Smart control for airborne particle collection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9925544-B2
Application number	US-201514818628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2015
Priority date	Aug 5, 2015
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

An airborne particle collection system includes an airflow directing unit, register units, a fan unit, and a control system. The airflow directing unit includes a plurality of separately controlled air distribution segments. Each register unit includes a motorized damper and filter. The fan unit is connected to the airflow directing unit and to the register units through piping. The fan unit injects air into the airflow directing unit, and generates a vacuum force that causes exhaust air with airborne particles to be pulled into the register units and filtered by the filters within the register units. The control system selectively controls the air distribution segments of the airflow directing unit and the motorized dampers of the register units to generate alterable airflow patterns between the airflow directing unit and the register units in different zones within a room in which the airflow directing unit and the register units are disposed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An airborne particle collection system, comprising:
an airflow directing unit comprising a primary air tube, and a plurality of separately controlled air distribution segments connected to the primary air tube, wherein each air distribution segment comprises an airflow control valve connected to the primary air tube, an air distribution channel connected to an output of the airflow control valve, and a series of air exit holes aligned to the air distribution channel;
a plurality of register units, wherein each register unit comprises a motorized damper and a filter;
wherein the airflow directing unit is disposed apart from the registers units;
a fan unit connected to the airflow directing unit and to the plurality of register units through piping, wherein the fan unit is configured to inject air into the airflow directing unit, and to generate a vacuum force that causes exhaust air with airborne particles to be pulled into the register units and filtered by the filters within the register units;
a control system that is configured to sequentially activate the airflow control valves of the air distribution segments and the motorized dampers of the register units in a programmed activation sequence to generate alterable airflow patterns between the airflow directing unit and the register units in a plurality of different zones within a room;
wherein the plurality of different zones within the room comprise n sequentially adjacent zones; and
wherein the sequential activation of the airflow control valves of the air distribution segments and the motorized dampers of the register units creates air flow within the plurality of different zones in a repeated sequence which comprises a first sequence from a first zone to an n th zone followed by a second sequence from the n th zone to the first zone.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filters of the register units comprise electrostatic filters.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow directing unit is disposed adjacent to a first wall in the room and wherein the register units are disposed adjacent to a second wall in the room, opposite the first wall.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the airflow directing unit comprises a shape of a decorative floor or ceiling molding.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the decorative floor or ceiling molding is formed of a composite material and wherein the primary air tube, the airflow control valves, and the air distribution channels are encapsulated within the composite material.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the air exit holes of the airflow directing unit comprise perforations that are formed in a front surface of the composite material.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an air ionizer unit to electrically charge air molecules of the air that is injected into the airflow directing unit.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the filters of the register units are electrically charged with a charge that is opposite to the charge of the electrically charged air molecules.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air distribution channels comprise tapered channels.

10. An airborne particle collection system, comprising:
an airflow directing unit comprising a plurality of separately controlled air distribution segments;
a plurality of register units, wherein each register unit comprises a motorized damper and a filter;
wherein the airflow directing unit is disposed apart from the registers units;
a fan unit connected to the airflow directing unit and to the plurality of register units through piping, wherein the fan unit is configured to inject air into the airflow directing unit, and to generate a vacuum force that causes exhaust air with airborne particles to be pulled into the register units and filtered by the filters within the register units;
a control system that is configured to sequentially control the air distribution segments of the airflow directing unit and the motorized dampers of the register units in a programmed activation sequence to generate alterable airflow patterns between the airflow directing unit and the register units in a plurality of different zones within a room;
wherein the plurality of different zones within the room comprise n sequentially adjacent zones; and
wherein the sequential activation of the air distribution segments and the motorized dampers of the register units creates air flow within the plurality of different zones in a repeated sequence which comprises a first sequence from a first zone to an n th zone followed by a second sequence from the n th zone to the first zone.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the filters of the register units comprise electrostatic filters.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the airflow directing unit is disposed adjacent to a first wall in the room and wherein the register units are disposed adjacent to a second wall in the room, opposite the first wall.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the airflow directing unit comprises a shape of a decorative floor or ceiling molding.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the decorative floor or ceiling molding is formed of a composite material and wherein components of the airflow directing unit are encapsulated within the composite material.

15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising an air ionizer unit to electrically charge air molecules of the air that is injected into the airflow directing unit.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the filters of the register units are electrically charged with a charge that is opposite to the charge of the electrically charged air molecules.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Barkie Eric J
• Fletcher Benjamin L
• Wyskida Andrew P

Classifications

• F24F3/166

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F24F2003/1614

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• B03C3/38

  Particle charging or ionising stations, e.g. using electric discharge, radioactive radiation or flames · CPC title

• B03C2201/28

  Parts being designed to be removed for cleaning purposes · CPC title

• B03C3/47

  flat, e.g. plates, discs, gratings · CPC title