Close humidity and temperature control method

• US 10,054,324 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniflair, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Marchetti, Daniele, Greggio, Fabio
• Primary Examiner(s): Crenshaw, Henry
• Application Number:
  US14/851,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20170074538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 62160, 62175, 621766
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/70 Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/80 for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity

Abstract

According to various aspects and embodiments, a system and method for controlling humidity and temperature are disclosed. The system includes temperature and humidity sensors, at least one unit configured to cool, heat, dehumidify, and humidify air, and a control module. The control module is configured to receive set point values for the temperature and humidity and to receive measured air and temperature values from the sensors. The control module then calculates differences between the measured values and the set point values to determine respective temperature and humidity error values. The control module controls the operation of the at least one unit based on a comparison between the temperature error value and the humidity error value.

Claims

1. A humidity and temperature control system comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to measure an air temperature value;

a humidity sensor configured to measure an air humidity value;

at least one unit configured to cool, heat, dehumidify, and humidify air, the at least one unit including a variable speed compressor, a heater, and a humidifier; and

a control module in communication with the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, the control module comprising;

a first PID temperature controller configured to;

receive a set point temperature value;

receive a measured air temperature value from the temperature sensor;

calculate a difference between the set point temperature value and the measured air temperature value to determine a temperature error value; and

a second PID humidity controller configured to;

receive a set point humidity value;

receive a measured air humidity value from the humidity sensor;

calculate a difference between the set point humidity value and the measured humidity value to determine a humidity error value; and

wherein the temperature error value corresponds to a normalized temperature error value and the humidity error value corresponds to a normalized humidity error value and the control module is configured to;

determine which of the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is greater;

control operation of the humidifier if the normalized humidity error value is greater than the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is less than zero;

control operation of the compressor if the normalized humidity error value is greater than the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is greater than zero;

control operation of the compressor if the normalized temperature error value is greater than the normalized humidity error value and the normalized temperature error value is greater than zero; and

control operation of the heater if the normalized temperature error value is greater than the normalized humidity error value and the normalized temperature error value is less than zero.

2. The humidity and temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the control module controls operation of the compressor to minimize the normalized temperature error value or the normalized humidity error value.

3. The humidity and temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to operate the humidity and temperature control system to a measured air humidity value within ±

3% of the set point humidity value.

4. The humidity and temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to operate the humidity and temperature control system to a measured air temperature value within ±

1.1°

C. of the set point temperature value.

5. The humidity and temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the control module controls operation of the compressor by adjusting the amount of power provided to the compressor.

6. The humidity and temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to operate the compressor, the humidifier, and the heater in real time.

7. A method of controlling humidity and temperature comprising:

receiving a set point temperature value and a set point humidity value;

measuring an air temperature value and an air humidity value;

calculating a difference between the set point temperature value and the measured air temperature value to determine a temperature error value, the temperature error value corresponding to a normalized temperature error value;

calculating a difference between the set point humidity value and the measured air humidity value to determine a humidity error value, the humidity error value corresponding to a normalized humidity error value;

comparing the normalized temperature error value to the normalized humidity error value to determine which of the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is greater; and

operating continuously at least one unit that includes a variable speed compressor, a heater, and a humidifier and is configured to cool, heat, dehumidify, and humidify air by;

operating the humidifier if the normalized humidity error value is greater than the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is less than zero;

operating the compressor if the normalized humidity error value is greater than the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is greater than zero;

operating the compressor if the normalized temperature error value is greater than the normalized humidity error value and the normalized temperature error value is greater than zero; and

operating the heater if the normalized temperature error value is greater than the normalized humidity error value and the normalized temperature error value is less than zero.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the compressor is operated in a continuous mode, and to minimize the normalized humidity error value or the normalized temperature error value.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the air temperature value and the air humidity value are measured in real time.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising maintaining the measured air humidity value to be within ±

3% of the set point humidity value.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising maintaining the measured air temperature value to be within ±

1.1°

C. of the set point temperature value.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising maintaining the measured air temperature air value and the measured air humidity value simultaneously.

13. A system for controlling temperature and humidity of a conditioned space, the system comprising:

at least one unit that includes a variable speed compressor, a heater, and a humidifier and is configured to cool, heat, dehumidify, and humidify air;

at least one temperature sensor;

at least one humidity sensor; and

means for controlling the temperature and the humidity by;

calculating a difference between a set point temperature value and a temperature value received by the at least one temperature sensor to determine a temperature error value, the temperature error value corresponding to a normalized temperature error value;

calculating a difference between a set point humidity value and a humidity value received by the at least one humidity sensor to determine a humidity error value, the humidity error value corresponding to a normalized humidity error value; and

comparing the normalized temperature error value to the normalized humidity error value to determine which of the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is greater;

control operation of the humidifier if the normalized humidity error value is greater than the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is less than zero;

control operation of the compressor if the normalized humidity error value is greater than the normalized temperature error value and the normalized humidity error value is greater than zero;

control operation of the compressor if the normalized temperature error value is greater than the normalized humidity error value and the normalized temperature error value is greater than zero; and

control operation of the heater if the normalized temperature error value is greater than the normalized humidity error value and the normalized temperature error value is less than zero.