Evaporative Air Conditioning Control for Humidity and Cooling Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems are limited in cooling performance and unable to control humidity during intermediate and winter periods, leading to discomfort and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system that includes an air conditioner with outside and return air passages, heat exchangers, vaporizing humidifiers, and an air volume adjusting device, which performs vaporization cooling while preventing heat exchange with the heat exchange medium, allowing for control of both temperature and humidity through the operation of vaporizing humidifiers and air volume adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If sensible cooling using outside air is employed in intermediate periods, then energy saving is achieved, but cooling performance and humidity control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cooling function into two independent pathways: sensible cooling through heat exchangers and evaporative cooling through vaporizing humidifiers. This allows selective activation of cooling modes based on outdoor conditions, maintaining high cooling performance while optimizing energy consumption by using only the necessary cooling method.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporizing humidifiers are designed to serve dual functions: humidification during heating operations and evaporative cooling during cooling operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling equipment, achieving high cooling performance without proportionally increasing energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If sensible cooling using outside air is employed in intermediate periods, then energy saving is achieved, but humidity control capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters of the vaporizing humidifiers based on the desired function. During cooling operation, the humidifiers operate in evaporative mode to provide cooling effect. During heating operation, the same humidifiers operate in humidification mode. This parameter change allows the system to maintain both energy efficiency and humidity control adaptability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If heat exchangers are stopped during intermediate periods, then energy saving is achieved, but cooling performance becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vaporizing humidifiers act as intermediary cooling devices that can be activated independently of the heat exchangers. When outdoor conditions are favorable for energy saving, the humidifiers provide sufficient cooling without requiring heat exchanger operation. When higher cooling capacity is needed, the heat exchangers can be activated alongside or instead of the humidifiers, providing flexible cooling capacity adjustment without proportional energy increase.
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 configuration enhances cooling and energy-saving performance, providing comfortable air conditioning while adjusting air volume and humidity, and allows for automatic switching between heating and cooling operations based on measured conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an outside air vaporizing humidifier configured to humidify the outside air of the outside air passage by utilizing evaporation of water
Implementation Method 2
a return air vaporizing humidifier configured to humidify the return air of the return air passage by utilizing evaporation of water
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system includes: an air conditioner configured to supply air-conditioning air; and an air conditioner control device configured to control the air conditioner. The air conditioner includes: an outside air passage, through which outside air flows; a return air passage, through which return air flows; an outside air heat exchanger; a return air heat exchanger; an outside air vaporizing humidifier configured to humidity the outside air by utilizing evaporation of water; and a return air vaporizing humidifier configured to humidify the return air by utilizing evaporation of water. The air conditioner control device includes a first vaporizing cooler configured to operate at least one of the humidifiers to perform vaporization cooling of the air-conditioning air while preventing the air-conditioning air from exchanging heat with a heat exchange medium.