Humidifier for a fan coil

Abstract

A humidifier for a fan coil wherein the fan coil having an air flow path extending from a return air inlet port to a treated air outlet port with a heat exchange unit positioned in the air flow path, the heat exchange unit in thermal communication with a heat source. The humidifier has an upstream temperature sensor provided in the air flow path upstream of the heat exchanger, a downstream temperature sensor provided in the air flow path downstream of the heat exchanger, a humidification unit in flow communication with the air flow path whereby, when the humidification unit is actuated, water is provided to air in the air flow path and, a controller operably connected to the humidification unit, wherein in operation the controller receives an upstream signal from the upstream temperature sensor and a downstream signal from the downstream temperature sensor, and upon the controller determining that the fan coil is in a heating mode based on the upstream and downstream signals the controller activates the humidification unit.

1 . A humidifier for a fan coil, the fan coil having an air flow path extending from a return air inlet port to a treated air outlet port with a heat exchange unit positioned in the air flow path, the heat exchange unit in thermal communication with a heat source, the humidifier comprising:
 a) an upstream temperature sensor provided in the air flow path upstream of the heat exchanger;   b) a downstream temperature sensor provided in the air flow path downstream of the heat exchanger;   c) a humidification unit in flow communication with the air flow path whereby, when the humidification unit is actuated, water is provided to air in the air flow path; and,   d) a controller operably connected to the humidification unit, wherein in operation the controller receives an upstream signal from the upstream temperature sensor and a downstream signal from the downstream temperature sensor, and upon the controller determining that the fan coil is in a heating mode based on the upstream and downstream signals the controller activates the humidification unit.   
     
     
         2 . The humidifier of  claim 1  further comprising a humidity sensor in the air flow path, the humidity sensor providing a humidity signal to the controller whereby the controller activates the humidification unit when the fan coil is in the heating mode and when a humidity level in the air flow path is below a predetermined humidity level. 
     
     
         3 . The humidifier of  claim 2 , wherein the humidity sensor is positioned in the air flow path downstream of the heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         4 . The humidifier of  claim 3 , wherein the controller deactivates the humidification unit when the humidity level in the air flow path is above the predetermined humidity level. 
     
     
         5 . The humidifier of  claim 2 , wherein the controller deactivates the humidification unit when the humidity level in the air flow path is above the predetermined humidity level. 
     
     
         6 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the controller deactivates the humidification unit when the fan coil is not in the heating mode. 
     
     
         7 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the humidification unit includes a boiler and the humidifier includes a water level sensor which provides a water level signal to the controller when a water level in the boiler is below a predetermined water level whereupon the controller deactivates the boiler. 
     
     
         8 . The humidifier of  claim 7 , wherein the humidification unit comprises at least one inlet valve for controlling ingress of water into the boiler, the controller is operably connected to the inlet valve, wherein the controller actuates the inlet valve to admit water to the boiler when the water level in the boiler is below the predetermined water level. 
     
     
         9 . The humidifier of  claim 7  further comprising a tube that is fluidly connected with the boiler and positioned so that the tube has the water level substantially equal to the water level in the boiler, wherein the water level sensor measures the water level in the tube. 
     
     
         10 . The humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein the water level sensor comprises an optical sensor, wherein the water level sensor measures the water level in the boiler based on an optical transmittance of the tube. 
     
     
         11 . The humidifier of  claim 7 , wherein the water level sensor provides the water level signal to the controller when the water level in the boiler is above the predetermined water level whereupon the controller deactivates the boiler. 
     
     
         12 . The humidifier of  claim 11 , wherein the humidification unit comprises at least one outlet valve for controlling the egress of water from the boiler, the controller is operably connected to the outlet valve, wherein the controller actuates the outlet valve to drain the boiler when the water level in the boiler is above the predetermined water level. 
     
     
         13 . The humidifier of  claim 8  further comprising a tube that is fluidly connected with the boiler and positioned so that the tube has the water level substantially equal to the water level in the boiler, wherein the water level sensor measures the water level in the tube. 
     
     
         14 . The humidifier of  claim 9 , wherein the water level sensor comprises an optical sensor, wherein the water level sensor measures the water level in the boiler based on an optical transmittance of the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein the water level sensor provides the water level signal to the controller when the water level in the boiler is above the predetermined water level whereupon the controller deactivates the boiler. 
     
     
         16 . The humidifier of  claim 15 , wherein the humidification unit comprises at least one outlet valve for controlling the egress of water from the boiler, the controller is operably connected to the outlet valve, wherein the controller actuates the outlet valve to drain the boiler when the water level in the boiler is above the predetermined water level. 
     
     
         17 . The humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the humidification unit comprises at least one outlet valve for controlling the egress of water from the boiler, the controller is operably connected to the outlet valve, wherein the controller actuates the outlet valve to drain the boiler when the water level in the boiler is above the predetermined water level.