U.S. patent application number 17/146710 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-06 for humidifier system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ademco Inc.. Invention is credited to Jason L. Ableitner, Alex Gu, Charles N. Hoff, Adam D. McBrady, Chris Ohlsen, Andrzej Peczalski, Thomas M. Rezachek, Lauren Seymour, Andrew Smith, Brad A. Terlson, Grant Wood.
Application Number | 20210131684 17/146710 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005331672 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-06 |
![](/patent/app/20210131684/US20210131684A1-20210506\US20210131684A1-2021050)
United States Patent
Application |
20210131684 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peczalski; Andrzej ; et
al. |
May 6, 2021 |
HUMIDIFIER SYSTEM
Abstract
A system that provides effective and efficient introduction of
water droplets into an air flow. The water droplets are
sufficiently small so as to evaporate primarily before leaving the
mixing enclosure where the droplets are injected by spray nozzles.
Large droplets are kept to a minimum, thus reducing condensation
and water accumulation to a very small amount. An amount of water
usage is significantly less than that of a conventional evaporative
humidifier of the same capacity. The present system may be placed
in an enclosure that can readily replace other conventional
evaporative humidifiers in enclosures. The present enclosure and
system may be installed in lieu of a conventional enclosure and
evaporative humidifier with minimal effort. The present enclosure
has features that facilitate droplet to air mixing, viewing,
humidification, and testing. In permissible situations, the present
system may replace a conventional system but retain the
conventional enclosure.
Inventors: |
Peczalski; Andrzej; (Eden
Prairie, MN) ; Wood; Grant; (St. Paul, MN) ;
Ableitner; Jason L.; (Edina, MN) ; Seymour;
Lauren; (Golden Valley, MN) ; Terlson; Brad A.;
(Maple Grove, MN) ; Rezachek; Thomas M.; (Cottage
Grove, MN) ; Gu; Alex; (Plymouth, MN) ; Hoff;
Charles N.; (Excelsior, MN) ; Smith; Andrew;
(Morris Plains, NJ) ; Ohlsen; Chris; (Shorewood,
MN) ; McBrady; Adam D.; (Minneapolis, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ademco Inc. |
Golden Valley |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005331672 |
Appl. No.: |
17/146710 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15782894 |
Oct 13, 2017 |
10900680 |
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17146710 |
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|
14334865 |
Jul 18, 2014 |
9822990 |
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15782894 |
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62408668 |
Oct 14, 2016 |
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61856484 |
Jul 19, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 30/54 20130101;
F24F 11/0008 20130101; F24F 6/14 20130101; F24F 2013/221 20130101;
F24F 6/043 20130101; F24F 2110/20 20180101; F24F 6/00 20130101;
F24F 13/222 20130101; F24F 2110/30 20180101; F24F 11/30 20180101;
F24F 13/22 20130101; F24F 2110/10 20180101; F24F 2013/225
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 6/04 20060101
F24F006/04; F24F 6/00 20060101 F24F006/00; F24F 6/14 20060101
F24F006/14; F24F 11/00 20060101 F24F011/00; F24F 11/30 20060101
F24F011/30; F24F 13/22 20060101 F24F013/22 |
Claims
1. A method for humidifying air, the method comprising: flowing air
through a first port into an enclosure, through the enclosure, and
out of the enclosure through a second port of the enclosure;
spraying the air flowing through the enclosure with droplets of
water from a spray assembly; determining a relative humidity of the
air flowing out of the enclosure through the second port of the
enclosure; and adjusting an amount of water provided by the spray
assembly as droplets of water into the air flowing through the
enclosure to achieve the relative humidity at a predetermined
percentage of the air flowing out of the second port of the
enclosure.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly comprises: one
or more spray units; and a manifold having an input connected to a
water supply and one or more outputs connected to the one or more
spray units, wherein each spray unit comprises one or more plates
attached to the one or more outputs, respectively, of the manifold,
and wherein each of the one or more plates has one or more
holes.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the amount of water provided to
the spray assembly first enters the input of the manifold and goes
through the one or more outputs of the manifold to the one or more
plates and comes out from the one or more holes of each plate as
droplets of water into the air flowing through the enclosure.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the droplets of water are
sufficiently small enough to form a vapor in the air flowing
through the enclosure or flowing out of the enclosure through the
second port of the enclosure.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the one or more plates
comprises a group of 100 to 1000 holes having a diameter between
one and 20 microns.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein each of the one or more plates
further comprises a piezoelectric material on a perimeter on a
surface of each plate around the group of holes.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising purifying the amount
of water provided to the spray assembly.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more plates are
actuated with an AC current applied to the piezoelectric material,
to provide the droplets of water.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the spray assembly comprises: one
or more spray units situated in the enclosure, wherein each spray
unit comprises: a plate having one or more holes; and a
piezoelectric material attached to the plate, wherein the
piezoelectric material has an opening that encloses the one or more
holes of the plate, wherein the one or more spray units are
configured to provide fluid droplets into air flowing through the
enclosure.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the piezoelectric material is
configured to actuate the plate to vibrate at a frequency according
to an AC current applied to the piezoelectric material.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting a
frequency of the AC current to a resonant frequency of the plate of
the nebulizer.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises one or
more channels that effectively extend an evaporation distance due
to cyclonic effects from the one or more channels, and consequently
increase evaporation of the fluid droplets from the one or more
spray units in the air flowing from the input port to the output
port.
13. A method comprising: causing, by a controller, an emitter to
provide a fluid flow using an applied voltage having a frequency,
wherein the emitter includes a plate defining one or more holes
configured to eject fluid, and a piezoelectric material defining an
opening enclosing the one or more holes of the plate, and wherein
the applied voltage and the frequency actuate the piezoelectric
material to vibrate the plate and cause the one or more holes to
eject the fluid; and adjusting, by the controller, at least one of
the applied voltage or the frequency of the applied voltage to
adjust the fluid flow.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: measuring, by the
controller, a current supplied to the emitter, wherein the current
has the frequency, and adjusting, by the controller, the frequency
to adjust the current.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving, by the
controller, an indication of one or more of a temperature from a
temperature sensor or a relative humidity from a relative humidity
sensor; and adjusting, by the controller, the fluid flow based on
the received indication.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving, by the
controller, an indication of one or more of a temperature from a
temperature sensor or a relative humidity from a relative humidity
sensor; and adjusting, by the controller, a speed of a fan
configured to cause air to flow through the fluid flow based on the
received indication.
17. The method of claim 13 further comprising; generating, by the
controller, an AC signal having the applied voltage and the
frequency; and adjusting, by the controller, the AC signal to
adjust at least one of the applied voltage or the frequency.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the emitter comprises an
individual spray unit in a plurality of spray units, the method
further comprising adjusting, by the controller, at least one of
the applied voltage or the frequency to turn on or turn off the
individual spray unit to adjust the fluid flow.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the emitter comprises a first
spray unit, the method further comprising: turning on, by the
controller, a second spray unit; and adjusting, by the controller,
at least one of the applied voltage or the frequency to turn off
the first spray unit to reduce a duty cycle of the first spray
unit.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting, by the
controller, a pressure control module configured to control a flow
of fluid to the emitter.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 15/782,894, filed Oct. 13, 2017, which claims the benefit of
U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/408,668, filed Oct. 14, 2016.
The entire content of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/782,894, filed
Oct. 13, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/408,668,
filed Oct. 14, 2016, is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0002] U.S. application Ser. No. 15/782,894 is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/334,865, filed Jul. 18, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,822,990, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/856,484,
filed Jul. 19, 2013. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/334,865,
filed Jul. 18, 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference. U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/856,484, filed Jul. 19, 2013, is
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The present disclosure pertains to heating, ventilation and
air conditioning.
[0004] Particularly, the disclosure pertains to humidifiers, and
more particularly to techniques of humidifying.
SUMMARY
[0005] The disclosure reveals a system that may provide effective
and efficient introduction of water droplets into an air flow. The
water droplets are sufficiently small so as to evaporate primarily
before leaving the mixing enclosure where the droplets are injected
by spray nozzles. Large droplets are kept to a minimum, thus
reducing condensation and water accumulation to a very small
amount. An amount of water usage may be significantly less than
that of a conventional evaporative humidifier of the same capacity.
The present system may be placed in an enclosure that can readily
replace other conventional evaporative humidifiers in enclosures.
The present enclosure and system may be installed in lieu of a
conventional enclosure and evaporative humidifier with minimal
effort. The present enclosure has features that facilitate droplet
to air mixing, viewing, humidification, and testing. In permissible
situations, the present system may replace a conventional system
but retain the conventional enclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative example of a system
for introducing very small droplets into a flow of air;
[0007] FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are diagrams of various
configurations of arrays for spray nozzles;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a nebulizer that may be used as a
spray nozzle;
[0009] FIGS. 4a and 4b are diagrams that indicate the water flow
rates from the nebulizers relative to frequency;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a self-adjusting drive circuit for a
nebulizer;
[0011] FIGS. 6a and 6b are diagrams that illustrate a design for
obtaining a laminar flow of air for injection of droplets;
[0012] FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams that show a couple of ways in
which nebulizers may be mounted on a wall of a wing shaped
nebulizer head;
[0013] FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams that illustrate a pill type
enclosure of a humidifier;
[0014] FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams that illustrate a round type
enclosure of a humidifier;
[0015] FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams that that illustrate a cyclone
type enclosure of a humidifier;
[0016] FIG. 15 is a diagram of a model "A" humidifier
enclosure;
[0017] FIG. 16 is a diagram of the humidifier enclosure without
front shell thereby revealing some internal components in the
enclosure;
[0018] FIG. 17 is a diagram revealing an air flow through the
enclosure;
[0019] FIG. 18 is a diagram of a back view of the enclosure;
[0020] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an emitter housing with
emitters and one or more LEDs for the enclosure;
[0021] FIG. 20 is a diagram of an illustrative example of a system
for humidifying;
[0022] FIG. 21 is a diagram of another illustrative example of a
system for humidifying; and
[0023] FIG. 22 is a diagram of an illustrative example of an
approach for humidifying.
DESCRIPTION
[0024] The present system and approach may incorporate one or more
processors, computers, controllers, user interfaces, wireless
and/or wire connections, and/or the like, in an implementation
described and/or shown herein.
[0025] This description may provide one or more illustrative and
specific examples or ways of implementing the present system and
approach. There may be numerous other examples or ways of
implementing the system and approach.
[0026] Aspects of the system or approach may be described in terms
of symbols in the drawing. Symbols may have virtually any shape
(e.g., a block) and may designate hardware, objects, components,
activities, states, steps, procedures, and other items.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative example of
humidifying system 55. Arrays 56, 57 and 58 may contain spray units
59. Water may be fed to a manifold device 61 that distributes the
water to spray units 59. The water may come from a supply 62. If
the water is not truly clean, like distilled water, the water may
go to a purifier 63 for cleansing. Purifier 63 may use, for
example, reverse osmosis for obtaining clean water from ordinary
water, such as tap or faucet water from a well or city supply. The
water is controlled relative to pressure with a pressure control
module 64. The water may flow from pressure control 64 to a unit 61
via a water conveyance line or pipe 65 to distribution or manifold
device 61. The water may be provided to the spray units of array
56, 57 and 58. Pressure control unit 64 may have an input from a
controller 60 that indicates an amount of pressure for the water in
pipe 65 to the spray units 59. For instance, a pressure may be 2.5
inches of water from a top of a reservoir under atmospheric
conditions to a spray unit 59.
[0028] A line 66 from controller 60 may provide an actuation signal
to spray units 59, which actuates or turns on one or more of spray
units 59. Spray units 59 may be turned on separately according to
array. Array 56, of spray units 59 may be on for a given period of
time or have a duty cycle while the other arrays 57 and 58 are
turned off or inactive. Arrays 57 and 58 of spray units 59 may, in
turn, be actuated while the other two arrays are turned off or
inactive. The spray units may be actuated individually, in a
pattern, or a sequence, of various kinds. Arrays 56, 57 and 58 may
be removed and cleaned, repaired or replaced, as needed. There may
be more or less than three arrays and there may be more or less
than six spray units in each array.
[0029] System 55 may be placed in an enclosure 66 where water
droplets 68 from spray units 59 are mixed in with air 67, from duct
71, moving past spray units 59. Droplets 68 may be small enough
such that the droplets 68 result in a vapor that moves with air 67
through enclosure 66 and to an air return duct 72. Spray units 59
may eject water droplets 68 up, down or sideways relative to
enclosure 66. The droplets 68 may be ejected perpendicular,
parallel or at other angles relative to a flow of air 67.
[0030] Duct 71 may be the warmer and/or higher pressure duct in
comparison to air return duct 72, which would accommodate
vaporization of droplets 68 and movement of air 67 from duct 71 to
duct 72. The design may also work with reverse airflow
configurations to accommodate installations where the bypass
humidifier was installed on the high pressure duct, with the bypass
attached to the low pressure, resulting in backwards airflow.
[0031] Enclosure 66 may also incorporate one or more components of
pressure control 64, controller 60, purifier 63, and other items as
desired.
[0032] Enclosure 66 and its components, as noted herein, may
replace current humidifier systems in present HVAC systems in homes
and buildings in a very easy manner. Enclosure 66 may be designed
to fit in as a replacement having the same size duct connections,
mounting fasteners, water, electrical connections, and more as
desired. A tool-like clamp design may be used to attach enclosure
66 to an existing opening in existing ducts. A strap that wraps
around an existing humidifier enclosure or body may be used to
secure the new present humidifying system 55 to the ducts. These or
other configurations are anticipated such that the unit may be
attached securely using existing openings and/or ducts or fixtures
without the use of additional tools. In permissible situations, the
present system may replace a conventional system or a portion of
elements of the existing system such as a cover and/or air
hydration elements like evaporative pads and frames or steam
generating elements, but retain the existing or conventional
enclosure.
[0033] Spray units 59 or emitters may be monitored with associated
detectors, or other ways, so as to provide a notification that an
array containing a poor spray unit should be removed, repaired or
replaced. The water for the spray units 59 may be monitored to
provide a notification in the event that purifier 63 is not working
at or near optimal performance, and that repair or replacement is
needed, such as, e.g., a reverse osmosis filter.
[0034] Enclosure 66 may be designed to recapture droplets 68 that
have not evaporated and drain them via a drain 73 to prevent their
entry to low pressure or return duct 72.
[0035] Flow of air 67 may be circulated in a cyclonic vortex so
that water droplets 68 are displayed in a way, such as through a
clear window on enclosure 66 or other disclosure, that lets one
witness water being put into air 67 and to keep droplets from
attaching to surfaces near spray unit 59. There is a benefit in
that since there is an intention to prevent any significant amount
of unevaporated water from entering the air duct, the vortex
approach may offer an effectively extended evaporation distance
that can help increase the amount of evaporation that occurs. In
addition, the vortex may serve as a cyclonic separator that can
drive any large droplets that might occur on the sidewalls and let
them drain away in a controlled way instead of injecting them into
the air duct.
[0036] The arrays of spray units 59 may be grouped in a manner that
the arrays can be enabled selectively, so that for any time
interval, only one array is enabled, and after a number of time
intervals equal to, for instance, the number of arrays, each spray
unit in the respective array will have to be operating for the same
length of time as each of the other arrays. A purpose for rotating
which spray units are enabled may be to extend the operating life
of an entire array by reducing the duty cycle for each spray unit.
Visual observation through a window of enclosure 66 may aid in
determining satisfactory operation of each spray unit 59.
[0037] Purifier 63, such as an RO filtration component, may be
within the same enclosure 66 as spray units 59 and drain 73, in
that, for instance, seal failure may result in leaked water being
directed to drain 73.
[0038] A power supply and logic board of controller 60 may power
multiple spray units 59 individually, or in groups, to provide
desired functions of spray units 59.
[0039] Air temperature and humidity may be measured in a plenum
just downstream of an associated furnace and AC unit for diagnosis
so as to provide proper sizing and health of the furnace and AC
unit, for example, to avoid too low temperature of heated air or
too high temperature of cooled air.
[0040] Humidifying system 55 may be connected such that operation
and sensor status may be conveyed to an outside computing device.
System 55 may be connected such that a computing device on-board,
such as controller 60, can be remotely controlled by another
computing device, by recalling in a resident memory of any
type.
[0041] System 55 may be connected to the internet to gather data,
alert an owner about maintenance or an HVAC system issue, or other
item of concern or interest, particularly relative to system
55.
[0042] Spray units 59 of system 55 may be arranged in various
configurations other than that revealed in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2a-2d are
diagrams of spray units 59 in various circular fashions. Spray
units 59 may be arranged in a square, triangular, oval,
rectangular, and other geometrical forms. Spray units 59 may be
oriented to emit droplets up, down, sideways, and at various other
angles, or in a combination of different directions. The
geometrical forms for placing spray units 59 may be two-dimensional
or three dimensional. Spray units 59 may be arranged in a
three-dimensional manner which may provide certain desired effects
of a respective spray unit arrangement. FIG. 2a is a diagram of a
round plate layout 75 of spray units 59 on a manifold-like
interface 76 with a tube or conveyance mechanism 77 for providing
fluid to spray units 59. FIG. 2b is a diagram of a thick plate
layout 81 with spray units 59 on the plate surface and spray units
on the surface of a thick edge of the plate. A center of the plate
and its spray units might be absent leaving a ring-like structure
having just the thick edge with spray units 59. Such configuration
may be referred to a dog-collar.
[0043] FIG. 2c is a diagram of a drum layout 82 having multiple
rows of spray units 59 on the side surface of the drum. The bottom
or the top surface may have spray units 59. FIG. 2d is a diagram of
a layout 83 like that of layout 75 of FIG. 2a, but being oriented
with spray units 59 at an angle, either up or down, or other
ways.
[0044] Spray units 59 may be selected from a variety of devices
such as nozzle injectors, atomizers, nebulizers, and so forth. For
illustrative purposes, example nebulizers may be noted. FIG. 3 is a
diagram of nebulizer 85. Nebulizer 85 may be a stainless steel
plate 86 having about 600 to 800 holes 87. Each hole 87 may have a
diameter of five to seven microns. Other variations of nebulizer 85
may have 50 to 5000 holes in plate 86, having a diameter between
0.5 and 50 microns. A piezoelectric ring 88 may be attached to
steel plate 86 encircling holes 87 in plate 86. Plate 86 may be
made from other materials. Piezoelectric ring 88 may actuate plate
86 with an AC current applied to leads 93 and 94. Other kinds of
mechanisms may be used to actuate plate 86. A shape of the
nebulizer 85 layout of holes 87 and piezoelectric ring 88, may each
have a shape other than shown in the diagram of FIG. 3. About
twenty nebulizers 85 as described in FIG. 3 used as spray units 59
in system 55 may use, as an estimate, about twelve gallons of
purified water per day. An amount of water used may vary,
particularly in accordance with a design for system 55, associated
HVAC, and nebulizers 85.
[0045] Plate 86 may have a thickness of about 0.5 mm. Holes 87 may
be made within a circle of about 6.5 mm in diameter. Ring 88 of
piezoelectric material may be glued to a surface of plate 86 so
that holes 87 are within an inner diameter of ring 88. As an AC
current or voltage is applied to ring 88, the piezoelectric
material of ring 88 may shrink and expand radially. The shrinking
may make metal plate 86 buckle and thus eject droplets of fluid
(e.g., water).
[0046] Nebulizers 85 may be operated with plates 86 in resonance in
order to increase movement of plates 86, output and efficiency of
the nebulizers. A steady flow of fluid, e.g., water, may be used.
During a prolonged use of nebulizers 85, for instance, in a
humidifier, there may be a decrease in fluid flow due to a change
of resonant frequency of nebulizers 85, for example, due to a load
or stiffness change of vibrating plates 86, such as some material
being deposited or removed from plates 86 or holes 87. Deposited
materials may consist of minerals or other materials or particles,
including organics, that are in the water. If each plate 86 is
coated with a special film, e.g., hydrophobic or hydrophilic, the
material deposited on plate 86, material on plate 86 may be washed
out during operation of respective nebulizer 85.
[0047] More than one nebulizer may be on a plate.
[0048] FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b are diagrams 91 and 92, respectively,
that appear to show an impact of washing nebulizers 85 in soapy
water on the resonant frequency of a plate 86. A nebulizer resonant
frequency in diagram 92 may indicate a shift in resonant frequency
from an original 100 kHz to about 104 kHz. The shift may be
attributed to an ultrasound washing with soapy water that removed
some mass from plate 86 and increased the resonant frequency. An
opposite frequency shift may be caused by a material deposition
during operation of nebulizers 85 as spray units 59 during
operation in a humidifier system 55 having a purifier 63 that uses
an RO filter which cleans out, perhaps, just 95 percent of the
minerals of the water conveyed by nebulizers 85. Diagram 91 is a
graph of plots of frequency of plate 85 in kHz relative to drive
current in milliamps. Curves #1 through #6 are plotted in diagram
91 and are listed in diagram 92 indicating the various nebulizer
flows for 100 kHz and 104 kHz, respectively, as indicated by the
legend in FIG. 4a. From the plot in FIG. 4a, of current versus
frequency, it may be noted that the resonant frequency shifted to
104 kHz. From the table in FIG. 4b, it may be noted that a flow of
a nebulizer appears to increase by a factor of two to three once
the frequency increased from the original frequency of 100 kHz to
104 kHz.
[0049] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a drive circuit 95, which may be
modified to adjust the frequency to a maximum current consumption,
and may be an optimization of current for a nebulizer or a group of
nebulizers. Drive circuit 95 may maximize flow by maximizing
current. So the nebulizer may be actuated to operate close to or at
the resonant frequency. Frequency tuning may be achieved by
measuring current magnitude at lead 93 or 94 of piezoelectric ring
or element 88, that makes the mesh plate vibrate. The current may
be the largest in magnitude during resonance since most of the
water is pushed out by plate 86 as it moves by the largest amount.
Pushing out more water may require more energy that is provided by
the electric current. Therefore, frequency optimization may be
achieved by changing the frequency of the drive current to
piezoelectric element 88 reaches a maximum amount of drive current.
Current measurements and frequency adjustments may be done for an
individual device or for groups of devices to avoid costs of
additional electrical components. The approach for a group of
nebulizers is feasible if all nebulizers in the group have the same
mass addition or removal.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a driver circuit 96, which may be a
part of controller 60 in FIG. 1. A microcontroller 140 may provide
a signal to a waveform generator 141, which may output an AC signal
having a frequency that is adjustable according to a signal from
microcontroller 140. The AC signal may go to a driver 142. Driver
142 may provide the signal from generator 141 with sufficient
current to drive piezoelectric ring 88 (FIG. 3). Measuring circuit
143 can provide a current magnitude measurement to microcontroller
140, which may vary the signal to waveform generator 141 that
adjusts the frequency so that the current magnitude achieves a
maximum. Current from driver 142 may go to a nebulizer 85 or an
array of nebulizers 85 via leads 93 and 94 to piezoelectric ring 88
of the one or more nebulizers 85. Microcontroller 140, waveform
generator 141, driver 142 and current measuring circuit 143 may
constitute a servo loop of circuit 96 for self-calibration and
maximizing the current of the drive signals for maximizing flow by
nebulizer or nebulizers 85. Circuit 96 may ensure automatic
adjustment of the nebulizer drive frequency to be at resonance in
spite of drift of the resonant frequency of nebulizer 85 over
time.
[0051] Relative to nebulizers 85 that may be used as spray units
59, some issues might appear apparent. Running nebulizers dry in
periods of long activity to prevent an appearance of pathogens in
standing water, a dry state may be detected by observing a higher
current in each nebulizer. Nebulizers should not be left to run dry
for long periods of time.
[0052] Determining leakage in system 55 may be done by measuring a
water flow rate that exceeds the nebulizer flow rate. Each
nebulizer 85 flow may be characterized periodically so that a
correct amount of water is delivered to air to avoid
condensation.
[0053] A design of a nebulizer and a wing to provide or improve a
laminar air flow may be one way to optimize droplet mixing with air
and ensuing evaporation. For instance, a humidifier that injects
small water droplets in an air stream or flow may cause droplet
accumulation on nearby surfaces if the air flow is turbulent.
Accumulated water may drip down and form a puddle that can cause
water damage and encourage a growth of algae, bacteria or mold. An
example of such a humidifier may be a nozzle injection system or a
nebulizer system.
[0054] The water issue may be solved by creating very small and
uniform droplets 68 (FIG. 1), thus minimizing large droplet
formation and entraining the droplets in a laminar versus a
turbulent air flow. Nebulizer plates 86 may be a way of generating
small droplets 68. The nozzle or hole 87 size in plates 86 should
be very uniform because even a few micro holes with a larger
diameter than holes 87 may result in a big quantity of large
droplets. The large droplets may also form from collisions between
small droplets. Large droplets may take a long time to evaporate
and during that time can hit and accumulate on return air duct
structure 72 (FIG. 1). Thus, the droplets should be very small,
e.g., 5-7 microns, so as to evaporate before they have many chances
of collision or create a deposition of water on air duct 72
features like corners or walls. The large droplets that follow a
straight path due to their larger momentum may be hit by small
droplets that follow a slightly turbulent direction. This activity
may generate even larger droplets. However, the small droplets may
be injected in a laminar air flow so that they follow parallel
paths and have a lower probability of colliding and creating large
droplets. Laminar air flow may be obtained with a special shape of
a nebulizer head 151 as shown in diagrams of FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b.
For instance, the nebulizer head 151 may have a shape of a
rectangular wing that is attached in the middle of an air duct 152.
Arrays 153 of nebulizers may be situated at a leading edge of head
151 on the bottom and top of head 151. Electronics, a valve and
filter e.g., RO, may be in a box 154 with a water line 155 and
electrical drive 156 connected to nebulizer arrays 153. The diagram
of FIG. 6a shows a side view of wing shaped nebulizer head 151, and
the diagram of FIG. 6b shows a bottom view of the wing shaped
nebulizer head 151. A level sensor 164 may be placed at nebulizer
head 151.
[0055] An edge of an opening holding nebulizer array 153, or plate
86 (FIG. 3) on nebulizer head 151 may cause turbulence that could
be removed with a water proof gasket 162 by attaching nebulizer
array 153 with double-sided sticky tape 161 or gluing array 153 to
an outside wall of nozzle head 151 shown in a diagram of FIG. 7.
Such configuration may remove surface features that produce air
flow eddies, and provide for an entrainment of droplets in the air
flow or stream without collisions. The nozzles may also be placed
on a top surface of nebulizer head 151 as in a diagram of FIG. 8,
and water may be delivered to the nozzles by filling a container or
providing a wick.
[0056] Nebulizer head 151 may be manufactured with 3D printing.
Double sticky tape 161 with a thin layer of foam may be recommended
to allow for vibration of nebulizer array 153 plate 86, as it may
be a vibration force that ejects droplets 68 (FIG. 1). The rest of
a system may consist of a water purifier, e.g., reverse osmosis, a
nebulizer drive and controller that turns the nozzle plates 86 on
and off, and maintains a water level in head 151.
[0057] A nebulizer may be damaged if it operates without water. On
the other hand, leakage may develop if the water level for the
nebulizer gets too high. The water level may be sensed by a level
detector, e.g., a conductivity based detector.
[0058] The present system may incorporate an enclosure and a
humidifier that can easily replace an already installed humidifier
in many homes and buildings. The humidifiers and respective
enclosures may be noted herein. FIG. 9 is a diagram of enclosure 11
for a humidifier arrangement that incorporates an emitter or
nebulizer array 12 that provides droplets 13 of water into an air
14 that flows sideways from duct 15 through a volume 16 where the
air 14 interacts with droplets 13 to become misty air 17 that flows
down toward the bottom of enclosure 11 and out of the enclosure
through a cold air return duct 18. The term "down" may mean toward
the earth's surface. The term "up" may mean away from the surface
of the earth. A clear window 19 may be part of enclosure 11 that
might permit one to see the misty air 17 flowing through enclosure
11. A drain may be at the bottom of enclosure 11 for removal of
water from the enclosure. Items 21 may be magnetic plugs that aid
in connecting enclosure 11 to ducts 15 and 18. FIG. 10 is a diagram
that reveals a top view 22, a front view 23 and a right or side
view 24 of enclosure 11. Enclosure 11 may be regarded as a pill
type enclosure.
[0059] FIG. 11 is a diagram of an enclosure 25 for a humidifier
arrangement that incorporates an emitter nebulizer array 26 that
provide droplets 27 of water downward into an upward flow of air 28
from a duct 31 to a center portion of enclosure 25 and become an
air and mist mixture or misty air 29 that moves downward toward a
bottom of enclosure 25 into a cold air return duct 32. FIG. 12 is a
diagram that reveals a front view 33, a bottom view 34 and a side
or right view 35 of enclosure 25. Enclosure 25 may be oriented in
different positions where the droplets 26 are emitted sideways and
that the mist and air 29 move sideways into duct 32. Enclosure 25
may be regarded as a round type enclosure.
[0060] FIG. 13 is a diagram of an enclosure 38 for a humidifier
arrangement that incorporates an emitter or nebulizer array 39 that
provides droplets 41 of water upward into an incoming air flow 42
from an entrance or duct 43. Droplets 41 may move upward from array
39 along with air 42 and mix into a mist and air 43 to move upward
in a center tube 44 and then downward in an outer concentric tube
45 and then upward at an inside volume of wall 47 of enclosure 38
to a cold air return duct 48. FIG. 14 is a diagram that reveals a
top view 51, a front view 52, and a side or right view 53 of
enclosure 38. Enclosure 38 may be regarded as a cyclone type of
enclosure.
[0061] FIG. 15 is a diagram of a model "A" humidifier enclosure
245. Enclosure 245 may have a lower housing 246 and an upper
housing 247. There may be an existing bracket 248 for attachment of
the lower and upper housings. There may be an air intake port 249
and an emitter housing 251. Also shown are a test button 252 and a
plastic tinted front shell 253.
[0062] FIG. 16 is a diagram of enclosure 245 without front shell
252 thereby revealing some internal components in enclosure 245.
Emitter housing 251 may contain an emitter arrangement and an LED.
An air guide 254 and an air output port 255 are shown.
[0063] FIG. 17 is a diagram revealing an air flow 257 through
enclosure 245. Dry air may enter air intake port 249, go past the
emitter in housing 251 where micro water droplets 258 are released
by the emitter into the dry air of air flow 257 where the air
becomes humid and flows through lower housing 246, around air guide
254 into upper housing 247, and through output port 255 as humid
air. Air flow 257 may follow a path that is of an extended nature
for a given size of enclosure 245 to ensure evaporation of droplets
258 before reaching output port 255.
[0064] FIG. 18 is a diagram of a back view of enclosure 245. Air
intake port 249 may have a pipe placement or attachment component.
Enclosure 245 may be attached to the existing bracket 248 with
output 255 for humidified air moving into a return air duct. Pegs
261 may secure enclosure 245 to existing bracket 248.
[0065] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing emitter housing 251 with
emitters 262 and one or more LEDs 263. Housing 251 may fit into a
cavity 264 of enclosure 245. Emitters 262 may eject micro droplets
258 into dry air coming through air intake port 249.
[0066] To reiterate, the approach may incorporate determining a
temperature in a space associated with a humidifying unit,
determining a relative humidity in the space, determining an air
speed associated with the humidifying unit, and adjusting an amount
of water sprayed by the humidifying unit based, at least in part,
on the temperature, the relative humidity, and the air speed.
[0067] A humidifying device may be modular and scaled for use in
small spaces (e.g., vehicles, residences, or the like) and/or large
spaces (e.g., large residences, commercial buildings, and the like)
as well as spaces in between. Humidifying devices in accordance
with the present disclosure may be used in spaces designated for
specialized commercial operations, such as internet server centers
and/or clean rooms (e.g., spaces for integrated circuit
fabrication).
[0068] Items of the present disclosure may be modular, such as
those that are easier to control, more efficient, and/or more
reliable than previous approaches.
[0069] Various approaches may incorporate spray units (e.g., spray
heads) in an array, for instance (e.g., as part of a humidifying
device or unit (hereinafter referred to as a "humidifier")). Each
spray unit of the array may be controlled and/or operated (e.g.,
turned on and/or off) independently. Independent operation may be
performed using a respective control component (e.g., an actuator
and/or electric switch) associated with each spray unit.
[0070] By operating the spray units independently of each other,
one may allow each spray unit to be used for a reduced period of
time and/or at intervals with respect to previous approaches.
Independent operation may increase a lifetime of each individual
spray unit, for instance, as well as a humidifier incorporating the
array of spray heads.
[0071] The presence of spraying units in the humidifier may allow
for a gradual degradation of humidifier performance rather than
abrupt degradation and/or failure as with previous approaches. For
example, a humidifier having twelve spray heads where one has
failed may be just minimally reduced in performance versus a
humidifier having a single spray head that fails. Thus, a useful
life of the humidifier may be extended in instances where some of
the spray heads experience failure(s).
[0072] Further, independent operation of spray units may allow for
rotation of active spray units. That is, some embodiments may allow
cycling of activated (e.g., turned-on and/or spraying) spray units.
For example, a first subset of the array of spray units (e.g., a
first nozzle plate) may be operated for a period of time (e.g., 1-2
minutes) and then a second subset of the array of spray units
(e.g., a second nozzle plate) may be operated for another period of
time (e.g., 1-2 minutes) while the first subset is deactivated.
Thereafter, the first subset may be reactivated and/or a third
subset (or more subsets) may be activated similarly. Using
independent operational control of the spray units may also allow
the activation and deactivation of spray units within a single
nozzle plate.
[0073] Condensation problems associated with some approaches may be
reduced (e.g., eliminated) because by rotating activated spray
units, the present approach may avoid cooling portions of a
humidifier (e.g., nozzle plate fixtures) to a degree such that
water vapor condenses thereon. By reducing condensation, the
present approach may increase efficiency associated with operation
of a humidifier and reduce (e.g., eliminate) contamination of air
ducts with water, for instance. Durations of activity and/or
inactivity of spray units may be determined based on one or more
factors. For instance, rotation frequency may be increased based on
increased level(s) of humidity.
[0074] Rotation frequency may be decreased based on decreased fan
speed(s) and/or temperature(s).
[0075] In an example, rotation may incorporate a first subset of
plurality of spray units being activated for a particular period of
time. Then, the rotation may incorporate a second subset of the
plurality of spray units being activated and the first subset of
the plurality of spray units being deactivated for the particular
period of time. The subsets may be determined based on their
location. For example, the firsts subset may be located on a first
side of the humidifier and the second subset may be located on a
second (e.g., opposing) side of the humidifier. Reducing
condensation by rotating spray units may reduce humidifier
deterioration caused by prolonged presence of moisture (e.g., on
dry side of humidifier), for instance.
[0076] Application of coatings with super-hydrophobic properties to
specific surfaces or the entire surface of the present system may
also provide a way to mitigate the condensation, or accumulation of
water by preventing it from accumulating at all. By way of example,
and not limitation, Super-hydrophobic coatings may be applied to
surfaces within the system which have a high likelihood of
accumulating water droplets, or are susceptible to problems such as
growth of biological contaminants, accumulation of water-borne
materials, corrosion, rot, discoloration or pooling.
[0077] Modular designs in accordance with the present system are
not necessarily limited to a particular configuration. Rather, such
designs may be customized according to duct access, orientation
(e.g., vertical or horizontal) and/or size. By way of example, and
not of limitation, the present approach and system may incorporate
vertical configurations of one or more arrays of spray units and/or
horizontal configurations of one or more arrays of spray units
(e.g., using narrow trays and a nozzle plate or plates inserted in
a middle of a duct).
[0078] In addition to modularity, the present approach and system
may provide humidification in conjunction with cooling more
efficiently than some other approaches. For example, in previous
approaches, standard cooling heat exchange coils may extract
humidity from air due to condensation on cold surfaces. Because the
condensation may release heat, air conditioning units might need to
compensate and thus consume more electricity.
[0079] Further, once some approaches have removed humidity from the
air, an additional humidifying device (e.g., an evaporator) may be
employed to replenish it. However, such devices may generate heat
and thus utilize more electricity. In some other approaches, energy
may be expended twice--first to condensate water from vapor, and
then to evaporate water.
[0080] The present system may reduce electricity usage by providing
humidification and cooling in a single device. For example, the
system may allow a regulation of water dispersed (e.g., sprayed) by
a humidifier such that the water (e.g., virtually all the water)
evaporates rather than condenses on surfaces of ducts. Such system
may be based on a principle that the evaporation speed of a water
droplet is proportional to the diameter of the droplet squared and
inversely proportional to a difference between the dry and wet bulb
temperatures.
[0081] Further, a time of flight of a droplet before it reaches a
surface on which it may be deposited may also be inversely
proportional to the speed of the air carrying it. That speed, for
instance, may be controlled and/or determined by the speed (e.g.,
setting) of a fan in forced air conditioning systems. Accordingly,
embodiments of the present system may finely control an amount of
water used by a humidifier to achieve desired cooling and/or
humidification while reducing condensation based, at least in part,
on air temperature, humidity, and air speed.
[0082] It may be noted that "a number of spray units" may refer to
one or more spray units.
[0083] An array of nebulizers may be configured to expel air to
prevent the degradation of array performance from trapped air.
Through the normal operation of a nebulizer, the expulsion of water
droplets also has the possibility of ingesting air bubbles, which
can accumulate near or against the water source facing surface of
the nebulizer, causing an interruption in normal operation. By
shaping the nebulizer array such that air bubbles are drawn away
from the operating nebulizers, and accumulated then expelled by the
array, the array can continue to operate normally.
[0084] The system may use one or more mechanisms to regulate water
pressure within the system to prevent over-pressurization which can
lead to nebulizers "sweating" when not operating. By way of
example, and not limitation, a reservoir may be used within the
system to hold water at a depth which cannot exceed that which
causes water pressure to exceed the maximum supported by the
nebulizer.
[0085] The system may incorporate several visual elements to give
human operators feedback as to the operational health of the
system. By way of example, and not limitation, the System may
incorporate LED illumination to make the mist more visible to an
observer, and also incorporate transparent viewing elements into
the design to further enable the observation of water mist.
[0086] The system may incorporate a user input button which can
allow the unit to begin operating regardless of the normal
operating stats it is in. This function is designed to show an
operator that the unit is functioning properly, even if the related
systems that control it (i.e.: the furnace and/or humidistat) are
not presently telling the unit to operate. For example, and not
limitation, activating the feature may cause the unit to begin
operating, as if under normal operating conditions to allow for the
creation of water mist by the nebulizer array, and illumination to
be turned on, so that an observer can see that plumbing has been
installed properly, and the system has power needed to
function.
[0087] FIG. 20 is a diagram of a system 100 for humidifying. System
100 may incorporate a control unit 102 communicatively coupled to a
humidifying unit 108. Control unit 102 may, for example, be a
computing device having a memory 104 (e.g., storing a set of
executable instructions) and a processor 106 (e.g., configured to
execute the executable instructions), though various versions of
the present system are not necessarily limited. For example,
control unit 102 may incorporate an integrated circuit and/or logic
to perform a number of the functionalities described herein.
[0088] Control unit 102 may incorporate a memory 104 and a
processor 106. Memory 104 may be any type of storage medium that
can be accessed by processor 106 to perform various examples of the
present disclosure. For example, memory 104 may be a non-transitory
computer readable medium having computer readable instructions
(e.g., computer program instructions) stored thereon that are
executable by processor 106 for humidifying in accordance with one
or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0089] Memory 104 may be volatile or nonvolatile memory. Memory 104
may also be removable (e.g., portable) memory, or non-removable
(e.g., internal) memory. For example, memory 104 may be random
access memory (RAM) (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
and/or phase change random access memory (PCRAM)), read-only memory
(ROM) (e.g., electrically erasable programmable read-only memory
(EEPROM) and/or compact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), flash
memory, a laser disc, a digital versatile disc (DVD) or other
optical disk storage, and/or a magnetic medium such as magnetic
cassettes, tapes, or disks, among other types of memory.
[0090] Further, although memory 104 may be illustrated as being
located in control unit 102, embodiments of the present disclosure
are not necessarily so limited. For example, memory 104 may also be
located internal to another computing resource (e.g., enabling
computer readable instructions to be downloaded over the Internet
or another wired or wireless connection).
[0091] Humidifying unit 108 may incorporate a plurality (e.g.,
array) of spray units. As shown in FIG. 20 humidifying unit 108 may
incorporate a spray unit 110, a spray unit 112, a spray unit 114, a
spray unit 116, a spray unit 118, a spray unit 120, a spray unit
122, a spray unit 124, a spray unit 126, a spray unit 128, a spray
unit 130, and a spray unit 132 (sometimes generally herein referred
to as "spray units 110-132"). Although 12 spray units may be
illustrated in the example shown in FIG. 20, embodiments of the
present disclosure are not necessarily limited to a particular
number of spray units.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 20, each of spray units 110-132 may be
connected (e.g., communicatively coupled) to control unit 102 by a
respective pair of wires. Spray unit 110 may be connected via wires
111, spray unit 112 may be connected via wires 113, spray unit 114
may be connected via wires 115, spray unit 116 may be connected via
wires 117, spray unit 118 may be connected via wires 119, spray
unit 120 may be connected via wires 121, spray unit 122 may be
connected via wires 123, spray unit 124 may be connected via wires
125, spray unit 126 may be connected via wires 127, spray unit 128
may be connected via wires 129, spray unit 130 may be connected via
wires 131, and spray unit 132 may be connected via wires 133 (the
wires illustrated in FIG. 20 may sometimes be cumulatively referred
to herein as "wires 111-133").
[0093] Accordingly, control unit 102 may communicate with and/or
control an operation of (e.g., activate and/or deactivate) each of
spray units 110-132 independently (e.g., individually). Each of
spray units 110-132 may incorporate a spray nozzle. For example,
each of spray units 110-132 may incorporate an ultrasonic atomizer
and/or nebulizer having a piezoelectric element (e.g., ceramic,
crystal, and so forth) attached to a metal plate with an array of
small openings (e.g., holes), for instance (e.g., 5 microns in
diameter). In an ultrasonic atomizer, voltage applied across the
piezoelectric element (e.g., via any of the wires 111-133) may
cause the element to vibrate and expel water droplets through the
openings (e.g., a fine mist of water). The present system is not
necessarily limited to a particular type of spray unit and may
incorporate various devices configured to disperse water (e.g.,
fine water droplets) into air.
[0094] Being modular, the system illustrated in FIG. 20 may allow
for the minimization of condensation upon any portion of
humidifying unit 108. Because condensation may release heat, air
conditioning units may use increased energy to maintain cool
temperature levels in some other approaches. The present system may
regulate a length of activation time and/or an amount of water
sprayed by one or more spray units of a humidifying unit such that
the sprayed water is evaporated rather than condensed. Reducing
condensation may incorporate, for instance, rotating one or more
spray units.
[0095] FIG. 21 is a diagram of a system 236 for humidifying. System
236 may, for example, combine a cooling system (e.g., an air
conditioner) with a humidification system (e.g., a humidifier).
System 236 may make use of a principle that a rate of water droplet
evaporation is proportional to a diameter of the water droplet
squared and inversely proportional to a difference between a dry
bulb temperature and a wet bulb temperature. Another principle used
may be that a time of flight (e.g., through a duct) of water
droplets before they reach a surface on which they may be deposited
is inversely proportional to a velocity of the air (e.g., the fan
speed setting in a forced air conditioning system). Accordingly, in
such a system, depending on a temperature of the air, a humidity,
and a speed of the fan, a target (e.g., desired) cooling and/or
humidification rate, may be controlled by varying an amount of
water released by the humidifier.
[0096] Additionally, or alternatively, a target cooling and/or
humidification rate may be controlled by varying an air speed
passing (e.g., passing by, over, under, across, and so on) a
humidifier. The air speed may be proportional and/or related to a
speed (e.g., speed setting) of a fan of an HVAC system associated
with the space.
[0097] System 236 may incorporate a humidifier 200 (e.g., a
humidifier analogous to system 100 (FIG. 20) and a sensor unit 240
inside an air duct 238 (illustrated as a cross-section of a portion
of a duct in FIG. 21). Sensor unit 240 may be located a particular
distance 242, in a direction of air flowing through the duct, from
humidifier 200.
[0098] Though not necessarily shown, system 236 may incorporate a
fan. The fan may be in communication with a control unit (e.g.,
control unit 102 of FIG. 20) through a wired and/or wireless
connection. The fan may have a fixed speed, or the fan may have a
number of discrete speed settings. Or fan speed may be continuously
adjustable over a range of speeds. There may be an adjusting a
speed of a fan (e.g., to provide desire cooling and/or air
flow).
[0099] Sensor unit 240 may incorporate a number of sensors.
Although sensor unit 240 is illustrated as a single component,
various adaptations sensor unit 240 may be in accordance with the
present system. For example, sensor unit 240 may incorporate one or
more temperature sensors. Temperature sensors may be configured to
determine (detect, measure, and/or acquire) dry bulb temperature(s)
inside duct 238.
[0100] Additionally, sensor unit 240 may incorporate one or more
relative humidity sensors. For example, the wet bulb temperature
may be inferred from humidity and temperature measurements using a
known relationship (e.g., dependence), which may be represented in
a table and/or equation, for instance. Such examples are not
necessarily to be taken in a limiting sense; rather, sensor unit
240 may incorporate any number and/or type of sensor configured to
determine various parameters associated with the air flowing
through duct 238.
[0101] System 236 may incorporate an upstream sensor unit 241.
Upstream sensor unit 214 may incorporate one or more temperature
sensors and/or relative humidity sensors in a manner analogous to
sensor unit 240, for instance. Upstream sensor unit 241 may be in
communication with a control unit (e.g., control unit 102, noted in
connection with FIG. 20) through a wired and/or wireless
connection, for instance.
[0102] Upstream sensor unit 241 may be used in conjunction with
sensor unit 240 to determine change(s) in temperature and/or
humidity caused by humidifier 200. Locating upstream sensor 241
immediately upstream from humidifier 200 may allow embodiments of
the present disclosure to moderate and/or finely tune one or more
operations of humidifier 200.
[0103] As air flows through duct 238, humidifier 200 may disperse
water droplets which can be carried through the air along distance
242. Distance 242 may be determined and/or selected such that the
water droplets released from humidifier 200 have sufficient time to
evaporate (e.g., sufficient time for humidity mixing in the air)
before reaching sensor unit 240, for instance. Measurements
associated with the flowing (e.g., flowing and humidified) air may
be taken by sensor unit 240 and used by embodiments of the present
disclosure to vary an amount of water released by humidifier 200,
for instance, in controlling and/or maintaining a target cooling
and/or humidification rate.
[0104] The present system may incorporate maintaining relative
humidity within a particular humidity range. That is, it may
maintain relative humidity below a first threshold and above a
second threshold. A control unit may be configured to receive an
indication of the relative humidity and an indication of the
temperature and cause a modification of an operation of the
humidifying unit in response to at least one of the relative
humidity and the temperature exceeding a particular threshold.
[0105] For example, a temperature difference between dry bulb
temperature and wet bulb temperature may be kept below 5 degrees
Celsius (Tdrybulb-Twetbulb=5C). Additionally, the temperature at
sensor unit 240 may be maintained above a particular threshold
(e.g., greater than 15 degrees Celsius). Humidity may be controlled
by keeping relative humidity on a curve corresponding to the
difference between dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature.
In the example where such a difference may be 5 degrees Celsius,
the curve may be represented by:
0.0216*T{circumflex over ( )}2+1.8944*T+30.656.
The curve may be derived from various properties of humid air by
maintaining the difference between the dry bulb temperature and wet
bulb temperature at 5 degrees Celsius, for instance. It may be to
be understood that a different curve would correspond to a
different temperature difference (e.g., a different curve would
result from a difference between the dry bulb temperature and wet
bulb temperature being 7 degrees Celsius) as well as other
factors.
[0106] For increased temperature differences (e.g., 7 degrees
Celsius), higher air speed and/or smaller duct size or sizes may be
used. Increased temperature differences may be used in the system
having larger droplets (e.g., if droplet diameter increases by a
factor of 1.41, temperature difference may increase two-fold).
[0107] Droplet size may be kept constant by maintaining parameters
of spray units (e.g., nozzles). For example, droplet size may be
kept constant by keeping the spray unit frequency and/or actuation
voltage under a threshold at which the droplets may tend to merge
into a continuous stream of water.
[0108] To control humidity, the present system may adjust a number
of spray units that are activated and/or deactivated. The
activation and/or deactivation may be responsive to a temperature
exceeding a particular threshold. For example, a threshold
temperature may be established (e.g., 16 degrees Celsius and/or 8
degrees Celsius below a set point of a thermostat associated with
humidifier 200). Then, if a temperature determined by sensor unit
240 increases above the threshold temperature and a relative
humidity determined by sensor unit 240 decreases below the curve, a
spray unit (e.g., spray unit 122) may be activated.
[0109] If the thermostat is not requiring cooling, the threshold
temperature may be higher (e.g., 20 degrees Celsius and/or 2
degrees Celsius below the thermostat set point), so the cooling may
not be as pronounced as previously discussed, but humidification
may still be occurring. Thus, for various temperatures and
velocities of incoming air, the present system may reduce (e.g.,
prevent) condensation by ensuring that water droplets are
evaporated (rather than condensed).
[0110] The present system may deactivate humidifier 200 if relative
humidity is determined by sensor unit 240 to exceed a particular
threshold (e.g., 35%). In such instances, air conditioning (e.g.,
traditional air conditioning), rather than humidification, may be
used to provide cooling. The present system may accordingly cause a
modification of an operation of the humidifying unit in response to
the relative humidity exceeding a particular threshold and/or the
temperature exceeding a particular threshold.
[0111] FIG. 22 is a diagram of an approach 344 for humidifying in
accordance with the present system. Approach 344 may be performed
by a control unit (e.g., control unit 102 (FIG. 20), for instance.
The control unit may, for example, be a computing device, but not
necessarily so limited. For example, the control unit may
incorporate an integrated circuit and/or logic.
[0112] At block 346, approach 344 may incorporate determining a
temperature in a space associated with a humidifying unit. In some
versions, a temperature may be determined in a duct associated with
a humidifying unit. That is, approach 344 may incorporate
determining a temperature in a duct at a particular distance
downstream from the humidifying unit. In other versions, a
temperature may be determined at other locations. For example, a
space associated with a humidifying unit may contain a thermostat.
The thermostat may determine a temperature at its location in the
space, for example. The thermostat may be in communication with the
control unit through a wired and/or wireless connection, for
instance. However, a temperature may be determined at additional or
other locations within the space.
[0113] At block 348, approach 344 may incorporate determining a
relative humidity in the space. In some versions, a relative
humidity may be determined in a duct associated with a humidifying
unit. That is, approach 344 may incorporate determining a
downstream relative humidity in a duct at the particular distance
downstream from the humidifying unit.
[0114] In other versions, a relative humidity may be determined at
other locations. For example, a space associated with a humidifying
unit may contain a thermostat. The thermostat may determine a
relative humidity at its location in the space, for example. The
thermostat may be in communication with the control unit through a
wired and/or wireless connection, for instance. A relative humidity
may be determined at additional or other locations within the
space.
[0115] At block 350, approach 344 incorporate determining an air
speed associated with the humidifying unit. An air speed may be a
speed of air passing (e.g., passing by, over, under, across, or
otherwise) the humidifying unit. The air speed may be proportional
and/or related to a speed (e.g., speed setting) of a fan of an HVAC
system associated with the space. In some versions of the present
system, determining the air speed may incorporate determining the
fan speed. A relationship between fan speed and air speed may allow
the determination of air speed based on fan speed. It may be
understood that such a relationship may vary depending on the
particular installation and may be determined (e.g., calibrated),
for instance, at the time of installation.
[0116] Accordingly, the fan may be in communication with the
control unit through a wired and/or wireless connection. In some
versions, a fan may have a fixed speed. In other versions, a fan
may have a number of discrete speed settings. Or a fan speed may be
continuously adjustable over a range of speeds. Further yet, a fan
(e.g., a fan speed) associated with the humidifying unit may be
adjusted (e.g., to provide desired cooling, humidity, and/or air
flow).
[0117] At block 352, approach 344 may incorporate adjusting an
amount of water sprayed by the humidifying unit based on the
temperature, the relative humidity, and the air speed. Adjusting an
amount of water sprayed by the humidifying unit may incorporate
activating and/or deactivating a portion of the humidifying unit
(e.g., a number of spray units of the humidifying unit).
[0118] Adjusting may incorporate cycling of activated (e.g.,
turned-on and/or spraying) spray units. Individual spray units may
be controlled independently. The amount of water sprayed may be
adjusted based on a desired humidity level in the space associated
with the humidifying unit.
[0119] Approach 344 may incorporate determining an upstream
relative humidity in a duct upstream from the humidifying unit. The
upstream relative humidity may be determined using an upstream
sensor unit (e.g., upstream sensor unit 214), which may incorporate
one or more temperature sensors and/or relative humidity sensors.
Determining the upstream relative humidity may allow the
determination of change(s) in temperature and/or humidity caused by
the humidifier and/or the fine tuning of one or more operations of
the humidifier.
[0120] Additionally, many homes (especially in the southwestern
United States, which have warmer climates) have ducted A/C systems.
Embodiments of the present disclosure could be used as a humidifier
that uses small "atomizer" plates that create droplets of water
that are microscopic and uniform.
[0121] By tightly controlling the droplet size to something that
may be easily absorbed in a room temperature air stream, the system
may output a significantly level of moisture without risk of
condensation in the ductwork. By spraying fine droplets in the air,
the device may output far more moisture than an evaporative pad
style device, and without the pressure drop associated with a
honeycomb style pad. In this way, it may function as an evaporative
cooler while recirculating the indoor air, regardless of the
outdoor conditions.
[0122] The present system does not necessarily rely on bringing in
outdoor air, which may be undesirable for a number of reasons
(e.g., high temperature, pollution, allergens). It may be
retrofitted to existing ductwork without new ductwork or adding an
outdoor unit to the home. It may function together with an air
conditioner, instead of working against it.
[0123] The present system may operate as an "atomizer" device that
could be set up as a "stage" of cooling alongside a current
temperature and relative humidity (RH %) to understand how much
moisture could be absorbed in the airstream efficiently.
[0124] If the RH % is low enough and there may be a need for
cooling, the system could operate the humidifier instead of the air
conditioner to attempt to meet the homeowner's set point. If the
temperature load became too great, or the RH % rises above the
desired level, the unit could be turned off and the traditional A/C
could be used instead. The energy savings for doing this could be
substantial. Using a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) system
and $0.14 per kWh as a baseline, delivery of a gallon of water
using this system would save $1.14. A gallon of water may be
$0.004/gallon (or $0.02 per gallon if one needs to use reverse
osmosis (RO) and only get 20% efficiency). So a 12 gallon/day
system could save the homeowner over $13 per day in energy
costs.
[0125] Versions of the present system may be used like a
traditional humidifier as well. In winter months when it is dry,
the unit may add humidity to the air. This may increase the heating
load and cause the furnace to run to reach temperature set points.
One advantage of the present system in such a manner may be that it
may run both during "heat" cycles, but also just "fan" cycles on
the main HVAC unit, since it does not necessarily rely on the
furnace heat to evaporate moisture.
[0126] To recap, a humidifier system may incorporate an enclosure
having an input port and an output port, one or more spray units
situated in the enclosure, and a conveyance mechanism having an
output connected to the one or more spray units, and having an
input for receiving a fluid. The one or more spray units may
provide fluid droplets into air flowing through the enclosure.
[0127] The enclosure may incorporate one or more channels that
effectively extend an evaporation distance due to cyclonic effects
from the one or more channels, and consequently increase
evaporation of fluid droplets from the spray units in the air
flowing from the input port to the output port.
[0128] Each spray unit may be a nebulizer. Each nebulizer may
incorporate a plate having one or more holes with diameters between
one and one hundred microns, and a piezoelectric material attached
to the plate. The piezoelectric material may have an opening that
encloses the one or more holes of the plate. A nebulizer may share
a plate with one or more nebulizers.
[0129] The input port of the enclosure may be for receiving a flow
of air having a first temperature. The output port of the enclosure
may be for providing a flow of air having a second temperature. The
first temperature may be higher than the second temperature.
[0130] The system may further incorporate a water purifier having
an output connected to the input of the conveyance mechanism and
having an input for receiving a fluid. The fluid may be water.
[0131] The water purifier may clean the water with a reverse
osmosis process.
[0132] The enclosure may have a drain for removal of condensed
fluid in the enclosure.
[0133] The piezoelectric material may actuate the plate to vibrate
at a frequency according to an AC current applied to the
piezoelectric material.
[0134] The system may further incorporate a driver that applies the
AC current to the piezoelectric material. A self-calibrating
circuit of the driver may adjust the frequency of the AC current to
a resonant frequency of the plate of the nebulizer.
[0135] An approach for humidifying air, may incorporate flowing air
through a first port into an enclosure, through the enclosure, and
out of the enclosure through a second port of the enclosure,
spraying the air flowing through the enclosure with droplets of
water from a spray assembly, determining a relative humidity of the
air flowing out of the enclosure through the second port of the
enclosure, and adjusting an amount of water provided by the spray
assembly as droplets of water into the air flowing through the
enclosure to achieve the relative humidity at a predetermined
percentage of the air flowing out of the second port of the
enclosure.
[0136] The spray assembly may incorporate one or more spray units,
and a manifold having an input connected to a water supply and one
or more outputs connected to one or more spray units. Each spray
unit may incorporate one or more plates attached to the one or more
outputs, respectively, of the manifold. Each of the one or more
plates may have one or more holes.
[0137] The amount of water provided to the spray assembly may first
enter the input of the manifold and go through the one or more
outputs of the manifold to the one or more plates and come out from
the one or more holes of each plate as droplets of water into the
air flowing through the enclosure.
[0138] The droplets of water may be sufficiently small enough to
form a vapor in the air flowing through the enclosure or flowing
out of the enclosure through the second port of the enclosure.
[0139] Each of the one or more plates may incorporate a group of
100 to 1000 holes having a diameter between one and 20 microns.
[0140] Each of the one or more plates may further incorporate a
piezoelectric material on a perimeter on a surface of each plate
around the group of holes.
[0141] The approach may further incorporate purifying the amount of
water provided to the spray assembly.
[0142] The one or more plates may be actuated with an AC current
applied to the piezoelectric material, to provide the droplets of
water.
[0143] A humidifier may incorporate an enclosure having an input
and an output, one or more emitters situated in the enclosure, a
fluid conveyance mechanism connected to the one or more emitters,
and a control unit connected to the one or more emitters. The
control unit may be configured to activate the one or more
emitters. When the one or more emitters are activated, the one or
more emitters may be configured to provide droplets of fluid that
evaporate within a predetermined distance from the emitters, in the
enclosure.
[0144] The humidifier may further incorporate a fluid filtration
component having an input for connection to fluid supply and having
an output connected to the fluid conveyance mechanism.
[0145] Air may enter the input of the enclosure, flow through the
enclosure, and exit through the output of the enclosure. The
droplets of fluid from the one or more emitters may evaporate
within the air and due to cyclonic effects on the droplets, the
cyclonic effects may reduce the evaporation distance to increase an
amount of evaporation of the droplets flowing through one or more
channels of the enclosure.
[0146] A temperature of the air at the input of the enclosure may
be higher than a temperature of the air at the output of the
enclosure.
[0147] The humidifier may be installed to existing humidifier
ductwork by attaching it to a housing of a previously installed
humidifier.
[0148] Any publication or patent document noted herein is hereby
incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each publication
or patent document was specifically and individually indicated to
be incorporated by reference.
[0149] In the present specification, some of the matter may be of a
hypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner
or tense.
[0150] Although the present system and/or approach has been
described with respect to at least one illustrative example, many
variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled
in the art upon reading the specification. It is therefore the
intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as
possible in view of the related art to include all such variations
and modifications.
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