Climate control and dehumidification system and method

• US 20060026976A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Designed Climate, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Designed Climate, Inc.
• Inventors: Carpenter, Frank K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/176.100
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0008 for air-humidification F24F11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/153 with subsequent heating, i.e. with the air, given the required humidity in the central station, passing a heating element to achieve the required temperature

Abstract

A system for controlling temperature and humidity in an enclosure, that has a central air conditioning system; a dehumidifier attached to a return air duct of the central air conditioning system; and a system control unit that comprises a thermostat, dehumidstat and can control a cooling solenoid valve to provide temperature control, and control a dehumidifier solenoid valve to provide humidity control. The cooling solenoid valve and the dehumidifier solenoid valve can be independently activated based on the temperature and humidity of the enclosure. Embodiments of the present invention include systems that are easily modify existing air conditioning systems.

Claims

1. A system for controlling temperature and humidity in an enclosure, comprising:

a central air conditioning system that includes a fan;

a dehumidifier attached to a return air duct of the central air conditioning system;

a system control unit that comprises a thermostat, dehumidstat and can control a cooling solenoid valve to provide temperature control, and control a dehumidifier solenoid valve to provide humidity control, wherein the cooling solenoid valve and the dehumidifier solenoid valve can be independently activated based on the temperature and humidity of the enclosure.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a configuration to allow the central air conditioning fan to circulate air through the dehumidifier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the dehumidifier further comprises a blower fan, evaporator coil, and wherein the dehumidifier solenoid valve prevents or limits dehumidifier function based on a signal from the control unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cooling solenoid controls the flow of liquid refrigerant to an air conditioning evaporator coil to thereby control or prevent the cooling function of the air conditioning system.

5. A method of modifying a central air conditioning system, comprising:

providing a central air conditioning system for cooling an enclosure that has a compressor, supply air duct, and return air duct;

providing a central dehumidifier unit that includes an evaporator coil, dehumidifying valve, cooling valve, blower fan;

providing a control unit that had a cooling sensor, and a dehumidifying sensor;

routing the return air duct work to direct air to the central dehumidifier so that air is circulated from the enclosure through the return air duct, the dehumidifier, the supply air duct, and back to the enclosure;

controlling, with the control unit, the operation of the central dehumidifier based on a settable, pre-determined humidity value and independently controlling the cooling operation based on a settable temperature value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein when a pre-determined humidity value is reached, the dehumidification action of the central dehumidifier is stopped.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein when the temperature of the enclosure is reduced to a pre-determined temperature value, and the relative humidity of the enclosure is above a pre-determined humidity value, the cooling action of the air conditioning system is stopped, and the compressor directs air to the central dehumidifier.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein when cooling is needed to reach a pre-determined temperature for the enclosure, the control unit overrides the operation of the dehumidifying unit to operate the central air conditioning system.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein when cooling is required, the system control closes the dehumidifier solenoid.

10. A method of controlling temperature and humidity in an enclosure with an existing central air conditioning system, comprising:

providing a central air conditioning system that has a compressor, fan, supply air duct, and return air duct, the central air conditioning system being capable of controlling temperature in an enclosure;

providing a system control that has a thermostat and dehumidistat;

attaching a dehumidifier unit to the return air duct;

setting the thermostat to a selected temperature or temperature range;

setting the dehumidistat to a selected humidity or humidity range;

controlling the temperature of the enclosure to maintain the selected temperature or temperature range in the enclosure;

controlling the humidity in the enclosure to maintain the selected humidity or humidity range;

wherein, during the controlling steps, the central air conditioning system fan circulates air through the supply duct, enclosure, return duct, and dehumidifier unit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the controlling the temperature step is independent from the controlling the humidity step, and wherein the operation of the controlling the temperature step is based on the temperature of the enclosure.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein when the system control initiates the controlling the temperature step, the controlling the humidity step is stopped.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the controlling the temperature step includes the control unit activating solenoid valve to disengage the cooling or heating capacity of the air conditioning system.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the controlling the temperature step includes the control unit activating solenoid valve to disengage the cooling or heating capacity of the air conditioning system.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the system control starts or ends a controlling the humidity step by activating a solenoid valve.

16. A method of controlling a climate of an interior space, comprising:

providing a central air conditioning system that has a compressor, fan, supply air duct, and return air duct;

providing a system control that has a thermostat and dehumidistat;

providing a dehumidifier unit that has an evaporator coil and a blower fan;

attaching a dehumidifier unit to the return air duct;

setting the thermostat to a selected temperature or temperature range;

setting the dehumidistat to a selected humidity or humidity range;

controlling the cooling function of the central air conditioning system based on the temperature in the interior space;

controlling the operation of the dehumidifier based on the humidity of the interior space.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein during off peak climate control conditions a cooling function of the central air conditioning system is interrupted, and the dehumidifier unit is operable in combination with the compressor of the central air conditioning system.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the system control activates a solenoid valve to disengage the cooling capacity of the air conditioning system.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the system control starts or ends dehumidifier function by activating a solenoid valve.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein when the air conditioning system is actively cooling the interior space based on a temperature, the control unit prevents operation of the dehumidifier.