Positive pressure ventilation in enclosed housings

Abstract

The invention provides a positively pressurized housing ventilated by establishing and/or maintaining a pressure differential between at least two chambers in the housing. The invention also provides a method for ventilating a substantially closed housing that involves establishing and/or maintaining a pressure differential between at least two chambers in the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for ventilating a substantially closed housing comprising at least one overpressure chamber and at least one living chamber in communication through one or more interconnecting air passages, said method comprising maintaining a pressure differential between the overpressure chamber and the living chamber, wherein the pressure in the overpressure chamber is higher than the pressure in the living chamber and the pressure in the living chamber is higher than the pressure at the exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the overpressure chamber is maintained using one or more fans that blow air into the overpressure chamber, and wherein the fans are regulated using a controller in response to the pressure in the overpressure chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the living chamber is maintained by regulating airflow from the overpressure chamber into the living chamber through the one or more interconnecting air passages, and by adjusting airflow out of the living chamber through one or more outlets in an external wall separating the living chamber and the exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein airflow through the one or more interconnecting air passages is regulated through inlet dampers in the interconnecting air passages, and wherein the inlet dampers in the interconnecting air passages are regulated using a controller in response to temperature in the living chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein airflow through the one or more outlets is regulated through use of outlet dampers, and wherein the outlet dampers are regulated using a controller in response to pressure in the living chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure differential between the overpressure chamber and the living chamber is between about 0.05 to about 0.125 inch of water column. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure differential between the overpressure chamber and the living chamber is about 0.1 inch of water column. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the overpressure chamber is maintained at about 0.2 inch of water column. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the living chamber is maintained at about 0.1 inch of water column. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the air blown into the overpressure chamber is filtered air. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the filtered air is substantially free of a disease-causing agent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the air blown into the overpressure chamber is cooler than the air concurrently existing in the living space. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the air blown into the overpressure chamber is warmer than the air concurrently existing in the exterior of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially closed housing further comprises a slanted roof and gable defining an attic space, and wherein at least one overpressure chamber comprises attic space. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more fans that blow air into the overpressure chamber are disposed at one or more inlets in the gable. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one interconnecting air passage terminates in the ceiling of a living chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A substantially closed housing comprising:
 (a) an overpressure chamber having a wall or ceiling that comprises at least one air inlet and at least one electrical fan at each inlet in electrical communication with a controller for pressurizing the chamber to at least about 0.1 inch of water column, the overpressure chamber further comprising at least one air outlet in a wall, floor or ceiling for the egress of air from the overpressure chamber;   (b) a living chamber having a wall, floor or ceiling that comprises at least one air inlet in communication with at least one air outlet of the overpressure chamber, the outlet of the overpressure chamber and inlet of the living chamber forming respective ends of an air passage interconnecting the overpressure chamber and living chamber, the living chamber further comprising at least one air outlet for the egress of air to the exterior of the housing;   (c) a first closure means at the overpressure chamber outlet, living chamber inlet, interconnecting air passage or a combination thereof in electrical communication with the controller for affecting air flow through the interconnecting air passage;   (d) a second closure means at the living chamber outlet in electrical communication with the controller for affecting air flow from the living chamber to the exterior of the housing;   (e) optionally, a first air filter device for filtering air prior entry into the overpressure chamber, and optionally, a second air filter device for filtering air prior to egress from the living chamber to the exterior of the building;   (f) optionally, an air heating or cooling device for adjusting the temperature of the air prior to entry into the overpressure chamber; and   (g) an electrical system comprising the controller for regulating the function of the electrical fan, first or second closure means, optional air heating or cooling device, or any combination thereof, the electrical system further comprising:
 i. a pressure sensor in the overpressure chamber in electrical communication with the controller thereby enabling the controller to affect the function of the electrical fan in response to pressure in the overpressure chamber, 
 ii. a pressure sensor in the living chamber in electrical communication with the controller thereby enabling the controller to regulate function of the first or second closure means in response to pressure in the living chamber, 
 iii. a temperature sensor in the living chamber in electrical communication with the controller thereby enabling the controller to regulate the volume of airflow into the living chamber in response to the temperature in the living chamber, 
 iv. and optionally, a temperature sensor in the living chamber in electrical communication with the controller thereby enabling the controller to regulate the function of the heating or cooling device in response to temperature in the living chamber. 
   
     
     
         18 . The substantially closed housing of  claim 17 , wherein the electrical controller receives user input through the internet. 
     
     
         19 . The substantially closed housing of  claim 17 , which comprises a slanted roof and gable defining an attic space, wherein at least one overpressure chamber comprises attic space. 
     
     
         20 . The substantially closed housing of  claim 19 , wherein at least one air inlet and fan are disposed in the gable. 
     
     
         21 . The substantially closed housing of  claim 20 , further comprising one or more air filters that operate to supply filtered air to the air inlet and fan. 
     
     
         22 . The substantially closed housing of  claim 21 , further comprising an evaporative cooling system that operates to supply cooled air to the filters. 
     
     
         23 . The substantially closed housing of  claim 20 , further comprising an evaporative cooling system that operates to supply cooled air to the air inlet and fan. 
     
     
         24 . The substantially closed housing of  claim 23 , further comprising one or more air filters that operate to supply filtered air to the evaporative cooling system. 
     
     
         25 . The substantially closed housing of  claim 19 , wherein at least one overpressure chamber outlet is disposed in the floor of an overpressure chamber and at least one living chamber inlet is disposed in the ceiling of a living chamber, the overpressure outlet and living chamber inlet forming respective ends of an air passage interconnecting the overpressure chamber and living chamber.