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US 9,848,586 B2Granted
System and method for environmental control
AssigneeGeoSolarHeat
InventorJohn C Wolf, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an exemplary embodiment, an Environmental Optimization System (“EOS”) provides a system for the intelligent control and monitoring of a poultry or livestock house environment through the utilization of a solar thermal collection system, a variety of environmental and livestock behavior sensors, apparatus for controlling the thermal collection and existing interior heating/air conditioning/ventilation (“HVAC”) systems, and Internet or cloud based intelligent control and monitoring capabilities of the system. In various embodiments central sensor data aggregation is utilized to provide improved optimization control for individual structures based on data from multiple structures.
Claims18
A system for an environmental control comprising:
- a broiler poultry livestock structure;
- a control unit;
- at least one sunlight sensor;
- at least one interior temperature sensor located in an interior of the broiler poultry livestock structure;
- at least one exterior temperature sensor located in an exterior of the broiler poultry livestock structure;
- at least one humidity sensor;
- at least one solar thermal collector sized according to a size of the broiler poultry livestock structure, wherein the broiler poultry livestock structure houses broiler poultry livestock, wherein the at least one solar thermal collector comprises a transpired solar collector and an enclosed collection chamber;
- at least one controllable vent and at least one controllable fan between the at least one solar thermal collector and the interior of the broiler poultry livestock structure, wherein the operation of the at least one controllable fans and the at least one controllable vent are adjustable;
- wherein during periods when the broiler poultry livestock is absent from the broiler poultry livestock structure the accumulated detritus on the floor of the broiler poultry livestock structure is dried by a heated air vented from the at least one solar thermal collector;
- a plurality of audio sensors installed within the broiler poultry livestock structure;
- wherein a plurality of audio sensor data captured within the broiler poultry livestock structure is communicated to a computing device;
- wherein the computing device utilizes digital signal processing to determine stress conditions of the broiler poultry livestock housed in the broiler poultry livestock structure based on known or calibrated broiler poultry livestock stress correlated audio characteristics;
- wherein during period when a measured exterior ambient temperature is high, the at least one solar thermal collector functions as an exterior insulator to shade the broiler poultry livestock structure from direct sunlight by changing the incident angle of the transpired solar collector and by opening upper and lower vents on the solar thermal collector and using the at least one controllable fans to push the heated air out of the solar thermal collector such that fresh air is vented into the enclosed collection chamber and bypassed the transpired solar collector;
- wherein the control unit optimizes environmental conditions in the interior of the broiler poultry livestock structure by controlling the amount of the heated air collected by the at least one solar thermal collector which is vented into the interior of the broiler poultry livestock structure to provide dynamic adjustments of the interior temperature based at least in part on the determined broiler poultry livestock stress conditions.
11 more elements
A method for an environmental control in a broiler poultry livestock structure comprising:
- sensing an exterior structure temperature, an interior structure temperature, an interior humidity of the broiler poultry livestock structure and an interior temperature of a solar thermal collector attached to the broiler poultry livestock structure with sensors, wherein the solar thermal collector comprises a transpired solar collector and an enclosed collection chamber;
- controlling one or more vents and one or more fans for regulating a movement of air between the solar thermal collector and the interior of the broiler poultry livestock structure;
- controlling one or more vents and one or more fans for regulating a movement of air between the interior of the broiler poultry livestock structure and exterior of the broiler poultry livestock structure;
- optimizing a control operation of the one or more vents and the one or more fans based upon initial system settings which are modified based upon feedback from the sensors;
- adjusting the operation of the one or more fans and the one or more vents;
- wherein during periods when livestock is absent from the broiler poultry livestock structure the accumulated detritus on the floor of the broiler poultry livestock structure is dried by a heated air vented from the solar thermal collector to the interior of the broiler poultry livestock structure;
- wherein during period when a measured exterior ambient temperature is high, the at least one solar thermal collector functions as an exterior insulator to shade the broiler poultry livestock structure from direct sunlight by changing the incident angle of the transpired solar collector and by opening upper and lower vents on the solar thermal collector and using the at least one controllable fans to push the heated air out of the solar thermal collector such that fresh air is vented into the enclosed collection chamber and bypassed the transpired solar collector;
- wherein a plurality of audio sensor data captured within the broiler poultry livestock structure is communicated to a computing device;
- wherein the computing device utilizes digital signal processing to determine stress conditions of the broiler poultry livestock housed in the broiler poultry livestock structure based on known or calibrated broiler poultry livestock stress correlated audio characteristics.
6 more elements
A means for optimizing environmental conditions in an interior of a broiler poultry livestock structure comprising:
- a means for sensing the environmental conditions in the interior and an exterior of the broiler poultry livestock structure and an interior of at least one solar thermal collector,
- wherein the at least one solar thermal collector comprises a transpired solar collector and an enclosed collection chamber,
- wherein the broiler poultry livestock structure houses broiler poultry livestock;
- a means for controlling at least one vent and at least one fan for moving air between the interior and the exterior of the broiler poultry livestock structure, and the at least one solar thermal collector;
- a means for adjusting operation of the at least one vent and the at least one fan to optimize the environmental conditions inside the broiler poultry livestock structure;
- wherein the operation of the at least one fan and the at least one vent is adjusted,
- wherein during periods when the broiler poultry livestock is absent from the broiler poultry livestock structure the accumulated detritus on the floor of the broiler poultry livestock structure is dried by a heated air vented from the at least one solar thermal collector to the interior of the broiler poultry livestock structure,
- wherein during period when a measured exterior ambient temperature is high, the at least one solar thermal collector functions as an exterior insulator to shade the broiler poultry livestock structure from direct sunlight by changing the incident angle of the transpired solar collector and by opening upper and lower vents on the solar thermal collector and using the at least one controllable fans to push the heated air out of the solar thermal collector such that fresh air is vented into the enclosed collection chamber and bypassed the transpired solar collector;
- wherein a plurality of audio sensor data captured within the broiler poultry livestock structure is communicated to a computing device;
- wherein the computing device utilizes digital signal processing to determine stress conditions of the broiler poultry livestock housed in the broiler poultry livestock structure based on known or calibrated broiler poultry livestock stress correlated audio characteristics.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.