Patent Application
20240191890
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing, inhibiting, or eliminating water and/or moisture and/or their accumulation and/or mold growth in exterior walls or exterior and interior walls of habitable structures.
In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems, apparatuses and methods for reducing, removing, inhibiting, or eliminating water and/or moisture and/or their accumulation and/or mold growth in exterior and interior walls of habitable structures, wherein the systems include air passageways or pathway supporting conditioned air through exterior walls or exterior and interior walls of habitable structures.
Previously, I presented a system and method for inhibiting moisture and mold in an outer wall structure, U.S. Pat. No. 7,247,090B2. I now present improved systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing, inhibiting, or eliminating water and/or moisture penetration and/or accumulation in internal and external walls of buildings and for drying buildings that have been subjected to flooding or other water and/or moisture penetration and/or accumulation events.
Embodiments of present disclosure provide apparatuses and systems including exterior wall air passageways, optionally interior walls air passageways, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit (HVAC) that supplies conditioned air to the air passageways, valves, nozzles, and a size and a spacing of weep holes or air outlets associated with the walls and passageways or pathways to control the amount and direction of air flow into and through the passageways, wherein the conditioned air flow is designed to dry, to reduce moisture accumulation, and/or to inhibit mold growth in exterior walls or exterior and interior walls and/or to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the structure throughout the day.
Embodiments of present disclosure provide methods of drying, inhibiting moisture accumulation, or controlling moisture in exterior and/or interior walls of a structure and/or controlling or maintaining temperature, air flow and air quality within the structure, wherein the methods include providing exterior walls or exterior and interior walls having air flow passageways therein and supplying conditioned air into the flow passageway by the HVAC unit controlled by valves and/or nozzles to dry or reduce or inhibit moisture accumulation in the walls, to maintain a certain moisture content in the walls, and/or to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in interior spaces in the structure as well as maintaining air flow and air quality in the interior spaces. The term air quality here means maintaining, in all interior spaces, air flow, moisture content, temperature, oxygen content, carbon dioxide content, carbon monoxide contents at desired levels. It should be recognized that the air passageways or pathways may include valves and nozzles for controlling air flow into the passageways or pathways and the sizes, number, and spacing of weep holes or air outlets associated with the passageways and pathways control the flow of air out of the passageways or pathways. It should also be recognized that the valves may be “active” or “passive”, wherein the term passive means that the valves are one-way valves allowing flow into the passageways and pathways, but not out of the passageways or pathways, and wherein the term active means that the valves actively control the flow of air into the passageways or pathways. Again, the size, number and spacing of the passageway or pathway outlets along with valves ultimately control the air flow rate through the passageways or pathways.
The disclosure may be better understood with reference to the following detailed description together with the appended illustrative drawings in which like elements are numbered the same:
The term “at least one” means one or more or one or a plurality, additionally, these three terms may be used interchangeably within this application. For example, at least one device means one or more devices or one device and a plurality of devices.
The term “one or a plurality” means one item or a plurality of items.
The term “about” means that a value of a given quantity is within ±20% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±15% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±10% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±2.5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±1% of the stated value.
The term “substantially” means that a value of a given quantity is within ±5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±2.5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±2% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±1% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±0.1% of the stated value.
The term “HVAC” means a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit, which generally includes a furnace, cooling coils, and blower along with the electronic and electrical components that control the unit.
The inventor has found that new systems, apparatuses, and methods may be constructed and implemented for reducing, inhibiting, or eliminating water and/or moisture and/or their accumulation and/or mold growth in exterior and interior walls of habitable structures by providing conditioned air pathways in the walls of the structures that are externally vented to force the removal or water and/or moisture from the walls and reduce, remove, inhibit or eliminate water and/or moisture and/or their accumulation and/or mold growth in exterior and interior walls.
The inventor has also found the new systems, apparatuses, and methods may include controlled structural ventilation of conditioned exhaust air from the attic, wherein the conditioned exhaust air comprises air that flow from the HVAC system into the interior of the structure and then is exhausted into the attic. A portion of the attic conditioned exhaust air may then distributed into the walls and between the window panes for energy saving and moisture remediation. In fact, the inventor surprisingly found that for existing structures using traditional HVAC units installing a controlled attic conditioned exhaust air vent. Such an attic control vent may afford up to about half the total energy saved that would result if a completed system were installed without the attic control vent designed to exhaust a portion of the conditioned exhaust air flowing into the attic from the interior of the existing structure into the surroundings. In addition to the energy savings, the cost of installation of the attic control vent is a fraction of the cost of an entire system. Thus, the installation of the attic control vent will unexpectedly result in energy savings for existing structures at a significant reduced installation cost compared to an entire system of this invention. Of course, it should be recognized that such an installation would not affect moisture reduction in exterior and/or interior walls and multi-planed windows.
Embodiments of present disclosure broadly related to apparatuses and systems including: exterior wall air passageways; optionally interior walls air passageways; a heating, ventilation, air conditioning unit (HVAC) to supply conditioned air, and valves to control an amount and/or direction of air flowing into and through the passageways, wherein the conditioned air flow may dry the walls, reduce moisture content in the walls, inhibit or control mold growth in the walls, and/or maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the structure throughout the day and night.
In certain embodiments, each exterior wall includes an internal wall section and an external wall section with the passageway disposed therebetween, wherein each passageway includes an inlet having a control valve or a unidirectional valve and an outlet, wherein the control valves or the unidirectional valves insure either a desired amount of air flow into the passageways or the air flow proceeds from the inlets to the outlets.
In other embodiments, each exterior wall includes an internal wall section and an external wall section with the passageway disposed therebetween, wherein each passageway includes an inlet having a control valve or a unidirectional valve and an outlet, and each interior wall includes a first wall section and a second wall section with the passageway disposed therebetween, wherein each passageway includes an inlet having a control valve or a unidirectional valve and an outlet, wherein the control valves or the unidirectional valves insure either a desired amount of air flow into the passageways or the air flow proceeds from the inlets to the outlets.
In other embodiments, the apparatuses and systems also include at least one sensor configured to sense moisture and generate a signal corresponding to the sensed moisture and a control unit configured to receive the signal from the at least one sensor and to control the HVAC and the valves to provide a conditioned air having properties to dry or reduce the sensed moisture or to maintain a certain moisture content in the walls due to the air flow into, through, and out of the passageways.
In other embodiments, the apparatuses and systems also include at least one sensor disposed in one, some, or all of the passageways and configured to sense moisture in the passageways and to generate a signal corresponding to the sensed moisture and a control unit configured to receive the signal from the at least one moisture sensor and to control the HVAC and optionally the valves to provide conditioned air and control an amount of the conditioned air into the air flow passageways, wherein the conditioned air has properties to dry the walls or to reduce the sensed moisture in the walls or to maintain a certain moisture content in the walls as the conditioned air flows into, through, and out of the passageways.
In other embodiments, the apparatuses and systems also include at least one sensor disposed in one, some, or all of the passageways and configured to sense temperature in the passageways and to generate a signal corresponding to the sensed temperature, and a control unit configured to receive the signals from the temperature sensors and to control the HVAC and optionally the valves to variably supply controlled amounts of conditioned air into the air flow passageways to maintain a constant and/or uniform temperature in the structure and/or to dry or reduce the moisture or to maintain a certain moisture content in the walls.
In other embodiments, the apparatuses and systems also include a supply unit for supplying mold control compositions or other compositions into the walls, wherein the supply unit is under the control of the control unit. In other embodiments, the apparatuses and systems also include fire suppressant units that may feed carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide foam or other fire retardant or suppression compositions.
In other embodiments, the apparatuses and systems are designed to permit conditioned air to be flow through the exterior and interior walls so that a uniform temperature and moisture content in the wall interiors may be maintained. During the day and night, the apparatuses and systems may continuously adjust rate and amount of conditioned air flowing into each passageway so that the temperature and moisture content within the interior of each wall is maintained at substantially uniform values that may be preset set or set as desired by the user. As the sun rises, one side of a structure will begin to heat differently than the non-illuminated side, the apparatuses and systems adjust the distribution of air flow so that the temperature and/or moisture content in the interior the walls and therefore throughout the entire structure may be more uniformly controlled.
Embodiments of present disclosure broadly relates to methods of drying water or moisture in exterior walls or exterior and interior walls of a structure, inhibiting moisture accumulation in the walls, or maintaining a substantially uniform temperature and/or moisture content in the wall, where the methods include providing exterior walls or exterior and interior walls having air flow passageways and supplying conditioned air into the flow passageway by an HVAC unit and valves to dry or reduce or inhibit moisture accumulation in the walls, to maintain a certain moisture content in the walls, and/or to maintain a substantially uniform temperature in the structure.
In certain embodiments, the methods further include receiving output from at least one sensor and controlling properties of the conditioned air in response thereto.
In other embodiments, the methods further include receiving output from at least one sensor, controlling properties of the conditioned air in response thereto and controlling an air flow rate into the passageways in response thereto.
In other embodiments, the methods further include supplying a treating composition into the passageways, wherein the treating composition is a mold control composition, a pesticide, an insecticide, a fungicide, a bactericide, a poison for rodents, other control compositions, or mixtures and combinations thereof.
In other embodiments, the methods also include collecting temperature data, moisture data, air flow data, pressure data, air component data, and/or other data and adjusting the air flow rate and/or amount into each passageway so that the values of each measure property may be maintained at some desired level or some pre-set level. In other embodiments, the adjusting may be in conjunction with data indicating a fire or other emergency situation in which case the air flow and fire suppressants and/or retardants flow rate into the passageways my be used to impede progression of the fire or to produce fire breaks, wall as that do not support fire due to air flow and flame retardant flow rate into each passageway.
Again, it should be recognized that the air passageways or pathways may include valves and nozzles for controlling air flow into the passageways or pathways and the sizes, number, and spacing of weep holes or air outlets associated with the passageways and pathways control the flow of air out of the passageways or pathways. It should also be recognized that the valves may be “active” or “passive”, wherein the term passive means that the valves are one way valves allowing flow into the passageways and pathways, but not out of the passageways or pathways, and wherein the term active means that the valves actively control the flow of air into the passageways or pathways. Again, the size, number and spacing of the passageway or pathway outlets along with valves ultimately control the air flow rate through the passageways or pathways.
Embodiments of this disclosure broadly relate to structures including a floor or slab, a ceiling, an insulated roof, and an attic interposed between the ceiling and the roof. The structures further include one or a plurality of exterior walls, each of the exterior walls includes: an exterior wall outer portion, an exterior wall inner portion including a wall framing system, an exterior wall air flow passageway interposed therebetween, and at least one exterior wall exhaust conduit having: a passageway inlet, and a passage way outlet. The structures further include a plurality of interior walls and a plurality of interior spaces defined by the exterior and interior walls. The structures further include an HVAC unit, disposed in the attic, including: an HVAC air inlet conduit having: an HVAC inlet, and an HVAC inlet control valve configured to control a supply of unconditioned air or a mixture of unconditioned air and exhaust conditioned air to the HVAC unit; an HVAC air outlet conduit having: an HVAC outlet, and an HVAC outlet control valve configured to control a supply of conditioned air to the interior spaces; and at least one HVAC exhaust conduit having: an HVAC exhaust inlet, and an HVAC exhaust outlet configured to support an air flow of exhaust conditioned air into the attic. The structures further include at least one passageway control valve associated with the passageway inlets and configured to support passageway air flow into the passageway(s) and out of the exhaust conduit(s) into the surroundings and to stop air flow from the surroundings into the passageways, whereby the passageway air flow reduces, removes, and/or eliminates moisture in the exterior walls.
In certain embodiments, the at least one passageway control valve is a passive one-way or unidirectional valve, and the passageway air flow comprises attic exhaust conditioned air. In other embodiments, the at least one passageway control valve is part of the HVAC unit and is associated with a HVAC passageway outlet conduit connected to the HVAC outlet conduit and having a passageway outlet associated with the passageway inlets, the at least one passageway control valve is a passive one-way or unidirectional valve or an active control valve, and the passageway air flow comprises conditioned air from the HVAC unit. In other embodiments, each of the interior walls includes: two interior wall outer portions, an interior wall inner portion having: an interior wall air flow passageway having: a passageway inlet and a passageway outlet; at least one interior wall exhaust conduit. In other embodiments, the exterior wall inner portion includes: an insulating layer, a weather-resistant layer disposed on an outer surface of the insulating layer; and/or a sheathing disposed on an inner surface of the insulating layer. In other embodiments, the exterior wall inner portion further includes: a liquid barrier and/or a first sheathing between the liquid barrier and the wall framing system. In other embodiments, the at least one HVAC exhaust conduit further includes: a second HVAC exhaust outlet configure to support an air flow of exhaust conditioned air into the surrounding and having: an HVAC exhaust control valve configured to control amounts of exhaust conditioned air exhausted into the attic and into the surrounds.
In other embodiments, the structure further comprising: an air flow control system including: a processing unit; and plurality of sensors; wherein one, some, or all of the control valves are active control valves, wherein the processing unit is in communication with the active control valves, and wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive input from the sensors, and control the HVAC unit and the active control valves thereby controlling air flow rates into the interior spaces and into the passageways. In other embodiments, the sensors are selected from the group consisting of temperature sensors, water/moisture sensors, air flow sensors, chemical sensors, other physical sensors, and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, at least one of the sensors is disposed in: the air flow passageways or the air flow passageways and the attic and/or the interior spaces. In other embodiments, all of the control valves are active control valves, and during a 24 hour period of time, the processing unit is further configured: to adjust the air flow into each of the interior spaces and into each passageway so that one or more interior space properties and/or one or more passageway properties are maintained at desired values. In other embodiments, the one or more properties include moisture concentrations in the interior spaces and/or passageways, temperature in the interior spaces and/or passageways, or mixtures and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the one or more properties further include pressures in the interior spaces and/or passageways, air flow rates in the interior spaces and/or passageways, sensed chemical concentrations in the interior spaces and/or passageways, and/or microbial concentrations in the interior spaces and/or passageways.
In other embodiments, the structures further comprises: a dispensing assembly associated with one, some, or all of the passageways and including: a reservoir containing a treating composition; a dispensing supply conduit having: a dispensing assembly control value, a dispensing head at its distal end, wherein the dispensing assembly control value is configured to control an amount of treating solution or gas introduced into one, some, or all of the passageways. In other embodiments, the treating composition is selected from the group consisting of a mold control composition, a pesticide, an insecticide, a fungicide, a bactericide, a rodent poison, other control compositions, a gas, a fire retardant compositions, a foam, and mixtures or combinations thereof, and the gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, nitrogen enriched air, argon, haloalkanes and mixtures thereof, the haloalkanes are selected from the group consisting of iodomethane (Halon 10001); bromomethane (Halon 1001), bromochloromethane, CH2BrCl (Halon 1011), carbon tetrachloride (Halon 104), tribromofluoromethane (Halon 1103), dichlorofluoromethane (Halon 112), bromodifluoromethane (Halon 1201), dibromodifluoromethane (Halon 1202), bromochlorodifluoromethane, CF2ClBr (Halon 1211), dichlorodifluoromethane (Halon 122), bromotrifluoromethane, CBrF3 (Halon 1301), tetrafluoromethane (Halon 14), 1,2-dichlorotetrafluoroethane (Halon 242), dibromotetrafluorocthane, C2Br2F4 (Halon 2402), hexafluorocthane (Halon 2600), and mixtures thereof.
Embodiments of this disclosure multistory structures comprising: a plurality of stories, each of the stories including: a floor, a ceiling, and a dead spaces interposed therebetween. The multi-story structures further include: a plurality of exterior walls, each of the exterior walls includes: an exterior wall outer portion; an exterior wall inner portion; an exterior wall framing system; an exterior wall air flow passageway interposed between the exterior wall outer portion and the exterior wall inner portion; and at least one exterior wall exhaust conduit. The multi-story further include: a plurality of interior walls; a plurality of interior spaces defined by the exterior walls and interior walls; and an air flow control system including: a processing unit; plurality of sensors. The multi-story structures further include: an air handling system comprising: an HVAC unit; an HVAC inlet conduit including: an HVAC surroundings inlet conduit having: a surrounding inlet; and a surrounding inlet control valve configured to supply unconditioned air to the HVAC unit; a return conditioned air conduit having: a return conduit control valve configured to control an amount of exhausted conditioned air to the HVAC unit; a plurality of floor return conduits, each of the floor return conduits includes: an inlet disposed in the each of the floor dead spaces; a floor return conduit control valve configured to control an amount of exhaust conditioned air supplied to the return conduit from each of the floor dead spaces; and a main HVAC outlet conduit including; a plurality of floor outlet conduits, each of the floor outlet conduits includes: a floor outlet conduit control valve configured to control an amount of conditioned air supplied to each of the floors; a plurality of interior space outlet conduits, each of the interior space outlet conduits having: a plurality of interior space outlets, each of the interior space outlets; and an interior space outlet conduit control valve configured to control an amount of conditioned air supplied to each of the interior space outlets, wherein one, some, or all of the control valves are active control valves, wherein at one or more of the sensors is disposed in each of the interior spaces and one or more of the sensors is disposed in the passageways, wherein the processing unit is in communication with the active control valves, the HVAC unit, and the sensors, and wherein the processing unit is configured to: receive input from the sensors, and control the HVAC unit and the active control valves based on the sensor inputs, thereby controlling unconditioned air flow rates into the HVAC, interior space air flow rates from the HVAC, return air flow rates into the HVAC, exhaust air flow rate to the surroundings, and passageway air flow rates through the passageways and into the surroundings.
In certain embodiments, each of the floor return conduits further includes: at least one return air control valve configured to control an amount of the return conditioned air to the return conduit.
Embodiments of the disclosure broadly relates to methods for controlling air flow in a single story structures, wherein the method comprises: receiving, via the processing unit, output from the sensors, and adjusting unconditioned air flow rates into the HVAC, interior space air flow rates from the HVAC, return air flow rates into the HVAC, exhaust air flow rate to the surroundings, and passageway air flow rates through the passageways and into the surroundings to maintain properties within the interior spaces and/or passageways at desired values.
In certain embodiments, in the adjusting steps, the properties include temperature and relative humidity in each of the interior spaces and moisture concentration in the passageways.
Embodiments of the disclosure broadly relates to methods for controlling air flow in a multi-story structures, wherein the method comprises: receiving, via the processing unit, output from the sensors, and adjusting unconditioned air flow rates into the HVAC, interior space air flow rates from the HVAC, return air flow rates into the HVAC, exhaust air flow rate to the surroundings, and passageway air flow rates through the passageways and into the surroundings to maintain properties within the interior spaces and/or passageways at desired values.
In certain embodiments, in the adjusting steps, the properties include temperature and relative humidity in each of the interior spaces and moisture concentration in the passageways.
Suitable treating compositions include, without limitation, mold control compositions, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, rodent poisons, other control compositions, gases, fire retardant compositions, foams, and mixtures or combinations thereof.
Suitable gases include, without limitation, air, nitrogen enriched air, nitrogen (all grades), argon, carbon dioxide, haloalkanes and mixtures thereof.
Suitable haloalkanes include, without limitation, iodomethane (Halon 10001); bromomethane (Halon 1001), bromochloromethane, CH2BrCl (Halon 1011), carbon tetrachloride (Halon 104), tribromofluoromethane (Halon 1103), dichlorofluoromethane (Halon 112), bromodifluoromethane (Halon dibromodifluoromethane 1201), (Halon 1202), bromochlorodifluoromethane, CF2ClBr (Halon 1211), dichlorodifluoromethane (Halon 122), bromotrifluoromethane, CBrF3 (Halon 1301), tetrafluoromethane (Halon 14), 1,2-dichlorotetrafluoroethane (Halon 242), dibromotetrafluorocthane, C2Br2F4(Halon 2402), hexafluorocthane (Halon 2600), and mixtures thereof.
Suitable foams include, without limitation, any of the gases and compositions introduced as a foam using a foaming agent or the co-introduction of a foaming agent and a gas or treating compositions. Suitable foaming agents include all surfactants and any other material the forms a foam when combined with a gas.
Suitable flow control valves or dampers for use herein include, without limitation, control valves or dampers manufactured by Johnson Controls, Belimo, Honeywell, Siemens, Greenheck, KMC Controls, or other similar manufacturers.
Suitable sensor for use in the disclosure include, without limitation, relative humidity sensors, moisture sensors, water sensors, physical sensors such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, air flow sensors, etc., chemical sensors such as carbon dioxide sensors, carbon monoxide sensors, oxygen sensors, etc., microbial sensors such as mold sensors, fungus sensors, bacterial sensors, viral sensors, etc., other sensors, and combinations thereof.
Suitable air flow sensors for use herein include, without limitation, E+E Elektronik. Honeywell, Siemens, IFM Electronics, Air Logic, SDT, EGE, Delta OHM, Weber, EC, or other similar manufacturers.
Suitable temperature sensors for use herein include, without limitation, Analog Devices, Mitsumi, Melexis, Environdata, Geokon, IST. SBE, Andigilog, AquiStar, Envco, STMicroelectronics, ZMD, Measurement Specialties, Microship, MicroDAQ, Smartec, Dallas Semiconductor, Slop Indicator, Honsberg. Maxim, ReGMet, GF Signet, Philips, Texas Instruments, FTDI Chip, Thermometrics, Spica Technology, or other similar manufacturers.
Suitable water/moisture sensors for use herein include, without limitation, Converge, Edyn, Oval Digital, Sengenia, Galltec, E+E Elektronik, TE Connectivity, Kurabe Industrial Co, Ltd., Scale-Tron, Measurement Specialties, Michell Instruments, EMS Brno, Hoperf Electronics, GE Sensing. Hygrosens Instruments, Sensirion, Gefran, U.P.S.I., Precon, EME Systems, FTDI Chip, IST, Blue Earth, Vishay, or other similar manufacturers.
Suitable chemical sensors for use herein include, without limitation, carbon dioxide sensors, carbon monoxide sensors, mold sensors, or other similar chemical and microbial sensors.
Suitable physical sensors for use herein include, without limitation, pressure sensors, air compositional sensors, partial pressure sensors, or other physical sensors.
Suitable processors or processing units for use herein include, without limitation, without limitation, digital processing units (DPUs), analog processing units (APUs), any other technology that can receive motion sensor output and generate command and/or control functions for objects under the control of the processing unit, or mixtures and combinations thereof.
Suitable digital processing units (DPUs) include, without limitation, any digital processing unit capable of accepting input from a plurality of devices and converting at least some of the input into output designed to select and/or control attributes of one or more of the devices. Exemplary examples of such DPUs include, without limitation, microprocessor, microcontrollers, or the like manufactured by Intel, Motorola, Ericsson, HP, Samsung, Hitachi, NRC. Applied Materials, AMD, Cyrix, Sun Microsystem, Philips, National Semiconductor, Qualcomm, or any other manufacture of microprocessors or microcontrollers.
Suitable analog processing units (APUs) include, without limitation, any analog processing unit capable of accepting input from a plurality of devices and converting at least some of the input into output designed to control attributes of one or more of the devices. Such analog devices are available from manufacturers such as Analog Devices Inc.
Suitable interfaces and interface components for use herein include, without limitation, manufactured by Microsoft, Samsung, Apple, Linex, or other similar GUI or user interfaces.
Suitable HVAC unit and associated components for use herein include, without limitation, AAON, Airedale International Air Conditioning, Amana Corporation, American Standard Companies, ASI Controls, Baxi, BDR Thermea, BELIMO Holding AG, Buffalo Forge Company, CaptiveAire Systems, Carrier Corporation, Chunlan Group, CIAT Group, Climaveneta, Coleman Heating & Air Conditioning, Comfort Systems USA, Cylon Controls Ltd., Daewoo Electronics, Daikin, Daikin Applied Americas, De Dietrich Remeha, De′Longhi, DeLclima, Electronic Temperature Instruments, Embraco, Fegyver-és Gépgyár, Fuji Electric, Fujitsu, Galanz, General Airconditioners, GlenDimplex, Goodman Global, Gree Electric, Haier, Hart & Cooley, Help-Link, Hisense, Hisense Kelon, Hitachi, J & E Hall, Jasun Filtration, Johnson Controls, Jøtul, Kenstar, KMC Controls, Lennox International, LG Electronics, MarinAire, Mirgor, Mitsubishi Electric, MPF Industry Group, Panasonic, PEC Power Electric Cooperation, Petra Engineering Industries Company, Rettig ICC, Rheem, Robert Bosch GmbH, Roberts-Gordon LLC, Sampo Corporation, Sanden Corporation, Sanhua, Sanyo, Shinco, Síragon, Stelrad, Taikisha, Tatung Company, Temperzone, Thermax, Thermo King, Toshiba, Tranc, Vaillant Group, Viega, Viessmann, Voltas, Walton Group, Wellman Group, Westaflex, Whirlpool Corporation, Worcester, Bosch Group, Wrightsoft, Yilida, York International, or other similar manufacturers.
Referring now to
The structure 100 also includes a roof 140, a ceiling 142 supported by framing 144, an attic 146, and an interior 148. The structure 100 also includes an HVAC unit 150 situated in the attic 146. The HVAC unit 150 includes an inlet conduit 152 having an inlet 154 for pulling air 156 from the interior 148 into the HVAC unit 150. The HVAC unit 150 also includes an outlet conduit 158 having an outlet 160 adapted to push conditioned air 162 into the interior 148.
The structure 100 is ill equip to reduce, prevent, inhibit, or eliminate water, moisture and/or mold intrusion into exterior walls and as shown later herein, interior walls.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,247,090B2, the inventor disclosed systems and methods for reducing water and moisture accumulation in external walls by providing a path way for conditioned air pass through the external walls and exhaust out through weep holes in the external walls. The present invention describes improved systems, apparatuses, and methods for reducing, removing, inhibiting, or eliminating water and/or moisture and/or their accumulation and/or mold growth in exterior and interior wall of habitable structures.
Referring now to
The structure 200 also includes an insulated roof 240, a ceiling 242 supported by framing 244, an attic 246, and an interior 248. The structure 200 also include an HVAC unit 250 situated in the attic 246. The HVAC unit 250 includes an inlet conduit 252 having an inlet 254, wherein the inlet 254 pulls unconditioned air 256 from the surrounding 258 into the HVAC unit 250. The HVAC unit 250 also includes an outlet conduit 260 having an outlet 262 adapted to push conditioned air 264 into the interior 248. The structure 200 also includes an outlet conduit 266 having an inlet 268 and an outlet 270, wherein the inlet 268 receives interior exhaust conditioned air 272 and the outlet 268 exhausts the interior exhaust conditioned air 272 into the attic 246. The structure 200 also includes a unidirectional valve 274 so that the exhausted conditioned air 272 flows (indicated by arrows) from the attic 246 into an air flow path 276 between the outer wall 210 and the inner wall 212 and out the weep holes 218 exhausting spent conditioned air 278 into the surrounding 258. The flow of the conditioned air from the attic through the pathways and out of the weep holes may be used to push water and/or moisture out of the walls to facilitate wall drying or to decrease/reduce or inhibit water/moisture accumulation or to decrease/reduce or inhibit mold growth in the outer wall and/or to control the moisture content in the walls.
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The structure 300 also includes an insulated roof 340, a ceiling 342 supported by framing 344, an attic 346, and an interior 348. The structure 300 also includes an HVAC unit 350 situated in the attic 346. The HVAC unit 350 includes an inlet conduit 352 having an inlet 354, wherein the inlet 354 pulls unconditioned air 356 from the surrounding 358 into the HVAC unit 350. The HVAC unit 350 also includes an outlet conduit 360 having an outlet 362 adapted to push conditioned air 364 into the interior 348. The structure 300 also includes an outlet conduit 366 having an inlet 368, an outlet 370, and a control value 371, wherein the inlet 368 receives interior exhaust conditioned air 372 and the outlet 370 exhausts the interior exhaust conditioned air 372 into the surrounding 358 and wherein the control value 371 controls the amount of air being exhausted through the outlet 370. The structure 300 may also includes a control valve 374 so that the exhausted conditioned air 370 flows (indicated by arrows) from the attic 346 into an air flow path or passageway 376 between the outer wall 310 and the inner wall 312 and out the weep holes 318 exhausting spent conditioned air 378 into the surrounding 358. However, in certain embodiments, the control valve 371 will be sufficient to direct the desired amount of conditioned air to the passageways, unless there are more than one passageways, then each passageway would include a control valve 371 that would control the air flow into each of the passageways/pathways. The flow of the conditioned air from the attic through the pathways or passageways and out of the weep holes may be used to push water and/or moisture out of the walls to facilitate wall drying or to decrease/reduce or inhibit water/moisture accumulation or to decrease/reduce or inhibit mold growth in the outer wall and/or to control the moisture content in the walls.
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The structure 500 also includes an air circulation assembly 520 including an HVAC unit 522 including an air intake conduit 524 having an inlet 526 and a control valve 527 for supplying unconditioned air 528 from an outside 530 to the HVAC unit 522 and an attic air conduit 532 having an air control valve 534 and an inlet 536 for supplying exhaust conditioned air 538 to the HVAC unit 522 from the attic 512. The circulation assembly 520 also includes an outlet conduit 540 having a control valve 542 and an outlet 544 for sending conditioned air 546 into an interior 548 of the structure 500. It should be recognized that the structure 500 may include a plurality of outlets 544 associated with the outlet conduit 540 for sending the conditioned air 546 into the interior 548. The circulation assembly 520 also includes an exhaust conduit 550 having an inlet 552 that withdraws exhaust conditioned air 554 from the interior 548 and an outlet 556 through which the exhaust conditioned air 554 is discharged into the attic 512. Some of the attic air 554 then exits through the control valve 506 and through the air flow pathway 508 shown by the dark grey arrows and out through weep holes or channels 558 into the outside 530.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The structure 500 also includes an air circulation assembly 520 including an HVAC unit 522 including an air intake conduit 524 having an inlet 526 and a control valve 527 for supplying unconditioned air 528 from an outside 530 to the HVAC unit 522 and an attic air conduit 532 having an air control valve 534 and an inlet 536 for supplying exhaust conditioned air 538 to the HVAC unit 522 from the attic 512. The circulation assembly 520 also includes an outlet conduit 540 having a control valve 542 and an outlet 544 for sending conditioned air 546 into an interior 548 of the structure 500. It should be recognized that the structure 500 may include a plurality of conduits 540, control valves 542, and outlets 544 for sending the conditioned air 546 into the interior 548. The circulation assembly 520 also includes an exhaust conduit 550 having an inlet 552 that withdraws exhaust conditioned air 554 from the interior 548 and an outlet 556 through which the exhaust conditioned air 554 is discharged into the attic 512. In should be recognized that the structure 500 may also include a plurality of conduits 550, inlets 552, and outlets 556 for withdrawing exhaust error 554 from the interior 548. The system 520 also includes a wall conditioned air conduit 560 having a control valve 562 through which conditioned air shown by the dark grey arrows is discharged into the air flow pathway 508 via an outlet 564 into the pathway 508, through the pathway 508, and out through weep holes or channels 558 into the outside 530. Again, it should be recognized that the structure 500 may also include a plurality of conduits 560, valves 562, and outlets 564 associated with a plurality of pathways 508 associated with exterior or interior walls.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The structure 600 also includes an air circulation assembly or system 630 including an HVAC unit 632 including an unconditioned air intake conduit 634 having an inlet 636 and a control valve 638 for supplying unconditioned air 640 from an outside 642 to the HVAC unit 632 and optionally an exhaust conditioned air intake conduit 644 having an inlet 646 and a control valve 648 for supplying exhaust conditioned air 670 from the dead spaces 620 to the HVAC unit 632 via the conduits 644 and 634.
The system 630 also includes a main conditioned air conduit 652 from which floor conditioned air conduits 654 branch. Each of the floor conduits 654 include a flow control valve 656 and terminate in an outlet 658 passing through their respective ceilings 618 (only one per floor shown here, but of course, each floor will generally have a plurality of outlets 658). The floor conduits 654 discharge conditioned air 660 into interiors 662 between the floors 602 and 616 and the ceilings 618.
The system 630 also includes floor outlet conduits 664 having inlets 666 and outlets 668 for discharging exhaust conditioned air 670 into the dead spaces 620, which then progresses through the control valves 612 through the pathways 608 and out of the channels 614 into the outside 642 or through the conduits 644 and 634 to the HVAC unit 632.
The system 630 also includes a dead space return conduit 672 configured to allow exhaust conditioned air to flow from each dead space 620 with inlets 674 and an outlet 676 in the last floor dead space, wherein the return conduit 672 is configured to supply return exhausted conditioned air to the HVAC unit via the conduit 644. The return conduit 672 may include a control valve at each floor (not shown) to control the amount of air introduced into the return conduit 672 from each of the dead spaces 620.
Referring now to
The structure 600 also includes an air circulation assembly 630 including an HVAC unit 632 including an unconditioned air intake conduit 634 having an inlet 636 and a control valve 638 for supplying unconditioned air 640 from an outside 642 to the HVAC unit 632 and optionally an exhaust conditioned air intake conduit 644 having an inlet 646 and a control valve 648 for supplying exhaust conditioned air 670 from the dead spaces 620 to the HVAC unit 632 via the conduit 634.
The system 630 also include a main conditioned air conduit 652 from which floor conditioned air conduits 654 branch. Each of the floor conduits 654 include flow controllers 656 and terminate in outlets 658 passing through their respective ceilings 618 (only one per floor shown here, but of course, each floor will generally have a plurality of outlets 658). The floor conduits 654 discharge conditioned air 660 into interiors 662 between the floors 616 and the ceilings 618. The system 630 also includes pathway floor outlet conduits 664 having inlets 666 and outlets 668 for discharging exhaust conditioned air 670 into the dead spaces 620.
The system 630 also includes conditioned air pathway conduits 672 including a control valves 674 and outlets 676 through which conditioned air shown in the dark gray arrows flows into the pathways 608 and then out through the channels 610.
The system 630 may also include an exhaust conduit 678 having an outlet 680 and a control valve 682 for exhausting the air 670 from the dead spaces 620 to the outside 642.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Looking at
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Looking at
Referring now to
The assembly 920 includes an air inlet 922, an air inlet conduit 924 connected to an HVAC unit 928. The HVAC unit 928 includes an outlet 930 and an outlet conduit 932. The outlet conduit 932 splits into a main conduit 934 having a main control valve 936 and a secondary conduit 938 having a secondary control valve 940. The main conduit 934 supplies conditioned air to outlets 942 associated with registers 944 for heating or cooling an interior (not shown) of the structure 900, while the secondary conduit 938 supplies conditioned air to the air flow pathway 912 so that conditioned air may flow down the pathway 912 pushing out water and/or moisture through weep holes or drainage channels and drying the outer wall 902 and/or the inner wall 904. Of course, the same wall assembly may be used to dry out interior walls, but with different drainage and exhaust channels as described herein. The assembly 920 also includes an outlet 946 associated with an outlet conduit (not shown) for exhausting air from the interior of the structure 900 to the surroundings or to an attic or similar space associated with the structure 900.
Looking at
The assembly 920 includes an air inlet 922, an air inlet conduit 924 connected to an HVAC unit 928. The HVAC unit 928 includes an outlet 930 and an outlet conduit 932. The outlet conduit 932 splits into a main conduit 934 having a main control valve 936 and a secondary conduit 938 having a secondary control valve 940. The main conduit 934 supplies conditioned air to outlets 942 associated with registers 944 for heating or cooling an interior of the structure 900 (not shown). The assembly 920 also includes an outlet 946 associated with an outlet conduit (not shown) for withdrawing air from the interior of the structure and exhausting either to the surroundings or to an attic or similar space associated with the structure 900.
The secondary conduit 938 terminated in a distribution unit 948 that supplies conditioned air to four wall conduits 950a-d, where the conduits 950a-d include flow control valves 952a-d. The four conduits 950a-d supply conditioned air to the four pathways 912a-d so that the conditioned air may flow down the pathway 912a-d pushing out water and moisture through weep holes or drainage channels and drying the outer wall 902 and the inner wall 904. The control valve 952a-d controls the amount of conditioned air that flows into each pathway 912a-d so that each wall section may be dehydrated at different rates depending on water, moisture and/or mold content.
Of course, the same wall assembly may be used to dry out interior walls, but with different drainage and exhaust channels as described herein.
Looking at
The assembly 920 includes an air inlet 922, an air inlet conduit 924 connected to an HVAC unit 928. The HVAC unit 928 includes an outlet 930 and an outlet conduit 932. The outlet conduit 932 splits into a main conduit 934 having a main control valve 936 and a secondary conduit 938 having a secondary control valve 940. The main conduit 934 supplies conditioned air to outlets 942 associated with registers 944 for heating or cooling an interior of the structure 900 (not shown). The assembly 920 also includes an outlet 946 associated with an outlet conduit (not shown) for withdrawing air from the interior of the structure and exhausting either to the surroundings or to an attic or similar space associated with the structure 900.
The secondary conduit 938 terminated in a distribution unit 948 that supplies conditioned air to four main wall conduits 950a-d. The four main wall conduits 950a-d end in sixteen flow control valves 952a-p and feed conditioned air to sixteen air distribution conduits 954a-p that in turn supply conditioned air to the sixteen pathways 912a-p so that the conditioned air may flow down the pathway 912a-d pushing out water and moisture through weep holes or drainage channels and drying the outer wall 902 and the inner wall 904. The control valve 952a-p controls the amount of conditioned air that flows into each pathway 912a-p so that each wall section may be dehydrated at different rates depending on water, moisture and/or mold content.
Of course, the same wall assembly may be used to dry out interior walls, but with different drainage and exhaust channels as described herein.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Expanded Views of Exterior Walls with Sensors
Referring now to
The wall assembly 1100 also includes wall temperature sensors 1122, moisture/water sensors 1124 and an air flow rate sensor 1126. The sensors and control valves are all controlled by a controller describe more fully in
Looking at
The wall assembly 1100 also includes wall temperature sensors 1186, moisture/water sensors 1188 and an air flow rate sensor 1190. The sensors and control valves are all controlled by a controller describe more fully in
The wall assembly 1100 may also include a control valve 1192 associated with the channels 1170 so that the passageways or pathways 1168 may be pressurized or cut off from air flow. Thus, the passageways or pathways 1168 may be flooded with a fire retardant gas or foam and pressurized to help impede the spread of a fire.
Expanded Views of Interior Walls with Sensors and Dispensing Assemblies
Referring now to
The wall assembly 1200 also includes wall temperature sensors 1224, moisture/water sensors 1226, and an air flow rate sensor 1228. The sensors and control valves are all controlled by a controller describe more fully in
Looking at
Of course, the pathway 1258 may require holes or other opening to be provided through the inner wall cross members (not shown) so that the conditioned air is capable of reducing, decreasing, and/or eliminating water, moisture or mold accumulation in the wall assembly 1250 or facilitate drying the wall assembly 1250 after a water, moisture or mold event.
The wall assembly 1250 also includes wall temperature sensors 1280, moisture/water sensors 1282, and an air flow rate sensor 1284. The sensors and control valves are all controlled by a controller describe more fully in
The wall assembly 1200 may also include a control valve 1286 associated with the exhaust conduit 1264 so that the passageways or pathways 1258 may be pressurized or cut off from air flow. Thus, the passageways or pathways 1258 may be flooded with a fire retardant gas and pressurized to help impede the fire.
While
Referring now to
The power supply 1302 supplies power to the processor 1304, the interface 1306, an HVAC unit 1312, control values 1316, temperature sensors 1318, water/moisture sensors 1320, air flow sensors 1322, and treating units 1324 via power supply wires 1326. While I have disclosed using temperature sensors, water/moisture sensors, and air flow sensors, the systems of this invention may also include other sensors such as chemical sensors 1328 (e.g., carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, mold, smoke, etc.) or other physical sensors 1330 (e.g., pressure, etc.) and any other sensors 1332 that may assist in reducing, removing, inhibiting and/or eliminating water, moisture, and/or mold or drying walls exposed to a water, moisture, and/or mold event.
The processor 1304 is in two way communication with the interface 1306, the remote control 1310, the HVAC unit 1312, the sensors 1318, 1320, 1322, 1328, 1330, and 1332, and the treating units 1324 via communication pathways 1334 (shown here as wires for the interface 1306, the HVAC unit 1312, the blower 1314, the sensors 1318, 1320, 1322, 1328, 1330, and 1332, and the treating units 1320 or a communication pathway 1336 (shown here as wireless for the remote control 1310). Of course, all of the communication pathways 1324 may also be wireless or a combination of wired and wireless communication pathways. Additionally, the interface 1306, the remote control 1310, the HVAC unit 1312, the blower 1314, the sensors 1316 and 1318 all include communication hardware and software for communication with the processor 1304, whether via wired or wireless communication pathways. Additionally, the remote control unit 1310 includes its own power supply, memory, processor, interface, touch screen or the like and human cognizable output devices such as speakers.
Referring now to
The exterior wall assembly 1410 includes an exterior wall 1412 having an interior 1414, an outer surface 1416, and an inner surface 1418. The exterior wall assembly 1410 may also include a moisture and/or air barrier layer 1420 having an inner surface 1422 and an outer surface 1424. The exterior wall 1412 may be constructed out of brick, stucco, planks, any other exterior building material and mixtures and combinations thereof.
interior wall assembly 1430 includes an air/moisture barrier layer 1432 having an inner surface 1434 an outer surface 1436. The interior wall assembly 1430 also includes a sheating layer 1438 having an inner surface 1440 and an outer surface 1442. The interior wall assembly 1430 also includes an interior 1444. The interior 1444 includes an insulation layer 1446 having an inner surface 1448 and an outer surface 1450, and studs 1452. The interior wall assembly 1430 also includes an interior wall 1454 having an inner surface 1456 an outer surface 1458. The interior wall assembly 1430 also includes a steel angle member 1460 and a wall air flow pathway 1462. The air flow pathway 1462 is disposed between the inner surface 1418 of the exterior wall 1412 or an inner surface 1422 of the optional moisture and/or air barrier layer 1420.
The window assembly 1470 includes shim members 1472, a window frame member 1474, a wire mesh member 1476, and a window sill 1478. The window assembly 1470 also includes an outer single, double, or triple pane window 1480 having an inner surface 1482 and an outer surface 1484. The window assembly 1470 also includes an interior single, double, or triple pane window 1486 having an inner surface 1488 and an outer surface 1490. The window assembly 1470 also includes a window air flow pathway 1492 interposed between the outer surface 1484 of the outer window 1480 and an inner surface 1488 of the inner window 1486. The wall air flow pathway 1462 is connected to the window air flow pathway 1466. These two air flow pathways 1462 and 1492 provide cooling or heating to the walls and windows and provide dry air to remove water, moisture, and/or contaminates in the walls or windows.
Buildings are a necessary part of our society to provide a safe, habitable, and protected environment. Typically, the more safe, habitable, and protected the environment; the higher the cost to operate the building. Outside air necessary to diminish indoor air contamination (COVID-19, mold, radon, etc.) results in increased energy costs. Structural Ventilation of the Building Envelope is a system that introduces continuously conditioned positively pressured outdoor air into the interi- or habitable spaces of a structure to be exhausted into the building envelope and subsequently to the exterior. Heat gain and loss through the building envelope are significantly reduced. Multiple studies of existing buildings have been per-formed that indicate that moisture accumulation and damage, air contamination, and inadequate ventilation simultaneously occur in whole or in part. WUFI analyzes the hygrothermal properties of the building envelope. Analyses indicate that the reduced moisture and regulated temperatures within the building envelope, transmitted by the supply of clean outside air into the living space of the structure, diminishes mold growth and structural deterioration of the building envelope and provides significant hygrothermal resistances of the building envelope resulting in reduced HVAC equipment sizing and operating costs. Structural Ventilation of the Building Envelope is applicable to residential, institutional, medical, retail, and commercial buildings; either new construction or retrofit. Installation is performed by the current building construction workforce with currently available materials; which result in lower installation costs. Structural Ventilation of the Building Envelope is the next generation of building ventilation. A simple solution for a complex society.
In the mid 1970's, the oil embargo resulted in rising energy costs. In an attempt to reduce these costs, the minimum building outside air intake was reduced to 2.5 L/s (5 cfm) per person. This minimum still exists today. The recent onset of COVID-19 brought the realization that more fresh outside air was necessary to dilute and remove the indoor air contamination. The EPA and others have stated this recommendation. Sick Building Syndrome, also identified as Building Related Illness, a condition where individuals exhibit sickness when occupying a particular building, has been linked to airborne mold contamination. Other airborne contaminants are also blamed. More fresh outside air, necessary to dilute and remove the indoor air contamination, as well as moisture and humidity control, are required. The EPA and others have stated this recommendation. Radon Contamination, prevalent over more than half of the United States, is the leading cause of lung cancer following tobacco smoke. Radon is an odorless radioactive gas that is emitted from the earth and collects within structures. The best solutions are to ventilate beneath the building, if accessible, and to increase fresh outside air intake to dilute and remove the indoor air contamination. The EPA and others have stated this recommendation. Clearly, proper ventilation is the solution.
Buildings are a necessary part of our society to provide a safe, habitable, and protected environment. Typically, the more safe, habitable, and protected the environment; the higher the cost to operate the building. The conflict arises between this environmental goal and the costs necessary to maintain this goal. One viewpoint is “The best solution to breathe contaminant free indoor air is to inject clean outdoor air into the building to dilute the contamination. The worst solution is to recirculate and filter indoor air”. The opposing viewpoint is “The worst solution to minimize HVAC operating costs is to inject clean outdoor air into the building to dilute the contamination. The best solution is to recirculate and filter indoor air”. Structural Ventilation of the Building Envelope simultaneously accomplishes both goals by minimizing indoor air contamination and reducing energy costs.
The majority of buildings are temperature controlled and humidity adjusted insulated enclosures. Referring to
The building, generally 1500 of
Some buildings have heat exchangers, as shown in
The building, generally 1550 of
Other than small energy savings from the heat exchanger, the building characteristics are identical to
The system was developed in the early 2000's and patented in 2007 and 2022. The system development began with the aid of the MOIST software and elaborate spreadsheets filled with hygrothermal equations. Technology has since improved. Structural Ventilation of the Building Envelope (SV) is a system that introduces continuously conditioned, positively pressured, outdoor air into the interior habitable spaces of a structure where the outdoor air is cleaned, temperature adjusted, and humidity adjusted by a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) before entering the habitable spaces of a structure. The positively pressured indoor air is exhausted into the building envelope and subsequently to the exterior.
The volume of outside air entering the structure is as specified by ASHRAE and is based upon the building occupancy and use.
Outside air is cleaned, filtered, and temperature and humidity adjusted through the DOAS for heating and cooling. This low volume/high velocity air is continuously injected into the building to regulate building temperature and humidity. Indoor air contamination is reduced since indoor air is not recirculated; rather exhausted out of the occupied spaces as recommended by ASHRAE. State of the art mechanical and ducting systems are currently available to economically achieve these goals. Further discussion of these mechanical and ducting systems are beyond the scope of this paper.
SV indoor air is exhausted out of the occupied spaces and into the building envelope to regulate the temperature and humidity of the building envelope.
Referring to
The building, generally 1600 of
Outside air is conditioned prior to distribution through the structure. Infiltration is eliminated. The building envelope is conditioned to near interior conditions. Differences for building retrofit or new construction include the absence of ventilation openings to the exterior (soffit vents, ridge vents, turtle vents) an updated HCc system and ducting (high velocity/low volume), the use of insulation beneath the roofing, the installation of a backflow preventer at top of wall, and the use of additional sealants at material terminations of the building envelope.
Referring now to
The building, generally 1650, of
Many structural components are compromised by moisture. For example, mold can occur when the surface relative humidity of a building component exceeds 70%(+) and temperatures are above 4° C. (40° F.). Wood rot occurs at moisture contents of 30% or greater and with temperatures ranging between 10° C. (50° F.) and 40° C. (100° F.). Nail corrosion occurs at relative humidities greater than 60%; a maximum 20% wood moisture content is preferred to minimize nail corrosion within the wood. The Structural Board Association states that Exposure 1 OSB materials are intended to be used in covered and well ventilated areas; this exposure relates to an OSB moisture content of 8% to 9% or a solid wood moisture content of 12% to 15%. Relative humidities above 80% are not recommended. ASHRAE, ANSI, and EPA concur that the relative humidity of interior ambient air should be between 30% and 60% with temperatures between 20° ° C. (68° F.) and 27° ° C. (81° F.) at all times.
Excess moisture compromises structural components.
WUFI, developed with the assistance of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), analyzes the hygrothermal properties of building envelopes. WUFI allows realistic calculations of the transient coupled heat and moisture transport in multi-layer building envelopes based upon exterior weather data and normal interior climates. WUFI is an acronym for Wärme Und Feuchte Instationär, which translated means heat and moisture transiency.
Referring now to
The office building 1700 also include a roof 1730. The roof 1730 includes a composite shingle roofing 1732, an OSB sheating supported rafters 1734, a spray-on insulation layer for structure ventilation systems 1736, attic air 1738, batt insulation 1740, and gypsum board ceiling supported joists 1742.
Referring now to
Looking at
The plot 1800 displays a temperature line 1802 across the roof 1730, attic air 1738 in an attic interior 1739, the ceiling insulation 1740, and the gypsum board 1742.
The plot 1820 displays a moisture content line 1822, an area representing the relative humidity of attic air 1824, an average attic air humidity line 1826, an area representing a moisture content of the attic air 1828, the interior attic air 1804, and the ceiling insulation 1806 across the roof 1730, attic air 1738 in an attic interior 1739, the ceiling insulation 1740, and the gypsum board 1742.
Over a one year period, at the conventional system, the surface relative humidity exceeds 80%. The this humidity level mold growth would be expected, nail corrosion would be expected, and OSB moisture contents are elevated.
Looking at
The plot 1850 displays an attic air temperature line 1852 measured across the roof 1730, the attic air 1738 in an attic interior 1739, the ceiling insulation 1740, and the gypsum board 1742.
The plot 1870 displays a moisture content line 1872, an area 1874 representing the relative humidity of attic air 1738, an average attic air humidity line 1876, an area 1878 representing a moisture content of the attic air 1738 in an attic interior 1739, and the ceiling insulation 1740 measured across the roof 1730, attic air 1738 in an attic interior 1739, the ceiling insulation 1740, and the gypsum board 1742.
At the SV system, these conditions do not exist except at the base of the roof insulation.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Looking at
The plot 2000 displays a temperature line 2002 measured across the brick veneer 1712, the moisture barrier 1716, the air gap 1714, the air 1715 in the air gap, the sheathing 1718, the insulation 1722, and the gypsum board 1724.
The plot 2020 displays a wall assembly moisture content line 2022, an area 2024 representing a moisture content measured across the brick veneer 1712, the moisture barrier 1716, the air gap 1714, the gap air 1715, the sheathing 1718, the insulation 1722, and the gypsum board 1724, an average wall assembly relative humidity line 2026 measured across the brick veneer 1712, the moisture barrier 1716, the air gap 1714, the gap air 1715, the sheathing 1718, the insulation 1722, and the gypsum board 1724, and an area 2028 representing a relative humidity measured across the brick veneer 1712, the moisture barrier 1716, the air gap 1714, the gap air 1715, the sheathing 1718, the insulation 1722, and the gypsum board 1724.
Over a one year period, at the conventional system, exclusive of components outside the air cavity, the surface relative humidity exceeds 80%. Mold growth is expected. Nail corrosion is expected. OSB moisture contents are elevated.
Looking at
The plot 2050 displays a wall assembly temperature line 2052 measured across the brick veneer 1712, the moisture barrier 1716, the air gap 1714, the gap air 1715, the sheathing 1718, the insulation 1722, and the gypsum board 1724.
The plot 2070 displays a wall assembly moisture content line 2072, an area 2074 representing a moisture content measured across the brick veneer 1712, the moisture barrier 1716, the air gap 1714, the gap air 1715, the sheathing 1718, the insulation 1722, and the gypsum board 1724, an average relative humidity line 2076 measured across the brick veneer 1712, the moisture barrier 1716, the air gap 1714, the gap air 1715, the sheathing 1718, the insulation 1722, and the gypsum board 1724, and an area 2078 representing a relative humidity measured across the brick veneer 1712, the moisture barrier 1716, the air gap 1714, the gap air 1715, the sheathing 1718, the insulation 1722, and the gypsum board 1724.
At the SV system, these conditions do not exist.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Looking at
The plot 2200 displays a temperature line 2202 measured across measured across the air gap 1714.
The plot 2220 displays a window assembly moisture content line 2222, an area 2224 representing a moisture content measured across the air gap 1714, an average window assembly relative humidity line 2226 measured across the air gap 1714, and an area 2228 representing a relative humidity measured across the air gap 1714.
Looking at
The plot 2250 displays a wall assembly temperature line 2252 measured across the air gap 1714.
The plot 2270 displays a wall assembly moisture content line 2272, an area 2274 representing a moisture content measured across the air gap 1714, an average relative humidity line 2276 measured across the air gap 1714, and an area 2278 representing a relative humidity measured across the air gap 1714.
The interior glass surface humidity is lowered 50%. In this instance, it would be preferable to use insulated glass at the exterior pane to minimize condensation.
Referring now to
If insulated glass was used at both panes, the thermal resistances would be additive. So, if each insulated pane is RSI-0.35 (R-2), ΣR=RSIHT-1.6 (RHT-9) of the window assembly. SV controls the building envelope temperatures and humidities.
The School Building, defined in
Thermal Resistance (RSI and R) and Hygrothermal Resistance (RSIHT and RHT)
The designation RSI (R) is the static thermal resistance of a component, or assembly, due to the physical characteristics of the materials.
Hygrothermal Resistance, RSIHT (RHT) combines the static thermal resistance of the material with the dynamic coupled heat and moisture transport through the materials generated by the conditioned airflow through the building envelope.
Hygrothermal Resistance increases with exhaust air cavity height/width and exhaust airflow rate.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
With SV, the hygrothermal resistance increases significantly with greater air flow rates. Doubling the air flow rate increases RHT by a factor of 1.3. At the Office Building, the Window ACH=180 resulting in RSIHT-0.9 (RHT-5). At the School Building, the Window ACH=585 resulting in RSIHT-1.4 (RHT-8).
As stated earlier, R and RHT are additive. If we install thermal windows each side of the air stream that are each RSI-0.35 (R-2), the Office Building windows would attain RSIHT-1.6 (RHT-9). The School Building windows would attain RSIHT=2.1 (RHT-12). Each increase is significant.
SV significantly increases the hygrothermal resistance of the building envelope.
The Office Building was analyzed with Manual J based upon the lowest RHT of the winter months at various locations with-in the United States.
Referring now to
SV results in smaller equipment sizes regardless of location.
The Office Building was analyzed with the WUFI Post Processor based upon the RHT of winter monthly averages that are based upon hourly calculations. Typically, the RHT is greater before and after the coldest month. Referring now to
SV results in significant energy savings regardless of location.
The School Building was also analyzed with the WUFI Post Processor. Referring now to
SV results in significant energy savings regardless of location.
Moisture infiltration is a common problem with building envelopes. Moisture, typically from the exterior environment, passes through defective joints in the exterior finishes and roofing. The joints typically occur at material terminations such as window and door perimeters, roofing and wall penetrations, roof to wall interfaces, and the like.
As noted earlier, moisture can also develop due to naturally occurring moisture due to hygrothermal activity within the building envelope. This is most prevalent when low permeability materials are installed.
The following building envelope moisture content readings were compared to WUFI analyses. Red is well above expected values, yellow is slightly above expected values, green similar to expected values, and blue is below expected values.
Expected moisture content readings of interior components were determined by air temperature and humidity readings.
Referring now to
In this instance, the weep holes at the base of the wall were plugged with mortar, rainwater was seeping behind the veneer, and the windows leaked.
Referring now to
The gypsum board finish moisture contents are moderate at the perimeter walls and the interior walls. The baseboards are typically moist beneath windows and at doors. Windowsill reading are elevated.
Window and door leakage are the prime contributors. Moisture is collecting within the building envelope.
Referring now to
Moisture is collecting within the attic due to the lack of adequate ventilation. Moisture from this source is infiltrating the interior and perimeter walls of the upper floor. Window and door leakage are also issues.
Embodiment 1. A structure comprising:
Embodiment 2. The structure of Embodiment 1, wherein:
Embodiment 3. The structure of Embodiment 1, wherein each of the plurality of interior walls includes:
Embodiment 4. The structure of Embodiment 1, wherein each of the one or more exterior walls includes:
Embodiment 5. The structure of Embodiment 1, further comprising:
Embodiment 6. The structure of Embodiment 5, wherein the sensors comprise temperature sensors, water/moisture sensors, air flow sensors, chemical sensors, other physical sensors, and combinations thereof.
Embodiment 7. The structure of Embodiment 5, wherein one or more of the sensors are disposed in the air flow pathways, in the interior spaces, or in both.
Embodiment 8. The structure of Embodiment 5, wherein:
Embodiment 9. The structure of Embodiment 8, wherein the one or more properties include moisture concentrations in the interior spaces, moisture concentrations in the pathways, temperatures in the interior spaces, temperatures in the pathways, pressures in the interior spaces, pressures in the pathways, air flow rates in the interior spaces, air flow rates in the pathways, sensed chemical concentrations in the interior spaces, sensed chemical concentrations in the pathways, microbial concentrations in the interior spaces, microbial concentrations in the pathways or mixtures and combinations thereof.
Embodiment 10. The structure of Embodiment 1, further comprising:
Embodiment 11. A multistory structure comprising:
Embodiment 12. The structure of Embodiment 11, wherein each of the floor return conduits further including:
Embodiment 13. The structure of Embodiment 11, wherein the sensors comprise temperature sensors, water/moisture sensors, air flow sensors, chemical sensors, other physical sensors, and combinations thereof.
Embodiment 14. The structure of Embodiment 13, wherein, during a 24 hour period of time, the processing unit is further configured to:
Embodiment 15. The structure of Embodiment 14, wherein the one or more properties include moisture concentrations in the interior spaces, moisture concentrations in the pathways, temperatures in the interior spaces, temperatures in the pathways, pressures in the interior spaces, pressures in the pathways, air flow rates in the interior spaces, air flow rates in the pathways, sensed chemical concentrations in the interior spaces, sensed chemical concentrations in the pathways, microbial concentrations in the interior spaces, microbial concentrations in the pathways or mixtures and combinations thereof.
Embodiment 16. The structure of Embodiment 11, further comprising:
All references cited herein are incorporated by reference. Although the disclosure has been disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the disclosure as described above and claimed hereafter.
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/556,527 filed 10 Dec. 2021 (Dec. 20, 2021), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/273,344 filed 12 Feb. 2019 (Feb. 12, 2019) now U.S. Pat. No. 11,248,814 issued 15 Feb. 2022 (Feb. 15, 2022).
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16273344 | Feb 2019 | US |
| Child | 17556527 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17556527 | Dec 2021 | US |
| Child | 18379068 | US |
