Automatic humidity control

Abstract

An automatic humidity control assembly for control of humidity and the prevention of mold in an enclosed structure. The automatic humidity control assembly defined by two air passageways, one air passageway recirculating interior air, the second passageway drawing ambient air into the automatic humidity control assembly, each passageway having associated therewith a filtration means, a heat exchanger, a cooling coil, and a blower means, there being a temperature/humidity sensing means within the enclosed structure associated with the first air passageway and a temperature humidity sensing means proximate the ambient atmosphere associated with the second air passageway. In one mode of operation, interior air is circulated through the automatic humidity control assembly to remove humidity and return conditioned air to the building. In another mode of operation, dependant upon climatic air conditions, ambient air is introduced into the second passageway of the humidity control assembly. The ambient air being conditioned and the conditioned ambient air is introduced into the enclosed structure.

1 . An automatic humidity control assembly for the control of humidity and the prevention of mold development within an enclosed structure, the humidity control assembly comprising: 
 first air passageway comprising a first air filtration means, a heat exchanger, a cooling coil and a blower means, said first air passage having a first conduit means for the introduction of air from an interior of an enclosed structure to the humidity control assembly, a second conduit means for return of conditioned air to said interior of said enclosed structure;    a second air passageway having a filtration means, a heat exchanger, and a cooling coil, and a blower means, said second air passageway having a first conduit means for the introduction of exterior ambient air to said humidity control assembly and a second conduit means in communication with said interior of said enclosed structure for the introduction of conditioned ambient air;    a first sensing means positioned within said enclosed structure for the sensing of temperature and humidity, said first sensor means in communication with said cooling coil and blower means in said first air passageway of said humidity control assembly for activation thereof for commencement of the passage of interior air through said first passageway;    a second enthalpy sensing means positioned in said first conduit means of said second air passageway of said humidity control assembly, proximate said ambient air for sensing the temperature and humidity of said ambient air, said second sensing means in communication with said heat exchanger, cooling coil and blower means in said second air passageway for activation thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The humidity control assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first air passageway recycles interior air within said enclosed structure to maintain desired humidity when said ambient atmospheric air temperature and humidity is inappropriate for introduction into said enclosed structure.  
   
   
       3 . The humidity control assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said second air passageway conditions ambient air when said temperature and said humidity of said ambient air is appropriate for introduction into said enclosed structure, said conditioned ambient air introduced into said interior of said enclosed structure and a equal quantity of interior stale air is exhausted to said ambient air through said second conduit means of said second air passageway.  
   
   
       4 . The humidity control assembly in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said heat exchanger is a passive crossover heat exchanger allowing conditioned fresh atmospheric air to be introduced into said interior of said enclosed structure and an equal portion of stale interior air to be exhausted to said ambient atmosphere.  
   
   
       5 . The humidity control assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said second enthalpy sensing means positioned in said first conduits of said second passageway sensing appropriate ambient air conditions activates aid heat exchanger and said blower in said second passageway and a damper in said first conduit means in said first passageway halting the recycling and conditioning of interior air and allowing the introduction of conditioned ambient air into said enclosed structure.  
   
   
       6 . The humidity control assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first conduit means and said second conduit means on said first air passageway extend within said enclosed structure and have a plurality of vents formed therein, said first conduit on said first air passageway serving as a return of interior air to said humidity control assembly; said second conduit of said first air passageway serving as a distributor of conditioned air to said interior of said enclosed structure.  
   
   
       7 . The humidity control assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first conduit means and said second conduit means of said first air passageway are secured to a return conduit of a heating and ventilation unit within said enclosed structure so as to bleed off a portion of the interior air being returned to the heating and air conditioning unit within said interior structure, condition said air and reintroduce it into said return duct work.