Ventilator with humidity control function
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchange ventilators with humidity control functions experience long delays in reaching target humidity levels, especially when indoor temperatures are extreme, leading to discomfort due to frequent switching between dehumidification and humidification operations.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator with a humidity control function that includes an air supply unit, exhaust unit, humidity controller, and control unit, which adjusts humidity control operations based on indoor temperature ranges, using converted relative humidity calculations to maintain comfort by minimizing switching between dehumidification and humidification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the humidity control operation is started simultaneously with indoor air conditioning operation, then the humidity control responds quickly to changes, but the operation switches frequently between dehumidification and humidification when temperature is extreme, increasing the time to reach target humidity and impairing comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines whether to start the humidity control operation before the indoor air conditioning operation based on temperature conditions. When the temperature is below a lower threshold or above an upper threshold, the humidity control operation is started in advance (prior to air conditioning operation). This preliminary action prevents frequent switching by establishing the correct operation mode before temperature-induced humidity changes occur, thereby reducing the time to reach target humidity while maintaining quick response capability.
2Productivity
If the humidity control operation starts at extreme temperatures, then immediate humidity adjustment is attempted, but the temperature change causes relative humidity to shift, triggering unnecessary operation switches and delaying target humidity achievement
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary determination of the humidity control operation start timing based on temperature conditions. When temperature is below a lower threshold or above an upper threshold, the system determines to start the humidity control operation before the air conditioning operation. This advance determination ensures operational stability by preventing unnecessary switches, while maintaining productivity through timely humidity adjustment once conditions are appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes the operational parameters (start timing of humidity control) based on temperature parameters. By adjusting the start timing parameter according to temperature conditions (early start at extreme temperatures, delayed start at moderate temperatures), the system optimizes both productivity and operational stability, avoiding frequent switches while ensuring efficient humidity adjustment.
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 ventilator effectively reduces the time to achieve target humidity and maintains indoor comfort by anticipating temperature changes, preventing unnecessary operation switches, even at extreme temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchange ventilator exchanging heat between a supply airflow and an exhaust airflow
Implementation Method 2
a humidity controller provided in the supply air duct and humidifying or dehumidifying the supply airflow
Data Source
AI summary
Ventilator includes humidity controller that humidifies or dehumidifies supply airflow, and control unit that controls operation of humidity controller. Control unit brings a relative humidity closer to target humidity, when a temperature of an indoor space is higher than or equal to a first reference temperature and lower than or equal to a second reference temperature, by using the relative humidity of the indoor space and bringing the relative humidity closer to the target humidity, and brings the relative humidity closer to target humidity, when the temperature of the indoor space is lower than the first reference temperature or higher than the second reference temperature, by using a converted relative humidity that is identified assuming that a temperature of the indoor space has changed to a third reference temperature set between the first reference temperature and the second reference temperature, and bringing the relative humidity closer to the target humidity.