Climate Control Assembly With Predictive Sensors for Switch Cabinets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for controlling temperature and humidity in enclosed structures with air conditioning systems, such as switch cabinets and mobile radio stations, lack precise and energy-efficient methods to maintain stable climatic conditions, often resulting in temperature overshoots and dew point issues.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part housing with a wiring support and sensors for ambient humidity and temperature, along with a microcontroller that predicts ambient temperature by accounting for heat loss, ensuring accurate control and minimizing temperature gradients, and allowing for electronic or manual setpoint specification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional thermostats are mounted on DIN rails with transverse arrangement, then space utilization on the rail is optimized, but precise temperature and humidity control with prediction capability is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller performs predictive calculations of future temperature and humidity states based on current sensor readings and historical data. This preliminary action allows the system to anticipate climate changes and adjust the air conditioning system proactively, preventing temperature overshoots and improving control precision without requiring more complex hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously reads temperature and humidity sensor data, compares actual values with predicted values, and uses this feedback loop to refine control decisions. The microcontroller adjusts control signals based on the difference between measured and predicted states, enabling precise control while maintaining a relatively simple device structure
2Stability of the object's composition
If air conditioning systems operate continuously to maintain stable climate, then temperature and humidity stability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By predicting future climate states within the housing, the system can determine in advance when temperature or humidity will reach acceptable ranges. This allows the air conditioning system to be switched off prematurely rather than running continuously, maintaining climatic stability while reducing energy consumption. The prediction capability enables precise timing of control actions
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller periodically samples sensor data and updates predictions at optimized intervals rather than continuously controlling the air conditioning system. This periodic measurement and control approach maintains adequate climatic stability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation
3Volume of moving object
If sensors are positioned close to electronic components for compact design, then device compactness is improved, but temperature measurement accuracy deteriorates due to heat interference
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is positioned to measure ambient temperature in the housing interior rather than directly on the wiring support where electronic components generate heat. This extraction of the sensor from the heat-generating environment allows accurate ambient temperature measurement while maintaining compact overall device volume. The sensor measures the climate of the enclosed space rather than being influenced by component heat
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller acts as an intermediary by receiving temperature readings and humidity readings from sensors, then performing predictive calculations to determine actual ambient conditions. This computational mediation compensates for any measurement inaccuracies and provides corrected climate data for control decisions, maintaining measurement precision within a compact form factor
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors and electronic components are integrated in the housing, then functionality is improved, but heat loss from components affects temperature control accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller performs predictive calculations that account for heat generation from electronic components and sensors themselves. By predicting future temperature states and compensating for component heat loss in advance, the system maintains accurate ambient temperature detection despite the presence of multiple heat-generating electronic components integrated in the housing
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors temperature and humidity from sensors, feeds this data back to the microcontroller, and uses predictive algorithms to distinguish between ambient temperature changes and temperature changes caused by component heat. This feedback mechanism enables accurate ambient temperature detection while maintaining versatile control functionality
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 solution provides precise and energy-efficient control of temperature and humidity, reducing overshoots and preventing dew point issues, thereby maintaining optimal operating conditions for electronic components in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor for detecting the relative ambient air humidity is located on or on the wiring support
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor for detecting the temperature in the housing incoming ambient air on the back of the wiring support
Implementation Method 3
a third sensor for the direct or indirect detection of the heat loss of the most important electronic components
Implementation Method 4
predictively determines the actual ambient temperature, taking into account the heat loss of the arrangement
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly for controlling the temperature and/or the humidity in structures that are provided with an air-conditioning device and that are or can be closed off from their surroundings, such as switch cabinets, control installations, machine controllers, electrical connection boxes, mobile radio stations or similar enclosed apparatuses, consisting of a multi-part housing having a plurality of openings or ventilation slots, a wiring carrier being provided in the housing for holding electronic components along with connection terminals for the air-conditioning device, and also with a control element for specifying temperature and/or humidity setpoint values. According to the invention, a first sensor for sensing the relative ambient humidity, a second sensor for sensing the temperature of the ambient air flowing into the housing, and a third sensor for directly or indirectly sensing the heat loss of the most essential electronic components of the assembly are provided on the wiring carrier.