Multi-Storage HVAC Humidity Control Without Overcooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current HVAC systems inefficiently control humidity, often over-cooling and re-heating air to manage moisture, leading to high energy consumption and inefficiency, especially in environments like vertical farming and residential buildings where humidity and temperature peaks do not coincide.
Innovation Solution
A system that separates humidity control from temperature control, utilizing multiple energy storage sub-systems such as moisture, electrical, thermal, and water storage, along with a control sub-system to optimize energy use, including a moisture storage device with desiccant media that absorbs and desorbs moisture based on relative humidity thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HVAC systems over-cool the air to remove moisture, then humidity control is achieved, but energy consumption increases due to subsequent reheating
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments humidity control and temperature control into separate functions. A moisture storage subsystem with desiccant media handles dehumidification independently, while a thermal storage subsystem and primary cooling subsystem handle temperature regulation. This allows dehumidification without mandatory over-cooling and subsequent reheating, resolving the energy waste contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The moisture storage subsystem performs preliminary dehumidification by adsorbing moisture from air during low-load periods using desiccant media. This preliminary action removes moisture before the primary cooling subsystem operates, preventing the need to over-cool air for dehumidification purposes and eliminating the energy-wasting reheating step.
2Device complexity
If HVAC systems are used for both cooling and dehumidifying functions, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy efficiency decreases when temperature and humidity peaks do not coincide
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the single HVAC function into separate moisture storage subsystem and thermal storage subsystem. The moisture subsystem uses desiccant media for dehumidification while the thermal subsystem handles cooling, allowing independent operation based on actual humidity and temperature demands rather than coordinated operation, improving energy efficiency when peaks don't coincide.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of each subsystem independently based on real-time humidity and temperature conditions. The moisture storage subsystem operates based on humidity thresholds while the thermal storage subsystem operates based on temperature demands, allowing optimal energy efficiency regardless of whether temperature and humidity peaks coincide.
3Use of energy by moving object
If moisture storage subsystems are added to separate humidity control from temperature control, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The moisture storage subsystem and thermal storage subsystem are nested within the existing HVAC architecture. The desiccant media units are integrated with the primary cooling subsystem, allowing the new moisture control function to be embedded within the existing system framework rather than requiring completely separate independent systems, thus limiting the increase in overall complexity.
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 approach reduces overall energy consumption by storing and releasing moisture when most cost-effective, allowing for efficient humidity management independent of temperature control, thereby optimizing energy efficiency and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a moisture storage device with desiccant media that absorbs and desorbs moisture based on relative humidity thresholds
Implementation Method 2
a desiccant media arranged in the within a volume defined by the heat exchange surface at a predetermined packing density to allow for heat transfer between fluid and desiccant media
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for separating humidity control from temperature control and utilizing multiple energy storage sub-systems to reduce overall energy consumption, and more generally to cool and dehumidify ambient air using such a multitude of energy storage mediums, including electricity, water, moisture and thermal storage The system uses a primary cooling sub-system such as a vapor compressor in combination with one or more energy storage sub-systems to store energy during one period of operation for later use during another period of operation based on an algorithm that determines the most cost efficient or energy efficient usage.