Vertical Fan Coil Humidification for Closed-Loop Humidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning and heating systems fail to maintain optimal humidity levels, leading to discomfort for occupants, as they lack integrated humidification capabilities to regulate ambient humidity within the 25-50% range.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a humidifier with a steam generation unit and dispersion outlets into a vertical fan coil unit, equipped with a humidity sensor to monitor and adjust steam production based on ambient humidity levels, ensuring steam is introduced into the air stream to maintain comfortable humidity levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a humidifier is integrated into the air conditioning unit, then humidity control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the humidifier system (steam generator, water reservoir, dispersion outlets) with the existing air conditioning unit by mounting it on the upper section and integrating the outlet with the air stream path. This merging approach allows the AC unit to provide both cooling and humidification functions, improving versatility while leveraging existing structural components to minimize the increase in complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The modified air conditioning unit becomes a multi-functional device that can simultaneously perform cooling, heating, and humidification. The system uses a single integrated unit rather than separate devices, allowing one machine to serve multiple climate control functions, thereby improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity
2Reliability
If steam generation is continuously operated, then humidity maintenance is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a humidity sensor that continuously monitors ambient humidity levels and provides feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the steam generator is activated only when humidity falls below the optimal range (25-50%), and deactivated when the range is achieved. This closed-loop control ensures reliable humidity maintenance while avoiding continuous operation and excessive energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous steam generation, the system operates the steam generator periodically based on humidity sensor readings. The generator cycles on and off to maintain humidity within the target range, converting a continuous energy-intensive process into an intermittent one that achieves the same humidity maintenance goal with reduced energy consumption
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 maintains ambient humidity between 25-50%, enhancing occupant comfort by automatically regulating humidity through steam generation and dispersion within the air-conditioning or heating system.
Implementation Method 1
providing a fresh water inlet to said humidifier; and providing an outlet from said humidifier configured such that steam is incorporated into the outlet air stream
Implementation Method 2
appropriate sensor to measure ambient indoor humidity
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical heat pump has a vertical fan coil housing containing a fan, a coil, and a discharge plenum. A cavity is formed within the fan coil housing. A humidity steam generator is disposed within the cavity. A steam dispersion tube is mounted within an airstream to be generated by the fan for delivering steam via the discharge plenum. A steam transfer tube connects the steam generator to the steam dispersion tube.