Methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported structure

摘要

A set of methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported greenhouse or other structure requiring pressurization and ventilation.;A method for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported structure comprises directing any external wind flow and external wind pressure into mechanical flow means, such as a fan, or fans in parallel, operating in the intake direction, and into the internal space of the air-supported structure and out of the internal space of the air-supported structure through internal pressure regulating exhaust means, whereby the internal space of the structure will be ventilated and pressurized with the assistance of any external wind and the reliability of mechanical flow means (fans). This method allows for the efficient, effective, and economical cooling, through ventilation, of a protected space created by a light permeable membrane (cover), which is supported only by internal air pressure against the weight of the membrane and dynamic pressures of the external wind, itself.;Apparatus for directing any external wind flow and external wind pressure into mechanical flow means are disclosed. Methods and apparatus for internal pressure regulation are also disclosed.;Some benefits are less power consumption, minimal internal static pressure (just enough to overcome the external wind), less potential film breakage (than conventional frame-supported poly greenhouses), more light transmission, less cost, and more portability.

主权项

1. A method of pressurizing and ventilating a structure comprising: directing a wind flow that is external to a structure into a mechanical flow mechanism connected with and arranged as an inlet to the structure, the wind flow being automatically received in a direction of a maximum force of the wind flow's dynamic pressure into the mechanical flow mechanism, the directing creating an airflow from the mechanical flow mechanism into the structure; directing the airflow into an internal space of the structure; directing the airflow through the internal space of the structure; directing the airflow out of the internal space of the structure through an exhaust means to an area external to the structure; and whereby the internal space of the structure is reliably ventilated and pressurized with assistance of the wind flow that is external to the structure and the mechanical flow mechanism.