. a vehicle HVAC system" (free translation).

[019] Document US10,169,975 B1 with filing date 11/14/2017, deals with a "method of detecting carbon dioxide in a closed volume, a C0 ₂ detection system is triggered to wake up from a state Once awake, the system queries the system sensors to determine the current system parameters, including the current C0 ₂ level and temperature. The current and expected C0 ₂ decay rates are calculated, and the system determines if the current C0 ₂ decay rate is within a normal range expected for an unoccupied closed volume. If the volume is static, i.e. not moving, and the C0 ₂ rate is increasing and the temperature is increasing , a series of alerts are sent to contacts previously configured by the user. If alerts are not released by a user, emergency management personnel are notified" (free translation). According to the claim framework, an alarm system is taught from C0 ₂ sensors installed inside vehicles.

[020] The documents inherent to the state of the art are known, although constructively or operationally they contemplate objectives somehow similar to what is proposed in the In this report, it is inferred that all of them have as their main purpose the detection and identification of gases, including C0 _2, sometimes in the atmosphere, sometimes in certain environments, as is the case of documents DE2008000422, US2016/0103111 A1 and US10,169,975 B1, respectively applied in aircraft interior spaces and in the cabin of motor vehicles.

[021] Other documents demonstrate similar functionality regardless of the environment to which they apply, as in the case of patents US1999027788, DK2005000381, IB2012053501 and IB2010051043, this apparently for the respiratory tract, or in the atmosphere, as seen in document BRPI0601721 -5A2, or , still, in interior environments of airplanes, in the case of the document DE2008000422.

[022] The document EP2011068984 refers to the process of air purification, not renewal, and does not specify the environment of use, that is, whether indoors or in the atmosphere, while document EP2014061811 alludes to transcutaneous measurement of a gas concentration.

[023] Although the documents found present a similar general concept, proposing a similar objective, the state of the art is improved in the object now being reported, which proposes the renewal of air in closed environments where there is a meeting or prolonged stay of people, from a ventilation device that exhausts the external air to the closed environment, activated by a C0 _{2 sensor,} having the renewal of ambient air and the dilution of particles suspended in the air to levels that are not harmful to human health as an effect .

SUMMARY OF THE OBJECT OF THE PATENT

[024] A security system is provided for closed environments, notably where there is a meeting or prolonged stay of people, such as offices, bedrooms and auditoriums, for example, which includes a carbon dioxide sensor (C0 ₂₎ that , one time detecting potentially dangerous concentrations, it activates a fan that promotes the renewal of ambient air, exhausting the external air to the interior of the enclosure, promoting the exchange of ambient air through a physical passage that can be installed on an external wall (4) of enclosures or any buildings, on the roof (6) or on the pre-existing air conditioning unit in common use.

[025] The sensor is configured to detect the presence of C0 ₂ in harmful concentration, as is more clearly seen from the Detailed Description of the preferred embodiment and with reference to the following drawing examples.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[026] The characterization of the present model is given through representative drawings of the proposed solutions, which express the preferred ways of realizing the idealized product, basing the description through numerical references. Such figures are merely illustrative and may present variations, as long as they do not deviate from what was initially claimed. Thus:

[027] Figure 1 shows in detail the device (1) equipped with a carbon dioxide sensor (2) and an external exhaust fan (3), that is, which exhausts the air from the external environment to the internal environment, basically configured in a through hole, installed in one of the external walls (4) of any room or building, approximately at the height of the window (5).

[028] Figure 2 shows the device (1) embedded in a compartment (7) from which a duct (8) is projected for the exhaustion of external air to the internal environment, installed on the ceiling (6) of any room or building . The same figure offers a highlight of the construction of the external exhaust fan (3), in which a plurality of holes (3') are provided for the exhaust of external air to the internal environment through said duct (8). [029] Figure 3 refers to the device (1) in a constructive alternative in which a suction chamber (9) and respective duct (10) are foreseen, whose suction function is determined by a plurality of fans (3) that promote the exhaust air to the internal environment, preferably installed in parallel in the upper portion of said suction chamber (9). The figure also allows the inference that, in this constructive configuration, the device (1) can be installed on an external wall (4) or from the ceiling (6) of any room or building. [030] Figure 4 shows the device (1) when installed in a pre-existing dimatizing device (11), installed on one of the external walls (4) of any room or building, where the carbon dioxide sensor (2) can be seen and, in detail, the preferential positioning of the fan (3) that exhausts the air from the external environment to the internal environment of the enclosure, that is, shipped in a chamber (12) equipped with a filter (13).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE OBJECT OF THE PATENT

[031] Figure 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of a device (1) for renewing indoor air from the exchange of ambient air, configured to determine concentrations at pre-established levels and which includes a carbon dioxide sensor (2) (C0 ₂₎ and fan (3) for suction of external air that is exhausted to the internal environment, promoting air renewal and the consequent dilution of suspended particles of carbon dioxide detected in this environment.

[032] Suitable C0 ₂ sensors that use a version of spectroscopy or a surrogate to measure the concentration of C0 ₂ gas are available in the state of the art, and the device object of the present report takes advantage of the reliability of this type of C0 ₂ detection in a way that that can be installed on external walls or on the ceiling (6) of any room or building. [033] This is how the device (1) is equipped with a carbon dioxide (C0 ₂ ) sensor (2) configured to detect potentially harmful concentrations of the gas and trigger a suction mechanism that, by means of a fan (3), it promotes the exhaustion of the external air to the interior of the room and, therefore, the renewal of the air, preferably installed in one of the external walls (4) of any room or building, as well as in the preexisting dimatizing device (11), as shown in fig. . 4, configuration in which the external exhaust fan (3) is embedded in a chamber (12) provided with a filter (13).

[034] In an alternative embodiment, the device (1) is provided with an external exhaust fan (3) in which a plurality of holes (3') are provided, so that the device (1) can be installed on the ceiling (6) ) of the building, in which case the external air is exhausted to the interior of the enclosure through a duct (8) that projects from the compartment (7).

[035] In another embodiment, the device (1) may include a suction chamber (9) with greater exhaust capacity that operates through a plurality of fans (3) that promote the exhaustion of external air into the interior of the enclosure. , preferably installed in parallel. In this configuration, the device (1) can be installed on one of the external walls (4) or on the ceiling (6) of the building, thanks to the duct (10) that connects the suction chamber (9) to the external wall (4) or to the slab or ceiling (6).

[036] In any of the proposed modalities, the device (1) is equipped with a serial interface to communicate with external devices, via Bluetooth, internet or a substitute, such as smartphones, tablets or desktops, for example, in order to integrate if aea become interactive with them, in such a way that the user can change or monitor the settings of the device (1) when and if necessary, whether or not in the premises. [037] Thus, once the gas concentration is detected at levels equal to or lower than the determined value, the sensor (2) will indicate on display the value of this concentration (ppm). If the concentration is greater than 1000 ppm, the sensor (2) will activate the external exhaust fan (3) whose action will displace the external air, by exhaustion, into the environment, thus providing the dilution of suspended particles of dioxide, renewing the air in the indoor environment.

[038] While the foregoing improvements have been described in terms of their preferred embodiments, they are not intended to be limited, but considered to the extent set forth in the claims as proposed below.

[039] The literature reports that concentrations greater than one part per million (1000 ppm) have harmful potential. Without the ambient air being renewed, people occupying the closed environment can be at serious risks.

[040] On the other hand, in environments without the presence of people, plants or animals, the variation in C0 ₂ levels is very low. Some time is sufficient for the gas concentration levels to gradually drop to normal levels.

[041] Thus, figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate non-limiting examples of device installation (1) indoors, which includes a C0 ₂ sensor (2), and may include a duct (8), which projects from the compartment (7), or a suction chamber (9) configured to suck in external air by means of a plurality of exhaust fans (3), preferably installed in parallel.

[042] The example of figures 1 and 3 proposes that the device be installed on an external wall (4) of any building, consisting of a simple mechanism for passing the exhausted air from the outside to the interior of the enclosure, in order to dilute it in this any concentration of dioxide that is potentially harmful, or an exhaust chamber (9) operated by means of a plurality of fans (3) preferably installed in parallel.

[043] The example of figure 2 proposes that the device (1) be installed on the ceiling (6) of any building, preferably equipped with a conductor (8) for the exhaustion of external air to the internal environment, installed on the ceiling (6) of any room or building.

[044] The example in Figure 4 proposes the device (1) coupled to a dimatizing device (11) in common use, configuration in which the external exhaust fan (3) is embedded in a chamber (12), in turn equipped with a filter (13) to the exhausted air from outside.

[045] The device is designed to be used in an enclosed space, which may be an office, a bedroom or an auditorium, for example, and may include an unproven processor such as a microprocessor or other control circuitry. Such circuits may be analog or digital, including application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) for data processing, as is known to a person skilled in the art, including and primarily for communication with external devices, via Bluetooth, the internet or the like, such as such as smartphones, tablets or desktops, for example, integrating and interacting with them in such a way that the user can change or monitor device settings d).

[046] Sensor (2) may include non-volatile memory, such as electronically erasable reprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM) to store one or more routines, thresholds, and captured data.

Claims

1 - CARBON DIOXIDE SENSOR AND ENVIRONMENT RENOVATION FAN, comprising carbon dioxide sensor (C0 ₂ ) (2) and external exhaust fan (3), characterized in that the external environment air is exhausted by the action of, at at least one external exhaust fan (3) for indoors. 2 - CARBON DIOXIDE SENSOR AND ENVIRONMENT RENOVATION FAN, according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbon dioxide sensor (C0 ₂ ) (2) detects harmful concentrations of the gas and activates at least one fan (3) ) installed on an external wall (4), on the ceiling (6) or attached to air conditioners (11) in common use. 3 - CARBON DIOXIDE SENSOR AND ENVIRONMENT RENOVATION FAN, according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a chamber (12) in which at least one fan (3) is installed, which exhausts the air from the external environment to the internal environment of the enclosure through a filter (13). 4 - CARBON DIOXIDE SENSOR AND ENVIRONMENT RENOVATION FAN, according to the previous claims, characterized in that the sensor (2) is configured to drive the external exhaust fan (3) from concentrations between 2% and 3% of carbon dioxide (C0 ₂ ) in the environment. 5 - CARBON DIOXIDE SENSOR AND ENVIRONMENT RENOVATION FAN, which consists of a capture compartment installed on the roof of any buildings, characterized by alternatively comprising the external exhaust fan (3) equipped with a plurality of holes (3' ) boarded in the compartment (7) from which the duct (8) is projected for the exhaustion of external air to the internal environment. 6 - CARBON DIOXIDE SENSOR AND ENVIRONMENT RENOVATION FAN, which consists of an exhaust chamber, characterized in that it comprises, alternatively, an exhaust chamber (9) for external air and its duct (10), installed in an external wall (4 ) or from the ceiling (6) of any buildings through the duct (10) connecting the external air exhaust chamber (9) to the external wall (4) or to the slab or ceiling (6). 7 - CARBON DIOXIDE SENSOR AND ENVIRONMENT RENOVATION FAN, according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of exhaust fans (3), preferably installed in parallel in the upper portion of the suction chamber (9).