System and method for humidification control with fan delay

Abstract

A humidifying system and method for humidifying ambient air is disclosed. The system includes an air circulation unit, a water feed valve, and a water panel in fluid communication with the air circulation and the water feed valve. The air circulation unit and water feed valve are both operably coupled to a controller. The controller is configured to receive on or more signals from one or more sensors, a user interface, and/or a remote control communicably coupled to the controller. The controller may be configured to turn on the air circulation unit and water feed valve in response to a received input—such as a call for humidity. The controller may subsequently turn off the water feed valve when an ambient humidity satisfies a humidity threshold and delay turning off the air circulation unit to enable drying of the water panel while continuing to humidify circulating air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for humidifying an indoor space, the system comprising:
 an air circulation unit comprising a fan, wherein the air circulation unit is configured to circulate air to the indoor space;   a water feed valve configured to control water flow from a water source fluidly coupled to the water feed valve;   a water panel in fluid communication with each of the circulation unit and the water feed valve, wherein the water panel is configured to disperse water within the air circulated by the air circulation unit; and   a controller operably coupled to each of the air circulation unit and the water feed valve, wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine an ambient humidity associated with the indoor space; 
 compare the ambient humidity to a humidity threshold; 
 change an operational state of the water feed valve in response to the ambient humidity satisfying the humidity threshold; and 
 change an operational state of the air circulation unit a period of time after changing the operational state of the water feed valve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein changing the operational state of the water feed valve comprises decreasing a water flow through the water feed valve. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a rate of decreasing the flow rate of water through water feed valve is based on a difference in the ambient humidity and a humidity set point. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein changing the operational state of the air circulation unit comprises decreasing a speed of a fan disposed within the air circulation unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein changing the operational state of the air circulation unit comprises turning off the air circulation unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the water panel is disposed upstream of the air circulation unit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the period of time is determined based on a drying time associated with the water panel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the period of time is based on a runtime of the humidifying system. 
     
     
         9 . A system for humidifying an indoor space, the system comprising:
 an air circulation unit comprising a fan, wherein the air circulation unit is configured to circulate air to the indoor space;   a water feed valve configured to control water flow from a water source fluidly coupled to the water feed valve;   a water panel in fluid communication with each of the circulation unit and the water feed valve, wherein the water panel is configured to disperse water within the air circulated by the air circulation unit; and   a controller operably coupled to each of the air circulation unit and the water feed valve, wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine an ambient humidity associated with the indoor space; 
 compare the ambient humidity to a humidity threshold; 
 change an operational state of the water feed valve in response to the ambient humidity satisfying the humidity threshold; 
 determine at least one of a humidity differential or a temperature differential associated with the water panel; 
 compare at least one of the humidity differential or the temperature differential to a threshold; and 
 change an operational state of the air circulation unit response to at least one of the humidity differential or the temperature differential satisfying the threshold. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor is disposed upstream of the water panel and configured to make a first detection and the second sensor is disposed downstream of the water panel and configured to make a second detection. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second detections correspond to a first and second temperature, respectively, and wherein the temperature differential is equal to a difference between the first and second temperatures. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second detections correspond to a first and second humidity, respectively, and wherein the humidity differential is equal to a difference between the first humidity and the second humidity. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein changing the operational state of the air circulation unit comprises decreasing a speed of a fan disposed within the air circulation unit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein changing the operational state of the air circulation unit comprises turning off the air circulation unit. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein changing the operational state of the water feed valve comprises decrease a water flow through the water feed valve. 
     
     
         16 . A method for humidifying an indoor space, the method comprising:
 determining, by a controller, an ambient humidity associated with the indoor space;   comparing, by the controller, the ambient humidity to a humidity threshold;   changing, by the controller, an operational state of a water feed valve operably coupled to the controller in response to the ambient humidity satisfying the humidity threshold, wherein the water feed valve is fluidly coupled to a water panel; and   changing, by the controller, an operational state of an air circulation unit operably coupled to the controller a period of time after changing the operational state of the water feed valve.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the period of time is based on a drying time associated with the water panel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining, by the controller, at least one of a humidity differential or a temperature differential associated with the water panel; and   comparing, by the controller, at least one of the humidity differential or the temperature differential to a threshold.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the period of time is determined by an amount of time until the humidity differential or the temperature differential satisfies the threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein changing the operational state of the water feed valve comprises decrease a water flow through the water feed valve.