AIRFLOW SYSTEM FOR A BUILDING AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME TO PROVIDE CONTAMINATION MITIGATION FOR OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDING

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/738,756, filed Dec. 24, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This non-provisional patent application is also related to contemporaneously filed U.S. non-provisional patent application Serial Number ______, titled AIRFLOW SYSTEM FOR A BUILDING AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME TO PROVIDE CONTAMINATION MITIGATION FOR OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILDING, having Attorney Docket Number 23-1838-US-NP, filed on Jun. 3, 2025, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. By mention in this CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION section, the application having Serial Number ______ and Attorney Docket Number 23-1838-US-NP is not admitted to be prior art with respect to this application having Serial Number ______ and Attorney Docket Number 23-1839-US-NP.

FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to airflow systems and methods for a building, and more particularly, to airflow systems and methods for interior airflow spaces in an office building, such as office cubicles, conference rooms, and auditoriums, to provide contamination mitigation and respiratory isolation for occupants of the office building against biological and chemical agents.

BACKGROUND

Pandemics, biological warfare using biological weapons, and chemical warfare using chemical weapons can cause harm or death to humans, and increasing attention has been given to systems and methods to prevent or mitigate such harm or death and to make buildings safe for human occupants. The recent COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in airflow systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, in office buildings and commercial buildings, and concern that the air in office buildings and commercial buildings contains a virus that is not detectable remains an issue.

Known safety measures during and after the COVID-19 pandemic used by occupants in office buildings and commercial buildings included wearing face masks, social distancing, and sanitizing the work area. However, cloth face masks have been found not to be effective, and face masks that are more effective may be uncomfortable to wear. Further, effective face masks may be able to block coronavirus-carrying respiratory droplets, but may not be able to block smaller aerosol or airborne particles. In addition, sanitizing the work area, such as frequently wiping down surfaces, may be expensive and time consuming to implement and maintain, and such sanitizing does not address the quality and purification of the air in the work area and does not solve the spread of airborne viruses.

Another known safety measure used during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in office buildings and commercial buildings included the use of an air filter designed to trap and kill the coronavirus with heat. The coronavirus dies at 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Some air filters use a grid of wires heated to 392 degrees Fahrenheit. However, such a filter may have limited usefulness to coronavirus since the dwell time the air is heated to 392 degrees Fahrenheit may be insufficient to kill all the viruses passing through it. It may also not have the capability of heating to higher temperatures, e.g., above 392 degrees Fahrenheit, to kill other biological agents and chemical agents that can only be destroyed at higher temperatures. The combination of a limited temperature and a short dwell time results in a system that does not reduce the risk to near zero.

Another known safety measure used during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in office buildings and commercial spaces included the use of a far conventional ultraviolet (UV) light in air duct systems to destroy coronavirus airborne droplets and other viruses and microbes on surfaces. However, the range of temperatures studied with such far conventional UV light is narrow, e.g., 74 degrees Fahrenheit to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, such far conventional UV light does not reduce the risk to near zero. In addition, use of germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light can destroy airborne viruses but may damage human skin and eyes, and must be used in empty rooms with no human occupants. However, the germicidal UV light may be used inside air ducts.

In addition, known High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters have been used to filter and capture airborne particles. Such HEPA filters can effectively remove up to 99.7% of airborne particulate matter, such as dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and airborne particles, down to a size of 0.3 μm (zero point three micron). COVID-19 particles are estimated to have a size of 0.06 to 0.14 micron. Thus, although HEPA filters may be able to filter some COVID-19 particles, it may not be able to filter all sizes of COVID-19 particles. Moreover, such HEPA filters require regular replacement and maintenance to function properly.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved airflow system and method for buildings, such as office buildings and commercial buildings, that provide effective respiratory isolation and cross-contamination prevention between occupants in interior airflow spaces in buildings, that create one or more air barriers and/or an airflow field of air around occupants in interior airflow spaces, such as office cubicles, conference rooms, and auditoriums, where the occupants are stationary or substantially stationary for an extended period of time, that provide contamination mitigation for occupants of buildings against contamination by biological agents and chemical agents, that do not require any filters to change or maintain, and that provide advantages over known systems and methods.

SUMMARY

Example implementations of the present disclosure provide an airflow system for a building and method of using the same. As discussed in the below detailed description, versions of the airflow system for a building and method of using the same may provide significant advantages over known systems and methods.

In one version of the disclosure, there is provided an airflow system for a building. The airflow system comprises at least one air purification system providing purified air and receiving recirculated air. The airflow system further comprises at least one air supply assembly supplying the purified air from the at least one air purification system to at least one interior airflow space in the building. The at least one interior airflow space comprises one or more of, an office cubicle, a conference room, and an auditorium in the building. One or more occupants are in the at least one interior airflow space in one of, a stationary position, or a substantially stationary position, for an extended time period in a time range of one hour to ten hours.

The airflow system further comprises at least one air return assembly, returning the recirculated air from the at least one interior airflow space to the at least one air purification system. The recirculated air comprises one or more of, internal air from the at least one interior airflow space, and contaminated air contaminated by one or more of, one or more biological agents, including one or more biological agents shed by one or more contaminated occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, and one or more chemical agents.

The airflow system further comprises one or more directional airstreams formed between the at least one air supply assembly and the at least one air return assembly in the at least one interior airflow space. The one or more directional airstreams comprise one or more of, the purified air, the internal air, and the contaminated air. The one or more directional airstreams comprise at least one or more of, one or more first directional airstreams forming one or more air barriers between each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space, to provide respiratory isolation, with the one or more air barriers, for each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space; and one or more second directional airstreams forming an airflow field around each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space, wherein the one or more second directional airstreams have an airflow velocity that is less than an airflow velocity of the one or more first directional airstreams.

The airflow system further comprises at least one control system controlling the airflow system. The airflow system provides a contamination mitigation for each of the one or more occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, against contamination by one or more of, the one or more biological agents, including the one or more biological agents shed by the one or more contaminated occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, and the one or more chemical agents.

In another version of the disclosure, there is provided an airflow system for an office building. The airflow system comprises at least one air purification system providing purified air and receiving recirculated air. The airflow system further comprises at least one air supply duct assembly, supplying the purified air from the at least one air purification system to at least one interior airflow space in the office building. The at least one air supply duct assembly comprises one or more air supply ducts and one or more of air supply vents. The at least one interior airflow space comprises one or more of, an office cubicle, a conference room, and an auditorium, in the office building. One or more occupants are in the at least one interior airflow space in one of, a stationary position, or a substantially stationary position, for an extended time period in a time range of one hour to ten hours.

The airflow system further comprises at least one air return duct assembly, returning the recirculated air from the at least one interior airflow space to the at least one air purification system. The at least one air return duct assembly comprises one or more air return ducts and one or more air return vents. The recirculated air comprises one or more of, internal air from the at least one interior airflow space, and contaminated air contaminated by one or more of, one or more biological agents, including one or more biological agents shed by one or more contaminated occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, and one or more chemical agents.

The airflow system further comprises one or more directional airstreams formed between the at least one air supply duct assembly and the at least one return duct assembly in the at least one interior airflow space. The one or more directional airstreams comprise one or more of, the purified air, the internal air, and the contaminated air. The one or more directional airstreams comprise at least one or more of, one or more first directional airstreams forming one or more air barriers between each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space, to provide respiratory isolation, with the one or more air barriers, for each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space; and one or more second directional airstreams forming an airflow field around each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space, wherein the one or more second directional airstreams have an airflow velocity that is less than an airflow velocity of the one or more first directional airstreams.

The airflow system further comprises one or more sensors positioned in the at least one interior airflow space. The airflow system further comprises at least one control system controlling the airflow system.

The airflow system provides a contamination mitigation for each of the one or more occupants in the at least one interior airflow space in the office building, against contamination by one or more of, the one or more biological agents, including the one or more biological agents shed by the one or more contaminated occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, and the one or more chemical agents.

In another version of the disclosure, there is provided a method of using an airflow system in a building to provide a contamination mitigation for one or more occupants in the building. The method comprises installing the airflow system in the building.

The airflow system comprises at least one air purification system providing purified air and receiving recirculated air. The airflow system further comprises at least one air supply assembly, supplying the purified air from the at least one air purification system to at least one interior airflow space in the building. The at least one interior airflow space comprises one or more of, an office cubicle, a conference room, and an auditorium in the building. One or more occupants are in the at least one interior airflow space in one of, a stationary position, or a substantially stationary position, for an extended time period in a time range of one hour to ten hours;

The airflow system further comprises at least one air return assembly, returning the recirculated air from the at least one interior airflow space to the at least one air purification system. The recirculated air comprises one or more of, internal air from the at least one interior airflow space, and contaminated air contaminated by one or more of, one or more biological agents, including one or more biological agents shed by one or more contaminated occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, and one or more chemical agents.

The airflow system further comprises one or more directional airstreams formed between the at least one air supply assembly and the at least one air return assembly in the at least one interior airflow space. The one or more directional airstreams comprise one or more of, the purified air, the internal air, and the contaminated air. The one or more directional airstreams comprise at least one or more of, one or more first directional airstreams forming one or more air barriers between each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space, to provide respiratory isolation, with the one or more air barriers, for each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space; and one or more second directional airstreams forming an airflow field around each of the one or more occupants, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants, in the interior airflow space, wherein the one or more second directional airstreams have an airflow velocity that is less than an airflow velocity of the one or more first directional airstreams.

The airflow system further comprises at least one control system controlling the airflow system.

The method further comprises supplying, with the at least one air supply assembly, the purified air from the at least one air purification system to the at least one interior airflow space in the building. The method further comprises flowing the one or more directional airstreams between the at least one air supply assembly and the at least one air return assembly in the at least one interior airflow space, to form one or more of, the one or more air barriers, and the airflow field, for each of the one or more occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, including the one or more contaminated occupants.

The method further comprises returning, with the at least one air return assembly, the recirculated air from the at least one interior airflow space to the at least one air purification system. The airflow system provides the contamination mitigation for each of the one or more occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, against contamination by one or more of, the one or more biological agents, including the one or more biological agents by the one or more contaminated occupants in the at least one interior airflow space, and the one or more chemical agents.

The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various versions of the disclosure or may be combined in yet other versions, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary versions, but which are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are examples and not meant as limitations on the description or claims.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a system block diagram of an exemplary version of an airflow system of the disclosure for a building;

FIG. 2A is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary airflow system of the disclosure for an office cubicle in a retrofitted building, where there is contaminated air in an interior of the office cubicle;

FIG. 2B is an illustration of a side view of the airflow system of FIG. 2A, for the office cubicle in the retrofitted building, where there is contaminated air in an interior of another office cubicle;

FIG. 2C is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary airflow system of the disclosure for an office cubicle in a new build building, where there is contaminated air in an aisleway adjacent to the office cubicle;

FIG. 3A is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary airflow system of the disclosure for a conference room, where there is no contaminated air in an interior of the conference room;

FIG. 3B is an illustration of a side view of the airflow system of FIG. 3A, for the conference room, where there is contaminated air in the interior of the conference room, and where there is one airflow hood;

FIG. 3C is an illustration of a side view of the airflow system of FIG. 3B, for the conference room, where there is contaminated air in the interior of the conference room, and where a contaminated conference room occupant sneezes;

FIG. 4A is an illustration of a top view of a version of a conference room table having a rectangular tabletop shape, and showing airstreams flowing at the conference room table;

FIG. 4B is an illustration of a side view of the conference room table of FIG. 4A, in a conference room with an exemplary airflow system having an under table air supply cavity;

FIG. 4C is an illustration of a top view of another version of a conference room table having a scalloped tabletop shape, and showing airstreams flowing at the conference room table;

FIG. 4D is an illustration of a side view of the conference room table of FIG. 4C, in a conference room with an exemplary airflow system having an under table air supply cavity;

FIG. 5A is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary airflow system of the disclosure for an auditorium in a retrofitted building, where there are directional airstreams in an interior of the auditorium;

FIG. 5B is an illustration of an enlarged side view of the airflow system and five auditorium occupants in ducted auditorium seats, of the auditorium of FIG. 5A, showing the directional airstreams in the interior of the auditorium;

FIG. 5C is an illustration of an enlarged side view of an auditorium occupant in a ducted auditorium seat, of FIG. 5B, showing the directional airstreams in the interior of the auditorium;

FIG. 5D is an illustration of an enlarged front view of three auditorium occupants in ducted auditorium seats, of the auditorium of FIG. 5A, showing the directional airstreams in the interior of the auditorium;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a top view of six auditorium occupants, including one contaminated occupant, in ducted auditorium seats, and showing air barriers around the contaminated occupant; and

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a flow diagram of an exemplary version of a method of the disclosure.

The figures shown in this disclosure represent various aspects of the versions presented, and only differences will be discussed in detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed versions will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all of the disclosed versions are shown. Indeed, several different versions may be provided and should not be construed as limited to the versions set forth herein. Rather, these versions are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

This specification includes references to “one version” or “a version”. The instances of the phrases “one version” or “a version” do not necessarily refer to the same version. Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner consistent with this disclosure. All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.

As used herein, “comprising” is an open-ended term, and as used in the claims, this term does not foreclose additional structures or steps.

As used herein, “configured to” means various parts or components may be described or claimed as “configured to” perform a task or tasks. In such contexts, “configured to” is used to connote structure by indicating that the parts or components include structure that performs those task or tasks during operation. As such, the parts or components can be said to be configured to perform the task even when the specified part or component is not currently operational (e.g., is not on).

As used herein, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used as labels for nouns that they precede, and do not imply any type of ordering (e.g., spatial, temporal, logical, etc.).

As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded by the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not necessarily excluding the plural of the elements or steps. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As also used herein, the term “combinations thereof” includes combinations having at least one of the associated listed items, wherein the combination can further include additional, like non-listed items.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one of each item in the list may be needed. In other words, “at least one of” means any combination of items and number of items may be used from the list, but not all of the items in the list are required. The item may be a particular object, a thing, or a category.

Now referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is an illustration of a system block diagram of an exemplary version of an airflow system (AFS) 10 of the disclosure for a building 12. The blocks in FIG. 1 represent elements, and lines connecting the various blocks do not imply any particular dependency of the elements. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various Figures contained herein are intended to represent example functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements, but it is noted that other alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in versions disclosed herein. One or more of these blocks may be combined, divided, or combined and divided into different blocks when implemented in an illustrative example. Further, the illustration of the airflow system 10 in FIG. 1 is not meant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner in which an illustrative example may be implemented. Other components in addition to, or in place of, the ones illustrated may be used. Some components may be unnecessary.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 is preferably designed for a building (BLDG.) 12, such as an office buildings (BLDG.) 12a, a commercial building (BLDG.) 12b, or another suitable building. As further shown in FIG. 1, in one version, the building 12, such as the office building 12a or the commercial building 12b, may comprise a retrofitted building (BLDG.) 12c that is already existing and already built, and that can be retrofitted with the airflow system 10, such as a retrofitted airflow system (AFS) 10a, by installing the retrofitted airflow system 10a in, or at, the retrofitted building 12c. As further shown in FIG. 1, in another version, the building 12, such as the office building 12a or the commercial building 12b, may comprise a new build building (BLDG.) 12d that is newly built, or in the process of being built, and in which the airflow system 10, such as a new build air flow system (AFS) 10b, is installed or incorporated in or at the new build building 12d.

As shown in FIG. 1, the building 12, such as the office building 12a or the commercial building 12b, has one or more interior airflow spaces 14 within the building 12. As further shown in FIG. 1, the interior airflow space 14 may comprise an office cubicle 16 (see also FIG. 2A), a conference room 20 (see also FIG. 3A), an auditorium 22 (see also FIG. 5A) or theater, an office 24, or another suitable interior airflow space 14 in the building 12.

The airflow system 10 may further optionally comprise one or more sensors 25 (see FIG. 1) positioned in, or in proximity to, the at least one interior airflow space 14. The one or more sensors 25 may comprise one or more sound sensors 25a (see FIG. 1) to detect sounds, for example, a sneeze 26 (see FIG. 3C), or another type of sound. The sensors 25 may further comprise motion sensors to detect one or more occupants (OCC.(S)) 28 (see FIG. 1), such as one or more human occupants (OCC.(S)) 28a (see FIG. 1), in the interior airflow space 14 in the building 12. The sensors 25 may further comprise temperature sensors, including semiconductor-based sensors, thermocouple sensors, resistance temperature detectors, and negative temperature coefficient thermistors; humidity sensors, including capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, and thermal sensors; pressure sensors; contact sensors to indicate whether a duct or valve is open or closed; air quality sensors to monitor toxins, dust, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and other substances in air 30 (see FIG. 1); infrared (IR) sensors; sensors that sense or detect contamination (CONTAM.) agents 32 (see FIG. 1) comprising one or more of, one or more biological (BIOL.) agents (BA) 34 (see FIG. 1), and one or more chemical (CHEM.) agents (CA) 36 (see FIG. 1); or other suitable sensors 25.

The airflow system 10 is configured to supply air 30 (see FIG. 1), such as purified air 30a (see FIG. 1), to each interior airflow space 14, and is configured to exhaust recirculated (RECIRC.) air 30b (see FIG. 1) from each interior airflow space 14. The recirculated air 30b comprises one or more of, internal air 30c (see FIG. 1) in and from the interior airflow space 14, and contaminated air 30d (see FIG. 1) contaminated by one or more contamination agents 32 (see FIG. 1) comprising one or more of, one or more biological agents 34 (see FIG. 1), including, or comprising, one or more biological agents 34 shed by one or more contaminated (CONTAM.) occupants (OCC.(S)) 28b in the interior airflow space 14, and one or more chemical agents 36 (see FIG. 1). The recirculated air 30b may further comprise breathed air 30e (see FIG. 1), breathed by the one or more occupants 28 in the interior airflow space 14, including the contaminated occupants 28b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the biological agents 34 and/or the chemical agents 36 may be in the air 30 as a result of a pandemic 38, for example, a COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. As further shown in FIG. 1, the biological agents 34 and/or the chemical agents 36 may further be in the air 30, as a result of a biological (BIOL.) weapon release 40, or biological weapon, i.e., bioweapon, event, or a chemical (CHEM.) weapon release 42, or a chemical weapon event, or another release event, where one or more biological agents 34, or bioweapons, and/or one or more chemical agents 36, or chemical weapons, are released in the air 30 due to a terrorist event, a war, an attack, an accidental or unintentional release, or another type of release or event.

As shown in FIG. 1, the one or more biological agents 34 may comprise one or more airborne biological agents (BA(S)) 34a. The one or more biological agents 34 may further comprise one or more, airborne pathogens; respiratory pathogens; airborne viruses; respiratory viruses; airborne microbes; respiratory microbes; airborne coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome); ebola virus; Zika virus; West Nile virus; Marburg virus; influenza virus, including, airborne influenza virus, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, influenza C virus, avian flu, and swine flu; smallpox virus; monkeypox virus; streptococcus pneumoniae causing pneumonia; mycobacterium tuberculosis causing tuberculosis; bacillus anthracis causing anthrax; aspergillus fumigatus causing lung aspergillosis; pneumonic plague; black mold airborne spores; ricin mist; ricin powder; or another type of biological agent 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, the one or more chemical agents 36 may comprise one or more airborne chemical agents (CA(S)) 36a. The one or more chemical agents 36 may further comprise one or more, respiratory chemical agents; phenoxy herbicide (Agent Orange); choking agents, such as agents that irritate the nose, throat, and lungs when inhaled, including chlorine, chloropicrin, diphosgene, and phosgene; blister agents, such as agents that affect the eyes, respiratory tract, and skin, including sulfur mustard, nitrogen mustard, lewisite, and phosgene oxime; blood agents, such as agents that inhibit the ability of cells to use oxygen, including hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, and arsine; and nerve agents, such as agents that block the Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme in the nervous system, which causes hyper-stimulation of muscles including tabun, sarin, soman, cyclosarin, venomous agent X, or another type of chemical agent 36.

As shown in FIG. 1, the occupants 28 may include one or more contaminated occupants 28b, one or more office cubicle occupants (OCC.(S)) 28c, one or more conference room occupants 28d, one or more auditorium occupants 28f, one or more animal occupants 28h such as dogs and/or cats or other types of animals, or other types of occupants 28 in the building 12. Preferably, the one or more occupants 28 in the interior airflow space 14 is/are in a stationary position (POS.) (SP) 44 (see FIG. 1) or a substantially stationary position (SP) 44a (see FIG. 1), without movement or substantial movement, such as sitting and not walking, for a time period 45 (see FIG. 1), such as an extended time period 45a (see FIG. 1). The time period 45, such as the extended time period 45a, is preferably in a time range of one (1) hour to ten (10) hours, and more preferably, in a time range of one (1) hour to eight (8) hours.

Each interior airflow space 14 is designed for a direct-path-to-return airflow 46 (see FIG. 1). The direct-path-to-return airflow 46 is designed and achieved for which there is a very low probability of an occupant 28, such as a human occupant 28a, in the building 12, breathing air 30, such as contaminated air 30d, that has already been breathed by another occupant 28, such as another human occupant 28a, including a contaminated occupant 28b, nearby in the interior airflow space 14, and in turn, any other occupant 28, such as any other human occupant 28a, including a contaminated occupant 28b, in the building 12 in any other interior airflow space 14.

The airflow system 10 provides a contamination (CONTAM.) mitigation 48 (see FIG. 1) for occupants 28 (see FIG. 1), such as human occupants 28a (see FIG. 1), including contaminated occupants 28b, and/or animal occupants 28h, in the building 12 against contamination by one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34, and the one or more chemical agents 36.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 comprises at least one air purification system 50 providing purified air 30a and receiving recirculated air 30b. In one version, the air purification system 50 comprises a compressor assembly (ASSY.) (CA) 52 (see FIG. 1) that intakes external air 30f (see FIG. 1) from the outside environment and also intakes the recirculated air 30b from the interior airflow spaces 14. As further shown in FIG. 1, the compressor assembly 52 may comprise a reciprocating compressor assembly (CA) 52a, a multi-cylinder compressor assembly (CA) 52b, a multi-nozzle turbine compressor assembly (CA) 52c, a generator turbine compressor assembly (CA) 52d, or another suitable compressor assembly 52.

The compressor assembly 52 may have at least one compressor 54 (see FIG. 1) to compress, and thereby heat, the external air 30f and the recirculated air 30b, to obtain compressed air 30g (see FIG. 1), such as compressed air 30g contaminated with one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34, and the one or more chemical agents 36. The compressor 54 compresses, and thereby heats, one or more of, the external air 30f, and the recirculated air 30b, to, and at, an effective temperature (EFF. TEMP.) 55 (see FIG. 1), such as an elevated temperature, or high temperature, in a temperature range of from 140° F. (one-hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit) (60° C. (sixty degrees Celsius)) to 1500° F. (one thousand five hundred degrees Fahrenheit) (816° C. (eight hundred sixteen degrees Celsius)), and more preferably, in a temperature range of from 158° F. (one hundred fifty-eight degrees Fahrenheit) (70° C. (seventy degrees Celsius)) to 600° F. (six hundred degrees Fahrenheit) (316° C. (three-hundred sixteen degrees Celsius)). The compressor 54 compresses, and thereby heats, one or more of, the external air 30f, and the recirculated air 30b, to, and at, an effective pressure (EFF. PRESS.) 56 (see FIG. 1), such as an elevated pressure or high pressure.

The compressed air 30g may be purified in a plenum 58 (see FIG. 1) to obtain the purified air 30a. The compressed air 30g is preferably maintained at the effective temperature 55, such as the elevated temperature or high temperature, for an effective (EFF.) dwell time 59 (see FIG. 1), comprising a range of 0.5 (zero point five) second to 30 (thirty) minutes, and more preferably, heated at the effective temperature 55 for the effective dwell time 59 comprising a range of 1 (one) second to 5 (five) minutes.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one version, the compressor assembly 52 further comprises at least one decompressor 60 coupled to the at least one plenum 58. The decompressor 60 is configured to decompress, and decompresses, and thereby cools, the purified air 30a to a cooled temperature preferably in a range of from 25° F. (twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit) (−3.9° C. (minus three point nine degrees Celsius)) to 80° F. (eighty degrees Fahrenheit) (26° C. (twenty-six degrees Celsius)), and more preferably, in a range of from 65° F. (sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit) (18° C. (eighteen degrees Celsius)) to 74° F. (seventy-four degrees Fahrenheit) (24° C. (twenty-four degrees Celsius)), to obtain decompressed air 30h. The cooled temperature is less than, or lower than, the effective temperature 55, such as the elevated temperature or high temperature.

The compressor assembly 52 may be coupled to one or more air outlets to direct the purified air 30a out of the compressor assembly 52 to an air management system 62 (see FIG. 1), and the compressor assembly 52 provides a purified air supply, or a clean air supply, to the air management system 62. Exhaust air 30i (see FIG. 1) may comprise some purified air 30a exhausted out of one of the air outlets of the compressor assembly 52, and exhausted into the atmosphere external to the building 12.

The purified air 30a comprises a purified air supply, or a clean air supply, that is supplied, or flows, out of the compressor assembly 52 and into an air management system 62. The air management system 62 is part of the airflow system 10. The air management system 62 is coupled to the air purification system 50, and comprises a duct network 64 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A) comprised of a plurality of ducts 66 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A) that may have one or more duct valves 68 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A). As shown in FIG. 1, the air management system 62 of the airflow system 10 comprises at least one air supply (AS) assembly (ASSY.) 70, such as at least one air supply duct (ASD) assembly (ASSY.) 72, supplying the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50 to the at least one interior airflow space 14 in the building 12.

The air supply assembly 70, such as the air supply duct assembly 72, comprises one or more air supply ducts (ASD) 78 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A). Each air supply duct 78 of the air supply assembly 70, such as the air supply duct assembly 72, has one or more supply first ends 74 (see FIGS. 2A, 3A, 5A) coupled to the at least one air purification system 50 and one or more supply second ends 76 (see FIGS. 2A, 3A, 5A) coupled to the at least one interior airflow space 14 in the building 12, such as the office building 12a or the commercial building 12b.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one version, the one or more air supply ducts 78 may comprise one or more first air supply ducts (ASD) 78a, one or more second air supply ducts (ASD) 78b, and/or one or more third air supply ducts (ASD) 78c. Each of the one or more air supply ducts 78 has one or more air pressures (AP) 80 (see FIG. 1) inside each air supply duct 78. Preferably, in one version, each of the one or more first air supply ducts 78a can supply a low air pressure (AP) 80a (see FIG. 1) airflow 31, and/or can supply a moderate air pressure (AP) 80b (see FIG. 1) airflow 31, where low air pressure 80a airflow 31 preferably has a low air pressure 80a (see FIG. 1) in a range of from 0.000000119 psf (pound-force per square foot) to 0.0000119 psf, and where moderate air pressure 80b airflow 31 preferably has a moderate air pressure 80b (see FIG. 1) in a range of from 0.0000119 psf to 0.001190083 psf. As used herein, pound-force per square foot (psf) is a unit of pressure, such as dynamic pressure of airflow, where a force of one pound-force (lbf) is applied to an area of one square foot (ft²). In other versions, the low air pressure 80a may be less than 0.000000119 psf or greater than 0.0000119 psf. In other versions, the moderate air pressure 80b may be less than 0.0000119 psf or greater than 0.001190083 psf.

Preferably, in one version, each of the second air supply ducts 78b can supply a high air pressure (AP) 80c (see FIG. 1) airflow 31, and/or can supply a very high air pressure (AP) 80d (see FIG. 1) airflow 31, where high air pressure 80c airflow 31 preferably has a high air pressure 80c (see FIG. 1) in a range of from 0.019041322 psf to 0.119008264 psf, and where very high air pressure 80d airflow 31 preferably has a very high air pressure 80d of 0.267768595 psf to 26.7768595 psf. In other versions, the high air pressure 80c may be less than 0.019041322 psf or greater than 0.119008264 psf. In other versions, the very high air pressure 80d may be less than 0.267768595 psf or greater than 26.7768595 psf.

Preferably, in one version, each of the third air supply ducts 78c may comprise a port 79 (see FIG. 3C) to compressed air 30g (see FIG. 3C) that can be supplied at a very high air pressure 80d, and which may be activated, for example, when an occupant 28 in the interior airflow space 14 sneezes.

The one or more air supply ducts 78, discussed in further detail below, may comprise one or more of, one or more sidewall air supply ducts 78d (see FIG. 2A), one or more floor air supply ducts 78e (see FIG. 2C), one or more ceiling air supply ducts 78f (see FIG. 2A), one or more heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) air supply ducts 78g (see FIG. 2A), one or more table air supply ducts 78h (see FIG. 3A), one or more seat air supply ducts 78i (see FIG. 5D), or other suitable air supply ducts 78. The one or more seat air supply ducts 78i comprise one or more of, one or more seat air supply sidewall ducts 78j (see FIG. 5D), and one or more seat air supply rear ducts 78k (see FIG. 5D).

The air supply assembly 70, such as the air supply duct assembly 72, further comprises one or more of air supply vents 82 configured to open and to close, to control an airflow (AF) 31 (see FIG. 1) of the purified air 30a into the at least one interior airflow space 14. The one or more air supply vents 82, discussed in further detail below, may comprise one or more of, one or more sidewall air supply vents 82a (see FIG. 2A), one or more floor air supply vents 82b (see FIG. 2C), one or more ceiling air supply vents 82c (see FIG. 2A), one or more table air supply vents 82d (see FIG. 3A), one or more seat air supply vents 82e (see FIG. 5D), or other suitable air supply vents 82.

In one version, as shown in FIG. 4A, and discussed in further detail below with regard to FIG. 4A, the one or more table air supply vents 82d preferably comprise, as shown in FIG. 4A, one or more center nozzle vents 84a, one or more side nozzle vents 84b, and one or more diagonal nozzle vents 84c. The one or more table air supply vents 82d may also comprise other suitable types of table air supply vents 82d.

In one version, as shown in FIG. 5D, and discussed in further detail below with regard to FIG. 5D, the one or more seat air supply vents 82e preferably comprise one or more of, one or more seat air supply sidewall vents 82f and one or more seat air supply rear vents 82g.

In one version, the one or more floor air supply vents 82b may comprise one or more grated floor vents 86 (see FIG. 1) in a grated floor 88 (see FIG. 1) in the at least one interior airflow space 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air management system 62 of the airflow system 10 further comprises at least one air return (AR) assembly (ASSY.) 90, such as at least one air return duct (ARD) assembly (ASSY.) 92, returning the recirculated air 30b from the at least one interior airflow space 14 to the at least one air purification system 50. The recirculated air 30b comprises one or more of, internal air 30c (see FIG. 1) from the at least one interior airflow space 14, and contaminated air 30d (see FIG. 1) contaminated by one or more of, one or more biological agents 34 (see FIG. 1), including one or more biological agents 34 shed by one or more contaminated occupants 28b in the at least one interior airflow space 14, and one or more chemical agents 36 (see FIG. 1).

The air return assembly 90, such as the air return duct assembly 92, comprises one or more air return ducts (ARD) 94 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A). Each air return duct 94 of the air return assembly 90, such as the air return duct assembly 92, has one or more return first ends 96 (see FIGS. 2A, 3A, 5A) coupled to the at least one interior airflow space 14 in the building 12, such as the office building 12a or the commercial building 12b, and each has one or more return second ends 98 (see FIGS. 2A, 3A, 5A) coupled to the at least one air purification system 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one version, the one or more air return ducts 94 may comprise one or more first air return ducts (ARD) 94a, one or more second air return ducts (ARD) 94b, and/or one or more third air return ducts (ARD) 94c. Each of the one or more air return ducts 94 has one or more air pressures (AP) 80 (see FIG. 1) inside each air return duct 94. Preferably, in one version, each of the one or more first air return ducts 94a can return low air pressure 80a (see FIG. 1) airflow 31, and/or can return moderate air pressure 80b (see FIG. 1) airflow 31, where low air pressure 80a airflow 31 preferably has a low air pressure 80a (see FIG. 1) in a range of from 0.000000119 psf (pound-force per square foot) to 0.0000119 psf, and where moderate air pressure 80b airflow 31 preferably has a moderate air pressure 80b (see FIG. 1) in a range of from 0.0000119 psf to 0.001190083 psf. In other versions, the low air pressure 80a may be less than 0.000000119 psf or greater than 0.0000119 psf. In other versions, the moderate air pressure 80b may be less than 0.0000119 psf or greater than 0.001190083 psf.

Preferably, in one version, each of the second air return ducts 94b can supply a high air pressure (AP) 80c (see FIG. 1) airflow 31, and/or can supply a very high air pressure (AP) 80d (see FIG. 1) airflow 31, where high air pressure 80c airflow 31 preferably has a high air pressure 80c (see FIG. 1) in a range of from 0.019041322 psf to 0.119008264 psf, and where very high air pressure 80d airflow 31 preferably has a very high air pressure 80d of 0.267768595 psf to 26.7768595 psf. In other versions, the high air pressure 80c may be less than 0.019041322 psf or greater than 0.119008264 psf. In other versions, the very high air pressure 80d may be less than 0.267768595 psf or greater than 26.7768595 psf.

Preferably, in one version, each of the third air return ducts 94c have a vacuum system or a vacuum port 95 (see FIG. 3C) to return compressed air 30g (see FIG. 3C) at a very high air pressure 80d, and which may be activated, for example, when an occupant 28 in the interior airflow space 14 sneezes.

One or more of the one or more air return ducts 94 may contain one or more ultraviolet (UV) lights (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A) within an interior 101 (see FIGS. 2A, 3A) of one or more of the plurality of air return ducts 94. The one or more ultraviolet lights 100 may be optionally used and located in the air return ducts 94 to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34 and/or one or more of the chemical agents 36. As an alternative to the ultraviolet lights 100, or in addition to the ultraviolet lights 100, the air return ducts 94 may have one or more grates with heated wires inside the air return ducts 94, or another suitable device or assembly to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34.

The one or more air return ducts 94 may include and comprise one or more ceiling air return ducts (ARD) 94d (see FIGS. 1, 2A), one or more HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return ducts (ARD) 94e (see FIGS. 1, 2A), or other suitable air return ducts 94.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air return assembly 90, such as the air return duct assembly 92, comprises one or more air return vents 104. The one or more air return vents 104 may comprise one or more ceiling air return vents 104a (see FIGS. 1, 2A), one or more heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) air return vents 104b (see FIGS. 1, 2A), or other suitable air return vents 104.

One or more of the air supply vents 82 and one or more of the air return vents 104 may each have one or more louvers 102 (see FIG. 1). The louvers 102 are a series of slats that can be used to control the airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) through the air supply vents 82 and the air return vents 104. The louvers 102 may be fixed or stationary, or adjustable. The louvers 102 allow airflow 31 into the interior airflow space 14, and into the air return vents 104 and air return ducts 94. The louvers 102 direct airflow 31 where desired based on how much air pressure is exerted against the louvers 102. The louvers 102 are preferably made of metal such as aluminum, steel, or another suitable metal, or wood, or another suitable material.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 and the air management system 62 of the airflow system 10 comprise one or more airstreams 105, such as one or more directional airstreams 106, formed between the at least one air supply assembly 70 and the at least one air return assembly 90 in the at least one interior airflow space 14. The one or more directional airstreams 106 preferably comprise upwardly flowing airstreams 107a (see FIGS. 2A, 3A, 5A). The one or more directional airstreams 106 may also comprise downwardly flowing airstreams, including downwardly flowing airstreams 107b (see FIG. 3A) that initially flow downwardly and then flow upwardly, or sideways flowing airstreams, including sideways flowing airstreams 107c (see FIG. 3A) that initially flow sideways and then flow upwardly.

The one or more airstreams 105, such as the one or more directional airstreams 106, comprise one or more of, the purified air 30a, the internal air 30c, and the contaminated air 30d. The one or more airstreams 105, such as the one or more directional airstreams 106, comprise at least one or more of, one or more first directional airstreams 106a (see FIGS. 2C, 3A, 5D), and one or more second directional airstreams 106b (see FIGS. 2A, 2C, 3A, 5D). The one or more directional airstreams 106 may also comprise one or more third directional airstreams 106c (see FIGS. 3A-3C), and/or one or more fourth directional airstreams 106d (see FIG. 3C).

The one or more first directional airstreams 106a form one or more air barriers 115 (see FIGS. 1, 2C, 3A-3C, 5A, 5D, 6) between each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14, to provide respiratory isolation 112 (see FIG. 1), with and using the one or more air barriers 115, for each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14. Preferably, an airflow velocity (AV) 114 (see FIG. 1) of the one or more first directional airstreams 106a is a high airflow velocity (AV) 114c (see FIG. 1) in a range of four (4) feet per second to ten (10) feet per second.

The one or more second directional airstreams 106b form an airflow field 117 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2C, 3A-3C, 5B, 5D) around each of the one or more occupants 28, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14. Preferably, the airflow velocity (AV) 114 of the one or more second directional airstreams 106b is a moderate airflow velocity (AV) 114b (see FIG. 1) in a range of 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second to 1 (one) foot per second. The one or more second directional airstreams 106b have an airflow velocity 114 that is less than an airflow velocity 114 of the one or more first directional airstreams 106a. The one or more first directional airstreams 106a have an airflow velocity 114 that is greater than the airflow velocity 114 of the one or more second directional airstreams 106b.

The one or more airstreams 105, such as the one or more directional airstreams 106, create a separate airflow (AF) bounded space 108 (see FIG. 1) for each of one or more occupants 28 in the at least one interior airflow space 14, including, or comprising, the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, to provide cross-contamination (CONTAM.) prevention 110 (see FIG. 1) between each separate airflow bounded space 108, and to provide respiratory isolation 112 (see FIG. 1) for each of the one or more occupants 28, including the one or more contaminated occupants 28b.

Each airstream 105, such as each directional airstream 106, has an airflow velocity 114 (see FIG. 1) or flow rate of the airflow 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow velocity (AV) 114 comprises a low airflow velocity (AV) 114a, the moderate airflow velocity (AV) 114b, the high airflow velocity (AV) 114c, and a very high airflow velocity (AV) 114d. Preferably, the airflow velocity 114 of the low airflow velocity 114a is in a range of 0.01 (zero point zero one) foot per second to 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second. Preferably, the airflow velocity 114 of the moderate airflow velocity 114b is in a range of 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second to 1 (one) foot per second. Preferably, the airflow velocity 114 of the high airflow velocity 114c is in a range of 4 (four) feet per second to 10 (ten) feet per second. Preferably, the airflow velocity 114 of the very high airflow velocity 114d is in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second.

When the airstreams 105, such as the one or more directional airstreams 106, for example, the one or more first directional airstreams 106a, have the high airflow velocity 114c, they form the one or more air barriers 115 (see FIG. 1), such as one or more protective virtual barriers 116 (see FIG. 1) around each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14, to isolate each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, against contamination by another occupant 28, including the contaminated occupant 28b. When there is a fast moving airflow 31d (see FIG. 1) at a high airflow velocity 114c, between, around, surrounding, in front of, and/or behind each of the one or more occupants 28 in the interior airflow space 14, each of the one or more occupants 28, including any contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14 have respiratory isolation 112 from each other. The air barriers 115 (see FIG. 1) of airflow 31 with high airflow velocity 114c isolate the breathed air 30e (see FIG. 1), and breathing, of each of the one or more occupants 28 from the breathed air 30e, and breathing, of each of the other one or more occupants 28 in the interior airflow space 14. The air barriers 115 may also be shared, for example between ducted auditorium seats 212 (see FIG. 6).

When the airstreams 105, such as the one or more directional airstreams 106, for example, the one or more second directional airstreams 106b, have the moderate airflow velocity 114b, they flow past each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, at a constant flow state 118 (see FIG. 1) for a long time, and for the duration of time each of the one or more occupants 28, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, is in the interior airflow space 14, for the time period 45 (see FIG. 1), such as the extended time period 45a (see FIG. 1). The moderate airflow velocity 114b draws contaminated air 30d either directly into an air return duct 94 or into the air barrier 115 of the one or more first directional airstreams 106a. When there is an airflow field 117 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2C, 3A-3C, 5B, 5D) of slow moving airflow 31b (see FIG. 1), such as airflow 31 that is moderately to slow moving, for example, a normal airflow 31c (see FIG. 1), at a moderate airflow velocity 114b (see FIG. 1) around, surrounding, in front of, and/or behind each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14, there is preferably no cooling from a draft of cool air to the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, with the slow moving airflow 31b, such as the airflow 31 that is moderately to slow moving, with the moderate airflow velocity 114b. The airflow 31 needs to be a slow moving airflow 31b, such as airflow 31 that is moderately to slow moving, so the one or more occupants 28, including the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, do not experience cooling from a draft of cool air.

When the airstreams 105, such as the one or more directional airstreams 106, for example, the one or more fourth directional airstreams 106d (see FIG. 3C), have the very high airflow velocity 114d, for example, a surge airflow 31e (see FIG. 1), they may be activated by an occupant 28, such as a contaminated occupant 28b, sneezing, and sound sensors 25a (see FIGS. 1, 3C) detect the condition and immediately and quickly increase the airflow velocity 114 (see FIG. 1) of the high airflow velocity 114c to the very high airflow velocity 114d, that is, sufficiently fast enough to prevent any sneeze droplets from crossing the air barriers 115 between and/or around occupants 28. After a few seconds, the very high airflow velocity 114d can be reduced to high airflow velocity 114c again since those sneeze droplets have been consumed by an air return duct 94.

The main purpose of the airflow system 10 disclosed herein is to preferably provide one or both of, the airflow field 117 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2C, 3A-3C, 5B, 5D) of the slow moving airflow 31b (see FIG. 1), such as airflow 31 that is moderately moving to slow moving, around each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14, and/or to provide the one or more air barriers 115 (see FIGS. 1, 2C, 3A-3C, 5A, 5D, 6), or the protective virtual barrier 116 (see FIG. 1), of fast moving airflow 31d (see FIG. 1), to provide respiratory isolation 112 (see FIG. 1) between one or more occupants 28, including one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14.

The airstreams 105, such as one or more of the one or more directional airstreams 106, are in a constant flow state 118 (see FIG. 1) around the one or more occupants 28 in the at least one interior airflow space 14. A flow arrangement (ARRANGE.) 120 (see FIG. 1) of the one or more directional airstreams 106 in the interior airflow space 14 prevents the one or more occupants 28 in the interior airflow space 14, including one or more contaminated occupants 28b, from contaminating each other. The airflow system 10 provides contamination mitigation 48 (see FIG. 1) for each of the one or more occupants 28 in the at least one interior airflow space 14, against contamination by one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34 (see FIG. 1), including, or comprising, the one or more biological agents 34 shed by the one or more contaminated occupants 28b in the at least one interior airflow space 14, and the one or more chemical agents 36 (see FIG. 1).

The airflow system 10 disclosed herein is designed for one or more occupants 28 that are in the stationary position 44 (see FIG. 1), or in the substantially stationary position 44a (see FIG. 1) in the interior airflow space 14. The one or more occupants 28 are preferably in the stationary position 44 (see FIG. 1), or in the substantially stationary position 44a (see FIG. 1), in the at least one interior airflow space 14, for the time period 45 (see FIG. 1), such as the extended time period 45a (see FIG. 1). The time period 45, such as the extended time period 45a, is preferably in a time range of one (1) hour to ten (10) hours, and more preferably, in a time range of one (1) hour to eight (8) hours. The extended time period 45a may be continuous, for example, occupants 28 in a meeting in a conference room 20 for one (1) hour, or the extended time period 45a may be discontinuous, for example, occupants 28 predominantly working in their office cubicles 16 or offices 24 for an 8-hour workday but taking lunch breaks, bathroom breaks, coffee breaks, or another short duration break from the office cubicle 16 or office 24, or from the conference room 20 or auditorium 22.

The one or more interior airflow spaces 14 are designed for the direct-path-to-return airflow 46 (see FIG. 1). The direct-path-to-return airflow 46 is designed and achieved for which there is a very low probability of an occupant 28, such as a human occupant 28a, of the building 12, breathing air 30, such as contaminated air 30d, that has already been breathed by another occupant 28, such as another human occupant 28a, including a contaminated occupant 28b, nearby in the interior airflow space 14, and in turn, any other occupant 28, such as any other human occupant 28a, including a contaminated occupant 28b, in the building 12 in any other interior airflow space 14.

The air supply assembly 70, such as the air supply duct assembly 72, and the air return assembly 90, such as the air return duct assembly 92, can create controlled airflow patterns 122 (see FIG. 1) in the one or more interior airflow spaces 14 in an intermittent manner 124 (see FIG. 1), to mitigate the one or more occupants 28 in the building 12 from breathing contaminated air 30d contaminated by one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34, and the one or more chemical agents 36. The intermittent manner 124 means the purified air 30a is introduced, or flows, into the interior airflow spaces 14 only when the one or more occupants 28, such as the one or more human occupants 28a, is/are present in the interior airflow space 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 further comprises at least one control system 126 that controls the airflow system 10. In one version, the control system 126 may comprise a sensor control network 128 with one or more controllers 130, one or more power supplies 132 to power the control system 126, one or more software programs 134, and one or more computers 136 configured to run the one or more software programs 134. As shown in FIG. 1, in one version, the control system 126 is a central control system 126a, coupled to the compressor assembly 52, the air supply assembly 70 such as the air supply duct assembly 72, and the air return assembly 90 such as the air return duct assembly 92, via connector elements 138, such as wired connector elements 138a (see FIG. 2A), or wireless connector elements 138b (see FIG. 3A). In another version, the control system 126 comprises a distributed control system 126b, in which the sensor control network 128, controllers 130, power supplies 132, and computers 136 with software programs 134, are distributed at each interior airflow space 14, or at several interior airflow spaces 14 on the same floor or on adjacent floors of the building 12.

The air purification system 50 and the air management system 62 of the airflow system 10 preferably supplies the purified air 30a having a greatly increased reliability, for example, a 10⁻⁹ reliability, that occupants 28 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A), such as human occupants 28a (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A), are not contaminated by one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34, and the one or more chemical agents 36, released in external air 30f (see FIG. 1), to become contaminated air 30d external to the one or more buildings 12, or outside the one or more buildings 12, and/or released by one or more contaminated occupants 28b (see FIG. 1) located inside the building 12, such as inside the interior airflow spaces 14 inside the building 12.

In another version, there is provided an airflow system 10 (see FIG. 1) for an office building 12a (see FIG. 1). The airflow system 10 comprises at least one air purification system 50 (see FIG. 1) providing purified air 30a (see FIG. 1) and receiving recirculated air 30b (see FIG. 1). The airflow system 10 further comprises at least one air supply duct assembly 72 (see FIG. 1), supplying the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50 to at least one interior airflow space 14 (see FIG. 1) in the office building 12a. The at least one air supply duct assembly 72 comprises one or more air supply ducts 78 (see FIG. 1) and one or more air supply vents 82 (see FIG. 1). The at least one interior airflow space 14 comprises one or more of, an office cubicle 16 (see FIGS. 1, 2A), a conference room 20 (see FIGS. 1, 3A), and an auditorium 22 (see FIGS. 1, 5A), in the office building 12a. The at least one interior airflow space 14 may also comprise an office 24 (see FIG. 2C). One or more occupants 28 are in the at least one interior airflow space 14 in one of, a stationary position 44 (see FIGS. 1, 2A), or a substantially stationary position 44a (see FIGS. 1, 2A), for a time period 45 (see FIG. 1), such as an extended time period 45a (see FIG. 1), in a time range of one (1) hour to ten (10) hours.

The airflow system 10 further comprises at least one air return duct assembly 92 (see FIG. 1), returning the recirculated air 30b from the at least one interior airflow space 14 to the at least one air purification system 50. The at least one air return duct assembly 92 comprises one or more air return ducts 94 (see FIG. 1) and one or more air return vents 104 (see FIG. 1). The recirculated air 30b comprises one or more of, internal air 30c (see FIG. 1) from the at least one interior airflow space 14, and any contaminated air 30d (see FIG. 1) contaminated by one or more of, one or more biological agents 34 (see FIG. 1), including, or comprising, one or more biological agents 34 (see FIG. 1) shed by one or more contaminated occupants 28b (see FIG. 1) in the at least one interior airflow space 14, and one or more chemical agents 36 (see FIG. 1).

The airflow system 10 further comprises one or more directional airstreams 106 (see FIG. 1) formed between the at least one air supply duct assembly 72 and the at least one air return duct assembly 92 in the at least one interior airflow space 14. The one or more directional airstreams 106 comprise one or more of, the purified air 30a, the internal air 30c, and the contaminated air 30d.

The one or more directional airstreams 106 comprise at least one or more of, one or more first directional airstreams 106a (see FIGS. 2C, 3A, 5D), and one or more second directional airstreams 106b (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A, 5D). The one or more first directional airstreams 106a form one or more air barriers 115 (see FIGS. 1, 2C, 3A, 5D, 6) between each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14, to provide respiratory isolation 112 (see FIG. 1), with the one or more air barriers 115, for each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14. The one or more second directional airstreams 106b form an airflow field 117 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A, 5D) around each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14, wherein the one or more second directional airstreams 106b have an airflow velocity 114 that is less than an airflow velocity 114 of the one or more first directional airstreams 106a.

The airflow system 10 may further optionally comprise one or more sensors 25 (see FIG. 1) positioned in the at least one interior airflow space 14. The airflow system 10 further comprises at least one control system 126 (see FIG. 1) controlling the airflow system 10. The airflow system 10 provides a contamination mitigation 48 (see FIG. 1) for each of the one or more occupants 28 in the at least one interior airflow space 14 in the office building 12a, against contamination by one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34, including the one or more biological agents 34 shed by the one or more contaminated occupants 28b in the at least one interior airflow space 14, and the one or more chemical agents 36.

Now referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, FIGS. 2A-2C show an exemplary airflow system 10 of the disclosure for an interior airflow space 14 comprising an office cubicle 16 in a building 12, such as an office building 12a. FIGS. 2A-2C further show an aisleway 18 between the office cubicle 16 and an adjacent office cubicle 16a (see FIGS. 2A-2B) or between the office cubicle 16 and an office 24 (see FIG. 2C). The airflow system 10 shown in FIGS. 2A-2C has a dedicated air supply 70a and a dedicated air return assembly 90a for each office cubicle 16, and this version of the airflow system 10 prevents one or more office cubicle occupants 28c from contaminating each other.

FIG. 2A is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary airflow system 10 of the disclosure for the interior airflow spaces 14 comprising the office cubicle 16 and the adjacent office cubicle 16a in the building 12, such as the office building 12a. In one version, as shown in FIG. 2A, the building 12, such as the office building 12a, comprises a retrofitted building 12c, where there is contaminated air 30d in an interior 140 of the office cubicle 16. FIG. 2A represents a contaminated condition 141 comprising a contaminated office cubicle condition 141a.

FIG. 2B is an illustration of a side view of the airflow system 10 of FIG. 2A, for the office cubicle 16 in the building 12, such as the office building 12a, where the building 12 is a retrofitted building 12c, and where there is contaminated air 30d is in an interior 140a of an adjacent office cubicle 16a across from the office cubicle 16. FIG. 2B represents a contaminated condition 141 comprising a contaminated adjacent cubicle condition 141b.

FIG. 2C is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary airflow system 10 of the disclosure for an office cubicle 16 in the building 12, such as the office building 12a, where the building 12 is a new build building 12d, and where there is contaminated air 30d is in the aisleway 18 adjacent to, and next to, the office cubicle 16, and adjacent to, and next to, the office 24. FIG. 2C represents a contaminated condition 141 comprising a contaminated aisleway condition 141c.

FIGS. 2A-2C show an occupant 28, such as a human occupant 28a, for example, an office cubicle occupant 28c, seated in a chair 142, such as a desk chair 142a, at a desk 144, working at a work computer 136a in the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the office cubicle occupant 28c is in a stationary position 44, such as a substantially stationary position 44a, seated in the desk chair 142a at the desk 144, that is, the office cubicle occupant 28c is not walking around.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the office cubicle 16 has an office cubicle floor 146, an office cubicle ceiling 148, and office cubicle sidewalls 150. At least one office cubicle sidewall 150 has an office cubicle door (not shown) or entrance (not shown), and the office cubicle sidewalls 150 enclose the office cubicle 16.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, in one version, one or more of the office cubicle sidewalls 150 may have an uppermost sidewall portion 150a of the office cubicle sidewall 150 comprising a transparent panel 152. In one version, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the transparent panel 152 or sheet may comprise a transparent fireproof panel 152a or sheet.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the airflow system 10 for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the office cubicle 16 has or comprises an air supply assembly 70, such as a dedicated air supply assembly 70a, for example, an air supply duct assembly 72, having air supply ducts 78, supplying air 30, such as purified air 30a, from the air purification system 50 to the interior airflow space 14. FIG. 2A shows a supply first end 74 of the air supply duct 78 coupled to the air purification system 50, and shows a supply second end 76 coupled to the office cubicle 16.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the airflow system 10 for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the office cubicle 16 has or comprises an air return assembly 90, such as a dedicated air return assembly 90a, for example, an air return duct assembly 92, having air return ducts 94, returning air 30, such as recirculated air 30b, from the interior airflow space 14 to the air purification system 50. FIG. 2A shows a return first end 96 coupled to the office cubicle 16, and shows a return second end 98 coupled to the air purification system 50.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, sensors 25 are optionally coupled to the office cubicle ceiling 148 of the office cubicle 16, coupled to the office cubicle ceiling 148 of the adjacent office cubicle 16a (see FIGS. 2A-2B) or the adjacent office 24 (see FIG. 2C), and coupled to an aisleway ceiling 164 of the aisleway 18. The sensors 25 may be used to determine which interior airflow spaces 14 are occupied by occupants 28, such as human occupants 28a, or animal occupants 28h (see FIG. 1). In addition, if there is a fire, fire suppression agents can be supplied to regions or areas in the building 12 where there are no occupants 28, such as human occupants 28a, or animal occupants 28h.

The one or more sensors 25 may comprise one or more sound sensors 25a (see FIG. 1) to detect sounds, for example, a sneeze 26 (see FIG. 3C), or another type of sound. The sensors 25 may further comprise motion sensors to detect one or more occupants 28 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2C), such as one or more human occupants 28a (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2C), in the interior airflow space 14 in the building 12. The sensors 25 may further comprise temperature sensors, including semiconductor-based sensors, thermocouple sensors, resistance temperature detectors, and negative temperature coefficient thermistors; humidity sensors, including capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, and thermal sensors; pressure sensors; contact sensors to indicate whether a duct or valve is open or closed; air quality sensors to monitor toxins, dust, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and other substances in air 30 (see FIG. 1); infrared sensors; sensors that sense or detect contamination agents 32 (see FIG. 1) comprising one or more of, one or more biological agents 34 (see FIGS. 1, 2A), and one or more chemical agents 36 (see FIG. 1); or other suitable sensors 25.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the airflow system 10 comprises the control system 126 that controls the airflow system 10. The control system 126 is positioned between the air management system 62 coupled to the interior airflow spaces 14 and the air purification system 50, via connector elements 138, such as wired connector elements 138a (see FIGS. 2A-2C), or wireless connector elements 138b (see FIG. 3A). As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the control system 126 is also coupled to one or more sensors 25 in the interior airflow space 14. The one or more sensors 25 may be optional. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the control system 126 may comprise a sensor control network 128 to control the sensors 25, a controller 130, a power supply 132 to power the control system 126, and a computer 136 with a software program 134. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, in one version, the control system 126 comprises a central control system 126a, coupled between the air management system 62 and the air purification system 50, via the connector elements 138, such as wired connector elements 138a or wireless connector elements 138b. In another version, the control system 126 comprises a distributed control system 126b (see FIG. 1), in which the sensor control network 128, controllers 130, power supplies 132, and computers 136 with software programs 134, are distributed at each interior airflow space 14, or at several interior airflow spaces 14 on the same floor or on adjacent floors of the building 12.

In one version, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, with the retrofitted building 12c, the air supply ducts 78 for the office cubicle 16 comprise sidewall air supply ducts 78d and ceiling air supply ducts 78f. The ceiling air supply ducts 78f comprise one or more HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air supply ducts 78g (see FIGS. 2A-2B). As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, one or more of the office cubicle sidewalls 150 have a wall cavity 154, or opening, and are hollow, to house or function as one or more sidewall air supply ducts 78d. As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the air supply ducts 78 for the aisleway 18 comprise ceiling air supply ducts 78f, such as HVAC air supply ducts 78g. The aisleway 18 also receives air 30, such as purified air 30a, from the sidewall air supply ducts 78d in the office cubicle sidewall 150. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the aisleway 18 is between a sidewall air supply duct 78d of the office cubicle sidewall 150 of the office cubicle 16, and a sidewall air supply duct 78d of the office cubicle sidewall 150 of the adjacent office cubicle 16a.

The office cubicle sidewalls 150 (see FIGS. 2A-2B) with the wall cavity 154 may comprise higher pressure air supply sidewalls and in one version, may be transparent. In another version, the office cubicle sidewalls 150 (see FIGS. 2A-2B) with the wall cavity 154 may comprise higher pressure air supply sidewalls that are adjustable, for example, by the office cubicle occupant 28c, so that they may be made opaque.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the air supply vent 82 for the office cubicle 16, such as a sidewall air supply vent 82a, is located at a lowermost sidewall portion 150b of an office cubicle sidewall 150, to flow the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50, such as from the plenum 58 (see FIG. 1), into a lowermost office cubicle portion 156 of the office cubicle 16. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the purified air 30a flows upwardly as an airstream 105, such as an directional airstream 106, for example, an upwardly flowing airstream 107a, in the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16, toward the office cubicle ceiling 148. In addition, the internal air 30c (see FIGS. 2A-2B) flows upwardly toward the office cubicle ceiling 148.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the directional airstreams 106 comprise a second directional airstream 106b forming an airflow field 117 around the occupant 28, such as the contaminated occupant 28b, in the office cubicle 16. The second directional airstream 106b forming the airflow field 117 flows from the sidewall air supply vent 82a upwardly into the air return vent 104 and into the ceiling air return ducts 94d and to the air purification system 50.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the air supply vent 82, such as a sidewall air supply vent 82a, is located at a lowermost sidewall portion 150c of an office cubicle sidewall 150, to flow the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50 into a lowermost aisleway portion 158 of the aisleway 18 near an aisleway floor 160, where the purified air 30a flows upwardly as an airstream 105, such as an directional airstream 106, in an interior 162 of the aisleway 18 toward an aisleway ceiling 164. In addition, the internal air 30c (see FIGS. 2A-2B) in the aisleway 18 flows upwardly toward the aisleway ceiling 164.

The air supply vents 82 may include louvers 102 (see FIG. 1) that may be stationary in one version, or may be adjustable in another version, for example, manually or automatically adjusted to adjust the airflow 31 of the purified air 30a into the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16, or the interior 162 of the aisleway 18, for example.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, with the retrofitted building 12c, the air return ducts 94 for the office cubicle 16 comprise one or more ceiling air return ducts 94d, such as one or more HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return ducts 94e. The air return ducts 94 may comprise additional air return ducts 94 in the retrofitted building 12c.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, with the retrofitted building 12c, the air return vent 104 for the office cubicle 16 comprises a ceiling air return vent 104a, for example, an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return vent 104b, for returning the purified air 30a and the internal air 30c, including the contaminated air 30d (see FIG. 2A), from the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16, as recirculated air 30b, into the ceiling air return ducts 94d. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the contaminated air 30d comprises one or more biological agents 34. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the air return vent 104 is positioned at the office cubicle ceiling 148, so that the one or more directional airstreams 106 create the separate airflow bounded space 108 around the office cubicle occupant 28c, including, or comprising, the contaminated occupant 28b (see FIG. 2A), to prevent any office cubicle occupants 28c in one or more adjacent office cubicles 16a from breathing any contaminated air 30d from the contaminated occupant 28b.

As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, with the retrofitted building 12c, the air return ducts 94 for the aisleway 18 comprise one or more ceiling air return ducts 94d, such as one or more HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return ducts 94e, and the air return vent 104 for the aisleway 18 comprises a ceiling air return vent 104a, for example, an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return vent 104b, for returning the purified air 30a and the internal air 30c, from the interior 162 of the aisleway 18, as the recirculated air 30b, into the ceiling air return ducts 94d.

FIGS. 2A-2B further show ultraviolet lights 100 positioned and installed inside the air return ducts 94. The ultraviolet lights 100 may be optionally used and located in the air return ducts 94 to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34 and/or one or more of the chemical agents 36, close to the source. As an alternative to the ultraviolet lights 100, or in addition to the ultraviolet lights 100, the air return ducts 94 may have one or more grates with heated wires inside the air return ducts 94, or another suitable device or assembly to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34 and/or one or more of the chemical agents 36.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the contaminated occupant 28b breathing contaminated air 30d is in the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16 in the retrofitted building 12c. The office cubicle 16 is enclosed to prevent the escape of the contaminated air 30d to the aisleway 18 (see FIG. 2A) and to the adjacent office cubicle 16a (see FIG. 2A). The rest of the building 12, such as the retrofitted building 12c, is unaffected by the contaminated air 30d in the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16 (see FIG. 2A). As shown in FIG. 2A, the contaminated air 30d exits the office cubicle 16 through the air return vent 104, or outlet, as recirculated air 30b, and into the air return ducts 94, so that the pattern of airflow 31, such as the directional airstreams 106 creating the separate airflow bounded space 108, protects others in the building 12 from breathing the contaminated air 30d of the office cubicle occupant 28c, such as the contaminated occupant 28b. As shown in FIG. 2A, the internal air 30c and the purified air 30a exit the aisleway 18 through the air return vent 104, or outlet, as recirculated air 30b, and into the air return ducts 94. The recirculated air 30b, including the contaminated air 30d, then travels directly from the air return ducts 94 to the compressor assembly 52, where it becomes purified air 30a or uncontaminated air.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the office cubicle occupant 28c is in the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16 in the retrofitted building 12c, and there is contaminated air 30d in the adjacent office cubicle 16a. The office cubicle 16 and the office cubicle occupant 28c are not in the path of airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) from the adjacent office cubicle 16a having the contaminated air 30d, i.e., the contaminated office cubicle, and the office cubicle 16 with the internal air 30c and the purified air 30a, is separated from, and not contaminated by, the adjacent office cubicle 16a having the contaminated air 30d. In addition, the aisleway 18 next to the adjacent office cubicle 16a is not in the path of airflow 31 from the adjacent office cubicle 16a, and is not contaminated by the contaminated air 30d inside the adjacent office cubicle 16a.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, enters into the wall cavity 154 from the plenum 58 (see FIG. 1) of the air purification system 50. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, exits from the wall cavity 154 at a lower elevation, such as the lowermost office cubicle portion 156, and flows upwardly, as an directional airstream 106, into the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16 toward the office cubicle ceiling 148, and through the ceiling air return vent 104a, or outlet, and into the ceiling air return ducts 94d. As further shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, exits from the wall cavity 154 at a lower elevation, such as the lowermost aisleway portion 158 of the aisleway 18, and flows upwardly, as directional airstreams 106, into the interior 162 of the aisleway 18 toward the aisleway ceiling 164, and through the ceiling air return vent 104a, or outlet, and into the ceiling air return ducts 94d.

In another version, as shown in FIG. 2C, with the new build building 12d, the air supply ducts 78 for the office cubicle 16 comprise one or more floor air supply ducts 78e and one or more ceiling air supply ducts 78f, such as HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air supply ducts 78g, and further comprise one or more air supply vents 82, such as one or more ceiling air supply vents 82c. As shown in FIG. 2C, the office cubicle floor 146 and the aisleway floor 160 have a floor cavity 166, or opening, and are hollow, to house or function as one or more air supply ducts 78, such as one or more floor air supply ducts 78e.

As shown in FIG. 2C, an air supply vent 82, such as a floor air supply vent 82b, is located at a floor portion 146a of the office cubicle floor 146 of the office cubicle 16, to flow the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50, such as from the plenum 58 (see FIG. 1), into a floor office cubicle portion 168 of the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16. As further shown in FIG. 2C, an air supply vent 82, such as a floor air supply vent 82b, is located at a floor portion 160a of an aisleway floor 160 of the aisleway 18, to flow the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50, such as from the plenum 58 (see FIG. 1), into a floor aisleway portion 170 of the aisleway 18.

As shown in FIG. 2C, with the new build building 12d, the air return ducts 94 for the office cubicle 16 comprise one or more ceiling air return ducts 94d, such as one or more HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return ducts 94e, and the air return vent 104 for the office cubicle 16 comprises a ceiling air return vent 104a, for example, an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return vent 104b, for returning the purified air 30a and the internal air 30c, from the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16, as the recirculated air 30b, into the ceiling air return ducts 94d. As shown in FIG. 2C, the air return vent 104 is positioned at the office cubicle ceiling 148, so that the one or more directional airstreams 106 create the separate airflow bounded space 108 around the office cubicle occupant 28c, to prevent the office cubicle occupant 28c from breathing the contaminated air 30d in the aisleway 18.

As further shown in FIG. 2C, with the new build building 12d, the air return duct 94 for the aisleway 18 comprises a ceiling air return duct 94d, such as an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return duct 94e, and the air return vent 104 for the aisleway 18 comprises a ceiling air return vent 104a, for example, an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return vent 104b, for returning the purified air 30a alone or mixed with the internal air 30c and/or the contaminated air 30d from the interior 162 of the aisleway 18, as the recirculated air 30b, into the ceiling air return duct 94d. As shown in FIG. 2C, the contaminated air 30d, along with the internal air 30c, in the interior 162 of the aisleway 18, exits the aisleway 18 through the air return vent 104, or outlet, such as the ceiling air return vent 104a, in the aisleway ceiling 164, as recirculated air 30b, and exhausts into the air return ducts 94, so that the pattern of airflow 31, such as the directional airstream 106 protects others in the building 12 from breathing the contaminated air 30d in the aisleway 18.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 2C, the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, enters into the floor cavity 166 from the plenum 58 (see FIG. 1) of the air purification system 50. As shown in FIG. 2C, the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, exits from the floor cavity 166 at a lower elevation, such as the floor office cubicle portion 168, and flows upwardly into the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16 toward the office cubicle ceiling 148. As further shown in FIG. 2C, the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, exits from the floor cavity 166 at a lower elevation, such as the lowermost aisleway portion 158 of the aisleway 18, and flows upwardly into the interior 162 of the aisleway 18 toward the aisleway ceiling 164, and through the ceiling air return vent 104a, or outlet, and into the ceiling air return duct 94d.

As further shown in FIG. 2C, in one version, the desk 144 includes a table air supply duct 78h formed in the desk 144, where the table air supply duct 78h is coupled, or attached, at one end to another floor air supply vent 82b coupled to the floor air supply duct 78e of purified air 30a. The table air supply duct 78h further has a table air supply vent 82d to flow the purified air 30a at a high airflow velocity 114c (see FIG. 1) in a range of four (4) feet per second to ten (10) feet per second, to provide an air barrier 115.

As further shown in FIG. 2C, the directional airstreams 106 comprise the first directional airstream 106a forming the air barrier 115, such as the protective virtual barrier 116, flowing upwardly from the table air supply vent 82d and the table air supply duct 78h formed in the desk 144, and into the air return vent 104 and the ceiling air return ducts 94d, and to the air purification system 50. The air barrier 115 provides respiratory isolation 112 between the office cubicle occupant 28c and another occupant 28, such as a contaminated occupant 28b, that enters into the office cubicle 16 of the office cubicle occupant 28c. Although no other occupant 28 is shown across from the office cubicle occupant 28c, FIG. 2C shows the air barrier 115 that forms when an occupant 28 enters the office cubicle 16, or that forms when the office cubicle occupant 28c activates it and wants additional respiratory isolation 112 protection for a certain time period, even when no other occupant 28 is in the office cubicle 16, for example, to have respiratory isolation 112 from contaminated air 30d in the interior 162 of the aisleway 18 (see FIG. 2C), or in the interior of an adjacent office cubicle 16a (see FIG. 2B).

As shown in FIG. 2C, the directional airstreams 106 further comprise the second directional airstream 106b forming the airflow field 117 around the occupant 28, such as the office cubicle occupant 28c, in the office cubicle 16. The second directional airstream 106b forming the airflow field 117 flows from the floor air supply vent 82b upwardly into the air return vent 104 and into the ceiling air return ducts 94d and to the air purification system 50. The second directional airstream 106b has a moderate airflow velocity 114b (see FIG. 1) in a range of 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second to 1 (one) foot per second. The second directional airstream 106b has an airflow velocity 114 that is less than an airflow velocity 114 of the first directional airstream 106a.

FIG. 2C further shows ultraviolet lights 100 positioned and installed inside the air return ducts 94. The ultraviolet lights 100 may be optionally used and located in the air return ducts 94 to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34 and/or one or more of the chemical agents 36, close to the source. As an alternative to the ultraviolet lights 100, or in addition to the ultraviolet lights 100, the air return ducts 94 may have one or more grates with heated wires inside the air return ducts 94, or another suitable device or assembly to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the office cubicle occupant 28c is in the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16 in the new build building 12d. The contaminated air 30d is in the interior 162 of the aisleway 18. The office cubicle 16 is enclosed to prevent entrance of the contaminated air 30d from the aisleway 18 into the office cubicle 16. As shown in FIG. 2C, the office cubicle 16 and the office cubicle occupant 28c are not in the path of airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) from the aisleway 18 having the contaminated air 30d, i.e., the contaminated aisleway, and the office cubicle 16 with the internal air 30c and the purified air 30a, is separated from, and not contaminated by, the aisleway 18 having the contaminated air 30d. FIG. 2C also shows an office 24 next to the aisleway 18 and adjacent the office cubicle 16. The office 24 is also enclosed to prevent entrance of the contaminated air 30d from the aisleway 18 into the office 24. The office 24 is not in the path of airflow 31 from the aisleway 18, and is not contaminated by the contaminated air 30d inside the aisleway 18.

The rest of the building 12, such as the new build building 12d, is unaffected by the contaminated air 30d in the interior 162 of the aisleway 18 (see FIG. 2C). The purified air 30a coming from the floor air supply duct 78e can reduce risk of contamination in the aisleway 18. Since the airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) of the purified air 30a is upward, such as the airstream 105 (see FIG. 2C), for example, the directional airstream 106 (see FIG. 2C), there is a short path from an occupant 28 standing or walking in the aisleway 18 to the ceiling air return vent 104a at the aisleway ceiling 164. The airflow 31 of the purified air 30a, such as the airstream 105, for example, the directional airstream 106, can be greater in the aisleway 18, as compared to inside the office cubicle 16. The airflow system 10 of FIG. 2C can be actively controlled using the control system 126.

For the airflow system 10 used with the interior airflow spaces 14, including the office cubicle 16 and the adjacent office cubicle 16a, of FIGS. 2A-2C, a volume of airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) of air 30, such as purified air 30a, per office cubicle 16 or adjacent office cubicle 16a, may be adjusted depending on various conditions. For example, in times of increased threat, for example, with a pandemic 38 (see FIG. 1), a biological weapon release 40 (see FIG. 1), a chemical weapon release 42 (see FIG. 1), or another threat event, the volume of airflow 31 and airflow velocity 114 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, for the whole building 12 can be increased. The airflow system 10 can also be beneficial for situations less severe than a pandemic 38, a biological weapon release 40, a chemical weapon release 42, or another threat event. For example, the airflow system 10 may be used to avoid spreading common colds.

In addition, when another occupant 28 is visiting an office cubicle occupant 28c in his or her office cubicle 16, the volume of airflow 31 and airflow velocity 114 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, can be increased. In addition, occupants 28 that are older, such as older employees who may be at higher risk, can choose to have the volume of airflow 31 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, increased. The volume of airflow 31 and airflow velocity 114 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, may be selected by the occupant 28, depending on their circumstance or condition.

In addition, airflow system 10 may have two or more supplies of air 30, such as purified air 30a, having different temperatures, e.g., hot air, cold air. The supply of air 30, such as the purified air 30a, that is hot may be mixed with the supply of air 30, such as the purified air 30a, that is cold, at the interior airflow space, such as the office cubicle 16. For example, the office cubicle occupant 28c may have the ability to adjust the proportion of hot air and cold air, so that the office cubicle occupant 28c is at a comfortable air temperature he or she desires.

Now referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, FIGS. 3A-3C show an exemplary airflow system 10 of the disclosure for an interior airflow space 14 comprising a conference room 20 in a building 12, such as an office building 12a. The building 12 with the conference room 20 may comprise a retrofitted building 12c (see FIG. 1) or a new build building 12d (see FIG. 1). FIG. 3A is an illustration of a side view of an exemplary airflow system 10 of the disclosure for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20, representing a nominal condition 172 where there is no contaminated air 30d (see FIG. 3B) in an interior 174 of the conference room 20 with two occupants 28. FIG. 3B is an illustration of a side view of the airflow system 10 of FIG. 3A, for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20, where FIG. 3B represents a contaminated condition 141 comprising a contaminated conference room condition 141d, having a contaminated occupant 28b breathing contaminated air 30d in the interior 174 of the conference room 20. FIG. 3C is an illustration of a side view of the airflow system 10 of FIG. 3B, for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20, where FIG. 3C represents a contaminated condition 141 comprising a contaminated conference room with sneeze condition 141e, having a contaminated occupant 28b breathing contaminated air 30d and expelling a sneeze 26 in the interior 174 of the conference room 20.

FIG. 3A shows two occupants 28, such as two human occupants 28a, for example, conference room occupants 28d, each seated in a chair 142, such as a conference room chair 142b, at a conference room table 175 in the interior 174 of the conference room 20. As shown in FIG. 3A, the conference room occupants 28d are each in a stationary position 44, such as a substantially stationary position 44a, seated in the conference room chair 142b at the conference room table 175, that is, the conference room occupants 28d are not walking around. FIGS. 3B-3C show a contaminated occupant 28b.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the conference room 20 has a conference room floor 176, a conference room ceiling 178, and conference room sidewalls 180. At least one conference room sidewall 180 has a conference room door (not shown) or entrance (not shown), and the conference room sidewalls 180 enclose the conference room 20.

As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the airflow system 10 for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20 has or comprises an air supply assembly 70, such as a dedicated air supply assembly 70a, for example, an air supply duct assembly 72, having air supply ducts 78, such as sidewall air supply ducts 78d, supplying air 30, such as purified air 30a, from the air purification system 50 to the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20. FIG. 3A shows supply first ends 74 of the air supply duct 78 coupled to the air purification system 50, and shows supply second ends 76 coupled to the conference room 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the conference room sidewalls 180 have a wall cavity 154a, or opening, and are hollow, to house or function as one or more sidewall air supply ducts 78d. As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the air supply ducts 78 also comprise one or more table air supply ducts 78h formed through a conference room table center portion 175a. FIG. 3A shows a return first end 96 coupled to the conference room 20, and shows a return second end 98 coupled to the air purification system 50.

As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the air supply vents 82 for the conference room 20 comprise sidewall air supply vents 82a located at a first sidewall portion 182, such as a lower sidewall portion, and a second sidewall portion 184, such as an upper sidewall portion, to flow the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50, such as from the plenum 58 (see FIG. 1), into the interior 174 of the conference room 20. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the air supply vents 82 for the conference room 20 further comprise a floor air supply vent 82b and a table air supply vent 82d.

The air supply vents 82 may include louvers 102 (see FIG. 1) that may be stationary in one version, or may be adjustable in another version, for example, manually or automatically adjusted to adjust the airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) of the purified air 30a into the interior 174 of the conference room 20, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, in the interior 174 of the conference room 20, the purified air 30a flows upwardly as airstreams 105, such as directional airstreams 106, at different airflow velocities 114 (see FIG. 1) or airflow rates, toward the conference room ceiling 178 and the air return vent 104, such as the ceiling air return vent 104a. In addition, the internal air 30c (see FIGS. 3A-3C) flows upwardly toward the conference room ceiling 178. The flow arrangement 120 (see FIG. 1) of the directional airstreams 106 having different airflow velocities 114 (see FIG. 1) flowing upwardly in the conference room 20 prevents the conference room occupants 28d from contaminating each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the directional airstreams 106 comprise a first directional airstream 106a comprising the purified air 30a flowing from the air supply assembly 70, such as the dedicated air supply assembly 70a, through the floor air supply vent 82b, and through the table air supply vent 82d. The first directional airstream 106a flows at a high airflow velocity 114c (see FIG. 1) in a range of four (4) feet per second to ten (10) feet per second and comprises a high velocity airstream 105a (see FIGS. 3A-3C). In one version, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3C, the first directional airstream 106a, such as the high velocity airstream 105a, flows into an airflow hood 185, such as a first airflow hood 186, or inner airflow hood 186a, and into the air return assembly 90, such as the dedicated air return assembly 90a. In another version, as shown in FIG. 3B, the first directional airstream 106a, such as the high velocity airstream 105a, flows into an airflow hood 185, such as a second airflow hood 188, and into the air return assembly 90, such as the dedicated air return assembly 90a. The first directional airstreams 106a form or create one or more air barriers 115 between conference room occupants 28d at the conference room table 175. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3C, the first airflow hood 186, or inner airflow hood 186a, is coupled to the conference room ceiling 178 and positioned above the one or more table air supply ducts 78h. As shown in FIG. 3B, there is no inner airflow hood 186a.

The high velocity airstream 105a flowing from the conference room table center portion 175a in the conference room table 175 upwardly into the first airflow hood 186, such as the inner airflow hood 186a, creates the air barriers 115, such as protective virtual barriers 116 (see FIGS. 3A-3C), between the conference room occupants 28d. The high velocity airstream 105a enters into the conference room 20 through the table air supply vent 82d and the table air supply duct 78h, which is a narrow opening in the conference room table center portion 175a of the conference room table 175. The high velocity airstream 105a exits through the first airflow hood 186, or inner airflow hood 186a, near the center of the conference room ceiling 178.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the directional airstreams 106 further comprise one or more second directional airstreams 106b comprising the purified air 30a flowing from the air supply assembly 70, such as the dedicated air supply assembly 70a, through one or more sidewall air supply vents 82a located at the first sidewall portion 182 of one or more of the conference room sidewalls 180. The one or more second directional airstreams 106b further comprise the internal air 30c (see FIGS. 3A-3C) in the conference room 20, and breathed air 30e (see FIG. 1) from the conference room occupants 28d, including any contaminated air 30d (see FIGS. 3B-3C)) flowing from one or more contaminated occupants 28b in the conference room 20.

As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the second directional airstreams 106b form or create airflow fields 117 around each of the occupants 28, such as each of the conference room occupants 28d, in the conference room 20. The second directional airstreams 106b forming the airflow field 117 flow from the first sidewall portion 182 of the sidewall air supply vents 82a upwardly into the air return vent 104 and into the ceiling air return ducts 94d and to the air purification system 50.

The second directional airstreams 106b flow at a moderate airflow velocity 114b in a range of 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second to 1 (one) foot per second, and comprise a moderate velocity airstream 105b (see FIGS. 3A-3C). As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the second directional airstreams 106b, such as the moderate velocity airstreams 105b, flow from the interior 174 of the conference room 20 into an airflow hood 185, such as a second airflow hood 188, or outer airflow hood 188a, and into the air return assembly 90, such as the dedicated air return assembly 90a. The second airflow hood 188, or outer airflow hood 188a, is coupled to the conference room ceiling 178 and positioned above the one or more table air supply ducts 78h. As shown in FIG. 3B, there is only one airflow hood 1885 in the form of the second airflow hood 188, or outer airflow hood 188a. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3C, the second airflow hood 188, or outer airflow hood 188a, surrounds a portion 186b of the first airflow hood 186, or inner airflow hood 186a, and the second airflow hood 188, or outer airflow hood 188a, has an outer opening that is greater than an outer opening of the first airflow hood 186, or inner airflow hood 186a, and the second airflow hood 188, or outer airflow hood 188a, has an inner opening that is greater than an inner opening of the first airflow hood 186, or inner airflow hood 186a. There may be a continuum of air pressures 80 of the airstreams 105 for both the air barriers 115 and the directional airstreams 106.

The moderate velocity airstreams 105b direct the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, from the first sidewall portions 182 of the sidewall air supply ducts 78d upwardly into the second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a. As shown in FIGS. 3B-3C, one or more biological agents 34, such as viruses, from one contaminated occupant 28d are carried by the moderate velocity airstream 105b into the second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a. The contaminated air 30d may also be treated by ultraviolet (UV) lights 100 in the air return ducts 94. The moderate velocity airstreams 105b enter the conference room 20 from the first sidewall portions 182 of the sidewall air supply ducts 78d and the sidewall air supply vents 82a near the conference room floor 176 around the perimeter of the conference room 20, and flow upwardly and exit into the second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a at the conference room ceiling 178.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the directional airstreams 106 further comprise one or more third directional airstreams 106c comprising the purified air 30a flowing from the air supply assembly 70, such as the dedicated air supply assembly 70a, through one or more sidewall air supply vents 82a located at the second sidewall portion 184 of one or more of the conference room sidewalls 180. The one or more third directional airstreams 106c flow at a low airflow velocity 114a (see FIG. 1) in a range of 0.01 (zero point zero one) foot per second to 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second and comprises a low velocity airstream 105c (see FIGS. 3A-3C). As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the third directional airstreams 106c, such as the low velocity airstreams 105c, flow from the interior 174 of the conference room 20 into the second airflow hood 188, and into the air return assembly 90, such as the dedicated air return assembly 90a.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the directional airstreams 106 further comprise one or more third directional airstreams 106c comprising the purified air 30a flowing from the air supply assembly 70, such as the dedicated air supply assembly 70a, through one or more floor air supply vents 82b, to an area 190 under the conference room table 175, to prevent lingering of one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34 and the one or more chemical agents 36, in the conference room 20. The one or more third directional airstreams 106c flowing in the area 190 under the conference room table 175 flow at the low airflow velocity 114a in a range of 0.01 (zero point zero one) foot per second to 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second and comprises the low velocity airstream 105c (see FIGS. 3A-3C). The low velocity airstreams 105c prevent dead zones where the biological agents 34 or the chemical agents 36 may linger under the conference room table 175.

As shown in FIG. 3C, when the contaminated occupant 28b expels the sneeze 26 in the interior 174 of the conference room 20, the high velocity airstream 105a is increased or ramped up to a very high velocity airstream 105d having a very high airflow velocity 114d (see FIG. 1) in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second. As shown in FIG. 3C, the directional airstream 106 comprises a fourth directional airstream 106d comprising the purified air 30a flowing at the very high airflow velocity 114d, and flowing into the first airflow hood 186 and into the air return assembly 90, such as the dedicated air return assembly 90a, and returning to the air purification system 50. The very high velocity airstream 105d is sufficient to prevent any biological agents 34, such as viruses, from crossing the air barrier 115 forming the protective virtual barrier 116 between the conference room occupants 28d. In addition, the sensor 25, such as the sound sensor 25a, can detect the sound of the sneeze 26 and increase or ramp up the high velocity airstream 105a to the very high velocity airstream 105d.

The very high velocity airstream 105d having the very high airflow velocity 114d, such as compressed air 30g, is supplied by the third air supply duct 78c (see FIG. 1) and is preferably in the form of a port 79 (see FIG. 3C) to compressed air 30g (see FIG. 3C) that can be supplied at a very high air pressure 80d, and which may be activated, for example, when an occupant 28 in the interior airflow space 14 sneezes. The very high velocity airstream 105d having the very high airflow velocity 114d, such as the compressed air 30g, is returned by the third air return duct 94c (see FIG. 1) and is preferably in the form of a vacuum system or a vacuum port 95 (see FIG. 3C) to return the compressed air 30g (see FIG. 3C) at a very high air pressure 80d, and which may be activated, for example, when an occupant 28 in the interior airflow space 14 sneezes.

The first airflow hood 186, or inner airflow hood 186a, and the second airflow hood 188, or outer airflow hood 188a advantageously manage the airstreams 105 of air 30 within the interior 174 of the conference room 20 to mitigate risks of a pandemic 38 (see FIG. 1), a biological weapon release 40 (see FIG. 1), a chemical weapon release 42 (see FIG. 1), or another threat event. Moreover, the narrow funnel of air 30, such as purified air 30a, in the form of a high velocity airstream 105a and/or a very high velocity airstream 105d create the air barrier 115 and the protective virtual barrier 116 between conference room occupants 28d, such as adjacent conference room occupants 28e (see FIG. 4A).

As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the airflow system 10 for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20 has or comprises an air return assembly 90, such as a dedicated air return assembly 90a, for example, the air return duct assembly 92, having air return ducts 94, such as ceiling air return ducts 94d, returning air 30, such as recirculated air 30b, from the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20 to the air purification system 50. As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, ceiling air return ducts 94d comprise HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return ducts 94e.

As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the air return vent 104 for the conference room 20 comprises the ceiling air return vent 104a, such as the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return vent 104b, for returning the purified air 30a and the internal air 30c, including the contaminated air 30d (see FIGS. 3B-3C), from the interior 174 of the conference room 20, as recirculated air 30b, into the ceiling air return ducts 94d. As shown in FIGS. 3B-3C, the contaminated air 30d comprises one or more biological agents 34. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the air return vent 104 is positioned at the conference room ceiling 178 and is coupled to the top of the first airflow hood 186, such as the inner airflow hood 186s, and is also coupled to the top of the second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a, so that the one or more directional airstreams 106 create the separate airflow bounded space 108 around the conference room occupants 28d, including the contaminated occupant 28b (see FIGS. 3B-3C), to prevent any office cubicle occupants 28c in one or more adjacent office cubicles 16a from breathing any contaminated air 30d from the contaminated occupant 28b.

FIGS. 3A-3C further show ultraviolet lights 100 positioned and installed inside the air return ducts 94. The ultraviolet lights 100 may be optionally used and located in the air return ducts 94 to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34 and/or one or more of the chemical agents 36, close to the source. As an alternative to the ultraviolet lights 100, or in addition to the ultraviolet lights 100, the air return ducts 94 may have one or more grates with heated wires inside the air return ducts 94, or another suitable device or assembly to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34 and/or one or more of the chemical agents 36.

As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, in one version, sensors 25, such as sound sensors 25a, are coupled to the conference room table 175. In other versions, the sensors 25, such as the sound sensors 25a, may be positioned in another suitable location in the conference room 20. The sensors 25, such as the sound sensors 25a, may be used to detect the sneeze 26 (see FIG. 3C) from a conference room occupant 28d, such as a contaminated occupant 28b, or may be used to detect other sounds. Once the sensor 25, such as the sound sensor 25a, detects the sound, such as the sneeze 26, or when the sneeze 26 is sensed by the one or more sound sensors 25a, one or more fourth directional airstreams 106d are activated having a very high airflow velocity 114d (see FIG. 1) in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second. In one version, the first directional airstreams 106a (see FIG. 3C) may be activated to increase the airflow velocity 114 (see FIG. 1) from the high airflow velocity 114c (see FIG. 1) in the range of 5 feet per second to 10 feet per second, to the very high airflow velocity 114d (see FIG. 1) in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second, to form the fourth directional airstream 106d (see FIG. 3C).

The conference room 20 may further contain other types of sensors 25 such as motion sensors to detect one or more occupants 28 (see FIGS. 1, 3A-3C), such as one or more human occupants 28a (see FIGS. 1, 3A-3C), in the interior airflow space 14 in the building 12. The sensors 25 in the conference room 20 may further comprise temperature sensors, including semiconductor-based sensors, thermocouple sensors, resistance temperature detectors, and negative temperature coefficient thermistors; humidity sensors, including capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, and thermal sensors; pressure sensors; contact sensors to indicate whether a duct or valve is open or closed; air quality sensors to monitor toxins, dust, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and other substances in air 30 (see FIG. 1); infrared sensors; sensors that sense or detect contamination agents 32 (see FIG. 1) comprising one or more of, one or more biological agents 34 (see FIGS. 1, 2A), and one or more chemical agents 36 (see FIG. 1); or other suitable sensors 25.

As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the airflow system 10 comprises the control system 126 that controls the airflow system 10. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the control system 126 is positioned between the air management system 62 coupled to the interior airflow space 14 and the air purification system 50, via connector elements 138, such as a wired connector element 138a (see FIGS. 3A-3C), and a wireless connector element 138b (see FIGS. 3A-3C). As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the control system 126 is also coupled to one or more sensors 25, such as sound sensors 25a, in the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the control system 126 may comprise a sensor control network 128 to control the sensors 25, a controller 130, a power supply 132 to power the control system 126, and a computer 136 with a software program 134.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, in one version, the control system 126 comprises a central control system 126a, coupled between the air management system 62 and sensors 25, and the air purification system 50, via the connector elements 138. In another version, the control system 126 comprises a distributed control system 126b (see FIG. 1), in which the sensor control network 128, controllers 130, power supplies 132, and computers 136 with software programs 134, are distributed at each interior airflow space 14, or at several interior airflow spaces 14 on the same floor or on adjacent floors of the building 12.

With the airflow system 10 shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the rest of the building 12, such as the office building 12a, is unaffected by the contaminated air 30d (see FIGS. 3B-3C) in the interior 174 of conference room 20 (see FIGS. 3B-3C). The purified air 30a coming from the air supply ducts 78 can reduce risk of contamination in the conference room 20. Since the airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) of the purified air 30a is upward, such as the airstreams 105 (see FIGS. 3A-3C), for example, the directional airstreams 106 (see FIGS. 3A-3C), there is a short path from a conference room occupant 28d sitting in the conference room 20 to the ceiling air return vent 104a at the conference room ceiling 178. The airflow system 10 of FIGS. 3A-3C can be actively controlled using the control system 126.

For the airflow system 10 used with the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20, of FIGS. 3A-3C, a volume of airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) of air 30, such as purified air 30a, per conference room 20, may be adjusted depending on various conditions. For example, in times of increased threat, for example, with a pandemic 38 (see FIG. 1), a biological weapon release 40 (see FIG. 1), a chemical weapon release 42 (see FIG. 1), or another threat event, the volume of airflow 31 and airflow velocity 114 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, for the whole building 12, including the conference room 20, can be increased. In addition, at the beginning and ending of a meeting in the conference room 20 when conference room occupants 28d people are entering, exiting, and/or wandering about the conference room 20, the volume of airflow 31 and airflow velocity 114 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, can be increased. In addition, the volume of airflow 31 and airflow velocity 114 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, into the first airflow hood 186, such as the inner airflow hood 186a, and/or the second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a, can be adjusted, depending on conditions. For long durations of time between meetings in the conference room 20, when the conference room 20 is not in use, the volume of airflow 31 and airflow velocity 114 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, can be greatly reduced.

In one version, it may be possible to adjust the airflow velocity 114 of the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, to be equal in both the first airflow hood 186 and the second airflow hood 188. In addition, the conference room 20 may be maintained at a positive pressure, so that air 30 from one or more aisleways 18 (see FIG. 3A) adjacent to the conference room 20 does not flow into the conference room 20.

The airflow system 10 can also be beneficial for situations less severe than a pandemic 38, a biological weapon release 40, a chemical weapon release 42, or another threat event. For example, the airflow system 10 may be used to avoid spreading common colds. The airflow velocity 114 in the conference room 20 may be adjusted so that it is not uncomfortable to the conference room occupants 28d. In addition, if the airflow velocity 114 is increased for the building 12, the temperature of the airflow 31 may be increased so that the increased airflow velocity 114 is not as uncomfortable as it would be if the airflow 31 were cooler.

Now referring to FIGS. 4A-4D, FIGS. 4A-4D show various versions of the conference room table 175 with the exemplary airflow system 10 of the disclosure for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20 in a building 12, such as an office building 12a. The building 12 with the conference room 20 may comprise a retrofitted building 12c (see FIG. 1) or a new build building 12d (see FIG. 1). FIGS. 4A-4D show the contaminated condition 141, such as the contaminated conference room condition 141d with a single contaminated occupant 28b seated with adjacent conference room occupants 28e.

FIG. 4A is an illustration of a top view of a version of a conference room table 175, such as a rectangular conference room table 175b, having a tabletop shape 192, such as in the form of a rectangular tabletop shape 192a, with a plurality of table air supply vents 82d, and showing airstreams 105 flowing at the conference room table 175.

FIG. 4B is an illustration of a side view of the conference room table 175, such as the rectangular conference room table 175b, of FIG. 4A, in the conference room 20 with an exemplary airflow system 10 and having an under table air supply cavity 194, such as a rectangular table under table air supply cavity 194a, and showing airstreams 105, such as directional airstreams 106.

FIG. 4C is an illustration of a top view of another version of a conference room table 175, such as a scalloped conference room table 175c, having a tabletop shape 192, such as in the form of a scalloped tabletop shape 192b, with the plurality of table air supply vents 82d, and showing airstreams 105 flowing at the conference room table 175. As shown in FIG. 4C, the scalloped conference room table 175c has scalloped portions 196, or concaved portions, formed around a perimeter 198 of the scalloped conference room table 175c.

FIG. 4D is an illustration of a side view of the conference room table 175, such as the scalloped conference room table 175c, of FIG. 4C, in the conference room with an exemplary airflow system 10 having an under table air supply cavity 194, such as a scalloped table under table air supply cavity 194b, and showing airstreams 105, such as directional airstreams 106.

In other versions, the conference room table 175 may have another suitable tabletop shape, for example, an oval tabletop shape, a circular tabletop shape, or another suitable tabletop shape.

As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, the table air supply vents 82d are formed through a top surface 200 of the conference room table 175. FIGS. 4A, 4C show the table air supply vents 82d as discontinuous. However, in another version, the table air supply vents 82d may be a single joined vent.

The table air supply vents 82d comprise one or more center nozzle vents 84a, and as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, in one version, there is one (1) center nozzle vent 84a that extends along a center 202 of the conference room table 175 for substantially the length of the conference room table 175. In other versions, there may be more than one center nozzle vent 84a. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, the center nozzle vent 84a has a first end 204a, a second end 204b, and a slot-shaped body 205 formed between the first end 204a and the second end 204b.

The table air supply vents 82d further comprise one or more side nozzle vents 84b, and as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, in one version, there are four (4) side nozzle vents 84b spaced from the center nozzle vent 84a and extending perpendicular to the center nozzle vent 84a, with two (2) side nozzle vents 84b on each side of the conference room table 175. In other versions, there may be less than four (4) side nozzle vents 84b, or more than four (4) side nozzle vents 84b. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, each side nozzle vent 84b has a first end 206a near the center nozzle vent 84a, and a second end 206b near the perimeter 198 of the conference room table 175.

The table air supply vents 82d further comprise one or more diagonal nozzle vents 84c, and as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, in one version, there are four (4) diagonal nozzle vents 84c spaced from the center nozzle vent 84a and extending diagonally from the center nozzle vent 84a, with two (2) diagonal nozzle vents 84c extending in opposite diagonal directions from the first end 204a of the center nozzle vent 84a, and two (2) diagonal nozzle vents 84c extending in opposite diagonal directions from the second end 204b of the center nozzle vent 84a. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, each diagonal nozzle vent 84c has a first end 208a near either the center nozzle vent 84a, and a second end 208b near the perimeter 198 of the conference room table 175.

FIGS. 4A, 4C further show the conference room occupants 28d with one contaminated occupant 28b, all seated in conference room chairs 142b around the conference room table 175. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, each conference room occupant 28d is separated by a table air supply vent 82d between adjacent conference room occupants 28e, and the center nozzle vent 84a also separates conference room occupants 28d across from each other. The table air supply vents 82d prevent the contaminated air 30d breathed by the contaminated occupant 28b from traveling laterally to an adjacent conference room occupant 28e. As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, the table air supply vents 82d with the airstreams 105 create air barriers 115 and protective virtual barriers 116 between the conference room occupants 28d. In particular, the scalloped conference room table 175c with the scalloped tabletop shape 192b increase the length of the air barriers 115 and the protective virtual barriers 116 between adjacent conference room occupant 28e. This increases the degree of protection to conference room occupants 28d, such as the adjacent conference room occupants 28e.

As further shown in FIGS. 4A, 4C, the airstreams 105, such as moderate velocity airstreams 105b, and low velocity airstreams 105c, comprise airflow 31 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, flowing toward the conference room table 175 in every direction. Preferably, the center nozzle vent 84a, the side nozzle vents 84b, and the diagonal nozzle vents 84c provide a high velocity airstream 105a (see FIGS. 4B, 4D), flowing upwardly from the under table air supply cavity 194 (see FIGS. 4B, 4D), to provide additional protection to the conference room occupants 28d, and to form the air barriers 115.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the rectangular conference room table 175b in the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20, in the building 12, such as the office building 12a, has the under table air supply cavity 194, such as the rectangular table under table air supply cavity 194a, that supplies moderate velocity airstreams 105b of air 30, such as purified air 30a. As further shown in FIG. 4B, the high velocity airstream 105a of air, such as purified air 30a, is supplied through the center nozzle vent 84a, the side nozzle vents 84b, and the diagonal nozzle vents 84c from the table air supply duct 78h through the conference room table 175. As shown in FIG. 4B, the high velocity airstreams 105a creates an air barrier 115 and a protective virtual barrier 116 between the contaminated occupant 28b and the conference room occupant 28d, such as the adjacent conference room occupant 28e across the rectangular conference room table 175b.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the scalloped conference room table 175c in the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20, in the building 12, such as the office building 12a, has the under table air supply cavity 194, such as the scalloped table under table air supply cavity 194b, that supplies moderate velocity airstreams 105b of air 30, such as purified air 30a. As further shown in FIG. 4D, the high velocity airstream 105a of air, such as purified air 30a, is supplied through the center nozzle vent 84a, the side nozzle vents 84b, and the diagonal nozzle vents 84c from the table air supply duct 78h through the conference room table 175. As shown in FIG. 4D, the high velocity airstreams 105a creates an air barrier 115 and a protective virtual barrier 116 between the contaminated occupant 28b and the conference room occupant 28d, such as the adjacent conference room occupant 28e across the rectangular conference room table 175b. As further shown in FIGS. 4B, 4D, the high velocity airstream 105a flows upwardly and exits from the conference room 20 into the first airflow hood 186, such as the inner airflow hood 186a.

As shown in FIGS. 4B, 4D, the low velocity airstreams 105c enters the conference room 20 from the under table air supply cavity 194 and from the sidewall air supply ducts 78d near the conference room ceiling 178. As further shown in FIGS. 4B, 4D, the low velocity airstream 105c flows upwardly and exits from the conference room 20 into the second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a. As shown in FIGS. 4B, 4D, the contaminated air 30d with the biological agent 34, such as a virus, from the contaminated occupant 28b is carried upwardly by the moderate velocity airstream 105b and exits the conference room 20 into the second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a.

FIGS. 4B, 4D, further show the air supply assembly 70, such as the dedicated air supply assembly 70a, for example, the air supply duct assembly 72, having air supply ducts 78, such as sidewall air supply ducts 78d, supplying air 30, such as purified air 30a, from the air purification system 50 to the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20. FIGS. 4B, 4D, further show the air return assembly 90, such as the dedicated air return assembly 90a, for example, the air return duct assembly 92, having air return ducts 94, returning air 30, such as recirculated air 30b, from the interior airflow space 14 comprising the conference room 20 to the air purification system 50.

As further shown in FIGS. 4B, 4D, the second directional airstreams 106b form airflow field 117 around the occupants 28, such as the conference room occupants 28d, in the conference room 20. The second directional airstreams 106b forming the airflow fields 117 flow from the first sidewall portion 182 of the sidewall air supply vents 82a upwardly into the air return duct 94 and to the air purification system 50.

FIGS. 4B, 4D further show the internal air 30c within the conference room 20, the conference room floor 176, the conference room ceiling 178, and the conference room sidewalls 180. FIGS. 4B, 4D further show the control system 126, such as the central control system 126a, that controls the airflow system 10. As shown in FIGS. 4B, 4D, the control system 126 is positioned between the interior airflow space 14 and the air purification system 50, via connector elements 138, such as one or more wired connector elements 138a and/or one or more wireless connector elements 138b. As shown in FIGS. 4B, 4D, the control system 126 comprises the sensor control network 128, the controller 130, the power supply 132 to power the control system 126, and the computer 136 with a software program 134.′

Now referring to FIGS. 5A-5D, FIGS. 5A-5D show an exemplary airflow system 10, such as a retrofitted airflow system 10a, of the disclosure for an interior airflow space 14 comprising an auditorium 22, or theater, in a building 12, such as an office building 12a, for example, a retrofitted building 12c. Alternatively, the building 12 may comprise a new build building 12d (see FIG. 1). FIG. 5A is an illustration of a side view of the exemplary airflow system 10 of the disclosure for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the auditorium 22 in the retrofitted building 12c, where there are airstreams 105, such as directional airstreams 106, in an interior 210 of the auditorium 22. FIG. 5B is an illustration of an enlarged side view of the airflow system 10 and five auditorium occupants 28f in ducted auditorium seats 212, of the auditorium 22 of FIG. 5A, showing the airstreams 105, such as the directional airstreams 106, in the interior 210 of the auditorium 22. FIG. 5C is an illustration of an enlarged side view of an auditorium occupant 28f in a ducted auditorium seat 212, of FIG. 5B, showing the airstreams 105, such as directional airstreams 106, in the interior 210 of the auditorium 22. FIG. 5D is an illustration of an enlarged front view of three auditorium occupants 28f in ducted auditorium seats 212, of the auditorium 22 of FIG. 5A, showing the airstreams 105, such as directional airstreams 106, in the interior 210 of the auditorium 22.

FIGS. 5A-5D show occupants 28, such as human occupants 28a, for example, auditorium occupants 28f, each seated in a ducted auditorium seat 212, in the interior 210 of the auditorium 22. FIG. 5D shows adjacent auditorium occupants 28g. FIGS. 5A-5D further show a single contaminated occupant 28b. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the auditorium occupants 28f are each in a stationary position 44, such as a substantially stationary position 44a, seated in the ducted auditorium seat 212, that is, the auditorium occupants 28f are not walking around.

As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the airflow system 10 for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the auditorium 22, or theater, has or comprises an air supply assembly 70, such as a dedicated air supply assembly 70a, for example, an air supply duct assembly 72, having air supply ducts 78, supplying air 30, such as purified air 30a, from the air purification system 50 to the interior airflow space 14 comprising the auditorium 22. FIG. 5A shows a supply first end 74 of the air supply duct 78 coupled to the air purification system 50, and shows supply second ends 76 coupled to the auditorium 22.

As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the airflow system 10 for the interior airflow space 14 comprising the auditorium 22, or theater, has or comprises an air return assembly 90, such as a dedicated air return assembly 90a, for example, an air return duct assembly 92, having air return ducts 94, returning air 30, such as recirculated air 30b, from the interior airflow space 14 to the air purification system 50. FIG. 5A shows a return first end 96 coupled to the auditorium 22, and shows a return second end 98 coupled to the air purification system 50.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the auditorium 22 has an auditorium floor 214, such as an auditorium false floor 214a, having a floor cavity 166a. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the auditorium 22 has an auditorium floor 214, such as an auditorium false floor 214a, having a floor cavity 166a.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the auditorium 22 further has a structural auditorium floor 215 underneath the auditorium floor 214, such as the auditorium false floor 214a, and underneath the floor cavity 166a.

The floor cavity 166a of the auditorium false floor 214a supplies air 30, such as purified air 30a, from the air purification system 50, such as the plenum 58 (see FIG. 1), into the ducted auditorium seats 212 and into the auditorium 22. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the auditorium floor 214 has one or more floor air supply ducts 78e in the floor cavity 166a underneath the auditorium floor 214. The floor cavity 166a, or opening, is hollow to house, or function, as one or more air supply ducts 78, such as one or more floor air supply ducts 78e.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the auditorium floor 214, such as the auditorium false floor 214a, further has one or more air supply vents 82, such as one or more floor air supply vents 82b, to flow the purified air 30a from the air purification system 50, such as the plenum 58, into the floor air supply ducts 78e and into each of the plurality of ducted auditorium seats 212. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the air supply vent 82, such as the floor air supply vent 82b, is located at an auditorium floor portion 214b of the auditorium floor 214, to flow the purified air 30a from the air purification system 50, such as from the plenum 58 (see FIG. 1), into the ducted auditorium seats 212 and into the auditorium 22. The plurality of ducted auditorium seats 212 are coupled to the top of the auditorium floor 214, such as the auditorium false floor 214a, and are coupled to the air supply assembly 70, such as the dedicated air supply assembly 70a.

The air supply vents 82 may include louvers 102 (see FIG. 1) that may be stationary in one version, or may be adjustable in another version, for example, manually or automatically adjusted to adjust the airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) of the purified air 30a into the interior 210 of the auditorium 22, for example. In addition, the auditorium floor 214 in each row of ducted auditorium seats 212, may be a grated floor 88 (see FIG. 1) with grated floor vents (see FIG. 1), so that airflow 31 with low airflow velocity 114a (see FIG. 1) or moderate airflow velocity 114b (see FIG. 1) can be flowed upward from the auditorium floor 214 in each row.

As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the auditorium 22 has an auditorium ceiling 216. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the auditorium ceiling 216 houses the air return ducts 94 comprising one or more ceiling air return ducts 94d, such as one or more HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return ducts 94e. As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the auditorium ceiling 216 has one or more air return vents 104 comprising one or more ceiling air return vent 104a, for example, one or more HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air return vents 104b, for returning the purified air 30a and the internal air 30c, from the interior 210 of the auditorium 22, as the recirculated air 30b, into the ceiling air return ducts 94d. As shown in FIG. 5A, the air return vent 104 is positioned at the auditorium ceiling 216, so that the airstreams 105, such as the directional airstreams 106, for example, upwardly flowing airstreams 107a, flowing from the auditorium floor 214 create the separate airflow bounded space 108 around each auditorium occupant 28f. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the directional airstreams 106 comprise first directional airstreams 106a forming the air barriers 115 and the protective virtual barriers 116 between and around each auditorium occupant 28f, to prevent contamination from a contaminated occupant 28b in the auditorium 22. As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the directional airstreams 106 comprise second directional airstreams 106b forming airflow fields 117 around each auditorium occupant 28f.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the contaminated air 30d, along with the internal air 30c, in the interior 210 of the auditorium 22, exits the auditorium 22 through the air return vent 104, or outlet, such as the ceiling air return vent 104a, in the auditorium ceiling 216, as recirculated air 30b, and exhausts into the air return ducts 94, so that the pattern of airflow 31, such as the directional airstream 106 protects others in the building 12 from breathing the contaminated air 30d in the auditorium 22. FIG. 5A further shows a first airflow path 232a flowing from the contaminated occupant 28b to the air return duct 94, and a second airflow path 232b flowing from the occupant 28 seated in front of the contaminated occupant 28b, to the air return duct 94. FIG. 5A shows that the first airflow path 232a and the second airflow path 232b are separate and do not cross each other.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the air return ducts have ultraviolet lights 100 positioned and installed inside the air return ducts 94. The ultraviolet lights 100 may be optionally used and located in the air return ducts 94 to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34 and/or one or more of the chemical agents 36, close to the source. As an alternative to the ultraviolet lights 100, or in addition to the ultraviolet lights 100, the air return ducts 94 may have one or more grates with heated wires inside the air return ducts 94, or another suitable device or assembly to aid in deactivating or destroying one or more of the one or more biological agents 34.

As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the auditorium 22 has auditorium walls 218. At least one auditorium wall 218 has an auditorium door (not shown) or auditorium entrance (not shown), and the auditorium walls 218 enclose the auditorium 22. As further shown in FIG. 5A, the auditorium has an auditorium stage 220. FIG. 5A shows a podium 222 and a speaker occupant 28i at the podium 222. Directional airstreams 106 are shown on the auditorium stage 220 in front of the speaker occupant 28i. The directional airstreams 106 are separate from the directional airstreams 106 flowing from the ducted auditorium seats 212, and are used to provide protection from contamination to, or from, the speaker occupant 28i. The directional airstreams 106 flowing from the auditorium stage 220 may comprise second directional airstreams 106b (see FIG. 5A) or may comprise first directional airstreams 106a (see FIG. 5A).

As further shown in FIG. 5A, the airflow system 10 comprises the control system 126 that controls the airflow system 10. The control system 126 is positioned between the air management system 62 coupled to the interior airflow space 14 comprising the auditorium 22 and the air purification system 50, via connector elements 138, such as wired connector elements 138a. Alternatively, wireless connector elements 138b (see FIG. 3A) may be used. As shown in FIG. 5A, the control system 126 is also coupled to one or more sensors 25 in the interior airflow space 14 comprising the auditorium 22. In one version, as shown in FIG. 5A, the sensor 25 is coupled to the auditorium ceiling 216. In other versions, one or more sensors 25 may be coupled to other locations in the auditorium 22. As shown in FIG. 5A, the control system 126 comprises the sensor control network 128 to control the sensors 25, the controller 130, the power supply 132 to power the control system 126, and the computer 136 with a software program 134. As shown in FIG. 5A, in one version, the control system 126 comprises a central control system 126a, coupled between the air management system 62 and the air purification system 50, via the connector elements 138, such as the wired connector elements 138a. In another version, the control system 126 comprises a distributed control system 126b (see FIG. 1), in which the sensor control network 128, controllers 130, power supplies 132, and computers 136 with software programs 134, are distributed at each interior airflow space 14, or at several interior airflow spaces 14 on the same floor or on adjacent floors of the building 12.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, each ducted auditorium seat 212 comprises seat sidewalls 224, and as shown in FIG. 5D, two (2) seat sidewalls 224. Each seat sidewall 224 has one or more seat air supply ducts 78i (see FIGS. 5A-5D) comprising seat air supply sidewall ducts 78j (see FIGS. 5A-5D), and each seat sidewall 224 has one or more seat air supply vents 82e (see FIG. 5D) comprising seat air supply sidewall vents 82f (see FIG. 5D).

As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, each ducted auditorium seat 212 comprises a seat back 226 having one or more seat air supply ducts 78i comprising seat air supply rear ducts 78k, and having one or more seat air supply vents 82e (see FIG. 5D) comprising seat air supply rear vents 82g (see FIG. 5D).

The one or more directional airstreams 106 (see FIGS. 5A-5D) flowing from the seat air supply sidewall vents 82f and the seat air supply rear vents 82g of each ducted auditorium seat 212 up to ceiling air return vents 104a, create the separate airflow bounded space 108 (see FIG. 5D) for each auditorium occupant 28f in each ducted auditorium seat 212, so that breathed air 30e, including contaminated air 30d, from one contaminated occupant 28b in one ducted auditorium seat 212 is prevented from flowing to adjacent auditorium occupants 28g (see FIG. 5D) seated in adjacent ducted auditorium seats 212a.

FIGS. 5C, 5D show sidewall airflow 31f flowing from the seat sidewalls 224 of the ducted auditorium seat 212, and show seat back airflow 31g flowing from the seat back 226 of the ducted auditorium seat 212.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, the contaminated condition 141 comprises a contaminated auditorium condition 141f. The air 30, such as the purified air 30a, is supplied to the ducted auditorium seats 212 in the floor cavity 166a under the auditorium false floor 214a. The seat air supply ducts 78i and the seat air supply vents 82e direct the airstreams 105, such as the directional airstreams 106, of air 30, such as purified air 30a, away from the auditorium occupant 28f and upwardly to the air return ducts 94 in the auditorium ceiling 216. As shown in FIG. 5A, the airstreams 105, such as the directional airstreams 106, of air 30, such as purified air 30a, carry any contaminated air 30d upward and slightly forward. Any contaminated air 30d exits through the air return ducts 94.

FIG. 5D shows the contaminated occupant 28b breathing contaminated air 30d seated between adjacent auditorium occupants 28g. FIG. 5D shows the seat sidewalls 224 with the seat air supply ducts 78i comprising seat air supply sidewall ducts 78j, and each seat sidewall 224 has one or more seat air supply vents 82e. FIG. 5D further shows the seat back 226 having seat air supply ducts 78i comprising seat air supply rear ducts 78k, and having seat air supply vents 82e comprising seat air supply rear vents 82g. The air 30, such as the purified air 30a, from the air supply duct 78, such as the floor air supply duct 78e, in the floor cavity 166a, flows into the ducted auditorium seats 212 and exits the ducted auditorium seats 212 upwardly toward the auditorium ceiling 216 (see FIG. 5A) with the air return assembly 90. The airflow 31 that is vertical from the seat back 226 and the seat air supply rear ducts 78k of the ducted auditorium seat 212 in front prevents the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, flowing to the ducted auditorium seats 212 from the ducted auditorium seats 212 behind it.

The airflow system 10 for the auditorium 22 prevents the auditorium occupants 28f from contaminating each other. The air 30, such as the purified air 30a, enters from an air supply in the auditorium floor 214 of the auditorium 22, or theater, to each ducted auditorium seats 212, which is equipped with seat air supply vents 82e (see FIGS. 5A-5D) comprising seat air supply sidewall vents 82f and seat air supply rear vents 82g that are upward facing vents on each side and in the back of the ducted auditorium seats 212. The resulting vertical airflow creates an air barrier 115 and a protective virtual barrier 116 between each auditorium occupant 28f in the auditorium 22, or theater, and the other auditorium occupants 28f. All of the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, from the ducted auditorium seats 212 flows upward into air return vents 104, or exhaust vents, and the air return ducts 94 located in the auditorium ceiling 216 of the auditorium 22, or theater.

Now referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is an illustration of a top view of six auditorium occupants 28f, including one contaminated occupant 28b, in ducted auditorium seats 212, and showing air barriers 115 around the contaminated occupant 28b. FIG. 6 shows three auditorium occupants 28f in a first row 234a, or front row, and three auditorium occupants 28f, including the contaminated occupant 28b, in a second rod 234b, or back row, behind the first row 234a. FIG. 6 shows an exemplary airflow system 10 of the disclosure for an interior airflow space 14 comprising an auditorium 22, or theater, in a building 12, such as an office building 12a. FIG. 6 shows the office building 12a, in one version, as a new build building 12d. In another version, the office building 12a may comprise a retrofitted building 12c.

FIG. 6 shows seat air supply ducts 78i, such as seat air supply sidewall ducts 78j and seat air supply rear ducts 78k, in an interior 210 of the interior airflow space 14, such as the auditorium 22, or theater. FIG. 6 shows contaminated air 30d coming from the contaminated occupant 28b, in the interior 210 of the auditorium 22 or theater, and shows air barriers 115 between the contaminated occupant 28b and the two adjacent auditorium occupants 28g, and shows an air barrier 115 between the contaminated occupant 28b and the auditorium occupant 28f directly in front of the contaminated occupant 28b.

FIG. 6 further shows the air 30, such as the purified air 30a, in the seat air supply ducts 78i. FIG. 6 further shows the seat sidewalls 224 and the seat backs 226 of the ducted auditorium seats 212. FIG. 6 further shows the auditorium floor 214, such as the auditorium false floor 214a. FIG. 6 further shows the contaminated occupant 28b breathing the contaminated air 30d having the biological agent 34, such as a virus. Airflow 31 (see FIG. 5D), that is vertical, such as the sidewall airflow 31f (see FIG. 5D) from the seat sidewalls 224 and the seat back airflow 31g (see FIG. 5D) from the seat back 226 create a first boundary 228 (see FIG. 6) between adjacent ducted auditorium seats 212a comprising air barriers 115. The air 30 from one ducted auditorium seat 212 cannot flow to another ducted auditorium seats 212. In addition, airflow 31 that is vertical from the seat air supply sidewall vents 82f and the seat air supply rear vents 82g of the ducted auditorium seat 212 directly in front prevents air 30 from flowing to that ducted auditorium seat 212 from the ducted auditorium seat 212 behind it. FIG. 6 further shows a second boundary 230 between the contaminated occupant 28b and the ducted auditorium seat 212 with an auditorium occupant 28f directly in front of the contaminated occupant 28b. The air barrier 115 of the row in front of the contaminated occupant 28b provides the second boundary 230 for the contaminated occupant 28b.

Now referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is an illustration of a flow diagram of an exemplary version of a method 300 of the disclosure. In another version of the disclosure, there is provided the method 300 of using an airflow system 10 in a building 12 (see FIG. 1), such as an office building 12a (see FIG. 1), or a commercial building 12b (see FIG. 1), to provide a contamination mitigation 48 (see FIG. 1) for one or more occupants 28 (see FIG. 1), such as one or more human occupants 28a (see FIG. 1), in the building 12. The blocks in FIG. 7 represent operations and/or portions thereof, or elements, and lines connecting the various blocks do not imply any particular order or dependency of the operations or portions thereof, or elements. FIG. 7 and the disclosure of the steps of the method 300 set forth herein should not be interpreted as necessarily determining a sequence in which the steps are to be performed. Rather, although one illustrative order is indicated, it is to be understood that the sequence of the steps may be modified when appropriate. Accordingly, certain operations may be performed in a different order or simultaneously.

As shown in FIG. 7, the method 300 comprises the step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12. As discussed above in detail with regard to FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 comprises at least one air purification system 50 providing purified air 30a and receiving recirculated air 30b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 further comprises at least one air supply assembly 70, supplying the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50 to at least one interior airflow space 14 in the building 12. The at least one interior airflow space 14 comprises one or more of, an office cubicle 16 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2C), a conference room 20 (see FIGS. 1, 3A-3C, 4A-4D), and an auditorium 22 (see FIGS. 1, 5A-5D, 6), in the building 12. The at least one interior airflow space 14 may further comprise an office 24 (see FIGS. 1, 2C). One or more occupants 28 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 3A, 5A) are in the at least one interior airflow space 14 in one of, a stationary position 44 (see FIGS. 1, 2A), or a substantially stationary position 44a (see FIGS. 1, 2A), for a time period 45 (see FIG. 1), such as an extended time period 45a (see FIG. 1), preferably, in a time range of one (1) hour to ten (10) hours, and more preferably, in a time range of one (1) hour to eight (8) hours.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 further comprises at least one air return assembly 90, returning the recirculated air 30b from the at least one interior airflow space 14 to the at least one air purification system 50. The recirculated air 30b comprises one or more of, internal air 30c from the at least one interior airflow space 14, and contaminated air 30d (see FIG. 1) contaminated by one or more of, one or more biological agents 34 (see FIG. 1), including, or comprising, one or more biological agents 34 shed by one or more contaminated occupants 28b (see FIG. 1) in the at least one interior airflow space 14, and one or more chemical agents 36 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 further comprises one or more airstreams 105, such as one or more directional airstreams 106, formed between the at least one air supply assembly 70 and the at least one air return assembly 90 in the at least one interior airflow space 14. The one or more directional airstreams 106 comprise one or more of, the purified air 30a, the internal air 30c, and the contaminated air 30d.

The one or more directional airstreams 106 comprising at least one or more of, one or more first directional airstreams 106a (see FIGS. 2C, 3A-3C, 5A, 5D), and one or more second directional airstreams 106b (see FIGS. 2A-2C, 3A-3C, 5A, 5D). The one or more first directional airstreams 106a form one or more air barriers 115 (see FIGS. 1, 2C, 3A-3C, 5A, 5D) between each of the one or more occupants 28, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14, to provide respiratory isolation 112 (see FIG. 1), with and using the one or more air barriers 115, for each of the one or more occupants 28, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14.

The one or more second directional airstreams 106b form an airflow field 117 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2C, 3A-3C, 5A, 5D) around each of the one or more occupants 28, including each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14. The one or more second directional airstreams 106b have an airflow velocity 114 (see FIG. 1) that is less than an airflow velocity 114 of the one or more first directional airstreams 106a.

As shown in FIG. 1, the airflow system 10 further comprises at least one control system 126 controlling the airflow system 10. The installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise, installing the airflow system 10 optionally comprising one or more sensors 25 (see FIG. 1) positioned in the at least one interior airflow space 14.

As shown in FIG. 7, the method 300 further comprises the step of supplying 304, with the at least one air supply assembly 70, the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50 to the at least one interior airflow space 14 in the building 12.

As shown in FIG. 7, the method 300 further comprises the step of flowing 306 the one or more airstreams 105, such as the one or more directional airstreams 106, between the at least one air supply assembly 70 and the at least one air return assembly 90 in the at least one interior airflow space 14, to form one or more of, the one or more air barriers 115, and the airflow field 117, for each of the one or more occupants 28 in the at least one interior airflow space 14, including the one or more contaminated occupants 28b.

As shown in FIG. 7, the method 300 further comprises the step of returning 308, with the at least one air return assembly 90, the recirculated air 30b from the at least one interior airflow space 14 to the at least one air purification system 50.

The airflow system 10 provides the contamination mitigation 48 (see FIG. 1) for each of the one or more occupants 28 in the at least one interior airflow space 14, against contamination by one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34, including the one or more biological agents 34 shed by each of the one or more contaminated occupants 28b in the at least one interior airflow space 14, and the one or more chemical agents 36.

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing and retrofitting a retrofitted airflow system 10a (see FIG. 1) in a retrofitted building 12c (see FIG. 1).

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing a new build airflow system 10b (see FIG. 1) in a new build building 12d (see FIG. 1).

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing the airflow system 10 where the at least one air supply assembly 70 comprises an air supply duct assembly 72 comprising one or more air supply ducts 78. The one or more air supply ducts 78 comprise one or more of, one or more sidewall air supply ducts 78d, one or more floor air supply ducts 78e, one or more ceiling air supply ducts 78f, one or more table air supply ducts 78h, one or more seat air supply ducts 78i, or another suitable air supply duct 78.

The at least one air supply assembly 70 comprises one or more of air supply vents 82 configured to open and to close, to control an airflow 31 of the purified air 30a into the at least one interior airflow space 14. The one or more air supply vents 82 comprise one or more of, one or more sidewall air supply vents 82a, one or more floor air supply vents 82b, one or more ceiling air supply vents 82c, one or more table air supply vents 82d, one or more seat air supply vents 82e, or another suitable air supply vent.

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing the airflow system 10 where the at least one air return assembly 90 comprises an air return duct assembly 92 (see FIG. 1) comprising one or more air return ducts 94 (see FIG. 1), including one or more ceiling air return ducts 94d, and one or more air return vents 104, including one or more ceiling air return vents 104a.

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing the airflow system 10 where the one or more biological agents 34 comprise one or more, airborne biological agents 34a (see FIG. 1), airborne pathogens, respiratory pathogens, airborne viruses, respiratory viruses, airborne microbes, respiratory microbes, airborne coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), ebola virus, Zika virus, West Nile virus, Marburg virus, influenza virus, including, airborne influenza virus, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, influenza C virus, avian flu, and swine flu, smallpox virus, monkeypox virus, streptococcus pneumoniae causing pneumonia, mycobacterium tuberculosis causing tuberculosis, bacillus anthracis causing anthrax, aspergillus fumigatus causing lung aspergillosis, pneumonic plague, black mold airborne spores, ricin mist, and ricin powder.

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing the airflow system 10 where the one or more chemical agents 36 comprise one or more, airborne chemical agents 36a (see FIG. 1), respiratory chemical agents, phenoxy herbicide, choking agents including chlorine, chloropicrin, diphosgene, and phosgene; blister agents including sulfur mustard, nitrogen mustard, lewisite, and phosgene oxime; blood agents including hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, and arsine; and nerve agents including tabun, sarin, soman, cyclosarin, and venomous agent X.

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing the airflow system 10 where the at least one interior airflow space 14 comprises the office cubicle 16 (see FIGS. 1, 2A). In one version, as shown in FIG. 2A, the office cubicle 16 has an air supply assembly 70 such as a dedicated air supply assembly 70a, an air return assembly 90 such as a dedicated air return assembly 90a, an office cubicle floor 146, an office cubicle ceiling 148, and office cubicle sidewalls 150.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the office cubicle ceiling 148 comprises one or more ceiling air return ducts 94d, and one or more air return vents 104, returning the purified air 30a and the internal air 30c, including any contaminated air 30d, from an interior 140 of the office cubicle 16, as the recirculated air 30b. The one or more air return vents 104 are positioned at the office cubicle ceiling 148, so that the one or more airstreams 105 (see FIG. 2A), such as one or more directional airstreams 106 (see FIG. 2A), create a separate airflow bounded space 108 (see FIG. 2A) around an office cubicle occupant 28c (see FIGS. 1, 2A), including a contaminated occupant 28b, to prevent office cubicle occupants 28c in adjacent office cubicles 16a (see FIGS. 2A-2B) from breathing any contaminated air 30d (see FIG. 2A) from the contaminated occupant 28b in the office cubicle 16.

The office cubicle sidewalls 150 include office cubicle sidewalls 150 having an office cubicle door or sidewall. The office cubicle sidewalls 150 enclose the office cubicle 16. As shown in FIG. 2A, in one version, for a retrofitted building 12c, one or more of the office cubicle sidewalls 150 have a wall cavity 154 with one or more sidewall air supply ducts 78d, and one or more sidewall air supply vents 82a located at a lowermost sidewall portion 150b of each of the one or more office cubicle sidewalls 150, to flow the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50 into a lowermost office cubicle portion 156 of the office cubicle 16.

The office cubicle sidewalls 150 and the one or more directional airstreams 106 prevent escape of one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34, and the one or more chemical agents 36, into one or more adjacent interior airflow spaces 14a. Preferably, one or more of the office cubicle sidewalls 150 have an uppermost sidewall portion 150a (see FIG. 2A) comprising a transparent panel 152 (see FIG. 2A) or sheet, such as a transparent fireproof panel 152a (see FIG. 2A) or sheet.

As shown in FIG. 2C, in another version, for a new build building 12d, the office cubicle floor 146 has a floor cavity 166 with one or more floor air supply ducts 78e and one or more floor air supply vents 82b, to flow the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50 into one or more of, an interior 140 of the office cubicle 16 (see FIG. 2A), and a table air supply duct 78h (see FIG. 2C) in a desk 144 (see FIG. 2C) and into the interior 140 of the office cubicle 16 (see FIG. 2C).

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the office cubicle ceiling 148 has or comprises one or more air return ducts 94, such as one or more ceiling air return ducts 94d, and one or more air return vents 104, such as one or more ceiling air return vents 104a, returning the purified air 30a and the internal air 30c, including any contaminated air 30d, from an interior 140 of the office cubicle 16, as the recirculated air 30b, and the one or more air return vents 104 are positioned at the office cubicle ceiling 148, so that the one or more directional airstreams 106 create the separate airflow bounded space 108 around an office cubicle occupant 28c, including a contaminated occupant 28b, to prevent office cubicle occupants 28c in adjacent office cubicles 16a or adjacent offices 24 (see FIG. 2C) or adjacent aisleways 18 (see FIGS. 2A-2C) from breathing any contaminated air 30d from the contaminated occupant 28b in the office cubicle 16.

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing the airflow system 10 where the at least one interior airflow space 14 comprises the conference room 20. The conference room 20 has a dedicated air supply assembly 70a, a dedicated air return assembly 90a, a conference room floor 176, a conference room ceiling 178, conference room sidewalls 180, with one conference room sidewall 180 having a conference room door (not shown) or entrance (not shown), a conference room table 175, a first airflow hood 186 such as an inner airflow hood 186a, and a second airflow hood 188 such as an outer airflow hood 188a.

The conference room table 175 has one or more table air supply ducts 78h, and one or more table air supply vents 82d coupled to the one or more table air supply ducts 78h. As shown in FIG. 4A, in one version, the one or more table air supply vents 82d comprise one or more of, one or more center nozzle vents 84a, one or more side nozzle vents 84b, and one or more diagonal nozzle vents 84c. The one or more table air supply vents 82d prevent contaminated air 30d breathed by a contaminated occupant 28b in the conference room 20 from traveling laterally to an adjacent conference room occupant 28e.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in one version, the conference room table 175 may have a tabletop shape 192 comprising a rectangular tabletop shape 192a. As shown in FIG. 4C, in another version, the conference room table 175 may have a tabletop shape 192 comprising a scalloped tabletop shape 192b. In other versions, the conference room table 175 may have another tabletop shape 192 such as an oval tabletop shape, a circular tabletop shape, or another suitable shape.

As shown in FIG. 3A-3C, the conference room table 175 may further optionally comprise one or more sensors 25, such as one or more sound sensors 25a, coupled to the conference room table 175. The one or more sound sensors 25a may sense a sound such as a sneeze 26 (see FIG. 3C) from a conference room occupant 28d, such as a contaminated occupant 28b, and when the sneeze 26 is sensed by the one or more sound sensors 25a, one or more fourth directional airstreams 106d are activated having a very high airflow velocity 114d (see FIG. 1) in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second. In one version, the first directional airstreams 106a (see FIG. 3C) may be activated to increase the airflow velocity 114 (see FIG. 1) from the high airflow velocity 114c (see FIG. 1) in the range of 5 feet per second to 10 feet per second, to the very high airflow velocity 114d (see FIG. 1) in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second, to form the fourth directional airstream 106d (see FIG. 3C).

The conference room 20 may comprise one or more airflow hoods 185 (see FIGS. 3A-3C). The first airflow hood 186 (see FIGS. 3A, 3C), such as the inner airflow hood 186a (see FIGS. 3A, 3C), is coupled to the conference room ceiling 178 and positioned above the one or more table air supply ducts 78h. The second airflow hood 188 (see FIGS. 3A-3C), such as the outer airflow hood 188a (see FIGS. 3A-3C), is coupled to the conference room ceiling 178 and positioned above the one or more table air supply ducts 78h. The second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a, surrounds a portion 186b (see FIG. 3A) of the first airflow hood 186, such as the inner airflow hood 186a. The second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a, has an outer opening that is greater than an outer opening of the first airflow hood 186, such as the inner airflow hood 186a, and the second airflow hood 188, such as the outer airflow hood 188a, has an inner opening that is greater than an inner opening of the first airflow hood 186, such as the inner airflow hood 186a.

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing the airflow system 10 where the at least one interior airflow space 14 comprises the conference room 20 having the one or more directional airstreams 106.

The one or more directional airstreams 106 comprise one or more first directional airstreams 106a comprising the purified air 30a flowing from the dedicated air supply assembly 70a, through a floor air supply vent 82b, through a table air supply vent 82d, into the first airflow hood 186, or the second airflow hood 188 if there is no first airflow hood 186, and into the dedicated air return assembly 90a, forming or creating one or more air barriers 115 (see FIG. 3A) between conference room occupants 28d at the conference room table 175. The one or more first directional airstreams 106a flow at a high airflow velocity 114c in a range of 4 (four) feet per second to 10 feet per second.

The one or more directional airstreams 106 further comprise one or more second directional airstreams 106b comprising the purified air 30a flowing from the dedicated air supply assembly 70a through one or more sidewall air supply vents 82a located at a first sidewall portion 182 (see FIG. 3A) of one or more of the conference room sidewalls 180. The one or more second directional airstreams 106b further comprise the internal air 30c, and breathed air 30e flowing from the conference room occupants 28d, including any contaminated air 30d flowing from one or more contaminated occupants 28b in the conference room 20. The one or more second directional airstreams 106b flow from the interior 174 of the conference room 20 into the second airflow hood 188, and into the dedicated air return assembly 90a, forming or creating an airflow field 117 (see FIGS. 3A-3C) around each of the conference room occupants 28d. The one or more second directional airstreams 106b each flow at a moderate airflow velocity 114b in a range of 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second to 1 (one) foot per second.

The one or more directional airstreams 106 further comprise one or more third directional airstreams 106c (see FIGS. 3A-3C) comprising the purified air 30a flowing from the dedicated air supply assembly70a through one or more floor air supply vents 82b, to an area 190 (see FIG. 3A) under the conference room table 175, to prevent lingering of one or more of, the one or more biological agents 34 (see FIG. 1) and the one or more chemical agents 36 (see FIG. 1), in the conference room 20. The one or more third directional airstreams 106c flow at a low airflow velocity 114a in a range of 0.01 (zero point zero one) foot per second to 0.1 (zero point one) foot per second. A flow arrangement 120 (see FIG. 1) of the one or more directional airstreams 106 in the conference room 20 prevents the conference room occupants 28d from contaminating each other.

The one or more directional airstreams 106 may further comprise one or more fourth directional airstreams 106d (see FIGS. 1, 3C) comprising compressed air 30g or purified air 30a flowing from the dedicated air supply assembly 70a through one or more floor air supply vents 82b of very high airflow velocity 114d (see FIG. 1) in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second. The very high velocity airstream 105d having the very high airflow velocity 114d, such as compressed air 30g, is supplied by the third air supply duct 78c (see FIG. 1) and is preferably in the form of a port 79 (see FIG. 3C) to compressed air 30g (see FIG. 3C) that can be supplied at a very high air pressure 80d, and which may be activated, for example, when an occupant 28 in the interior airflow space 14 sneezes. The very high velocity airstream 105d having the very high airflow velocity 114d, such as the compressed air 30g, is returned by the third air return duct 94c (see FIG. 1) and is preferably in the form of a vacuum system or a vacuum port 95 (see FIG. 3C) to return the compressed air 30g (see FIG. 3C) at a very high air pressure 80d, and which may be activated, for example, when an occupant 28 in the interior airflow space 14 sneezes. A sensor 25, such as the sound sensor 25a, can detect the sound of the sneeze 26 (see FIG. 3C) and increase or ramp up the high velocity airstream 105a to the very high velocity airstream 105d.

When the sound sensor 25a senses a sneeze 26 (see FIG. 3C), one or more fourth directional airstreams 106d are activated having the very high airflow velocity 114d (see FIG. 1) in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second. In one version, the first directional airstreams 106a (see FIG. 3C) may be activated to increase the airflow velocity 114 (see FIG. 1) from the high airflow velocity 114c (see FIG. 1) in the range of 5 feet per second to 10 feet per second, to the very high airflow velocity 114d (see FIG. 1) in a range of 15 (fifteen) feet per second to 150 (one-hundred fifty) feet per second, to form the fourth directional airstream 106d (see FIG. 3C).

The step of installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 may further comprise installing 302 the airflow system 10 in the building 12 further comprising, installing the airflow system 10 where the at least one interior airflow space 14 comprises the auditorium 22 or theater. The auditorium 22 or theater may have a dedicated air supply assembly 70a, a dedicated air return assembly 90a, an auditorium floor 214 (see FIG. 5A), such as an auditorium false floor 214a having one or more floor air supply ducts 78e in a floor cavity 166a (see FIG. 5A) underneath the auditorium floor 214, and one or more floor air supply vents 82b, to flow the purified air 30a from the at least one air purification system 50 into each of a plurality of ducted auditorium seats 212. The auditorium 22 further has a structural auditorium floor 215 (see FIG. 5A) underneath the auditorium false floor 214a. As shown in FIG. 5A, the auditorium 22 further has an auditorium ceiling 216, auditorium walls 218, an auditorium stage 220, and the plurality of ducted auditorium seats 212 coupled to the auditorium false floor 214a and coupled to the dedicated air supply assembly 70a.

The plurality of ducted auditorium seats 212 comprise two seat sidewalls 224. Each seat sidewall 224 has one or more seat air supply ducts 78i comprising seat air supply sidewall ducts 78j, and has one or more seat air supply vents 82e comprising seat air supply sidewall vents 82f. The plurality of ducted auditorium seats 212 further comprise a seat back 226 having one or more seat air supply ducts 78i comprising seat air supply rear ducts 78k, and having one or more seat air supply vents 82e comprising seat air supply rear vents 82g. The one or more directional airstreams 106 flowing from the seat air supply sidewall vents 82f and the seat air supply rear vents 82g of each ducted auditorium seat 212 up to ceiling air return vents 104a, create the separate airflow bounded space 108 for each auditorium occupant 28f in each ducted auditorium seat 212, so that breathed air 30e, including contaminated air 30d, from one contaminated occupant 28b in one ducted auditorium seat 212 is prevented from flowing to adjacent auditorium occupants 28g seated in adjacent ducted auditorium seats 212a.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the air return vent 104 is positioned at the auditorium ceiling 216, so that the airstreams 105, such as the directional airstreams 106, flowing from the auditorium floor 214 create the separate airflow bounded space 108 around each auditorium occupant 28f, and create the air barrier 115 and the protective virtual barrier 116 around each auditorium occupant 28f, to prevent contamination from a contaminated occupant 28b in the auditorium 22.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the directional airstreams 106 comprise first directional airstreams 106a forming the air barriers 115 and the protective virtual barriers 116 between and around each auditorium occupant 28f, to prevent contamination from a contaminated occupant 28b in the auditorium 22. As further shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the directional airstreams 106 comprise second directional airstreams 106b forming an airflow field 117 around each auditorium occupant 28f.

Disclosed versions of the airflow system 10 (see FIG. 1) and method 300 (see FIG. 7) provide for an improved airflow system 10 and method 300 for buildings 12, such as office buildings 12a (see FIG. 1) and commercial buildings 12b (see FIG. 1), and may be used with a retrofitted building 12c (see FIG. 1) or a new build building 12d (see FIG. 1). In particular, the airflow system 10 and method 300 are used with interior airflow spaces 14 comprising an office cubicle 16 (see FIG. 2A), a conference room 20 (see FIG. 3A), and an auditorium 22 (see FIG. 5A), or possibly an office 24 (see FIG. 1), where one or more occupants 28 in the interior airflow space 14 are in one of, a stationary position 44 (see FIG. 1), or a substantially stationary position 44a (see FIG. 1), in the interior airflow space 14 for an extended time period 45a (see FIG. 1) preferably in a time range of one (1) hour to ten (10) hours, and more preferably, in a time range of one (1) hour to eight (8) hours.

The airflow system 10 and method 300 provide a volume of airflow 31 (see FIG. 1) and an airflow velocity 114 (see FIG. 1) of air 30 (see FIG. 1), such as purified air 30a (see FIG. 1), from an air purification system 50 (see FIG. 1) to the interior airflow space 14 (see FIG. 1), and provides for adjusting of the volume of airflow 31 and airflow velocity 114 by the occupant 28 depending on various conditions. For example, in times of increased threat, for example, with a pandemic 38 (see FIG. 1), a biological weapon release 40 (see FIG. 1), a chemical weapon release 42 (see FIG. 1), or another threat event, the volume of airflow 31 and the airflow velocity 114 of air 30, such as purified air 30a, for the whole building 12 can be increased. The airflow system 10 can also be beneficial for situations less severe than a pandemic 38, a biological weapon release 40, a chemical weapon release 42, or another threat event. For example, the airflow system 10 may be used to avoid spreading common colds.

In addition, the airflow system 10 provides one or both of, the airflow field 117 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2C, 3A-3C, 5B, 5D) of the slow moving airflow 31b (see FIG. 1), such as airflow 31 that is moderately moving to slow moving, around each of the one or more occupants 28, including, or comprising, the one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14, and/or provides the one or more air barriers 115 (see FIGS. 1, 2C, 3A-3C, 5A, 5D, 6), or the protective virtual barrier 116 (see FIG. 1), of fast moving airflow 31d (see FIG. 1), to provide respiratory isolation 112 (see FIG. 1) between one or more occupants 28, including one or more contaminated occupants 28b, in the interior airflow space 14.

Further, if more than one airflow system 10 is provided, the airflow systems 10 may supply air 30, such as purified air 30a, having different temperatures, e.g., one hot, one cold, and the air supplies may be mixed to obtain a comfortable airflow 31 for the occupant 28.

Many modifications and other versions of the disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. The versions described herein are meant to be illustrative and are not intended to be limiting or exhaustive. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, are possible from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.