Humidity Control Air Routing for Balanced Sensible and Latent Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning systems face inefficiencies in controlling latent and sensible heat processing, leading to decreased operation efficiency and comfort, as they require time to stabilize and often prioritize one heat load over the other.
Innovation Solution
A humidity control apparatus with a dual moisture adsorption/desorption system and a cooling device, along with switching devices and a controller, allows for alternating air routes to adjust route maintenance time based on indoor heat load, balancing sensible and latent heat processing capacities without compromising refrigeration cycle stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If refrigerant circuit control is performed to control dehumidification amount, then humidity control capability is improved, but operation efficiency decreases due to delayed refrigeration cycle stabilization
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments heat load processing into two independent pathways: a refrigeration cycle for sensible heat processing and a desiccant rotor for latent heat processing. This segmentation allows each subsystem to operate independently and stabilize quickly without requiring complex refrigerant circuit adjustments, thereby maintaining high operation efficiency while achieving versatile humidity control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the balance between sensible and latent heat processing by controlling the switching frequency of the desiccant rotor and the operation of the cooling device. This dynamic control enables rapid adaptation to varying indoor heat load conditions without destabilizing the refrigeration cycle, solving the contradiction between adaptability and stabilization time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If refrigerant evaporating temperature is changed to control dehumidification, then humidity control is improved, but operation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates dehumidification control from refrigerant evaporating temperature adjustment by using a desiccant rotor for latent heat removal. This segmentation allows the refrigeration cycle to operate at optimal evaporating temperatures for sensible heat processing while the desiccant rotor handles dehumidification, thereby maintaining high operation efficiency across varying humidity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter for dehumidification from refrigerant evaporating temperature to desiccant rotor switching frequency. This parameter change enables effective dehumidification control without affecting the refrigeration cycle's energy efficiency, as the desiccant rotor operates independently of refrigerant temperature settings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If four-way valve switching is performed to alternate adsorption and desorption, then moisture processing capability is improved, but operation efficiency decreases due to refrigeration cycle instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments moisture processing from the refrigeration cycle by using a dedicated desiccant rotor that operates on a separate timing mechanism. This segmentation allows the desiccant rotor to perform adsorption and desorption cycles independently without requiring four-way valve switching, thereby maintaining refrigeration cycle stability while achieving versatile moisture processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The desiccant rotor acts as an intermediary device that handles moisture processing separately from the refrigeration cycle. By introducing this intermediary, the system achieves effective moisture control through adsorption/desorption cycles without disrupting the stability of the refrigeration cycle, eliminating the need for four-way valve switching.
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 solution enables efficient control of both sensible and latent heat processing, allowing for quick attainment of a comfortable indoor environment by prioritizing heat load processing based on current conditions, reducing the time needed for the refrigeration cycle to stabilize and maintaining high efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first moisture adsorption/desorption device (33a) arranged within the air path and configured to transfer moisture to air having a relatively low humidity and receive moisture from air having a relatively high humidity
Implementation Method 2
a cooling device (32) arranged between the first moisture adsorption/desorption device (33a) and the second moisture adsorption/desorption device (33b) and configured to cool air
Data Source
AI summary
A humidity control apparatus and an air-conditioning system are capable of controlling the latent heat processing amount and the sensible heat processing amount in accordance with an indoor heat load without decreasing the operation efficiency. Every time an air route is switched to an air route A or an air route B, the route maintenance time for the switched air route is set on the basis of the heat load within a dehumidification target space, and switching of switching devices is controlled such that the set route maintenance time is ensured.