As described herein, a method for measuring air quality comprises operating a real-time air quality sensor to continually measure a parameter of environmental air quality; automatically determining if the parameter indicates that a select environmental condition has been reached and providing an output signal responsive thereto; communicating the output signal to an air-quality sampling system; automatically operating the air-quality sampling system responsive to the output signal to collect an air sample for a pre-determined time; and providing laboratory analysis of the collected air sample.

The present invention provides a ventilation system for improving air quality of an indoor space. The system includes sensors for measuring PM2.5 particle level P, CO.sub.2 level C, and TVOC level T in the indoor space. A control circuit is configured to receive P, C and T values and generate an output signal Vout according to a specific algorithm, which in turn controls speed-variable EC motors that drive ventilating fans. The invention exhibits numerous technical merits such as lower energy consumption, programmable operation, high efficiency, and lower noise, among others.

The present invention provides a ventilation system for improving air quality of an indoor space. The system includes sensors for measuring PM2.5 particle level P, CO.sub.2 level C, and TVOC level T in the indoor space. A control circuit is configured to receive P, C and T values and generate an output signal Vout according to a specific algorithm, which in turn controls speed-variable EC motors that drive ventilating fans. The invention exhibits numerous technical merits such as lower energy consumption, programmable operation, high efficiency, and lower noise, among others.

An apparatus and method controls an environmental control system to maintain a differential pressure between a room and one or more adjacent areas by (1) determining a differential pressure error based on the differential pressure and a differential pressure set point using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller; (2) increasing an air change per hour set point whenever one or more first parameters are satisfied; (3) decreasing the air change per hour set point whenever one or more second parameters are satisfied; and (4) sending one or more control signals to the environmental control system that maintain the differential pressure between the room and the one or more adjacent areas by adjusting: (a) the leading airflow to be approximately equal to the air flow change set point multiplied by a volume of the room divided by 60, and (b) the tracking airflow to maintain a volume differential set point.

An apparatus and method controls an environmental control system to maintain a differential pressure between a room and one or more adjacent areas by (1) determining a differential pressure error based on the differential pressure and a differential pressure set point using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller; (2) increasing an air change per hour set point whenever one or more first parameters are satisfied; (3) decreasing the air change per hour set point whenever one or more second parameters are satisfied; and (4) sending one or more control signals to the environmental control system that maintain the differential pressure between the room and the one or more adjacent areas by adjusting: (a) the leading airflow to be approximately equal to the air flow change set point multiplied by a volume of the room divided by 60, and (b) the tracking airflow to maintain a volume differential set point.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for collecting distributed information regarding air quality and air management system performance, and providing recommendations for affecting the air quality, the air management system, or individuals subject to or in control of either the air quality or the air management system.

One variation of a method includes, during a test period: triggering release of a tracer test load into air in an environment, according to a set of release parameters, by a dispenser arranged within the environment, the first tracer test load comprising a first concentration of tracers of a first type in solution; and triggering an air sampler, located in the environment, to record a timeseries of aerosol data representing amounts of aerosol particles detected at the air sampler during the test period. The method further includes: deriving a tracer signal, representing changes in amounts of tracers in air detected at the air sampler during the test period, based on the timeseries of aerosol data and the set of release parameters; based on characteristics of the tracer signal, characterizing a set of aerosol flow metrics representing behavior of aerosols in the environment during the test period.

Described is an apparatus (1) for measuring odours comprising: a measuring chamber (2); an intake duct (4) having two ends, an inlet end (4a) in communication with the outside environment and an outlet end (4b) in connection with the measuring chamber; at least one sensor (3), positioned inside the measuring chamber (2) and designed for measuring the olfactory properties of a gas; a control unit (6) designed for processing signals coming from the at least one sensor (3) and providing a parameter representing the odours measured in the gas to be analysed; a suction device (5), positioned inside the intake duct (4) and designed to circulate the gas inside the apparatus (1); a cleaning device designed for restoring the characteristics of the at least one sensor (3) following a measurement, wherein the cleaning device is designed for generating ozone inside the apparatus (1).

Described is an apparatus (1) for measuring odours comprising: a measuring chamber (2); an intake duct (4) having two ends, an inlet end (4a) in communication with the outside environment and an outlet end (4b) in connection with the measuring chamber; at least one sensor (3), positioned inside the measuring chamber (2) and designed for measuring the olfactory properties of a gas; a control unit (6) designed for processing signals coming from the at least one sensor (3) and providing a parameter representing the odours measured in the gas to be analysed; a suction device (5), positioned inside the intake duct (4) and designed to circulate the gas inside the apparatus (1); a cleaning device designed for restoring the characteristics of the at least one sensor (3) following a measurement, wherein the cleaning device is designed for generating ozone inside the apparatus (1).

A method of detecting one or more blocked sampling holes in a pipe of an aspirated smoke detector system. The method includes ascertaining the base flow of fluid through a particle detector using a flow sensor; monitoring subsequent flow through the particle detector; comparing the subsequent flow with the base flow; and indicating a fault if the difference between the base flow and the subsequent flow exceeds a predetermined threshold.