Humidification system and control device

Abstract

To humidify a habitable room space moderately without installing a humidifier, providing a user with a comfort environment.SOLUTION: A humidification system comprises a control device 2A and a ventilation device 3. The control device 2A comprises: a humidification control condition determination unit 202 that determines whether it is possible to humidify air in a second space using air in a first space; and a ventilation device control unit 203 that controls the ventilation device 3 to generate an airflow from the first space to the second space when the humidification control condition determination unit 202 determines that it is possible to humidify the air in the second space using the air in the first space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to humidification systems and controls. [Background technology]

[0002] Various techniques have been proposed for adjusting the room temperature of a room in a building such as a house by transporting air from one room to another room. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an air conditioning system for suppressing the occurrence of heat shock in a house or the like, in which a first indoor space and a second indoor space are connected via an air duct, and air is supplied from the second indoor space to the first indoor space based on the temperature difference between the first indoor space and the second indoor space. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-216367 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The comfort of a room is largely determined not only by temperature but also by humidity. For example, when humidity drops in a room in winter, it can cause problems such as dry skin and eyes, itching, sore throats, and an increased risk of viral infections.

[0005] Therefore, when the air in a room is dry, it is necessary to humidify the air appropriately, but in such cases, a humidifier is generally used, and if a humidifier is not available, it is difficult to humidify the room. For this reason, there is a need to propose a new technology that can humidify a room space appropriately without installing a humidifier.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a humidification system and a control device that can appropriately humidify a living space without installing a humidifier. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the humidification system according to the present disclosure comprises: an air conveying means installed in a building having a first space, a second space, and an air passage connecting the first space and the second space; a control device; The control device a determination means for determining whether or not it is possible to humidify the air in the second space using the air in the first space; and an air conveyance control means for controlling the air conveyance means so as to generate an air flow from the first space toward the second space when the determination means determines that the humidification is possible. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately humidify a living space without installing a humidifier. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a humidification system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 shows an installation state of a blower and an environmental sensor according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure for humidification start control processing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure for humidification stop control processing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device according to a first modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a humidification system according to a second modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a humidification system according to a third modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a humidification system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an installation mode of a blower, an environmental sensor, a damper, and a shutter in a second embodiment. [Figure 12] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] Flowchart showing the procedure of the first humidification start control process in the second embodiment [Figure 14] Flowchart showing the procedure of second humidification start control processing in the second embodiment [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a humidification stop control process according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device according to a first modification of the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a humidification system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the installation of a blower, an environmental sensor, a heater, and a moisture absorbent material in a third embodiment. [Figure 19] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 20] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a humidification start control process according to a third embodiment. [Figure 21] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a humidification stop control process according to a third embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device according to a first modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a humidification system according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 24] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 25] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a humidification start control process according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device according to a first modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a humidification system according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an installation mode of a blower and an environmental sensor in a fifth embodiment. [Figure 29] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 30] Flowchart showing the procedure of humidification start control processing in the fifth embodiment [Figure 31] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a humidification stop control process according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 32] FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device according to a first modification of the fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. The humidification system according to the present disclosure can be applied to a variety of properties, i.e., various buildings such as a detached house, an apartment building, an office building, etc. However, the following embodiment describes an example in which the humidification system is applied to a detached house.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a humidification system 1A according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The humidification system 1A is an example of a humidification system according to the present disclosure. The humidification system 1A includes a control device 2A, a blower 3, and environmental sensors 4a and 4b. The control device 2A and the blower 3 are connected to each other via a communication line CL1 so that they can communicate with each other, and the control device 2A and the environmental sensors 4a and 4b are connected to each other via a communication line CL2 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0012] <Control device 2A> The control device 2A is an example of a control device according to the present disclosure. The control device 2A is a computer that controls the air blower 3 and is installed in an appropriate location in the house H. As shown in FIG. 2 , the control device 2A includes a communication interface 20, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random-Access Memory) 23, and an auxiliary storage device 24. These components are connected to each other via a bus 25. The communication interface 20 includes hardware for communicating with the air blower 3 via a communication line CL1 and hardware for communicating with the environmental sensors 4a and 4b via a communication line CL2. The control device 2A may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the air blower 3 and the environmental sensors 4a and 4b.

[0013] The CPU 21 is a processor that performs overall control of the control device 2A. The functions of the control device 2A realized by the CPU 21 will be described in detail later. The ROM 22 is a storage device that stores non-rewritable programs such as a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System). The RAM 23 is a storage device used as a work area for the CPU 21. The auxiliary storage device 24 is a storage device configured with a readable / writable non-volatile semiconductor memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. Examples of the readable / writable non-volatile semiconductor memory include an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), and a flash memory. The auxiliary storage device 24 stores a program related to control of humidifying the living space (hereinafter referred to as a "humidification control program") and data for executing the humidification control program.

[0014] The control device 2A can acquire the humidification control program or an update program for updating the humidification control program via communication from a server, terminal, etc. (not shown) and install it in itself. These programs can also be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magneto-optical disk, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, an HDD, an SSD (Solid-State Drive), or a memory card. When such a recording medium is directly or indirectly attached to the control device 2A, the control device 2A can read the humidification control program or the update program from the recording medium and install it in itself.

[0015] <Blower 3> The blower 3 is an example of an air conveying means according to the present disclosure, and as shown in FIG. 3 , is installed in an air passage 5, such as a duct, that connects a first space R1 and a second space R2 in a house H. The first space R1 is a space in the house H that contains humid (i.e., high moisture) air, and in this example, it is a bathroom. The second space R2 is a living space such as a bedroom or living room. Note that the first space R1 and the second space R2 only need to be connected via the air passage 5, and their respective locations in the house H are arbitrary. The blower 3 is, for example, a centrifugal fan or a multi-blade fan driven by a DC fan motor or the like. The blower 3 is communicatively connected to the control device 2A via a communication line CL1, and its operation is controlled by commands from the control device 2A. Note that, as described above, the blower 3 and the control device 2A may be configured to communicate wirelessly.

[0016] <Environmental sensors 4a, 4b> The environmental sensors 4a and 4b are sensors that measure values ​​related to the amount of moisture in the air. In this embodiment, the environmental sensors 4a and 4b periodically measure air temperature (hereinafter simply referred to as "temperature") and humidity. The environmental sensors 4a and 4b are communicatively connected to the control device 2A via a communication line CL2, and transmit information (hereinafter referred to as "environmental information") storing measured values ​​to the control device 2A. As described above, the environmental sensors 4a and 4b may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the control device 2A. As shown in FIG. 3, the environmental sensor 4a is installed in the first space R1, and the environmental sensor 4b is installed in the second space R2.

[0017] <Functional configuration of the control device 2A> 4, the control device 2A functionally includes a communication unit 200, an environmental information acquisition unit 201, a humidification control condition determination unit 202, and a blower device control unit 203. These functional units are realized by the CPU 21 of the control device 2A executing the above-mentioned humidification control program stored in the auxiliary storage device 24. The communication unit 200 receives environmental information periodically sent from the environmental sensors 4a and 4b, and supplies the received environmental information to the environmental information acquisition unit 201. The communication unit 200 also transmits a control command supplied from the blower device control unit 203 to the blower device 3.

[0018] The environmental information acquisition unit 201 periodically (for example, every minute) acquires environmental information transmitted from the environmental sensors 4a and 4b via the communication unit 200, and stores the acquired environmental information of the environmental sensors 4a and 4b in the information storage unit 240. The information storage unit 240 is a memory area provided by the auxiliary storage device 24.

[0019] The humidification control condition determination unit 202 is an example of a determination means according to the present disclosure. The humidification control condition determination unit 202 periodically (e.g., every minute) determines whether a humidification start condition or a humidification stop condition is met. For example, when the second space R2 is not being humidified, i.e., when the operation of the air blower 3 is stopped, the humidification control condition determination unit 202 determines whether it is possible to humidify the air in the second space R2 using the air in the first space R1, specifically, whether the humidification start condition is met. In this embodiment, the humidification start condition is met when the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is greater than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2 and the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or less than a first threshold. The amount of moisture in the air is calculated using the following formula 1. The first threshold is, for example, 40%. When the humidification control condition determination unit 202 determines that the humidification start condition is met, it notifies the air blower control unit 203 of the determination result.

[0020] Moisture content in the air (g / m 3 ) = Relative humidity (%) × saturated water vapor content at the air temperature (g / m 3 ) / 100 (formula 1)

[0021] Furthermore, when the second space R2 is being humidified, i.e., when the air blower 3 is operating, the humidification control condition determination unit 202 determines whether the humidification stop condition is met. In this embodiment, the humidification stop condition is met when the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is equal to or less than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2, or when the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or greater than a second threshold. The second threshold is, for example, 65%. When the humidification control condition determination unit 202 determines that the humidification stop condition is met, it notifies the air blower control unit 203 of the determination result.

[0022] The air blower control unit 203 is an example of an air conveyance control means according to the present disclosure. The air blower control unit 203 controls the operation of the air blower 3 based on the determination result of the humidification control condition determination unit 202. When the humidification control condition determination unit 202 determines that the humidification start condition is met, the air blower control unit 203 controls the air blower 3 to generate an airflow from the first space R1 to the second space R2. Specifically, the air blower control unit 203 transmits a control command to the air blower 3 via the communication unit 200 to instruct it to start operation. Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 202 determines that the humidification stop condition is met, the air blower control unit 203 transmits a control command to the air blower 3 via the communication unit 200 to instruct it to stop operation.

[0023] <Humidification start control process> 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the humidification start control process executed by the control device 2 A. The control device 2 A periodically (for example, every minute) repeatedly executes the humidification start control process described below while the second space R2 is not being humidified, specifically while the blower device 3 is not operating.

[0024] (Step S101) The control device 2A acquires environmental information from the environmental sensors 4a and 4b in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2A proceeds to step S102.

[0025] (Step S102) The control device 2A calculates the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2A proceeds to step S103.

[0026] (Step S103) The control device 2A determines whether a humidification start condition is satisfied, that is, the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is greater than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2 and the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or less than a first threshold. If the humidification start condition is satisfied (step S103; Yes), the process of the control device 2A proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, if the humidification start condition is not satisfied (step S103; No), the control device 2A ends the humidification start control process for this cycle.

[0027] (Step S104) The control device 2A instructs the air blower 3 to start operating. Specifically, the control device 2A generates a control command instructing the air blower 3 to start operating, and transmits the generated control command to the air blower 3. The control device 2A then ends the humidification start control process. As a result, the air blower 3 starts operating, and the moist air in the first space R1 moves to the second space R2, thereby humidifying the second space R2.

[0028] <Humidification stop control process> 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the humidification stop control process executed by the control device 2 A. The control device 2 A repeatedly executes the following humidification stop control process periodically (for example, every minute) while the second space R2 is being humidified, specifically while the blower device 3 is in operation.

[0029] (Step S201) The control device 2A acquires environmental information from the environmental sensors 4a and 4b in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2A proceeds to step S202.

[0030] (Step S202) The control device 2A calculates the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2A proceeds to step S203.

[0031] (Step S203) The control device 2A determines whether a humidification stop condition is met, that is, the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is equal to or less than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2, or the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or greater than a second threshold. If the humidification stop condition is met (step S203; Yes), the control device 2A proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, if the humidification stop condition is not met (step S203; No), the control device 2A ends the humidification stop control process for this cycle.

[0032] (Step S204) The control device 2A instructs the blower device 3 to stop operating. Specifically, the control device 2A generates a control command instructing the blower device 3 to stop operating, and transmits the generated control command to the blower device 3. The control device 2A then terminates the humidification stop control process. As a result, the blower device 3 stops operating, moist air in the first space R1 no longer moves to the second space R2, and humidification of the second space R2 stops.

[0033] As described above, in the humidification system 1A of the present embodiment, when the humidification start condition is satisfied, that is, the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is greater than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2 and the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or less than the first threshold, the air blower 3 operates. As a result, the humid air in the first space R1 moves to the second space R2 through the air passage 5, making it possible to appropriately humidify the second space R2, which is a living space, without installing a humidifier, thereby providing a comfortable environment for the user. In addition, because the humid air is exhausted from the first space R1, such as a bathroom, it also has the effect of dehumidifying the first space R1, which has a high moisture content in the air.

[0034] Furthermore, when a humidification stop condition is met, in which the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is equal to or less than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2, or the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or greater than a second threshold, the blower 3 stops operating, thereby preventing excessive humidification of the second space R2.

[0035] (Variation 1) In the functional configuration of the control device 2A, as shown in Figure 7, the environmental information acquisition unit 201 may directly acquire environmental information from the environmental sensors 4a and 4b, and the blower device control unit 203 may directly send a control command to the blower device 3.

[0036] (Variation 2) As shown in Fig. 8, moisture-absorbing material 6 may be installed on the first space R1 side of air passage 5. In this way, when humid air flows into air passage 5 even though humidification of second space R2 is not required, moisture is absorbed by moisture-absorbing material 6, thereby preventing the growth of mold in air passage 5.

[0037] (Variation 3) As shown in Fig. 9, heat insulating material 7 may be installed in air duct 5. Heat insulating material 7 is made of, for example, urethane, wool, expanded polystyrene, etc., and is installed so as to cover the inner surface of air duct 5. This prevents a drop in the temperature of air duct 5 and suppresses the growth of mold due to condensation. Note that heat insulating material 7 may also be installed so as to cover the outside of air duct 5.

[0038] (Variation 4) The control device 2A may periodically rotate the fan of the air blower 3 in the reverse direction, so that dry air in the second space R2 moves to the first space R1 through the air passage 5. For example, the control device 2A may execute control to rotate the fan of the air blower 3 in the reverse direction for about one hour once a day during the daytime or late at night when the bathroom is less frequently used. This can prevent mold from growing in the air passage 5.

[0039] (Variation 5) Each of the environmental sensors 4a and 4b may be configured such that a temperature sensor for measuring temperature and a humidity sensor for measuring humidity are separate from each other.

[0040] (Variation 6) All or part of the functional units of the control device 2A (see FIG. 4) may be realized by dedicated hardware, such as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

[0041] The technical ideas according to the above-described modifications may be realized independently or in appropriate combination.

[0042] (Embodiment 2) Next, a description will be given of embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. In the following description, components and the like common to embodiment 1 will be given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0043] 10 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a humidification system 1B according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The humidification system 1B is an example of a humidification system according to the present disclosure. The humidification system 1B includes a control device 2B, air blowers 8a and 8b, environmental sensors 9a and 9b, dampers 10a and 10b, and shutters 11a and 11b. The control device 2B and the air blowers 8a and 8b are connected to each other via a communication line CL1 so as to be able to communicate with each other, the control device 2B and the environmental sensors 9a and 9b are connected to each other via a communication line CL2, the control device 2B and the dampers 10a and 10b are connected to each other via a communication line CL3, and the control device 2B and the shutters 11a and 11b are connected to each other via a communication line CL4 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0044] <Control device 2B> The control device 2B is an example of a control device according to the present disclosure. The control device 2B is a computer that controls the air blowers 8a and 8b, the dampers 10a and 10b, and the shutters 11a and 11b, and is installed in an appropriate location in the house H. The hardware configuration of the control device 2B is similar to that of the control device 2A in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). However, the communication interface 20 of the control device 2B includes hardware for communicating with the air blowers 8a and 8b via a communication line CL1, hardware for communicating with the environmental sensors 9a and 9b via a communication line CL2, hardware for communicating with the dampers 10a and 10b via a communication line CL3, and hardware for communicating with the shutters 11a and 11b via a communication line CL4. The control device 2B may also be configured to wirelessly communicate with the air blowers 8a and 8b, the environmental sensors 9a and 9b, the dampers 10a and 10b, and the shutters 11a and 11b.

[0045] The functions of the control device 2B realized by the CPU 21 of the control device 2B will be described in detail later.

[0046] <Blowers 8a, 8b> The air blowers 8a and 8b are, for example, centrifugal fans or multi-blade fans driven by a DC fan motor or the like. The air blowers 8a and 8b are communicatively connected to the control device 2B via a communication line CL1, and their operation is controlled by commands from the control device 2B. As described above, the air blowers 8a and 8b may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the control device 2B. As shown in FIG. 11, the air blower 8a is installed at an air intake / exhaust port provided in a wall forming the first space R1, and the air blower 8b is installed at an air intake / exhaust port 12b provided in a wall forming the second space R2. Under normal conditions (i.e., when humidification control is not being performed), the air blowers 8a and 8b are stopped.

[0047] <Environmental sensors 9a, 9b> The environmental sensors 9a and 9b are sensors that measure values ​​related to the amount of moisture in the air and atmospheric pressure. In this embodiment, the environmental sensors 9a and 9b periodically measure temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. The environmental sensors 9a and 9b are communicatively connected to the control device 2B via a communication line CL2 and transmit environmental information storing measured values ​​to the control device 2B. As described above, the environmental sensors 9 and 9b may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the control device 2B. As shown in FIG. 10, the environmental sensor 9a is installed in the first space R1, and the environmental sensor 9b is installed in the second space R2.

[0048] <Dampers 10a, 10b> The dampers 10a and 10b are an example of an air conveying means according to the present disclosure. The dampers 10a and 10b are so-called VAV (Variable Air Volume) devices that block or open the air flow in the air passage 5. The dampers 10a and 10b are communicatively connected to the control device 2B via a communication line CL3, and are controlled to open or close in response to commands from the control device 2B. As described above, the dampers 10a and 10b may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the control device 2B. As shown in FIG. 10 , the damper 10a is installed at a position where the air passage 5 and the first space R1 connect, i.e., at an air inlet, and the damper 10b is installed at a position where the air passage 5 and the second space R2 connect, i.e., at an air outlet. Normally, the dampers 10a and 10b are fully closed.

[0049] <Shutters 11a, 11b> The shutters 11a and 11b are electric shutters that block or open ventilation to the outdoors. The shutters 11a and 11b are communicatively connected to the control device 2B via a communication line CL4, and opening and closing are controlled by commands from the control device 2B. As described above, the shutters 11a and 11b may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the control device 2B. As shown in FIG. 11, the shutter 11a is installed at the air intake and exhaust port 12a, and the shutter 11b is installed at the air intake and exhaust port 12b. Normally, the shutters 11a and 11b are fully closed.

[0050] <Functional configuration of the control device 2B> As shown in FIG. 12 , the control device 2B functionally includes a communication unit 205, an environmental information acquisition unit 206, a humidification control condition determination unit 207, a blower control unit 208, a shutter control unit 209, and a damper control unit 210. These functional units are realized by the CPU 21 of the control device 2B executing a humidification control program related to control of humidifying the living space, which is stored in the auxiliary storage device 24. The communication unit 205 receives environmental information periodically transmitted from the environmental sensors 9a and 9b, and supplies the received environmental information to the environmental information acquisition unit 206. The communication unit 205 also transmits control commands supplied from the blower control unit 208 to the blowers 8a and 8b, transmits control commands supplied from the shutter control unit 209 to the shutters 11a and 11b, and transmits control commands supplied from the damper control unit 210 to the dampers 10a and 10b.

[0051] The environmental information acquisition unit 206 periodically (e.g., every minute) acquires environmental information transmitted from the environmental sensors 9a and 9b via the communication unit 204 and stores the acquired environmental information of the environmental sensors 9a and 9b in the information storage unit 240. The humidification control condition determination unit 207 is an example of a determination means according to the present disclosure. The humidification control condition determination unit 207 periodically (e.g., every minute) determines whether a first humidification start condition, a second humidification start condition, or a humidification stop condition is satisfied. For example, when the second space R2 is not being humidified and the air blowers 8a and 8b are not operating, the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines whether the first humidification start condition is satisfied. In this embodiment, the first humidification start condition is satisfied when the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is greater than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2 and the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or less than a first threshold. When the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the first humidification start condition is satisfied, it notifies the air blower control unit 208 and the shutter control unit 209 of the determination result.

[0052] Furthermore, when the second space R2 is not being humidified and the air blowers 8a and 8b are in operation, the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines whether it is possible to humidify the air in the second space R2 using the air in the first space R1, more specifically, whether a second humidification start condition is met. In this embodiment, the second humidification start condition is met when the atmospheric pressure in the first space R1 is higher than the atmospheric pressure in the second space R2. When the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the second humidification start condition is met, it notifies the damper control unit 210 of the determination result.

[0053] Furthermore, when the second space R2 is being humidified, i.e., when the air blowers 8a and 8b are operating and the shutters 11a and 11b and dampers 10a and 10b are open (i.e., fully open), the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines whether a humidification stop condition is met. In this embodiment, the humidification stop condition is met when the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is equal to or less than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2, or when the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or greater than a second threshold. When the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the humidification stop condition is met, it notifies the air blower control unit 208, the shutter control unit 209, and the damper control unit 210 of the determination result.

[0054] The air blower control unit 208 controls the operation of the air blowers 8a and 8b based on the determination result of the humidification control condition determination unit 207. Specifically, when the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the first humidification start condition is satisfied, the air blower control unit 208 transmits a control command to the air blower 8a via the communication unit 205 to instruct the air supply operation, and transmits a control command to the air blower 8b via the communication unit 205 to instruct the air exhaust operation. Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the humidification stop condition is satisfied, the air blower control unit 208 transmits a control command to the air blowers 8a and 8b via the communication unit 205 to instruct the air blowers 8a and 8b to stop operation.

[0055] Shutter control unit 209 controls the opening and closing of shutters 11a and 11b based on the determination result of humidification control condition determination unit 207. Specifically, when humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the first humidification start condition is satisfied, shutter control unit 209 transmits a control command to fully open shutters 11a and 11b via communication unit 205. Furthermore, when humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the humidification stop condition is satisfied, shutter control unit 209 transmits a control command to fully close shutters 11a and 11b via communication unit 205.

[0056] The damper control unit 210 is an example of an air conveyance control unit according to the present disclosure. The damper control unit 210 controls the opening and closing of the dampers 10a and 10b based on the determination result of the humidification control condition determination unit 207. When the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the second humidification start condition is satisfied, the damper control unit 210 controls the dampers 10a and 10b to generate an airflow from the first space R1 to the second space R2. Specifically, the damper control unit 210 transmits a control command to fully open the dampers 10a and 10b via the communication unit 205. When the humidification control condition determination unit 207 determines that the humidification stop condition is satisfied, the damper control unit 210 transmits a control command to fully close the dampers 10a and 10b via the communication unit 205.

[0057] <First control process for starting humidification> 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the first humidification start control process executed by the control device 2 B. When the second space R2 is not being humidified and the air blowers 8 a and 8 b are not in operation, the control device 2 B repeatedly executes the following first humidification start control process periodically (for example, every minute).

[0058] (Step S301) The control device 2B acquires environmental information from the environmental sensors 9a and 9b in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2B proceeds to step S302.

[0059] (Step S302) The control device 2B calculates the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2B proceeds to step S303.

[0060] (Step S303) The control device 2B determines whether a first humidification start condition is satisfied, that is, the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is greater than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2 and the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or less than a first threshold. If the first humidification start condition is satisfied (step S303; Yes), the process of the control device 2B proceeds to step S304. On the other hand, if the first humidification start condition is not satisfied (step S303; No), the control device 2B ends the first humidification start control process for this cycle.

[0061] (Step S304) The control device 2B instructs the blowers 8a and 8b to start operating. Specifically, the control device 2B generates a control command instructing the blower 8a to perform air supply operation and sends the generated control command to the blower 8a, and generates a control command instructing the blower 8a to perform exhaust operation and sends the generated control command to the blower 8b. As a result, the blowers 8a and 8b start operating. Thereafter, the processing of the control device 2B proceeds to step S305.

[0062] (Step S305) The control device 2B instructs the shutters 11a and 11b to fully open. Specifically, the control device 2B generates a control command instructing full opening and transmits the generated control command to the shutters 11a and 11b. Thereafter, the control device 2B ends the first humidification start control process. As a result, the atmospheric pressure in the first space R1 gradually increases, and the atmospheric pressure in the second space R2 gradually decreases.

[0063] In the above-described first humidification start control process, the control device 2B may execute the process of step S305 before the process of step S304.

[0064] <Second humidification start control process> 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second humidification start control process executed by the control device 2 B. When the second space R2 is not being humidified and the air blowers 8a and 8b are in operation, the control device 2 B repeatedly executes the second humidification start control process described below periodically (for example, every minute).

[0065] (Step S401) The control device 2B acquires environmental information from the environmental sensors 9a and 9b in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2B proceeds to step S402.

[0066] (Step S402) The control device 2B determines whether a second humidification start condition, that is, the atmospheric pressure in the first space R1 is higher than the atmospheric pressure in the second space R2, is satisfied. If the second humidification start condition is satisfied (step S402; Yes), the process of the control device 2B proceeds to step S403. On the other hand, if the second humidification start condition is not satisfied (step S402; No), the control device 2B ends the second humidification start control process for this cycle.

[0067] (Step S403) The control device 2B instructs the dampers 10a and 10b to fully open. Specifically, the control device 2B generates a control command instructing the dampers 10a and 10b to fully open and transmits the generated control command to the dampers 10a and 10b. Thereafter, the control device 2B ends the second humidification start control process. As a result, the dampers 10a and 10b are fully open, and the moist air in the first space R1 moves to the second space R2, thereby humidifying the second space R2.

[0068] <Humidification stop control process> 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the humidification stop control process executed by the control device 2B. While the second space R2 is being humidified, that is, while the air blowers 8a and 8b are operating and the shutters 11a and 11b and dampers 10a and 10b are open (i.e., fully open), the control device 2B repeatedly executes the following humidification stop control process periodically (for example, every minute).

[0069] (Step S501) The control device 2B acquires environmental information from the environmental sensors 9a and 9b in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2B proceeds to step S502.

[0070] (Step S502) The control device 2B calculates the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 and the second space R2. Thereafter, the process of the control device 2B proceeds to step S503.

[0071] (Step S503) The control device 2B determines whether a humidification stop condition is met, that is, the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is equal to or less than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2, or the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or greater than a second threshold. If the humidification stop condition is met (step S503; Yes), the control device 2B proceeds to step S504. On the other hand, if the humidification stop condition is not met (step S503; No), the control device 2B ends the humidification stop control process for this cycle.

[0072] (Step S504) The control device 2B instructs the air blowers 8a and 8b to stop operating. Specifically, the control device 2B generates a control command instructing the air blowers 8a and 8b to stop operating, and transmits the generated control command to the air blowers 8a and 8b. As a result, the air blowers 8a and 8b stop operating. Thereafter, the processing of the control device 2B proceeds to step S505.

[0073] (Step S505) The control device 2B instructs the shutters 11a and 11b to fully close. Specifically, the control device 2B generates a control command instructing full closure and transmits the generated control command to the shutters 11a and 11b. As a result, the shutters 11a and 11b are fully closed. Thereafter, the processing of the control device 2B proceeds to step S506.

[0074] (Step S506) The control device 2B instructs the dampers 10a and 10b to fully close. Specifically, the control device 2B generates a control command instructing the dampers 10a and 10b to fully close and transmits the generated control command to the dampers 10a and 10b. Thereafter, the control device 2B ends the humidification stop control process. As a result, the dampers 10a and 10b are fully closed, the moist air in the first space R1 does not move to the second space R2, and humidification of the second space R2 stops.

[0075] In the above humidification stop control process, the control device 2B can execute the processes of steps S504 to S506 in any order.

[0076] As described above, in the humidification system 1B of the present embodiment, when the first humidification start condition is satisfied—that is, the moisture content of the air in the first space R1 is greater than the moisture content of the air in the second space R2 and the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or less than the first threshold—the blower 8a starts air supply operation, the blower 8b starts air exhaust operation, and the shutters 11a and 11b are fully open. As a result, the atmospheric pressure in the first space R1 gradually increases and the atmospheric pressure in the second space R2 gradually decreases. When the atmospheric pressure in the first space R1 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure in the second space R2, the dampers 10a and 10b are fully open. This allows the humidified air in the first space R1 to move to the second space R2 through the air passage 5, making it possible to appropriately humidify the second space R2, which is a living space, without installing a humidifier, thereby providing a comfortable environment for the user. Furthermore, since humid air is discharged from the first space R1 such as a bathroom, the effect of dehumidifying the first space R1, which has a high moisture content in the air, is also achieved.

[0077] Furthermore, when the moisture content of the air in the first space R1 is equal to or less than the moisture content of the air in the second space R2, or when the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or greater than a second threshold, the air blowers 8a and 8b stop operating, and the shutters 11a and 11b and dampers 10a and 10b are fully closed, thereby preventing excessive humidification of the second space R2.

[0078] (Variation 1) In the functional configuration of the control device 2B, as shown in FIG. 16, the environmental information acquisition unit 206 may directly acquire environmental information from the environmental sensors 9a and 9b, the blower control unit 208 may directly send control commands to the blowers 8a and 8b, the shutter control unit 209 may directly send control commands to the shutters 11a and 11b, and the damper control unit 210 may directly send control commands to the dampers 10a and 10b.

[0079] (Variation 2) If it is possible to make the atmospheric pressure in the first space R1 higher than the atmospheric pressure in the second space R2 by operating the blowers 8a and 8b while keeping the dampers 10a and 10b fully open and by fully opening the shutters 11a and 11b, there is no need to install the dampers 10a and 10b.

[0080] (Variation 3) In the above embodiment, the control device 2B starts the operation of the air blowers 8a and 8b, fully opens the shutters 11a and 11b, and then fully opens the dampers 10a and 10b when the atmospheric pressure in the first space R1 becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure in the second space R2. However, the control device 2B may start the operation of the air blowers 8a and 8b, fully open the shutters 11a and 11b, and then fully open the dampers 10a and 10b after a certain time (e.g., 5 minutes) has elapsed. In this case, since it is not necessary to measure the atmospheric pressure in the first space R1 and the second space R2, environmental sensors 4a and 4b can be installed instead of the environmental sensors 9a and 9b.

[0081] (Variation 4) The control device 2B may periodically fully open the shutter 11a and operate the air blower 8a to exhaust the humid air in the first space R1 to the outdoors. For example, the control device 2B may fully open the shutter 11a and operate the air blower 8a to exhaust the air once a day for about one hour during the daytime or late night hours when the bathroom is less frequently used. This can prevent mold from growing in the first space R1, such as the bathroom.

[0082] (Variation 5) Similar to the second modification of the first embodiment, moisture absorbent material 6 may be provided in air passage 5 (see FIG. 8). Also, similar to the third modification of the first embodiment, heat insulating material 7 may be provided in air passage 5 (see FIG. 9).

[0083] (Variation 6) Each of the environmental sensors 9a and 9b may be configured such that a temperature sensor for measuring temperature, a humidity sensor for measuring humidity, and an air pressure sensor for measuring atmospheric pressure are separately provided.

[0084] (Variation 7) All or part of the functional units of the control device 2B (see FIG. 12) may be realized by dedicated hardware, such as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0085] The technical ideas according to the above-described modifications may be realized independently or in appropriate combination.

[0086] (Embodiment 3) Next, a description will be given of embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. In the following description, components and the like common to embodiment 1 will be given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0087] 17 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a humidification system 1C according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The humidification system 1C is an example of a humidification system according to the present disclosure. The humidification system 1C includes a control device 2C, a blower 3, an environmental sensor 12, and a heater 13. The control device 2C and the blower 3 are connected to each other via a communication line CL1 so as to be able to communicate with each other, the control device 2C and the environmental sensor 12 are connected to each other via a communication line CL2, and the control device 2C and the heater 13 are connected to each other via a communication line CL5 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0088] <Control device 2C> The control device 2C is an example of a control device according to the present disclosure. The control device 2C is a computer that controls the air blower 3 and the heater 13, and is installed in an appropriate location in the house H. The hardware configuration of the control device 2C is similar to the hardware configuration of the control device 2A in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). However, the communication interface 20 of the control device 2C includes hardware for communicating with the air blower 3 via a communication line CL1, hardware for communicating with the environmental sensor 12 via a communication line CL2, and hardware for communicating with the heater 13 via a communication line CL5. The control device 2C may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the air blower 3, the environmental sensor 12, and the heater 13.

[0089] The functions of the control device 2C realized by the CPU 21 of the control device 2C will be described in detail later.

[0090] <Environmental Sensor 12> The environmental sensor 12 is a sensor that measures a value related to the amount of moisture in the air. In this embodiment, the environmental sensor 12 periodically measures humidity. The environmental sensor 12 is communicably connected to the control device 2C via a communication line CL2, and transmits environmental information storing the measured values ​​to the control device 2C. As described above, the environmental sensor 12 and the control device 2C may be configured to communicate wirelessly. As shown in FIG. 18, the environmental sensor 12 is installed in the second space R2.

[0091] <Heater 13> The heater 13 is an example of a heater according to the present disclosure. The heater 13 is an electric heater, communicatively connected to the control device 2C via a communication line CL5, and its operation is controlled by commands from the control device 2C. As described above, the heater 13 and the control device 2C may communicate wirelessly. As shown in FIG. 18 , the heater 13 is installed on the first space R1 side of the air passage 5. A moisture-absorbing material 14 is also installed on the first space R1 side of the air passage 5. The moisture-absorbing material 14 is an example of a moisture-absorbing material according to the present disclosure. The moisture-absorbing material 14 absorbs moisture from the humidified air during and immediately after use of the bathroom. Thereafter, when the second space R2 is humidified, the moisture-absorbing material 14 is heated by the heater 13, liberating moisture from the moisture-absorbing material 14, and the moisture-laden air is sent to the second space R2 by the air blower 3.

[0092] When the bathroom is in use or immediately after use, the air in the bathroom is humidified and its temperature is high, causing the humidified air to rise as steam. This causes humidified air to flow into air duct 5, so moisture absorbent material 14 is installed in air duct 5 to absorb the moisture in the humidified air. Moisture absorbent material 14 is made of a material that liberates moisture when heated, such as silica gel or zeolite. Heater 13 is installed to heat moisture absorbent material 14 and liberate moisture from it.

[0093] <Functional configuration of the control device 2C> 19 , the control device 2C functionally includes a communication unit 211, an environmental information acquisition unit 212, a humidification control condition determination unit 213, an air blower control unit 214, and a heater control unit 215. These functional units are realized by the CPU 21 of the control device 2C executing a humidification control program related to control of humidifying the living space, which is stored in the auxiliary storage device 24. The communication unit 211 receives environmental information periodically sent from the environmental sensor 12, and supplies the received environmental information to the environmental information acquisition unit 212. The communication unit 211 also transmits a control command supplied from the air blower control unit 214 to the air blower 3, and transmits a control command supplied from the heater control unit 215 to the heater 13.

[0094] The environmental information acquisition unit 212 periodically (e.g., every minute) acquires environmental information transmitted from the environmental sensor 12 via the communication unit 211 and stores the acquired environmental information of the environmental sensor 12 in the information storage unit 240. The humidification control condition determination unit 213 is an example of a determination means according to the present disclosure. The humidification control condition determination unit 213 periodically (e.g., every minute) determines whether a humidification start condition or a humidification stop condition is met. For example, when the second space R2 is not being humidified, i.e., when the air blower 3 is not operating, the humidification control condition determination unit 213 determines whether it is possible to humidify the air in the second space R2 using the air in the first space R1, specifically, whether the humidification start condition is met. In this embodiment, the humidification start condition is met when the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or lower than a first threshold. When the humidification control condition determination unit 213 determines that the humidification start condition is met, it notifies the air blower control unit 214 and the heater control unit 215 of the determination result.

[0095] Furthermore, when the second space R2 is being humidified, that is, when the air blower 3 is operating, the humidification control condition determination unit 213 determines whether or not a humidification stop condition is met. In this embodiment, the humidification stop condition is met when the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or higher than a second threshold. When the humidification control condition determination unit 213 determines that the humidification stop condition is met, it notifies the air blower control unit 214 and the heater control unit 215 of the determination result.

[0096] The air blower control unit 214 is an example of an air conveyance control means according to the present disclosure. The air blower control unit 214 controls the operation of the air blower 3 based on the determination result of the humidification control condition determination unit 213. When the humidification control condition determination unit 213 determines that the humidification start condition is met, the air blower control unit 214 controls the air blower 3 to generate an airflow from the first space R1 to the second space R2. Specifically, the air blower control unit 214 transmits a control command to start operation to the air blower 3 via the communication unit 211. Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 213 determines that the humidification stop condition is met, the air blower control unit 214 transmits a control command to stop operation to the air blower 3 via the communication unit 211.

[0097] The heater control unit 215 controls the operation of the heater 13 based on the determination result of the humidification control condition determination unit 213. Specifically, when the humidification control condition determination unit 213 determines that the humidification start condition is satisfied, the heater control unit 215 transmits a control command to the heater 13 via the communication unit 211 to instruct it to start operation, thereby activating the heater 13. When the humidification control condition determination unit 213 determines that the humidification stop condition is satisfied, the heater control unit 215 transmits a control command to the heater 13 via the communication unit 211 to instruct it to stop operation.

[0098] <Humidification start control process> 20 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the humidification start control process executed by the control device 2 C. The control device 2 C repeatedly executes the following humidification start control process periodically (for example, every minute) while the second space R2 is not being humidified, specifically while the blower device 3 is not operating.

[0099] (Step S601) The control device 2C acquires environmental information from the environmental sensor 12 in the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2C proceeds to step S602.

[0100] (Step S602) The control device 2C determines whether or not the humidification start condition, that is, the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or lower than the first threshold, is satisfied. If the humidification start condition is satisfied (step S602; Yes), the process of the control device 2C proceeds to step S603. On the other hand, if the humidification start condition is not satisfied (step S602; No), the control device 2C ends the humidification start control process for this cycle.

[0101] (Step S603) The control device 2C instructs the heater 13 to start operating. Specifically, the control device 2C generates a control command instructing the heater 13 to start operating, and transmits the generated control command to the heater 13. Thereafter, the processing of the control device 2C proceeds to step S604. When the heater 13 starts operating, the moisture absorbent 14 is heated and moisture is liberated.

[0102] (Step S604) The control device 2C instructs the blower device 3 to start operation. Specifically, the control device 2C generates a control command instructing the blower device 3 to start operation and transmits the generated control command to the blower device 3. The control device 2C then ends the humidification start control process. As a result, the blower device 3 starts operation, and the moist air in the air passage 5 moves to the second space R2, thereby humidifying the second space R2.

[0103] In the above-described humidification start control process, the control device 2C may execute the process of step S604 before the process of step S603.

[0104] <Humidification stop control process> 21 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the humidification stop control process executed by the control device 2C. The control device 2C repeatedly executes the following humidification stop control process periodically (for example, every minute) while the second space R2 is being humidified, more specifically, while the blower device 3 is in operation.

[0105] (Step S701) The control device 2C acquires environmental information from the environmental sensor 12 in the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2C proceeds to step S702.

[0106] (Step S702) The control device 2C determines whether the humidification stop condition, that is, the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or greater than the second threshold, is met. If the humidification stop condition is met (step S702; Yes), the control device 2C proceeds to step S703. On the other hand, if the humidification stop condition is not met (step S702; No), the control device 2C ends the humidification stop control process for this cycle.

[0107] (Step S703) The control device 2C instructs the heater 13 to stop operation. Specifically, the control device 2C generates a control command instructing the heater 13 to stop operation, and transmits the generated control command to the heater 13. Thereafter, the process of the control device 2C proceeds to step S704. As a result, the heater 13 stops operation.

[0108] (Step S704) The control device 2C instructs the blower device 3 to stop operating. Specifically, the control device 2C generates a control command instructing the blower device 3 to stop operating, and transmits the generated control command to the blower device 3. The control device 2C then terminates the humidification stop control process. As a result, the blower device 3 stops operating, moist air in the air passage 5 no longer moves into the second space R2, and humidification of the second space R2 stops.

[0109] In the above-described humidification stop control process, the control device 2C may execute the process of step S704 before the process of step S703.

[0110] As described above, in the humidification system 1C of the present embodiment, when the humidification start condition that the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or lower than the first threshold is met, the blower 3 and heater 13 start operating, and the humid air in the air passage 5 moves into the second space R2. This makes it possible to appropriately humidify the second space R2, which is a living space, without installing a humidifier, thereby providing a comfortable environment for the user. Furthermore, because humidification is performed using moisture absorbed by the moisture absorbent material 14 installed in the air passage 5, the second space R2 can be humidified even when the bathroom or other space is not in use or has not just been used.

[0111] Furthermore, when the humidity in the second space R2 is equal to or higher than the second threshold, which is a humidification stop condition, the blower 3 stops operating, thereby preventing excessive humidification of the second space R2.

[0112] (Variation 1) In the functional configuration of the control device 2C, as shown in FIG. 22, the environmental information acquisition unit 212 may directly acquire environmental information from the environmental sensor 12, the blower device control unit 214 may directly send a control command to the blower device 3, and the heater control unit 215 may directly send a control command to the heater 13.

[0113] (Variation 2) The control device 2C may periodically rotate the fan of the air blower 3 in the reverse direction, so that dry air in the second space R2 moves to the first space R1 through the air passage 5. For example, the control device 2C may execute control to rotate the fan of the air blower 3 in the reverse direction for about one hour once a day during the daytime or late at night when the bathroom is less frequently used. This can prevent mold from growing in the air passage 5.

[0114] (Variation 3) All or part of the functional units of the control device 2C (see FIG. 19) may be realized by dedicated hardware, such as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0115] The technical ideas according to the above-described modifications may be realized independently or in appropriate combination.

[0116] (Fourth embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the following description, components that are common to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0117] 23 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a humidification system 1D according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The humidification system 1D is an example of a humidification system according to the present disclosure. The humidification system 1D includes a server 15, an operation terminal 16, a control device 2D, a blower 3, environmental sensors 4a and 4b, and a router 17.

[0118] <Server 15> The server 15 is a so-called cloud server operated by the manufacturer, sales company, etc. of the control device 2D, and is connected to a network N, which is a wide area network such as the Internet.

[0119] <Operation terminal 16> The operation terminal 16 is a smart device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal that is owned and used by a user who is a resident of the house H.

[0120] <Router 17> The router 17 is a broadband router, and is connected to the network N and is also connected to the control device 2D by wire or wirelessly.

[0121] <Control device 2D> The control device 2D is an example of a control device according to the present disclosure. The control device 2D is a computer that controls the air blower 3, and is installed in an appropriate location in the house H. The hardware configuration of the control device 2D is similar to the hardware configuration of the control device 2A in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). However, the communication interface 20 of the control device 2D further includes hardware for wired or wireless communication with the router 17.

[0122] <Functional configuration of the control device 2D> As shown in FIG. 24 , the control device 2D functionally includes a communication unit 216, an environmental information acquisition unit 201, a humidification control condition determination unit 217, a blower device control unit 218, and a server correspondence unit 219. These functional units are realized by the CPU 21 of the control device 2D executing a humidification control program related to control of humidifying the living space, which is stored in the auxiliary storage device 24. The communication unit 216 receives environmental information periodically transmitted from the environmental sensors 4a and 4b, and supplies the received environmental information to the environmental information acquisition unit 201. The communication unit 216 also transmits a control command supplied from the blower device control unit 218 to the blower device 3. The communication unit 216 also supplies a request notification received from the server 15 to the server correspondence unit 219. The communication unit 216 also transmits a response notification supplied from the server correspondence unit 219 to the server 15.

[0123] The humidification control condition determination unit 217 is an example of a determination means according to the present disclosure. When receiving a request notification from the server 2, the humidification control condition determination unit 217 determines whether a humidification start condition or a humidification stop condition is met. For example, when receiving a request notification from the server 2 requesting humidification of the second space R2, the humidification control condition determination unit 217 determines whether humidification of the air in the second space R2 using the air in the first space R1 is possible, specifically, whether the humidification start condition is met. In this embodiment, the humidification start condition is met when the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is greater than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2. A user can request humidification of the second space R2 by operating the operation terminal 16. When the user performs an operation to request humidification of the second space R2, the operation terminal 16 transmits a request notification indicating the request to the server 15. The server 2 transmits the request notification received from the operation terminal 16 to the control device 2D.

[0124] When the humidification control condition determination unit 217 determines that the humidification start condition is satisfied, it notifies the determination result to the air blower control unit 218. In addition, the humidification control condition determination unit 217 notifies the server handling unit 219 of the determination result of the humidification start condition.

[0125] Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 217 receives a request notification from the server 2 requesting that the humidification of the second space R2 be stopped, it determines that the humidification stop condition is met and notifies the air blower control unit 218 and the server corresponding unit 219 of the determination result. The user can request that the humidification of the second space R2 be stopped by operating the operation terminal 16. When the user performs an operation to request that the humidification of the second space R2 be stopped, the operation terminal 16 transmits a request notification indicating the request to the server 15. The server 2 transmits the request notification received from the operation terminal 16 to the control device 2D.

[0126] The air blower control unit 218 is an example of an air conveyance control means according to the present disclosure. The air blower control unit 218 controls the operation of the air blower 3 based on the determination result of the humidification control condition determination unit 217. When the humidification control condition determination unit 217 determines that the humidification start condition is met, the air blower control unit 218 controls the air blower 3 to generate an airflow from the first space R1 to the second space R2. Specifically, the air blower control unit 218 transmits a control command to start operation to the air blower 3 via the communication unit 216. Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 217 determines that the humidification stop condition is met, the air blower control unit 218 transmits a control command to stop operation to the air blower 3 via the communication unit 216.

[0127] When the server corresponding unit 219 receives a request notification from the server 15, it notifies the humidification control condition determination unit 217 of the content indicated in the request notification. Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 217 determines that the humidification start condition is satisfied, the server corresponding unit 219 generates a response notification indicating that the humidification operation will be performed, and transmits the response notification to the server 15 via the communication unit 216. Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 217 determines that the humidification start condition is not satisfied, the server corresponding unit 219 generates a response notification indicating that the humidification operation will not be performed, and transmits the response notification to the server 15 via the communication unit 216. Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 217 determines that the humidification stop condition is satisfied, the server corresponding unit 219 generates a response notification indicating that the humidification operation will be stopped, and transmits the response notification to the server 15 via the communication unit 216. The server 2 transmits the response notification received from the control device 2D to the operation terminal 16. The operation terminal 16 displays the content indicated in the response notification received from the server 15 on a display.

[0128] <Humidification start control process> 25 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the humidification start control process executed by the control device 2D. When the control device 2D receives a request notification requesting stop of humidification of the second space R2 from the server 15, the control device 2D executes the following humidification start control process.

[0129] (Step S801) The control device 2D acquires environmental information from the environmental sensors 4a and 4b in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2A proceeds to step S802.

[0130] (Step S802) The control device 2D calculates the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 and the second space R2. After that, the process of the control device 2D proceeds to step S803.

[0131] (Step S803) The control device 2D determines whether a humidification start condition is satisfied, that is, the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is greater than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2. If the humidification start condition is satisfied (step S803; Yes), the process of the control device 2D proceeds to step S804. On the other hand, if the humidification start condition is not satisfied (step S803; No), the process of the control device 2D proceeds to step S805.

[0132] (Step S804) The control device 2D instructs the air blower 3 to start operating. Specifically, the control device 2D generates a control command instructing the air blower 3 to start operating, and transmits the generated control command to the air blower 3. The control device 2D then ends the humidification start control process. As a result, the air blower 3 starts operating, and the moist air in the first space R1 moves to the second space R2, thereby humidifying the second space R2.

[0133] (Step S805) The control device 2D generates a response notification according to whether or not the humidification start condition is satisfied, and transmits it to the server 15. Thereafter, the control device 2D ends the humidification start control process.

[0134] As described above, in the humidification system 1D of the present embodiment, when a user requests humidification of the second space R2, the blower device 3 operates if the humidification start condition is met, that is, the amount of moisture in the air in the first space R1 is greater than the amount of moisture in the air in the second space R2. As a result, the humid air in the first space R1 moves to the second space R2 through the air duct 5, making it possible to appropriately humidify the second space R2, which is a living space, without installing a humidifier, and providing a comfortable environment for the user. In addition, because humid air is discharged from the first space R1, such as a bathroom, this also has the effect of dehumidifying the first space R1, which has a high moisture content in the air.

[0135] In addition, since humidification is performed in response to a request from the user, unnecessary humidification of the second space R2 can be avoided when there is no one in the second space R2, etc. Furthermore, since humidification is started and stopped in response to a user request, it is possible to achieve the air condition in the second space R2 that the user desires.

[0136] (Variation 1) In the functional configuration of the control device 2D, as shown in FIG. 26, the environmental information acquisition unit 201 may directly acquire environmental information from the environmental sensors 4a, 4b, the blower device control unit 218 may directly send a control command to the blower device 3, and the server response unit 219 may directly receive a request notification from the server 15 and send a response notification to the server 15.

[0137] (Variation 2) Instead of the control device 2D, the server 15 may have the same functions as the control device 2D (see FIG. 24) and control the operation of the blower device 3.

[0138] (Variation 3) Modifications 2 to 5 of the first embodiment are also applicable to this embodiment.

[0139] (Variation 4) All or part of the functional units of the control device 2D (see FIG. 24) may be realized by dedicated hardware, such as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0140] The technical ideas according to the above-described modifications may be realized independently or in appropriate combination.

[0141] (Embodiment 5) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the following description, components that are common to the first and fourth embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0142] 27 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a humidification system 1E according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The humidification system 1E is an example of a humidification system according to the present disclosure. The humidification system 1E includes a server 15, a control device 2E, a blower 3, an environmental sensor 18, an environmental sensor 19, and a router 17.

[0143] <Control device 2E> The control device 2E is an example of a control device according to the present disclosure. The control device 2E is a computer that controls the air blower 3, and is installed in an appropriate location in the house H. The hardware configuration of the control device 2E is similar to the hardware configuration of the control device 2A in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). However, the communication interface 20 of the control device 2E further includes hardware for wired or wireless communication with the router 17.

[0144] The functions of the control device 2B realized by the CPU 21 of the control device 2C will be described in detail later.

[0145] <Environmental Sensor 18> The environmental sensor 18 is a sensor that measures values ​​related to the amount of moisture in the air. In this embodiment, the environmental sensor 18 periodically measures humidity. The environmental sensor 18 is communicably connected to the control device 2E via a communication line CL2, and transmits environmental information storing measured values ​​to the control device 2E. Note that the environmental sensor 18 and the control device 2E may be configured to communicate wirelessly. As shown in FIG. 28, the environmental sensor 18 is installed in the first space R1.

[0146] <Environmental Sensor 19> The environmental sensor 19 is a wearable device that periodically measures the moisture content of a person's skin. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 28, the environmental sensor 19 is worn by a user in the second space R2. The environmental sensor 19 is wirelessly connected to the router 17 and transmits environmental information containing measured values ​​to the server 15 via the router 17.

[0147] <Functional configuration of the control device 2E> 29, the control device 2E functionally includes a communication unit 220, an environmental information acquisition unit 221, a humidification control condition determination unit 222, and an air blower control unit 223. These functional units are realized by the CPU 21 of the control device 2E executing a humidification control program related to control of humidifying the living space, which is stored in the auxiliary storage device 24. The communication unit 220 receives environmental information periodically sent from the environmental sensor 18 and the server 15, and supplies the received environmental information to the environmental information acquisition unit 221. The communication unit 220 also transmits a control command supplied from the air blower control unit 223 to the air blower 3.

[0148] The environmental information acquisition unit 221 periodically (for example, every minute) acquires environmental information transmitted from the environmental sensor 18 via the communication unit 220, and stores the acquired environmental information of the environmental sensor 18 in the information storage unit 240. In addition, the environmental information acquisition unit 221 periodically (for example, every minute) acquires environmental information transmitted from the environmental sensor 19 via the server 15 and the communication unit 220, and stores the acquired environmental information of the environmental sensor 19 in the information storage unit 240.

[0149] The humidification control condition determination unit 222 is an example of a determination means according to the present disclosure. The humidification control condition determination unit 222 periodically (e.g., every minute) determines whether a humidification start condition or a humidification stop condition is met. For example, when the second space R2 is not being humidified, i.e., when the operation of the air blower 3 is stopped, the humidification control condition determination unit 222 determines whether it is possible to humidify the air in the second space R2 using the air in the first space R1, specifically, whether the humidification start condition is met. In this embodiment, the humidification start condition is met when the humidity in the first space R1 is equal to or higher than a third threshold and the moisture content of the skin of a person in the second space R2 is equal to or lower than a fourth threshold. The third threshold is, for example, 60%, and the fourth threshold is, for example, 20%. The third threshold is an example of a first value according to the present disclosure, and the fourth threshold is an example of a second value according to the present disclosure. When the humidification control condition determination unit 222 determines that the humidification start condition is satisfied, it notifies the air blower control unit 223 of the determination result.

[0150] Furthermore, when the second space R2 is being humidified, i.e., when the air blower 3 is operating, the humidification control condition determination unit 222 determines whether or not a humidification stop condition is met. In this embodiment, the humidification stop condition is met when the humidity in the first space R1 is equal to or lower than a first threshold, or when the moisture content of the skin of a person in the second space R2 is equal to or higher than a fifth threshold. The fifth threshold is, for example, 45%. When the humidification control condition determination unit 222 determines that the humidification stop condition is met, it notifies the air blower control unit 223 of the determination result.

[0151] The air blower control unit 223 is an example of an air conveyance control means according to the present disclosure. The air blower control unit 223 controls the operation of the air blower 3 based on the determination result of the humidification control condition determination unit 222. When the humidification control condition determination unit 222 determines that the humidification start condition is met, the air blower control unit 223 controls the air blower 3 to generate an airflow from the first space R1 to the second space R2. Specifically, the air blower control unit 223 transmits a control command to start operation to the air blower 3 via the communication unit 220. Furthermore, when the humidification control condition determination unit 222 determines that the humidification stop condition is met, the air blower control unit 223 transmits a control command to stop operation to the air blower 3 via the communication unit 220.

[0152] <Humidification start control process> 30 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the humidification start control process executed by the control device 2 E. The control device 2 E repeatedly executes the following humidification start control process periodically (for example, every minute) while the second space R2 is not being humidified, specifically while the blower device 3 is not operating.

[0153] (Step S901) The control device 2E acquires environmental information from the environmental sensor 18 in the first space R1 and the environmental sensor 19 worn by the person in the second space R2. Thereafter, the processing of the control device 2E proceeds to step S902.

[0154] (Step S902) The control device 2E determines whether or not a humidification start condition is satisfied, that is, the humidity in the first space R1 is equal to or higher than a third threshold and the moisture content of the skin is equal to or lower than a fourth threshold. If the humidification start condition is satisfied (step S902; Yes), the control device 2E proceeds to step S903. On the other hand, if the humidification start condition is not satisfied (step S902; No), the control device 2E ends the humidification start control process for this cycle.

[0155] (Step S903) The control device 2E instructs the air blower 3 to start operating. Specifically, the control device 2E generates a control command instructing the air blower 3 to start operating, and transmits the generated control command to the air blower 3. The control device 2E then ends the humidification start control process. As a result, the air blower 3 starts operating, and the moist air in the first space R1 moves to the second space R2, thereby humidifying the second space R2.

[0156] <Humidification stop control process> 31 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the humidification stop control process executed by the control device 2 E. The control device 2 E repeatedly executes the following humidification stop control process periodically (for example, every minute) while the second space R2 is being humidified, specifically while the blower device 3 is in operation.

[0157] (Step S1001) The control device 2E acquires environmental information from the environmental sensor 18 in the first space R1 and the environmental sensor 19 worn by the person in the second space R2. Thereafter, the processing of the control device 2E proceeds to step S1002.

[0158] (Step S1002) The control device 2E determines whether or not a humidification stop condition is met, that is, the humidity in the first space R1 is equal to or lower than the first threshold, or the moisture content of the skin is equal to or higher than the fifth threshold. If the humidification stop condition is met (step S1002; Yes), the control device 2E proceeds to step S1003. On the other hand, if the humidification stop condition is not met (step S1002; No), the control device 2E ends the humidification start control process for this cycle.

[0159] (Step S1003) The control device 2E instructs the blower device 3 to stop operating. Specifically, the control device 2E generates a control command instructing the blower device 3 to stop operating, and transmits the generated control command to the blower device 3. The control device 2E then terminates the humidification stop control process. As a result, the blower device 3 stops operating, the moist air in the first space R1 no longer moves to the second space R2, and humidification of the second space R2 stops.

[0160] As described above, in the humidification system 1E of the present embodiment, when the humidification start condition is satisfied, that is, the humidity in the first space R1 is equal to or higher than the third threshold and the moisture content of the skin of a person in the second space R2 is equal to or lower than the fourth threshold, the air blower 3 operates. As a result, the humid air in the first space R1 moves to the second space R2 through the air passage 5, making it possible to appropriately humidify the second space R2, which is a living space, without installing a humidifier, thereby providing a comfortable environment for the user. In addition, because the humid air is exhausted from the first space R1, such as a bathroom, it also has the effect of dehumidifying the first space R1, which has a high moisture content in the air.

[0161] Furthermore, when a humidification stop condition is satisfied, that is, when the humidity in the first space R1 is equal to or lower than the first threshold value, or when the moisture content of the skin of a person in the second space R2 is equal to or higher than the fifth threshold value, the blower 3 stops operating. This prevents excessive humidification of the second space R2.

[0162] (Variation 1) In the functional configuration of the control device 2E, as shown in FIG. 32, the environmental information acquisition unit 221 may directly acquire environmental information from the environmental sensor 18, and the environmental information transmitted from the environmental sensor 19 may directly be acquired from the server 15, and the blower device control unit 223 may directly transmit a control command to the blower device 3.

[0163] (Variation 2) Instead of the control device 2E, the server 15 may have the same functions as the control device 2E (see FIG. 29) and control the operation of the blower device 3.

[0164] (Variation 3) The control device 2E and the environmental sensor 19 (wearable device) may be configured to communicate directly without the server 15 being involved.

[0165] (Variation 4) Modifications 2 to 4 of the first embodiment are also applicable to this embodiment.

[0166] (Variation 5) All or part of the functional units of the control device 2E (see FIG. 29) may be realized by dedicated hardware, such as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0167] The technical ideas according to the above-described modifications may be realized independently or in appropriate combination.

[0168] The present disclosure allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0169] 1A to 1E humidification system, 2A to 2E control device, 3, 8a, 8b air blower, 4a, 4b, 9a, 9b, 12, 18, 19 environmental sensor, 5 air path, 6, 14 moisture absorbent material, 7 heat insulating material, 10a, 10b damper, 11a, 11b shutter, 12a, 12b intake and exhaust port, 13 heater, 15 server, 16 operation terminal, 17 router, 20 communication interface, 21 CPU, 22 ROM, 23 RAM, 24 auxiliary storage device, 25 bus, 200, 205, 211, 216, 220 communication unit, 201, 206, 212, 221 environmental information acquisition unit, 202, 207, 213, 217, 222 Humidification control condition determination unit, 203, 208, 214, 218, 223 blower control unit, 209 shutter control unit, 210 damper control unit, 215 heater control unit, 219 server corresponding unit, 240 information storage unit

Claims

1. an air conveying means installed in a building having a first space, a second space, and an air passage connecting the first space and the second space; a control device; The control device a determination means for determining whether or not the air in the second space can be humidified using the air in the first space; and an air conveyance control means for controlling the air conveyance means to generate an air flow from the first space toward the second space when the determination means determines that the humidification is possible. Humidification system.

2. The determination means determines that the humidification is possible when the moisture content of the air in the first space is greater than the moisture content of the air in the second space and the humidity in the second space is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. The humidification system of claim 1 .

3. The determination means further determines that the humidification is possible when the atmospheric pressure in the first space is higher than the atmospheric pressure in the second space. The humidification system of claim 2 .

4. The air conditioner further includes a heater that heats a moisture absorbent material disposed in the air passage, the control device activates the heater when the determination means determines that the humidification is possible. The humidification system of claim 1 .

5. The determination means determines that the humidification is possible when the humidity in the second space is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. The humidification system of claim 4.

6. the determination means determines whether humidification is possible when a user requests humidification of the air in the second space. The humidification system of claim 1 .

7. The determination means determines that the humidification is possible when the moisture content of the air in the first space is greater than the moisture content of the air in the second space. The humidification system of claim 6.

8. The determination means determines that the humidification is possible when the humidity in the first space is equal to or greater than a predetermined first value and the moisture content of the skin of the person in the second space is equal to or less than a predetermined second value. The humidification system of claim 1 .

9. a determination means for determining whether or not it is possible to humidify the air in the second space of the building using the air in the first space of the building; and an air conveyance control means for controlling an air conveyance means installed in the building so as to generate an air flow from the first space toward the second space when the determination means determines that the humidification is possible. Control device.

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