Device for regulating the humidity level for a heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for regulating the humidity level for a heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, the system being configured to regulate the temperature of a volume and comprising at least one air ventilation circuit generating a flow of air emerging into the volume, characterized in that the device comprises: - a humidity sensor configured to measure the humidity level of the volume regulated in temperature by the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system; - a device (3) for supplying water to the ventilation circuit so that the water is evaporated by the flow of air generated by the ventilation circuit; the water supply device (3) supplying water according to the value of the humidity level measured by the relative humidity sensor.

Description

[0001] HUMIDITY REGULATION DEVICE FOR A HEATING, VENTILATION AND / OR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

[0002]

[0001] [The present invention relates to the general field of heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems, and more particularly to devices for controlling or regulating the humidity level, in particular the relative humidity level, in a space or volume whose temperature is regulated by such heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems.

[0003] [2] In fact, heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems are activated and controlled by a single parameter which is the temperature measured in the volume, such as a room, a container, a house, a building, etc. of which the said system regulates the temperature.

[0004] [3] Some heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems include sensors capable of measuring other parameters or physical quantities, but no system includes an independent device for actively regulating, or controlling, the humidity level of the volume thermally regulated by a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system.

[0005] [4] Furthermore, in standard heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems, such as air conditioners, only a condensate drain is present to remove water condensed on cold surfaces inside said systems (for example certain heat exchanger surfaces). This naturally leads to a reduction in the relative humidity prevailing in said volume under thermal regulation of such a system.

[0006] [5] Unfortunately, if the climate is dry (e.g. desert areas, arid and cold areas, etc.), this drainage of condensates, usually complete, is excessive, and causes a decrease in relative humidity to a value below a comfort value for a human being, the air becomes for example too dry and can cause respiratory problems for humans. This can also lead to the creation of undesirable and potentially harmful side effects, such as increased static electricity discharges. [6] In the case of humid and hot countries (e.g. tropical zones), heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems usually include one or more devices to dry the fresh air (i.e. air coming from outside) entering to avoid excessive condensation of water in the regulated volume.In fact, the presence of water droplets encourages the development of mold, fungi or bacteria in the air ducts, but also in the volume whose temperature is regulated by such systems, for example in the case of a room in a house, on shutters, ceilings, walls, etc.

[0007] [7] This need to dry the air is an expensive operation, and generally entails a high maintenance cost as well.

[0008] [8] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of device for regulating the humidity level, for example the relative humidity level, for a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, said system being configured to regulate the temperature of a volume and comprising at least one air ventilation circuit generating an air flow opening into said volume, characterized in that said device comprises:

[0009] - a humidity or relative humidity sensor, configured to measure the humidity level of said volume regulated in temperature by said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system;

[0010] - a device for supplying water to said ventilation circuit so that the water is evaporated by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit; said water supply device supplying water according to the value of the humidity level measured by said relative humidity sensor.

[0011] [9] According to a possible characteristic, said water supply device is configured to supply water from condensates, either from a condensate evacuation circuit of said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system or directly from a surface on which the water condenses.

[0012] It will be noted that condensates are understood to mean the fact that the humidity (or water) contained in the air condenses, for example on contact with a cold surface, in the form of liquid water, generally droplets.

[0010] According to another possible characteristic, said water supply device is configured to supply water from a water circuit, for example a water distribution network of said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, a water supply (preferably directly), and / or a water tank, for example internal or external.

[0013]

[0011] According to another possible characteristic, said water supply device comprises a valve configured to regulate the quantity of water supplied and intended to be evaporated by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit.

[0014]

[0012] According to another possible characteristic, the valve comprises a device for distributing water by vaporization or evaporation, or a device of the drip type.

[0015]

[0013] According to another possible characteristic, said valve is arranged vertically and comprises an electromagnet configured to control the opening and / or closing of said valve.

[0016] Said valve may also comprise a return spring, for example associated with a flap, to close the valve after it has been opened by said electromagnet.

[0017]

[0014] According to another possible characteristic, said valve comprises a calibrated orifice of the “flow reducer” type, a laminar tube and / or a filter.

[0018] Advantageously, said valve is equipped with a filter to protect the laminar tube or the calibrated orifice from impurities which may be present in the water.

[0019]

[0015] According to another possible characteristic, said water supply device comprises a tray or container for containing the water supplied by said water supply device.

[0020] When the water brought into said tank results from the recovery of condensates (directly or via a dedicated condensate recovery circuit), the tank is generally referred to as a “condensate recovery tank”.

[0021]

[0016] According to another possible characteristic, said tray comprises a foam, a sponge or a porous material.

[0022] Advantageously, a foam, a sponge or a porous material placed in said tray makes it possible to facilitate the re-evaporation of condensates in the air flow generated by the ventilation circuit of said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system.

[0023]

[0017] According to another possible characteristic, said tank comprises an overflow system, in order to evacuate excess water when the water exceeds a predetermined quantity of water or water level.

[0024] Said overflow system is for example a level overflow hole integrated into said tray, for example in the case of condensates, this allows excess condensates to be evacuated before the water overflows from said condensate recovery tray.

[0025]

[0018] According to another possible characteristic, said water supply device comprises a diffuser and / or a tube configured to distribute the water in a predefined area of ​​said tank or container.

[0026] Said water supply device advantageously comprises an element making it possible to distribute the water in areas of the tank which will allow more rapid evaporation of the water by the air flow from said ventilation circuit.

[0027]

[0019] According to another possible characteristic, the regulating device comprises an electronic control unit configured to control the quantity of water supplied by said water supply device as a function of the humidity value measured by said humidity sensor.

[0028] The control unit allows, for example, to define or adjust a humidity setpoint value, the unit being connected to said humidity sensor and to the water supply device, in order to regulate the water to reach a predefined setpoint value.

[0029]

[0020] According to another possible characteristic, said control unit is located inside said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system or in the volume regulated in temperature by said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, for example in a user interface box.

[0030]

[0021] The invention also relates to a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, said system comprising at least one ventilation circuit, characterized in that said system comprises a device for regulating the humidity level as mentioned above.

[0022] According to another possible characteristic, said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system comprises a phase change material configured to store or release calories.

[0031]

[0023] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0032] - Figure 1 illustrates a schematic, very partial and sectional view of a humidity regulation device according to the invention;

[0033] - Figure 2 illustrates a very partial schematic and sectional view of part of a humidity control device of Figure 1.

[0034]

[0024] In the following description, the term "comprise" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it allows the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "comprise" includes the terms "consist of". Furthermore, it will be noted that in the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

[0035]

[0025] Figure 1 thus illustrates a schematic, very partial and sectional view of a humidity level regulation device (1) according to the invention. Such a regulation device (1) is in particular intended to be mounted in (or to equip) a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system (not shown).

[0036]

[0026] Such a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system is configured to regulate the temperature of a volume or space, such as a room, a container, a house, a building, etc. For this, said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system comprises one or more heat exchangers, a fluid circuit, as well as a ventilation circuit configured to generate an air flow at a given temperature after its passage through a heat exchanger of said system (elements not shown).

[0037]

[0027] The fluid circuit of said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system is configured so that the fluid, for example water, circulates in one or more heat exchangers, in order to capture or transfer calories to the air flow passing through at least one of said exchangers. Said air flow is therefore thermally conditioned before opening into said volume, said system thus regulates the temperature prevailing in said volume by means of said air flow.

[0038]

[0028] It will be noted that in an alternative embodiment, said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system comprises a phase change material configured to store or release calories from the air flow and / or from the fluid circulating in said fluid circuit of said system.

[0039]

[0029] The humidity regulation device (1), for its part, comprises:

[0040] - a humidity sensor (not shown), for example a relative humidity sensor, configured to measure the relative humidity level of said volume regulated in temperature by said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system;

[0041] - a water supply device (3) configured so that the water is evaporated by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit.

[0042]

[0030] Furthermore, said water supply device (3) is configured to supply water, at the level of the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit, according to the value of the humidity level (or the relative humidity level) measured by said humidity sensor.

[0043]

[0031] The regulating device (1) also comprises an electronic control unit (not shown) configured to control the quantity of water supplied by said water supply device (3) as a function of the humidity value measured by said humidity sensor. The required humidity level or rate can thus be adjusted via the electronic control unit.

[0044]

[0032] Said control unit is for example located inside said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system or in the volume regulated in temperature by said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, for example in a user interface box arranged in the room. The electronic control unit comprises for example a card or a microcontroller in which algorithms allow the regulation of the relative humidity by controlling the water supply device (and its sub-elements) as well as the humidity sensor.

[0045]

[0033] Thus, when the humidity level is below the comfort threshold, generally 25 to 30% relative humidity, the water supply device (3) delivers water which is evaporated by the air flow generated by the ventilation circuit. When the determined relative humidity level is reached, then the supply device (3) stops supplying water, but restarts if the relative humidity level drops again. It will be noted that the disturbance of the relative humidity level comes mainly from the voluntary or involuntary admission of outside air into the volume to be heated or thermally regulated.

[0046]

[0034] More particularly, said water supply device (3) is configured to supply water from one or more separate sources:

[0047] - a water circuit (5), partially visible in Figure 1, for example a water distribution network specific to the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, a water supply, and / or a water tank (internal or external);

[0048] - a condensate evacuation circuit (7), partially visible in Figure 2, of said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system.

[0049]

[0035] Furthermore, said water supply device (3) comprises a valve (9) configured to regulate the quantity of water supplied and intended to be evaporated by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit.

[0050]

[0036] Said valve (9) comprises for example a passage (9a) for the fluid, here water, equipped with a valve, as well as an electromagnet (9b) or an actuator configured to open said valve to allow the water to flow, as well as a return spring (not shown) configured to return the valve (not shown) to the closed position (once the electromagnet is no longer acting).

[0051]

[0037] Said valve (9) may also comprise a device for distributing water by vaporization / evaporation, a device of the drip type, a calibrated orifice of the “flow reducer” type, a laminar tube (9c) and / or a filter (9d). Advantageously, said valve (9) makes it possible to control the quantity of water intended to be evaporated by the air flow of the ventilation circuit.

[0052]

[0038] Furthermore, as is more particularly visible in Figure 2, the water supply device (3) may comprise a tank (11) or a container for containing the water supplied by said valve (9). Advantageously, said tank (11) comprises a foam, a sponge or a porous material.

[0053]

[0039] It will be noted that the presence of a tray (11) is particularly advantageous when there is direct recovery of the condensates, that is to say when the tray (11) is located below a heat exchanger surface where the water condenses, the water eventually falling into the condensate recovery tray (11) under the effect of gravity and / or air flow. However, the humidity control device (1) may also comprise a tray (11) when the water is supplied via a valve (9) connected to a water source or to a condensate drainage circuit.

[0054]

[0040] Whatever the embodiment variant, said tank can thus comprise an overflow system (13), in order to evacuate excess water when the water exceeds a predetermined quantity of water or water level.

[0055]

[0041] More particularly, said overflow system (13) is for example a level overflow hole integrated into said tank (11), in order to evacuate excess water condensates before they overflow from said condensate recovery tank (11).

[0056]

[0042] Furthermore, said supply device (3) may advantageously comprise a diffuser and / or a tube configured to distribute the water in a predefined zone of said tank (11) or container.

[0057]

[0043] Thus, in a humid zone and in air conditioning mode, the air in a room repeatedly comes into contact with the heat exchanger or with a phase change material of the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system to be cooled, this has the consequence that the humidity contained in the air condenses on the surface of the heat exchanger or the container of phase change material.

[0058]

[0044] The water thus condensed will be brought to the condensate recovery tank (11), either directly under the effect of gravity and the air flow generated by the ventilation circuit, or via a condensate evacuation system, the water thus collected by said tank is then re-evaporated in the ventilated air flow in order to maintain the relative humidity level of the room substantially constant.

[0059]

[0045] However, if the room is not supplied with fresh outside air and the exhaust is closed, the humidity level remains constant by re-evaporation of the condensates in the air flow of the unit. However, if the condensates are discharged (through a drainage tube) to the outside, the humidity level decreases. Thus, when a predetermined relative humidity value is reached, the regulating device (1) is configured, for example via the electronic control unit, to close the drainage opening, which allows the relative humidity level to stabilize at the set level.

[0060]

[0046] The invention also finds an advantageous application in the context of indoor agriculture, for example vertical. Indeed, in particularly dry areas, the condensates are preferably entirely collected to be filtered, recycled and reused in the fluid circuit of the heating, ventilation, and / or air conditioning system, in a fluid circuit of the phase change material and / or a plant watering circuit.

[0047] Indeed, the excess relative humidity created by watering the plants can be collected by suitable means and recycled, moreover the excess watering water can also be filtered to be reused.

Claims

Demands

1. [Humidity control device (1) for a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, said system being configured to regulate the temperature of a volume and comprising at least one air ventilation circuit generating an airflow exiting said volume, characterized in that said device comprises: - a humidity sensor configured to measure the humidity level of said volume regulated in temperature by said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system; - a water supply device (3) to said ventilation circuit so that the water is evaporated by the airflow generated by said ventilation circuit; said water supply device (3) supplying water according to the value of the humidity level measured by said relative humidity sensor.

2. Control device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said water supply device is configured to supply water from condensates. [Claims] Control device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water supply device is configured to supply water from a water circuit.

4. Control device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water supply device comprises a valve configured to regulate the quantity of water supplied and intended to be evaporated by the airflow generated by said ventilation circuit. [Claims] Control device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve includes a device for distributing water by vaporization or evaporation, or a device of the drip type.

6. Control device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said valve is arranged vertically and includes an electromagnet configured to control the opening and / or closing of said valve. he

7. Control device (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said valve comprises a calibrated orifice of the "flow reducer" type, a laminar tube and / or a filter. [Claims] Regulation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said water supply device (3) comprises a tank (11) for containing the water supplied by said water supply device (3).

9. Regulation device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said tray (11) comprises a foam, a sponge or a porous material.

10. Control device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said tank (11) comprises an overflow system (13), in order to evacuate excess water when the water exceeds a predetermined quantity of water or water level.

11. Regulation device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said supply device (3) comprises a diffuser and / or a tube configured to distribute water in a predefined area of ​​said tank or container.

12. Control device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (1) comprises an electronic control unit configured to control the quantity of water supplied by said water supply device (3) as a function of the humidity value measured by said humidity sensor.

13. Control device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said control unit is located inside said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system or in the volume temperature regulated by said heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, for example in an interface box.

14. Heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, said system comprising at least one ventilation circuit, characterized in that said system comprises a humidity control device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. Heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises phase change material configured to store or release calories.

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