# US 2022/0034540 A1 · Sensor network for validation of healthy buildings and transportation systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034540 A1 - Document ID: US20220034540A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/390,533 - Filed: 2021-07-30 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30 - Assignees: The George Washington University - Applicants: The George Washington University - Inventors: Mark REEVES; Rahul Simha; Chen Zeng; Ali Eskandarian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034540A1 ## CPC - F24F 11/49: ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks - F24F 6/14: using nozzles - F24F 8/10: by separation, e.g. by filtering - F24F 11/56: Remote control - F24F 11/74: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity - F24F 11/89: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices - G05B 15/02: electric - G16H 10/40: for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis - G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H 50/80: for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu - G16H 70/60: relating to pathologies - F24F 2110/64: Airborne particle content - F24F 2110/66: Volatile organic compounds [VOC] - F24F 2110/72: Carbon monoxide - F24F 2110/74: Ozone - F24F 2120/10: Occupancy - G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders - Y02B 30/54: Free-cooling systems - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed for air flow optimization. In certain embodiments, the technology is a system comprising sensors, injectors, actuators, and a system processor. In order to optimize the air flow, the system processor directs the injectors to expel aerosol particles into an environment, such that the aerosol particles can be measured by the one or more sensors. Flow intensity map generation is then used to map the aerosol particles and air flow is changed to optimize aerosol particle concentration using the actuators. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for air flow optimization comprising: one or more injectors configured to expel aerosol particles into an environment; one or more sensor assemblies, each having a sensor processor and one or more sensors configured to detect aerosol particles in the environment, wherein the sensor processor converts detected aerosol particle data from the sensor to sensed concentration data; and a system processor that receives the sensed concentration data from the sensor processor, wherein the system processor operates the injectors in real-time to expel aerosol particles into an environment in response to the sensed concentration data and performs flow intensity map generation to map the aerosol particles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said system processor operates the injectors to turn ON, turn OFF, adjust concentration, and/or adjust velocity to simulate events and dynamically determine an impact of those events. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor processor operates the injectors independent of the system processor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein air flow is changed to optimize aerosol particle concentration using one or more actuators. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein feedback from the actuators is collected by the system processor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the feedback from the actuators is used by the system processor to modulate a quantity of the aerosol particles expelled by the injectors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensor assemblies are configured to locally monitor aerosol generation, clearance, and movement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more auxiliary sensors that detect any one of volatile organic compounds, ozone, and CO2. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system processor is networked to the one or more sensors, the one or more injectors, and the one or more actuators. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system further identifies regions of low air exchange by determining geographical locations for the one or more sensors and interpolating to generate a heatmap visualization of the low air exchange regions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more filters, wherein the system processor activates the one or more filters to maintain the aerosol particle concentration within a predetermined range. ### Claim 12 A method for air flow optimization comprising: directing one or more injectors to expel aerosol particles into an environment; measuring the aerosol particles using the one or more sensor assemblies, wherein a sensor processor converts electronic data to sensed concentration data; receiving the concentration data from the sensor processor at a system processor, wherein the system processor directs the injectors in real-time to expel aerosol particles into an environment in response to the sensed concentration data; generating a flow intensity map to track aerosol particles in the environment; and altering air flow in the environment to optimize aerosol particle concentration using one or more actuators. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein one or more sensors are in the one or more sensor assemblies. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor processor operates the injectors independently of the system processor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising collecting feedback from the actuators at the system processor, wherein the feedback from the actuators is used by the system processor to modulate a quantity of the aerosol particles expelled by the injectors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensor assemblies are configured to locally monitor aerosol generation, clearance, and movement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising one or more auxiliary sensors that detect any one of volatile organic compounds, ozone, and CO2. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the system processor is networked to the one or more sensors, the one or more injectors, and the one or more actuators. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising identifying regions of low air exchange by determining geographical locations for the one or more sensors and interpolating a heatmap visualization of the low air exchange regions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising activating one or more filters in a manner that maintains aerosol particle concentration within a predetermined range.