Systems and methods for operating and monitoring dehumidifiers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling air flow through a dehumidifier having an air mover and a moisture removal device, the method comprising:
- operating the air mover at a first speed to direct air flow into thermal contact with the moisture removal device while ambient air surrounding the dehumidifier is at a first ambient condition that includes a first humidity, wherein air flow through the dehumidifier has a first dwell time at the moisture removal device with the air mover operating at the first speed;
sensing a change from the first ambient condition to a second ambient condition that includes a second humidity less than the first humidity and below a threshold humidity value; and
in response to the change, automatically operating the air mover at a second non-zero speed that is slower than the first speed to increase the first dwell time of air flow at the moisture removal device to a second dwell time.
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Abstract
Systems and methods of automatically operating dehumidifiers in response to dehumidifier operating conditions are disclosed herein. A method of operating a dehumidifier configured in accordance with one embodiment includes directing air flow through the dehumidifier at a first volumetric flow rate while the dehumidifier is operating at a first operating condition. The method further includes changing the first volumetric flow rate to a second volumetric flow rate when the first operating condition of the dehumidifier changes to a predetermined second operating condition.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of controlling air flow through a dehumidifier having an air mover and a moisture removal device, the method comprising:
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operating the air mover at a first speed to direct air flow into thermal contact with the moisture removal device while ambient air surrounding the dehumidifier is at a first ambient condition that includes a first humidity, wherein air flow through the dehumidifier has a first dwell time at the moisture removal device with the air mover operating at the first speed; sensing a change from the first ambient condition to a second ambient condition that includes a second humidity less than the first humidity and below a threshold humidity value; and in response to the change, automatically operating the air mover at a second non-zero speed that is slower than the first speed to increase the first dwell time of air flow at the moisture removal device to a second dwell time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of operating a dehumidifier, the method comprising:
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moving air flow through the dehumidifier at a first volumetric flow rate while an operating condition of the dehumidifier includes a first humidity value; and automatically decreasing from the first volumetric flow rate to a second non-zero volumetric flow rate in response to the operating condition of the dehumidifier decreasing beyond a threshold humidity value from the first humidity value to a second humidity value less than the first humidity value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling air flow through a dehumidifier, the method comprising:
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moving air flow through the dehumidifier at a first volumetric flow rate while a humidity of ambient air surrounding the dehumidifier has a first humidity value; determining a change in the humidity from the first humidity value to a second humidity value that is less than the first humidity value and below a threshold humidity value; and in response to the change in humidity, automatically moving air flow through the dehumidifier at a second non-zero volumetric flow rate that is less than the first volumetric flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of increasing performance of a dehumidifier, the method comprising:
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rotating an air mover in the dehumidifier at a first speed to move air flow through the dehumidifier at a first volumetric flow rate; monitoring a humidity of ambient air surrounding the dehumidifier; and in response to a decrease of the humidity of the ambient air below a predetermined humidity level, automatically rotating the air mover at a second speed that is slower than the first speed to move air flow through the dehumidifier at a second volumetric flow rate that is less than the first volumetric flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A dehumidifier comprising:
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a moisture removal device positioned along an air flow path to remove moisture from air flow through the dehumidifier; an air mover positioned to direct air flow through the dehumidifier along the air flow path and into thermal communication with the moisture removal device; and a controller coupled to the air mover, wherein the controller is configured to automatically operate the air mover to direct air flow at a first volumetric flow rate while the dehumidifier is at a first operating condition that corresponds to a first humidity and a reduced second volumetric air flow rate in response to a change from the first operating condition to a second operating condition corresponding to a second humidity below a threshold humidity value. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification