Method and apparatus for drying rooms within a building

• US 20100011612A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D.B.K.- Technitherm Limited
• Original Assignee: D.B.K.- Technitherm Limited
• Inventors: Court, Daniel, Robinson, Mark Lee, Harris, Philip, Habbershaw, Andrew Charles, Jayne, Jonathan Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,720,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/417
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/7069 by ventilating means for ventilating in floors E04B5/48, in ceilings E04B9/02, in building blocks E04C1/392, in building panels E04C2/521, in roofs E04D13/16; ventilating wall coverings E04F13/007
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0001 for ventilation F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2011/0002 for admittance of outside air
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/14 by humidification; by dehumidification
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/001 Drying-air generating units, e.g. movable, independent of drying enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/08 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/02 by convection, i.e. heat being conveyed from a heat source to the materials or objects to be dried by a gas or vapour, e.g. air F26B3/283 and F26B3/343 take precedence

Abstract

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 pre-determined level.

Claims

1. A method of drying a room within a building comprising:

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;

repeating the sequence until a dry status indication is received that the water content within the room has been reduced a pre-determined level.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of sensing temperature within the room, heating the room to pre-determined temperature levels during each heating phase of the method, and thereafter maintaining the approximate pre-determined temperature level for each heating phase until the exhausting phase of the method begins.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the steps of heating and exhausting are sequenced based upon predetermined levels of humidity sensed in the room.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the dry status of the room is communicated via a signal to an operator.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein temperature, humidity, and water content with in the room are constantly monitored.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed in one or more locations within the room.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is performed in one or more rooms within a building.

8. An apparatus for drying a room within a building, the apparatus comprising

sensing means to sense the level of humidity within the room;

heating means to provide heat for the room;

air circulation means for selectively circulating heated air within the room, exhausting warm and humid air from the room, and for drawing outside ambient air into the room;

sensing means for measuring selected characteristics indicative of water content within the room;

means for cyclically changing the air within the room when a predetermined level of air humidity is reached;

the apparatus being adapted to cyclically continue until the sensed humidity reaches the predetermined level; and

means for directly or indirectly indicating the completion of the drying process.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the apparatus includes a heater, coupled via ducts to air circulation fans selectively either re-circulating air within the room until a chosen saturation point is sensed or, via the use of an air intake valve, drawing outside ambient air into the room to replace saturated air expelled by the exhaust fan at the end of each drying cycle.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the heating means is an electric heater.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 which includes a heater coupled via ducts to air circulation fans wherein the air circulation fans comprise at least an inlet fan and an outlet fan.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a central processing unit receives sensed signals from sensors in the room and on or in the apparatus which sense air or surface humidity.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein temperature and humidity sensors are positioned upstream of the heating means and upstream the means for selectively exhausting warm and humid air from the room.

14. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein sensors connected or connectable thereto are embedded in or on the walls of the room in various chosen locations, such as the floor, walls and roof, to detect humidity levels or electrical conductivity indicative of humidity levels.

15. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein means are provided for recording energy used during the drying process so as to maximize the energy efficiency, and a timer for recording data at required intervals, such as hourly.

16. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the apparatus is stand alone and operates until it detects that the room within which it is installed is sufficiently dry.

17. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the apparatus includes a remote communications facility which indicates to a monitor of the apparatus that the room is sufficiently dry for the apparatus to be removed and relocated if necessary to dry another room.

18. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the apparatus is mounted on a wheeled cart and fluid communication is provided via flexible tubing connected to the apparatus on the cart for exhausting the warm and humid air from the room, and for drawing the outside ambient air into the room,