Air conditioning system for a cabin and method for air conditioning a cabin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cabin air conditioning systems on cruise ships face issues with condensation when windows or balcony doors are opened, leading to humidity-related problems and potential clogging of chilled beams due to unfiltered cabin air and dust accumulation on wet coil surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A cabin conditioning system that includes a control unit, a water heater, and a control valve to heat the cooling medium when the cabin door or window is opened, preventing condensation by raising the temperature of air conditioning device surfaces above the dew point, thus minimizing water condensation and eliminating the need for condensation channels or piping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If chilled beams are used to cool the cabin, then the cabin temperature is reduced, but condensation occurs on the chilled beam surface when warm and moist air enters the cabin
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit activates the water heater in advance when it detects that a hatch is opened, heating the cooling medium before warm and moist air can enter and cause condensation. This preliminary heating action prevents the temperature difference that would lead to condensation formation on the chilled beam surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the cooling medium dynamically. When a hatch is opened, the water heater increases the cooling medium temperature to prevent condensation. The control unit monitors hatch status and adjusts the cooling medium temperature accordingly, transforming the static cooling system into a dynamically adjustable one that adapts to environmental changes.
2Productivity
If the cooling medium temperature is maintained low for effective cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but condensation and dust accumulation occur on the heat exchanger surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the cooling medium when hatch opening is detected, preventing condensation and dust accumulation before they can occur. This proactive measure maintains heat exchanger cleanliness and functionality while preserving cooling efficiency during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The water heater acts as an intermediary device between the cooling medium and the external environment. It temporarily modifies the cooling medium temperature to prevent harmful condensation and dust accumulation, allowing the system to maintain both cooling efficiency and heat exchanger reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If condensation is collected and removed using separate containers or sewer systems, then condensation damage is prevented, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the condensation prevention function from the complex infrastructure of collection containers and sewer systems. By preventing condensation formation at its source through proactive heating, the system eliminates the need for separate condensation management infrastructure, simplifying the overall system while still preventing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The chilled beam system performs self-service condensation prevention by incorporating a water heater that actively maintains cooling medium temperature. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external condensation collection and removal infrastructure, reducing system complexity while preventing condensation damage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents condensation within the air conditioning device when warm and moist air enters the cabin, reducing the risk of damage to cabin structures and maintaining a comfortable environment without requiring additional condensation management infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
a water heater (8) arranged to heat the cooling medium before entering the air conditioning device (2)
Implementation Method 2
a control valve (7) for controlling the cooling medium flow to the air conditioning device (2)
Implementation Method 3
the air conditioning device (2), which is arranged to condition the room air inside the cabin
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A cabin conditioning system for air conditioning cabin space (1), the system comprising an air conditioning device (2) for cooling the cabin temperature, and a control unit (3) for controlling the cabin con-ditioning system. The system further comprises a first sensor (5) arranged to send signal to the control unit (3) if a hatch (6) to the outdoor is opened or closed, a control valve (7) for controlling the cooling medium flow to the air conditioning device, a water heater (8) for heating the cooling medium before entering the air conditioning device, and the first sensor (5) is arranged to send a first signal to the control unit, when the hatch is opened, wherein the control unit is arranged to switch on the water heater, for heating the cooling medium..