Effective temperature controller and method of effective temperature control

• US 6,223,543 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heat-Timer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Heat-Timer Corporation
• Inventors: Sandelman, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/334,760
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 62/93, 62/176.1, 62/176.6, 62/186, 62/208, 236/44 C, 165/222, 165/230, 73/335.01
• US Class Current: 62/93
• 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 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/30 Condensation of water from cooled air
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 22/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A control system for a cooling system for reducing humidity levels in a gas such as ambient air is provided. The cooling unit includes at least one of a compressor and a chiller, and cooling coils are connected to the cooling unit. A fan blows the gas onto the cooling coils. A fan speed controller is connected to the fan and variably controls the speed of the fan. A dry bulb temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the gas and connected to the controller, and a moisture sensor is in communication with the gas and connected to the controller. The speed of the fan is determined by the controller based on signals received from the dry bulb temperature sensor and the moisture sensor. By varying the speed of the fan, the moisture content of the gas can be modified much more precisely than by conventional air conditioning methods.

Claims

1. A cooling system for reducing humidity levels in a gas, comprising:

a cooling unit, said cooling unit including at least one of a compressor and a chiller;

cooling coils connected to said cooling unit;

a fan blowing the gas onto said cooling coils;

a fan speed controller connected to said fan, said controller variably controlling a speed of said fan;

a dry bulb temperature sensor in thermal communication with the gas, electrically connected to said controller and sending first signals to said controller; and

a moisture sensor in communication with the gas, electrically connected to said controller and sending second signals to said controller,

wherein said speed of said fan is determined by said controller based on said first and second signals,

wherein said moisture sensor comprises;

a cooled mirror in thermal communication with said cooling coils, said cooling coils cooling said mirror;

a heater connected to said controller and in thermal communication with said cooled mirror;

a light source disposed near said mirror, said light source shining light onto said mirror;

a photosensor connected to said controller and disposed near said mirror adapted to detect the light shined from said light source and reflected by said mirror, said photosensor sending said second signals to said controller,

wherein if condensation forms on said mirror, said photosensor will not detect a full amount of the light shined from said light source.

2. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein said fan speed is controlled by a feedback loop including said dry bulb temperature sensor, said moisture sensor, and said controller.

3. A cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the gas is the ambient air of a room.

4. A cooling system for reducing humidity levels in a gas, comprising:

a cooling unit, said cooling unit including at least one of a compressor and a chiller;

cooling coils connected to said cooling unit;

a fan blowing the gas onto said cooling coils;

a fan speed controller connected to said fan, said controller variably controlling a speed of said fan;

a dry bulb temperature sensor in thermal communication with the gas, electrically connected to said controller and sending first signals to said controller; and

a moisture sensor in communication with the gas, electrically connected to said controller and sending second signals to said controller,

wherein said speed of said fan is determined by said controller based on said first and second signals,

wherein said moisture sensor comprises;

a cooled mirror;

a heater connected to said controller and in thermal communication with said cooled mirror;

a light source disposed near said mirror, said light source shining light onto said mirror;

a photosensor connected to said controller and disposed near said mirror adapted to detect the light shined from said light source and reflected by mirror, said photosensor sending said second signals to said controller,

wherein if condensation forms on said mirror, said photosensor will not detect a full amount of tie lit shined from said light source wherein said controller comprises;

an analog-to-digital converter receiving said first signals from said dry bulb temperature sensor and said second signals from said photosensor;

a digital-to-analog converter sending third signals to said heater and fourth signals to said fan; and

a central processing unit (CPU) connected between said analog-to-digital converter and said digital-to-analog converter, said CPU determining the dew point of the gas based on the first and second signals and controlling said heater and said fan speed via said third and fourth signals.

5. A cooling system according to claim 4, further comprising input means for enabling a user to enter a dry bulb temperature set point, said input means connected to said CPU.

6. A cooling system according to claim 5, wherein said CPU includes logic to calculate an effective temperature of the gas based on said first and second signals and said set point.

7. A cooling system according to claim 6, wherein said CPU includes logic performing the following equation:

8. A control system for a cooling system for reducing humidity levels in a gas, the cooling system having a cooling unit, the cooling unit including at least one of a compressor and a chiller, cooling coils connected to the cooling unit, and a fan blowing the gas onto the cooling coils, comprising:

fan speed controller connected to the fan, said controller variably controlling a speed of the fan;

a dry bulb temperature sensor in thermal communication with the gas, electrically connected to said controller and sending first signals to said controller; and

a moisture sensor in communication with the gas, electrically connected to said controller and sending second signals to said controller;

wherein said speed of the fan is determined by said controller based on said first and second signals;

wherein said moisture sensor comprises;

a cooled mirror in thermal communication with the cooling coils, the cooling coils cooling said mirror;

a heater connected to said controller and in thermal communication with said cooled mirror;

a light source disposed near said mirror, said light source shining light onto said mirror;

a photosensor concerted to said controller and disposed near said mirror adapted to detect the light shined from said light source and reflected by said mirror, said photosensor sending said send signals to said controller,

wherein if condensation forms on said mirror, said photosensor will not detect a full amount of the light shined from said light source.

9. A control system according to claim 8, wherein said fan speed is controlled by a feedback loop including said dry bulb temperature sensor, said moisture sensor, and said controller.

10. A control system according to claim 8, wherein the gas is indoor ambient air.

11. A control system for a cooling system for reticence humidity levels in a gas, the cooling system having a cooling unit, the cooling unit including at least one of a compressor and a chiller, cooling coils connected to the cooling unit, and a fan blowing the gas onto the cooling coils, comprising:

a fan speed controller connected to the fan, said controller variably controlling a speed of the fan;

a dry bulb temperature sensor in thermal communication with the gas, electrically connected to said controller sending first signals to said controller; and

a moisture senor in communication with the gas, electrically connected to said controller and sending second signals to said controller,

wherein said speed of the fan is determined by said controller based on said first and second signals,

wherein said moisture sensor comprises;

a cooled mirror;

a heater connected to said controller and in thermal communication with said cooled mirror;

a light source disposed near said mirror, said light source shining light onto said mirror;

a photosensor connected to said controller and disposed near said mirror adapted to detect the light shined from said light source and reflected by said mirror, said photosensor sending said second signals to said controller,

wherein if condensation forms on said mirror, said photosensor will not detect a full amount of the light suicide tot said light source, and wherein said controller comprises;

an analog-to-digital converter receiving said first signals from said dry bulb temperature sensor and said second signals from said photosensor;

a digital-to-analog converter sending third signals to said heater and fourth signals to said fan; and

a central processing unit (CPU) connected between said analog-to-digital converter and said digital-to-analog converter, said CPU determining the dew point of the gas based on the first and second signals and controlling said heater and said fan speed via said third and fourth signals.

12. A control system according to claim 11, further comprising input means for enabling a user to enter a dry bulb temperature set point, said input means connected to said CPU.

13. A control system according to claim 12, wherein said CPU includes logic to calculate an effective temperature of the gas based on said first and second signals and said set point.

14. A control system according to claim 13, wherein said CPU includes logic performing the following equation:

15. A method of conditioning a gas via a cooler, cooling coils, and a fan, comprising the steps of:

detecting the dry bulb temperature of the gas with a dry bulb temperature sensor;

determining the moisture content of the gas via a moisture sensor;

controlling fan speed based on the detected dry bulb temperature and the determined moisture content via a controller; and

blowing the gas over the cooling coils via the fan,

wherein said determining step comprises the step of using a chilled mirror comprises the stems of;

chilling the mirror via thermal communication with the cooling coils;

shining light onto the mirror via a light source;

detecting if light is reflected off of the mirror via a photosensor; and

heating the mirror via a heater if light is not detected by the photosensor.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

sending first signals to the controller from the dry bulb temperature sensor; and

sending second signals to the controller from the moisture sensor.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

sending first signals to the controller from the dry bulb temperature sensor;

sending second signals to the controller from the photosensor; and

sending third signals to the heater from the controller.

18. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

determining how much energy is delivered to the heater when the heater is activated via a CPU in the controller;

calculating the dew point of the gas via the CPU;

calculating an optimal fan speed based on the dry bulb temperature and the dew point; and

controlling the fan speed to the optimal fan speed via signals from the controller to the fan.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein in said controlling step includes the step of calculating an effective temperature (ET) from the detected dry bulb temperature and the determined moisture content of the gas.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said calculating step is performed according to the following equation:

21. A method according to claim 15 wherein the gas being conditioned is indoor ambient air.

22. A method according to claim 15, said heating step comprising the step of controlling an amount of energy delivered to the heater.

23. A method according to claim 22, said controlling an amount of energy step comprising at least one of the following steps:

varying a voltage across the heater;

varying a current supplied to the heater; and

varying a duration of time the heater is activated.

24. A method according to claim 18, wherein said CPU calculates the dew point of the gas by the amount of energy delivered to the heater and the dry bulb temperature.

25. A method of conditioning a gas via a cooler, cooling coils, and a fan, comprising the steps of:

detecting the dry bulb temperature of the gas with a dry bulb temperature sensor;

determining the moisture content of the gas via a moisture sensor;

controlling fan speed based on the detected dry bulb temperature and the determined moisture content via a controller;

blowing the gas over the cooling coils via the fan;

sending first signals to the controller from the dry bulb temperature sensor;

sending second signals to the controller from the photosensor;

sending third signals to the heater from the controller;

determining how much energy is delivered to the heater when the heater is activated via a CPU in the controller;

calculating the dew point of the gas via the CPU;

calculating an optimal fan speed based on the dry bulb temperature and the dew point; and

controlling the fan speed to the optimal fan speed by sending fourth signals from the controller to the fan.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said CPU calculates the dew point of the gas by the amount of energy delivered to the heater and the dry bulb temperature.

27. A method of conditioning a gas via a cooler, cooling coils, and a fan, comprising the steps of:

determiming the dry bulb temperature of the gas with a dry bulb temperature sensor;

detecting the moisture content of the gas via a moisture sensor;

controlling fan speed based on the detected dry bulb temperature and the determined moisture content via a controller; and

blowing the gas over the cooling coils via the fan,

wherein said controlling step includes the step of calculating an effective temperature (ET) from the detected dry bulb temperature and the determined moisture content of the gas.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said calculating step is performed according to the following equation: