Product Development & Building Science Research Supporting Commercialization of the Low Cost Flow Sensor $ Communication Infrastructure to Unleash Potential Benefits

Research indicates that many fresh air systems are improperly or never commissioned. Other fresh air systems fail early in occupancy. To improve the level of performance in the marketplace, the industry needs both better products and improved public policy. Policy makers would like to strengthen the requirements for commissioning and ensure the long-term performance of installed IAQ / fresh air systems. Unfortunately, policy makers are limited in pushing for better mechanical ventilation because Builders cannot even effectively comply with current codes and standards without better products for commissioning and performance reporting. The marketplace for ventilation products is exceptionally cost conscious. Better products are not being delivered at a low price point because there is insufficient demand to reward manufacturers for development of products to meet industry and DOE objectives. Improved Products and Better Policy are tied together, and one cannot proceed without the other. The Department of Energy (DOE) is interested in improved fresh air performance in residential buildings as the envelope tightens and energy use is reduced. The DOE wants improved healthy air outcomes. And, along with verified performance and initial market acceptance comes the ability to strengthen policy.Ventamatic, Inc. has developed a low-cost flow sensorthatisanessentialcomponentforcreating improved ventilation products which create the pieces of an IAQ Controls Platform. The sensor, products using the sensor, and the subsequent IAQ Controls Platform collectively support delivery of healthy and efficient residential buildings in alignment with stated DOE Objectives.We have validated that the QuSensor (printed circuit flow sensor) can repeatably measure velocity. We have confirmed that our methodology using multiple sensors and the geometry of the fan and enclosure is able to interpret the direction of air coming from any angle of installed ductwork. That knowledge allows algorithm development which automatically accounts for variations in residential duct installation and effectively captures the velocity of air through our device(s). We convert the velocity to flow and are able report fresh air results with consistency and accuracy. Ventamatic has demonstrated the ability to wirelessly transmit the fan flows to a mobile device. These are the core objectives we set out to achieve with Phase 1 funding.Using the funding from DOE Phase 2, this team will build on the phase 1 results by finalizing the development of the flow sensor, incorporating it into Supply Fan and Exhaust fan products and using those products to build a sensor driven Balanced Ventilation product. Our research partners will adapt and model a simplified equivalent ventilation system that can measure the supply and exhaust flows from residential dwellings. They will study performance in test homes and report outcomes – particularly in hot and humid climates. Concurrently, Ventamatic will build an appropriate mobile application that manages communication for both Commissioning and for ongoing communication with Occupants. The IAQ Controls Platform will be established by linking ventilation products, the mobile app and a cloud-based web application.