Systems and methods for dehumidification and air conditioning

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods having air conditioning capabilities to selectively heat, cool, and/or dehumidify the air inside (or being delivered to) an enclosed space. In some embodiments, the disclosed systems are dynamic and responsive to, at least, (i) user provided settings and/or controls, and (ii) measurements of the enclosed space, where the measurements include one or more of a temperature and a humidity level for the enclosed space. In some embodiments, the disclosed systems include an outdoor unit in fluid communication with an indoor unit, the indoor unit including a gas furnace, and the outdoor unit and the indoor unit both in electrical communication with a control module. The control module is configured to automatically select an operational mode for the system based on signals received regarding a temperature and/or humidity level for the enclosed space.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system to dehumidify and alternately heat or cool a first space, the system comprising:
 an outdoor unit comprising an outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger comprising an outdoor coil and a fan;   an indoor unit comprising a gas furnace comprising a heat exchanger, the indoor unit further comprising an indoor evaporator coil, the indoor evaporator coil located prior to the heat exchanger of the gas furnace, such that air flowing into the indoor unit passes indoor evaporator coil before flowing to the heat exchanger of the gas furnace; and   a control module in electrical communication with the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the control module selectively controlling one or more operational modes of the system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the indoor evaporator coil is in serial air flow communication between the outdoor unit and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a thermostat and a humidistat, each in electrical communication with the control module. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operational modes of the system comprise a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a dehumidification mode. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control module activates the gas furnace in a heating mode of the system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module activates the indoor evaporator coil in a dehumidification mode. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface in electrical communication with the control module, the user interface allowing a user to select a desired temperature and/or humidity for the first space. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the control module controls the one or more operational modes of the system in response to the user selected desired temperature and/or humidity. 
     
     
         9 . A method to dehumidify and alternately heat or cool a first space, the method comprising:
 achieving a temperature for the first space using a split gas system; and   achieving a humidity level for the first space without changing the temperature for the first space.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 monitoring the humidity level for the first space; and 
 monitoring the temperature for the first space. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a humidistat monitors the humidity level for the first space and a thermostat monitors the temperature for the first space, the humidistat and the thermostat being in electrical communication with a control module via low-voltage wiring. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein achieving the temperature for the first space comprises activating a gas furnace of the split gas system to burn natural gas, the gas furnace comprising a heat exchanger, wherein the gas furnace is activated by a control module. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein achieving the humidity level for the first space comprises activating an indoor evaporator coil and activating a gas furnace of the gas split system to burn natural gas. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a control module activates the indoor evaporator coil and the gas furnace. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the method further comprising:
 receiving, by a control module, a measured temperature value for the first space to the control module; and   receiving, by a control module, a measured humidity level for the first space to the control module.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature ranges from approximately 65° F. to 85° F., such as 68° F., 70° F., 75° F., 79° F., 80° F., 83° F., or a temperature falling within a range defined by any two of the foregoing values. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the humidity level ranges from approximately 60% to 85%, such as 63%, 65%, 68%, 70%, 75%, 77%, 80%, 83%, or a humidity level within a range defined by any two of the foregoing values. 
     
     
         18 . A control module to dehumidify and alternately heat or cool a first space, the control module comprising:
 a first microprocessor for electrical communication with a thermostat and/or a humidistat;   the control module for connection via low voltage wiring to an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, the indoor unit comprising a gas furnace; and   a second microprocessor for electrical communication with the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, and/or the first microprocessor,   the second microprocessor configured to alter an operational mode of the indoor unit and/or the outdoor unit in response to at least one signal received from the first microprocessor,   the at least one signal providing information about a temperature and/or a humidity level for the first space.   
     
     
         19 . The control module of  claim 18 , wherein the operational mode of the indoor unit and/or the outdoor unit comprises a heating mode, a cooling mode, and/or a dehumidification mode. 
     
     
         20 . The control module of  claim 18 , the control module for connection via low voltage wiring to an indoor evaporator coil of the indoor unit.