Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REDUCING AIR HUMIDITY IN A ROOM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a device for reducing air humidity in a
room,
comprising a housing with an air inlet cross section and an air outlet cross
section, a fan
unit for sucking in room air, a refrigeration unit that is configured to cool
taken in air
below a dew point and a condensate container in which drip off condensation is
collectable. The invention furthermore relates to a method for reducing air
humidity in a
room.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Devices for reducing air humidity in a room are known in the art in
many variations.
In particular in building construction or when repairing humidity damage in a
building so called
construction dehumidifiers are used which are configured to extract humidity
from the ambient
air. Thus, an effect is being used where condensation water precipitates on
cold surfaces.
The humid air is sucked through the construction dehumidifier and run along
cooling fins
arranged therein which cool the incoming air to a temperature below the dew
point. Thus,
condensate collects on the cooling fins, drips off and is collected in a
container and optionally
extracted.
[0003] DE 10 2013 012 268 Al discloses a device for regulating air humidity
which
includes a fan for sucking in humid air, an evaporator for condensating the
water from the air
and a condenser for reheating the dried air. In addition to dehumidifying the
air the device
shall also precipitate contaminant particles that pass through the filter and
odor generating
molecules which is performed by running the air through an ionizer. However,
the known device
treats two air flows that are separate from each other on the one hand side
for dehumidification
and on the other hand side for cleaning wherein both air flows are directed
against a wall of the
room after exiting from the device so that the two air flows are mixed again.
[0004] Typically construction dehumidifiers are turned on and off manually,
some
construction dehumidifiers have an automatic switch off which switches off
when a
maximum filling level of the condensate container is reached.
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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Thus, it is an object of the invention to improve a dehumidifier so
that
operations are automated. The object shall also be achieved by a method
according
to the invention.
[0006] Improving upon the device recited supra the object is achieved by
measuring an air temperature of room air entering the housing, a device for
measuring
air humidity of room air entering the housing, a device for measuring a
surface
temperature of a room boundary surface of the room and a control device for
processing the measured values and for controlling the device.
[0007] A room boundary surface can be a room wall, a room ceiling or a room
floor
or similar.
[0008] The device according to the invention includes means for determining
a
temperature and a humidity of room air and for determining a surface
temperature of a
room boundary surface so that the device can be turned on or off as a function
of the
measured values. Operating the device is useful in particular when there is a
risk of
condensation water precipitating at the surface of the room wall, thus when
the surface
temperature of the room wall is below the dew point which can be computed from
the
room air temperature and the room air humidity. Thus, an essential aspect is
room
humidity and room wall surface temperature. The control device processes the
measured values and turns the device on as required. On the other hand side
the
device is turned off when the measured values have changed so that
condensation
water precipitation at the surface of the room wall cannot occur any more.
Measuring
temperature and humidity of the room air can be performed inside or outside
the
housing.
[0009] During operation of the device the three recited values shall be
measured in
fifteen or thirty minute intervals. When humidity in the room is non critical
and the
device is not in operation it suffices to measure the temperature and the
humidity every
hour. Certainly advantageous cycling is a function of several factors like
e.g. room
volume so that also different cycling is feasible. Instead of a cycled
measurement
also a continuous measurement of the values is possible.
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[0010] The device is characterized in that it is operable in an automated
mode so
that manually switching on and off is not necessary.
[0011] The individual arrangements and components of the device according
to the
invention can be arranged within the housing but also outside of the housing.
It is also
conceivable to arrange for example the temperature measuring devices and the
humidity measuring devices in a separate unit. The control device can also be
provided
as a separate unit.
[0012] The refrigeration unit of the device according to the invention can
include a
refrigerant loop. This can be for example an electrically operated compression
refrigeration machine in which a refrigerant can be run in a closed loop.
Liquid
refrigerant is transitioned in an evaporator into a gaseous condition which
generates
refrigeration. The refrigeration is used to condensate humidity in the ambient
air.
The gaseous refrigerant is then liquefied again by a compressor which
generates heat.
The heat generated by compression can be used for heat recovery in that the
dehumidified air is run through a heat exchanger that is coupled with the
compressor.
The dehumidified ambient air exiting from the device through the air outlet
surface is
thus also warmer than the ambient air that has entered the device due to the
reduced
heat capacity after dehumidification. Other types of refrigerant loops are
also conceive
able.
[0013] Alternatively the refrigeration unit can also be formed by a Peltier
element.
This way electrical energy can be directly converted into refrigeration.
[0014] An infrared temperature device is particularly suitable for
measuring a
surface temperature of a wall of the room wherein the infrared temperature
measuring
device measures the surface temperature touch free. Thus it is not required to
install
the temperature measuring device at the wall and enable data transmission by
cable or
radio rather the infrared temperature measuring device can be arranged at the
device
itself, for example in the portion of the control device.
[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention a heating device is
provided which facilitates heating the dehumidified air before exiting the air
outlet cross
section. Thus the temperature of the dehumidified air can be increased in
addition to
being heated by the heat recovery sited supra, wherein the air in the room is
only
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heated to the starting temperature. This has the effect that the air in the
room is less
humid at constant room temperature. The quality of the air in the room can be
increased further in that the device according to the invention includes a
filter which is
arranged in a portion of the air inlet cross section. The room air flowing
into the device
thus passes the filter which can be a mechanical or chemical filter according
to
requirements. In order to make the device compact and in order to protect
the filter,
the filter should be arranged behind the air inlet cross section in flow
direction of the air,
so that the filter is protected in the housing of the device.
[0016] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention
it is
provided that the air outlet cross section is formed by an air outlet cross
section of at
least one nozzle which facilitates a turbulent flow of air exiting the
housing. Due to a
turbulent volume flow exiting the device a mixing of the dehumidified possibly
heated air
with the room air is provided when the dehumidified air exits so that the
properties of the
room air are made more uniform overall.
[0017] The air outlet cross section can certainly be formed by plural
nozzles. With
respect to the method according to the preamble of claim 8 the object is
achieved my
measuring an air temperature of room air entering the housing, measuring air
humidity
of the room air entering the housing, measuring a surface temperature of a
wall of the
room, processing the measured values and controlling the device. As already
described with respect to the device according to the invention it can be
determined
from processing the measurement values whether condensation water forms at the
surface of the wall of the room or not. The method according to the invention
is
continued, terminated or begun as a function of the measured values.
[0018] Cooling the incoming room air can be performed for example by a
refrigerant loop or a Peltier element.
[0019] Advantageously the incoming room air after precipitation of the
condensate
thus the dehumidified volume flow is run so that it is reheated by the waste
heat from
the refrigeration process. In order to achieve an additional heating effect it
can be
provided according to an embodiment of the method according to the invention
that the
dehumidified room air is heated by a heating register. It
can be furthermore provided
that the incoming room air is filtered wherein mechanical filters can be used.
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[0020] When the dehumidified room air is flowed through at least one nozzle
in a
turbulent manner out of the housing the dehumidified volume flow mixes with
the room
air and homogeneous air conditions are generated. Last not least various
features of
the dependent claims can be implemented individually and in combination in any
combination in variants of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The invention is subsequently described in more detail based on an
embodiment with reference to drawing figures, wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view through a device
according
to the invention; and
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the device according to FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a device 1 for reducing an air humidity in a room
2,
wherein the device 1 is cut in the longitudinal direction (arrow 3). The
device 1 includes
a cuboid housing 4 which is assembled from individual sheet metal components 5
which
at a bottom side 6 of the housing 4 two or four rollers 7 are visible which
facilitate
moving the device 1. The device 1 is flowed through along its longitudinal
direction
(arrow 3), wherein an air volume flow flowing through the device 1 is
indicated by
arrows 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 in various positions. Room air (arrow 8) is suctioned
into the
housing 4 by a fan 13 which is arranged in flow direction 14 at a suction end
of the
housing 4, wherein the room air (arrow 8) passes an intake grid which defines
an air
inlet cross section 16 into the device 1 and passes an intake filter 17
arranged behind
the intake grid. The filtered room air (arrow 9) then flows into an evaporator
18 where
it is cooled at cooling surfaces of the evaporator so that the condensate
precipitates.
The condensate is captured in a condensate container 19 which is configured
funnel
shaped and which includes an outlet 20. The outlet 20 is adjoined by a tubular
conduit
21 which is run along or through the housing 4 where an open able and close
able
condensate drain spout 22 is positioned.
[0025] From the evaporator 18 the dehumidified room air moved into a
chamber 23
where condensation heat of the refrigerant which is compressed by a compressor
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arranged below the chamber 23 is transferred. Thus the initially cooled and
dehumidified room air is reheated and leaves the chamber 23 as dehumidified
heated
room air (arrow 10). The evaporator 18, the compressor 24, a non-illustrated
expansion valve and heat exchanger surfaces of the chamber 23 form components
of a
refrigerant loop. Typically the condensation dehumidifier 25 is
electrically operated.
After the dehumidified room air exits from the chamber 23 the dehumidified
room air
(arrow 10) is run through an electrically operated heating register 26 where
it is heated
further. Subsequently the cooled, dehumidified and reheated room air passes
the fan
13 and exits the device 1 through nozzles 27 back into the room 2.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates 2 or 4 or 6 nozzles 27. The sum of the air outlet
cross
sections 28 of the nozzles 27 forms the entire air outlet cross section of the
device 1.
The volume flow (arrow 12) exits the nozzle 27 as a turbulent volume flow that
mixes
with ambient untreated room air. This generated uniform air conditions and an
air
stratification is prevented.
[0027] The heating device 26 is optional wherein a safety temperature
limiter 29 is
advantageously used downstream of the heating device wherein the safety
temperature
limiter is configured to cut the heating register off when the dehumidified
and heated
room air exceeds an upper temperature threshold.
[0028] Shortly before the room air enters the nozzle 27 a flow monitor 30
can be
arranged. When the flow monitor 30 does not detect any air flow the device 1
is also
turned off.
[0029] In a portion between the air inlet cross section 16 into the device
1 and the
evaporator 18 a device 31 for measuring the air temperature and a device 32
for
measuring humidity is arranged so that temperature and humidity of room air 8
entering
the device 1 are measured. Furthermore the device 1 according to the
invention is
provided with a device 33 for measuring a surface temperature which is
configured as a
temperature sensor which measures a temperature of a room wall surface through
infrared wherein the room wall surface is not illustrated in the figure. All
measured data
is transmitted to a control device 34 for processing the detected values,
wherein the
control device 34 is furthermore used for controlling the device 1. When
the
measured values show that condensation water precipitates at the room wall
surface
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the device 1 is turned on. When precipitation of condensation water does not
occur at
the room wall surface any more the device 1 remains turned off or is turned
off. The
control device 34 is arranged in FIG. 1 on the housing 4 and attached thereon.
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram with respect to the function of
the device 1
according to the invention of FIG. 1 wherein the room wall 35 is indicated.
In FIG. 2
the device for measuring the temperature 31, for measuring the air humidity 32
and for
measuring the surface temperature 33 are combined in a unit, wherein the
captured
data are forwarded to the control device 34. When an operation of the device 1
is
useful based on the data processed in the control device 34 the control device
34 is
automatically activated by the control device 34, this means that the fan 13
of the
condensation dehumidifier 25 of the heating device 26 is performed. The room
air
(arrow 8) is dehumidified and heated and leaves the device 1 through the
nozzles 27.
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REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS
[0031] 1 device
[0032] 2 room
[0033] 3 arrow
[0034] 4 housing
[0035] 5 sheet metal component
[0036] 6 bottom side
[0037] 7 roller
[0038] 8-12 arrow
[0039] 13 fan
[0040] 14 flow direction
[0041] 15 suction filter
[0042] 16 air inlet cross section
[0043] 17 suction filter
[0044] 18 evaporator
[0045] 19 condensate container
[0046] 20 outlet
[0047] 21 tubular conduit
[0048] 22 condensation drain spout
[0049] 23 chamber
[0050] 24 compressor
[0051] 25 condensation dehumidifier
[0052] 26 heating device
[0053] 27 nozzle
[0054] 28 air outlet cross section nozzle
[0055] 29 safety temperature limiter
[0056] 30 flow monitor
[0057] 31 temperature measuring device
[0058] 32 humidity measuring device
[0059] 33 temperature sensor
[0060] 34 control device
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[0061] 35 room wall
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