A predictive control system for climate control in a defined space

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a control system for climate control in a defined space using an air handling device (400). The multi signal controller (300) comprises a feed forward component (301) arranged for adapted regulation of the adsorption capacity in the defined space due to influence on the climate from outside the defined space, and arranged to determine first control signal values (315) for use in control of the air handling device, wherein the feed forward component (301) is arranged to determine the first control signals values based on adsorption capacity sensor data (3021) and / or temperature sensor data (3031) and / or pressure sensor data (3041), said sensor data originating from at least one sensor (302, 303, 304) located on the outside of the defined space (101).

Description

[0001] A predictive control system for climate control in a defined space

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a control system for controlling a temperature and adsorption capacity in a defined space. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a control system for controlling a temperature and adsorption capacity in a defined space as defined in the introductory parts of the independent claims.

[0004] Background art

[0005] Climate controlling systems with dehumidifier units are designed to remove moisture from the air in a closed space while also bringing in fresh air from outside. They are ideal for use in areas where both heating and cooling are required. A heat exchanger can be used in a humidifier with fresh air intake to recover heat from the outgoing air and transfer it to the incoming air. This can help to reduce energy costs and improve indoor air quality by reducing the amount of energy required to heat or cool the incoming air.

[0006] The dehumidifiers used today are characteristically controlled with a PID controller that acts on sensor data. The control system reacts on the deviations in the controlled area and when the sensor data indicates that there is a deviation from desired characteristics, the controller acts to iterate towards the desired properties. This means that the user already has worse climate properties in their rooms or defined space. The deviation in the defined space is the factor that starts the process of iterating the climate system to desired values. Regardless of the source of the disturbance, the control system reacts identically.

[0007] A feedback control system is a part of a climate controlling systems that can be used for controlling and regulating temperature and adsorption capacity in a defined space, such as climate-controlled storages, environmental rooms or cold storage to mention a few. These controlling systems typically comprise several sensors within the defined space. The sensors are typically of different types for registering properties such as temperature or adsorption capacity within the controlled space. The sensor-generated data is compared to the preferred properties for the defined space and reacts on deviations. The system usually uses PID generators or similar to send signals to the processors which then regulate the climate inside the defined space in an iterative procedure.

[0008] Summary

[0009] There is a need for improvement of prior art dehumidifier units to solve the issue with climate properties in a defined space from deviating from the desired properties.

[0010] The current existing solution to this problem is to use reactive control on one or several of the sensors in the defined space, which tries to minimize the existing damage. The reactive control is, as the name describes, reacting on the misalignments of the preferred and set properties in the defined room and the actual properties measured by the sensors inside of the room. However, this solution cannot prevent the misalignment without delay.

[0011] In the industry most customers, which use dehumidifiers, usually only has one or a few sensors in the room that measure the climate. This is inefficient and when a deviation in the room starts, the sensor or sensors will have a small chance to recognize the changes fast enough to have the possibility to keep the climate at the desired properties. To prevent this problem from occurring customers use several sensors to be able to detect and flatten out deviations in the closed room or defined space.

[0012] The room sensors can never be fully steadily controlled since the unit is always acting reactively. For customers with high accuracy demands with demand for low dew point applications, pharmaceutical or food applications for mentioning some, the ability to control the environment even more steadily than with current known solutions would add value.

[0013] Increased control stability will also have a large impact on energy efficiency, where we today use 80-150% additional energy due to poor control.

[0014] Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to achieve a climate controlling system that can make the climate in a controlled space more stable. In particular, the invention provides improved stability when it comes to control of an adsorption capacity in the defined space. Optionally, improved stability when it comes to temperature can also be provided.

[0015] The present disclosure relates to a control system for climate control in a defined space. This is achieved by using an air handling device comprising a temperature control component and an adsorption capacity control component. The control system further comprises a multi signal controller arranged to control the temperature control component and the adsorption capacity component. The multi-signal controller comprises a feed forward component for adapted regulation of the adsorption capacity in the defined space due to influence on the climate from outside the defined space and arranged to determine first control signal values for use in control of the temperature control component and / or the adsorption capacity control component of the air handling device. The feed forward component is arranged to determine the first control signal values based on adsorption capacity sensor data and / or temperature sensor data and / or pressure sensor data. The sensor data originating from at least one sensor located on the outside of the defined space.

[0016] The combination of the feed forward component and the use of sensors on the outside of the defined space and inside of the defined space, enables the climate in the defined space to convert more stable and ideally also preventing the climate in the defined space from deviating from desired characteristics. When it comes to the climate, it is the adsorption capacity which is controlled to convert more stable and ideally the adsorption capacity in the defined space is prevented from deviating from desired characteristics. However, also the temperature could be controlled accordingly, but the main focus is to decrease the deviation of the adsorption capacity.

[0017] The adsorption capacity control component of the control system is for example a humidity adsorption control component and / or a gas, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), adsorption control component and / or a Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) adsorption control component.

[0018] In practice the adsorption capacity control component comprises controllable adsorption equipment, such as controllable humidity adsorption equipment and / or controllable gas adsorption equipment, wherein the gas for example is carbon dioxide (CO2) and / or controllable VOC content to regulate the amount of these compounds.

[0019] VOCs can have a negative effect on human health and the environment. To improve indoor air quality, ventilation systems can control the levels of VOCs in the air via VOC sensors or by collecting and filtering the VOCs from the air.

[0020] In different embodiments, the feed forward component is arranged to also receive as input a signal from an entrance sensor arranged to sense whether the entrance is open or closed, and accordingly whether there is an influence on the climate from outside the defined space, wherein the feed forward component is arranged to determine the first control signal values also based on the signal from the entrance sensor.

[0021] If, for example, the entrance to the enclosed space is opened and closed several times within a short period of time, the climate will be affected. By placing at least one sensor at the entrance, able to sense if it is opened or closed, the impact of the interference in the climate in the enclosed space can be considered with the feed forward component.

[0022] Another advantage of having at least one entrance sensor is that the sensor can register if the opening is not properly shut.

[0023] At least one entrance sensor may for example comprise an angle measure sensor on the door or like sense the angular position of the door.

[0024] Alternatively, or in addition thereto, an entrance sensor in the form of a proximity sensor can be used. The proximity sensor senses the distance between the entrance opening and a door or similar.

[0025] By registering the status of the entrance, the system can warn that the opening is not properly closed or that something is not right with the enclosed space. The feed forward component will receive the information that the entrance is not properly closed and can arrange the climate control system to keep the climate at the desired characteristics, even with the disturbing influx.

[0026] According to some embodiments at least one sensor located outside of the defined space is adjacent to the entrance. An advantage with placing the outside sensors close to the entrance is that the climate disturbances from the outside of the closed space will be detected at the most crucial position in reference to the climate system. This is because the closed space is most vulnerable at the entrance or other openings. Therefore, the best placement for the outside sensors may be adjacent to the entrance, as at this location or these locations normally the risk of leakages is the largest and as this is where the opening and closing for the closed space will be performed. Hence, the placement close to the entrance would give the best parameters to the feed forward system to render the climate control system into reaching a better preventive control of the closed space climate.

[0027] In different embodiments, when there is an influence on the climate from outside the defined space the feed forward component is arranged to determine the first control signal values based on a relation between an adsorption capacity inside the defined space and the adsorption capacity outside the defined space as measured by the adsorption capacity sensor outside the defined space, and / or a relation between a temperature inside the defined space and the temperature outside the defined space as measured by the temperature sensor outside the defined space, and / or a relation between an air pressure inside the defined space and the air pressure outside the defined space as measured by the air pressure sensor outside the defined space.

[0028] The adsorption capacity in the defined space due to the influence on the climate from outside the defined space depends on an air pressure difference between the air pressure inside the defined space and the air pressure outside the defined space. If the difference is close to zero, the exchange of air between the defined space and the outside is small. The feed-forward component may then be arranged to determine the first control signal values substantially without adaptation due to the influence on the climate from the outside of the defined space. On the other hand, if the pressure is higher on the outside, air from the outside will enter the defined space via the entrance. The determination of the first control signal values can then add a component due to the influence on the climate from the outside of the defined space.

[0029] Further, if there is a leakage of air through the entrance, and there is a temperature difference between the defined space and the outside, this temperature difference will affect the adsorption capacity. Thus, in this case, the determination of the first control signal values can then take this into account the temperature change within the defined space to stabilize the adsorption capacity in the defined space. Further, if there is a leakage of air through the entrance, and there is an adsorption capacity difference between the defined space and the outside, this adsorption capacity difference will affect the adsorption capacity in the defined space. Thus, in this case, the determination of the first control signal values can then take this into account the temperature change within the defined space to stabilize the adsorption capacity in the defined space.

[0030] In different embodiments, the feed forward component is arranged to determine the first control signal values also based on information about the configuration of the defined space and the position of the entrance in the defined space. This information is used in determining how the entrance of air through the entrance affects the adsorption capacity in the defined space. The configuration of the defined space may include the size and shape of the defined space.

[0031] The feed forward component may comprise a temperature and / or adsorption capacity model of the environment of the defined space. The feed forward component can then use this model to determine the effect of a disturbance in the form of air having the characteristics as determined by the sensors outside the defines space, entering the space through the entrance.

[0032] The temperature and / or adsorption capacity model is for example pre-built for example at installation of the system and / or adaptive.

[0033] In different embodiments, the the feed forward component is pre built and / or parameter tuned and for example arranged to operate based on classical control theory that deals with the behaviour of dynamical systems and / or to be an Al-generated feed forward signal and / or to comprise a Model predictive controller (MPC).

[0034] The first approach to use the temperature and / or humidity as a classical control theory that deals with the behavior of dynamical systems with inputs and how their behavior is modified by feed forward control. The second approach could be to use a trained machine learning model and / or any artificial intelligence, where the model has been trained on a variety of input signals. By using this system the control system would learn which type of precautions should be implemented in the system depending on the changes in the input data. The third approach is to use a Model predictive control, MPC. The MPC is a control technique in which the calculated control actions minimize a cost function for a constrained dynamical system over a finite, receding horizon by solving a potentially constrained optimization problem.

[0035] In different embodiments, the multi signal controller comprises a steady state calculator prediction tool for calculating the air handling device performance where a steady state calculator predicting tool output from the steady-state calculator prediction tool is operatively connected to an input of the said feed forward component.

[0036] The steady-state calculator prediction tool is a tool that calculates the steady-state of a system. A steady-state is a state where the system does not change over time. In other words, the system has reached equilibrium. The steady state calculator prediction tool is for example implemented in software stored in a memory. Defining equations of continuity without an accumulation term (for example Ordinary Differential Equations) and directly calculate the steady state conditions or defining the equations of continuity including an accumulation term (for example Partial Differential Equations) that are run to a tolerance criterion for a small accumulation of mass and energy.

[0037] Thus, the steady-state calculation tool calculates the present state of the air handling device under the assumption that the system, i. e. the environment wherein the air handling device is operating, does not change over time and the feed forward component uses the sensor data relating to a measured quantity at the air handling device to determine the deviation in the state of the air handling device from the steady state and determines the control signal values for use in control of the temperature control component and the adsorption capacity control component based thereon.

[0038] The steady state calculator prediction tool thus calculates the remaining unknown parameters from a steady state perspective described above given all other parameters are known. The remaining parameters could be for example outlet air conditions from the desiccant air handling device, or regeneration air heater power for a specific desiccant air handling device capacity. According to some embodiments, the steady state calculator prediction tool is arranged to receive measurement values from at least one of an inlet to the adsorption capacity control component of the air handling device, i.e. inlet adsorption capacity values of the of the air handling device measured continuously or at user set or system set instance(s), an inlet to the temperature component of the air handling device, i.e. inlet temperature values of the of the air handling device, measured continuously or at user set or system set instance(s), and an outlet of the temperature component of the air handling device, i.e. outlet temperature values of the of the air handling device, measured continuously or at user set or system set instance(s); and to calculate the air handling device performance based on said measurement values.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the multi-signal controller comprises a feedback component arranged to contribute to the control of the temperature control component and the adsorption capacity control component. The feedback component enables the control system to regulate the temperature and the adsorption capacity in the defined space based on a deviation from the desired values. These differences then enable the processes to change the temperature and the adsorption capacity properties in the defined space.

[0040] According to some embodiments, the multi signal controller comprises a first processing unit arranged to receive a difference between the temperature outlet of a heater of the air handling device and a combined variable based on the first control signal values from said feed forward component and second control signal values from a second processing unit.

[0041] As the temperature outlet of the heater is taken into account in this embodiment, not only a feed-forward model for the adsorption capacity control component is obtained but also a feed-forward model for the temperature control component of the air handling device.

[0042] The second processing unit may be arranged to receive a difference signal representing a difference between an adsorption capacity signal originating from an adsorption capacity sensor in the said defined space, and a signal representing a set adsorption capacity value, and forming the second control signal values based thereon.

[0043] The second control signal values from said second processing unit and the first control signal values from the feed forward component may define the combined variable.

[0044] The present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given below. The detailed description and specific examples disclose preferred embodiments of the disclosure by way of illustration only. Those skilled in the art understand from guidance in the detailed description that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the disclosure.

[0045] Hence, it is to be understood that the herein disclosed disclosure is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described since such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a", "an", "the", and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context explicitly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps.

[0046] Brief descriptions of the drawings

[0047] The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and nonlimiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Figure 1 shows a block scheme illustrating an example of the climate controlling system for controlling the climate properties in an enclosed space. Figure 2 shows a block scheme illustrating examples of a control system, which can be used in a climate controlling system such as the climate controlling system of figure 1.

[0049] Detailed description

[0050] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person.

[0051] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a climate controlling system 100, arranged to control the climate using temperature control and adsorption capacity control within an environment 101. The adsorption capacity control may be for example humidity control and / or gas content control and / or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) content control.

[0052] The climate controlling system 100 comprises a control system 200 and a defined, enclosed space such as a room 101 or a plurality of rooms in a building. The defined space 101 has at least one entrance 309, such as a door, window or another type of opening in the defined space. An outside space 311 can be accessed through the entrance. The outside space 311 is for example an adjacent room, corridor or outdoor area. Characteristically, the environment of the outside area is not subjected to the same degree of climate control as the defined space 101.

[0053] The climate control system 200 comprises an air handling device 400 comprising a temperature control component 401 for regulating a temperature outlet and an adsorption capacity control component 402 for regulating an adsorption capacity outlet.

[0054] The air handling device 400 is arranged to receive fresh air from an outside environment outside the enclosed room 101 via a fresh air inlet 306.

[0055] The air handling device may be arranged to receive return air from the enclosed room 101 via return air inlet 308. The return air 308 taken from the enclosed space may be arranged to enter the fresh air flow before entering the air handling device. The return air may be flowing through a return air duct. The return air may pass through a heat exchanger. The air entering the air handling device, in this case, the fresh air possibly together with the return air, is generally denoted process air.

[0056] The air handling device 400 will in the following be described in relation to an example of a dehumidifier with a fresh air intake 306. However, this is only an example. The air handling device can have any type of adsorption capacity control component, including the humidity control component examples as illustrated below. Other examples of adsorption capacity control component in the air handling device comprise as mentioned above adsorption capacity control components in the form of gas adsorption control components such as carbon dioxide (CO2), adsorption control components or VOC adsorption control components.

[0057] The dehumidifiers with fresh air intake 306 is designed to remove humidity from the air in the secluded space while also bringing in fresh air from outside. They are ideal for use in areas where both heating and cooling may be required.

[0058] Further, in the illustrated example, a second air flow is arranged to flow through the dehumidifier in an opposite direction. This second air flow is a heated air flow and is generally called a regenerated airflow. In figure 1, reference 104 denoting a heated air flow, usually named a regenerated air inlet of the dehumidifier with fresh air intake. The regenerated air inlet may be flowing through a regenerated air inlet duct. Reference 105 denotes in figure 1 a regenerated air outlet duct of the dehumidifier with fresh air intake. The regenerated air outlet may be flowing through a regenerated air duct.

[0059] The regenerated inlet air duct of the dehumidifier is in the illustrated example provided with a heater such as a heat exchanger 106. Using a heat exchanger can help to reduce energy costs and improve indoor air quality by reducing the amount of energy required to heat or cool the incoming air. There are two types of air exchangers: Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy (or Enthalpy) Recovery Ventilators (ERVs). HRVs transfer heat from the outgoing air to the incoming air while ERVs transfer both heat and moisture. Other air handling devices use pre-heater coils (water, steam or refrigerant).

[0060] In an air exchanger, the process air moves past a rotating desiccant rotor or wheel, wherein humidity is removed during the passage. The air may be drawn by a fan for example operated by an electric motor. Dry air is blown back out into the room. In the illustrated example reference 307 denotes supply air blown back into the room. An air duct may be used to collect the water that has been removed from the air.

[0061] Simultaneously, the second airflow of regenerated air is blown through the wheel in an opposite direction.

[0062] The regenerated airflow 104 can be obtained from the fresh air intake 306 and / or the supply air 307 and / or a purge outlet of the desiccant rotor or wheel (not illustrated). For example, the regenerated airflow is a combination of air from the fresh air intake 306 and the purge outlet from the desiccant rotor or wheel.

[0063] The regenerated air outlet 105 of the dehumidifier with fresh air intake may for example lead somewhere outside the system, for example outdoors. The air of the regenerated air outlet 105 may be processed in a heat exchanger.

[0064] Characteristically the wheel is divided into four quadrants. The process air is flowing through three of the quadrants while the regenerated air is flowing through the fourth quadrant of the wheel.

[0065] The desiccant rotor or wheel is a device that is used to remove moisture from the air. It is characteristically constructed from a finely fluted structure that provides a big surface area for the airflow through the unit. This structure is characteristically comprising or impregnated with a water absorbing desiccant material. The desiccant material may be a desiccant salt, usually silica gel, which absorbs the moisture from the air while passing through the wheel.

[0066] The desiccant wheel allows the dehumidifier unit to remove the moisture to the levels required by the process it has been designed to serve.

[0067] In practice, the desiccant dehumidifiers work by adsorbing moisture from the process air stream using the desiccant wheel. The moisture content of the wheel increases as the process air is dried. The wheel constantly rotates to remove the moisture, while the heated second air stream pushed through it in an opposite direction. The rotor brings the moist desiccant to the reactivation air stream to heat it up. Humidity is then expelled from the desiccant material as water vapour. The control system 200 further comprises a multi signal controller 300 for control of the temperature control process 401 and the adsorption capacity control process 402 of the air handling device 400. The multi-signal controller comprises at least one processor and at least one memory.

[0068] Characteristically, the room(s) 101 with the controlled environment has one or more room sensors 102, 103. The control system 200 is arranged to receive sensor data from the room sensors. The room sensors 102, 103 may comprise at least one adsorption capacity sensor positioned inside the enclosed room to measure adsorption capacity properties such as humidity and / or CO2, and / or VOCs in the room. An adsorption return signals 319 representative of the adsorption capacity property is fed to the multi-signal controller. The room sensors may instead or further comprise at least one temperature sensor. The temperature sensor(s) is positioned inside the enclosed room to measure the current temperature in the room. The room sensors 102, 103 may instead or further comprise at least one air pressure sensor.

[0069] A plurality of room sensors may be arranged in the room. The room sensors may be placed at locations, for example three different locations in the room sensitive to disturbances.

[0070] Return signals representative of the measured quantities of the room sensors 102, 103 are fed to the multi-signal controller. The return signals may be used in the control system to iterate the system air quality to the desired properties.

[0071] Thus, the return signals from the enclosed room into the control system 200 comprise the adsorption capacity return signal(s) from the adsorption capacity sensor(s) positioned inside of the enclosed room and / or the temperature return signal(s) from the temperature sensor(s) positioned inside of the enclosed room and / or the air pressure return signal(s) from the air pressure sensor(s) positioned inside of the enclosed room.

[0072] The control system 200 is further arranged to receive a set adsorption capacity value 312. The control system 200 may further be arranged to receive a set point for the temperature. The set point for the adsorption capacity and the optional set point for the temperature may be received from the same or different sources. The respective set point is for example received from the user of the climate controlling system by means of a user interface. The user interface is for example a control panel arranged at the climate control system, and / or a remote control and / or an app of a mobile device. Alternatively, the respective set point is predefined or set by another system providing set point data to the climate control system.

[0073] Further, an adsorption return signal from the adsorption capacity sensor(s) positioned inside of the enclosed room 101 and the set adsorption capacity values 312 may be processed to form a difference signal 321 which is fed on to the multi-signal controller 300. In addition, any temperature return signal from inside the enclosed room 101 can be compared with the corresponding set temperature value to provide a difference signal which is fed to the multisignal controller 300

[0074] Further, the multi-signal controller 300 is arranged to receive adsorption capacity sensor data and / or temperature sensor data and / or pressure sensor data, originating from at least one of sensor 302, 303, 304 located on the outside of the defined space 101. These sensors 302, 303, and 304 are positioned outside of the enclosed room 101 to measure external conditions.

[0075] Sensor 302 may be designed to capture adsorption capacity data, sensor 303 to measures temperature data, and sensor 304 to monitor pressure data. These sensors provide the multisignal controller 300 with real-time information about the external environment, allowing the climate control system to adjust its operations based on both internal and external conditions. This data collection could optimise climate regulation within the enclosed space 101 by considering changes in adsorption capacity, temperature, and pressure both inside and outside the room.

[0076] Further, the multi-signal controller 300 may be arranged to receive entrance sensor data originating from at least one entrance sensor 320.

[0077] Further, the multi-signal controller 300 may be arranged to receive operational status signals 323 representative of the operational status of the air handling device. The operational status signal is generally a signal from the air handling device indicating that the air handling device 400 is on and ready to receive information such as control signals 322 for control of the temperature control component 401 and the adsorption capacity control component 402 of the air handling device 400. Further, the multi-signal controller is arranged to receive sensor signals from the air handing device including sensor signals 324 for use by a steady state calculator prediction tool. This will be discussed more in detail in relation to figure 2.

[0078] The multi-signal controller 300 is arranged for control of the temperature control component 401 and the adsorption capacity control component 402 of the air handling device. In this regard, the multi-signal controller is arranged to provide the control signals 322 to the air handling device for control of the temperature control component 401 and the adsorption capacity control component 402 of the air handling device. The control signals may for example include signals for control of one or more heaters 110 and / or a wheel speed and / or one or more air fan.

[0079] Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a control system, for example at least some of the parts as discussed in relation to the control system as discussed in relation to figure 1. The control system comprises a multi-signal controller 300 and an air handling device 400.

[0080] The multi signal controller 300 is used in a control system for climate control in a defined space 101 using the air handling device 400 comprising a temperature control component 401 and an adsorption capacity control component 402. The multi signal controller 300 is arranged to control the temperature control component and the adsorption capacity control component. The multi-signal controller can be used in a climate controls system such as the climate control system examples illustrated in relation to figure 1.

[0081] The multi signal controller 300 comprises a feed forward component 301 arranged for adapted regulation of the adsorption capacity in the defined space due to influence on the climate from outside the defined space and arranged to determine first control signal values 315 for use in control of the temperature control component and / or the adsorption capacity control component of the air handling device. The feed forward component 301 is arranged to determine the first control signals values based on adsorption capacity sensor data 3021 and / or temperature sensor data 3031 and / or pressure sensor data 3041, said sensor data originating from at least one sensor 302, 303, 304 located on the outside of the defined space

[0082] 101. Signals coming in to the said feed forward component 301 are independent from a feedback system, if such feed-back system is present in the multi-signal controller. The sensor data is being received from sensors which are generally not a part of a feedback system, but instead feeds data for direct use in the multi-signal control system. Due to these signals not being a part of the feedback system, the air handling device can react relatively fast on an outside disturbance in the climate controlling system.

[0083] The combination of the feed forward component and the use of sensors on the outside of the defined space and inside of the defined space, enables the climate in the defined space to convert more stable and ideally also preventing the climate in the defined space from deviating from desired characteristics. When it comes to the climate, it is the adsorption capacity which is controlled to convert more stable and ideally the adsorption capacity in the defined space is prevented from deviating from desired characteristics. However, also the temperature could be controlled accordingly, but the focus is to decrease the deviation of the adsorption capacity.

[0084] The feed forward component may be arranged to also receive as input a signal from an entrance sensor 320 arranged to sense whether the entrance is open or closed, and accordingly whether there is an influence on the climate from outside the defined space, wherein the feed forward component is arranged to determine the first control signal values also based on the signal from the entrance sensor.

[0085] The entrance sensor 320 may be positioned in connection to an opening of the enclosed room to recognize the status of the entrance. Status meaning if the opening is closed, opened or something in between or if it has been used several times during a short period. An entrance sensor signal 3201 from the entrance sensor is fed to the feed-forward component 301.

[0086] If, for example, the entrance to the enclosed space is opened and closed several times within a short period of time, the climate will be affected. By placing at least one sensor at the entrance, able to sense if it is opened or closed, the impact of the interference in the climate in the enclosed space can be considered with the feed forward component.

[0087] In fact, with the impact of the interference in the climate in the enclosed space may be detected even before the impact of the interference has occurred in the room. Another advantage of having at least one entrance sensor is that the sensor can register if the opening is not properly shut.

[0088] At least one entrance sensor may for example comprise an angle measure sensor on the door or similar to sense the angular position of the door.

[0089] Alternatively, or in addition thereto, an entrance sensor in the form of a proximity sensor can be used. The proximity sensor senses the distance between the entrance opening and a door or similar.

[0090] In addition thereto or instead, an entrance sensor in the form of a switch can be used.

[0091] By registering the status of the entrance, the system can warn that the opening is not properly closed or that something is not right with the enclosed space. The feed forward component will receive the information that the entrance is not properly closed and can arrange the climate control system to keep the climate at the desired characteristics, even with the disturbing influx.

[0092] At least one sensor located outside of the defined space may be adjacent to the entrance. An advantage with placing the outside sensors close to the entrance is that the climate disturbances from the outside of the closed space will be detected at the most crucial position in reference to the climate system. This is because the closed space is most vulnerable at the entrance or other openings. Therefore, the best placement for the outside sensors may be adjacent to the entrance, as at this location or these locations normally the risk of leakages is the largest and as this is where the opening and closing for the closed space will be performed. Hence, the placement close to the entrance would give the best parameters to the feed forward system to render the climate control system into reaching a better preventive control of the closed space climate.

[0093] When there is an influence on the climate from outside the defined space the feed forward component is arranged to determine the first control signal values based on a relation between an adsorption capacity inside the defined space and the adsorption capacity outside the defined space as measured by the adsorption capacity sensor outside the defined space, and / or a relation between a temperature inside the defined space and the temperature outside the defined space as measured by the temperature sensor outside the defined space, and / or a relation between an air pressure inside the defined space and the air pressure outside the defined space as measured by the air pressure sensor outside the defined space.

[0094] The adsorption capacity inside the defined space may be provided from an adsorption capacity sensor 103 positioned within the room or defined space. The temperature inside the defined space may be provided from a temperature sensor 102 positioned within the room or defined space. The air pressure inside the defined space may be provided from an air pressure sensor 111 positioned within the room or defined space. Alternatively or in addition thereto, information relating to the room temperature and / or room adsorption capacity and / or room air pressure can be provided from sensors provided in return air 308 to the air handling device.

[0095] The adsorption capacity in the defined space due to the influence on the climate from outside the defined space depends on an air pressure difference between the air pressure inside the defined space and the air pressure outside the defined space. If the difference is close to zero, the exchange of air between the defined space and the outside is small. The feed-forward component may then be arranged to determine the first control signal values substantially without adaptation due to the influence on the climate from the outside of the defined space. On the other hand, if the pressure is higher on the outside, air from the outside will enter the defined space via the entrance. The determination of the first control signal values can then add a component due to the influence on the climate from the outside of the defined space.

[0096] Further, if there is a leakage of air through the entrance, and there is a temperature difference between the defined space and the outside, this temperature difference will affect the adsorption capacity. Thus, in this case, the determination of the first control signal values can then take this into account the temperature change within the defined space to stabilize the adsorption capacity in the defined space. Further, if there is a leakage of air through the entrance, and there is an adsorption capacity difference between the defined space and the outside, this adsorption capacity difference will affect the adsorption capacity in the defined space. Thus, in this case, the determination of the first control signal values can then take this into account the temperature change within the defined space to stabilize the adsorption capacity in the defined space.

[0097] The feed forward component is arranged to determine the first control signal values also based on information about the configuration of the defined space and the position of the entrance in the defined space. This information is used in determining how the entrance of air through the entrance affects the adsorption capacity in the defined space. The configuration of the defined space may include the size and shape of the defined space.

[0098] The feed forward component may comprise a temperature and / or adsorption capacity model of the environment of the defined space. The feed forward component can then use this model to determine the effect of a disturbance in the form of air having the characteristics as determined by the sensors outside the defines space, entering the space through the entrance.

[0099] The temperature and / or adsorption capacity model may be pre-built, for example at installation of the system (parameter tuning) and / or the model may be adaptive (self-learning control).

[0100] The temperature and / or adsorption capacity model may be implemented in different ways.

[0101] In different embodiments, the the feed forward component is prebuilt and / or parameter tuned and for example arranged to operate based on classical control theory that deals with the behaviour of dynamical systems and / or to be an Al-generated feed forward signal and / or to comprise a Model predictive controller (MPC).

[0102] In a first example, the temperature and / or adsorption capacity model is based on classical control theory (often including both feedback and a feed forward functionality) that deals with the behaviour of dynamical systems with inputs, and how their behaviour is modified by feedback, using the Laplace transform as a basic tool to model such systems. The feed forward component allows the controller to anticipate the effect of future disturbances on the system. It is used to improve the performance of the system by reducing the effect of disturbances on the system.

[0103] In a second example, a trained machine learning model and / or any artificial intelligence is used, wherein the model has been trained on a variety of input signals. The machine learning model may be be pre-built for example at installation of the system (parameter tuning) and / or the model may be adaptive (self-learning control).

[0104] In a third example, model predictive control, MPC, is used. MPC is an optimal control technique in which the calculated control actions minimize a cost function for a constrained dynamical system over a finite, receding horizon. At each time step, an MPC controller receives or estimates the current state of the system. MPC is a model-based predictive control method that uses a process model to predict the future behaviour of the controlled system. By solving a potentially constrained optimization problem, MPC determines the control law implicitly.

[0105] The air handling device 400 receives a processed control signal values 322 from the multisignal controller 300. The control signal values 322 could be used in the air handling system to regulate the temperature control component 401 and the adsorption capacity control component 402 based on the calculated climate controlling system performance from the multi-signal control system. In an example, the control signal values 322 are formed based on the first control signal values 315 from the feed-forward component of the multi-signal controller.

[0106] The air handling device control the properties of the supply air 307 to the room. In detail, the temperature control component 401 regulates the temperature inside of the enclosed room 101 by changing the air temperature outlet from the air handling device. The adsorption capacity control component 402 regulates the adsorption capacity properties inside of the enclosed room 101 by changing the adsorption capacity of the outlet air from the air handling device. Further, the multi signal controller 300 may comprise a steady state calculator predicting tool 305 for calculating the performance of the climate controlling system. The steady state calculator predicting tool is arranged to receive sensor signals 324 at least from the air handling device. The sensor signals are for use in prediction of the steady state. The received sensor signals 324 may comprise

[0107] • sensor signals from an adsorption capacity control component inlet 3061 and / or

[0108] • sensor signals from a temperature control component inlet 3062 and / or

[0109] • the temperature outlet of heater 110 of the air handling device (i.e. the heater 110 forms at least a part of the temperature control component).

[0110] The sensor signals from the inlet of the adsorption capacity control component and the temperature control component are characteristically measurements on the air entering the air handling device, in this case, the fresh air possibly together with the return air, is generally denoted process air.

[0111] Further, the steady state calculator predicting tool 305 may deliver a steady state calculator predicting tool output signal 3051 to the feed forward component 301. Thus, the steady-state calculation tool calculates the present state of the air handling device under the assumption that the system, i. e. the environment wherein the air handling device is operating, does not change over time and the feed forward component uses the sensor data relating to a measured quantity at the air handling device to determine the deviation in the state of the air handling device from the steady state and determines the control signal values for use in control of the temperature control component and the adsorption capacity control component based thereon.

[0112] The multi-signal controller 300 may further comprise a first controller 310. The first controller may be a standard PID-regulator which receives a difference between the temperature outlet 318 of a heater 110 of the air handling device and a combined variable 313 from the first control signal values 315 based on the properties processed in the feed forward component 301 and a second control signal values 314 from a second processing unit 311. The second processing unit 311 may receive a difference between the present room adsorption capacity signal 319 from the enclosed space 101, and a set adsorption capacity value 312, and deliver the second control signal values 314 based thereon.

[0113] The modified variables forming output from the first processing unit 310 are control signals 322 for the air handling device, which control signals are used for the temperature control component and / or for the adsorption capacity control component of the air handling device. The / control signals 322 sent out from the first processing unit have all the processed information required to adjust the temperature and / or the adsorption capacity in the closed space to the desired properties. This change can be induced by sending the variables to the control components that use the variables to change the temperature and the adsorption capacity.

[0114] The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The person skilled in the art further realizes that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A control system (200) for climate control in a defined space (101) using an air handling device (400) comprising a temperature control component (401) and an adsorption capacity control component (402); wherein the control system (200) comprises a multi signal controller (300) arranged to control the temperature control component (401) and the adsorption capacity control component (402), said multi signal controller (300) comprising a feed forward component (301) arranged for adapted regulation of the adsorption capacity in the defined space (101) due to influence on the climate from outside the defined space (101), and arranged to determine first control signal values (315) for use in control of the temperature control component (401) and / or the adsorption capacity control component (402) of the air handling device (400), wherein the feed forward component (301) is arranged to determine the first control signals values (315) based on adsorption capacity sensor data (3021) and / or temperature sensor data (3031) and / or pressure sensor data (3041), said sensor data originating from at least one sensor (302, 303, 304) located on the outside of the defined space (101).

2. The control system (200) according to claim 1, wherein the feed forward component (301) is arranged to also receive as input a signal (3201) from an entrance sensor (320) arranged to sense whether the entrance is open or closed, and accordingly whether there is an influence on the climate from outside the defined space, wherein the feed forward component (301) is arranged to determine the first control signal values also based on the signal from the entrance sensor.

3. The control system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein when there is an influence on the climate from outside the defined space the feed forward component (301) is arranged to determine the first control signal values based ona relation between an adsorption capacity inside the defined space and the adsorption capacity outside the defined space, and / or a relation between a temperature inside the defined space and the temperature outside the defined space, and / or a relation between an air pressure inside the defined space and the air pressure outside the defined space.

4. The control system (200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the feed forward component (301) is arranged to determine the first control signal values also based on information about the configuration of the defined space and the position of the entrance in the defined space.

5. The control system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the feed forward component comprises a temperature and / or adsorption capacity model of the environment of the defined space.

6. The control system according to claim 5, wherein the temperature and / or adsorption capacity model is pre-built for example at installation of the system and / or wherein the model is adaptive.

6. The control system (200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the the feed forward component is prebuilt and / or parameter tuned and for example arranged to operate based on classical control theory that deals with the behaviour of dynamical systems and / or to be an Al-generated feed forward signal and / or to comprise a Model predictive controller (MPC).

7. The control system (200) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the multi signal controller (300) further comprises a steady state calculator prediction tool (305) for calculating the air handling device performance, wherein a steady state calculator predicting tool output (3051) from the steady-state calculator prediction tool (305) is operatively connected to an input of the feed forward component (301),wherein the feed-forward component (301) is arranged to determine the first control signal values (322) for use in control of the temperature control component and the adsorption capacity control component also based on the calculated air handling device performance.

8. The control system according to claim 7, wherein the steady state calculator prediction tool (305) is arranged to receive measurement values from at least one of• an inlet (3061) of the adsorption capacity control component of the air handling device• an inlet (3062) of the temperature control component of the air handling device• the temperature outlet (318) of a heater (110) of the air handling device, and to calculate the air handling device performance based on said measurement values.

9. The control system according any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor located outside of the defined space is adjacent to the entrance.

10. The control system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the multi signal controller (300) further comprises a feedback component arranged to contribute to the control of the temperature control component (401) and the adsorption capacity control component (402).

11. The control system according to claim 10, wherein the multi signal controller (300) comprises a first processing unit (310) arranged to receive a difference between the temperature outlet (318) of a heater (110) of the air handling device-and a combined variable (313) based on the first control signal values (315) from said feed forward component (301) and second control signal values (314) from a second processing unit (311).

12. The system according claim 11, wherein said second processing unit (311) is arranged to receive a differential signal (321) representing a difference between an adsorption capacity signal (319) originating from an adsorption capacity sensor in the said defined space (101), and a signal representing a setadsorption capacity value (312) and forming the second control signal values (314) based thereon.

13. The control system according to claim 12, wherein the second control signal values (314) from said second processing unit (311) and the first control signal values (315) from the feed forward component (301) define the combined variable (313).

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