Ventilation system for a large industrial space

A method for ventilating an industrial structure having a bay opening, the method comprising:

• disposing a ventilation system to span the bay opening in an operational position, the ventilation system comprising an array of M by N fans stacked into a two dimensional (2D) array where M and N are integers, the ventilation system further comprising a rigid frame which supports the array, a plurality of castors that support the frame on a horizontally extending floor surface of the industrial space, a seal assembly configured to provide a fluid-tight seal between an outer perimeter of the array and the bay opening, a hinge assembly that mechanically couples a first end of the rigid frame to a first side of the bay opening, and a first locking assembly that mechanically couples an opposing second end of the rigid frame to an opposing second side of the bay opening;
• lowering a retractable bay door comprising a plurality of horizontally extending panels that can be extended and retracted as required to respectively close and open the bay opening, the retractable bay door having a lowermost panel that is brought into contacting engagement with an upper surface of the rigid frame of the ventilation system in the operational position;
• engaging a second locking assembly to mechanically couple the lowermost slat of the bay door to the upper surface of the rigid frame;
• operating the ventilation system in the operational position and with the second locking assembly engaged to generate an airflow that flows from an interior of the industrial structure and through the bay opening to an exterior environment to supply cooling to the interior of the industrial structure;
• subsequently disengaging the second locking assembly and retracting the retractable bay door to open the bay opening;
• rotating the ventilation system about the hinge assembly at least 90 degrees with respect to the bay opening, via rolling movement of the rigid frame via the castors, to place the ventilation assembly in a non-operational position clear of traffic passing through the bay opening;
• and
• using the first locking assembly to secure the ventilation system in the non-operational position.