Humidifying module and incubator or air conditioned cabinet with humidifying modul and method for operating a humidifying module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing humidification systems in incubators and climate cabinets face challenges in maintaining continuous and efficient humidity levels, particularly when the door is opened, leading to deviations from target humidity values, which require rapid recovery and continuous humidification.
Innovation Solution
A humidification module with a container, heating device, and temperature sensor that generates and superheats steam, using the steam temperature as a control parameter to regulate water supply and heating output, ensuring continuous operation and reducing the risk of contamination by overheating the steam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water reservoir is placed in the incubator to evaporate water into the air, then humidification is provided, but the humidity cannot be maintained continuously and drops below required values when the door is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to steam through a heating device. The heating device heats water in a container to generate steam, which then condenses on the cooler inner wall of the incubator chamber, releasing latent heat and maintaining humidity. This phase transition mechanism enables continuous and rapid humidity recovery even when the door is opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous humidification by maintaining a heating device that constantly generates steam from water in a container. The steam continuously rises and condenses on the chamber walls, ensuring uninterrupted humidity supply. This continuous action allows rapid recovery of humidity levels after door opening disturbances.
2Productivity
If steam is generated by heating water in a container, then continuous humidification is achieved, but the system becomes more complex requiring temperature sensors and control circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the inner wall of the incubator chamber and feeds this information back to a control circuit. The control circuit adjusts the heating device's power accordingly to maintain the desired temperature and humidity levels. This feedback mechanism enables automatic control while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the natural condensation of steam on the cooler inner walls of the chamber to provide humidification. The condensed water drips back into the container, creating a self-regulating cycle that reduces the need for complex external control mechanisms while maintaining continuous humidification.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the heating device protrudes from water into steam volume to superheat steam, then sterilization is achieved by overheating, but the risk of contamination increases if water level drops too low
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor monitors the temperature of the inner wall or steam, providing feedback to the control circuit. When the temperature reaches levels indicating sufficient superheating for sterilization, the control circuit maintains or adjusts the heating power accordingly. This feedback ensures consistent sterilization effectiveness while preventing water level drop issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the steam by allowing it to be superheated above its boiling point through the heating device. This parameter change (temperature increase) achieves sterilization by overheating the steam, killing foreign organisms while the control system monitors to prevent water level drop that would compromise this effect.
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 a pressureless, cost-effective, and continuously operational humidification system that maintains stable humidity levels and reduces the risk of contamination, allowing for efficient and rapid recovery from humidity deviations.
Implementation Method 1
the water is heated by heating with the heating device, so that steam passes into the steam volume
Implementation Method 2
the steam generated during heating with the heating device is located in the steam volume, in which the steam is further heated, which superheats the steam
Implementation Method 3
the temperature sensor is arranged to measure directly or indirectly the temperature of the water vapor, the measured temperature being used as a control parameter
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating a humidification module (10,20,30) for an incubator is provided, the humidification module (10,20,30) having a container (2) having a water inlet (3) and a steam outlet (4), a Heating device (1), which is arranged in the interior of the container (2), and a temperature sensor (5) and a control circuit for controlling or regulating a water supply through the water inlet (3) and/or for controlling or regulating a heating output of the heating device (1 ) in which the container (2) is filled with water to the maximum extent that a steam volume (7b) remains, in which steam generated during heating with the heating device (1) is located, in which part of the heating device (1) protrudes from the water and into the steam volume (7b), so that the water vapor can be overheated, and in which the temperature sensor (5) is arranged so that it directly or indirectly measures the temperature of the water vapor, the ge measured temperature is used as a control parameter by the control circuit, a humidification module (10,20,30) for an incubator for carrying out such a method and an incubator with such a humidification module (10,20,30).