Humidifier with integrated water hardness measuring device for humidifier pad prognosis

Abstract

A method of monitoring heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment is provided. The method includes installing a part into the HVAC equipment, installing a sensor into the HVAC equipment for sensing a parameter which is indicative of a condition of the part, setting a lifespan of the part, adjusting the lifespan in accordance with readings generated by the sensor and issuing an alert as to an adjustment in the lifespan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of monitoring heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the method comprising:
 installing a part into the HVAC equipment;   installing a sensor into the HVAC equipment for sensing a parameter which is indicative of a condition of the part;   setting a lifespan of the part;   adjusting the lifespan in accordance with readings generated by the sensor; and   issuing an alert as to an adjustment in the lifespan.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the HVAC equipment comprises a humidifier, the part comprises a humidifier pad, the sensor comprises a water hardness sensor and the parameter is a hardness of water flown through the humidifier pad during humidifier operations. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the condition of the part is an amount of deposits deposited on the humidifier pad. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising installing a water softener into the humidifier to reduce the hardness of the water. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the setting of the lifespan comprises setting the lifespan at a predefined number of terms. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the predefined number of terms is a predefined number of weeks. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the adjusting of the lifespan comprises periodically taking readings of the sensor and periodically calculating an average of the readings. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the adjusting of the lifespan comprises periodically reducing the lifespan by a single term in an event the average of the readings is less than a predefined average, and   the adjusting of the lifespan comprises periodically reducing the lifespan by a calculated number of terms in an event the average of the readings is greater than the predefined average.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising determining the calculated number of terms in accordance with a current lifespan reduced by a single term and further reduced by a number of terms derived from a health index for the average of the readings. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the health index is variable for different geographic locations of the HVAC equipment. 
     
     
         11 . A method of monitoring a humidifier, the method comprising:
 installing a humidifier pad into the humidifier;   installing a water hardness sensor into the humidifier for sensing a hardness of water flown through the humidifier pad as an indicator of a condition of the humidifier pad;   setting a lifespan of the humidifier pad as predefined a number of weeks;   periodically adjusting the lifespan by a single week or by a calculated number of weeks in accordance with readings generated by the water hardness sensor; and   issuing an alert as to an adjustment in the lifespan.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the condition of the humidifier pad is an amount of deposits deposited on the humidifier pad. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising installing a water softener into the humidifier to reduce the hardness of the water. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the periodically adjusting of the lifespan comprises periodically taking readings of the water hardness sensor and periodically calculating an average of the readings. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the periodically adjusting of the lifespan comprises periodically reducing the lifespan by a single week in an event the average of the readings is less than a predefined average, and   the periodically adjusting of the lifespan comprises periodically reducing the lifespan by a calculated number of weeks in an event the average of the readings is greater than the predefined average.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising determining the calculated number of weeks in accordance with a current lifespan reduced by a single week and further reduced by a number of weeks derived from a health index for the average of the readings. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the health index is variable for different geographic locations of the HVAC equipment. 
     
     
         18 . A system for monitoring heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the system comprising:
 a duct through which conditioned air flows;   a humidifier comprising a humidifier pad installed along the duct such that the conditioned air flows through the humidifier pad;   a water supply system coupled to the humidifier to direct water to the humidifier pad whereby the humidifier pad adds moisture to the conditioned air;   a water hardness sensor disposed in a flow of the water to sense a hardness of the water as an indicator of an amount of deposits deposited on the humidifier pad; and   a controller disposed to communicate with the water hardness sensor and configured to set a lifespan of the humidifier pad, to periodically adjust the lifespan in accordance with readings generated by the water hardness sensor and to issue an alert as to an adjustment in the lifespan.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the humidifier further comprises a water softener to reduce the hardness of the water. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the controller periodically adjusts the lifespan by periodically taking readings of the water hardness sensor and periodically calculating an average of the readings, and   a periodic adjustment of the lifespan comprises a periodic reduction of the lifespan by a single term in an event the average of the readings is less than a predefined average and by a calculated number of terms in an event the average of the readings is greater than the predefined average.