BYPASS HUMIDIFIER WITH DAMPER CONTROL

• US 20110067851A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Goh, Christopher, Terlson, Brad, Quam, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,404,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/227
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0008 for air-humidification 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 11/74 for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/04 using stationary unheated wet elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/043 with self-sucking action, e.g. wicks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/15 Duct humidifiers

Abstract

An improved humidifier system for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system. The humidifier system includes an air path that is configured to accept air from a first HVAC duct and return air to a second HVAC duct. A damper is disposed in the air path to selectively substantially block the flow of air in the air path, or to substantially not block the flow of air in the air path. In some cases, the damper may be a motorized damper, and the humidifier system may include a controller that is configured to cause the motorized damper to not substantially block the flow of air in the air path during a call for humidifier operation, and to substantially block the flow of air in the air path after the call for humidifier operation ends. Alternatively, the damper may be manually actuated, and an HVAC controller may be configured to notify when the damper should be moved (e.g. between seasons).

Claims

1. A humidifier system for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system, the humidifier system comprising:

an air path configured to transport air from a first HVAC duct and return air to a second HVAC duct;

a damper disposed in the air path and configured to selectively substantially block the flow of air in the air path or to substantially not block the flow of air in the air path; and

a controller configured to cause the damper to not substantially block the flow of air in the air path during a call for humidifier operation, and to substantially block the flow of air in the air path after the call for humidifier operation ends.

2. The humidifier system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to detect a position of the damper.

3. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein the first HVAC duct is a supply duct and the second HVAC duct is a return duct of a residential or commercial building forced-air HVAC system.

4. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein a call for humidifier operation includes the combination of both a call for humidity and airflow in the first and second HVAC ducts.

5. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein a call for humidifier operation further includes a call for heat.

6. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein the controller causes the damper to not substantially block the flow of air in the air path for a time interval after the call for humidifier operation has ended.

7. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein the damper includes an electric motor for moving the damper between a closed position that substantially blocks the flow of air in the air path and an open position that does not substantially block the flow of air in the air path, wherein the electric motor is controlled by the controller.

8. The humidifier system of claim 7, wherein the electric motor moves the damper from the open position to the closed position, and from the closed position to the open position.

9. The humidifier system of claim 7, wherein the electric motor moves the damper from the open position to the closed position, and a bias mechanism moves the damper from the closed position to the open position.

10. The humidifier system of claim 9, wherein the bias mechanism includes a spring.

11. The humidifier system of claim 7, wherein the electric motor moves the damper from the closed position to the open position, and a bias mechanism moves the damper from the open position to the closed position.

12. The humidifier system of claim 11, wherein the bias mechanism includes a spring.

13. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein the damper includes a single acting solenoid with a return spring for moving the damper between a closed position that substantially blocks the flow of air in the air path and an open position that does not substantially block the flow of air in the air path, wherein the single acting solenoid is controlled by the controller.

14. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein the damper includes a double acting solenoid for moving the damper between a closed position that substantially blocks the flow of air in the air path and an open position that does not substantially block the flow of air in the air path, wherein the double acting solenoid is controlled by the controller.

15. The humidifier system of claim 1, wherein the damper includes a wax motor linear actuator with a spring return for moving the damper between a closed position that substantially blocks the flow of air in the air path and an open position that does not substantially block the flow of air in the air path, wherein the wax motor linear actuator is controlled by the controller.

21. The controller of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to permit a user to request delayed compliance with the message for a delay interval, and then again display the message after the delay interval.

16. A method for humidifying air in an air stream with a bypass humidifier system having a bypass air path, the bypass air path including a damper configured to selectively block or allow the flow of air in the bypass air path, the method comprising the steps of:

opening the damper to allow the flow of air in the bypass air path in response to a call for humidity; and

closing the damper to block the flow of air in the bypass air path after the call for humidity expires.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the closing step causes the damper to block the flow of air in the bypass air path a time interval after the call for humidity expires.

18. A thermostat for use in conjunction with an HVAC system that includes a bypass humidifier having a manually operated bypass damper situated in a bypass air path, the thermostat comprising:

a user interface including a display; and

a controller coupled to the display, wherein the controller provides one or more control signals for controlling at least part of the HVAC system;

the controller determining when it is desirable to manually change the position of the manually operated bypass damper of the HVAC system, and displaying a message on the display that indicates that the position of the manually operated bypass damper of the HVAC system should be changed.

19. The controller of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to accepts an input from a user via the user interface that indicates to the controller that the user has changed the position of the manually operated bypass damper of the HVAC system.

20. The controller of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to maintain the message on the display until receiving the user input.