Automatic temperature and humidity regulation – Humidity control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-07
2001-05-15
Tanner, Harry B. (Department: 3744)
Automatic temperature and humidity regulation
Humidity control
C236S10100B, C236S049300, C454S256000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230980
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to apparatus for ventilating a building or a room space and to a humidity sensitive control device responding to Relative, Absolute or Specific humidity for such apparatus. The ventilating apparatus can be a extractor fan, positive pressure fan, air heat recovery using simultaneous intake and extract of air or any device able to dry and or change the moisture content of the air and require control based on the water content in the air. The ventilation apparatus to displace the existing air and thereby effect the water content by dilution of the air with the make up air.
It is the object of this invention to provide quantitative control of a ventilation system based on assessment of the water content of air.
It is known to provide buildings, or rooms within buildings, with ventilation apparatus including a humidity-sensitive control apparatus, arranged to activate the ventilation apparatus. Examples of mechanism available to determine this activation are as follows,
a) only when the interior humidity level is above a predetermined threshold (conventional humidistat)
b) detection of rate of change of increase in humidity (GB 2 133 588)
c) proportional extract ventilation rate in response to humidity level above a predetermined threshold (conventional variable speed fan with humidity controller)
d) Detection of humidity with temperature change compensation (conventional humidistat technology in general use since 1983 —known as night time set back).
e) Sampled, averaged and stored humidity level establishing a predetermined humidity threshold above this level (part of current invention).
All the above examples use the Relative Humidity (RH) scale to determine a level when to operate ventilation equipment. This is fraught with problems arising from the RH scale itself which gives a value of water content (usually as a %) in relation to temperature, this giving an indicator of air saturation by moisture content. By way of example cooking and tumble dryers produce copious amounts of water vapour, however a local %RH controller would only register a slight increase in %RH or in some cases a reduction of %RH, this is due to the simultaneous increase in temperature causing the air to hold more moisture and therefore not give cause to a rise in %RH. Other factors include changes in weather conditions causing fluctuations of ambient humidity and temperature, and geographic locations such as near the sea, lakes, rivers and within valleys.
Controllers that monitor only current or memorise one off readings of Relative Humidity such as GB 2 133 588 and GB 2 298 057 produce a nomadic response, as at the moment of sensing a variety of influences effect these one off readings; Weather changes including pressure, temperature, and moisture content of air. Gradual changes of humidity and temperature. Fast short peaks of moisture (such as a kettle boiling below a sensor) or slow moisture production (such as clothes drying).
Controllers relying on the %RH scale require large tolerances in the setting of the control levels due to the effects of changing temperature and pressure. As the existing controllers are not relying on the water content increase of the air alone, erratic control results. The control is not quantitative in relation to the water production to which it is meant to control. The results to the user are irritating as they either have equipment running too long too short or not at all, and apparently not duplicating previous control times.
Absolute and specific Humidity levels provide for true assessable levels of the moisture content of air, a rise in moisture level would always cause a rise in absolute humidity and at a constant pressure, a rise of specific humidity.
A direct relation between Relative Humidity and Absolute Humidity can be achieved by not including the temperature aspect (measurement) when the sensor detects humidity or by way of the example compensating a RH sensor with a temperature sensor and calculating the Absolute Humidity in grams of water per meter cubed of air.
A further more accurate humidity assessment is achieved by using an air pressure sensor in conjunction with the Absolute Humidity level providing a Specific Humidity reading of grams of water per Kilogram of air.
According to the invention a ventilation controlling apparatus comprising a humidity sensor operable to produce an electrical signal the level of which is determined by the humidity of air at the sensor, and microprocessor electrical circuitry coupled to the sensor, wherein said microprocessor stores the humidity, the average of the hunmidity reading is calculated over a period of time the value of which average acts as a reference base of humidity, then when the measured humidity exceeds the reference base of humidity by a predetermined amount said microprocessor means is arranged to provide a ventilation output control signal.
This invention is characterised by a ventilation controlling apparatus which has a variable reference point based on sampled humidity levels and to a means of determining a reliable humidity reading to achieve the length of period a ventilation apparatus should operate following activation. The sampled humidity levels being converted and stored as any of the following,
1. % Relative Humidity
2. Absolute Humidity
3. Specific Humidity
The processor operates the ventilator by relay when certain humidity conditions are met. Humidity readings are taken from continuous small sampling periods the average of each sampling period is the basic input for all humidity readings stored in the memory of the microprocessor. The processor software calculates the humidity average value over a further given period which providing a base reference, When the humidity increases above a set threshold level above the base reference the ventilation apparatus is activated. A second set of humidity readings occurs after activation of the ventilation apparatus. The humidity difference from the base reference and the average of the second set of humidity reading provides the basis to calculate the total running time of the ventilation apparatus. Subject to the humidity not returning to the reference base level in which case the ventilator will be deactivated.
Ventilation apparatus in accordance with the present invention is characterised by a ventilation controlling apparatus which has a variable reference point based on a set of sampled humidity levels such an apparatus is more sensitive to humidity control requirements and is more universally adaptable than apparatus relying solely on a humidity level or rate of change of humidity level. In its preferred form the apparatus can successfully discriminate from household humidity production and that from weather change, and temperature change, It is able to detect humidity produced slowly, i.e. that caused by clothes drying and humidity produced in a large room, that is humidity levels just above ambient humidity.
The ambient humidity(Reference base) being defined by the controller from an average of humidity samples taken by the controller over a period of time.
A second set of humidity readings(Relevant Humidity) are taken the average of which are compared with the reference base. The difference in these readings provides a basis to calculate the ventilator running times.
This Relevant Humidity value provides a level obtained when the ventilation system (whatever its efficiency) is operating and when the humidity source status is obtained, as such a humidity level taken at this time has a direct relationship between the efficiency of the extraction source and the humidity producing source (although this source can be variable). Determination of a ventilator control period at the time of this second humidity reading provides a basis for the anticipated control period. The relevant humidity value is obtained shortly after operation, typically three minutes, this is sufficiently short a period to discount ambient changes due to weather and geographic position. At this time the vapour diffusion levels to cooler parts of the bui
Ray Hudson Limited
Tanner Harry B.
Usher Robert W. J.
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