1. The correlation between the air in the elevator car and the air in the building or building where the elevator equipment is located:
The air flowing into the elevator car from the building space during the opening and closing of doors in the machine room, shaft, pit, and elevator car. Although the air in a building is a holistic concept, it permeates everywhere and cannot be isolated or obstructed. The air in a certain area we are talking about refers to a specific time period or a specific occasion. So if the air in any of the above spaces is not "fresh" or contains "viruses including coronaviruses", it will make the cabin space a "source" of infectious viruses. So, the air quality and regulation of elevator cars cannot simply focus on the air inside the car, but should also keep the air quality of the aforementioned spaces under "control". In this way, the above issues should be divided into two parts: one is the air quality and regulation of the elevator car, and the other is the quality and regulation of the "source" air in the elevator car.
The above-mentioned issues are a practical problem based on the concepts of "building automation" and "building intelligence" and the scientific and technological issues involved in buildings. At the same time, it also takes into account the threat to people's health and even life posed by the coronavirus that has been raging worldwide since 2020. In such a situation, it is necessary to consider the air circulation conditions inside the building and try to block the possibility of the virus spreading to the elevator car as much as possible. Of course, the elevator car cannot become a place for virus transmission. Therefore, it is necessary to subjectively control and adjust the air quality inside the elevator car, so that the device for regulating the air flow in the elevator car not only undertakes the air flow inside the elevator car, but also has the function of "killing viruses". Due to the ubiquitous fluidity of air, the quality of air in the elevator car is inevitably influenced by the air quality in other spaces of the building. So, considering the air quality of the elevator car together with the air quality of other spaces in the building, as a requirement of a large system, and putting it into comprehensive consideration on the corresponding equipment to ensure that the air quality of the elevator car is controlled and regulating the air quality becomes possible, this is the work we need to do.
2. How is the concept of building automation defined?
Building automation refers to the management and control of all public mechanical and electrical equipment in a building, including air conditioning and ventilation monitoring systems, water supply and drainage monitoring systems, lighting monitoring systems, power supply monitoring systems, elevator operation monitoring systems, comprehensive security systems, fire monitoring systems, and structured cabling systems. From the above concepts, it can be inferred that building automation includes ventilation monitoring systems, including elevator operation monitoring systems. Of course, the air quality assurance system inside the elevator car is also integrated and managed uniformly in building automation, and should be included in the building's mechanical and electrical equipment. This definition clarifies the relationship between the building's main system and the subsystems of each branch, and the concept of the main system and the responsibilities of each branch are also clearly defined. It is necessary for each branch to fulfill their responsibilities. We also need to know that building automation is a basic requirement for buildings and other structures, including public facilities and places, in today's society. The core of this requirement is still safety, energy conservation, and convenience, which are fundamental and eternal themes.
3. Safety is the top priority of elevator equipment
From the perspective of technology and serving society and the public, safety is the foremost attribute of elevator equipment, the top priority of the elevator industry, and the lifeline of elevator equipment. It cannot be hypocritical or untrue. So what is the safety situation in the elevator industry? It should be said that although everyone acknowledges the importance of safety and has implemented it in practical work, there are still safety issues that cause harm to elevator users. Several elevator equipment accidents in 2021 have sounded the alarm for us, and we should highly recognize and take it as a warning.
The safety of elevator equipment is an eternal theme. To understand safety and study safety, it is necessary to analyze the principles, design, structure, and manufacturing of the equipment to ensure safety. It is necessary to study the installation and maintenance of the equipment during use, and to study the failure of the above links. So what does' failure 'mean? A device, such as an elevator, whose entire machine, components, electrical system, and components within the system lose their original designed functions, is called a failure. Failure includes complete loss of original function, reduced function, and serious damage or hidden dangers. Continuing to use will result in loss of reliability and safety. Understanding the research on failure is important, and the next step in conducting failure analysis and performance is to propose the elimination of failures within the service life of equipment and the possibility of risks caused by failures. This is the goal we should strive to pursue in our work.
4. Technological progress in elevator equipment
As we all know, the elevator industry has made great development and progress after the reform and opening up. Currently, there are 8 million elevators in use in China, with an annual increase of 800000. The "two eights" are enough to illustrate the path we have taken. However, practitioners in the industry still need to calmly view all of this. They should see that there are still occurrences of elevator equipment failures, even serious ones, in society. At the same time, they should also calmly recognize that there is still a gap between us and the world in terms of technological development, technical issues, and research directions of elevator equipment. So, how do we choose between meeting the two "eights" and "learning advanced technologies from the world"? Of course, one should choose to pursue progress.
5. Give an example to see what technological issues the world is concerned about
In mid March 2021, it was learned that some well-known international elevator companies have requested to test the average noise level inside the elevator car during operation. They also proposed that the analysis of the average noise level of vibration and noise testing instruments should be elevated to the level of frequency and noise correlation. It is obvious that this is a new requirement and a topic. Because the elevator standards adopted domestically are synchronized with those internationally, the EN standard is also transitioning towards the ISO standard system. In these standards, only the requirements for machine room noise are proposed, and further evolved to GB10058 and 10059, which specifically require the maximum values of door opening and closing process noise and car interior noise, without requiring the average value of car interior noise during elevator operation.
It is precisely with this question that we enter into a comprehensive study on the average perceived noise inside the elevator car during the operation of elevator equipment. The research on this new topic is still aimed at further improving the safety and comfort of elevators, and returning to safety is to pursue passengers' pleasure and enjoyment even if it is only a few minutes in the car. Understanding the sources and causes of adverse noise is in the hope of discovering and potentially eliminating faults in the early stages, in order to facilitate subsequent improvements, enhance comfort, and strengthen safety. This clearly demonstrates how we should adjust our thinking and clarify our development direction, and people are undoubtedly the most valuable.
