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EP-4737811-A1 - CONTROL DEVICE FOR A THERMO-HYGROMETRIC AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR ROOMS, RELATED PROCESS AND APPARATUS

EP4737811A1EP 4737811 A1EP4737811 A1EP 4737811A1EP-4737811-A1

Abstract

A control device (10) for controlling an apparatus (100, 200) for dehumidifying and/or cooling an internal environment (20, 120) comprises: a temperature sensor (11) for detecting a temperature of the air inside the environment (20, 120), a relative humidity sensor (12) configured to detect a relative humidity of the air in the environment (20), a surface temperature sensor (13) configured to detect a surface temperature on an internal surface of a wall (21, 22) of the environment (20, 120), and a control unit (14) operationally connected to said sensors (11, 12, 13) and to said apparatus (100).

Inventors

  • VIDAL, Paolo

Assignees

  • PV Solutions S.r.l.s.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251028

Claims (12)

  1. Control device (10) for controlling an apparatus (100, 200) for the hygrothermal conditioning of an internal environment (20, 120), provided with a temperature sensor (11) and a relative humidity sensor (12) which are configured to detect a temperature and a humidity, respectively, of the air inside said environment (20, 120), wherein said control device (10) comprises: - a surface temperature sensor (13) configured to detect a surface temperature on an internal surface of a wall (21, 22) of said environment (20, 120), preferably opposite a corresponding external surface facing an external environment (25); and - a control unit (14) connected to said sensors (11, 12, 13) and to said apparatus (100, 200), configured to process the data received in order to determine a dew point temperature correlated to said temperature and relative humidity of the air of said environment (20, 120), compare it with said surface temperature and, based on the outcome of the comparison, evaluate whether and how to activate said apparatus (100, 200) to modify the temperature and/or humidity of the air of said environment (20, 120) in order to obtain a dew point temperature lower than the surface temperature, and consequently control the operation of said apparatus (100, 200), characterized in that said control device (10) comprises a water temperature sensor (19) configured to detect the temperature of the water inside a tub (121) provided in said environment (22) and said control unit (14) is configured to determine, on the basis of the data detected by the water temperature sensor (19), a saturation pressure value of the air over the free surface of the water referred to the water temperature, and, on the basis of the data detected by the air temperature (11) and humidity (12) sensors and by the surface temperature sensor (13), a maximum relative humidity value to be kept inside said environment (20, 120), such that the saturation pressure of the air over the free surface of the water in the tub (121), referred to the water temperature, and a vapor pressure of the air over the free surface of the water are equivalent, and consequently command said apparatus (100, 200) to keep the air's relative humidity within the range of said maximum relative humidity.
  2. Control device (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that said surface temperature sensor (13) is an infrared type sensor.
  3. Control device (10) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said control unit (14) comprises, or is connected to, a memory unit (16) in which mathematical algorithms, formulas, psychrometric charts and/or tables are stored, and processing means (17) configured to calculate the dew point temperature on the basis of the air's temperature and humidity data received from said sensors (11, 12) and the data stored in said memory unit (16).
  4. Control device (10) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises an external detection sensor (18) able to be disposed, during use, in the external environment (25), configured to detect at least a temperature and humidity of the external air and operationally connected to the control unit (14), and said control unit (14) is configured to evaluate whether and how to activate said apparatus (100, 200) in order to modify the temperature and/or relative humidity of the air of said environment (20) also as a function of said external air temperature and humidity.
  5. Control device (10) as in claim 3, characterized in that in said memory unit (16) there are stored mathematical algorithms, formulas, psychrometric charts and/or tables, and processing means (17) are configured to calculate said saturation pressure of the air over the free surface of the water on the basis of the temperature of said water detected by the sensor (19) and on the basis of said pressure value and of the data detected by said sensors (11, 12), the relative humidity corresponding to a vapor pressure equal to said saturation pressure.
  6. Apparatus (100, 200) for the hygrothermal conditioning of environments, comprising at least one dehumidifying device (102) selected from direct expansion dehumidifiers, adsorption dehumidifiers, air treatment units provided with dehumidification batteries, or air recirculation systems with mechanized ventilation, and a control device (10) as in any claim from 1 to 5.
  7. Apparatus (100, 200) for the hygrothermal conditioning of environments, comprising at least one heat exchanger (201) having a circuit in which a heat transfer fluid flows between an inlet (202) and an outlet (203), and a control device (10) as in any claim from 1 to 8, wherein said control unit (14) is also configured to control an inlet temperature of said heat transfer fluid as a function of said dew point temperature.
  8. Apparatus (100, 200) for the hygrothermal conditioning of environments as in claim 6 or 7, comprising at least one humidifier device (103).
  9. Method for controlling an apparatus (100, 200) for the hygrothermal conditioning of environments inside an environment (20, 120) to be monitored in which there is provided a tub (121) containing water, comprising: - detecting a temperature and a relative humidity of the air inside said environment (20, 120); - detecting a surface temperature on an internal surface of a wall (21, 22) of said environment (20, 120) preferably opposite a corresponding surface facing toward an external environment (25); - processing the data received by means of a control unit (14) to determine a dew point temperature correlated to said temperature and relative humidity of the air of said environment (20, 120), - comparing said dew point temperature with said surface temperature detected and, on the basis of the outcome of the comparison, evaluating whether and how to activate said apparatus (100, 200) in order to modify the temperature and/or humidity of the air of said environment (20, 120) so that the dew point temperature is lower than the surface temperature, and consequently control the operation of said apparatus, characterized in that it provides to detect a temperature of the water in said tub (121) and determine, on the basis of said detected temperature of the water, a saturation pressure value of the air over the free surface of the water, referred to said temperature of the water and, on the basis of the detected data of said relative temperature and relative humidity of the air and said surface temperature, a maximum relative humidity value to be kept inside said environment (20, 120), such that the value of said saturation pressure and a value of a vapor pressure of the air over the free surface of the water, corresponding to the vapor pressure at which there is a phase change from liquid to vapor, are equivalent, and there is therefore no evaporation of the water, and command the operation of said apparatus (100, 200) so as to keep the relative humidity of the air within the range of said maximum relative humidity.
  10. Method as in claim 9, characterized in that it provides to detect at least a temperature and humidity of the air of the external environment (25) by means of at least one sensor (18) disposed, during use, outside a building (30, 130) in which said environment (20) is located, and to process the data received by means of said control unit (14) in order to determine the start or stop of said apparatus (100, 200) also on the basis of said external air temperature and humidity.
  11. Method as in claim 9 or 10, wherein said apparatus (100, 200) comprises a heat exchanger (201) having a circuit with an inlet (202) and an outlet (203) in which a heat transfer fluid flows, characterized in that said method provides to control a temperature of said heat transfer fluid at inlet (202) in such a way that, on each occasion, it is higher than a respective threshold value of the dew point temperature calculated for a defined average temperature and on two or more different levels of relative humidity.
  12. Method as in any claim from 9 to 11, characterized in that by means of said control unit (14) it provides to recognize, as a function of a growth or reduction trend in the data of said relative temperature and relative humidity of the air and said surface temperature detected by respective sensors (11, 12, 13, 18) and subsequently processed, whether the surface temperature detected is approaching a certain current value of the dew point temperature determined and, if so, to activate a dehumidifying device (102) of said apparatus (100, 200) in order to lower the air's relative humidity and consequently said dew point temperature.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns a control device for efficiently and effectively controlling an apparatus for the hygrothermal conditioning of an environment, for example a domestic, industrial, commercial or sports environment, such as for example swimming pools, spas and suchlike. The invention also concerns a hygrothermal conditioning apparatus comprising this control device and a method for the hygrothermal conditioning of an environment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hygrothermal conditioning apparatuses are known, used to modify the temperature and humidity inside an environment in order to bring them to defined values that are comfortable for users. It is also known that high humidity levels in an environment can on the one hand create uncomfortable conditions for a user, particularly if the temperature is high, and on the other hand create favorable conditions for the generation of molds. This disadvantage is particularly evident in environments where there is an internal latent load. For example, in the case of a home, this load is usually produced in the kitchen during the cooking of food and in the bathroom during the use of the shower or bathtub, that is, where steam is generated. The humidity produced tends to migrate to the coldest zones of the house, resulting in formations of surface condensation that over time can lead to mold formation or even damage to the plaster or, in the most severe cases, to the supporting structure. Similar problems are also found, for example, in professional kitchens, in dairies, in the changing rooms of sports buildings or facilities, and in swimming pools or spas. To try to solve these problems, depending on the type of environments to be dehumidified, in addition to the air currents that can be obtained by opening doors and/or windows, portable dehumidifying apparatuses, ventilation apparatuses or air recirculation systems, for example of the controlled mechanical ventilation type, are generally used. These apparatuses are normally activated manually, when a user feels the need to dehumidify an environment, or in an automated manner, on the basis of hygrothermal characteristics of the environment detected by means of temperature or relative humidity sensors. However, these activation modes do not allow to efficiently control the humidity inside the environments while optimizing energy consumption. This is more evident in environments such as swimming pools or similar premises where there is always a certain level of humidity and excessive dehumidification could result in, as well as high energy consumption, also excessive evaporation of the water in the pool itself, requiring frequent topping-ups and therefore an unwanted waste of water. CN117419429A discloses a dehumidification control system for internal environments, in particular for indoor swimming pools, which uses an anti-condensation sensor installed on the internal surface of a cold wall. When the sensor detects that the temperature of the wall is approaching the dew point temperature of the air in the environment to be treated, the control device automatically lowers a set air humidity value, thereby reducing the dew point temperature of the air and preventing any condensation from forming on the cold surfaces. The system disclosed in CN117419429A is of the static type and requires a change of the value set for the relative humidity. DE102008044439A1 discloses a control device and a method for the automatic ventilation of underground premises. CN111697439A discloses an air-conditioned anti-condensation electrical cabinet, comprising a body inside which a relay protection device is disposed. There is therefore the need to perfect a control device for controlling a hygrothermal conditioning apparatus and a hygrothermal conditioning method which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art. To do this, it is necessary to solve the technical problem of effectively controlling the activation and operation of a hygrothermal conditioning apparatus. One purpose of the present invention is to provide a control device and perfect a hygrothermal conditioning method which allow to maintain a desired level of humidity in an environment while simultaneously reducing consumption to a minimum, in particular energy consumption and, in the case of swimming pools or generally other environments in which pools are present, also water consumption. Another purpose of the invention is to provide a control device and perfect a hygrothermal conditioning method that provide a targeted activation of a hygrothermal conditioning apparatus in order to balance user comfort and energy consumption. A further purpose of the invention is to provide a control device and perfect a hygrothermal conditioning method that safely and effectively prevent the formation of mold in an environment. A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a control device that can be applied both to new