VENTILATION SYSTEM MODULE, BUILDING COMPRISING SUCH AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING THE SAME

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a ventilation system module, VSM, arranged to be attached to an ambient facing surface of a building, the ambient surface being associated to at least one idle plane of a stairwell, the VSM being arranged to control air circulation of a plurality of spaces within said building, the VSM comprising a surface an air handling unit positioned at said surface, a distribution channel, an exhaust-air channel wherein said surface is arranged to be associated to said idle plane of said stairwell, wherein at an installed state of said VSM, the idle plane is accessible from a proximal portion of said surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a ventilation system module, a building comprising a ventilation system module and a method of installing a ventilation system module.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, older buildings, especially older residential buildings do not have a sufficiently working ventilation system. Instead, these buildings rely on self-draft which is less efficient, reliable and also unsafe in case of fire in the building. Moreover, other buildings e.g. newly build residential buildings are also in need of a ventilation system. The challenge is to provide a ventilation system that is compact, convenient to install while providing all necessary features for optimal ventilation in a plurality of spaces of a building.

Thus, buildings are in need of solutions that can provide sufficient ventilation while being compact in arrangement. Thus, currently, old buildings with self-draft have no proper solution to improve air circulation therein and other buildings have no proper solution for providing circulation in a more compact and convenient manner.

Based on the above, there is in the present art room for improvements in order to provide a ventilation system that can be fitted and supply ventilation to at least existing buildings. So to raise the overall ventilation standard of existing buildings without any substantial renovation of the existing building. More specifically, there is room in the present art for a ventilation system that can be fitted to existing buildings while being compact. Additionally, the ventilation system should be able to provide ventilation to a plurality of apartments/spaces within said building and be convenient to maintenance by operators.

Even though some currently known solutions work well in some situations it would be desirable to provide a ventilation system that is compact, easy to manage by operators while providing ventilation to a plurality of spaces.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a ventilation system module (VSM), a building comprising a VSM and a method for installing a VSM to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies and disadvantages.

This object is achieved by means of VSM, building and method as in the appended claims. The present disclosure is at least partly based on the insight that by providing a VSM that is compact, easy to install and manage, while providing ventilation to a plurality of spaces, ventilation of buildings will be improved without reducing space-efficiency or maintenance possibilities in the building.

The present disclosure provides a VSM arranged to be attached to an ambient facing surface of a building, the ambient surface of the building being associated to at least one idle plane of a stairwell. The VSM being arranged to control air circulation of a plurality of spaces (e.g. apartments) within said building. The VSM comprising a surface having a vertically extending structure extending therefrom in a first direction. An upper portion of the structure comprises, at a sidewall thereof, a first opening for horizontally drawing ambient air into the VSM by an air-intake device, and, at a top surface thereof opposing the surface, a second opening for venting exhaust air away from the VSM by an air-exhaust device.

Further, the VSM comprises an air handling unit preferably positioned/placed at a distal portion of said surface. Distal portion referring to that, when said VSM is installed, part of the surface being furthest away from the building it's installed onto is the distal portion.

Moreover, the VSM comprises a distribution channel having a first distribution portion (may also be referred to as air-intake portion), the first distribution portion extending between said air-intake device and preferably an upper section of said air handling unit (i.e. substantially vertically), and a second distribution portion extending from said air handling unit towards said VSM upper portion, the second distribution portion comprising a first set of at least partially horizontally extending air-supply branches for supplying air to said plurality of spaces from said distribution channel. Each air-supply branch is arranged to connect to corresponding air-supply pipes of said building. In some aspects, the VSM comprises said pipes. Further, each air-supply branch comprises a throttle-unit suitable for individual adjustment of air-supply flow from respective branch and/or for preventing gas within the building to enter the distribution channel. The throttle-unit may be an adjustable valve operated by a hand wheel, a lever, or through electronic communication.

Further, the system comprises an exhaust-air channel having a first exhaust portion extending between (preferably said upper section of) said air handling unit and said air exhaust device and a second exhaust portion extending from said air handling unit towards said upper portion, the second exhaust portion comprising a first set of at least partially horizontally extending (i.e. may extend horizontally+−30 degrees which may also be referred to as substantially horizontally extending) air-exhaust branches for exhaust of air from said plurality of spaces to said exhaust-air channel, each exhaust-air branch being arranged to connect to corresponding air-exhaust pipes of said building, e.g. the building can receive pipes which are screwed to fluidically connect the branches. Furthermore, the surface is arranged to be associated to said idle plane of said stairwell, wherein at an installed state of said VSM, the idle plane is accessible from a proximal portion of said surface or vice versa. The first and second exhaust portions and first and second distribution portions may be defined e.g. by their separation by said air handling unit.

Thus, the system may provide supply and exhaust of air from a common distribution channel, a common exhaust-air channel and a common air handling unit i.e. a compact system while being fully functioning for a plurality of spaces. Further, the individual air-supply is adjustable by said throttle units of the branches. The branches allow for the air to be circulated from and to, a plurality of spaces. Further, the positioning of the air-intake device intaking air horizontally and the air-exhaust device allow for less noise, while also cleaner air intake since the air intake device intakes air horizontally and is arranged at said upper portion (for example on the surface opposite the surface of the VSM arranged to be coupled to the ambient facing surface of the building). Further, the exhaust-air device allowing for any air to be outputted vertically from said upper portion also reduces noise at ground level while also reducing the risk of odours to be sensed by humans on ground-level.

Another advantage with the system herein is that it is easy to maintenance for an operator as it's adapted to be entered from the stairwell of a building, more specifically the idle plane of a building. Thus, the expression “the ambient surface being associated to at least one idle plane of a stairwell” may refer to that a part of an opposite side of the ambient facing surface/outer wall (i.e. inside surface/wall of the building) is connected to/part of a stairwell, so that the idle plan of said stairwell extends to (and is in contact with) the opposing side of the ambient facing surface. Thus, the VSM can be accessible from said idle plane as long as an opening is provided in the ambient facing surface when the VSM is installed to said building. Thus, the surface may be associated to said idle plane by e.g. having the same vertical height (or +−30 cm), preferably the surface and the idle plane are parallel so that the idle plane, at said installed state is merely an extension to said surface.

The said first set of air-supply branches extend along a common row, said throttle-units of said first set of air-supply branches being arranged at a distance from said surface. Thus, the first set of air-supply branches may extend parallel to said surface. Also, by being arranged a distance (e.g. 1 m, preferably 1.5-2m) from said surface they are accessible for an operator when needing maintenance or adjustment. Thus, the operator may enter the VSM and can adjust/configure the air-supply branches in head-height. The air-exhaust branches may also extend along a common row, similar to the air-supply branches, so to provide similar benefits.

The VSM may further comprise a fire-gas channel arrangement comprising an inlet arranged at said upper portion of said structure the fire-gas channel arrangement being configured to, upon activation, withdraw fire-gas from said stairwell of said building and exhaust said fire-gas through said air-exhaust device. The fire-gas channel arrangement may be activated by e.g. a flame-detector configured to sense one or more of fire, smoke, heat, infrared and/or ultraviolet light radiation, or gas. The fire-gas may be withdrawn e.g. by a suction-mechanism provided by a fan or any other suitable mechanism.

In some aspects herein, the fire-gas channel arrangement further comprises a by-pass channel positioned intermediate said air-exhaust branches and said air handling unit (connected to the first exhaust portion), the by-pass channel being arranged to, upon activation of said fire-gas channel arrangement, by-pass fluid/air/gas from the air handling unit, such that exhaust air collected by said branches are directly transferred to said a first exhaust portion and out from said air-exhaust device.

Thus, the air handling unit will not be damaged by any fire gas.

The VSM further comprises an entering structure extending from the surface in a direction opposite the first direction, the entering structure being arranged to enclose an entering section of said building, the entering structure comprising at least one partially transparent surface and an opening for fitting a door.

An advantage of the entering structure is that is provides stability to said VSM, while providing increased safety and space in the building. The entering structure provides a greater field of view of human in the building that are exiting the building as it is protruding from the ambient facing surface of the building.

The distribution channel may further comprise a stairwell air-supply branch section extending through the surface (to said entering portion) arranged to supply air to said entering portion from said distribution channel, wherein the exhaust-air channel further comprises a stairwell air-exhaust branch section, which, when said VSM is installed to said building, extends to the stairwell from said upper portion of said structure, allowing for recirculation of air within said stairwell. Thus, air will be inputted into the entering portion and can therefrom circulate into the stairwell and upwards vertically along the stairwell and in-taken by an inlet of said stairwell air-exhaust branch section which extends from the upper portion of the VSM to the stairwell (preferably to a top of the stairwell).

Thus providing the advantage of, in a convenient manner install air circulation to a stairwell of a building.

The VSM may further comprise a pair of beams, wherein when said VSM is installed, first ends of said pair of beams are anchored at the ground and second ends thereof supports said surface, a distance between the first and the second ends being at least 2 m. The beams providing stability to said VSM, the distance of at least 2m allow for human activity below the surface. The VSM may comprise 4 pair of beams.

Further, the air handling unit may comprise a heat exchanger, the air handling unit being arranged to circulate air from said air-intake device out from said air-supply pipes and from said air-exhaust pipes out from said air-exhaust device. The heat exchanger is preferably a rotating heat exchanger coupled to a carbon filter box to provide compactness while being efficient in a heat exchanging operation thereof. The air handling unit may also comprise a heating unit arranged to provide heat to the air handling unit as well as fans for withdrawing and outputting air in and out from said air handling unit.

The VSM may comprise at least a second set of air-supply and air-exhaust branches extending from said distribution channel and said air-supply channel respectively, the at least one second set of branches having a greater distance in the first direction from said surface compared to said first set of branches, allowing for said distribution channel and said exhaust-air channel to circulate air within a plurality of spaces in a plurality of floors in said building. Accordingly, the first set of branches may be associated to e.g. an idle plane being in-between a first and a second floor (each floor having plurality of spaces) of a building. Thus, the second set of branches may be associated to an additional idle plane being in-between the second and a third floor. Accordingly, the VSM may comprise an additional surface for operators to enter from said additional idle plane, the additional surface may be a low-weight surface e.g. a metal grid surface. The additional surface being associated to said additional idle plane so to be accessible for an operator. A benefit of this is that the second set of air supply branches are vertically higher up than said first set allowing for more convenient air distribution and intake from spaces higher up in said building. Also providing increased space efficiency within said VSM. The second set of branches may, similar to said first set be arranged on a common row at a distance above said additional surface (at least 1m, preferably 1.5-2m).

There is further provided a building comprising a stairwell being intermediate (or enclosed/at least partially surrounded by) a plurality of spaces (e.g. apartments or offices), the stairwell having at least one idle plane associated to an ambient facing surface of said building, wherein the VSM according to any aspect herein is installed to said ambient facing surface of said stairwell, wherein the building comprises an opening in said ambient facing surface, the opening being associated to one of said at least one idle planes and said distal portion of said surface.

Thus, in some aspects the building may have an idle plane and an additional idle plane associated to one opening each, for allowing an operator to enter the surface for e.g. maintenance of the air handling unit or first set of branches, or enter the additional surface for e.g. maintenance of said second set of branches.

There is also provided a method for installing the VSM according to any aspect herein to an ambient facing surface of a building, the ambient facing surface being associated to a stairwell, the method comprising providing the VSM according to any aspect herein. Followed by, anchoring said VSM to said ambient facing surface of said building such that the surface is associated to an idle plane of said stairwell. Moreover, the method comprises opening a part of a said ambient facing surface for allowing the surface to be accessible from said idle plane. Furthermore, the method comprises fluidically connecting said exhaust-air branches to air-exhaust pipes of said building and supply-air branches to air-supply pipes of said building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the disclosure will be described in a non-limiting way and in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the enclosed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a VSM in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an objective view of a building with a VSM attached thereto in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a VSM in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a building with a VSM attached thereto in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a back view of a part of a VSM in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6A schematically illustrates a side cross-sectional part view of a VSM comprising at least a pair of beams in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6B schematically illustrates a top view of a VSM installed to a building in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an objective view of a building with a VSM attached thereto in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a VSM in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of a VSM in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a VSM in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 illustrates in the form of a flowchart a method for installing the VSM according to any aspect of the present disclosure to an ambient facing surface of a building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything else is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the provided module, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the module may be realized without these details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present disclosure. Generally, all terms used in the description are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, unit etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic side view of a VSM in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Illustrating a VSM 1 arranged to be attached to an ambient facing surface (outer wall) 2 of a building 100, the ambient surface being associated to at least one idle plane 3 of a stairwell. An idle plane 3 may be referred to as an intermediate and/or entering plane associated to (leading to/extending to) stairs of a stairwell, an idle plane may be intermediate two floors. The VSM 1 is arranged to control air circulation of a plurality of spaces within said building 100. A space may be referred to as an apartment having a plurality of rooms.

Further, FIG. 1 illustrates that the VSM 1 comprises a surface/base 4, the surface 4 or any other surface of the present disclosure may preferably be formed by a composite material so to be a composite surface, e.g., the surface 4 may comprise materials being one or more of concrete, plaster, polymer, wood, clay, metal and steel (i.e. may be any combination thereof). However, the surface may be formed by other materials as well. The surface denoted 4 may also be referred to as a “support surface” or a “support platform” or “a first surface” or a “base”. The surface 4 may have a thickness of 5-100 cm. The surface 4 may be site-casted such that it is poured and cured so to be directly attached to the building 100. However, in other aspects, the surface 4 may be pre-manufactured and installed to the building 100. FIG. 1 further illustrates that the surface 4 has a vertically extending structure 1′ extending therefrom in a first direction y1, wherein an upper portion u1 of the structure 1′ comprises, at a sidewall 5 thereof, a first opening 6 for horizontally drawing ambient air into the VSM 1 by an air-intake device 7, and, at a top surface 8 thereof opposing the surface 4, a second opening 9 for venting exhaust air away from the VSM 1 by an air-exhaust device 10. The structure 1′ may be a box-like structure installed in one or more modules.

The term “module” in the VSM may refer to that the VSM is attachable as a module to e.g. an existing building, e.g. an older building lacking sufficient air circulation. The VSM may be in some aspects divided into a plurality of modules stackable to each other. Thus, the VSM herein may be a module attachable to outer walls of buildings not being an integral part of said building.

FIG. 1 further illustrates that the VSM 1 comprise an air handling unit 11 preferably positioned at a distal portion 12 of said surface 4 for allowing an operator to enter the VSM through the idle plane 3. Further, FIG. 1 illustrates that the VSM 1 comprises a distribution channel 13 having a first distribution portion 13a, the first distribution portion 13a extending between said air-intake device 7 and said air handling unit 11, and a second distribution portion 13b extending from said air handling unit 11 towards said VSM 1 upper portion u1. The second distribution portion 13b comprising a first set s1a of at least partially horizontally extending air-supply branches 14 for supplying air to said plurality of spaces from said distribution channel 13. Thus, the air intake device 7 may be arranged to intake air, transfer it to the air handling unit 11 which may control the intaken air e.g. by a heat exchanger and heating units therein, and distribute it towards the air supply branches 14. Accordingly, each air-supply branch 14 may be arranged to connect to corresponding air-supply pipes 26′ of said building, each air-supply branch 14 comprises a throttle-unit 15 for individual adjustment of air-supply flow from respective branch 14 and/or for preventing gas within the building to enter the distribution channel. The VSM 1 further comprises an exhaust-air channel 16 having a first exhaust portion 16a extending between (preferably said upper section 11a) said air handling unit 11 and said air exhaust device 10 and a second exhaust portion 16b extending from said air handling unit 11 towards said upper portion u1, so to intake air upstreams. The second exhaust portion 16b comprising a first set s1b of at least partially horizontally extending air-exhaust branches 17 for exhaust of air from said plurality of spaces to said exhaust-air channel 16, each exhaust-air branch 17 being arranged to connect to corresponding air-exhaust pipes of said building. FIG. 1, illustrates schematically the air-supply pipes and air-exhaust pipes 26, 26′ being connected to said branches 14, 17. The pipes 26, 26′ may be fluidically connected to said exhaust-air branches/supply-air branches of said building 100. The pipes 26, 26′ may be connected to the branches 14, 17 by e.g. screwing them onto said branches 14, 17, press-fit or any other suitable means.

The surface 4 is arranged to be associated to said idle plane 3 of said stairwell as shown in FIG. 1 in which a part of an idle plane 3 is shown. At an installed state of said VSM 1 i.e. when its attached to said ambient facing surface 2, the idle plane 3 is accessible from a proximal portion 12′ of said surface 4. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 in which it is shown that an operator 50 can access the surface 4 from the idle plane which is level and parallel to said surface 4 (both extending horizontally). It should be noted that FIG. 1 illustrates the air-flow with arrows.

Also FIG. 1 illustrates that the operator has the branch sections 14, 17 and the air handling unit 11 accessible from entering the VSM 1. Thus, the branch sections 14, 17 are preferably 1.1-2m from the surface 4 in the first direction y1. Further, FIG. 1 illustrates that the air handling unit 11 may be positioned on said distal portion 12 so that a majority of the surface of the proximal portion 12′ is accessible for an operator 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a common air intake device 7, a common air exhaust device 10 and a common air handling unit 11 may be utilized to control air circulation for a plurality of spaces. Each branch 14, 17 may be arranged to be connected to pipes 26, 26′ that are intended for a corresponding space (e.g. an apartment). Thus, a compact structure as shown in FIG. 1 can circulate air within a plurality of spaces (apartments) with adapted air circulation for each one of said spaces (by the throttle units 15). The air-exhaust device may have a plurality of connections e.g. one for connecting to a fire-gas channel arrangement 18 and one for connecting to said exhaust-air channel 16.

FIG. 2 illustrates an objective view of said VSM 1. FIG. 2 illustrates that the VSM 1 may comprise an entering structure 21 extending from the surface 4 in a direction opposite the first direction y1, the entering structure 21 being arranged to enclose an entering section of said building 100, the entering structure 21 comprising at least one partially transparent surface and an opening for fitting a door. The transparent surface may be windows, e.g. glass windows. Further, it is illustrated in FIG. 2 that the VSM may be arranged to be attached to an ambient facing surface 2 of a building 100, the ambient surface being associated to at least one idle plane 3 of a stairwell. Thus, the VSM 1 may be arranged to extend vertically along the stairwell of a building 100 such that opposite the side of the building in which the VSM 1 is attached is the stairwell (this is further illustrated in FIG. 4).

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a side view of the VSM showing that the VSM further comprises a fire-gas channel arrangement 18 comprising an inlet channel (may also be referred to as fire-gas inlet channel) arranged at said upper portion u1 of said structure 1′ the fire-gas channel arrangement 18 being configured to, upon activation, withdraw fire-gas (e.g. by a fan or other intake means) from said stairwell of said building 100 and exhaust said fire-gas through said air-exhaust device 10. Thus, the inlet channel 19 may be arranged to extend into said stairwell of said building 100. The inlet channel 19 may be coupled to a first fire fan unit 19′ for withdrawing said fire gas. The inlet channel may be arranged to extend between said stairwell and said air-exhaust device 10.

Further, FIG. 3 illustrates that the fire-gas channel arrangement 18 further comprises a by-pass channel 20 positioned intermediate said air-exhaust branches 17 and said air handling unit 11, the by-pass channel 20 being arranged to, upon activation of said fire-gas channel arrangement 18, by-pass the air handling unit 11, such that exhaust air collected by said branches 17 are directly transferred to said a first exhaust portion 16a and out from said air-exhaust device 10. Thus, the by-pass channel 20 may at an intersection with the second exhaust portion 16b, by e.g. a valve mechanism, allow intaken air from said branches s1b to bypass a regular route to said air handling unit 11 so to go directly to said by-pass channel 20 out from said air exhaust device 10. The by-pass channel 20 may also be coupled to a second fire fan unit 20′. It should be noted that in some embodiments herein, the fire-gas channel arrangement 18 comprises said inlet channel 19 for withdrawing fire-gas (without comprising said by-pass channel 20). In other embodiments herein, the fire-gas channel arrangement 18 comprises said by-pass channel 20 (without comprising said inlet channel 19). Thus, the by-pass channel 20 and inlet channel 19 for fire gas herein may work independently and one of them may be excluded. Further, even if said VSM 1 comprises both the inlet channel 19 and by-pass channel 20, the expression “upon activation of said fire gas channel arrangement” may refer to that said inlet channel 19 and by-pass channel are activated independently at different points in time. Thus, said expression may be interchanged with “upon activation of said inlet channel for fire gas” or “upon activation of said by-pass channel”.

FIG. 3 further illustrates that the VSM 1 may comprise ventilation at its inner volume by having a first and a second inner ventilation branch 27, 27′ respectively for supplying and exhausting air therefrom. Thus, providing a circulated environment also within the structure 1′.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional objective view from the side of a building 100 having a stairwell 101 and idle planes 3. Further, FIG. 4 illustrates the entering portion 21 being formed as an extension away from the building. Moreover, FIG. 4 illustrates that the building comprises an opening 23 in said ambient facing surface 2, the opening 23 being associated to one of said at least one idle planes 3 and said distal portion 12′ of said surface 4.

Further, FIG. 4 illustrates that the VSM may further comprise a stairwell air-supply branch section 22a extending through the surface 4 arranged to supply air to said entering portion 21 from said distribution channel, wherein the exhaust-air channel 16 further comprises a stairwell air-exhaust branch section 22b, which, when said VSM 1 is installed to said building 100 (as shown in FIG. 4), extends to the stairwell 101 from said upper portion u1 (shown in e.g. FIG. 1) of said VSM 1, allowing for recirculation of air within said stairwell 101. FIG. 4 further illustrates that to operate the module, pipes can be installed to said branch sections so to allow for circulation of air in the building. Thus, the VSM 1 can be installed to said building 100, followed by connecting air-supply and exhaust-air pipes to corresponding branches in the VSM 1 so to allow for the VSM 1 to start operating.

FIG. 5 illustrates an objective cross-sectional view of a part of the VSM in accordance with aspects herein. FIG. 5 illustrates that said first set s1a of air-supply branches 14 extend along a common row being substantially perpendicular to said first direction y1. Further, said branches 14 and said throttle-units 15 of said first set s1a of air-supply branches 14 being arranged at a distance from said surface 4 along the first direction y1. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, both the air handling unit 11 and the first set s1a of air-supply branches 14 are accessible for an operator entering the proximal portion 12′. FIG. 5 further illustrate that the first set of air-exhaust branches s1b extend along a common row substantially perpendicular to said first direction y1 at a distance from said surface 4 along the first direction y1.

The air handling unit 11 may comprise a heat exchanger, preferably a rotary heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may comprise a rotating aluminium wheel configured to be heated up by the warmth from the extract indoor air supplied to it by said exhaust-air channel 16, this heat is then transferred to air that is taken in from air intake device 7 and may be filtered, heated and then supplied to the spaces in the building 100. Generally, the air handling unit 11 may be arranged to circulate air from said air-intake device 7 out from said air-supply pipes 14 and from said air-exhaust pipes 17 out from said air-exhaust device 9. The air handling unit 11 may further comprise a supply air fan and an exhaust air fan for circulating air to and from the air handling unit. Further the air handling unit 11 may comprise an exhaust and supply filter. Table 1 below discloses in an exemplary manner operational data at minimal and maximal flow for an air handling unit 11 in accordance with some embodiments herein. The air handling unit 11 herein may be able to provide air circulation for 3-5 floors in a building.

		Type	External	SFPv		Temp.	Power
	Flow	of	Pressure	(kW/	SFPint	Efficiency	VB
	(l/s)	rotor	(Pa)	m3/s)	(W/m3/s)	(%)	(kW)
Min.	410	SL	180	1.5	836	85	3.0
Max.	210	SL	210	1.5	545	86	1.4

As shown in table 1, the air handling unit 11 may have a flow between 210-410 l/s, based on said flow the power may vary between 1.4-3.0 kW, the flow may refer to a total flow (dividedly distributed to each space by said branches). Moreover, a specific fan power of each fan in the air handling unit 11 may be 1.5 kW/m{circumflex over ( )}3/s, or in some aspects between 1.3-1.7 kW/m{circumflex over ( )}3/s. The specific fan power may be defined as a ratio between an electrical input power and an airflow.

All aspects of the table are not bound to the specific embodiment shown therein, for example, the air handling unit 11 may have a flow of between 210-410 l/s and a SFPv of between 1.3-1.7 kW/m{circumflex over ( )}3/s, while other parameters vary. Thus, the parameters should be viewed in separation and not as dependent on each other.

SFPint may refer to a sum of an internal specific fan power of the air supply side and the air extract side of the air handling unit 11. The SFPint may vary between 500-850 kW/m{circumflex over ( )}3/s.

External pressure may refer to an outside pressure that the unit is able to handle while functioning in accordance with its specifications. Power VB may refer to the total power that each fan consumes when in operation.

FIG. 6A illustrates a side cross-sectional part view of a VSM 1 showing that the VSM 1 comprises at least a pair of beams 24, wherein when said VSM 1 is installed, first ends 24a of said pair of beams 24 are anchored at the ground and second ends 24b thereof supports said surface 4. A distance between the first and the second ends 24a, 24b being at least 2 m. As shown in FIG. 2, the entering portion 21 may be arranged in the area between the first and second ends 24a, 24b. Thus, in some aspects, the beams 24 support said surface 4 which is arranged to hold components of said VSM 1.

FIG. 6B illustrates schematically a top view of a VSM 1 installed to a building 100 that illustrates the airflow 105 to the building 100 spaces 104 from the VSM 1 when branches thereof are connected to air-supply pipes of the building. Thus, the air-supply (and exhaust pipes) may be arranged to connect to the spaces 104 from the stairwell 101 and to the branches from the stairwell 101 and transfer/extract air to the spaces 104 and from the spaces 104.

FIG. 7 illustrates an objective view of the VSM 1 attached to a building 100 showing that the VSM 1 can extend along several stories of the building 100. FIG. 7 illustrates that the structure may be covering majority of the components of the VSM as seen from the outside. Thus, in some aspects the structure 1′ forms a protective cover for covering/protecting all channels of the VSM from visibility.

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a side cross-sectional view of the VSM 1 in accordance with aspects herein. FIG. 8 illustrates that the VSM 1 may comprise at least a second set of air-supply and air-exhaust branches s2a, s2b extending from said distribution channel 13 and said air-supply channel respectively 16. The at least one second set s2a, s2b of branches 14, 17 having a greater distance in the first direction y1 from said surface 4 compared to said first set of branches s1a, s2b, allowing for said distribution channel 13 and said exhaust-air channel 16 to circulate air within a plurality of spaces in a plurality of floors in said building 100. Also, there is shown a third set of air-supply and exhaust branches s3a, s3b having a greater distance in the first direction y1 than both the first and second sets s1a, s1b, s2a, s2b from the surface 4. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the second sets s2a, s2b may be at an intermediate portion i1 of said VSM 1. Accordingly as shown in FIG. 8, the first set of branches s1a, s1b may be associated to e.g. an idle plane 3 being in-between a first and a second floor (each floor having plurality of spaces) of a building 100. Thus, the second set of branches s2a, s2b may be associated to an additional idle plane 3′ e.g. being in-between the second and a third floor. Accordingly, the VSM 1 may comprise an additional surface 4′ for operators to enter from said additional idle plane 3′, the additional surface 4′ may be a low-weight surface e.g. a metal grid surface. The additional surface 4′ being associated to said additional idle plane 3′ so to be accessible for an operator. A benefit of this is that the second set of air supply/exhaust branches s2a, s2b are vertically higher up than said first set s1a, s1b allowing for more convenient air distribution and intake from spaces higher up in said building 100 vertically y1. Also providing increased space efficiency within said VSM 1. The same structure as for the second sets of branches s2a, s2b may be adapted for the third set s3a, s3b. Thus, in some aspects herein the VSM may comprise a plurality (at least two) of sets of branches s1a-s3a, s1b-s3b, wherein each sets of branches is associated to and accessible from a respective surface 4, 4′, and wherein each of said surfaces 4, 4′ are associated to a respective idle plane 3, 3′. Thus, each surface 4, 4′ may, when said VSM is installed to the building 10, be substantially (i.e. preferably +−50 cm, more preferably +−30 cm, even more preferably +−20 cm, even more preferably +−10 cm from being level) level and parallel with a corresponding idle plane 3, 3′ of the building 100.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view if the VSM 1 in accordance with aspects herein with focus to illustrate the inner parts of the same. Also FIG. 9 illustrates that the VSM 1 comprises beams 24 for securely holding the VSM 1 and all components therein.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates said VSM 1 from a side view. FIG. 10 illustrates that the distribution channel 13 and the air-exhaust channel 16 may comprise sound-mufflers 41 for reducing sound arising from the VSM 1. Further, FIG. 10 illustrates example configuration of fans 40 in the VSM 1. Further, illustrating a carbon filter box 42 also. The air handling unit 11 may also comprise a heating unit 44, the heating unit may provide air to the heat exchanger from external resources, e.g., when the ambient air is not able to provide sufficient heat (e.g., during winter period). Moreover, the air handling unit 11 may comprise a heat exchanger 43.

The present disclosure, as illustrated in the FIGS. 1-10, also discloses a building 100 comprising a stairwell 101 being intermediate a plurality of spaces within said building 100, the stairwell 101 having at least one idle plane 3 associated to an ambient facing surface 2 of said building 100, thus the stairwell 101 may have a wall that on its inside faces the stairwell and on its outside (ambient facing side) faces the environment. The stairwell 101 may extend vertically along a height of said building 100 providing floors for entering spaces in the building 100, wherein intermediate each floor (vertically) may be an idle plane 3. Further, the VSM 1 according to any aspect herein may be installed/attached to said ambient facing surface 2 of said stairwell 101, wherein the building comprises/is arranged to provide an opening 23 (as shown in FIG. 4) in said ambient facing surface 2, the opening 23 being associated to one of said at least one idle planes 3 and said distal portion 12′ of said surface 4 allowing for an operator 50 to enter therein (as shown in FIG. 1). In some aspects in which the VSM 1 comprises a plurality of branches s1a-s3a, s1b-s3b (see FIG. 8) the building may comprise additional openings 23 in said ambient facing surface for each additional surface 4′ of said VSM 1, the openings 23 may be arranged to fit a door for an operator 50 (see FIG. 1) to enter. Thus, different parts of the VSM 1 are accessible from different parts of the building allowing for increased compactness and easier to operate/provide maintenance to by an operator.

FIG. 11 illustrates a method 200 for installing the VSM according to any aspect of the present disclosure to an ambient facing surface of a building, the ambient facing surface being associated to a stairwell in said building, the method 200 comprises the steps of providing 201 the VSM according to any aspect herein, the VSM may be provided in a plurality of modules arranged to be stacked vertically. Further, anchoring/attaching 202 said VSM to said ambient facing surface of said building such that the surface is associated to an idle plane of said stairwell. Further, the method 200 comprises opening 203 at least part of a said ambient facing surface for allowing the surface to be accessible from said at least one idle plane. Moreover, the method 200 comprises fluidically 204 connecting said exhaust-air branches to air-exhaust pipes of said building and supply-air branches to air-supply pipes of said building. The VSM may be anchored to the ambient facing surface by installing the surface to the ground and further installing the remaining components thereon.

Claims

1. A ventilation system module, VSM, arranged to be attached to an ambient facing surface of a building, the ambient surface being associated to at least one idle plane of a stairwell, the VSM being arranged to control air circulation of a plurality of spaces within said building, the VSM comprising: a surface having a vertically extending structure extending therefrom in a first direction, wherein an upper portion of the structure comprises, at a sidewall thereof, a first opening for horizontally drawing ambient air into the VSM by an air-intake device of the VSM, and, at a top surface thereof opposing the surface, a second opening for venting exhaust air away from the VSM by an air-exhaust device of the VSM;an air handling unit positioned on said surface;a distribution channel having a first distribution portion, the first distribution portion extending between said air-intake device and said air handling unit, and a second distribution portion extending from said air handling unit towards said VSM upper portion, the second distribution portion comprising a first set of at least partially horizontally extending air-supply branches for supplying air to said plurality of spaces from said distribution channel, each air-supply branch being arranged to connect to corresponding air-supply pipes of said building, each air-supply branch-comprising a throttle-unit for individual adjustment of air-supply flow from respective branch; andan exhaust-air channel having a first exhaust portion extending between said air handling unit and said air exhaust device and a second exhaust portion extending from said air handling unit towards said upper portion, the second exhaust portion comprising a first set of at least partially horizontally extending air-exhaust branches for exhaust of air from said plurality of spaces to said exhaust-air channel, each exhaust-air branch being arranged to connect to corresponding air-exhaust pipes of said building;wherein said surface is arranged to be associated to said idle plane of said stairwell, wherein at an installed state of said VSM, the idle plane is accessible from a proximal portion of said surface.

2. The VSM according to claim 1, wherein said first set of air-supply branches extend along a common row, said throttle-units of said first set of air-supply branches being arranged at a distance from said surface.

3. The VSM according to claim 1, further comprising a fire-gas channel arrangement comprising an inlet channel arranged at said upper portion of said structure the fire-gas channel arrangement being configured to, upon activation, withdraw fire-gas from said stairwell of said building and exhaust said fire-gas through said air-exhaust device.

4. The VSM according to claim 1, further comprising a fire-gas channel arrangement comprising a by-pass channel positioned intermediate said air-exhaust branches and said air handling unit, the by-pass channel being arranged to, upon activation of said fire-gas channel arrangement, by-pass the air handling unit, such that exhaust air collected by said branches are directly transferred to said first exhaust portion and out from said air-exhaust device.

5. The VSM according to claim 1, wherein said VSM further comprises an entering structure extending from the surface in a direction opposite the first direction, the entering structure being arranged to enclose an entering section of said building, the entering structure comprising at least one partially transparent surface and an opening for fitting a door.

6. The VSM according to claim 5, wherein the distribution channel further comprises a stairwell air-supply branch section extending through the surface arranged to supply air to said entering structure from said distribution channel, wherein the exhaust-air channel further comprises a stairwell air-exhaust branch section, which, when said VSM is installed to said building, extends to the stairwell from said upper portion of said VSM, allowing for recirculation of air within said stairwell.

7. The VSM according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of beams, wherein when said VSM-is installed, first ends of said pair of beams are anchored at the ground and second ends thereof supports said surface, a distance between the first and the second ends being at least 2 m.

8. The VSM according to claim 1, wherein said air handling unit comprises a heat exchanger, the air handling unit being arranged to circulate air from said air-intake device out from said air-supply pipes and from said air-exhaust pipes out from said air-exhaust device.

9. The VSM according to claim 1, wherein said VSM comprises at least a second set of air-supply and air-exhaust branches extending from said distribution channel and said exhaust-air channel respectively, the at least one second set of branches having a greater distance in the first direction from said surface compared to said first set of branches, allowing for said distribution channel and said exhaust-air channel to circulate air within a plurality of spaces in a plurality of floors in said building.

10. A building comprising a stairwell being intermediate a plurality of spaces, the stairwell having at least one idle plane associated to an ambient facing surface of said building, wherein the VSM according to claim 1 is installed to said ambient facing surface of said stairwell, wherein the building comprises an opening-in said ambient facing surface, the opening being associated to one of said at least one idle planes and a distal portion of said surface.

11. A method for installing the VSM according to claim 1 to an ambient facing surface of a building, the ambient facing surface being associated to a stairwell, the method comprising: providing the VSM according to claim 1;anchoring said VSM to said ambient facing surface of said building such that the surface is associated to an idle plane of said stairwell;opening a part of a said ambient facing surface for allowing the surface to be accessible from said idle plane; andfluidically connecting said air-exhaust branches to air-exhaust pipes of said building and air-supply branches to air-supply pipes of said building.