An air pressure measuring ventilation system, comprising:
- at least one duct;
- at least one motorized exhaust fan;
- one or more air pressure sensors;
- one or more ultrasonic sensors;
- a dust collector;
- one or more work stations;
- a control computer;
- and
- one or more gates;
- wherein said at least one motorized exhaust fan is configured to draw air through said at least one duct;
- wherein said one or more air pressure sensors are located on a side of said at least one duct such that an air pressure is measured as said air is drawn through said at least one duct;
- wherein said one or more air pressure sensors are substantially flush with an interior side of said at least one duct and do not obstruct said air as said air is drawn through said at least one duct;
- wherein said one or more ultrasonic sensors do not obstruct said air as said air is drawn through said at least one duct and measures an air speed of said air;
- wherein said one or more ultrasonic sensors are configured to measure said air speed of said air when said air is clean, thereby generating one or more clean air speed measurements;
- wherein at least one of said one or more clean air speed measurements is used to calculate a clean air pressure;
- wherein said one or more air pressure sensors are configured to measure said air pressure of said air when said air is clean, thereby generating a clean air pressure sensor reading;
- wherein said air pressure sensor is calibrated for accuracy based on a comparison between said clean air pressure and said clean air pressure sensor reading;
- wherein said ventilation system is configured to ventilate dust, particulate matter, and fumes generated at said one or more workstations;
- wherein said control computer is configured to calculate a plurality of calculated air velocities from data collected from said one or more air pressure sensors;
- wherein said one or more gates are positioned along said at least one duct between said one or more workstations and said dust collector;
- wherein said control computer is configured to control an opening and a closing of said one or more gates and to control a speed of said motorized exhaust fan;
- wherein said control computer is programmed with a plurality of minimum air velocities that must be maintained, depending on a material being transported by the system;
- wherein said control computer compares said plurality of calculated air velocities to a relevant minimum air velocity and determines if any of said plurality of calculated air velocities is less than said relevant minimum air velocity;
- wherein said relevant minimum air velocity is dependent on said material being transported by the system;
- and
- wherein if any of said plurality of calculated air velocities is less than said relevant minimum air velocity, said control computer adjusts said one or more gates and adjusts said speed of said at least one motorized exhaust fan such that said plurality of calculated air velocities are raised to above one or more of said plurality of minimum air velocities that must be maintained.