EP2292848A1

EP2292848A1 - An arrangement for operation control

Info

Publication number: EP2292848A1
Application number: EP09165881A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kjell Forssén; Erik Smideby
Original assignee: Rado Vac HB
Current assignee: RADO VAC HB
Priority date: 2009-07-20
Filing date: 2009-07-20
Publication date: 2011-03-09

Abstract

An arrangement for controlling the operation of a device for transporting earth gases emanating from the soil from a space under a building to the atmosphere comprises an electronic control unit (12) configured to be arranged in connection with a fan unit and a supervising central (24) remotely located with respect to the device (1). The electronic control unit comprises means (25) configured to communicate with the central for exchanging data relating to the operation of said device therewith.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an arrangement for controlling the operation of a device for transporting earth gases emanating from the soil from a space under a building to the atmosphere.
It is particularly desired to obtain such transport of earth gases when these have a high content of radon, and the present invention is for that sake especially directed to such transport of earth gases containing radon for preventing this radon from entering the building and expose persons present therein to harmful radiation decay.
Radon is a link in the chain of decay of uranium-238 and occurs naturally in soil as the radio nuclide gas that dissipates by exposure of soil to the atmosphere. Studies have shown that the presence of radon gas may dramatically increase the risk of occurrence of lung cancer, which is the reason for limit values not to be exceeded in a building set by authorities, and this limit value is presently in Sweden set to be 200 bq for radon decay.
Radon gas permeates construction material as porous cement blocks or poured foundations which have become porous over time or which have cracked due to stress, so that radon can penetrate building structures at high concentrations. Thus, it will then be necessary to arrange a device mentioned above for conducting radon containing earth gases directly to the atmosphere, so that said limit value is not reached.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention relates more particularly to a said arrangement for controlling the operation of a device comprising a fan unit having on one hand an inlet opening configured to be connected to a pipe in fluid communication with said space and an outlet opening configured to be connected to a pipe for exhausting said earth gases to the atmosphere and on the other an impeller and a motor configured to rotate said impeller for generating a gas flow for transporting gases from said space to the atmosphere.
Such an arrangement may have a number of different aims, such as ensuring that the device is operating properly, i.e. prevents too high amounts of radon gas to penetrate into the building in question, that not unnecessary power is spent for obtaining this and so on. It may then be appropriate to make sure that incorrect operation of the device is noticed, such as by triggering an alarm. Devices of this type are frequently arranged in buildings where people live, especially one family houses, and it is desired that a control arrangement of this type shall take care of the control of said device without relying on actions of these people, such as checking the function at regular intervals and so on.
An arrangement of this type is already known through for instance GB 2265639 A , which is provided with alarm means and also has means for measuring the radon gas content of the earth gases in said space under a building for controlling the fan unit motor in dependence upon the result of this measurement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of the type defined above being improved in at least some aspect with respect to such arrangements already known.
This object is according to the invention obtained by providing said arrangement with an electronic control unit configured to be arranged in connection with said fan unit and a supervising central remotely located with respect to said device, and by providing said control unit with means configured to communicate with said central for exchanging data relating to the operation of said device therewith.
This means that the proper operation of said device will not rely on the memory of people living in a said building, but this may instead be accomplished by said central, which may be managed by a company or person being appointed to take care of supervising of the operation of the device and possibly also other actions relating thereto, such as control of said operation, maintenance of the device, delivering status reports with respect to the operation of said device to the owner of the building and so on. This means that the persons living in said building do not have to bother about the operation of said device and may still be sure that they will not be exposed to harmful radiation emanating from decay of radon.
According to an embodiment of the invention said communication means of said electronic control unit comprises a radio wave transmitter and/or receiver, such as a GSM-transmitter and/or -receiver, configured to send signals, such as SMS-signals, between said electronic control unit and said central. This constitutes a simple and reliable way of obtaining said communication between the electronic control unit and said central. Said central may then also comprise a transmitter and/or receiver of radio waves, such as a GSM-transmitter and/or -receiver, configured to communicate with said electronic control unit. This means that the central may for instance call the electronic control unit and ask for a report of said operation, such as the instantaneous rotation speed of the impeller of the fan unit or the operation during a predetermined period of time, which may contain information about different malfunctions of the device, such as power failures. This way of communicating also makes it possible to have said central located at a comparatively long distance to said device, such as above 10 kilometres or even 100 kilometres, which makes it possible to have such a central for supervising devices of this type over a larger area.
According to another embodiment of the invention said communication means of said electronic control unit is configured to carry out said communication with respect to the operation of said device with said central at least partially through a Local Area Network, a Wide Area Network and/or the Internet. These constitute suitable ways of obtaining said communication.
According to another embodiment of the invention said communication means of said electronic control unit is configured to send data relating to the operation of said device to said central, and said central and/or control unit has means configured to store data relating to said operation for being evaluated later on. This makes it possible to for instance carry out modifications of any part of the device should that turn out to be desired or necessary.
According to another embodiment of the invention the arrangement comprises means configured to measure at least one parameter relating to the operation of said device, said control unit comprises means configured to compare the result of this measurement with a preset value of this parameter and trigger an alarm if the difference of the parameter value measured and said preset value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. This means that said control unit will give notice of a degraded function of the device when this occurs. Said comparing means is then preferably configured to trigger said alarm under the condition that said threshold value has been exceeded for a predetermined period of time, such as 2 minutes. This avoids that the alarm is triggered when there is no need to, such as upon suddenly occurring fluctuations of the gas pressure in said space under the building.
According to another embodiment of the invention said threshold value is set to be less than 20% of said preset value, preferably 2-10% thereof, which results in a sufficient sensitivity of said alarm.
According to another embodiment of the invention said measuring means is configured to measure the rotation speed of said fan unit motor as said parameter. "Rotation speed of said fan unit motor" of course means the rotation speed of the output axle of the motor driving said impeller. The rotation speed of said motor may deviate from the preset value thereof when for instance a filter arranged upstream said fan unit has become obstructed by any animal or dust collected therein, which results in an increase of said rotation speed, or by any pressure increase resulting from gas leakages from said soil into said space, which will also result in an increase of said rotation speed.
According to another embodiment of the invention said central has means configured, based upon data relating to the operation of the device received from said electronic control unit, to determine how said fan unit is to be operated and send corresponding control orders to said electronic control unit for controlling said fan unit accordingly. This makes it possible to obtain proper remote control of the operation of said device, which is of great importance, especially when it is a desire to design a said central for supervising devices distributed over a larger area, such as in regions with a low population density, resulting in a remarkably saving of travel.
According to another embodiment of the invention said central comprises means configured to call said electronic control unit for obtaining a status report of the current operation of said device and/or a report with respect to previous operation of said device over a predetermined or optional period of time from said electronic control unit.
According to another embodiment of the invention said electronic control unit comprises a programmable microprocessor provided with software for controlling the operation of said device, and said central has then preferably means configured to enable reprogramming of said microprocessor through said communication with said electronic control unit. This means that the way of operating of said device may be simply changed from a remotely located place.
According to another embodiment of the invention the arrangement comprises means configured to measure the content of radon gas of the air on at least one location inside said building and send information about the measurement result to said electronic control unit, and said electronic control unit comprises means configured to determine the rotation speed of said fan unit motor based upon said radon gas content value measured. The control of said fan unit motor may by this be adapted to the need of transporting earth gases from said space to the atmosphere, so that on one hand energy may be saved and on the other, and which is of most importance, the lifetime of said fan unit motor may be remarkably prolonged, such as to be 20 years instead of 10 years. This is obtained by the measure to carry out said radon gas content measurement inside the building and not in said space under the building. The radon gas content in the earth gases in said space may be very high and in spite of that the radon gas content in said air inside the building even so low that the operation of said motor may be stopped, and such a situation may only be discovered when carrying out said measurement inside the building.
According to another embodiment of the invention said determining means is configured to determine that said electronic control unit shall stop said motor if said radon content value is below a certain level. Furthermore, the arrangement may have means for measuring the radon gas content of the air on a plurality of locations in said building, and said determining means is then configured to determine the rotation speed of said motor based on the radon gas content values measured on these locations, which makes the control of said motor in dependence of the need of earth gas transport therethrough even more accurate.
Further advantages as well as advantageous features of the invention will appear from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a specific description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.
In the drawings:

Fig 1: is a simplified view showing a device to be controlled through an arrangement according to the invention in use,
Fig 2: is a perspective view showing a part of a device to be controlled by an arrangement according to the inven- tion and a part of said arrangement,
Fig 3: is a simplified view of a building provided with an ar- rangement according to the present invention,
Figs 4-6: are very simplified views illustrating the general con- struction of a control arrangement according to em- bodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Fig 1 illustrates schematically how a device 1 may be located inside a building 2, such as in a cellar thereof, in a closet or the like. The device is configured to transport earth gases emanating from the soil 3 from a space 4 under the building to the atmosphere 5 and has an air tight housing 6 having an inlet opening 7 configured to be connected to a pipe 8 in fluid communication with said space 4 and an outlet opening 9 configured to be connected to a pipe 10 for exhausting said earth gases to the atmosphere. It is also indicated how a filter 11 may be arranged upstream of the housing 6 for collecting articles drawn from said space 4 through the gas flow for preventing them from entering the housing and causing disturbances of the function of a fan unit arranged therein.
A fan unit having on one hand an inlet opening configured to be connected to said pipe 8 in fluid communication with said space 4 and an outlet opening configured to be connected to the pipe 10 for exhausting said earth gases to the atmosphere and on the other an impeller and a motor configured to rotate said impeller for generating a gas flow for transporting gases from said space to the atmosphere, is arranged inside said housing 6.
Fig 2 illustrates the device, and an electronic control unit 12 of an arrangement for controlling the operation of the device is connected to the interior of the housing 6 for controlling the operation of said fan unit located therein and also for monitoring the function of the fan unit by detecting parameters relating thereto, such as the rotation speed of the fan unit motor, which will be described further below. A connector 13 for connecting the device to an electric power supply and an on-/off-switch 14 are also visible.
Fig 3 illustrates schematically how a device for transporting earth gases emanating from the soil from a space under a building to the atmosphere is arranged in a building, in which said housing 6 is arranged in a closet 15. It is here shown how the pipe 8 to the housing is branched for drawing earth gases from different locations under the building. The arrangement according to the invention has means 16-18 configured to measure the content of radon gas of the air on different locations inside the building and send information about the measurement result to the electronic control unit 12. This is also schematically illustrated in Fig 4. The electronic control unit comprises means 19 configured to determine the rotation speed of said fan unit motor 20 based upon said radon gas content values measured. This means that no unnecessary power will be fed to said motor, and the operation thereof may even be stopped if the radon content value is below a certain level.
The arrangement also comprises means 21 configured to measure the rotation speed of the fan unit motor 20 and deliver the result of this measurement to said electronic control unit having means 22 configured to compare the result of this measurement with a preset value of said rotation speed and trigger an alarm 23, which may be acoustic and/or visual, if the difference of the rotation speed value measured and said preset value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, which typically is in the order of 5% of said preset value. This means that an alarm may be triggered if the gas flow resistance in the flow path between said space and the atmosphere is remarkably changed or the gas pressure in said space is remarkably changed. It may from this be concluded when there is a need to replace or cleaning said filter.
The arrangement according to the invention also comprises a supervising central 24 schematically shown in Fig 5 and Fig 6 remotely located with respect to said device 1. The electronic control unit also comprises means 25 configured to communicate with said central and the central comprises corresponding communication means 26. It is shown in Fig 5 how several devices 1, 1', 1" may in this way communicate with a central 24 in common. It is schematically illustrated how each electronic control unit has buttons 31 for setting a value for different parameters, such as the rotation speed of said fan unit motor, and for switching off said alarm, as well as a display 32 for displaying different operation parameters of the device, such as the total operation time. Said communication means 25 and 26 may comprise a radio wave transmitter and/or receiver, such as a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) -transmitter and/or receiver, configured to send SMS (Short Message Service) - signals between said electronic control unit of the respective device and said central.
Fig 6 illustrates how said communication means of said electronic unit 12 is configured to carry out said communication with respect to the operation of said device with said central 24 through a Local Area Network (LAN) 27, a Wide Area Network (WAN) and/or the Internet, in which the double arrow 28 in this case may stand for the Internet and the ring 27 for a said network.
Said central also comprises means 29 configured to call said electronic control unit for obtaining a status report of the current operation of said device and/or a report with respect to previous operation of the device over a predetermined or optional period of time from said electronic control unit. The electronic control unit also comprises a programmable microprocessor provided with software for controlling the operation of said device, and the central has means 30 configured to enable reprogramming of said microprocessor through said communication with said electronic control unit, so that his may be carried out at a remote location with respect to said device.
The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiments thereof described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Other ways of realizing said communication between the electronic control unit and said central are conceivable, such as for instance through a suitable cable.

Claims

An arrangement for controlling the operation of a device (1) for transporting earth gases emanating from the soil (3) from a space (4) under a building (2) to the atmosphere, said device comprising a fan unit having on one hand an inlet opening configured to be connected to a pipe (8) in fluid communication with said space and an outlet opening configured to be connected to a pipe (10) for exhausting said earth gases to the atmosphere and on the other an impeller and a motor (20) configured to rotate said impeller for generating a gas flow for transporting gases from said space to the atmosphere, characterized in that said arrangement comprises an electronic control unit (12) configured to be arranged in connection with said fan unit and a supervising central (24) remotely located with respect to said device, and that said control unit comprises means (25) configured to communicate with said central for exchanging data relating to the operation of said device therewith.
An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that said communication means (25) of said electronic control unit (12) comprises a radio wave transmitter and/or receiver, such as a GSM-transmitter and/or -receiver, configured to send signals, such as SMS-signals, between said electronic control unit and said central (24).
An arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that said central (24) comprises a transmitter and/or receiver of radio waves, such as a GSM-transmitter and/or -receiver, configured to communicate with said electronic control unit.
An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication means (25) of said electronic control unit (12) is configured to carry out said communication with respect to the operation of said device (1) with said central (24) at least partially through a Local Area Network (27), a Wide Area Network and/or the Internet (28).
An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication means (25) of said electronic control unit (12) is configured to send data relating to the operation of said device (1) to said central (24), and that said central and/or control unit has means configured to store data relating to said operation for being evaluated later on.
An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (21) configured to measure at least one parameter relating to the operation of said device, that said control unit (12) comprises means (22) configured to compare the result of this measurement with a preset value of this parameter and trigger an alarm (23) if the difference of the parameter value measured and said preset value exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
An arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that said comparing means (22) is configured to trigger said alarm (23) under the condition that said threshold value has been exceeded for a predetermined period of time, such as 2 minutes.
An arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said measuring means (21) is configured to measure the rotation speed of said fan unit motor (20) as said parameter.
An arrangement according to any of claims 6-8, characterized in that said threshold value is set to be less than 20% of said preset value, preferably 2-10% thereof.
An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said central (24) has means configured, based upon data relating to the operation of the device received from said electronic control unit (12), to determine how said fan unit is to be operated and send corresponding control orders to said electronic control unit (12) for controlling said fan unit accordingly.
An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said central (24) comprises means (29) configured to call said electronic control unit for obtaining a status report of the current operation of said device and/or a report with respect to previous operation of said device over a predetermined or optional period of time from said electronic control unit (12).
An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic control unit (12) comprises a programmable microprocessor provided with software for controlling the operation of said device.
An arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that said central (24) has means (30) configured to enable reprogramming of said micro processor through said communication with said electronic control unit (12).
An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (16-18) configured to measure the content of radon gas of the air on at least one location inside said building (2) and send information about the measurement result to said electronic control unit (12), and that said electronic control unit comprises means (19) configured to determine the rotation speed of said fan unit motor (20) based upon said radon gas content value measured.
An arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that said determining means (19) is configured to determine that said electronic control unit (12) shall stop said motor (20) if said radon content value is below a certain level.
An arrangement according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that it has means (16-18) for measuring the radon gas content of air on a plurality of locations in said building (2), and that said determining means (19) is configured to determine the rotation speed of said motor based upon the radon gas content values measured on these locations.