Process and device to detect a risk of water condensation on a surface being in contact with a wet air volume
First Claim
1. A process for detecting risk of water condensation on a surface in contact with a volume of wet air, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a sensitive element on the surface causing the element to take on a temperature corresponding to the surface'"'"'s temperature,(b) heating the sensitive element during a first heating phase with a heating device until a temperature higher than the surface'"'"'s temperature is reached,(c) recording time duration and increase in temperature of the element during the first heating phase,(d) cooling the sensitive element during a cooling phase with a cooling device having the same thermal capacity as the heating device until a temperature lower than the surface'"'"'s temperature is reached,(e) recording time duration and decrease in temperature of the element during the cooling phase,(f) comparing (1) the ratio of the first heating phase time duration to the temperature increase during the first heating phase to (2) the ratio of the cooling phase time duration to the temperature decrease during the cooling phase, wherein a difference between the ratios (1) and (2) corresponds to a risk of condensation on the surface.
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Abstract
A process is disclosed to detect a water condensation risk on a surface in contact with a wet air volume, which uses the steps of (a) placing a sensitive element on the surface, which initially takes a temperature corresponding to that of the surface, (b) by means of a heating device on this sensitive element, initiating a first heating phase until a temperature higher than the surface temperature is reached, (c) by means of a cooling device having the same thermal power as the heating device, initiating a cooling phase until a temperature lower than the surface temperature is provoked on the sensitive element, and (d) a comparison is made between the ratio of the first heating phase time to the temperature rise during heating and the ratio of cooling phase time to the temperature decrease during the cooling, a noticeable difference between these two ratios indicating a significant risk of condensation on the surface.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A process for detecting risk of water condensation on a surface in contact with a volume of wet air, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a sensitive element on the surface causing the element to take on a temperature corresponding to the surface'"'"'s temperature, (b) heating the sensitive element during a first heating phase with a heating device until a temperature higher than the surface'"'"'s temperature is reached, (c) recording time duration and increase in temperature of the element during the first heating phase, (d) cooling the sensitive element during a cooling phase with a cooling device having the same thermal capacity as the heating device until a temperature lower than the surface'"'"'s temperature is reached, (e) recording time duration and decrease in temperature of the element during the cooling phase, (f) comparing (1) the ratio of the first heating phase time duration to the temperature increase during the first heating phase to (2) the ratio of the cooling phase time duration to the temperature decrease during the cooling phase, wherein a difference between the ratios (1) and (2) corresponds to a risk of condensation on the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for detecting risk of water condensation on a surface in contact with a volume of wet air comprising
(a) a sensitive element which, when contacted with the surface, takes on a temperature corresponding to the surface'"'"'s temperature, (b) a heating device for heating the sensitive element during a first heating phase, (c) means for recording time duration and increase in temperature of the element during the first heating phase, (d) a cooling device for cooling the sensitive element during a cooling phase, (e) means for recording time duration and decrease in temperature of the element during the cooling phase, (f) a control unit for controlling the heating and cooling devices so that the element is first heated to a predetermined temperature above the surface'"'"'s temperature and then cooled to a temperature below the surface'"'"'s temperature, and (g) means for comparing (1) the ratio of the first heating phase time duration to the temperature increase during the first heating phase to (2) the ratio of the cooling phase time duration to the temperature decrease during the cooling phase, wherein a difference between the ratios (1) and (2) corresponds to a risk of condensation on the surface.
Specification