Bubbler Dew Point Climate Control for Precise Humidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional climate conditioning systems have modest energy efficiency and control accuracy, with components often working in opposition, leading to instability and inefficiency, and passive systems used in display cabinets lack temperature control and require frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A climate generator that controls temperature and humidity by bringing air to its dew point and then heating it to target conditions, eliminating the need for relative humidity sensors and condensers, using a bubbler with controlled water temperature to achieve desired humidity levels through latent/thermodynamic transformations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional air cooling and condensing batteries with adiabatic saturators and heating batteries are used, then temperature and humidity can be controlled, but the system complexity increases and energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the adiabatic saturator and condensing battery from the traditional system, retaining only the essential cooling battery and heating battery. The relative humidity sensor is also removed, as humidity is now controlled passively through the cooling process alone, significantly simplifying the system while maintaining control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the cooling battery to simultaneously perform both cooling and humidification functions. By controlling the cooling process to reach the dew point, the system automatically achieves the desired humidity level without requiring separate humidification equipment or active humidity sensing, making the system self-regulating.
2Measurement precision
If traditional systems with multiple components are used, then temperature and humidity control is possible, but energy efficiency becomes modest
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the typically harmful effect of over-cooling (which causes condensation and humidity problems) into a beneficial feature. By deliberately cooling the air to its dew point, the system automatically achieves precise humidity control while eliminating the need for separate humidification systems, thereby improving energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cooling and humidification functions into a single cooling battery operation. The same cooling process that reduces temperature also condenses moisture to achieve the desired humidity level, eliminating the need for separate adiabatic saturators and reducing overall energy consumption.
3Ease of manufacture
If passive control systems with hygroscopic substances are used in display cabinets, then simplicity and affordability are achieved, but temperature control capability is lost and maintenance frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces passive mechanical hygroscopic materials with an active thermodynamic system using a cooling battery. This substitution enables precise temperature control while maintaining humidity control through the dew point method, achieving both simplicity and reliability simultaneously.
4Device complexity
If simplified active systems with single cooling batteries are used, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control capability is lost and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control through a microprocessor that continuously monitors temperature and adjusts the cooling battery operation accordingly. This dynamic adjustment enables the single cooling battery to maintain both temperature and humidity within target ranges, achieving reliable dual-parameter control with minimal system complexity.
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
This approach simplifies the system, enhances reliability, reduces maintenance, and allows for precise control of climatic parameters with reduced complexity and cost, while enabling rapid humidity variations and clean air delivery.
Implementation Method 1
bubbler means, adapted to receive a flow of air to be conditioned and comprising a predetermined volume of water at a controlled temperature... performing a heat and humidity exchange... bringing the flow of air... to a dew point temperature... and a relative humidity value of 100%
Implementation Method 2
heat exchanger means, responsible for a thermodynamic transformation of the volume of water into the bubbler means
Implementation Method 3
heater means, arranged downstream of the bubbler means and adapted to heat the flow of air exiting the bubbler means to a target temperature value
Data Source
AI summary
A climate generator adapted to produce a flow of air at controlled temperature and at relative humidity values (tc, ic) is described, which includes a bubbler (100) which receives a flow of air to be conditioned (Ga), heat exchangers (120) associated with the bubbler (100) to adjust the temperature of the water volume (W) of the bubbler and/or to provide an amount of latent heat of evaporation to the aforesaid volume of water (W); and heaters (180) for heating the flow of air at the dew point (Gb) exiting from the bubbler (100) to the controlled temperature value of the flow of air, wherein the temperature of the volume of water (W) is established as a function of the controlled temperature and relative humidity values (tc, ic), so that the heating of the flow of air at the dew point (Gb) from the temperature of the water volume (W) to the controlled temperature value determines a decrease in the relative humidity (ic) of the flow of air to the controlled relative humidity value.