Humidity indicating apparatus for dehumidifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
The color-changing humidity sensors in reusable desiccant dehumidifiers are prone to being washed away by condensed water droplets when the dehumidifier is heated, leading to a loss of functionality and inability to accurately indicate the moisture state of the hydroscopic granules.
Innovation Solution
A humidity indicating apparatus with a housing that includes a transparent separation plate dividing the cavity into a storage space and a thermal insulation space, where the color-changing humidity sensor is placed in the storage space, preventing rapid temperature decrease and condensation of water droplets, and allowing for easy replacement of the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the dehumidifier is heated to dry the hydroscopic granules, then the moisture adsorption function is restored, but condensed water droplets wash away the color-changing humidity sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is divided into a storage space for hydroscopic granules and a thermal insulation space containing the humidity sensor, separated by a transparent separation plate. This segmentation protects the sensor from direct exposure to condensed water droplets while allowing it to detect humidity changes through the plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent separation plate acts as an intermediary between the storage space and thermal insulation space. It allows thermal energy to pass through for heating while preventing condensed water droplets from directly contacting the humidity sensor, thus protecting the sensor's functionality.
2Speed
If the cavity is directly contacted to the environment, then heat transfer is efficient for drying, but rapid temperature decrease causes condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulation space is positioned between the storage space and the external environment to cushion against rapid temperature changes. This insulation layer prevents sudden cooling that would cause condensation, while still allowing controlled heat transfer for efficient drying.
3Measurement precision
If the humidity sensor is placed in direct contact with hydroscopic granules, then moisture detection is accurate, but the sensor is exposed to condensed water and washed away
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent separation plate serves as an intermediary that allows the humidity sensor to detect moisture changes in the storage space without direct contact with the hydroscopic granules and condensed water droplets. The sensor remains protected while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The color-changing humidity sensor detects moisture state changes through color transformation. The transparent separation plate allows this color change to be observed from the thermal insulation space side, maintaining measurement precision while protecting the sensor.
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 prolongs the lifespan of the color-changing humidity sensor by preventing it from being washed away and maintaining its functionality, ensuring accurate moisture state indication and convenient replacement.
Implementation Method 1
The color-changing humidity sensing material of the colored humidity sensor detects a moisture state of the hydroscopic granules and changes its color as an increasing of the moisture state
Implementation Method 2
the electrothermal component is turned on to heat and dry the saturated hydroscopic granules
Implementation Method 3
to remove water molecules adsorbed by the hydroscopic granules
Implementation Method 4
the hydroscopic granules can adsorb water molecules in the air after heated
Implementation Method 5
condensed water droplets are formed since a temperature of the environment is lower than a temperature of the cavity directly contacted to the environment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a humidity indicating apparatus for a dehumidifier which includes a housing, a cavity, a transparent separation plate disposed in the cavity for dividing the cavity into a storage space and a thermal insulating space and a color-changing humidity sensor, wherein the housing has a transparent observation window corresponding to the thermal insulating space and a venting aperture corresponding to the storage space, and wherein the storage space stores the color-changing humidity sensor.