Sealed Room Drying Control for Energy-Efficient Moisture Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for drying damp or water-damaged buildings are inefficient in terms of energy usage and lack effective monitoring and control systems to ensure thorough drying and minimize re-moisturization.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that involves sealing a room, heating it internally to promote water evaporation, monitoring humidity and temperature, and controlling air circulation to exhaust warm humid air and draw in outside air until the room reaches a suitable dryness level, with sensors and a central processing unit managing the process to optimize energy use and notify operators when drying is complete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous heating is applied to dry the room, then drying effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs humidity sensors and temperature sensors that continuously monitor the room environment and feed this data back to the control unit. The control unit adjusts heating and air circulation operations based on real-time moisture levels, stopping or reducing heating when drying targets are achieved, thus optimizing energy consumption while maintaining effective drying
Solution Approach 2:
The heating and air circulation operations are dynamically adjusted based on monitored humidity and temperature levels. The system transitions from continuous operation to conditional operation, modulating power output and air flow rates according to the drying progress, thereby balancing drying effectiveness with energy efficiency
2Measurement precision
If monitoring and control systems are added to the drying apparatus, then drying precision and energy optimization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment through integrated sensors and control logic. The control unit automatically processes sensor data and modifies heating and air circulation operations without requiring external intervention, achieving precise moisture level control while keeping the operational interface simple
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions (heating, air circulation, humidity sensing, temperature sensing, and control) are merged into a single integrated drying apparatus. The control unit consolidates the processing of data from multiple sensors and coordinates all operational components, reducing the need for separate monitoring systems and simplifying the overall device architecture
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 ensures efficient drying by minimizing energy consumption, effectively monitoring moisture levels, and ensuring thorough drying while allowing for remote monitoring and control, thereby optimizing the drying process and reducing the risk of re-moisturization.
Implementation Method 1
heating it internally until the inside ambient air there within is warm and humid following surface evaporation of water in the room
Implementation Method 2
capacitive humidity sensors
Implementation Method 3
resistive humidity sensors
Implementation Method 4
thermal conductivity sensors
Implementation Method 5
exhausting the warm and humid air from the room and drawing in outside ambient air
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for drying a room within a building by sealing the room from outside ambient air ingress, heating the room internally, sensing humidity levels within the room, exhausting the air from within the room and drawing in outside ambient air, sensing water content within the room, and repeating the sequence until a dry status indication is received that the water content within the room has been reduced a predetermined level.