Device and method for humidity estimation

• US 8,615,327 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takagi, Yasuo, Ikeda, Koichi, Hiraoka, Yukio, Kobayashi, Hisashi, Fujii, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US12/903,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20110088455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 700276-278, 625/27, 624/98, 621/29, 622/281
• US Class Current: 700/276
• 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 2110/20 Humidity

Abstract

A humidity estimation device connected with an air-conditioner includes a charge airflow rate estimation (CARE) unit, a charge air absolute humidity estimation (CAAHE) unit, an indoor generated vapor amount estimation (IGVAE) unit, and an indoor absolute humidity estimation (IAHE) unit. The CARE unit calculates an estimated charge airflow rate (ECAR) of the air-conditioner based on operation control information of the charge fan and a preset fan differential pressure. The CAAHE unit calculates an estimated charge air absolute humidity (ECAAH) of the air-conditioner based on a charge air temperature and a preset charge air relative humidity. The IGVAE unit calculates an estimated indoor generated vapor amount (EIGVA) based on an indoor temperature, the number of persons in the room and activity index values of the persons. The IAHE unit calculates an estimated absolute humidity in the room based on the ECAR, the ECAAH and the EIGVA.

Claims

1. A humidity estimation device connected with an air-conditioner, the device comprising:

a charge airflow rate estimation unit that acquires operation control information of a charge fan of the air-conditioner and calculates an estimated charge airflow rate of the air-conditioner based on the operation control information of the charge fan and a preset fan differential pressure;

a charge air absolute humidity estimation unit that acquires a charge air temperature value of the air-conditioner and calculates an estimated charge air absolute humidity of the air-conditioner based on the charge air temperature value and a preset charge air relative humidity;

an indoor generated vapor amount estimation unit that acquires an indoor temperature value of a room that is an object controlled by the air-conditioner and calculates an estimated indoor generated vapor amount based on the indoor temperature value, a number of persons in the room and activity index values of the persons that are input; and

an indoor absolute humidity estimation unit that calculates an estimated absolute humidity in the room based on the estimated charge airflow rate calculated by the charge airflow rate estimation unit, the estimated charge air absolute humidity calculated by the charge air absolute humidity estimation unit and the estimated indoor generated vapor amount calculated by the indoor generated vapor amount estimation unit.

2. The humidity estimation device according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of air-conditioners is provided in the room, the charge airflow rate estimation unit calculates each estimated charge airflow rate of the plurality of air-conditioners,

the charge air absolute humidity estimation unit calculates each estimated charge air absolute humidity of the plurality of air-conditioners, and

the indoor absolute humidity estimation unit calculates the estimated absolute humidity based on all of the each estimated charge airflow rate of the plurality of air-conditioners calculated by the charge airflow rate estimation unit, all of the each estimated charge air absolute humidity of the plurality of air-conditioners calculated by the charge air absolute humidity estimation unit and the estimated indoor generated vapor amount calculated by the indoor generated vapor amount estimation unit.

3. The humidity estimation device according to claim 1, wherein

the operation control information of the charge fan is one of rotational speed of the charge fan, a frequency value for controlling the charge fan driven with an inverter, and a selected operation mode from among a plurality of predetermined operation modes of the charge fan.

4. A humidity estimation method for estimating humidity in a room in which an air-conditioner is equipped, the method comprising:

acquiring operation control information of a charge fan of the air-conditioner;

calculating an estimated charge airflow rate of the air-conditioner based on the operation control information of the charge fan and a preset fan differential pressure;

acquiring a charge air temperature value of the air-conditioner;

calculating an estimated charge air absolute humidity of the air-conditioner based on the charge air temperature value and a preset charge air relative humidity;

acquiring an indoor temperature value of the room;

calculating an estimated indoor generated vapor amount based on the indoor temperature value, a number of persons in the room and activity index values of the persons that are input; and

calculating an estimated absolute humidity in the room based on the estimated charge airflow rate, the estimated charge air absolute humidity and the estimated indoor generated vapor amount.

5. The humidity estimation method according to claim 4, wherein

a plurality of air-conditioners is provided in the room,

each estimated charge airflow rate is calculated for the plurality of air-conditioners,

each estimated charge air absolute humidity is calculated for the plurality of air-conditioners, and

the estimated absolute humidity is calculated based on all of the each estimated charge airflow rate of the plurality of air-conditioners, all of the each estimated charge air absolute humidity of the plurality of air-conditioners and the estimated indoor generated vapor amount.