AIR FILTERING UNIT

Abstract

An air filtering unit for filtering air from an indoor setting, the air filtering unit including a housing including a first indoor inlet air path and a second indoor inlet air path for receiving indoor air, and an outlet for discharge of filtered air, all indoor air entering the housing must flow through the first indoor inlet air path or the second indoor inlet air path in order to reach the outlet; an indoor damper arrangement including one or more damper elements controllable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, in the first configuration the first indoor inlet air path is open whilst the second indoor inlet air path is closed to airflow, and in the second configuration the second indoor inlet air path is open whilst the first indoor inlet air path is closed to airflow; a first filter device; a second filter device.

Claims

1. An air filtering unit for filtering air from an indoor setting, the air filtering unit comprising: a housing comprising: a first indoor inlet air path and a second indoor inlet air path for receiving indoor air, and an outlet for discharge of filtered air, wherein all indoor air entering the housing must flow through the first indoor inlet air path or the second indoor inlet air path in order to reach the outlet; an indoor damper arrangement comprising one or more damper elements controllable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the first indoor inlet air path is open whilst the second indoor inlet air path is closed to airflow, and wherein in the second configuration the second indoor inlet air path is open whilst the first indoor inlet air path is closed to airflow; a first filter device; a second filter device, wherein the first filter device has a higher filtering efficiency than the second filter device, wherein indoor air flowing through the first indoor inlet air path is directed through the first filter device and indoor air flowing through the second indoor inlet air path is directed through the second filter device; a controller for controlling the indoor damper arrangement; wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a building management system or a smartphone app and the controller controls the indoor air damper arrangement responsive to instructions received from the building management system or smartphone app; and/or the air filtering unit further comprises an indoor air quality sensor for obtaining a measurement relating to indoor air quality within the indoor setting, wherein the controller controls the indoor air damper arrangement responsive to the measurement such that when the measurement indicates that the indoor air quality is below a predetermined level, the controller is configured to place the indoor damper arrangement in the first configuration, and when the indoor air quality is above the predetermined level the controller places the indoor damper arrangement in the second configuration.

2. An air filtering unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising an inlet diffuser arrangement and/or an inlet grille arrangement, each disposed upstream of the first indoor inlet air path and the second indoor inlet air path.

3. An air filtering unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an outdoor inlet and an outdoor inlet air path.

4. An air filtering unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing comprises an outdoor damper arrangement comprising one or more outdoor damper elements controllable between at least an open configuration and a closed configuration.

5. An air filtering device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first filter device comprises a high efficiency particulate air filter or adsorbent filter.

6. An air filtering device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a main fan configured to urge airflow through the housing.

7. An air filtering device as claimed in claim 1, comprising an auxiliary fan configured to urge airflow across the first filter device and/or the second filter device, wherein the operation of the fan can be altered in response to the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement and/or the measurement relating to the indoor air quality.

8. An air filtering unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to receive instructions for changing the configuration of the outdoor damper arrangement from the building management system or smartphone app.

9. An air handling system comprising the air filtering unit as claimed in claim 1.

10. A building comprising: the air handling system of claim 9, and a building management system configured to communicate with the controller such that the controller controls the indoor air damper arrangement responsive to instructions received from the building management system.

11. A method of filtering air from an indoor setting using the air filtering unit of claim 1, the method comprising: using the indoor air quality sensor to obtain a measurement relating to the indoor air quality, directing indoor air across the first filtering device and/or the second filtering device by controlling the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement in response to the measurement, such that when the measurement indicates that the indoor air quality is below a predetermined level, the indoor damper arrangement is placed in the first configuration, and when the indoor air quality is above the predetermined level the indoor damper arrangement is placed in the second configuration, discharging filtered air into the indoor setting.

12. A method of filtering air from an indoor setting as claimed in claim 11, the method comprising, receiving, via the controller, instructions for controlling the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement from a building management system or a smartphone app, controlling the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement in response to the instructions.

13. A method of filtering air from an indoor setting using the air filtering unit of claim 1, the method comprising: receiving, via the controller, instructions for controlling the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement from a building management system or a smartphone app, directing indoor air across the first filtering device and/or the second filtering device by controlling the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement in response to the instructions, discharging filtered air into the indoor setting.

14. A method of filtering air from an indoor setting as claimed in claim 10, wherein the housing of the air filtering device comprises an outdoor inlet and an outdoor inlet air path, the method comprising, directing outdoor air into a flow path of filtered air to be discharged into the indoor setting.

15. A method of filtering air from an indoor setting as claimed in claim 10, wherein the air filtering unit further comprises an auxiliary fan configured to urge airflow across the first filter device and/or the second filter device, the method comprising, altering the operation of the auxiliary fan in response to the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement and/or the measurement relating to the indoor air quality.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air filtering unit installed in an indoor setting,

[0048] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first air filtering unit with an indoor damper arrangement in a first configuration,

[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first air filtering unit with the indoor damper arrangement in a second configuration,

[0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second air filtering unit comprising a fan with an indoor damper arrangement in a first configuration,

[0051] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a the second air filtering unit comprising a fan with an indoor damper arrangement in a second configuration,

[0052] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a third air filtering unit comprising a fan with an indoor damper arrangement in a first configuration,

[0053] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a third air filtering unit comprising a fan with an indoor damper arrangement in a second configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] FIG. 1 shows an air filtering unit 100 installed in a room 10 of a building. The air filtering unit 100 is installed in a false ceiling and in fluid communication with an air handling system 20 also installed in the false ceiling. The air filtering unit 100 is arranged upstream of the air handling unit 20 so that the filtered air discharged from the air filtering unit 100 enters the air handling system 20 before being discharged into the room 10. Air from the indoor setting, i.e. the room 10, enters the air filtering unit 100 as indicated by the dark grey arrow. Filtered air enters the room 10 as indicated by the light grey arrow. Activity in the room, such as activity by an occupant 30 of the room 10, or air entering the room from outside, may cause a drop in air quality, such as causing pollutants or contaminants 40 to build up in the air of the indoor setting.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows an air filtering unit 100 comprising a housing 110 which provides a container for further components of the air filtering unit 100. The housing can be open to air from the indoor setting via a first indoor air pathway 111 and/or via a second indoor air pathway 112 depending on the configuration of the indoor air damper arrangement 120. In FIG. 2 the indoor air damper arrangement 120 is configured in the first configuration so that the housing 110 is open to air from the indoor setting via the first indoor air pathway 111, and the second indoor air path 112 is closed. A diffuser 114 and grille 115 is disposed upstream of the first and second indoor air paths 111 and 112 so that large particles such as dust and other objects are prevented from entering the air filtering unit.

[0056] A first filter device 130 is disposed in the flow path of the first indoor air path 111 so that the indoor air entering the housing must pass through the first filter device 130 before being discharged from the air filtering unit 100 through the outlet 113. A second filter device 140 is disposed in the housing 110 in the second indoor air path 112, however no air travels through the second filter device 140 in the first configuration.

[0057] The housing 110 is open to outside air, that is, air originating from a space other than the indoor setting for example an alternative room or outdoor setting, through outdoor inlet 116. The outside inlet 116 is disposed downstream of the first and second filter devices 130 and 140 such that outside air enters the unit along an outside flow path 117 which directs the outside air to join the filtered indoor air. Both the filtered indoor air and the outside air are discharged into the indoor setting via the outlet 113.

[0058] An indoor air quality sensor 121 is provided exterior to the housing 110 so that it is positioned in an optimal location for measuring the indoor air quality. The indoor air quality sensor 121 is in communication with a controller 122 so that the controller can control the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement 120 based on the indoor air quality measurement. The controller 122 is also in communication with a building management system 150 so that the controller can control the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement 120 based on instructions or data received from the building management system 150. The controller may instead be in communication with a smart phone app so that the controller can control the configuration of the indoor damper arrangement 120 based on instructions or data received from the smart phone app.

[0059] In air filtering unit 200 the discharge outlet 113 is arranged to discharge air in a direction perpendicular to that of the first and second indoor air paths 111 and

[0060] FIG. 3 shows the air filtering unit 100 illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the indoor air damper arrangement 120 is configured in the second configuration so that the housing 110 is open to air from the indoor setting via the second indoor air pathway 112, and the first indoor air path 111 is closed. As shown by the grey arrow, the indoor air now enters the housing via the second indoor air path 112 and the air must now pass through the second filter device 140 before being discharged from the air filtering unit 100 through the outlet 113. No air travels through the first indoor air path 111 or the first filter device 130 in the second configuration.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows an air filtering unit 200 in which like features found in the air filtering device of FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted with the corresponding reference figures. The description of those features with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 thereby applies. In the air filtering unit of FIG. 4 a fan 260 is provided within the housing 110. The fan 260 is arranged so as to urge air through the air filtering unit 200 and in particular to urge air across the first filter device 130. The fan 260 may therefore be activated when the indoor damper arrangement 120 is configured in the first configuration as illustrated in FIG. 4. This is so that the fan 260 assists in providing sufficient air flow through the air filtering unit 200, this is particularly beneficial when the higher filtering efficiency of the first filter device 130 produces a corresponding high pressure drop across the filter device.

[0062] In the air filtering unit 200 of FIG. 4 the fan 260 is disposed in a cavity in the housing 110 downstream of the first indoor air path 111 and upstream of the first filter device 130 such that air is urged through the first indoor air path due to the low pressure created downstream of the fan 260, and the air is then blown across the first filter device by the positive pressure produced upstream of the fan 260.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows the air filtering unit 200 illustrated in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5 the indoor damper arrangement 120 is in the second configuration such that the first air indoor air path 111 is closed and the second indoor air path 112 is open. The fan 260 may therefore be switched off or run at a reduced power compared to its operation with the indoor damper arrangement in the first configuration. Energy can therefore be conserved without a corresponding decrease in the volume of filtered air being discharged into the indoor setting since in this configuration the air is filtered by the second filter device 140 which having a lower filtering efficiency compared to the first filter device 130 experiences a lower pressure drop across the filter device.

[0064] FIG. 6 shows an air filtering unit 300 in which like features found in the air filtering device of FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted with the corresponding reference figures. The description of those features with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 thereby applies. In the air filtering unit of FIG. 6 a fan 360 is provided within the housing 310. The fan 360 is arranged so as to urge air through the air filtering unit 300 and in particular to urge air across the first filter device 130. The fan 360 may therefore be activated when the indoor damper arrangement 120 is configured in the first configuration as illustrated in FIG. 6. This is so that the fan 360 assists in providing sufficient air flow through the air filtering unit 300, this is particularly beneficial when the higher filtering efficiency of the first filter device 130 compared to the second filter device 140 produces a correspondingly high pressure drop across the first filter device 130.

[0065] In the air filtering unit 300 of FIG. 6, the fan 360 is disposed in a cavity in the housing 310 downstream of both the first indoor air path 111 and the second indoor air path 112. The fan 360 is disposed upstream of the discharge outlet 113. In this configuration the fan 360 urges indoor air across the first filter device 130 as a result of the lower pressure created downstream of the fan 360. The fan 360 further and upstream of the first filter device 130 such that air is urged through the first indoor air path due to the low pressure created downstream of the fan 360, and the air is then blown across the first filter device by the positive pressure produced upstream of the fan 360.

[0066] The housing 310 of the air filtering unit 300 comprises an outside air inlet 316 which is open to outside air, that is, air originating from a space other than the indoor setting for example an alternative room or outdoor setting. The outside inlet 316 is disposed downstream of the first and second filter devices 130 and 140 and downstream of the fan 360. Both the filtered indoor air and the outside air are discharged into the indoor setting via the outlet 313 as illustrated by the light grey arrow. In air filtering unit 300 the discharge outlet 313 is arranged to discharge air in a direction opposite to that of the first and second indoor air paths 111 and 112.

[0067] FIG. 6 illustrates the air filtering unit 300 with the indoor damper arrangement 120 in the first configuration such that indoor air enters the housing 310 via the first indoor air part 111, as shown by the dark grey arrow. The indoor air is therefore filtered through the first filter device 130 only.

[0068] FIG. 7 shows the air filtering unit 300 illustrated in FIG. 6. In FIG. 7 the indoor damper arrangement 120 is in the second configuration such that the first air indoor air path 111 is closed and the second indoor air path 112 is open. The indoor air therefore enters the housing 310 via the second indoor air path 112 and passes over the second filter device 140 only.