DEVICE FOR REDUCING THE RADON CONCENTRATION IN A CONFINED SPACE

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a device for reducing the radon concentration in a confined space.

As it is known, radon is a radioactive rare gas formed from the decay of radium, which is in turn generated by the decay of uranium. Polonium 5 and bismuth are the extremely toxic products of the radioactive decay of radon.

Being a radioactive gas, when inhaled, radon is carcinogenic for the human being. In particular, radon is one of the first causes of lung cancer.

The main source of radon is the soil. It comes out from the soil and lo is dispersed in the space, being accumulated in confined spaces and becoming dangerous for the human health. To a lesser extent, other sources of radon are water and building materials, especially those of volcanic origin, like tuff or granite.

The higher is the radon concentration in a confined space, the 15 higher the risk of cancer will be. Moreover, it must be noted that, with a standard temperature and pressure, radon is an odorless colorless gas and therefore its presence can only be detected with special devices.

The radon concentration in a confined space can be measured in a confined space with passive devices, which measure the radon 20 concentration in the space only at the end of a detection period, or with active devices, which provide an instantaneous measurement of the radon concentration in the space.

An immediate method to avoid the accumulation of radon in a confined space is the ventilation of said space. Such a technique is often 25 insufficient, ineffective and expensive in terms of heating or cooling of the space. Moreover, no devices capable of interacting with the devices used to measure the radon concentration are known, in order to effectively and immediately reduce the radon concentration in the space.

FR3059084 discloses a device for reducing the radon concentration 5 according to the preamble of claim 1.

US4915020 discloses a system for controlling the contaminated air in a living space.

EP3168544 discloses a ventilation device used for ventilating a room.

10 The purpose of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by devising a device for reducing the radon concentration in a confined space, which is energy-saving, efficient and practical.

These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the appended independent claim 1.

15 Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent claims.

The device of the invention is defined by claim 1.

The advantages of the device according to the invention are evident. Because of the provision of a bi-directional fan, the rotation of the fan can be inverted according to the detection of the radon detector sensor.

20 For the sake of clarity, the description of the device according to the invention continues with reference to the appended drawings, which have a merely illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

- Fig.1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device according to the invention;

25 - Fig.2 is a block diagram that shows the electrical connections of the device according to the invention.

With reference to Figs.1 and 2, the device according to the invention is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference numeral 100.

The function of the device (100) is to reduce/eliminate the radon

30 concentration in a confined space. The device (100) comprises a tube (10) with a first end (1 Oa) that is suitable for being disposed inside a confined space, and a second end (10b) suitable for being disposed outside said confined space.

The device (100) comprises a fan (1 ) disposed in the tube (10) and 5 suitable for forcedly conveying the air inside the tube (10). The fan (1 ) is a bi-directional fan, and can rotate in both rotational directions.

The device (100) comprises a heat exchanger (2) disposed in the tube (10) to heat/cool the air that passes through the tube (10). Advantageously, the heat exchanger (2) is of ceramic type. The function of lo the heat exchanger (2) is to reduce the temperature variation between the air of the interior space and the air of the exterior space.

The device (100) comprises a radon detector sensor (5) (Fig.2) suitable for detecting the presence of radon in said confined space. The radon detector sensor (5) can be disposed in the tube (10) and/or in the 15 confined space.

With reference to Fig. 2, the device (100) comprises a control unit (7) connected to the radon detector sensor (5).

The control unit (7) is configured in such a way to receive information on the radon concentration in the confined space from the 20 radon detector sensor (5). The control unit (7) comprises a comparator (70) to compare the radon concentration detected by the radon detector sensor (5) with a threshold value stored in the comparator (70).

The control unit (7) is connected to the fan (1 ) in order to actuate said fan (1 ) according to the radon concentration detected by the radon 25 detector sensor (5).

The control unit (7) is configured to activate the fan (1 ) in such a way to extract the air from the confined space and eject the air outside of the confined space when the radon detector sensor (5) detects a radon concentration in the confined space that is higher than the threshold value 30 of the comparator (70).

The control unit (7) is configured to activate the fan (1 ) in such a way to extract the air from the outside and introduce the air in the confined space when the radon detector sensor (5) detects a radon concentration in the confined space that is lower than or equal to the threshold value of the comparator (70).

With reference to Fig. 1 , the device (100) advantageously 5 comprises a lid (4) disposed in the second end (10b) of the pipe (10). The lid (4) is dimensioned in such a way to close only a portion of the second end (10b) of the tube (10).

Advantageously, the device (100) comprises a filter (3) suitable for filtering the air that is introduced in the tube (10) from the outside. The filter lo (3) is disposed in the second end (10b) of the tube (10) and is suitable for closing a portion of the second end (10b) of the tube (10) not occupied by the lid (4) when the lid (4) is closed. Advantageously, the filter (3) is configured in such a way to filter particles with aerodynamic diameter lower than 2.5 pm.

15 The lid (4) is connected to the control unit (7) in such a way that the control unit (7) closes the lid (4) when the gas radon detector sensor (5) detects a radon concentration in the confined space that is lower than or equal to the threshold value of the comparator (70), i.e. when the fan (1 ) rotates in such a way to extract the air from the outside and introduce the 20 air in the confined space. In this way, the air is filtered before being introduced in the confined space.

The control unit (7) is configured to open the lid (4) when the gas radon detector sensor (5) detects a radon concentration in the confined space that is higher than the threshold value of the comparator (70), i.e. 25 when the fan (1 ) rotates in such a way to extract the air from the inside of the confined space and eject the air outside. In this way, the filter (3) is not consumed by the air that is ejected from the confined space.

Advantageously, the device (100) comprises a pressure sensor (6) connected to the control unit (7) in such a way to send information on a 30 pressure value of the air in the confined space to the control unit (7).

The control unit (7) is configured to adjust the speed of the fan (1 ) in such a way to increase the pressure inside the confined space. The control unit (7) uses the information from the radon detector sensor (5) to determine the rotational direction of the fan (1 ) and uses the information from the pressure sensor (6) to determine the rotational speed of the fan (1 ).

5 Optionally, the device (100) comprises other sensors, such as for example a humidity sensor, a methane gas detector sensor and/or a temperature sensor (not shown in the figures).

When the radon detector sensor (5) detects a radon concentration that is higher than the threshold value stored in the comparator (70) of the 10 control unit (7), said control unit (7) actuates the fan (1 ) in a first rotational direction, in such a way that the fan (1 ) extracts the air from the confined space and then ejects the air outside.

The control unit (7) opens the lid (4) in such a way that the air is ejected from the interior space passing through an opening (10c) of the 15 second end (10b) of the tube (10).

The air that is ejected from the confined space passes through the tube (10), intercepts the heat exchanger (2) and exchanges heat with the heat exchanger (2).

When the radon detector sensor (5) detects a radon concentration 20 that is lower than or equal to the threshold value set in the comparator (70) of the control unit (7), the control unit (7) inverts the rotational direction of the fan (1 ) and actuates the fan (1 ) in a second rotational direction, in such a way that the air from the outside is introduced in the confined space.

The control unit (7) closes the lid (4) in such a way that the opening 25 (10c) of the second end (10b) of the tube (10) is closed. Therefore the air is forced to enter the tube (10) through the filter (3).

In view of the above, only the air that is introduced in the confined space is filtered.

During the introduction of the air from the outside, the speed of the 30 fan (1 ) is adjusted in such a way to force the air and increase the internal pressure. In fact, a high pressure value hinders the formation of radon. The air that is introduced in the confined space passes through the tube (10), intercepts the heat exchanger (2) and exchanges heat with the heat exchanger (2), in such a way that the air that is introduced in the confined space does not cause any sudden change in temperature in the 5 confined space.