Building Drying Control Device with Humidity Profile Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying methods for buildings are highly energy-intensive, requiring prolonged operation of drying devices to achieve adequate drying, leading to high electricity costs and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
A control device that independently manages voltage connections for fans, dehumidifiers, heaters, and turbines based on real-time humidity data from sensors, allowing for optimized operation by predicting moisture profiles and determining remaining drying time, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drying devices are operated continuously for days or weeks to ensure sufficient drying, then the drying effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption and electricity costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously monitors humidity data from sensors in the drying area and uses this feedback to adjust the operation of drying devices. The control unit processes humidity measurements and automatically controls the power supply to drying devices, enabling the system to respond to actual drying progress and avoid unnecessary continuous operation, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining drying effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment through automated control. The control device independently evaluates humidity data and makes decisions about when to operate or pause drying devices without requiring constant manual intervention, allowing the drying process to self-regulate based on real-time conditions and minimize energy waste.
2Productivity
If multiple drying devices (fan, dehumidifier, heater, turbine) are used simultaneously to accelerate drying, then the drying speed is improved, but the energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts the operation of different drying devices based on real-time humidity data and environmental conditions. Rather than running all devices simultaneously at constant power, the system varies the operation of fans, dehumidifiers, heaters, and turbines according to actual drying needs, optimizing the combination and intensity of drying actions to achieve fast drying with reduced energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes operational parameters of drying devices based on humidity measurements. It adjusts power supply levels, operating modes, and device combinations according to the current drying progress and environmental conditions, allowing the system to maintain high drying speed while avoiding excessive energy consumption by adapting parameters to actual needs.
3Use of energy by moving object
If drying devices are paused to save energy, then the energy consumption is reduced, but the drying process takes longer and may not achieve sufficient drying
Solution Approach 1:
The control device uses continuous humidity monitoring to determine when drying pauses are safe and when devices should resume operation. By feedback from humidity sensors, the system ensures that pausing does not compromise final drying completeness, as it can detect when moisture levels are sufficiently low and when resumption is needed to achieve target drying goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary drying actions to reduce moisture levels to a point where pausing becomes energy-efficient without risking incomplete drying. The control device anticipates when pausing can occur by evaluating current humidity levels and predicting future drying progress, ensuring that resumption will still achieve sufficient drying while maximizing energy savings during pause periods.
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 control device enables efficient and autonomous drying operations by optimizing the use of drying equipment, reducing energy expenditure, and ensuring timely completion of drying processes without unnecessary energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
a humidity sensor to determine the relative humidity of a suction air flow
Implementation Method 2
its moisture content is reduced by dehumidifiers
Implementation Method 3
drying equipment is used to heat the air, allowing it to absorb a greater amount of moisture
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a control device (10) for carrying out a method for drying an area of a building to be dried, wherein the control device (10) comprises a mains plug (12) for supplying power to the control device (10), a controllable voltage connection (14) for a drying device designed as a fan, a controllable voltage connection (18) for a drying device designed as a dehumidifier, a controllable voltage connection (20) for a drying device designed as a heater, preferably as a heating panel, a controllable voltage connection (24) for a drying device designed as a turbine, at least one data connection (24) for a humidity sensor and/or temperature sensor, an output means (26) for outputting messages, a control unit (28),with which, depending on the humidity data available via the at least one data connection (24) for a humidity sensor, the at least one controllable voltage connection (14) for a fan, the at least one controllable voltage connection (18) for a dehumidifier, the at least one controllable voltage connection (20) for a heating device and the at least one controllable voltage connection (22) for a turbine can be independently supplied with a voltage, wherein the control unit (28) is configured to determine humidity data via the data connection (24) for the at least one humidity sensor and/or temperature sensor during the drying of the area to be dried by operating one or more drying devices, and to create a humidity profile of the area to be dried from this data.After a rest period of duration trest period of the drying device(s), a future moisture profile is predicted based on the generated moisture profile and a measured current humidity Fafter rest period, upon re-operation of one or more of the drying devices, and based on the predicted future moisture profile, a message is issued regarding a determined remaining drying time tremaining time, after which a desired humidity Ftarget humidity of the area to be dried will not be exceeded.