Computer-aided design system for airborne contaminant flows

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer-aided design system that incorporates an airborne contaminant-flow calculator. In designing a new architectural structure, or modifying an existing one, the calculator informs the architect of the airflow ramifications of the design as the design is created or modified. The calculator uses a closed-form solution for calculating the airflow in order to present its results in a timely fashion.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for modifying a structure, the method comprising:
 accepting input to a design for the structure;   first calculating an airborne contaminant flow for the design, the first calculating based, at least in part, on the design;   accepting a modification to the design;   second calculating an airborne contaminant flow for the design, the second calculating based, at least in part, on the modification to the design;   comparing results of the first and second calculatings; and   based, at least in part, on the comparing, modifying the structure in accordance with the modification;   wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of: adding, removing, moving, resizing, and modifying an architectural element; and   wherein the first and second calculatings each comprises applying a closed-form solution for the contaminant flow.   
     
     
         2 . The method for modifying a structure of  claim 1  wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of: a building, a ship, a space station, a spacecraft, and an airplane. 
     
     
         3 . The method for modifying a structure of  claim 1  wherein the architectural element is selected from the group consisting of: a window, a door, a floor, a ceiling, a wall, a room, a vestibule, a wall covering, a floor covering, a ceiling covering, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system. 
     
     
         4 . The method for modifying a structure of  claim 3 :
 wherein the architectural element is an HVAC system; and   wherein the second calculating is based, at least in part, on performance data of the HVAC system.   
     
     
         5 . An architectural computer-aided design (“CAD”) system comprising:
 a user-interface module configured for displaying a design and for accepting a modification to the design; 
 an internal control module configured for running the user-interface module, for making a modification to the design, and for invoking an airborne contaminant-flow calculator module upon detecting a certain modification made to the design; and 
 the airborne contaminant-flow calculator module; 
 wherein the certain modification is selected from the group consisting of: adding, removing, moving, resizing, and modifying an architectural element; and 
 wherein the airborne contaminant-flow calculator module is configured to apply a closed-form solution in calculating a protection factor. 
 
     
     
         6 . The architectural CAD system of  claim 5  configured for designing a structure selected from the group consisting of: a building, a ship, a space station, a spacecraft, and an airplane. 
     
     
         7 . The architectural CAD system of  claim 5  wherein the user-interface module is configured to receive a design of an existing structure. 
     
     
         8 . The architectural CAD system of  claim 5  wherein the user-interface module comprises:
 an element configured to invoke the airborne contaminant-flow calculator module. 
 
     
     
         9 . The architectural CAD system of  claim 5  wherein the user interface module comprises:
 an element configured to display a user alert when the airborne contaminant-flow calculator module calculates a significant change in a contaminant flow. 
 
     
     
         10 . The architectural CAD system of  claim 5  wherein the architectural element is selected from the group consisting of: a window, a door, a floor, a ceiling, a wall, a room, a vestibule, a wall covering, a floor covering, a ceiling covering, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system. 
     
     
         11 . The architectural CAD system of  claim 10 :
 wherein the architectural element is an HVAC system; and   wherein the airborne contaminant-flow calculator module is configured to calculate a protection factor based, at least in part, on performance data of the HVAC system.   
     
     
         12 . The architectural CAD system of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a suggestion-generation module configured to provide a suggestion for a modification to the design, the suggestion based, at least in part, on an output from the airborne contaminant-flow calculator module. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method for designing a structure, the method comprising:
 accepting input to a design for the structure;   calculating an airborne contaminant flow for the design, the calculating based, at least in part, on the design; and   storing the design in conjunction with the calculated airborne contaminant flow;   wherein calculating an airborne contaminant flow for the design comprises applying a closed-form solution for the contaminant flow.   
     
     
         14 . The method for designing a structure of  claim 13  wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of: a building, a ship, a space station, a spacecraft, and an airplane. 
     
     
         15 . The method for designing a structure of  claim 13  wherein accepting input comprises:
 reading a stored design of an existing structure. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method for designing a structure of  claim 13  further comprising:
 accepting a modification to the design; 
 wherein calculating an airborne contaminant flow is done upon detecting a certain modification made to the design; and 
 wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of: adding, removing, moving, resizing, and modifying an architectural element. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method for designing a structure of  claim 16  wherein the architectural element is selected from the group consisting of: a window, a door, a floor, a ceiling, a wall, a room, a vestibule, a wall covering, a floor covering, a ceiling covering, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) system. 
     
     
         18 . The method for designing a structure of  claim 17 :
 wherein the architectural element is an HVAC system; and   wherein calculating an airborne contaminant flow is based, at least in part, on performance data of the HVAC system.   
     
     
         19 . The method for designing a structure of  claim 13  further comprising:
 suggesting a modification to the design, the suggesting based, at least in part, on calculating an airborne contaminant flow for the design. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method for designing a structure of  claim 13  further comprising:
 constructing at least a part of the designed structure, the constructing based, at least in part, on the calculated airborne contaminant flow.