Climate control device

Abstract

Climate control devices and methods are disclosed. One climate control device includes a housing, an evaporative medium port, a liquid level sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a change in the level of liquid in the housing, calculate an efficiency of an evaporative medium received by the evaporative medium port based on the change in the level of liquid, and provide an evaporative medium efficiency indication when the efficiency of the evaporative medium falls below a predetermined value. Another climate control device includes a housing, an evaporative medium port, a pump, a first conduit, and a controller. The controller configured to determine an evaporation rate of an evaporative medium received by the evaporative medium port, and operate the pump to pump liquid through the first conduit to the evaporative medium port at varying liquid flow rates dependent on the evaporation rate of the evaporative medium.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A climate control device comprising:
 a housing defining a receptacle for receiving liquid;   an evaporative medium port sized to receive an evaporative medium;   a pump positioned at least partially within the receptacle;   a first conduit connected between an outlet of the pump and the evaporative medium port; and   a controller electrically coupled with the pump, the controller configured to:
 determine an evaporation rate of the evaporative medium received by the evaporative medium port; and 
 operate the pump to pump the liquid in the receptacle through the first conduit to the evaporative medium port at varying liquid flow rates dependent on the evaporation rate of the evaporative medium. 
   
     
     
         2 . The climate control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature in an environment surrounding the climate control device,
 wherein the controller varies the liquid flow rate based on the sensed temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The climate control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a humidity sensor configured to sense a relative humidity in an environment surrounding the climate control device,
 wherein the controller varies the liquid flow rate based on the sensed relative humidity.   
     
     
         4 . The climate control device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: calculate an efficiency of the evaporative medium; and
 wherein the controller varies the liquid flow rate based on the efficiency of the evaporative medium.   
     
     
         5 . The climate control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid level sensor configured to sense a level of liquid in the receptacle,
 wherein the controller is configured to stop operation of the pump when the level of liquid in the receptacle falls below a predetermined level.   
     
     
         6 . The climate control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second conduit connected between an outlet of the pump and an exterior of the climate control device,
 wherein the controller is further configured to:
 operate the pump to pump the liquid in the receptacle through the first conduit to the evaporative medium port during a climate control operation of the climate control device; and 
 operate the pump to pump the liquid in the receptacle through the second conduit to the exterior of the climate control device during a purge operation of the climate control device. 
   
     
     
         7 . The climate control device of  claim 6 , further comprising a first valve provided in the first conduit, and a second valve provided in the second conduit,
 wherein the controller is further configured to close the second valve during the climate control operation and to close the first valve during the purge operation.   
     
     
         8 . The climate control device of  claim 1 , wherein the climate control device is an evaporative cooler. 
     
     
         9 . The climate control device of  claim 1 , wherein the climate control device is a humidifier. 
     
     
         10 . A climate control method comprising:
 determining an evaporation rate of an evaporative medium in an evaporative medium port of a climate control device having a receptacle contained within the climate control device; and   operating a pump to pump liquid in the receptacle of the climate control device to the evaporative medium at varying liquid flow rates dependent on the evaporation rate of the evaporative medium.   
     
     
         11 . The climate control method of  claim 10 , wherein the determining comprises:
 sensing a temperature in an environment surrounding the climate control device.   
     
     
         12 . The climate control method of  claim 10 , wherein the determining comprises:
 sensing a relative humidity in an environment surrounding the climate control device.   
     
     
         13 . The climate control method of  claim 10 , wherein the determining comprises:
 calculating an efficiency of the evaporative medium.   
     
     
         14 . The climate control method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 sensing a level of liquid in the receptacle; and   stopping operation of the pump when the level of liquid in the receptacle falls below a predetermined level.   
     
     
         15 . The climate control method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 operating the pump to pump liquid in the receptacle to beyond an exterior surface of the climate control device during a purge operation of the climate control device.