Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a ventilation system that automatically operates so as to detect temperature or humidity and prevent dew condensation in a room. The ventilation system includes: a fan that exhausts or supplies air in the room; temperature detection devices which are installed at least at two places in the room and detect temperatures; and a calculation device that calculates a water vapor amount contained in the room based on a relationship between a humidity detected by humidity detection device that detects the humidity in the room and the temperatures detected by the temperature detection devices, and computes a temperature difference that causes water vapor saturation and dew condensation. In a case where it is determined that there is a temperature difference that causes dew condensation, the ventilation system exhausts or supplies air by the fan so as to prevent dew condensation in the room. Accordingly, dew condensation can be prevented by efficiently sucking air into a place where dew condensation is likely to occur. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose an air conditioning system for server room management and air conditioning of a server room. <CIT> discloses an air conditioner provided with a dehumidifying device and an atomizing device. An air conditioner provided with an indoor unit that has an air cleaning function for cleaning indoor air is known from <CIT>.

The present disclosure provides a humidifying device that ensures a certain level of humidity or higher in order to generate ions by using an electrostatic atomizing device in a low humidity environment such as in an aircraft. A humidifying device according to the present invention is defined in claim <NUM>. The present invention further provides a method for operating said humidifying device according to claim <NUM>.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to ensure a certain level of humidity or higher in order to generate ions by using an electrostatic atomizing device in a low humidity environment such as in an aircraft. For example, it is effective to keep the humidity of air within a certain range without providing a water tank or the like.

In an electrostatic atomizing device, a certain level of humidity or higher is required to generate ions. However, in general, the humidity inside an aircraft is extremely low. This is because aircraft usually takes in air from the outdoor air. At an altitude of <NUM>, the ambient temperature is approximately negative <NUM> degrees Celsius, and thus, even when the air is warmed, the water vapor amount contained in the air is extremely small. The life of an aircraft is generally approximately <NUM> years, and is used for a long period of time. Since the structure of the aircraft is mainly made of metal, the humidification is not performed until reaching <NUM>% to <NUM>% of humidity in which humans can feel comfortable in order to avoid fatigue fracture due to repeated expansion and contraction caused by corrosion and water adhesion. As described above, unlike the inside of a house, the humidity inside the aircraft is extremely low, and thus, the moisture required for the electrostatic atomizing device cannot be supplied from the air. Accordingly, a humidifying device is required.

Meanwhile, in the special environment of an aircraft, a tank filled with water is not placed in order to avoid equipment troubles due to water leakage. When the entire aircraft is humidified, there is a risk of corrosion and fatigue fracture as described above. Therefore, in the following embodiment, a method is adopted in which the temperature of the air immediately before being taken into the electrostatic atomizing device is lowered by a cooler to relatively raise the humidity. However, when the temperature of the air is lowered excessively, dew condensation occurs when the air temperature exceeds a dew-point temperature, and water is generated. Accordingly, there is a possibility of equipment failure.

The method of preventing dew condensation by using an air flow by a fan as disclosed in <CIT> does not always prevent dew condensation, and thus, a fundamental solution to these problems is not provided. Therefore, in the following embodiments, it is possible to appropriately control the cooler to achieve the target humidity and to prevent dew condensation.

Hereinafter, embodiments in which the humidifying device according to the disclosure is specifically disclosed will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of already well-known parts and duplicate descriptions for substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy of the following description and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject described in the claims.

First, the outline of a humidifying device <NUM> according to an embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG> is a plan view illustrating a state of work in which the humidifying device <NUM> according to the embodiment is used. An object of the humidifying device <NUM> according to the embodiment is to ensure a certain level of humidity or higher in order to generate ions <NUM> by using an electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> in a low humidity environment such as in an aircraft.

In the humidifying device <NUM> according to the embodiment, air <NUM> is taken in from an air inlet <NUM>. The humidifying device <NUM> cools the air <NUM> taken in by a cooler <NUM> to rise tower the relative humidity. By taking the cooled air <NUM> into the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM>, the ions <NUM> are generated in a low humidity environment and discharged together with the air through the air outlet <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the humidifying device <NUM> according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a block diagram of the humidifying device according to the embodiment.

The electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> in the disclosure is a device that uses an electrostatic atomization technology that applies a high voltage to water in the air to generate charged fine particle water (that is, ions). As can be seen from the action on water in the air, a certain level of absolute humidity or higher is required to cause the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> to generate ions. To give a specific example, a humidity of approximately <NUM>% is required for air having a temperature of <NUM>. In the disclosure, the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> is attached, for example, to a position where the air after cooling by the cooler <NUM> is taken in, and to a position where the air is taken in even in a case where cooling by the cooler <NUM> is not performed.

A first thermometer <NUM> in the disclosure is a thermometer attached to a position where the temperature of the air before cooling by the cooler <NUM> is measured, measures and detects the temperature in the air before cooling, and notifies a cooling control unit <NUM> and a dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the information. Examples of the thermometer include a digital thermometer using a thermistor, a thermocouple thermometer that connects two different types of metal wires to each other to form one circuit, and measures the temperature from the voltage applied to the circuit, and the like.

A first hygrometer <NUM> in the disclosure is a hygrometer attached to a position where the humidity of the air before cooling by the cooler <NUM> is measured, measures and detects the humidity in the air before cooling, and notifies the cooling control unit <NUM> and the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the information. Examples of the hygrometer include a capacitive digital hygrometer that uses the change in amount of capacitance that can be stored depending on the state of the moisture-sensitive film sandwiched between the electrodes, an electric resistance type hygrometer that measures the humidity from the degree of the change by using the properties in which the moisture-sensitive film contains moisture, ion conduction occurs, and electric resistance is reduced, and the like.

The cooler <NUM> in the disclosure is hardware that cools the ambient air according to an instruction from the cooling control unit <NUM>. Examples of the cooler include a Perche element, which is one type of plate-shaped semiconductor thermoelectric element using the Perche effect, a heat pump, which is a technology for transferring heat from a low temperature part to a high temperature part using a heat medium or a semiconductor.

The cooling control unit <NUM> in the disclosure is configured by using software and hardware for determining whether the relative humidity required for the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> can be ensured from the information obtained from the first thermometer <NUM> and the first hygrometer <NUM>. The required relative humidity means a preset range of relative humidity based on some condition. For example, the required relative humidity is a range of relative humidity required for electrostatic atomization, which is predetermined by the performance of the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM>. Depending on the performance of the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM>, a required temperature range may be determined, in addition to the required humidity range. In a case where it is determined that the required relative humidity cannot be ensured, the cooling control unit <NUM> drives the cooler <NUM> or increases the output (that is, the cooling intensity, and the same applies hereinafter). In a case where it is determined that the required relative humidity has already been ensured, the cooling control unit <NUM> stops cooling by the cooler <NUM> or reduces the output. When the cooling control unit <NUM> receives information from the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> that there is a possibility of occurrence of dew condensation or that dew condensation has occurred, the cooling unit <NUM> stops cooling by the cooler <NUM> or weakens the output.

The cooling control unit <NUM> is configured with, for example, a microcomputer, a signal line for communicating with peripheral devices, and firmware for controlling the signal line.

A second thermometer <NUM> in the disclosure is a thermometer attached to a position where the temperature of the air after cooling by the cooler <NUM> is measured, measures and detects the temperature in the air after cooling, and notifies the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the information. Examples of the thermometer include a digital thermometer using a thermistor, a thermocouple thermometer that connects two different types of metal wires to each other to form one circuit, and measures the temperature from the voltage applied to the circuit, and the like.

A second hygrometer <NUM> in the disclosure is a hygrometer attached to a position where the humidity of the air after cooling by the cooler <NUM> is measured, measures and detects the humidity in the air after cooling, and notifies the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the information. Examples of the hygrometer include a capacitive digital hygrometer that uses the change in amount of capacitance that can be stored depending on the state of the moisture-sensitive film sandwiched between the electrodes, an electric resistance type hygrometer that measures the humidity from the degree of the change by using the properties in which the moisture-sensitive film contains moisture, ion conduction occurs, and electric resistance is reduced, and the like.

A third thermometer <NUM> in the disclosure is a thermometer attached to a position where the surface temperature of the cooler <NUM> is measured, measures and detects the surface temperature of the cooler <NUM>, and notifies the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the information. Examples of the thermometer include a digital thermometer using a thermistor, a thermocouple thermometer that connects two different types of metal wires to each other to form one circuit, and measures the temperature from the voltage applied to the circuit, and the like.

The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> in the disclosure uses the information provided by the first thermometer <NUM>, the first hygrometer <NUM>, the second thermometer <NUM>, and the second hygrometer <NUM>, to calculate the absolute humidity of the air around each of the air inlet <NUM> and the air outlet <NUM>, and detects the occurrence of dew condensation from the difference. This is because, the absolute humidity represents the amount of water vapor itself contained in the air, and thus, in a case where there is a difference between before and after cooling, it is considered that moisture is lost from the air in the process, that is, dew condensation occurs.

The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> may detect that there is a possibility of occurrence of dew condensation by the following procedure. The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> calculates the dew-point temperature of the air before cooling, by using the information of the first thermometer <NUM> and the first hygrometer <NUM>. The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> determines that there is a possibility of occurrence of dew condensation in a case where the difference between the dew-point temperature and the temperature acquired by the second thermometer <NUM> or the third thermometer <NUM> is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> notifies the cooling control unit <NUM> of the detected result.

A fan <NUM> in the disclosure causes the air to flow through the cooler <NUM>. The fan <NUM> rotates at the rotating speed instructed by a fan control unit <NUM>.

The fan control unit <NUM> in the disclosure is software or hardware for controlling the rotating speed of the fan <NUM>. Specifically, a configuration configured with a microcomputer that controls the voltage for driving the fan and the control software thereof can be considered. When the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> detects that dew condensation has occurred or is likely to occur, the fan control unit <NUM> controls the rotating speed of the fan <NUM> such that the fan <NUM> rotates at a higher speed than that in a case where no dew condensation is detected.

Hereinafter, the operation of the humidifying device <NUM> according to the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to <FIG> are data flow diagrams describing the operation of the humidifying device according to the embodiment. In order to make the description simple, simple specific examples are used for the data or estimation algorithms exchanged between each component, but these are merely examples. As described in the description of the configuration, various data contents and formats and estimation algorithms can be applied.

The operation of the humidifying device <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. Hereinafter, the humidifying device <NUM> may be simply abbreviated as "device".

First, the humidifying device <NUM> takes in the air outside the device from the air inlet <NUM> into the device using the fan <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is continuously driven to continuously send air into the device (S301).

Next, the first thermometer <NUM> and the first hygrometer <NUM> measure the temperature and humidity of the air flowing in from the air inlet <NUM>, and notify the cooling control unit <NUM> and the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the measurement results (S302).

The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> obtains the dew-point temperature using an approximate expression of the saturated water vapor pressure of Tetens based on the information notified from the first thermometer <NUM> and the first hygrometer <NUM> (S303).

The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> estimates the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the cooler in a case where the cooler is driven, from the cooling performance of the cooler <NUM> known in advance. For example, in a case where the cooler <NUM> is driven with the weakest output, it is estimated how many degrees the temperature of the air introduced from the air inlet <NUM> at the temperature measured by the first thermometer <NUM> will drop due to cooling. The temperature after cooling is estimated by an algorithm based on the result measured in advance at the design stage of the equipment. For example, the temperature lowered by cooling may be an empirical fixed value, or a correspondence table of the temperature measured by the first thermometer <NUM> and the temperature after cooling may be provided. The temperature after cooling may be estimated by AI or simulation. The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> determines whether the estimated temperature of the air after cooling is lower than the dew-point temperature obtained by calculation in step S303 (S304).

In a case where the temperature of the air after cooling is lower than the dew-point temperature, it is estimated that there is a high possibility of occurrence of dew condensation in the vicinity of the cooler. Here, the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> notifies the cooling control unit <NUM> of the possibility of occurrence of dew condensation. In response thereto, the cooling control unit <NUM> stops driving the cooler <NUM>. Accordingly, the occurrence of dew condensation can be prevented in advance and the risk of equipment failure due to water generated by dew condensation can be reduced (S307).

In a case where the estimated temperature of the air after cooling is higher than the dew-point temperature, the cooling control unit <NUM> determines whether the temperature and humidity measured by the first thermometer <NUM> and the first hygrometer <NUM> is within the preset range of the temperature and humidity. In the embodiment, a case of being within the preset range of the temperature and humidity, means a case where the temperature and humidity measured by the first thermometer <NUM> and the first hygrometer <NUM> are within the range of the combination of the temperature and humidity, in which the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> can generate the charged fine particle water. The definition of the range may be set only for the humidity (S305).

In a case where the temperature and humidity are within the preset range of the temperature and humidity, the cooling control unit <NUM> stops driving the cooler <NUM>. This is because it is not necessary to raise the relative humidity of the air (S307).

In a case where the temperature and humidity are out of the preset range of the temperature and humidity, the cooling control unit <NUM> drives the cooler <NUM> to cool the air. Here, the process performed on the cooler <NUM> may be a process of switching on the cooler to start driving, or in a case where the driving is already started, the output may be increased even while maintaining the driving. In any case, the cooler <NUM> performs a process for cooling the air introduced from the air inlet <NUM> (S306).

The air that has passed the vicinity of the cooler <NUM> is induced to the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> (S308).

The electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> generates charged fine particle water by applying a voltage to the induced air (S309).

Next, the process returns to step S302 again. Accordingly, the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> can stably generate charged fine particle water.

In the embodiment, it has been described that the driving of the cooler is stopped in a case of the transition to step S307 by the determination in step S305, but it is not always necessary to stop completely. For example, the output may be weakened. For example, in a case where the humidifying device <NUM> itself generates heat and the structure is applied in which the air introduced into the device is heated by the humidifying device <NUM> itself, in order to maintain the temperature of the air introduced into the device, it is considered that the cooling device <NUM> is driven to some extent.

In the embodiment, it is assumed to use in an environment in which the humidity is extremely low, such as in an aircraft, and thus, only cooling the air to raise the humidity was mentioned in step S306, but in principle, a process of lowering the relative humidity by driving a heater is also assumed in order to induce the temperature and humidity to be within a preset range.

In the process of estimating the temperature of the air after cooling in step S304, the temperature that can be acquired by the second thermometer <NUM> or the third thermometer <NUM> may be used. The temperature measured by the second thermometer <NUM> is the temperature after being actually cooled by the cooling device <NUM>. It is assumed that the third thermometer <NUM> easily estimates the temperature of the air that has passed through the cooling device <NUM>, from the temperature of the surface of the cooling device <NUM>, empirically or by using simulation or the like.

The operation of the humidifying device <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

First, the humidifying device <NUM> takes in the air outside the device from the air inlet <NUM> into the device using the fan <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is continuously driven to continuously send air into the device (S401).

Next, the first thermometer <NUM> and the first hygrometer <NUM> measure the temperature and humidity of the air flowing in from the air inlet <NUM>, and notify the cooling control unit <NUM> and the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the measurement results (S402).

Next, the second thermometer <NUM> and the second hygrometer <NUM> measure the temperature and humidity of the air after being cooled by the cooler <NUM>, and notify the cooling control unit <NUM> and the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the measurement results (S403).

The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> obtains the absolute humidity at each measurement point using an approximate expression of saturated water vapor pressure of Tetens, based on the information notified from the first thermometer <NUM> and the first hygrometer <NUM>, and the information notified from the second thermometer <NUM> and the second hygrometer <NUM> (S404).

The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> confirms whether each absolute humidity at each of the obtained measurement points match each other (S405). Here, the property is used that the absolute humidity does not change even when the temperature changes as long as the moisture in the air is not lost.

In a case where each absolute humidity do not match each other, it is estimated that there is a high possibility of occurrence of dew condensation in the vicinity of the cooler. Here, the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> notifies the cooling control unit <NUM> of the possibility of occurrence of dew condensation. In response thereto, the cooling control unit <NUM> stops driving the cooler <NUM>. Accordingly, further occurrence of dew condensation can be prevented and the risk of equipment failure due to water generated by dew condensation can be reduced (S408).

In a case where each absolute humidity match each other, the cooling control unit <NUM> determines whether the temperature and humidity measured by the second thermometer <NUM> and the second hygrometer <NUM> is within the preset range of the temperature and humidity. In the embodiment, a case of being within the preset range of the temperature and humidity, means a case where the temperature and humidity measured by the second thermometer <NUM> and the second hygrometer <NUM> are within the range of the combination of the temperature and humidity, in which the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> can generate the charged fine particle water. The definition of the range may be set only for the humidity (S406).

In a case where the temperature measured by the second thermometer and the humidity measured by the second hygrometer are within the preset range of the temperature and humidity, the cooling control unit <NUM> stops driving the cooler <NUM>. This is because it is not necessary to further raise the relative humidity of the air (S408).

In a case where the temperature and humidity are out of the preset range of the temperature and humidity, the cooling control unit <NUM> drives the cooler <NUM> to cool the air. Here, the process performed on the cooler <NUM> may be a process of switching on the cooler to start driving, or in a case where the driving is already started, the output may be increased even while maintaining the driving. In any case, the cooler <NUM> performs a process for cooling the air introduced from the air inlet <NUM> (S407).

The air that has passed the vicinity of the cooler <NUM> is induced to the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> (S409).

The electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> generates charged fine particle water by applying a voltage to the induced air (S410).

Next, the process returns to step S402 again. Accordingly, the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> can stably generate charged fine particle water.

In the embodiment, it has been described that the driving of the cooler is stopped in a case of the transition to step S408 by the determination in step S406, but it is not always necessary to stop completely. For example, the output may be weakened. For example, in a case where the humidifying device <NUM> itself generates heat and the structure is applied in which the air introduced into the device is heated by the humidifying device <NUM> itself, in order to maintain the temperature of the air introduced into the device, it is considered that the cooling device <NUM> is driven to some extent.

In the embodiment, it is assumed to use in an environment in which the humidity is extremely low, such as in an aircraft, and thus, only cooling the air to raise the humidity was mentioned in step S407, but in principle, a process of lowering the relative humidity by driving a heater is also assumed in order to induce the temperature and humidity to be within a preset range.

In the embodiment, it has been described that, in the determination in step S405, it is determined whether each absolute humidity at each of the obtained measurement points do not match each other, but each absolute humidity are not always necessary to completely match each other. For example, a process of setting a certain threshold value and determining whether the humidity is within the range of the threshold value can also be considered.

Instead of measuring the temperature of the air after cooling with the second thermometer <NUM>, the temperature of the air after cooling may be estimated using the third thermometer <NUM>. It is assumed that the third thermometer <NUM> easily estimates the temperature of the air that has passed through the cooling device <NUM>, from the temperature of the surface of the cooling device <NUM>, empirically or by using simulation or the like.

First, the humidifying device <NUM> takes in the air outside the device from the air inlet <NUM> into the device using the fan <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is continuously driven to continuously send air into the device (S501).

Next, cooling by the cooling device <NUM> is started (S502).

The first hygrometer <NUM> measures the humidity of the air flowing in from the air inlet <NUM>, and notifies the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> of the measurement result (S503).

It is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and when a predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S503 (S504). The predetermined time defined here varies depending on the cooling performance of the cooling device <NUM>.

In a case where the predetermined time has elapsed, the drive of the cooler is temporarily stopped (S505).

Next, the humidity of the air flowing in from the air inlet <NUM> is measured again, and the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> was notified of the measurement result (S506).

The dew condensation detection unit <NUM> compares each humidity measured in step S503 and step S506 to determine whether the humidity in step S506 exceeds the humidity in step S503 (S507). In a case where dew condensation occurs around the cooling device <NUM>, it is considered that, when the operation of the cooling device <NUM> is stopped, the temperature around the cooling device <NUM> temporarily rises and the water adhering due to the dew condensation evaporates. In other words, in a case where the humidity at the time of step S506 is higher than the humidity at the time of step S503, it is possible to estimate that there is a high possibility that water adheres to the periphery of the cooling device <NUM> due to dew condensation.

In a case where the humidity in step S506 exceeds the humidity in step S503, the dew condensation detection unit <NUM> notifies the cooling control unit <NUM> of the possibility of dew condensation. In response thereto, the cooling control unit <NUM> stops driving the cooler <NUM>. Accordingly, the humidifying device <NUM> can prevent further occurrence of dew condensation and reduce the risk of equipment failure due to water generated by dew condensation (S509).

In a case where the humidity in step S506 does not exceed the humidity in step S503, the cooling control unit <NUM> drives the cooler <NUM> to cool the air. Here, the process performed on the cooler <NUM> may be a process of switching on the cooler to start driving, or in a case where the driving is already started, the output may be increased even while maintaining the driving. In any case, the cooler <NUM> performs a process for cooling the air introduced from the air inlet <NUM> (S508).

The air that has passed the vicinity of the cooler <NUM> is induced to the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> (S510).

The electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> generates charged fine particle water by applying a voltage to the induced air (S511).

Next, the process returns to step S503 again. Accordingly, the electrostatic atomizing device <NUM> can stably generate charged fine particle water.

In the embodiment, the first hygrometer <NUM> installed around the air inlet <NUM> is used to measure the humidity, but when the humidity around the cooling device <NUM> can be measured, any hygrometer installed anywhere may be used. For example, the second hygrometer <NUM> may be used.

Claim 1:
A humidifying device (<NUM>) comprising:
a first thermometer (<NUM>) configured to measure a temperature inside the humidifying device (<NUM>);
a first hygrometer (<NUM>) configured to measure a humidity inside the humidifying device (<NUM>);
an air inlet (<NUM>);
an internal air passage through which air taken in from the air inlet (<NUM>) passes;
an air outlet (<NUM>) from which the air that has passed through the internal air passage is discharged;
a cooler (<NUM>) installed in a path of the internal air passage;
an electrostatic atomizing device (<NUM>) configured to generate charged fine particle water and installed between the cooler (<NUM>) and the air outlet (<NUM>) in the path of the internal air passage; and
a cooling control unit (<NUM>) configured to control the cooler (<NUM>), wherein the cooling control unit (<NUM>) is configured to change a cooling intensity of the cooler (<NUM>) in a case where values measured by the first thermometer (<NUM>) and the first hygrometer (<NUM>) are out of a predetermined range,
wherein the first thermometer (<NUM>) and the first hygrometer (<NUM>) are provided between the cooler (<NUM>) and the air inlet (<NUM>).