System And A Method For Optimized Regulation Of An Arrangement Of A Plurality of Fans

Abstract

A method and an air treatment system with a fan arrangement having k.sub.max fans. The respective speed n.sub.i of the fans is regulatable. A control and regulation system regulates the speeds n.sub.i, where iϵ[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . , k] of the k of k.sub.max fans. A certain operating point of the air treatment system is set with a specific overall power P.sub.total of the air treatment system as a function of the respective set speeds n.sub.i. The control and regulation system has a mechanism to determine the speed combination(s) of the speeds n.sub.i of the k fans where the total power P.sub.total of the air treatment system is reduced or is minimal compared to other speed combinations of the speeds n.sub.i.

Claims

1. An air treatment system with a fan arrangement including k.sub.max fans, the respective speed n.sub.i of the fans is regulatable, and a control and regulation system is designed to regulate the speeds n.sub.i, where iϵ[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . , k] of k of the k.sub.max fans, setting a certain operating point of the air treatment system with a specific overall power P.sub.total of the air treatment system as a function of the respective set speeds n.sub.i, the control and regulation system has a mechanism for determining the speed combination(s) of the speeds n.sub.i of the k of k.sub.max fans where the total power P.sub.total of the air treatment system is reduced or minimal compared to other speed combinations of the speeds n.sub.i.

2. The air treatment system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the k.sub.max fans are connected in parallel.

3. The air treatment system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the k.sub.max fans are fans of different power, type, and/or size that are preferably arranged in a certain arrangement relative to one another in rows and/or columns and/or a matrix or in another arrangement relative to one another.

4. The air treatment system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mechanism for regulating the performance-optimized speeds n.sub.i of the k.sub.max fans comprises a characteristic map that has the operating points of the air treatment system and further comprises a selection mechanism that shows the speeds n.sub.i at the operating points selected in the map in order to implement the operation at the relevant operating point

5. The air treatment system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the operating point of the air treatment system is preferably defined by the pressure increase Δp and the total volume flow Q.sub.total to be achieved by the k fans.

6. The air treatment system as set forth in claim 4, wherein an allocation matrix is also stored in the system as a mechanism that links the operating points in the characteristic map with the optimal combinations of fan types identified for this purpose and their respective optimal speeds n.sub.i, preferably using an objective, unambiguous mapping function.

7. The air treatment system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the speeds identified for an operating point are determined from the solution of differential equations for either the powers P.sub.i or the volume flow Q.sub.i and partial derivatives, these have the speeds n.sub.i as variable parameters.

8. The air treatment system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the speeds n.sub.i identified for an operating point are determined from the solution of the differential equations for either the powers P.sub.i and/or the volume flow Q.sub.i and partial derivatives, these have the speeds n.sub.i as variable parameters.

9. A method for setting an operating point of an air treatment system, preferably as in claim 1, comprising the following steps: a. Determining the number k of fans from among the k.sub.max fans; b. Solving the following differential equations in order to determine the speeds n.sub.i; $\frac{\partial P_1}{\partial n_1}=\lambda .Math.\frac{\partial Q_1}{\partial n_1}$ $\mathrm{.Math.}$ $\frac{\partial P_k}{\partial n_k}=\lambda .Math.\frac{\partial Q_k}{\partial n_k}$ considering a required minimum overall level of performance, $Q_{\mathrm{total}}=\underset{i=1}{\overset{k}{.Math.}}{Q}_i\left(n_i\right)$ where Q.sub.i denotes the volume flow contribution of the fan i of the k fans to the total volume flow Q.sub.total.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the steps of: a. Selecting an operating point; b. Selecting the speeds n.sub.i of the fans from a characteristic map; c. Regulating the speeds n.sub.i of the k fans.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein, alternatively, if the optimum speeds are known, the number and/or combination of the fans from among the k fans is determined in order to operate at an optimized operating point.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0036] Other advantageous developments of the disclosure are in the subclaims and/or depicted in greater detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the disclosure with reference to the figures. In the drawing:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a fan arrangement including k.sub.max=4, thus 4 fans.

[0038] FIG. 2 is an exemplary characteristic map relating to the size of the fan arrangement with k=4 identical fans, for example.

[0039] FIGS. 3a, 3b is a flow chart for operating a fan arrangement, broken down into FIGS. 3a and 3b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The disclosure will be described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows a fan arrangement connected in parallel with k.sub.max=4 fans V. This represents a fan array FA made up of 2 different fan types V1, V2 of different power and size.

[0041] It is also advantageous if, as an alternative, assuming the optimum speeds are known, the number and/or combination of the fans from among the k fans is determined in order to operate at an optimized operating point. For example, according to FIG. 1, if the optimum speeds are known in both cases, the two large fans V1 can be switched on while the smaller fans V2 remain switched off. Alternatively, the method may identify a solution where it is more advantageous to activate the two small fans V2 together with one of the fans V1 while the second larger fan V1 remains switched off. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary characteristic map relating to the size of the fan arrangement. In the exemplary characteristic map, the optimum number of active fans is shown for each operating point. Thus, upon completion of the program flow (according to FIG. 3), the optimal fan configuration with the corresponding optimal speeds of these fans is available at each operating point.

[0042] FIGS. 3a and 3b must be viewed in tandem and show a flow chart explaining the control and regulation concept of the disclosure.

[0043] The disclosure is not limited in its execution to the abovementioned preferred exemplary embodiments. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable that make use of the illustrated solution even in the form of fundamentally different embodiments.

[0044] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.