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

Abstract

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

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning systems, more specifically of devices that make it possible to monitor or regulate the humidity level, notably of the relative humidity level, in a space or a volume whose temperature is regulated by such heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning systems.

[0002] Indeed, the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning systems are activated and monitored by only one parameter that is the temperature as measured in the volume, such as a room, a container, a house, a building, etc. whose said system regulates the temperature.

[0003] Some heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning systems comprise sensors able to measure other parameters or physical quantities, but no system comprises an independent device that makes it possible to regulate or actively monitor the humidity rate of the thermally regulated volume by a heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system.

[0004] Furthermore, in the standard heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning systems such as air-conditioners, there is only an evacuation of the condensates to remove the condensed water from the internal cold surfaces of said systems (for example, some surfaces of heat exchangers). Naturally, this leads to a reduction of the relative humidity in said volume under thermal regulation of such a system.

[0005] Unfortunately, if the climate is dry (for example in desertic zones, barren and cold zones, etc.), this drainage of the condensates, generally total, is excessive and lead to a reduction of the relative humidity lower than a comfort value for a human being; for example, the air turns too dry and can lead to respiratory issues for the human beings. This can also lead to adverse and potentially harmful side effects, such as an increase of static electricity discharges.

[0006] In the case of hot and wet countries (for example in tropical zone), the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system generally comprise at least one device to dry incoming fresh air (which means the air from outside) to prevent excessive condensation of water in the regulated volume. Indeed, the presence of water drops promotes the development of molds, mushrooms or bacteria in the air conduits, but also in the volume, whose temperature is regulated by such systems, for example in the case of a room in a house, on louvers, ceilings, walls, etc.

[0007] This required drying of the air is expensive and generally leads to an expensive cost of maintenance.

[0008] Thus, the present invention intends to rectify at least one of the drawbacks above with a new type of regulating device for the humidity level, for example for the relative humidity level, for a heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, said system being configured to regulate the temperature of a volume and comprising at least one air ventilation circuit that generates an air flow into said volume, characterized in that said device comprises:

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

[0010] a water supply device to said ventilation circuit, so that the water is evaporated by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit; wherein said water supply device brings water depending on the value of the humidity level measured by said relative humidity sensor.

[0011] According to a possible characteristic, said water supply device is configured to bring water from condensates, either from a condensate removal circuit from said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system or directly from a surface, on which water condensates. It should be noted that condensates refer to the fact that humidity (or water) in the air condenses, for example in contact with a cold surface, as liquid water, generally as droplets.

[0012] According to another possible characteristic, said water supply device is configured to bring water from a water circuit, for example from a water supply network of said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, a water supply (preferably directly), and / or a water tank, for example an internal or external tank.

[0013] According to another possible characteristic, said water supply device comprises a valve configured to regulate the quantity of supplied water for evaporation by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit.

[0014] According to another possible characteristic, the valve comprises a device to supply water by vaporization or evaporation, or a drip type device.

[0015] According to another possible characteristic, said valve is set up vertically and comprises an electromagnet configured to monitor the opening and / or the closing of said valve. Said valve can also comprise a spring, for example in combination with a flap, to close the valve after opening by said electromagnet.

[0016] According to another possible characteristic, said valve comprises a sized orifice of “flow restrictor” type, a laminar tube and / or a filter. Advantageously, said valve is equipped with a filter to protect the laminar tube or the sized orifice from possible impurities in the water.

[0017] According to another possible characteristic, said water supply device comprises a tank to hold the water from said water supply device. When the water brought into the tank results from the recovery of condensates (directly or through a dedicated condensate recovery circuit), the tank is generally called “condensate recovery tank”.

[0018] According to another possible characteristic, said tank comprises a foam, a sponge or a porous material. Advantageously, a foam, a sponge or a porous material laid in said tank makes it possible to make the re-evaporation of the condensates easier into the air flow that is generated by the ventilation circuit of said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system.

[0019] According to another possible characteristic, said tank comprises an overflow system to evacuate the excess water when the water exceeds a preset quantity or level of water. Said overflow system is, for example, an overflow hole at a level integrated to said tank, for example in the case of the condensates; it makes it possible to evacuate the excess condensate before water overflows from said condensate recovery tank.

[0020] According to another possible characteristic, said water supply device comprises a sprinkler and / or a tube configured to deliver the water to a preset zone of said tank. Said water supply device advantageously comprises an item that makes it possible to supply water to zones of the tank that will accelerate the evaporation of the water by the air flow from said ventilation circuit

[0021] According to another possible characteristic, the regulating device comprises an electronic monitoring unit configured to monitor the amount of water brought by said water supply device as a function of the humidity value as measured by said humidity sensor. For example, the monitoring unit makes it possible to define or adjust a setpoint for the humidity rate, wherein the unit is linked to said humidity sensor and to the water supply device to regulate the water in order to reach a predefined setpoint.

[0022] According to another possible characteristic, said monitoring unit is located in said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system or in the volume temperature-regulated by said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, for example in an interface box.

[0023] The invention also relates to a heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, said system comprising at least a ventilation circuit, characterized in that said system comprises a regulating device for the humidity rate as mentioned above.

[0024] According to another possible characteristic, said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system comprises a phase change material configured to store or release calories.

[0025] The invention shall be better understood, and other goals, details, features and advantages shall appear more clearly in the following description of specific embodiments of the invention, which are introduced only for information and non-restrictively, with reference to the appended picture, where:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic very partial cross-sectional view of a humidity regulation device according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a schematic very partial cross-sectional view of a part of a humidity regulation device of FIG. 1.

[0028] In the following description, the word “comprise” is a synonym of “include” and is not limitative, which means that it allows the presence of other items in the vehicle or in the structure to which it relates. It shall be understood that “comprise” includes the words “consists in”. Furthermore, it shall be noted that on the various figures, the same references refer to identical or similar items.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic very partial cross-sectional view of a humidity regulation device (1) according to the invention. Such a regulating device (1) is notably designed to be mounted in (or to equip) a heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system (not pictured).

[0030] Such a heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system is configured to regulate the temperature of a volume or of a space, such as a room, a container, a house, a building, etc. To do so, said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system comprises at least one heat exchanger, a fluid circuit, and a ventilation circuit configured to generate an air flow at a given temperature after circulation through a heat exchanger of said system (non-pictured items).

[0031] The fluid circuit of said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system is configured so that the fluid, for example water, flow through at least one heat exchanger to receive or yield calories with the air that flows through at least one of said heat exchangers. So, said air flow is thermally conditioned before reaching said volume. Hence, said system regulated the temperature in said volume thanks to said air flow.

[0032] It shall be noted that, in an embodiment, said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system comprises a phase change material configured to store or release calories from the air flow and / or from the fluid that flows through said fluid circuit of said system.

[0033] The humidity regulation device (1) comprises:

[0034] a humidity sensor (not pictured), for example a relative humidity sensor, configured to measure the relative humidity level in said volume temperature-controlled by said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system;

[0035] a water supply device (3) so configured that the water is evaporated by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit;

[0036] In addition, said water supply device (3) is configured to bring water to the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit depending on the value of the humidity level (or relative humidity level) measured by said humidity sensor.

[0037] The regulating device (1) also comprises a (not pictured) electronic monitoring unit configured to monitor the amount of water brought by said water supply device (3) as a function of the humidity value as measured by said humidity sensor. Thus, the level or rate of humidity can be regulated thanks to the electronic monitoring unit.

[0038] Said monitoring unit is located, for example, in said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system or in the volume temperature-regulated by said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, for example in an interface box located in the room. The electronic monitoring unit comprises, for example, a card or a microcontroller, where algorithms make it possible to regulate the relative humidity by monitoring the water supply device (and its sub-parts) and the humidity sensor.

[0039] Thus, when the humidity rate is lower than the comfort threshold, generally 25% to 30% relative humidity, the water supply device (3) delivers water that is evaporated by the air flow generated by the ventilation circuit. When the set relative humidity level is reached, then the water supply device (3) stops providing water, but restarts if the relative humidity rate drops again. It shall be noted that the disturbances about the relative humidity level mainly come from the voluntary or involuntary admission of air from outside into the volume to warm up or to thermally regulate.

[0040] In particular, said water supply device (3) is configured to bring water from one or several distinct sources:

[0041] from a water circuit (5), partly visible in FIG. 1, for example from a water supply network of said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, a water supply and / or a (internal or external) water tank.

[0042] from a condensate removal circuit (7), partly visible in FIG. 2, of said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system.

[0043] Additionally, said water supply device (3) comprises a valve (9) configured to regulate the quantity of supplied water for evaporation by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit.

[0044] Said valve (9) comprises, for example, a pipe (9a) for the fluid, here water, equipped with a flap, and an electromagnet (9b) or an actuator configured to open said flap so that it lets water flow, and a (not pictured) spring configured to return the (not pictured) flap to closed position (when the electromagnet does not work anymore).

[0045] Said valve (9) can also comprise a device to supply water by vaporization / evaporation, a drip device, a sized orifice of “flow restrictor” type, a laminar tube (9c) and / or a filter (9d). Advantageously, said valve (9) makes it possible to monitor the quantity of supplied water for evaporation by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit.

[0046] Furthermore, as particularly visible in FIG. 2, the water supply device (3) can comprise a tank (11) to contain the water from said valve (9). Advantageously, said tank (11) comprises a foam, a sponge or a porous material.

[0047] It shall be noted that a tank (11) is particularly advantageous when there is direct recovery of the condensates, which means that the tank (11) is located under a surface of a heat exchanger where water condenses, wherein the water eventually falls into the condensate recovery tank (11) by gravity and / or under the effect of the air flow. However, the humidity regulation device (1) can also comprise a tank (11) when water is brought through a valve (9) connected to a water source or to a condensate removal circuit.

[0048] So, no matter the embodiment, said tank can comprise an overflow system (13) to evacuate the excess water when the water exceed a preset water quantity or level.

[0049] More specifically, said overflow system (13) is, for example, an overflow hole at a level integrated to said tank (11) in order to evacuate the excess condensate before water overflows from said condensate recovery tank (11).

[0050] Furthermore, said water supply device (3) can advantageously comprise a sprinkler and / or a tube configured to deliver the water to a preset zone of said tank (11).

[0051] Thus, in a wet zone and in air-conditioning mode, the air of a room contacts repeatedly with the heat exchanger or with a phase change material of the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system for cooling. This has for consequence that the humidity in the air condenses at the surface of the heat exchanger or of the container of the phase change material.

[0052] This condensed water is brought to the condensate recovery tank (11), either directly both by gravity and under effect of the air flow generated by the ventilation circuit, or thanks to a condensate removing system; the water collected in said tank is then re-evaporated into the ventilated air flow to keep the relative humidity level of the room substantially constant.

[0053] However, if no fresh air from outside is provided to the room and if the evacuation is closed, the humidity rate remains constant by re-evaporation of the condensates into the air flow of the unit. However, if the condensates are evacuated (through a drainage tube) to the outside, the humidity rate drops. Thus, when a preset value of relative humidity is reached, the regulation device (1) is configured, for example thanks to the electronic monitoring unit, to close the drainage hole, which allows the relative humidity level to stabilize at the preset value.

[0054] The invention is also advantageously applied in the context of house agriculture, for example of vertical agriculture. Indeed, in particularly dry zones, the condensates are preferably totally collected for filtration, recycling and reuse in the circuit of the heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, in a circuit of the phase change material and / or a plant watering circuit.

[0055] Indeed, the excess relative humidity generated by the watering of plants can be collected by suitable means and can be recycled. In addition, the excess watering water can also be filtered for reuse.

Claims

1. A regulating device for the humidity level for a heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, said system being configured to regulate the temperature of a volume and comprising at least one air ventilation circuit that generates an air flow into said volume, characterized in that said device comprises:a humidity sensor configured to measure the humidity level in said volume temperature-controlled by said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system;a water supply device to said ventilation circuit, so that the water is evaporated by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit;wherein said water supply device brings water depending on the value of the humidity level measured by said relative humidity sensor.

2. A regulating device according to claim 1, characterized in that said water supply device is configured to bring water from condensates.

3. A regulating device according to claim 1, characterized in that said water supply device is configured to bring water from a water circuit.

4. A regulating device according to claim 1, characterized in that said water supply device comprises a valve that is configured to regulate the quantity of supplied water for evaporation by the air flow generated by said ventilation circuit.

5. A regulating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve comprises a device to supply water by vaporization or evaporation, or a drip type device.

6. A regulating device according to claim 4, characterized in that said valve is set up vertically and comprises an electromagnet configured to monitor the opening and / or the closing of said valve.

7. A regulating device according to claim 4, characterized in that said valve comprises a sized orifice of “flow restrictor” type, a laminar tube and / or a filter.

8. A regulating device according to claim 1, characterized in that said water supply device comprises a tank to hold the water from said water supply device.

9. A regulating device according to claim 8, characterized in that said tank comprises a foam, a sponge or a porous material.

10. A regulating device according to claim 4, characterized in that said tank comprises an overflow system to evacuate the excess water when the water exceeds a preset quantity or level of water.

11. A regulating device according to claim 6, characterized in that said water supply device comprises a sprinkler and / or a tube configured to deliver the water to a preset zone of said tank.

12. A regulating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the regulating device comprises an electronic monitoring unit configured to monitor the amount of water brought by said water supply device as a function of the humidity value as measured by said humidity sensor.

13. A regulating device according to claim 1, characterized in that said monitoring unit is located in said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system or in the volume temperature-regulated by said heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, for example in an interface box.

14. A heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system, said system comprising at least a ventilation circuit, characterized in that said system comprises a regulating device for the humidity rate according to claim 1.

15. A heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system according to the claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a phase change material configured to store or release calories.

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