Apparatus for reducing air flow through an opening between adjacent rooms

Abstract

A system for maintaining thermal separation between first and second adjacent rooms or spaces. The system includes a vestibule with at least a first compartment, and other embodiments may include two or more compartments, such that the vestibule provides a passageway between the first and second rooms. At least one blower draws air from the first room through an air intake, and back into the first room through an exhaust. The system further includes an exhaust port from the first compartment in fluid communication with the exhaust, to exhaust air from the first compartment into the first room. During operation, a vacuum is formed within the first compartment that provides thermal separation between the first and second adjacent rooms.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for maintaining thermal separation between a first enclosure and a second enclosure using a vestibule, the method comprising:
 drawing air from the first enclosure through a vestibule intake using a blower;   exhausting the air through a vacuum outlet and back into the first enclosure through a vestibule exhaust;   drawing air from a first compartment of the vestibule through a first compartment exhaust, through the vacuum outlet, and into the first enclosure through the vestibule exhaust, thereby forming a vacuum within the vestibule first compartment using the blower;   drawing air from a second compartment of the vestibule, through a first partial barrier that separates the first compartment from the second compartment, and into the first compartment using the blower; and   drawing air from the second enclosure, through a second partial barrier that separates the second enclosure from the second compartment, and into the second compartment using the blower.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 drawing air from the first enclosure, through a third partial barrier that separates the first enclosure from the first compartment, and into the first compartment using the blower.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the blower is a variable speed blower and the method further comprises:
 communicating a first temperature from a first temperature sensor within the first enclosure to a blower controller electrically coupled with the blower;   communicating a second temperature from a second temperature sensor within the vacuum outlet to the blower controller; and   controlling a speed of the variable speed blower using the blower controller, wherein the speed of the blower is based on a differential between the first temperature and the second temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second partial barrier separates the second compartment from a third compartment, and the method further comprises:
 drawing air from the second enclosure, through a third partial barrier that separates the second enclosure from the third compartment using the blower; and   drawing air from the third compartment, through the second partial barrier that separates the second compartment from the third compartment, and into the second compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 supporting the blower on an upper surface of the hollow duct platform; and   drawing air from the first compartment, through perforations in a bottom surface of the hollow duct platform, and into the hollow duct platform that forms the vacuum outlet using the blower,   wherein the perforations in the hollow duct platform form the first compartment exhaust.   
     
     
         15 - 21 . (canceled)