US6609967B2 — Methods and apparatus for recirculating air in a …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

In a ventilated environment including a plurality of rooms that are ventilated by a common source of supply air, a method for ventilating at least a first room of the plurality of rooms, comprising acts of: A) independently satisfying a minimum ventilation requirement and a thermal load requirement for at least the first room by: B) drawing output air from the first room; and C) before combining the output air drawn from the first room with air drawn from at least one other room of the plurality of rooms, controlling at least a return air flow of a first part of the output air that is returned as return air from the first room to the common source of supply air.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 121 words

In a ventilated environment including a plurality of rooms that are ventilated by a common source of supply air, a method for ventilating at least a first room of the plurality of rooms, comprising acts of: A) independently satisfying a minimum ventilation requirement and a thermal load requirement for at least the first room by: B) drawing output air from the first room; and C) before combining the output air drawn from the first room with air drawn from at least one other room of the plurality of rooms, controlling at least a return air flow of a first part of the output air that is returned as return air from the first room to the common source of supply air.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the act A) includes acts of: A1) measuring a contaminant level in at least the first room; and A2) independently satisfying the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room if the measured contaminant level is below a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the act C) includes an act of controlling at least the return air flow such that at least the return air flow is capable of being reduced substantially to zero.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the act C) includes an act of controlling at least the return air flow such that at least the return air flow is capable of being continuously varied.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the act C) includes an act of controlling at least the return air flow such that at least the return air flow is capable of being varied in a step-wise manner.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 1 , further including an act of: D) controlling an exhaust air flow of a second part of the output air that is exhausted from the first room as exhaust air, wherein the return air flow and the exhaust air flow are controlled such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 69 words

The method of claim 6 , wherein a first part of the supply air is provided to the first room, and wherein the act C) includes acts of: C1) controlling a supply air flow of the first part of the supply air provided to the first room; C2) measuring the supply air flow; and C3) controlling the return air flow based at least on the measured supply air flow.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the supply air includes at least fresh air and the return air, and wherein the act C1) includes an act of controlling an amount of the return air in the supply air based at least on a temperature of the fresh air.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the act C1) includes an act of: C1a) controlling the supply air flow based on at least one of an offset air flow set point for at least the first room, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 9 , wherein the act C1a) includes an act of: controlling the supply air flow based on the greatest of the offset air flow set point, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 10 , wherein the act D) includes an act of: D1) controlling the exhaust air flow essentially independently of the thermal load requirement.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 11 , wherein the act D1) includes an act of: D1a) controlling the exhaust air flow based on at least one of the offset air flow set point and the minimum ventilation requirement, and not the thermal load requirement.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein the act D1a) includes an act of: controlling the exhaust air flow based on the greater of the minimum ventilation requirement and the offset air flow set point.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the act C) includes an act of: C1) controlling the return air flow based on at least one of an offset air flow set point for at least the first room, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the act C1) includes an act of: controlling the return air flow based on the greatest of the offset air flow set point, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 15 , wherein the act D) includes an act of: D1) controlling the exhaust air flow essentially independently of the thermal load requirement.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein the act D1) includes an act of: D1a) controlling the exhaust air flow based on at least one of the offset air flow set point and the minimum ventilation requirement, and not the thermal load requirement.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein the act D1a) includes an act of: controlling the exhaust air flow based on the greater of the minimum ventilation requirement and the offset air flow set point.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 6 , wherein the act D) includes an act of: D1) controlling the exhaust air flow essentially independently of the thermal load requirement.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the act D1) includes an act of: D1a) controlling the exhaust air flow based on at least one of an offset air flow set point for at least the first room and the minimum ventilation requirement, and not the thermal load requirement.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 20 , wherein the act D1a) includes an act of: controlling the exhaust air flow based on the greater of the minimum ventilation requirement and the offset air flow set point.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 20 , wherein the act D1a) includes acts of: D1a1) determining a first sum of the offset air flow set point and a minimum exhaust air flow set point; and D1a2) controlling the exhaust air flow based on at least one of the minimum ventilation requirement and the first sum.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 22 , wherein the act C) includes an act of: C1) controlling the return air flow based on at least one of the first sum, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 69 words

The method of claim 23 , wherein the act C1) includes acts of: C1a) determining a first parameter equal to the greater of the minimum ventilation requirement and the first sum; C2b) determining a second sum of the first parameter and a minimum return air flow set point; and C2c) controlling the return air flow based on at least one of the second sum and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 24 , wherein the act C2c) includes an act of: C2c1) controlling the return air flow based on the greater of the second sum and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 25 , wherein the act C2c1) includes acts of: C2c1a) controlling a supply air flow of the first part of the supply air provided to the first room based on the greater of the second sum and the thermal load requirement; C2c1b) measuring the supply air flow; and C2c1c) controlling the return air flow based at least on the measured supply air flow.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 93 words

The method of claim 6 , wherein the act D) includes acts of; D1) exhausting a first portion of the second part of the output air as first exhaust air; D2) exhausting a second portion of the second part of the output air as second exhaust air, and D3) controlling a first exhaust air flow of the first exhaust air, wherein the return air flow and the first exhaust air flow are controlled such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 27 , wherein the act D3) includes acts of: D3a) determining a first sum of an offset flow set point for at least the first room and a second exhaust air flow of the second exhaust air; and D3b) controlling the first exhaust air flow based at least on the first sum and the minimum ventilation requirement.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 28 , wherein the act D3a) includes an act of: determining the first sum of the offset flow set point, the second exhaust air flow, and a minimum first exhaust air flow set point.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 27 , wherein the act D3) includes an act of: controlling the first exhaust air flow based at least on a second exhaust air flow of the second exhaust air and a minimum first exhaust air flow set point.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 155 words

A computer readable medium encoded with at least one program for execution on at least one processor associated with a ventilated environment including a plurality of rooms that are ventilated by a common source of supply air, the at least one program, when executed on the at least one processor, performing a method for ventilating at least a first room of the plurality of rooms, the method comprising acts of; A) independently satisfying a minimum ventilation requirement and a thermal load requirement for at least the first room by: B) drawing output air from the first room; and C) before combining the output air drawn from the first room with air drawn from at least one other room of the plurality of rooms, controlling at least a return air flow of a first part of the output air that is returned as return air from the first room to the common source of supply air.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 155 words

A computer readable medium encoded with at least one program for execution on at least one processor associated with a ventilated environment including a plurality of rooms that are ventilated by a common source of supply air, the at least one program, when executed on the at least one processor, performing a method for ventilating at least a first room of the plurality of rooms, the method comprising acts of; A) independently satisfying a minimum ventilation requirement and a thermal load requirement for at least the first room by: B) drawing output air from the first room; and C) before combining the output air drawn from the first room with air drawn from at least one other room of the plurality of rooms, controlling at least a return air flow of a first part of the output air that is returned as return air from the first room to the common source of supply air.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 56 words

The computer readable medium of claim 31 , wherein the act A) includes acts of: A1) measuring a contaminant level in at least the first room; and A2) independently satisfying the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room if the measured contaminant level is below a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 69 words

The computer readable medium of claim 31 , further including an act of: D) controlling an exhaust air flow of a second part of the output air that is exhausted from the first room as exhaust air, wherein the return air flow and the exhaust air flow are controlled such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 139 words

A controller to control ventilation of at least a first room of a plurality of rooms in a ventilated environment in which the plurality of rooms are ventilated by a common source of supply air and in which output air is drawn from the first room, the controller controlling the ventilation of at least the first room such that a minimum ventilation requirement and a thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently, the controller being configured to control, before the output air drawn from the first room is combined with air drawn from at least one other room of the plurality of rooms, a return air flow of a first part of the output air that is drawn from the first room and returned as return air to the common source of supply air.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 139 words

A controller to control ventilation of at least a first room of a plurality of rooms in a ventilated environment in which the plurality of rooms are ventilated by a common source of supply air and in which output air is drawn from the first room, the controller controlling the ventilation of at least the first room such that a minimum ventilation requirement and a thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently, the controller being configured to control, before the output air drawn from the first room is combined with air drawn from at least one other room of the plurality of rooms, a return air flow of a first part of the output air that is drawn from the first room and returned as return air to the common source of supply air.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 30 words

The controller of claim 34 , wherein the controller includes at least two inputs to receive at least the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement as set points.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 35 words

The controller of claim 34 , wherein the controller includes at least three inputs to receive at least a fresh air requirement, an adjusted minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement as set points.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 76 words

The controller of claim 34 , wherein the ventilated environment includes at least one air quality sensor, coupled to the controller, to measure a contaminant level in at least the first room, and wherein the controller controls the ventilation of at least the first room such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently if the measured contaminant level is below a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 85 words

The controller of claim 34 , wherein the ventilated environment includes at least one return air flow device that controls a return air flow of a first part of output air that is drawn from the first room and returned as return air to the common source of supply air, and wherein the controller controls at least the at least one return air flow device such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 32 words

The controller of claim 38 , wherein the controller controls at least the return air flow such that at least the return air flow is capable of being reduced substantially to zero.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 30 words

The controller of claim 38 , wherein the controller controls at least the return air flow such that at least the return air flow is capable of being continuously varied.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 33 words

The controller of claim 38 , wherein the controller controls at least the return air flow such that at least the return air flow is capable of being varied in a step-wise manner.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 94 words

The controller of claim 38 , wherein the ventilated environment further includes at least one exhaust air flow device that controls an exhaust air flow of a second part of the output air that is drawn from the first room and exhausted from the ventilated environment as exhaust air, and wherein the controller controls at least the at least one return air flow device based at least in part on the exhaust air flow, such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 22 words

The controller of claim 42 , wherein the at least one exhaust air flow device includes at least one auxiliary exhaust device.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 93 words

The controller of claim 38 , wherein the ventilated environment further includes at least one exhaust air flow device that controls an exhaust air flow of a second part of the output air that is drawn from the first room and exhausted from the ventilated environment as exhaust air, and wherein the controller controls at least the at least one return air flow device and the at least one exhaust air flow device such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 103 words

The controller of claim 44 , wherein a first part of the supply air is provided to the first room, wherein the ventilated environment includes at least one supply air flow device that controls a supply air flow of the first part of the supply air that is provided to the first room, and wherein the controller controls the at least one supply air flow device, the at least one return air flow device, and the at least one exhaust air flow device such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 45 words

The controller of claim 45 , wherein the ventilated environment includes at least one air flow sensor to measure the supply air flow, and wherein the controller controls the at least one return air flow device based at least on the measured supply air flow.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 64 words

The controller of claim 46 , wherein the controller includes at least one input to receive at least an offset air flow set point for at least the first room, and wherein the controller controls the at least one supply air flow device based on at least one of the offset air flow set point, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 38 words

The controller of claim 47 , wherein the controller controls the at least one supply air flow device based on the greatest of the offset air flow set point, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 25 words

The controller of claim 48 , wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device essentially independently of the thermal load requirement.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 41 words

The controller of claim 49 , wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device based on at least one of the offset air flow set point and the minimum ventilation requirement, and not the thermal load requirement.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 34 words

The controller of claim 50 , wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device based on the greater of the minimum ventilation requirement and the offset air flow set point.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 64 words

The controller of claim 42 , wherein the controller includes at least one input to receive at least an offset air flow set point for at least the first room, and wherein the controller controls the at least one return air flow device based on at least one of the offset air flow set point, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 38 words

The controller of claim 52 , wherein the controller controls the at least one return air flow device based on the greatest of the offset air flow set point, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 24 words

The controller of claim 53 , wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow essentially independently of the thermal load requirement.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 41 words

The controller of claim 54 , wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device based on at least one of the offset air flow set point and the minimum ventilation requirement, and not the thermal load requirement.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 34 words

The controller of claim 55 , wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device based on the greater of the minimum ventilation requirement and the offset air flow set point.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 25 words

The controller of claim 42 , wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device essentially independently of the thermal load requirement.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 66 words

The controller of claim 45 , wherein the controller includes at least one input to receive at least an offset air flow set point for at least the first room, and wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device based on at least one of the offset air flow set point and the minimum ventilation requirement, and not the thermal load requirement.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 34 words

The controller of claim 58 , wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device based on the greater of the minimum ventilation requirement and the offset air flow set point.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 73 words

The controller of claim 58 , wherein the controller further includes: a second input to receive a minimum exhaust air flow set point; and a first adder to determine a first sum of the offset air flow set point and the minimum exhaust air flow set point, wherein the controller controls the at least one exhaust air flow device based on at least one of the minimum ventilation requirement and the first sum.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 36 words

The controller of claim 60 , wherein the controller controls the at least one return air flow device based on at least one of the first sum, the minimum ventilation requirement, and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 91 words

The controller of claim 61 , wherein the controller further includes: a third input to receive a minimum return air flow set point; a first comparator to determine a first parameter equal to the greater of the minimum ventilation requirement and the first sum; and a second adder to determine a second sum of the first parameter and the minimum return air flow set point, wherein the controller controls the at least one return air flow device based on at least one of the second sum and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 31 words

The controller of claim 62 , wherein the controller controls the at least one return air flow device based on the greater of the second sum and the thermal load requirement.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 111 words

The controller of claim 63 , wherein a first part of the supply air is provided to the first room, wherein the ventilated environment includes at least one supply air flow device that controls a supply air flow of the first part of the supply air that is provided to the first room and at least one air flow sensor to measure the supply air flow, and wherein the controller controls the at least one supply air flow device based on the greater of the second sum and the thermal load requirement and controls the at least one return air flow device based at least on the measured supply air flow.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 110 words

The controller of claim 44 , wherein the at least one exhaust air flow device includes at least one first exhaust air flow device to exhaust a first portion of the second part of the output air as first exhaust air, and at least one second exhaust air flow device to exhaust a second portion of the second part of the output air as second exhaust air, and wherein the controller controls the at least one first exhaust air flow device and the at least one return air flow device such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 43 words

The controller of claim 65 , wherein the at least one second exhaust air flow device includes at least one of: at least one fume hood; at least one canopy hood; at least one snorkel trunk; and at least one exhausted storage cabinet.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 129 words

The controller of claim 65 , wherein the ventilated environment includes at least one air flow sensor to measure a second exhaust air flow of the second exhaust air, and wherein the controller further includes: a first input to receive an offset flow set point for at least the first room; a second input, coupled to the at least one air flow sensor, to receive a measured second exhaust air flow signal; and an adder, coupled to the first and second inputs, to determine a first sum of at least the offset flow set point and the measured second exhaust air flow signal, and wherein the controller controls the at least one first exhaust air flow device based at least on the first sum and the minimum ventilation requirement.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 54 words

The controller of claim 67 , wherein: the controller further includes a third input to receive a minimum first exhaust air flow set point; and the adder determines the first sum by adding the offset flow set point, the measured second exhaust air flow signal, and the minimum first exhaust air flow set point.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 100 words

The controller of claim 65 , wherein the ventilated environment includes at least one air flow sensor to measure a second exhaust air flow of the second exhaust air, and wherein the controller further includes: a first input to receive a minimum first exhaust air flow set point; and a second input, coupled to the at least one air flow sensor, to receive a measured second exhaust air flow signal, wherein the controller controls the first exhaust air flow device based at least on the measured second exhaust air flow signal and the minimum first exhaust air flow set point.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 206 words

A ventilation system to ventilate at least a first room of a plurality of rooms in a ventilated environment in which the plurality of rooms are ventilated by a common source of supply air, the ventilation system comprising: at least one return air flow device disposed in a path of output air drawn from the first room to control a return air flow of at least a first portion of the output air, the first portion of the output air constituting at least a portion of return air that is returned to the common source of supply air; at least one exhaust air flow device disposed in the path of the output air drawn from the first room to control an exhaust air flow of at least a second portion of the output air, the second portion of the output air being exhausted from the ventilated environment as exhaust air; and at least one controller to control at least the at least one return air flow device and the at least one exhaust air flow device, based at least In part on the exhaust air flow, such that a minimum ventilation requirement and a thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 206 words

A ventilation system to ventilate at least a first room of a plurality of rooms in a ventilated environment in which the plurality of rooms are ventilated by a common source of supply air, the ventilation system comprising: at least one return air flow device disposed in a path of output air drawn from the first room to control a return air flow of at least a first portion of the output air, the first portion of the output air constituting at least a portion of return air that is returned to the common source of supply air; at least one exhaust air flow device disposed in the path of the output air drawn from the first room to control an exhaust air flow of at least a second portion of the output air, the second portion of the output air being exhausted from the ventilated environment as exhaust air; and at least one controller to control at least the at least one return air flow device and the at least one exhaust air flow device, based at least In part on the exhaust air flow, such that a minimum ventilation requirement and a thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 23 words

The ventilation system of claim 70 , wherein the at least one exhaust air flow device includes at least one auxiliary exhaust device.

Claim 76

Dependent Claim 41 words

The ventilation system of claim 70 wherein the at least one return air flow device and the at least one exhaust air flow device each includes at least one of: at least one controllable damper; and at least one controllable valve.

Claim 77

Dependent Claim 20 words

The ventilation system of claim 72 , wherein the at least one controllable valve includes at least one Venturi valve.

Claim 78

Dependent Claim 96 words

The ventilation system of claim 70 , further including: at least one supply air flow device disposed in a path of the supply air to vary a supply air flow of a portion of the supply air that is provided to the first room, wherein the at least one controller controls the at least one return air flow device, the at least one exhaust air flow device, and the at least one supply air flow device such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 79

Dependent Claim 88 words

The ventilation system of claim 70 , further including at least one air handling unit to provide the common source of supply air, the at least one air handling unit receiving fresh air and at least a portion of output air drawn from each of at least some of the plurality of rooms as combined return air, the at least one air handling unit being constructed and arranged so as to controllably vary a ratio of the fresh air and the combined return air in the supply air.

Claim 80

Dependent Claim 49 words

The ventilation system of claim 75 , wherein the at least one air handling unit is constructed and arranged so as to controllably exhaust at least some of the combined return air to vary the ratio of the fresh air and the combined return air in the supply air.

Claim 81

Dependent Claim 41 words

The ventilation system of claim 75 , wherein the air handling unit controllably varies the ratio of the fresh air and the combined return air in the supply air based at least in part on a temperature of the fresh air.

Claim 82

Dependent Claim 49 words

The ventilation system of claim 75 , wherein the air handling unit controllably varies the ratio of the fresh air and the combined return air in the supply air based at least in part on a sensed contaminant level in at least a portion of the combined return air.

Claim 83

Dependent Claim 30 words

The ventilation system of claim 78 , further including at least one shutoff damper in a path of the combined return air to substantially prohibit a combined return air flow.

Claim 84

Dependent Claim 29 words

The ventilation system of claim 79 , wherein the controller monitors the sensed contaminant level and controls the at least one shutoff damper based on the sensed contaminant level.

Claim 85

Dependent Claim 143 words

The ventilation system of claim 70 , wherein: the at least one exhaust air flow device includes: at least one general exhaust air flow device to control a first exhaust air flow of a first portion of the exhaust air; and at least one auxiliary exhaust air flow device to control a second exhaust air flow of a second portion of the exhaust air; the ventilation system further includes at least one air flow sensor, coupled to the controller, to measure the second exhaust air flow; and the at least one controller controls at least the at least one return air flow device and the at least one general exhaust air flow device, based at least on a measured second exhaust air flow, such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently.

Claim 86

Dependent Claim 100 words

The ventilation system of claim 81 , wherein: the ventilated environment includes a laboratory; the at least one auxiliary exhaust air flow device includes at least one of: at least one fume hood; at least one canopy hood; at least one snorkel trunk; and at least one exhausted storage cabinet; and the second exhaust air flow controlled by the at least one auxiliary exhaust air flow device is associated with at least one of the at least one fume hood, the at least one canopy hood, the at least one snorkel trunk, and the at least one exhausted storage cabinet.

Claim 87

Dependent Claim 87 words

The ventilation system of claim 70 , further including: at least one air quality sensor, coupled to the at least one controller, to measure a contaminant level in at least the first room, wherein the at least one controller monitors the measured contaminant level and controls at least the at least one return air flow device such that the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room are satisfied independently if the measured contaminant level is below a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 88

Dependent Claim 51 words

The ventilation system of claim 83 , wherein the at least one air quality sensor is constructed and arranged so as to detect a presence of at least one of: at least one undesirable odor; at least one harmful gas; at least one harmful microbe; and at least one harmful particulate.

Claim 89

Dependent Claim 41 words

The ventilation system of claim 83 , wherein the at least one air quality sensor includes at least one of: at least one photo-ionization sensor; at least one photo-acoustic sensor; at least one infra-red sensor; and at least one pH sensor.

Claim 90

Dependent Claim 50 words

The ventilation system of claim 83 , wherein the predetermined threshold value is based on a dilution ratio of an anticipated flow of contaminated return air from at least one of the plurality of rooms to an uncontaminated air flow associated with the supply air provided to the ventilated environment.

Claim 91

Dependent Claim 31 words

The ventilation system of claim 86 , wherein the supply air includes at least fresh air, and wherein the uncontaminated air flow represents at least a flow of the fresh air.

Claim 92

Dependent Claim 38 words

The ventilation system of claim 87 , wherein the uncontaminated air flow represents at least the flow of the fresh air and a flow of initially uncontaminated return air from at least some of the plurality of rooms.

Claim 93

Dependent Claim 39 words

The ventilation system of claim 83 , further including at least one controllable shutoff damper disposed in the path of the first portion of the output air drawn from the first room to substantially prohibit the return air flow.

Claim 94

Dependent Claim 28 words

The ventilation system of claim 89 , wherein the controller controls the at least one controllable shutoff damper based at least in part on the measured contaminant level.

Claim 95

Dependent Claim 30 words

The ventilation system of claim 83 , further including at least one filter disposed in the path of the first portion of the output air drawn from the first room.

Claim 96

Dependent Claim 61 words

The ventilation system of claim 91 , wherein: the at least one sensor is disposed in the path of the first portion of the output air drawn from the first room; and the at least one filter is disposed in the path of the first portion of the output air drawn from the first room before the at least one sensor.

Claim 97

Dependent Claim 61 words

The ventilation system of claim 91 , wherein: the at least one sensor is disposed in the path of the first portion of the output air drawn from the first room; and the at least one filter is disposed in the path of the first portion of the output air drawn from the first room after the at least one sensor.

Claim 98

Dependent Claim 125 words

The ventilation system of claim 91 , further including: at least one bypass duct disposed in the path of the first portion of the output air drawn from the first room; and at least one damper disposed in the path of the first portion of the output air drawn from the first room to direct the first portion into the at least one bypass duct, wherein: at least one filter is disposed in the at least one bypass duct; and the at least one controller controls the at least one damper so as to selectively cause the first portion to pass through the at least one filter disposed in the at least one bypass duct, based at least in part on the measured contaminant level.

Claim 99

Dependent Claim 34 words

The ventilation system of claim 91 , wherein the at least one filter is disposed in a path of combined return air drawn from each of at least some of the plurality of rooms.

Claim 100

Dependent Claim 29 words

The ventilation system of claim 91 , wherein the at least one filter includes at least one of: at least one chemical filter; and at least one particulate filter.

Claim 101

Dependent Claim 167 words

In a ventilated environment including a plurality of rooms that are ventilated by a common source of supply air provided by at least one air handling unit, the at least one air handling unit receiving fresh air and at least a portion of output air drawn from each of at least some of the plurality of rooms as combined return air, a method for ventilating at least a first room of the plurality of rooms, comprising acts of: A) independently satisfying a minimum ventilation requirement and at least one other supply air flow requirement for at least the first room by: B) drawing output air from the first room; and C) before combining the output air drawn from the first room with air drawn from at least one other room of the plurality of rooms, controlling at least a return air flow of a first part of the output air that is returned as return air from the first room to the common source of supply air.

Claim 102

Dependent Claim 167 words

In a ventilated environment including a plurality of rooms that are ventilated by a common source of supply air provided by at least one air handling unit, the at least one air handling unit receiving fresh air and at least a portion of output air drawn from each of at least some of the plurality of rooms as combined return air, a method for ventilating at least a first room of the plurality of rooms, comprising acts of: A) independently satisfying a minimum ventilation requirement and at least one other supply air flow requirement for at least the first room by: B) drawing output air from the first room; and C) before combining the output air drawn from the first room with air drawn from at least one other room of the plurality of rooms, controlling at least a return air flow of a first part of the output air that is returned as return air from the first room to the common source of supply air.

Claim 103

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 97 , wherein the at least one other supply air flow requirement includes a thermal load requirement for at least the first room, and wherein the act A) includes an act of independently satisfying the minimum ventilation requirement and the thermal load requirement for at least the first room.

Claim 104

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 98 , wherein the thermal load requirement relates to a temperature of at least the first room.

Claim 105

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 98 , wherein the thermal load requirement relates to a humidity of at least the first room.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-08-25	2007-02-24	2007-08-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-08-25	2011-02-24	2011-08-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-08-25	2015-02-24	2015-08-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods and apparatus for recirculating air in a controlled ventilated environment

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