Method and apparatus for maintaining air characteristics in an air ventilated facility using fan filter units

Abstract

A system for maintaining at least one air characteristic in an air ventilated facility using at least one fan filter unit, the system comprising at least one sensor for sensing the at least one air characteristic, the at least one sensor being exposed to the air ventilated facility; the at least one sensor being operatively connected to a control system that is operatively connected to the at least one fan filter unit; the control system receiving output readings from the at least one sensor and determining if the output reading is within a range and, in response to a negative determination, providing a command to the at least one fan filter unit to adjust the at least one fan filter unit operating speed. A corresponding method and apparatus are also disclosed.

1 . A system for maintaining at least one air characteristic in an air ventilated facility using at least one fan filter unit, the system comprising:
 (a) at least one sensor for sensing the at least one air characteristic, the at least one sensor being exposed to the air ventilated facility;   (b) the at least one sensor being operatively connected to a control system that is operatively connected to the at least one fan filter unit;   (c) the control system receiving output readings from the at least one sensor and determining if the output reading is within a range and, in response to a negative determination, providing a command to the at least one fan filter unit to adjust the at least one fan filter unit operating speed.   
   
   
       2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor is for sensing at least one selected from the group consisting of: air flow rate, air pressure, air temperature, air particle count, and air humidity. 
   
   
       3 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is at least one location selected from the group consisting of: in a ceiling panel of the air ventilated facility, in the at least one fan filter unit, underneath the at least one fan filter unit, on top of the at least one fan filter unit, attached to an exterior casing of the at least one fan filter unit, above the ceiling panel, on a wall, on a work bench, and on a work table. 
   
   
       4 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is operatively connected to the control system by one selected from the group consisting of: wirelessly, by a control cable in common with the at least one fan filter unit, and by a control cable independent of the at least one fan filter unit. 
   
   
       5 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an audible alarm operatively connected to the control system. 
   
   
       6 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the control system comprises a plurality of sub-controllers. 
   
   
       7 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is a plurality of sensors that operate independently of each other. 
   
   
       8 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is a plurality of fan filter units each being independently commanded by the control system. 
   
   
       9 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the there is a plurality of fan filter units arranged in a plurality of groups. 
   
   
       10 . A system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein there are a plurality of sensors, each sensor being operatively associated with at least one of: a single fan filter unit, and one group of the plurality of groups. 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus for maintaining at least one air characteristic in an air ventilated facility using at least one fan filter unit, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) at least one sensor for sensing the at least one air characteristic, the at least one sensor being exposable to the air ventilated facility;   (b) the at least one sensor being for operative connection to a control system that is operatively connectable to the at least one fan filter unit;   (c) the control system being for receiving output readings from the at least one sensor and determining if the output reading is within a range and, in response to a negative determination, providing a command to the at least one fan filter unit to adjust the at least one fan filter unit operating speed.   
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein at least one sensor is for sensing at least one selected from the group consisting of: air flow rate, air pressure, air temperature, air particle count, and air humidity. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is locatable in at least one location selected from the group consisting of: in a ceiling panel of the air ventilated facility, in the at least one fan filter unit, underneath the at least one fan filter unit, on top of the at least one fan filter unit, attached to an exterior casing of the at least one fan filter unit, above the ceiling panel, on a wall, on a work bench, on a work table. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is able to be operatively connected to the control system by one selected from the group consisting of: wirelessly, by a control cable in common with the at least one fan filter unit, and by a control cable independent of the at least one fan filter unit. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising an audible alarm in the air ventilated facility able to be operatively connected to the control system. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the control system comprises a plurality of sub-controllers. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein there is a plurality of sensors that able to operate independently of each other. 
   
   
       18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein there is a plurality of fan filter units each being able to be independently commanded by the control system. 
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein there is a plurality of fan filter units arranged in a plurality of groups. 
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein there is a plurality of sensors, each sensor being operatively associatable with at least one of: a single fan filter unit, and one group of the plurality of groups. 
   
   
       21 . A method for maintaining at least one air characteristic in an air ventilated facility using at least one fan filter unit, the method comprising:
 (a) using at least one sensor to sense the at least one air characteristic, the at least one sensor being exposed to the air ventilated facility;   (b) the at least one sensor being operatively connected to a control system that is operatively connected to the at least one fan filter unit;   (c) obtaining output readings of an air characteristic from the at least one sensor at the control system;   (d) determining if the output reading is within a range; and   (e) in response to a negative determination, providing a command to the at least one fan filter unit to adjust the at least one fan filter unit operating speed.   
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein at least one sensor senses at least one air characteristic selected from the group consisting of: air flow rate, air pressure, air temperature, air particle count, and air humidity. 
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the at least one sensor is located in at least one location selected from the group consisting of: in a ceiling panel of the air ventilated facility, in the at least one fan filter unit, underneath the at least one from filter unit, on top of the at least one fan filter unit, attached to an exterior casing of the at least one fan filter unit, above the ceiling panel, on a wall, on a work bench, and on a work table. 
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the at least one sensor is operatively connected to the control system by one selected from the group consisting of: wirelessly, by a control cable in common with the at least one fan filter unit, and by a control cable independent of the at least one fan filter unit. 
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 21  further comprising providing an audible alarm. 
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the control system comprises a plurality of sub-controllers. 
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein there is a plurality of fan filter units each being independently commanded by the control system. 
   
   
       28 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein there is a plurality of fan filter units arranged in a plurality of groups. 
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein there is a plurality of sensors that operate independently of each other. 
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein there are a plurality of sensors, each sensor being operatively associated with at least one of: a single fan filter unit, and one group of the plurality of groups. 
   
   
       31 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the obtaining of the output readings is by one or more selected from the group consisting of: polling, reading and receiving. 
   
   
       32 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the adjustment in (e) is to increase the at least fan filter unit operating speed if the output reading is below the range, and to decrease the at least one fan filter unit operating speed if the output is above the range. 
   
   
       33 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the adjustment in (e) is to decrease the at least one fan filter unit operating speed if the output is below the range, and to increase the at least one fan filter unit operating speed if the output is above the range. 
   
   
       34 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the adjustment is by a preset factor. 
   
   
       35 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein a direction of the adjustment is determined by the air characteristic. 
   
   
       36 . A method as claimed in  claim 21  further comprising determining if the sensing is to be for all of the at least one fan filter units in the air ventilated facility, or is a local sensing for those of the at least one fan filter units servicing a local area or location. 
   
   
       37 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein in response to a positive determination, there is included waiting a predetermined time before repeating the method. 
   
   
       38 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein after the adjustment a preset period passes before repeating the method.