MEASURING STATION AND ASSOCIATED VENTILATION ACCESSORY, VENTILATION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD

Description

The present invention relates to a measuring station, a ventilation accessory configured to cooperate with such a measuring station, a ventilation system comprising such a measuring station and such a ventilation accessory, and a method of controlling such a ventilation system.

The invention relates in particular to the field of indoor air quality management. Generally speaking, current ventilation systems are based on control devices acting on a single component. For example, it is known to place a CO₂ sensor in a room such as a classroom, the sensor being wired to a ventilation unit so as to control the ventilation unit when the CO₂ level exceeds a predetermined threshold.

In the commercial and industrial sectors, it is also common practice to design ventilation systems specifically for each configuration. The sensors are generally connected to a central ventilation unit by wires, which is complex to install. Such systems are relatively expensive, which limits their use in residential buildings. In the residential and tertiary sectors, existing systems are mainly based on humidity or CO₂ regulation. Such systems may not be suited to the needs of the occupants.

The invention aims to remedy these problems in particular, by proposing a measuring station that enables ventilation systems to be controlled in multiple configurations while remaining easy to set up.

To this end, the invention relates to a measuring station for a ventilation system, the measuring station being configured to measure at least one air quality parameter and to control at least one ventilation accessory of the ventilation installation, the measuring station comprising:

• • at least one sensor of an air quality parameter around the measuring station, the sensor being either an integrated sensor, which is housed in a box in the measuring station, or a remote sensor, which is located outside and at a distance from the box,
  • means of communication, including:
    • receiving means, which are configured to receive configuration information relating to the type of each ventilation accessory and to the number of ventilation accessories of each type, so as to pair each ventilation accessory with the measuring station, all the configuration information received forming an overall configuration of the ventilation system, and
    • transmission means, which are configured to transmit to each ventilation accessory, previously paired with the measuring station, commands relating to the operating states of the ventilation accessory in question,
  • an electronic control unit, which comprises a calculation unit and a memory, and which is configured:
    • to determine a preferred ventilation scenario based on the overall configuration,
    • to receive values measured by the measurement sensor and to determine, as a function of the values received and a preferred ventilation scenario, the commands to be sent to each ventilation accessory.

Thanks to the invention, when the ventilation installation is set up, each accessory is paired with the measuring station without it being necessary to physically connect the ventilation accessory in question to the measuring station, while the measuring station comprises one or more sensors. This makes the ventilation system quick and easy to configure and control. The ventilation system is also upgradeable, meaning that new accessories, either additional or to replace faulty ones, can be installed simply by connecting the new accessories to the measuring station. Advantageously, the equipment is fitted using a smartphone, for example by scanning a unique identifier, in particular a QR code, located on each ventilation accessory, the unique identifier then being transmitted to the measurement station by radio frequency.

According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a measurement station may incorporate one or more of the following features, taken in isolation or in any combination that is technically feasible:

• • The at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.
  • The at least one sensor also includes at least one additional sensor selected from a CO₂ sensor, a particulate sensor, a volatile organic compound sensor, a NOx sensor, a SOx sensor and a formaldehyde sensor.
  • The at least one sensor includes an integrated sensor, the measurement station comprising a measurement module, which is received in a housing of the measurement station and which is interchangeable, the integrated sensor forming part of the measurement module.
  • The transmission means are wireless communication means, which operate according to a communication protocol chosen from a list including the protocols:
    • Bluetooth, defined by the IEEE 802.15.1:2005 standard,
    • Bluetooth in a mesh network, as defined by the IEEE 802.15.4:2009 standard,
    • BLE, LoRa(WAN), ZigBee, as defined by the IEEE 802.15.4:2020 standard.
  • The reception means are able to exchange information with a smartphone, for example using a Bluetooth protocol, as defined by the IEEE 802.15.1:2005 standard, or WiFi, as defined by the IEEE 802.11:2016 standard and subsequent revisions or developments, to receive configuration information.
  • The at least one sensor includes a remote sensor, the reception means being able to receive information from the remote sensor, in particular an external sensor, the remote sensor being distinct from the measurement module and being configured to measure an air quality parameter.
  • The communication means include an Internet gateway, the measurement station being configured to exchange data with a remote server, while the measurement station is configured to:
    • send air quality measurement and global configuration data to the remote server, and
    • to receive from the remote server an additional ventilation scenario and to store the additional scenario in the memory of the electronic control unit, the additional scenario becoming the preferred ventilation scenario.
  • The at least one sensor includes a memory module, in which one or more ventilation scenarios are stored,
  • the measurement station is configured:
    • to receive the ventilation scenario(s) stored in the sensor's memory module, then
    • to record said ventilation scenario or scenarios in the memory of the control unit, then
    • the preferred ventilation scenario is the scenario or one of the scenarios transmitted from the sensor memory module.

The invention also relates to a ventilation accessory, which is suitable for being paired with the measuring station as described above, the ventilation accessory comprising:

• • an air passage,
  • at least one actuator, which is switchable between several configurations, so as to influence the air flow rate through the air passage, each configuration of the actuator being associated with an operating state of the ventilation accessory,
  • a unique identifier, for example in the form of a QR code and/or an RFID or NFC electronic chip, the unique identifier being uniquely associated with the type of ventilation accessory in question and being provided for pairing the ventilation accessory with the measuring station, and
  • complementary transmission means, which are configured to cooperate with the transmission means of the measuring station so that, once the ventilation accessory is paired with the measuring station, the ventilation accessory is able to receive commands from the measuring station and is able to switch between the operating states of the ventilation accessory in question.

Advantageously, the ventilation accessory includes a remote sensor, which is configured to measure an air quality parameter, the ventilation accessory being configured to cooperate with the transmission means and/or with the reception means of the measuring station, so as to transmit the results of the measurements of the remote sensor to the measuring station.

The invention also relates to a ventilation system comprising:

• • the measuring station as defined above,
  • at least one ventilation accessory as defined above,
    wherein each ventilation accessory is configured to be paired with the measuring station.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of controlling a ventilation system as described above. The steering method includes:

• • supply of a measuring station and at least one ventilation accessory,
  • pairing up each ventilation accessory with the measuring station, by means of an electronic measuring station control unit, so as to determine the overall configuration of the ventilation system and then
  • determining a preferred ventilation scenario, using the electronic control unit and considering the overall configuration, then
  • measuring at least one air quality parameter using at least one measuring sensor, then
  • determining, as a function of the measurement(s) of the at least one measuring sensor and of the preferred ventilation scenario and by means of the electronic control unit, one or more commands to be transmitted to each ventilation accessory, each command being associated with a respective ventilation accessory, then
  • transmission, to each ventilation accessory, of the command associated with this ventilation accessory, so that the ventilation accessory changes its operating state.

This control method has the same advantages as those mentioned above for the ventilation system described in the invention.

Advantageously:

• • The control method further comprises an initialisation step, which is prior to the determination step (503) and during which one or more ventilation scenarios are transmitted from a memory module of the sensor to the memory of the control unit, while during the determination step, the preferred ventilation scenario is selected from the one or more ventilation scenarios transmitted during the initialisation step.
  • the steering method also includes:
    • Sending data relating to air quality measurements and the overall configuration to a remote server via an Internet gateway at the measuring station, then
    • reception, from the remote server, of an additional ventilation scenario, the additional scenario being drawn up on the basis of the data transmitted by the measuring station to the remote server, then
    • saving the additional scenario in the memory of the electronic control unit, the additional scenario becoming the preferred ventilation scenario.
  • The additional ventilation scenario is developed using machine learning methods.

The invention will be better understood, and other advantages thereof will become clearer in light of the following description of several embodiments of a measuring station, a ventilation system and a control method, in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows, on two inserts a) and b) respectively, a ventilation installation conforming to a first embodiment of the invention, and a perspective view of a measuring station of the ventilation installation, the measuring station also conforming to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the measuring station of FIG. 1a) on two inserts a) and b) respectively, with some parts hidden, and an exploded view of insert a);

• • FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the effects of a method of controlling the ventilation system, the control method also being in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 shows, on two inserts a) and b) respectively, ventilation systems in accordance with alternative embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a ventilation system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a ventilation system according to another embodiment of the invention, the ventilation system being in a first operating configuration;

FIG. 7 shows the ventilation system shown in FIG. 6, with the ventilation system in a second operating configuration;

FIG. 8 shows the ventilation system of FIG. 6, the ventilation system being in a third operating configuration;

FIG. 9 shows the ventilation system of FIG. 6, the ventilation system being in a fourth operating configuration;

FIG. 10 shows, on two inserts a) and b) respectively, synoptic diagrams illustrating the invention's control methods.

A ventilation system 20, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, is shown schematically in FIG. 1 a). The ventilation system 20, hereinafter simply referred to as “system 20”, comprises a room, in this case a single room 22. Room 22 is designed to accommodate one or more people.

Room 22 has at least two openings 24 for air circulation. Thus the installation 20 comprises an air inlet 30, which is secured to one of the openings 24, and an extraction outlet 40, which is secured to the other of the openings 24. The air inlet 30 provides an air passage 32, which is configured to allow an incoming air flow F30 to pass through the air inlet 30. Similarly, the extract unit 40 provides an air passage 42, which is configured to allow a flow of extracted air F40 to pass through the extract unit 40.

In the example shown, the extract unit 40 is fluidically connected to a ventilation box 50, which is configured to extract the extract air flow F40 from the room 22 and discharge this extract air flow F40 outside the room 22. By negative pressure in the room 22, the incoming air flow F30 is introduced into the room 22 through the air inlet 30. Installation 20 is therefore a “single flow” installation. It is assumed that the incoming air flow F30 is equal to the extracted air flow F40, any leaks being neglected.

In a variant not illustrated, the principles of the invention can also be transposed to a dual flow installation. In this case, the air inlet 30 is a supply air vent, which is fluidically connected to a ventilation box. More generally, ventilation inlets include air inlets, supply inlets and extract outlets.

In the example shown, the extract unit 40 also comprises an actuator 44, in this case a pivoting flap, which is movable between several positions, so as to more or less close off the air passage 42 of the extract unit 40, thus influencing the flow rate of the extracted air flow F40 through the air passage 42 when the ventilation installation 20 is in operation.

The extract unit 40 is a first example of a ventilation accessory for the ventilation system 20. More generally, the actuator 44 can be switched between several configurations, so as to influence the air flow rate through the air passage 42 associated with the ventilation accessory, in this case the extract unit 40, each configuration of the actuator 44 being associated with an operating state of the ventilation accessory. As will be described later, the extraction unit 40 can be remotely controlled to adjust the position of the actuator 44, in other words to select the operating state of the ventilation accessory.

The ventilation system 20 also includes a measuring station 100. The measuring station 100, also known simply as “station 100”, is shown separately in FIG. 1 b). In the first embodiment of the invention, the measuring station 100 is advantageously fixed to a wall 23 of the room 22, as shown in FIG. 1 a), so that the measuring station 100 is located in a breathing zone of any people present in the room 22 in order to measure as accurately as possible the pollution to which the people present in the room 22 are subjected. Schematically, the breathing zone corresponds to a height of between 90 cm and 180 cm above the ground.

Station 100 comprises a casing 102, which provides a cavity V102. In the non-limiting example shown, the casing 102 includes a cover 104, which is fixed to the rest of the casing 102 so as to close the cavity V102. In FIG. 2 a), the cover 104 is omitted to reveal the interior of the station 100.

The measuring station 100 comprises at least one sensor 110, each sensor 110 being configured to measure an air quality parameter around the measuring station 100. Air quality is defined in particular by the temperature and by various pollutants likely to be found in the air, either in relation to the indoor or outdoor environment of room 22, or in relation to the activity of people in room 22.

In the first embodiment, the sensor 110 is housed in the casing 102 of the ventilation station 100, so the sensor 110 is referred to as an “integrated sensor”. Alternatively, as described later in this description, the sensor is located outside and at a distance from the casing 102, such a sensor being referred to as a “remote sensor”.

Preferably, the measuring station 100 comprises a measuring module 112, which is housed in the measuring station casing 102 and includes the at least one sensor 110. In other words, the at least one sensor 110 is an integrated sensor and forms part of the measurement module 112.

The measuring module 112 is advantageously interchangeable, i.e. the measuring module 112 is designed to be replaced, for example in the event of malfunction of at least one sensor 110, or to replace a measuring module of a first type, i.e. comprising one or more sensors of a predetermined type, with a measuring module of a second type, i.e. comprising one or more measuring sensors different from the sensors of the measuring module of the first type. Preferably, the measuring station 100 comprises at least two sensors 110. Preferably, the at least two sensors 110 include a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. In other words, the at least one sensor 110 preferably includes a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.

Advantageously, the at least one sensor 110 also includes at least one additional sensor chosen from a CO₂ (carbon dioxide) sensor, a PM (particulate matter) sensor, a VOC (volatile organic compounds) sensor, a NOx (nitrogen oxides) sensor, a SOx (sulphur oxides) sensor and a formaldehyde sensor.

In a first preferred configuration, the measuring station 100 comprises three sensors 110, including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and a CO₂ sensor. By way of illustration, this first configuration covers most of the pollutants likely to be emitted in a classroom and having an impact on air quality. According to a second preferred configuration, the measuring station 110 comprises three sensors 110, including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and a PM particulate sensor. By way of illustration, this second configuration covers most of the pollutants likely to be emitted in a dwelling.

The measuring station 100 also includes communication means 120. In the example shown, the measuring station 100 comprises an electronic board 121, which is housed in the internal volume V102 of the casing 102. The electronic board 121, which is shown schematically, comprises several electronic components which are shown schematically and in a non-limiting manner. In the example shown in FIG. 2 b), the communication means 120 are schematically represented by components of the electronic board 121.

The communication means 120 include reception means 122, which are configured to receive configuration information relating to the type of each ventilation accessory and to the number of ventilation accessories of each type, so as to pair each ventilation accessory with the measuring station, all the configuration information received forming an overall configuration of the ventilation installation.

Advantageously, the reception means 122 are wireless reception means, preferably using electromagnetic waves. Preferably, the reception means 122 are able to exchange information with a smartphone, for example using a Bluetooth or WiFi protocol, to receive configuration information.

This description considers a number of non-limiting communications protocols. In a first example, the Bluetooth protocol is defined by the IEEE 802.15.1:2005 standard and its subsequent evolutions. For example, a Bluetooth mesh network is also defined by the IEEE 802.15.4:2009 standard. The variants known as BLE, LoRa(WAN) or ZigBee are defined by the IEEE 802.15.4:2020 standard. According to a second example, the WiFi protocol is defined by the IEEE 802.11:2016 standard and its subsequent revisions or evolutions. According to a third example, the ISO 14443 standard, which includes four parts ISO/IEC 14443-1:2018, ISO/IEC 14443-2:2020, ISO/IEC 14443-3:2018 and ISO/IEC 14443-4:2018, defines the communication protocols used by contactless cards. The NFC (Near Field Communication) protocol is a standard based on ISO 14443 and JIS x6349-4 FeLiCa, the latter being covered by ISO/IEC 15693-3:2019.

Each ventilation accessory, in this case the extract unit 40, has a unique identifier 46, which is uniquely associated with the type of ventilation accessory in question. Each unique identifier 46 is used to pair the ventilation accessory with the measuring station 100.

The unique identifier 46 can be read using an electronic device such as a smartphone. The smartphone, which is not shown, generally includes a camera, and is able to communicate using various protocols, in particular one or more chosen from the Bluetooth, Wifi and NFC protocols.

In the example shown, the unique identifier 46 is an optical code, preferably a QR code, which can be read by a camera on the smartphone. Alternatively or additionally, the unique identifier 46 is a radio frequency identifier, also known as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), preferably an NFC chip, which can be read using a smartphone.

For example, in one scenario during installation of the ventilation system 20, the installer uses his smartphone to read the unique identifier 46 on each ventilation accessory, in this case the extraction unit 40, and then transmits the corresponding information to the measuring station 100 via the reception means 122. As a result, each ventilation accessory is paired with the 100 measuring station.

The communication means 120 include transmission means 124, which are configured to transmit to each ventilation accessory, previously paired with the measuring station 100, commands relating to operating states of the ventilation accessory in question. As a corollary, each ventilation accessory, here the extraction port 40, comprises complementary transmission means 47, the complementary transmission means 47 being configured to cooperate with the transmission means 124 of the measuring station 100 so that, once the ventilation accessory is paired with the measuring station 100, the ventilation accessory is able to receive commands from the measuring station and is able to switch between the operating states of the ventilation accessory in question.

The transmission means 124-and the complementary transmission means 47-are wireless communication means, which preferably operate according to a communication protocol chosen from a list including the Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRa, LoRaWAN, etc. protocols.

In other words, once each ventilation accessory has been paired with the measuring station 100, the measuring station 100 is able to send each ventilation accessory commands relating to the operating states of the ventilation accessory in question. In other words, in the example shown, the measuring station 100 is able to remotely control the position of the actuator 44. In the example shown in FIG. 1 a), the transmission of commands from the measuring station 100 to the extraction port 40 is represented by a dotted arrow F124.

The measuring station 100 also includes an electronic control unit 126. The electronic control unit 126 is represented schematically by components on the electronic board 121. The electronic control unit 126, also known simply as the ECU, comprises a calculation unit 128 and a memory 129. The control unit 126 is configured to determine a preferred ventilation scenario as a function of the overall configuration. The preferred ventilation scenario depends on the overall configuration of the ventilation system 20, the number and type of sensors 110, etc.

As an illustrative example corresponding to a simple case, a single ventilation scenario, previously stored in the memory 129 of the electronic control unit 126, is available, in which case this single ventilation scenario is naturally the preferred ventilation scenario.

Alternatively, when several ventilation scenarios are previously stored in the memory 129 of the electronic control unit 126, the preferred ventilation scenario is chosen from these several ventilation scenarios, in particular as a function of the overall configuration of the ventilation installation 20.

Advantageously, it is possible to update the preferred scenario according to the measurement history stored in memory 129 of the electronic control unit 126. To this end, communication means 120 include an Internet gateway, with the measurement station 100 configured to exchange data with a remote server. For example, the internet gateway includes WiFi connection means configured to connect to a home WiFi router. By “remote server” we mean both a physical server and/or a virtual server, in particular from a remote network or “cloud”. The remote server therefore has much greater computing and memory capacity than the 100 measurement station. The remote server, which is not shown, is not part of the invention but is used to explain how it works.

The measurement station 100 is thus configured to send data relating to air quality measurements and the overall configuration to the remote server. The remote server receives historical data relating to the measured air quality values, data relating to the commands sent by the measuring station 100 to the ventilation accessories, and data relating to changes in air quality following the implementation of these commands by the ventilation accessories. On the basis of the historical data transmitted to the remote server, the remote server is able to draw up an additional scenario, so as to optimise air quality. Preferably, the additional scenario is developed using deep learning methods.

By way of an illustrative example, if the remote server notes, on the basis of the measurement history sent by the measuring station 100, that pollution is generated daily in a close time interval and that the thresholds are systematically exceeded, then, according to the additional scenario developed by the remote server, the measuring station 100 is configured to set up preventive ventilation so as to reduce this pollution peak and avoid-or at least reduce-the threshold being exceeded. Advantageously, the measuring station 100 is configured to measure changes in pollution and, depending on this, to determine the most appropriate time to implement preventive ventilation.

The measuring station 100 is configured to receive an additional ventilation scenario from the remote server and to store the additional scenario in the memory 129 of the electronic control unit 126, the additional scenario becoming the preferred ventilation scenario.

The control unit 126 is also configured to receive values measured by each measuring sensor 110 and to determine, as a function of the values received and the preferred ventilation scenario, the commands to be sent to each ventilation accessory.

FIG. 3 is a graph 180 illustrating the effects of the invention on improving the air quality in installation 20. FIG. 3 comprises a first curve 181, which represents the evolution, as a function of time T, of a concentration % P of a pollutant P within the part 22 when the invention is not implemented, and a second curve 182, which represents the evolution of the concentration % P of the same pollutant P when the invention is implemented. For example, pollutant P is CO₂, released by the activity of people when they are present in room 22.

When the invention is not implemented, the actuator 44 is considered to be stationary, and the incoming air flow F30 and the extracted air flow F40 are each at a “nominal” flow rate. The nominal flow rate is generally defined by building ventilation standards. For example, in France, the NF DTU 68.3 standard of April 2017, resulting from the decree of March 1982, is applicable to self-regulating systems, while for humidity sensitive systems, the decree of October 1983 is considered, together with the CPT3828 and 3827 documents—version 6 of July 2024.

In the example shown, the ventilation system 20 is self-regulating, so the nominal flow rate is considered to be constant. In the case, not illustrated, where the ventilation system is humidity sensitive, the nominal airflow varies automatically according to the humidity of the air.

The concentration % P of pollutant P is measured periodically using sensor 110, for example every second. The first curve 181 has, between an initial instant T0 and a first instant T1, a first portion 181A, which is horizontal and corresponds to a time interval during which the pollutant P in question has a stable concentration, corresponding for example to the atmospheric concentration outside the room 22.

From the first instant T1 until a second instant T2, the concentration of pollutant P increases in room 22. For example, one or more people are present in the room, releasing CO₂. Consequently, between the first instant T1 and the second instant T2, the first curve has a second portion 181B which increases and reaches a maximum at instant T2. In particular, the concentration % P of pollutant P exceeds a first pollutant threshold S1 at a third instant T3. The third instant T3 is intermediate between the first instant T1 and the second instant T2. Threshold S1 is a predetermined threshold corresponding, for example, to a comfort threshold.

From time T2, room 22 is no longer occupied. The supply air flow F30 and extract air flow F40, always at nominal level, gradually dilute the concentration of pollutant % P in the air in room 22. Thus, from time T2, the first curve 181 has a decreasing portion, which nevertheless remains above the first threshold S1.

The advantages of the invention are now described using the second curve 182.

Between the initial instant T0 and the third instant T3, the second curve 182 comprises a first portion 182A which is superimposed on the first curve 181.

From the third instant T3, the measuring station 100 detects that the pollutant concentration P exceeds the first threshold and controls the extraction port 40 to increase the extracted air flow rate F40 beyond the nominal value, for example to a maximum value, by controlling the actuating member 44 via the transmission means 124. To compensate for this, the F40 supply air flow rate also increases.

Thus, between the third instant T3 and the second instant T2, the concentration of pollutant P continues to increase, but to a lesser extent than in the case where the inflow F30 and outflow F40 are maintained at the nominal level. Between the third instant T3 and the second instant T2, the second curve 182 thus has a second increasing portion 182B.

From the second instant T2, the generation of pollutant P in room 22 ceases, but the concentration of pollutant P remains above the first threshold S1, so the extracted air flow rate F40 is maintained above the nominal value, in particular at the maximum value, so as to reduce the concentration of pollutant % P as quickly as possible. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the pollutant concentration % P falls back below the first threshold S1 from a fourth instant T4, which is later than the second instant T2. The second curve 182 comprises a third portion 182C, which extends between the second instant T2 and the fourth instant T4 and which illustrates the decrease in the pollutant concentration % P while the extracted air flow rate F40 is maintained at the maximum value.

From the fourth instant T4, the measuring station 100 detects that the pollutant concentration % P is less than the first threshold S1 and controls the extraction unit 40 to restore the extracted air flow rate F40 to the nominal value, by controlling the actuator 44 via the transmission means 124. The concentration of pollutant % P continues to fall, tending to converge towards the atmospheric concentration outside room 22.

Alternative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 9.

In the alternative embodiments of the invention, elements similar to those in the other embodiments bear the same references and function in the same way. In the following, the differences between each embodiment and the previous one(s) are described.

If a reference is mentioned in the description without being shown in a figure or shown in a figure without being mentioned in the description, it designates the same element as the one bearing the same reference in the first embodiment.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4 a). One of the main differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the second embodiment, the measuring station 100 comprises a sensor 210 which is located outside the housing 102. In other words, sensor 210 is a remote sensor.

In the example shown, the sensor 210 is fixed to a wall in the room 22, in the breathing zone, while the casing 102 is shown here resting on a table. The reception means 122 are advantageously configured to receive values measured by the remote sensor 210, communication between the remote sensor 210 and the rest of the measurement station 100 being represented by an arrow F122. Preferably, the remote sensor is compatible with the reception means 122, i.e. the measuring station 100 communicates with the remote sensor 210 using the same communication protocols as those used for pairing the measuring station 100 with the ventilation accessories, in particular Bluetooth, BLE, LoRa(WAN), ZigBee, etc.

Preferably, when the remote sensor communicates with the measurement station to transmit measurement values, the message transmitted contains an indication of the location of the sensor, in particular when the remote sensor is located outside the premises.

Alternatively, not shown, the measurement station comprises at least one integrated sensor 110, as in the first embodiment of the invention, and a remote sensor 210, which completes the measurements made by the at least one integrated sensor 110.

It is therefore possible to place the remote sensor 210 as required, for example in another room 22, or even outside the room 22, for example to monitor the concentration of particles, SOx or NOx in the atmospheric air outside the room 22 and limit the increase in incoming flow if the outside concentration is too high.

In a variant not shown, the remote sensor is integrated into the ventilation accessory, such as the extraction unit 40. In another variant, not shown, the remote sensor is integrated into the air inlet 30. This makes it possible to monitor outdoor air quality without having to place a sensor outside the room.

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4 b). One of the main differences between the third embodiment and the previous embodiments is that in the third embodiment, the actuator 44 is a speed variator for the ventilation unit 50, while the extraction port 40 cannot be controlled by the measuring station 100.

The ventilation unit 50 thus includes a unique identifier 57, which is uniquely associated with the ventilation unit 50 and is provided for pairing the ventilation unit 50 with the measuring station 100. In other words, the ventilation box 50 is an example of a ventilation accessory that can receive commands from the measuring station 100.

Alternatively, not shown, the extraction unit 40 and the ventilation unit 50 each have their own actuator 44 and can each be controlled, selectively or jointly, by the measuring station 100.

In the example shown, the ventilation system 20 also includes an air purifier 60. The air purifier 60, which comprises a fan 62 and a filter 64, is configured to filter the air present in the room 22. When the measuring station 100 detects that certain pollutants, which can be filtered by the air purifier 60, are in too high a concentration in the room 22, then the measuring station 100 commands the air purifier 60 to be switched on. The air purifier 60 comprises a unique identifier 67, which is uniquely associated with the air purifier 60 and which is provided for pairing the air purifier 60 with the measuring station. The air purifier 60 is another example of a ventilation accessory in the ventilation system 20.

More generally, the ventilation system comprises at least one ventilation accessory, each ventilation accessory being selected from a list including air inlets, air supply vents, air outlets, extraction vents, air purifiers, etc.

According to another variant not shown, the ventilation accessory is a motorised damper, with the control element being a motorised valve. The motorised damper is located, for example, directly in a duct, or on at the inlet of a ventilation unit, in what is known as a “branch connection” installation.

In the example, the at least one sensor 110 of the measuring station 100 includes a particulate sensor, while the filter 64 is a particulate filter. Alternatively, the at least one sensor 110 of the measuring station 100 includes a VOC sensor, while the filter 64 is a VOC filter, preferably associated with a particulate filter.

More generally, it is understood that several strategies for purifying the air inside the room 22 are possible, depending on the number, nature and location of the measuring sensors 110—integrated or remote—with which the measuring station 100 is equipped, and depending on the ventilation accessories of the ventilation installation 20.

In the example shown in FIG. 4 a), the measuring station 100 is advantageously equipped with at least two sensors 110, including a humidity sensor and a particulate sensor. When the humidity exceeds a comfort threshold, but the concentration of the particles remains below an associated limit threshold, the measuring station 100 only controls the ventilation unit 50, so as to increase the extract air flow rate F40, without starting the air purifier 60, so as to contain energy consumption.

Conversely, when the concentration of particles exceeds the associated limit threshold, but the humidity remains below the associated comfort threshold, the measuring station 100 commands the air purifier 60 to start up, so as to purify the air inside the room 22, without increasing the extracted air flow F40, particularly when the outside air is too cold—in winter—or too polluted—at peak traffic times—and so on.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5.

Room 22 is in this case a classroom, and the at least one sensor in measuring station 100 includes a CO₂ sensor. The ventilation system 20 comprises three air inlets 30 and a single extraction unit 40. As in the first embodiment, the extraction port 40 comprises the actuator 44. When there are a large number of students in room 22, the CO₂ concentration tends to increase rapidly.

It is known to install a CO₂ sensor in an exhaust ventilation duct, for example at the level of the extraction port 40. Ventilation outlets are generally located close to the ceiling, whereas CO₂ is relatively heavy compared with air, especially compared with nitrogen or oxygen. The concentration measured at extraction port 40 is therefore lower than the concentration actually present in the breathing zone. The fact that the measuring station 110, which includes the CO₂ sensor 110, is placed in the breathing zone makes it possible to measure the concentration to which the people present in the room 22 are exposed, improving the overall comfort of these people. In a variant not shown, the CO₂ sensor is a remote sensor, as described above with reference to the second embodiment of the invention.

A further embodiment of the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. Room 22 is in this case a flat, comprising living areas, in this case two bedrooms 22A and a lounge 22B, and technical areas, in this case a kitchen 23A, a bathroom 23B, a toilet 23C and a laundry 23D. It is understood that depending on the activity of the people present in the flat, e.g. napping, cooking, showering, etc., various types of pollutant are mainly released into the indoor air in room 22, e.g. CO₂, particles or VOCs, humidity, etc. Each type of pollutant is associated with a comfort threshold.

Each chamber 22A is advantageously equipped with an example of the air inlet 30. Each air inlet 30 is similar or even identical to the air inlet 30 described in the first embodiment of the invention. Each technical room 23A to 23D is equipped with a copy of extraction port 40. Each extraction port 40 is similar, or even identical, to the extraction port 40 described in the first embodiment of the invention. The installation 20 includes an example of the measurement station 100, which is fixed to a wall of the room 22, preferably at a height corresponding to the breathing zone.

In the example shown, the measuring station 100 is located between the kitchen 23A and the living room 22B. The measuring station 100 is equipped with at least one sensor, each sensor being configured to measure an air quality parameter around the measuring station 100. Each sensor here is an integrated sensor and is not shown.

The at least one sensor here includes a CO₂ sensor, a relative humidity sensor and a particulate/VOC sensor. Optionally, the at least one sensor also includes a temperature sensor.

When the installation 20 is set up, each ventilation accessory, in this case each extraction unit 40, is paired with the measuring station 100. In the example shown, an installer uses a smartphone to read the unique identifier associated with each extraction unit 40, and transmits each identifier to the measuring station 100 via the reception means 124. As a result, the measuring station 100 has all the necessary information about the ventilation system 20, in particular the number and nature of each ventilation accessory. In the example shown, the measuring station 100 has thus recorded the fact that the ventilation system comprises a first extraction unit 40 for the kitchen 23A, a second extraction unit 40 for the bathroom 23B, a third extraction unit 40 for the toilet 23C, and a fourth extraction unit 40 for the utility room 23D. In other words, by pairing up each ventilation accessory, the measuring station 100 determines the overall configuration of the ventilation system.

In FIG. 6, the ventilation system 20 is shown in a first configuration, which is a standby configuration, for example when no-one is present in the room 22. The flow rates of the F30 supply air or F40 extracted air are generally at a nominal value.

In FIG. 7, the ventilation system 20 is shown in a second configuration, which corresponds, for example, to the case where the occupants are cooking, releasing particles—PM—into the room 22. The measuring station 100 uses the particulate sensor to detect the increase in particulate concentration in the air in the room 22. When the concentration of particles exceeds a predetermined comfort threshold associated with the particles, the measuring station 100 transmits a command F124 to the extract unit 40 associated with the kitchen 23A, this command consisting of increasing the opening of the corresponding actuator 44, so as to increase the flow of extracted air F40 through the extraction unit 40 of the kitchen 23A and thus reduce the particle content of the air inside the room 22. As a corollary, the overall incoming air flow, equal to the sum of the incoming air flows F30 passing through each of the air inlets 30, increases.

The particle content is measured periodically, for example every second. Once the measured content falls below the comfort threshold associated with the particles, the measuring station transmits an order to the extraction port 40 associated with the kitchen 23A to return to the initial state.

In FIG. 8, the ventilation system 20 is shown in a third configuration, which corresponds, for example, to the case where several occupants are present in the bedroom and/or living room, releasing CO₂ into the room 22. The measuring station 100 uses the CO₂ sensor to detect the increase in CO₂ concentration in the air in room 22. When the particle concentration exceeds a predetermined comfort threshold associated with CO₂, the measuring station 100 transmits a command F124 to at least one of the extraction units 40, in this case the extraction unit 40 associated with the kitchen 23A, so as to increase the extracted air flow F40 through the extraction unit 40 of the kitchen 23A and thus reduce the particle content of the air inside the room 22. As a result, the overall incoming air flow, equal to the sum of the incoming air flows F30 passing through each of the air inlets 30, increases, which helps to carry away the CO₂ released by the occupants of rooms 22A, for example during the night.

In FIG. 9, ventilation system 20 is shown in a fourth configuration, which corresponds to the case where a large amount of moisture is released into room 22, increasing the relative humidity—denoted RH—in room 22. For example, some occupants take showers, others hang laundry or use a tumble dryer, others cook, etc. The humidity sensor in measuring station 100 detects variations in the relative humidity in the air in room 22. When the relative humidity level exceeds a predetermined comfort threshold, the measuring station 100 transmits a command F124 to at least one of the extraction units 40, so as to increase the extracted air flow F40. In the example shown, the measuring station 100 transmits a command F124 to each of the extraction units 40, so as to increase the extracted air flow F40 passing through each of the extraction units 40. As each of the extraction units 40 is located in a room where the activities of the occupants are likely to give off humidity, it is advantageous to increase the air flow in each of these rooms, so as to quickly bring the humidity level below the associated comfort threshold.

Thus, it is clear that the more complex the ventilation system 20 is, with numerous ventilation accessories, the more effective ventilation strategies can be implemented, allowing air to be quickly brought back in if one or more comfort thresholds are exceeded.

The use of remote 110 sensors is particularly advantageous, as it enables the release of pollutants to be detected as close as possible to the potential source, and thus enables the most appropriate ventilation strategy to be chosen. In a variant not shown, the measurement station 100 comprises a remote sensor located outside the room 22, for example a temperature sensor or a particulate sensor. In this way, it is possible to modulate the ventilation strategy, for example to limit the flow of incoming air if the outside air is at an uncomfortable temperature, too cold in winter or too hot in summer, or if the outside air is too polluted, for example with particles from car traffic.

As shown in FIG. 10, the ventilation systems 20 presented in the various embodiments described above enable a control method to be implemented, which comprises:

• • a step 501 for supplying a measuring station 100 and at least one ventilation accessory,
  • then, a step 502 for pairing each ventilation accessory to the measuring station 100, by means of the electronic control unit 126 of the measuring station 100, so as to determine the overall configuration of the ventilation system 20,
  • then, a step 503, for determining the preferred ventilation scenario, by means of the electronic control unit 126 and considering the overall configuration.

Preferably, the preferred ventilation scenario is chosen from several ventilation scenarios previously stored in memory 129 of the electronic control unit. Alternatively, once the overall configuration of the ventilation system 20 has been determined, the installer 20 queries a remote server, for example using their smartphone, the remote server drawing up a ventilation scenario on the basis of the overall configuration, this ventilation scenario then being loaded by the installer into the control unit's memory 129 and becoming the preferred scenario.

The measuring station 100 is then ready for use.

The steering method then includes:

• • a step 504, for measuring, by means of at least one measuring sensor 110, at least one air quality parameter,
  • then, a step 505, for determining, as a function of the measurement or measurements of the at least one measuring sensor and of the preferred ventilation scenario and by means of the electronic control unit 126, and considering the preferred ventilation scenario, one or more commands to be transmitted to each ventilation accessory, each command being associated with a respective ventilation accessory, then
  • a step 506, for transmitting, to each ventilation accessory, the command associated with this ventilation accessory, so that the ventilation accessory in question changes its operating state, so as to improve at least one air quality parameter.

Advantageously, the control method also comprises:

• • a step 511, for sending, to a remote server and by means of an Internet gateway of the measuring station 100, data relating to the air quality measurements and to the overall configuration, then
  • a step 512, for receiving, from the remote server, an additional ventilation scenario, the additional scenario being drawn up by the remote server on the basis of the data transmitted by the measurement station to the remote server.
  • a step 513; for saving the additional scenario in the memory 129 of the electronic control unit 126, the additional scenario becoming the preferred ventilation scenario.

In other words, the newly stored additional scenario replaces the preferred scenario previously chosen during the determination step 503.

Preferably, the additional ventilation scenario is developed using machine learning methods.

According to another advantageous variant, the ventilation scenario or scenarios are updated when the ventilation installation 20 is started up during an initialisation step, which takes place before the step 503 of determining the preferred scenario. The initialisation step is, for example, a sub-step of the pairing step 502.

Advantageously, the 110/210 sensor is associated with a memory module—not shown—in which one or more ventilation scenarios are stored. During the initialisation step, the ventilation scenario or scenarios are transmitted from the sensor memory module 110/210 to the memory 129 of the control unit 126. Then, during the determination step 503, the control unit 120 determines which of the ventilation scenarios transmitted during the initialisation step becomes the preferred ventilation scenario, depending on the actual configuration of the ventilation installation 20.

Preferably, before the initialisation step, at least one ventilation scenario is previously stored in the memory 129 of the control unit 126, so that the ventilation system can be operational even if the initialisation step malfunctions. If the initialisation step is successful, then the ventilation scenario or scenarios initially stored in memory 129 are erased and replaced by the new ventilation scenarios transmitted during the initialisation step.

When the sensor 110 is an integrated sensor, during the initialisation step, the transmission of the ventilation scenario from the memory module to the memory 129 of the control unit 126 is done internally to the measuring station 100, preferably via physical connections. When sensor 210 is a remote sensor, for example when sensor 210 is part of a ventilation outlet, a ventilation box, a damper, etc., the preferred ventilation scenario is transmitted from the memory module to the memory 129 of the control unit 126 via the communication means 120, preferably during the pairing step 502.

According to an example of use, the preferred scenario depends on the country in which the ventilation system 20 is to be installed. In particular, the preferred scenario ensures compliance with health standards in terms of ventilation flow rates. For example, depending on the type and concentration of pollutants measured, such as humidity or CO₂, the applicable flow rates vary from country to country.

Thus, when the 110/210 sensor is manufactured, the fact that the preferred ventilation scenario or scenarios, adapted to the country in question, are already stored in the memory module, means that as soon as the ventilation system 20 is switched on for the first time, at the end of the determination step 503, the ventilation installation 20 complies with the local standards, without requiring any specific intervention by the installer, or any connection between the measuring station 200 and the Internet. In addition, linking the sensors 110/210 to the memory module in which the ventilation scenarios are recorded, preferably in the same modular element, for example in the measurement module 112, makes manufacturing easier, by limiting the number of references and/or the number of manipulations.

The above-mentioned embodiments and variants can be combined to generate new embodiments of the invention.