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DE-102025144865-A1 - AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

DE102025144865A1DE 102025144865 A1DE102025144865 A1DE 102025144865A1DE-102025144865-A1

Abstract

An air conditioning system according to the present invention comprises: a flow path 10 through which air can flow from an interior space and/or from an exterior space; at least one humidity control device 20 provided in the flow path 10, wherein the humidity control device 20 is configured to repeatedly perform an adsorption mode for adsorbing moisture and a regeneration mode for desorbing the moisture; a control unit 40 configured to control a flow rate of the air flowing through the flow path 10 and the air conditioning device 20; and a humidity sensor 70 for measuring the relative humidity in the interior space. The control unit 40 monitors the relative humidity in the interior space via the humidity sensor 70 and controls at least one of the air flow rates and execution times in the regeneration mode and in the adsorption mode, depending on a change in the relative humidity in the interior space.

Inventors

  • Takafumi Hamada

Assignees

  • NGK INSULATORS, LTD.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251031
Priority Date
20241111

Claims (20)

  1. Air conditioning system comprising: a flow path (10) through which air can flow from an interior and/or exterior space; at least one humidity control device (20) provided in the flow path (10), wherein the humidity control device (20) is configured to repeatedly execute an adsorption mode for adsorbing moisture and a regeneration mode for desorbing moisture; a control unit (40) configured to control a flow rate of the air flowing through the flow path (10) and the air conditioning device; and a humidity sensor (70) for measuring the relative humidity in the interior space, in that the control unit (40) monitors the relative humidity in the interior space via the humidity sensor (70) and controls at least one air flow rate and execution times in the regeneration mode and in the adsorption mode, depending on a change in the relative humidity in the interior space.
  2. air conditioning system according to Claim 1 , wherein in regeneration mode the control unit (40) increases at least one of the air flow rate and execution time when the relative humidity inside the room increases.
  3. air conditioning system according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein in regeneration mode the control unit (40) reduces at least one of the air flow rate and execution time when the relative humidity inside the room decreases.
  4. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein in adsorption mode the control unit (40) increases at least one of the air flow rate and execution time when the relative humidity inside the room decreases.
  5. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein in adsorption mode the control unit (40) reduces at least one of the air flow rate and execution time when the relative humidity inside the room increases.
  6. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , further comprising a temperature sensor (80) for measuring the temperature of the room interior, wherein the control unit (40) determines in advance a ratio between the absolute humidity in the room interior and an adsorption rate and the desorption rate of moisture in the humidity control device (20), determines the absolute humidity from the relative humidity and the temperature, respectively measured by the humidity sensor (70) and temperature sensor (80), in order to calculate the adsorption rate and the desorption rate, and controls at least one of the air flow rate and the execution times such that a target relative humidity in the room interior is achieved.
  7. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , where the air conditioning system is for vehicles.
  8. air conditioning system according to Claim 7 , wherein in regeneration mode, when the relative humidity inside the room exceeds 40%, the control unit (40) regulates at least one of the air flow rate and the execution time such that it is greater than or equal to 1.1 times the value when the relative humidity inside the room is 40%.
  9. air conditioning system according to Claim 7 or 8 , wherein in regeneration mode, when the relative humidity inside the room falls below 40%, the control unit (40) regulates at least one of the air flow rate and the execution time so that it is less than or equal to 0.9 times the value when the relative humidity inside the room is 40%.
  10. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 7 until 9 , wherein in adsorption mode, when the relative humidity inside the room falls below 40%, the control unit (40) regulates at least one of the air flow rate and the execution time such that it is greater than or equal to 1.1 times the value when the relative humidity inside the room is 40%.
  11. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 7 until 10 , wherein in adsorption mode, when the relative humidity inside the room exceeds 40%, the control unit (40) regulates at least one of the air flow rate and the execution time such that it is less than or equal to 0.9 times the value when the relative humidity inside the room is 40%.
  12. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , whereby the regeneration mode is not executed if the relative humidity is 20% or less.
  13. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , whereby the regeneration mode is not executed if the relative humidity is 10% or less.
  14. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 7 until 13 , further comprising an HVAC unit (30) configured to perform heating and cooling by heating and cooling the air inside the room and/or from outside the room.
  15. air conditioning system according to Claim 14 , wherein the humidity control device (20) is provided in the HVAC unit (30).
  16. Vehicle air conditioning system according to Claim 14 , wherein the humidity control device (20) is provided on an upstream side of the HVAC unit (30).
  17. air conditioning system according to one of the Claims 1 until 16 , wherein the humidity control device (20) comprises: an adsorption section containing an adsorbent configured to adsorb moisture at a temperature below or equal to a predetermined temperature and to desorb the adsorbed moisture when the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature; and a heating medium or heating structure configured to heat the adsorption section.
  18. air conditioning system according to Claim 17 , wherein the humidity control device (20) comprises: a honeycomb structure (21) with an outer circumferential wall (22) and partitions (25) provided on an inner surface of the outer circumferential wall (22), the partitions (25) defining a plurality of cells (24), each of the cells (24) extending from a first end face (23a) to a second end face (23b) of the honeycomb structure (21) to form a flow path for the air; an adsorption layer (26) containing the adsorbent, the adsorption layer (26) being provided on a surface of each of the partitions (25); and an electrode pair (27a, 27b) being provided on the first end face (23a) and the second end face (23b) of the honeycomb structure (21) or on the outer circumferential wall (22) parallel to an extension direction of the cells (24) of the honeycomb structure (21).
  19. air conditioning system according to Claim 18 , wherein at least the partitions (25) of the honeycomb structure (21) are made of a material with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) property.
  20. Method for controlling an air conditioning system, wherein the air conditioning system comprises: a flow path (10) through which air can flow from an interior space and/or from an exterior space; at least one humidity control device (20) provided in the flow path (10), wherein the humidity control device (20) is configured to repeatedly perform an adsorption mode for adsorbing moisture and a regeneration mode for desorbing the moisture; a control unit (40) configured to control a flow rate of the air flowing through the flow path (10) and the air conditioning device; and a humidity sensor (70) for measuring the relative humidity inside the room, whereby the relative humidity inside the room is monitored by a humidity sensor (70) and at least one of an air flow rate and operating times in regeneration mode and in adsorption mode is controlled depending on a change in the relative humidity inside the room.

Description

AREA OF INVENTION The invention relates to an air conditioning system and a method for controlling the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In various buildings, such as offices, schools, and homes, as well as in different vehicle types, such as cars, there is a growing need for improvements to vehicle interiors. Specific requirements include reducing the amount of CO₂ indoors to decrease fatigue, regulating indoor humidity, and eliminating harmful volatile components such as odors and allergens. Ventilation is an effective measure for meeting these requirements; however, in winter, ventilation results in significant heat loss, leading to reduced energy efficiency. For battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in particular, the problem is that their range is considerably limited due to energy losses. As a method for solving the aforementioned problems, a vehicle air conditioning system (vehicle climate control system) is proposed, comprising: a heating element (humidity control device) containing a honeycomb structure with an outer circumferential wall and partitions provided on an inner surface of the outer circumferential wall, the partitions defining a plurality of cells, each extending from one end face to the other end face of the honeycomb structure to form a flow path, wherein at least the partition is made of a material with PTC properties; an electrode pair comprising a first electrode provided on one end face and a second electrode provided on the other end face; and a layer containing a functional material (adsorbent) provided on a surface of each partition; as well as an inlet pipe connecting a vehicle interior to an inlet end face of the heating element; and an outlet pipe with a first path (first flow path) connecting an outlet end face of the heating element to the vehicle interior, wherein the outlet pipe has a first path connecting an outlet end face of the heating element to the vehicle interior, and a second path (second flow path) connecting the outlet end face of the heating element to a vehicle exterior, and wherein the system includes a switching valve configured to change an airflow circulating through the outlet pipe between the first path and the second path (e.g. patent literature 1). STATE OF THE ART Patent literature [Patent literature 1] WO 2023/074202 A1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be solved by the invention The adsorbent used in the humidity control device is problematic because the amount of moisture adsorbed and desorbed varies depending on the humidity, thus reducing the operating efficiency of the humidity control device for both adsorption and regeneration modes. The present invention is intended to solve the problems described above, and one object of this invention is to provide an air conditioning system and a method for controlling it, which have good efficiencies for the adsorption mode and the regeneration mode of the humidity control device. Means to solve the problem As a result of intensive investigations of air conditioning systems with humidity control devices, the inventor has found that the above problem can be solved by, that the relative humidity in a room is monitored by means of a humidity sensor and that at least one of the airflow rate and operating times in regeneration mode and in adsorption mode is controlled depending on a change in the relative humidity in the room. In other words, this invention can be explained as follows: <1> Comprehensive air conditioning system: a flow path through which air can flow into the interior of a room and/or from the exterior of a room; at least one humidity control device provided in the flow path, wherein the humidity control device is configured to repeatedly perform an adsorption mode for adsorbing moisture and a regeneration mode for desorbing the moisture; a control unit configured to control the flow rate of the air flowing through the flow path and the air conditioning device; and a humidity sensor to measure the relative humidity inside the room, wherein the control unit monitors the relative humidity inside the room by means of the humidity sensor and regulates at least one of an air flow rate and execution times depending on a change in the relative humidity inside the room in regeneration mode and in adsorption mode. <2> Air conditioning system according to <1>, wherein in regeneration mode the control unit can increase at least one of the air flow rate and execution time when the relative humidity inside the room increases. <3> Air conditioning system according to <1> or <2>, wherein in regeneration mode the control unit can reduce at least one of the air flow rate and execution time when the relative humidity inside the room decreases. <4> Air conditioning system according to one of <1> to <3>, wherein in adsorption mode the control unit can increase at least one of the air flow rate and execution time when the relative humidity inside the room decreases. <5> Air conditioning system according to one of <1