Systems and methods for controlling the internal environment of an enclosure

Abstract

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a system and method of controlling the internal environment of an enclosure is provided. The system and method includes either increasing or decreasing the temperature of the enclosure to a predetermined target under normal operating conditions. The system and method further includes selectively engaging a trip condition in response to an overheat limit temperature. During the trip condition, the power relays for the fixture will be opened until the enclosure internal temperature has dropped. The system and method uses various sensors to control environmental conditions and may be controlled remotely.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . An enclosure comprising:
 (a) an at least one fan configured to exchange internal air with external air;   (b) an at least one heater configured to raise internal air temperature;   (c) a system controller configured to:
 (i) cause the at least one fan to operate when an internal air temperature measurement meets a predetermined temperature criteria; and 
 (ii) cause the at least one heater to operate when a relative humidity measurement of the internal air meets a predetermined humidity criteria. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure includes a power relay that is configured to interrupt power to a lighting fixture housed within the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the power relay may be switched remotely. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system controller includes remote data communication. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an at least one fan configured to promote mixture of the air inside the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system controller causes the at least one fan to operate based on a calculated fan duty cycle and the at least one heater to operate based on a calculated heater duty cycle. 
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling the internal environment of an enclosure, the method comprising:
 (a) setting a relative humidity value to a configurable limit during a standard operating condition;   (b) setting a temperature value to a configurable limit during a standard operating condition;   (c) monitoring the temperature and relative humidity within the enclosure;   (d) in response to determining that a change in temperature is required:
 (i) calculating the required duty cycle of an at least one heater and causing it to operate to maintain relative humidity below the configurable limit; and 
 (ii) calculating the required duty cycle of an at least one fan and causing it to operate to maintain temperature below the configurable limit. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a system controller selectively engages a trip condition in response to temperature, the temperature exceeding the configurable limit during operation, wherein the system power is temporarily unavailable until after the temperature has dropped below the configurable limit for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined time is 4 minutes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a lighting fixture input power value is monitored to not exceed the rated limit of the enclosure and alter the required duty cycle of the at least one heater. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the duty cycle of the fan in minimized to emit the least amount of noise. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising an at least one fan configured to stir the air inside the enclosure for increased accuracy of temperature monitoring. 
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling the internal environment of an enclosure, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving a set of sensor values from a plurality of sensors;   (b) executing more than one system duty factor function based on the set of sensor values to generate a fan duty factor and a heater duty factor associated with system duty factor function;   (c) causing a fan duty control and a heater duty control to operate an at least one fan and an at least one heater according to the fan duty factor and heater duty factor, respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the more than one system duty factor function compares an internal air temperature value to a configurable upper temperature limit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the more than one system duty factor function compares an internal air temperature value to a minimum temperature tracking system ideal temperature, the ideal temperature calculated to maintain a configurable internal air relative humidity limit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the minimum temperature tracking system ideal temperature is calculated based on an internal air temperature measurement and an internal air relative humidity measurement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors include: a temperature sensor, a relative humidity sensor, a voltage sensor, and an amperage sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the more than one system duty factor function compares the voltage sensor reading and the amperage sensor reading to determine a plurality of electrical load power ranges. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one of the electrical load power ranges signifies that an enclosed lighting fixture is powered, but an enclosed lighting fixture lamp is not active; a separate electrical load power range signifying that the enclosed lighting fixture is powered and the enclosed lighting fixture lamp is active. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a system controller records the duration the enclosed lighting fixture lamp is active.