Air circulation systems and methods

A system for circulating airflow within a structure having a plurality of spaces and in operative communication with an air conditioning unit configured to supply cool air to each of the plurality of spaces, adjacent ones of the plurality of spaces being connected by a respective transfer grille, the system comprising:

• a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor being operative to detect a temperature in a respective one of the plurality of spaces;
• a plurality of occupancy sensors, each occupancy sensor being operative to detect an occupancy in a respective one of the plurality of spaces;
• at least one fan in operative communication with a respective transfer grille;
• and
• a controller in operative communication with the plurality of temperature sensors, the plurality of occupancy sensors, and the at least one fan, the controller being operative to receive detected temperatures from the plurality of temperature sensors and detected occupancies from the plurality of occupancy sensors and send a signal to the at least one fan to modulate an airflow between adjacent spaces, the signal being based on a combination of the detected temperatures and detected occupancies.

A method of circulating airflow within a structure having a plurality of spaces and in operative communication with an air conditioning unit configured to supply cool air to each of the plurality of spaces, adjacent ones of the plurality of spaces being connected by a respective transfer grille, the system comprising:

• receiving detected temperatures at a controller from a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor being operative to detect a temperature in a respective one of the plurality of spaces;
• receiving detected occupancies at the controller from a plurality of occupancy sensors, each occupancy sensor being operative to detect an occupancy in a respective one of the plurality of spaces;
• and
• sending a signal from the controller to the at least one fan to modulate an airflow between adjacent spaces, the signal being based on a combination of the detected temperatures and detected occupancies.

A method of circulating airflow within a structure having first, second, and third spaces, and in operative communication with an air conditioning unit configured to supply cool air to each of the first, second, and third spaces via a duct that connects the air conditioning unit with each of a first outlet at the first space, a second outlet at the second space, and a third outlet at the third space, the first and second spaces being connected by a first transfer grille, and the second and third spaces being connected by a second transfer grille, the method comprising:

• receiving temperature information from first, second, and third temperature sensors, each being disposed in the first, second, and third spaces, respectively;
• sending a first signal to a first fan disposed within the first transfer grille to modulate an airflow between the first and second spaces;
• and
• sending a second signal to a second fan disposed within the second transfer grille to module an airflow between the second and third spaces, such that air moves from the first space to the second space and then to the third space, the first and second signals being based on a different in temperature between the first and third rooms.