Duct positioned wicking evaporative humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11118800-B2
Application number	US-201916570854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2019
Priority date	Sep 13, 2019
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A wicking evaporative humidifier in which cartridge that includes a pad is inserted directly into an air flow through the wall of a duct that distributes conditioned air throughout a structure. A portion of the cartridge may be inserted into a tray filled with water, which may use capillary forces to wick water through the cartridge to the area of the cartridge that is inserted through the duct and within the air flow. Air passing through duct and through and around the cartridge pad evaporates the moisture wicked into the pad and distributes the moisture throughout the structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a cartridge comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein:
the first portion is configured to absorb liquid water and wick the liquid water to the second portion;
the second portion is configured to:
be positioned in an air stream of a forced air heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system such that at least a portion of the air stream passes through the second portion of the cartridge,
received and distribute the liquid water from the first portion by capillary action;
allow the liquid water to evaporate from the second portion and be carried by the air stream away from the cartridge;

a reservoir configured to:
be mechanically attached to an outside surface of a wall of a duct containing the air stream of the HVAC system;
hold a volume of liquid water; and
receive the first portion of the cartridge such that the first portion is maintained in contact with the liquid water.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is partially open to air outside of the duct.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an over flow drain configured to prevent liquid water from flowing into the duct.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet configured to receive liquid water.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a water level sensor configured to output a signal when a level of water in the reservoir drops below a predetermined water level.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the water level sensor is a float valve.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wall of the duct is a first wall and wherein the second portion is configured to be mechanically connected to an inner surface of a second wall of the duct opposite to the first wall.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the mechanical connection to the inner surface of the second wall comprises one or more magnets mechanically attached to the second portion.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the second portion is further configured to be positioned above the first portion, relative to gravity.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the cartridge is configured to fit in a slot in a duct containing the air stream of the HVAC system, wherein:
the slot is arranged at a position in the HVAC duct in which the air stream is conveyed in a substantially vertical direction, and
the slot is arranged such that a horizontal dimension of the slot is larger than a vertical dimension of the slot.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to occupy a first volume when installed at the position in the HVAC duct and configured to be folded up when in storage and transport into a package occupying a second volume less than one-third the of the first volume.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further comprises:
a first layer configured to facilitate liquid water flow parallel to a long dimension of the first layer and perpendicular to a short dimension of the first layer;
a second layer configured to provide structural support to pad;
a third layer configured to bond the first layer to the second layer.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the second layer is downstream of the first layer, relative to the air stream.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises one or more fingers and one or more spaces between each of the one or more fingers, wherein air stream through the one or more spaces between the fingers is not in contact with liquid water present in the one or more fingers.

15. A system comprising:
a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) duct configured to convey air to an inside space of a structure;
wherein the HVAC duct is arranged between an output of a circulation blower and a register configured to deliver an air stream from the circulation blower to the inside space of the structure,
wherein the HVAC duct comprises a slot, wherein
the slot is arranged at a position in the HVAC duct in which the air stream is conveyed in a substantially vertical direction, and
the slot is arranged such that a horizontal dimension of the slot is larger than a vertical dimension of the slot;

a liquid reservoir attached to the HVAC duct parallel to the horizontal dimension of the slot; and
a pad inserted into the slot, such that a first portion of the pad extends across an interior cross-section of the HVAC duct and wherein:
at least a portion of the air stream from the circulation blower passes through the first portion of the pad, and
a second portion of the pad is inserted into the liquid reservoir such that the second portion of the pad is configured to wick a liquid from the liquid reservoir to the first portion of the pad.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
control electronics;
a sensor, operatively coupled to the control electronics, wherein the sensor is configured to determine one or more environmental conditions of the inside space;
a water control valve operatively coupled to the control electronics; and
a water level sensor operatively coupled to the control electronics and configured to determine the water level in the liquid reservoir;
wherein the control electronics is configured to:
in response to determining that a humidity level of the inside space should be increased, based on a signal from the sensor, activate the water control valve to cause liquid water to enter the liquid reservoir; and
deactivate the water control valve to prevent water from entering the liquid reservoir in response to determining that either:
the humidity level of the inside space should not be increased, or
the water level in the liquid reservoir exceeds a water level threshold.

17. The system of claim 15 ,
wherein the HVAC duct comprises a first wall and a second wall,
wherein the slot is on the first wall, and
wherein the second portion is configured to be mechanically connected to an inner surface of the second wall of the duct opposite to the first wall.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the reservoir is open to air outside of the duct.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to occupy a first volume when installed at the position in the HVAC duct and configured to be folded up when in storage and transport into a package occupying a second volume less than one-third the of the first volume.

Assignees

• Ademco Inc

Inventors

• Mcardle Ryan

Classifications

• B01F23/215

  by forcing the gas through absorbent pads containing the liquid · CPC title

• F24F6/043 Primary

  with self-sucking action, e.g. wicks · CPC title

• F24F3/14 Primary

  by humidification; by dehumidification · CPC title

• F24F2006/008

  Air-humidifier with water reservoir · CPC title

• B01F3/04085

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic