An environmental control system for saturation diving

Abstract

This invention discloses an environmental control system for saturation diving, comprising a chiller / hot water unit and an in-cabin environmental control unit. The chiller / hot water unit is located outside the cabin, while the in-cabin environmental control unit is located in the living quarters, transition cabin, and lavatory. The chiller / hot water unit includes a cooling unit and a heating unit. The in-cabin environmental control unit includes a carbon dioxide absorption tank, a pressure-resistant fan tank, a cooling unit, a heating unit, and a processing unit, connected sequentially along the gas flow path. The outlet and inlet of the heat exchanger in the cooling unit are connected to the cold water return port and cold water outlet, respectively, via connecting plates. The outlet and inlet of the heat exchanger in the heating unit are connected to the hot water return port and hot water outlet, respectively, via connecting plates. The processing unit includes a tank body, a temperature regulating element surrounding the outer wall of the tank body, and an annular water tank. The outer surface of the temperature regulating element is in contact with the inner surface of the annular water tank. This invention improves the response speed and control accuracy of in-cabin temperature regulation, enabling dynamic monitoring and regulation of in-cabin gas temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of saturation diving environmental control, specifically relating to an environmental control system for saturation diving. Background Technology

[0002] Saturation diving systems are primarily used for deep-sea diving operations, such as submarine rescue, emergency rescue, and salvage missions. The system consists of multiple modules, including a living quarters module, a diving bell module, a deployment module, a centralized operation and control module, a life support equipment module, an emergency high-pressure escape chamber module, a support equipment module, and an optional air supply module. The living quarters (transfer chambers), as the divers' primary working and living space, have extremely high requirements for environmental comfort, especially temperature control, which is crucial for maintaining the divers' safety and work efficiency. During deep-sea operations, the temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration inside the chamber need to be precisely adjusted according to operational needs to ensure the environment remains suitable at all times. The chiller / hot water units and the in-chamber unit, as key equipment in the environmental control system, typically provide cooling and heating through refrigeration circuits and hot water systems, respectively, to cool or heat the air inside the chamber. In addition, some systems also have preliminary dehumidification and ventilation functions to maintain air quality inside the chamber.

[0003] However, existing chiller / hot water units and environmental control units (ECUs) still have many shortcomings when applied to mobile saturation diving operations. On the one hand, traditional chiller / hot water units often have slow response times, making it difficult to provide sufficient cooling or heating in time when the internal temperature changes abruptly, resulting in temperature control lag, which is detrimental to the high-intensity, fast-paced demands of deep-sea operations. On the other hand, the gas flow path design within the tank is relatively simple, with cooling and heating units operating independently, making it impossible to achieve precise control of gas temperature and prone to overcooling or overheating. Furthermore, existing technologies lack real-time feedback mechanisms for gas temperature and carbon dioxide concentration, making it impossible to dynamically adjust the processing flow based on monitoring data. For example, if the gas still does not meet standards after treatment, manual intervention is required for secondary processing, severely impacting operational efficiency. Moreover, the existing systems have a relatively crude design for condensate collection and utilization, failing to form a closed-loop regulation structure that coordinates resource recovery and temperature control. Therefore, existing environmental control systems for saturation diving struggle to balance response speed, control accuracy, and system integration efficiency in the complex deep-sea operating environment, urgently requiring a new type of environmental control system with intelligent regulation and closed-loop management capabilities. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention proposes an environmental control system for saturation diving, aiming to improve the response speed and control accuracy of cabin temperature regulation, realize dynamic monitoring and regulation of cabin gas temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration, and construct an efficient, intelligent and stable thermal and humidity control system to meet the high requirements of mobile saturation diving operations for cabin environmental control.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0006] An environmental control system for saturation diving includes a chiller / hot water unit and an indoor environmental control unit. The chiller / hot water unit is located outside the saturation tank, while the indoor environmental control unit is located in the living quarters, transition chamber, and lavatory. The chiller / hot water unit includes a refrigeration unit and a heating unit. The refrigeration unit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and a plate heat exchanger connected in sequence. The heating unit includes a hot water storage tank and an electric hot water tank connected in sequence. The inlet and outlet of the plate heat exchanger are connected to the chiller / hot water return port and chiller / hot water outlet of the chiller / hot water unit, respectively. The inlet of the hot water storage tank is connected to the hot water return port of the chiller / hot water unit. The electric hot water... The outlet of the tank is connected to the hot water outlet of the hot and cold water unit. The indoor unit of the environmental control cabin includes a carbon dioxide absorption tank, a pressure-resistant fan tank, a cooling unit, a heating unit, and a processing unit connected in sequence along the gas flow path. The outlet and inlet of the heat exchanger of the cooling unit are connected to the cold water return port and the cold water outlet, respectively, through a connecting plate. The outlet and inlet of the heat exchanger of the heating unit are connected to the hot water return port and the hot water outlet, respectively, through a connecting plate. The processing unit includes a tank body and a temperature regulating element and an annular water tank arranged around the outer wall of the tank body. The outer surface of the temperature regulating element is in contact with the inner surface of the annular water tank.

[0007] Preferably, a cold water storage tank is further provided between the plate heat exchanger and the cold water return port, and a first solenoid valve and a first water pump are provided between the cold water storage tank and the plate heat exchanger.

[0008] Preferably, a bypass pipeline is provided between the cold water return port and the cold water outlet, and a rapid cooling element and a second solenoid valve are provided on the bypass pipeline.

[0009] Preferably, a third solenoid valve and a second water pump are provided between the hot water storage tank and the electric hot water tank. The outlet of the second water pump is also connected to the cold water storage tank through a connecting pipe, and a fourth solenoid valve is provided on the connecting pipe.

[0010] Preferably, the processing unit is equipped with a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide concentration sensor, and a controller. The temperature regulating element is a semiconductor refrigeration element. The contact surface between the temperature regulating element and the processing unit is either a cold end or a hot end. The controller switches between cooling and heating by switching the direction of the energizing current, thereby achieving precise regulation of the gas temperature inside the chamber.

[0011] Preferably, the casing of the processing unit is also connected to a return pipeline, which is equipped with a vacuum pump and a fifth solenoid valve. The return pipeline returns to the cooling unit through a first return branch and to the carbon dioxide absorption tank through a second return branch. A sixth solenoid valve and a seventh solenoid valve are respectively installed on the first and second return branches.

[0012] Preferably, the controller is configured to: activate the vacuum pump, the fifth solenoid valve, and the sixth solenoid valve when only the deviation between the gas temperature inside the chamber and the target temperature exceeds a first temperature threshold; activate the vacuum pump, the fifth solenoid valve, and the seventh solenoid valve when only the deviation between the carbon dioxide concentration inside the chamber and the target concentration exceeds a concentration threshold; and activate the vacuum pump, the fifth solenoid valve, and the seventh solenoid valve when both the deviation between the gas temperature inside the chamber and the target temperature exceeds the first temperature threshold and the deviation between the carbon dioxide concentration inside the chamber and the target concentration exceeds a concentration threshold.

[0013] Preferably, when the deviation between the gas temperature inside the chamber and the target temperature is less than a first temperature threshold and greater than a second temperature threshold, the controller controls the temperature regulating element to be energized for cooling or heating.

[0014] Preferably, the lower part of the heat exchanger of the cooling unit is provided with a water collection tray, which is connected to the annular water tank through a pipe for recycling or heat exchange and temperature regulation. The annular water tank can be used as a water supply tank for the humidification equipment.

[0015] Preferably, the condenser is provided with a cooling water inlet and a cooling water outlet for connection with an external cooling circulation system.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0017] (1) This invention, by setting up a highly efficient heat exchange connection structure between the hot and cold water units and multiple functional units inside the cabin, enables the gas inside the cabin to be quickly cooled or heated when the temperature changes abruptly, significantly improving the temperature control response speed. At the same time, the cabin is equipped with a cooling unit, a heating unit, and a fine-tuning processing unit, supporting multi-level temperature control strategies. It can flexibly adjust the gas temperature according to the actual working conditions, avoiding overcooling or overheating, and ensuring that divers are in a comfortable and stable working environment. The cooling unit in this invention not only has a cooling function, but can also dehumidify the gas inside the cabin. The dehumidified gas can continue to flow through the heating unit to achieve rewarming, effectively preventing low-temperature discomfort caused by a sudden drop in air humidity, improving the continuity and comfort of gas regulation, and adapting to the dual control requirements of dryness and temperature in saturated diving environments.

[0018] (2) This invention features a processing unit at the end of the gas flow path within the chamber, equipped with a return pipeline and multi-way solenoid valves, supporting gas return to the cooling unit or carbon dioxide absorption tank for secondary treatment. Combining monitoring data from temperature and carbon dioxide concentration sensors, the controller can determine in real time whether the gas meets standards, dynamically control the airflow path, and achieve intelligent closed-loop processing, reducing the frequency of manual intervention and improving the stability and reliability of system operation. This invention also incorporates a semiconductor cooling element in the processing unit, suitable for precise control when gas temperature changes are small, and achieves switching between hot and cold modes through current direction switching. Compared to traditional methods relying on large temperature differences in chilled and hot water units for regulation, this solution can achieve precise control of the gas temperature within the chamber without increasing energy consumption, improving energy efficiency and effectively extending equipment lifespan.

[0019] (3) The present invention includes a water collection tray in the cooling unit to collect condensate during the gas cooling process and introduce it into an annular water tank around the processing unit through a pipeline. The annular water tank can not only form a heat exchange structure with the temperature control element to improve the gas temperature control efficiency in the cabin, but also serve as a water supply tank for the humidification equipment, providing water to the humidification module when the cabin environment is dry, thereby realizing closed-loop regulation of dehumidification and humidification. The present invention makes full use of condensate resources and constructs a multi-purpose water circulation system that integrates recovery, temperature control and humidification functions, thereby improving the overall energy efficiency and cabin comfort control capabilities. Attached Figure Description

[0020] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an environmental control system for saturation diving, as shown in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a chiller unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the environmental control cabin internal unit shown in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the temperature regulating element and the annular water tank as shown in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Reference numerals: 1-Compressor; 2-Condenser; 3-Expansion valve; 4-Plate heat exchanger; 5-Hot water storage tank; 6-Electric hot water tank; 7-Cold water return port; 8-Cold water outlet; 9-Hot water return port; 10-Hot water outlet; 11-Carbon dioxide absorption tank; 12-Pressure-resistant fan tank; 13-Cooling unit; 14-Heating unit; 15-Processing unit; 16-Temperature regulating element; 17-Annular water tank; 18-Cold water storage tank; 19-First solenoid valve; 20-First water pump; 21-Rapid cooling element; 22-Second solenoid valve; 23-Third solenoid valve; 24-Second water pump; 25-Fourth solenoid valve; 26-Return pipeline; 27-Air pump; 28-Fifth solenoid valve; 29-First return branch; 30-Second return branch; 31-Sixth solenoid valve; 32-Seventh solenoid valve; 33-Water collection pan; 34-Cooling water inlet; 35-Cooling water outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, a more detailed description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is described as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between them. When an element is described as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between them. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," and similar expressions used in this specification are for illustrative purposes only. In the description of the present invention, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating relative importance or implying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, unless otherwise stated, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature; "multiple" means two or more. The term "comprising" and any variations thereof mean non-exclusive inclusion, where one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, units, components, and / or combinations thereof may be present or added.

[0027] Furthermore, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections via an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two components. All technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0028] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0029] Please see Figure 1-4 This embodiment provides an environmental control system for saturated submersibles, including a chiller / hot water unit and an indoor environmental control unit. The chiller / hot water unit is located outside the submersible, while the indoor environmental control unit is located in the living quarters, transition chambers, and lavatory. The chiller / hot water unit includes a refrigeration unit and a heating unit. The refrigeration unit includes a compressor 1, a condenser 2, an expansion valve 3, and a plate heat exchanger 4 connected in sequence. The compressor 1 compresses the refrigerant to increase its temperature and pressure. The condenser 2 releases heat and condenses the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant into a liquid state. The expansion valve 3 depressurizes the liquid refrigerant. The plate heat exchanger 4 transfers cooling capacity through heat exchange with the water circuit. The heating unit includes a hot water storage tank 5 and an electric hot water tank 6 connected in sequence. The hot water storage tank 5 pre-stores hot water, and the electric hot water tank 6 further increases the water temperature through electric heating to supply high-temperature heat transfer fluid. The inlet and outlet of the plate heat exchanger 4 are connected to the cold water return port 7 and cold water outlet 8 of the chiller unit, respectively, forming a circulating path for the refrigerant water to provide cooling capacity to the cooling unit 13. The inlet of the hot water storage tank 5 is connected to the hot water return port 9 of the chiller unit, and the outlet of the electric hot water tank 6 is connected to the hot water outlet 10 of the chiller unit, forming a hot water supply path to provide heat to the heating unit 14. The indoor unit of the environmental control cabin includes a carbon dioxide absorption tank 11, a pressure-resistant fan tank 12, a cooling unit 13, a heating unit 14, and a processing unit 15, which are connected sequentially along the gas flow path.

[0030] The carbon dioxide absorption tank 11 is used to remove carbon dioxide from the cabin air. Carbon dioxide removal is achieved through a soda lime box installed in the ventilation circuit of the cabin's environmental control unit. The soda lime box is filled with soda lime particles that chemically react with carbon dioxide. As airflow passes through, these particles efficiently adsorb and neutralize the carbon dioxide in the gas, ensuring a safe and stable air composition within the cabin. Two soda lime boxes are provided as backups for each other. When one box becomes saturated or needs replacement, the system can switch to the backup box to continue operation, ensuring uninterrupted carbon dioxide removal and improving system reliability and continuous operation. To further purify the cabin air, other filter materials can be installed in the carbon dioxide absorption tank 11 to absorb methane and other harmful gases, creating a multi-stage purification module to meet the high air quality standards required in saturated diving environments.

[0031] The pressure-resistant fan tank 12 provides airflow driving force, propelling the gas through the subsequent processing structure. The cooling unit 13 and heating unit 14 respectively achieve cooling and heating regulation of the gas. The outlet and inlet of the heat exchanger of the cooling unit 13 are connected to the cold water return port 7 and the cold water outlet 8 through connecting plates, respectively, to achieve a refrigerant water circulation connection with the chiller unit, thereby completing the cold exchange. The outlet and inlet of the heat exchanger of the heating unit 14 are connected to the hot water return port 9 and the hot water outlet 10 through connecting plates, forming a closed-loop flow path of the hot water medium to provide heat regulation. The processing unit 15 includes a housing and a temperature regulating element 16 and an annular water tank 17 arranged around the outer wall of the housing. The outer surface of the temperature regulating element 16 is in contact with the inner surface of the annular water tank 17. The temperature regulating element 16 adopts a semiconductor refrigeration structure for fine temperature regulation of the gas after preliminary treatment.

[0032] Furthermore, a cold water storage tank 18 is provided between the plate heat exchanger 4 and the cold water return port 7. The cold water storage tank 18 is used to store and buffer the cold water supply to ensure the stability of the cooling system operation. A first solenoid valve 19 and a first water pump 20 are provided between the cold water storage tank 18 and the plate heat exchanger 4. The first solenoid valve 19 is used to control the flow direction of the cold water, and the first water pump 20 provides power to deliver the cold water to the plate heat exchanger 4 for cooling.

[0033] In this embodiment, a bypass pipe is provided between the cold water return port 7 and the cold water outlet 8. This bypass pipe provides an alternative path for the cooling water flow, improving the flexibility and rapid response capability of the cooling system. A rapid cooling element 21 and a second solenoid valve 22 are installed on the bypass pipe. The rapid cooling element 21 is a ring-shaped semiconductor refrigeration element, with the inner side being the cold end and the outer side the hot end. The cold end directly contacts the cooling water flowing through the bypass pipe, rapidly reducing the water temperature to meet the initial rapid cooling requirement. The hot end is wrapped with a heat storage medium, which absorbs and stores the heat released by the semiconductor refrigeration element during operation, preventing heat from diffusing into the surrounding environment and affecting system performance. The rapid cooling element 21 can be quickly started and stopped by controlling the cooling water flow direction through the second solenoid valve 22, meeting the cooling system's adjustment requirements for cooling output under different operating conditions, further optimizing the cooling process's response speed and energy efficiency. In some embodiments, the heat absorbed by the heat storage medium can be further utilized, specifically by connecting it to the hot water storage tank 5 through a pipe, achieving efficient heat recovery. When the rapid cooling element 21 stops operating or switches to compressor refrigeration, the heat stored in the heat storage medium can be conducted to the hot water storage tank 5 through the heat pipe, raising the water temperature in the hot water storage tank 5 and providing initial heat support for the subsequent heating process.

[0034] Furthermore, a third solenoid valve 23 and a second water pump 24 are installed between the hot water storage tank 5 and the electric hot water tank 6. The third solenoid valve 23 controls the hot water flow path, and the second water pump 24 provides power to deliver hot water to the electric hot water tank 6 for heating. The outlet of the second water pump 24 is also connected to the cold water storage tank 18 via a connecting pipe. A fourth solenoid valve 25 is installed on the connecting pipe. The fourth solenoid valve 25 can control the flow of cold water from the cold water storage tank 18 into the heating unit, thereby achieving flexible switching and coordination between the cold and hot water systems. The design of the fourth solenoid valve 25 allows the heating and cooling units to be effectively combined. Under certain circumstances, the heating unit can introduce cold water for cooling. For example, when the electric hot water tank 6 overheats during continuous heating, the cold water flow path can be opened by the fourth solenoid valve 25 to introduce cold water from the cold water storage tank 18 into the electric hot water tank 6, quickly lowering the water temperature and preventing excessive temperature from affecting cabin comfort or damaging system equipment. In addition, after the short-term heating requirement inside the cabin ends, if it is necessary to appropriately reduce the cabin temperature, cold water can be directly introduced through the fourth solenoid valve 25 to cool it down, thereby shortening the system response time and meeting the requirements for dynamic temperature regulation.

[0035] In this embodiment, the processing unit 15 is equipped with a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide concentration sensor, and a controller. The temperature sensor is used to collect the temperature data of the gas inside the chamber after preliminary treatment in real time. The humidity sensor is used to detect the relative humidity of the gas inside the chamber. The carbon dioxide concentration sensor is used to monitor the carbon dioxide content in the gas. The controller analyzes and processes the data from the above sensors and issues control commands based on the processing results to achieve automatic system adjustment. The temperature regulating element 16 adopts a semiconductor cooling element. The semiconductor cooling element operates using the Peltier effect and has the characteristics of fast response and strong controllability in the field of small-scale, precise temperature regulation. It is suitable for fine-tuning the end of the gas inside the chamber. The contact surface between the temperature regulating element 16 and the chamber of the processing unit 15 is either the cold end or the hot end. This contact surface can achieve cooling or heating of the gas inside the chamber. When it is the cold end, it absorbs heat to cool the gas; when it is the hot end, it releases heat to heat the gas, thereby flexibly adjusting according to the needs of the chamber. The controller switches between cooling and heating by changing the direction of the energizing current. Specifically, it reverses the direction of electron flow within the semiconductor cooling element, thereby controlling the exchange between the cold and hot ends to achieve precise regulation of the gas temperature inside the chamber, meeting the high requirements for comfort and safety in deep-sea operations. When the humidity sensor detects that the humidity inside the chamber exceeds a set threshold, the controller directs the gas flow through the cooling unit 13 for dehumidification, followed by a rewarming operation through the heating unit 14. This prevents the gas temperature from dropping during dehumidification and causing discomfort to the divers, thus achieving separate regulation of temperature and humidity, ensuring the stability and comfort of the chamber environment.

[0036] In some embodiments, the housing of the processing unit 15 is also connected to a return pipeline 26. The return pipeline 26 is used to guide gas that still does not meet the standards after processing back to the pre-processing module for repeated adjustment, thus constructing a closed-loop circulation path for the gas in the chamber to improve the adjustment effect and system stability. The return pipeline 26 is equipped with a vacuum pump 27 and a fifth solenoid valve 28. The vacuum pump 27 provides return power for the gas, and the fifth solenoid valve 28 controls whether gas is allowed to enter the return path. The return pipeline 26 returns to the cooling unit 13 through a first return branch 29. Returning to the cooling unit 13 does not necessarily mean that the gas will be cooled; rather, it means that the gas will pass through the cooling unit 13 and the heating unit 14 sequentially along the path. Whether these two units are activated is determined and controlled by the controller according to the temperature adjustment needs. The gas returns to the carbon dioxide absorption tank 11 via the second return branch 30. After returning through the carbon dioxide absorption tank 11, the gas continues to flow through the cooling unit 13 and the heating unit 14 to ensure a suitable gas temperature. When temperature regulation is not required, the cooling unit 13 and the heating unit 14 are shut off. A sixth solenoid valve 31 and a seventh solenoid valve 32 are respectively installed on the first return branch 29 and the second return branch 30. The sixth solenoid valve 31 is used to control whether the airflow is guided to pass through the cooling unit 13, and the seventh solenoid valve 32 is used to control whether the airflow is guided to pass through the carbon dioxide absorption tank 11, thereby achieving precise allocation and closed-loop regulation of the airflow processing path.

[0037] Accordingly, the controller is configured such that when the deviation between the gas temperature inside the chamber and the target temperature exceeds the first temperature threshold, the controller opens the air pump 27, the fifth solenoid valve 28 and the sixth solenoid valve 31 to allow the gas to flow back to the cooling unit 13. The gas passes through the cooling unit 13 and the heating unit 14 in sequence. The controller decides whether to open any of the units based on the current temperature deviation to ensure that the gas can achieve the required temperature regulation after passing through these structures.

[0038] When the deviation between the carbon dioxide concentration in the chamber and the target concentration exceeds the concentration threshold, the controller activates the vacuum pump 27, the fifth solenoid valve 28, and the seventh solenoid valve 32. The gas will preferentially flow through the carbon dioxide absorption tank 11 to remove excess carbon dioxide. At the same time, the gas will still pass through the cooling unit 13 and the heating unit 14, but the controller will not activate the cooling unit 13 and the heating unit 14 at this time, that is, keep them in the closed state to avoid unnecessary temperature disturbances and ensure that gas composition treatment is the primary objective.

[0039] When the deviation between the gas temperature inside the chamber and the target temperature exceeds the first temperature threshold and the deviation between the carbon dioxide concentration inside the chamber and the target concentration exceeds the concentration threshold, the controller activates the vacuum pump 27, the fifth solenoid valve 28, and the seventh solenoid valve 32. The gas first enters the carbon dioxide absorption tank 11 for gas composition adjustment, and then passes through the cooling unit 13 and the heating unit 14. Under this condition, the controller determines whether to activate the cooling unit 13 or the heating unit 14 based on the temperature deviation, thereby realizing the linkage control of carbon dioxide removal and temperature regulation, and improving the overall environmental control performance and regulation accuracy.

[0040] When the deviation between the gas temperature inside the chamber and the target temperature is less than the first temperature threshold and greater than the second temperature threshold, the controller controls the temperature regulating element 16 to be energized for cooling or heating. At this time, there is no need for large-scale system circulation processing through the gas extraction and return path. Instead, the gas is precisely fine-tuned at the end through semiconductor refrigeration technology in the processing unit 15 to reduce energy consumption, improve system response efficiency, and enhance the flexibility and adaptability of environmental control.

[0041] In addition, a water collection tray 33 is provided at the bottom of the heat exchanger of the cooling unit 13. The water collection tray 33 is used to collect condensate generated during the gas dehumidification process, preventing water droplets from remaining at the bottom of the heat exchanger and affecting heat exchange efficiency, or from dripping into the equipment and causing corrosion or short circuits. The water collection tray 33 is connected to the annular water tank 17 through a pipe. The connecting pipe can orderly introduce the collected water into the annular water tank 17, forming a path for the reuse of condensate and avoiding resource waste. The annular water tank 17 is used for recycling or heat exchange temperature regulation. On the one hand, the condensate, as an intermediate working fluid, can participate in the heat exchange process of the temperature regulating element 16, improving temperature regulation efficiency and stabilizing heat conduction. On the other hand, the condensate stored in the annular water tank 17 can serve as a water supply tank for the humidification equipment, providing water to the humidification system when the humidity inside the cabin is low. This achieves a closed-loop water management strategy between dehumidification, reheating, and rehumidification, meeting the needs of precise humidity control inside the cabin during deep-sea operations.

[0042] In this embodiment, the condenser 2 is equipped with a cooling water inlet 34 and a cooling water outlet 35. The cooling water inlet 34 is used to introduce low-temperature cooling water from the external cooling circulation system, and the cooling water outlet 35 is used to discharge the high-temperature water after heat exchange, thereby completing the heat exchange process between the refrigerant inside the condenser 2 and the external cooling water. In typical saturated submersible applications, the external cooling water can also indirectly utilize seawater as a cold source through a plate heat exchanger. The seawater transfers its cooling capacity to a closed freshwater circulation system through a primary heat exchanger, and then the freshwater system transports it to the condenser 2 for heat exchange. This ensures the cleanliness and corrosion resistance of the internal water system while fully utilizing the stable and abundant low-temperature resources in the marine environment, significantly improving cooling efficiency and energy utilization.

[0043] The in-cabin unit of this invention constructs a fully functional gas processing path through a carbon dioxide absorption tank 11, a pressure-resistant fan tank 12, a cooling unit 13, a heating unit 14, and a processing unit 15 connected in sequence. It possesses a closed-loop control capability covering the entire process, from gas circulation drive, harmful gas removal, temperature and humidity regulation to fine-tuning at the terminal. The cooling unit 13 and heating unit 14 can be activated as needed to achieve gas cooling, heating, and dehumidification. The processing unit 15, in conjunction with the temperature control element 16 and the annular water tank 17, not only has the ability to fine-tune the gas temperature at the terminal but also, combined with condensate recovery and humidification water supply functions, achieves humidity regulation. Through real-time monitoring by temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration sensors, and intelligent judgment of the processing strategy by the controller, the in-cabin unit can dynamically adjust the gas state according to operational needs, achieving precise control of multiple parameters such as temperature, humidity, and gas composition, fully meeting the high standards of safety, stability, and comfort required for the in-cabin environment in saturation diving operations.

[0044] In summary, this invention discloses an environmental control system for saturated diving, comprising a chilled / hot water unit located outside the cabin and an indoor environmental control unit located in the living quarters, transition cabin, and lavatory. The chilled / hot water unit includes a refrigeration unit consisting of a compressor 1, a condenser 2, an expansion valve 3, and a plate heat exchanger 4, and a heating unit consisting of a hot water storage tank 5 and an electric hot water tank 6, providing chilled water and heated water to the cooling unit 13 and heating unit 14, respectively. The indoor unit is sequentially connected along the gas flow path to a carbon dioxide absorption tank 11, a pressure-resistant fan tank 12, a cooling unit 13, a heating unit 14, and a processing unit 15. The processing unit 15 is equipped with a temperature regulating element 16 and an annular water tank 17, enabling fine-tuning of the terminal gas temperature and condensate recycling and reuse. This invention utilizes the coordinated detection of temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration sensors, combined with intelligent control of the temperature regulating element 16, the air pump 27, and multiple solenoid valves by a controller. Guided by the return pipeline 26, the first return branch 29, and the second return branch 30, it achieves gas recirculation and precise regulation according to different operating conditions within the chamber. This system possesses multiple functions including dehumidification, humidification, cooling, heating, carbon dioxide removal, and end-point temperature regulation, meeting the high reliability and adaptability requirements for controlling the gas environment within the chamber. This invention solves the problems of slow response, inaccurate regulation, lack of closed-loop feedback, and water resource recovery mechanisms in traditional saturation diving environmental control systems, providing a safer, more energy-efficient, and intelligent environmental control solution for deep-sea saturation diving operations, and has significant engineering application value and promising prospects for widespread application.

[0045] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Under the concept of the present invention, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of the present invention as described above. For the sake of brevity, they are not provided in detail. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control system for saturation diving, characterized in that, The application relates to a cold and hot water unit and a cabin air-conditioning unit, wherein the cold and hot water unit is arranged outside the cabin, the cabin air-conditioning unit is arranged in a living cabin, a transition cabin and a cabin washroom, the cold and hot water unit comprises a refrigeration unit and a heating unit, the refrigeration unit comprises a compressor (1), a condenser (2), an expansion valve (3) and a plate heat exchanger (4) which are sequentially connected, the heating unit comprises a heat storage water tank (5) and an electric water tank (6) which are sequentially connected, the inlet end and the outlet end of the plate heat exchanger (4) are connected with a cold water return (7) and a cold water outlet (8) of the cold and hot water unit respectively, the water inlet of the heat storage water tank (5) is connected with a hot water return (9) of the cold and hot water unit, the water outlet of the electric water tank (6) is connected with a hot water outlet (10) of the cold and hot water unit, the cabin air-conditioning unit comprises a carbon dioxide absorption tank (11), a pressure-resistant fan tank (12), a cooling unit (13), a heating unit (14) and a processing unit (15) which are sequentially connected along a gas flow path, the water outlet and the water inlet of the heat exchanger of the cooling unit (13) are communicated with the cold water return (7) and the cold water outlet (8) through connecting plates respectively, the water outlet and the water inlet of the heat exchanger of the heating unit (14) are communicated with the hot water return (9) and the hot water outlet (10) through connecting plates, the processing unit (15) comprises a box body and a temperature adjusting element (16) and a ring-shaped water tank (17) which are arranged on the outer wall of the box body, the outer surface of the temperature adjusting element (16) is in contact with the inner surface of the ring-shaped water tank (17); the box body of the processing unit (15) is provided with a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide concentration sensor and a controller, the temperature adjusting element (16) adopts a semiconductor refrigeration element, the contact surface of the temperature adjusting element (16) and the box body of the processing unit (15) is a cold end or a hot end, the controller switches the current direction to realize the switching of refrigeration and heating, so as to accurately adjust the temperature of the cabin gas.

2. The saturation diving RCVS of claim 1, wherein, A cold water storage tank (18) is arranged between the plate heat exchanger (4) and the cold water return (7), a first electromagnetic valve (19) and a first water pump (20) are arranged between the cold water storage tank (18) and the plate heat exchanger (4).

3. The saturation diving RCVS of claim 2, wherein, A bypass pipeline is arranged between the cold water return (7) and the cold water outlet (8), a rapid cooling element (21) and a second electromagnetic valve (22) are arranged on the bypass pipeline.

4. The saturation diving RCVS of claim 3, wherein, A third electromagnetic valve (23) and a second water pump (24) are arranged between the heat storage water tank (5) and the electric water tank (6), the outlet of the second water pump (24) is communicated with the cold water storage tank (18) through a connecting pipeline, and a fourth electromagnetic valve (25) is arranged on the connecting pipeline.

5. The saturation diving RCVS of claim 4, wherein, The box of the processing unit (15) is further connected with a backflow pipeline (26), which is provided with an air extraction pump (27) and a fifth electromagnetic valve (28), and returns to the cooling unit (13) through a first backflow branch (29) and to the carbon dioxide absorption tank (11) through a second backflow branch (30), and the first backflow branch (29) and the second backflow branch (30) are respectively provided with a sixth electromagnetic valve (31) and a seventh electromagnetic valve (32).

6. The saturation diving RCVS of claim 5, wherein, The controller is configured to: when only the deviation of the gas temperature in the box from the target temperature exceeds the first temperature threshold, the controller starts the air extraction pump (27), the fifth electromagnetic valve (28) and the sixth electromagnetic valve (31); when only the deviation of the carbon dioxide concentration in the box from the target concentration exceeds the concentration threshold, the controller starts the air extraction pump (27), the fifth electromagnetic valve (28) and the seventh electromagnetic valve (32); when the deviation of the gas temperature in the box from the target temperature exceeds the first temperature threshold and the deviation of the carbon dioxide concentration in the box from the target concentration exceeds the concentration threshold, the controller starts the air extraction pump (27), the fifth electromagnetic valve (28) and the seventh electromagnetic valve (32).

7. The saturation diving RCVS of claim 6, wherein, When the deviation of the gas temperature in the box from the target temperature is less than the first temperature threshold and greater than the second temperature threshold, the controller controls the temperature regulating element (16) to be powered on to cool or heat.

8. The saturation diving RCVS of claim 5, wherein, The lower part of the heat exchanger of the cooling unit (13) is provided with a water collecting tray (33) connected to the annular water tank (17) through a pipeline for recycling or heat exchange temperature regulation, and the annular water tank (17) can be used as a water supply tank of a humidifying device.

9. The saturation diving RCVS of claim 1 wherein, The condenser (2) is provided with a cooling water inlet (34) and a cooling water outlet (35) for communication with an external cooling circulation system.

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