JP2023103877A - Humidity regulation system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a humidity regulation system capable of reducing energy consumption to properly maintain air environments in a room.SOLUTION: A humidity regulation system 100 regulates air humidity in a space (a cultivation space 11) of a controlled room (a cultivation room 10). The humidity regulation system 100 includes a total heat exchanger 30. The total heat exchanger 30 allows permeation of moisture between a primary side flow passage 31 and a secondary side flow passage 32 according to a humidity gradient. The primary side flow passage 31 is constructed so that air in the cultivation room 10 can flow therein. The secondary side flow passage 32 is constructed so that external air can flow therein from an external space outside the controlled room and air including exhaust heat recovered from an external heat source (an outdoor unit 15b) can flow therein.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to humidity control systems.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a dehumidifying device that dehumidifies indoor air by providing a heat exchange element that circulates indoor air and outdoor air to exchange heat. In addition, the heat exchange element includes a heat transfer plate having a moisture permeable layer having a moisture permeable membrane selectively permeating only water vapor, and a heat insulating layer having a gap, and a spacing plate is provided to divide the heat transfer plates. It is configured by providing and stacking.

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for preventing dew condensation in a room with less energy in a dehumidifier. This dehumidifier includes a heat exchanger that thermally contacts the indoor air of the facility to be dehumidified with the outdoor air outside the facility, and the indoor air is cooled to the dew point temperature by the outdoor air in the heat exchanger.

JP 2012-30192 A JP 2016-97368 A

By the way, when trying to cultivate plants such as vegetables efficiently, a cultivation apparatus is used to adjust the air environment in the cultivation room, that is, the indoor temperature, the indoor humidity, the carbon dioxide concentration in the indoor air, etc., to the growth of the plant. It should be kept in good condition.

In order to appropriately maintain the air environment in the cultivation room, it is conceivable to install a dehumidifier such as that shown in Patent Document 1 in the cultivation room to maintain the humidity in the cultivation room within an appropriate range. However, in the dehumidifier of Patent Document 1, the moisture-permeable membrane allows only moisture (water vapor) to pass therethrough and prevents the transfer of heat. Therefore, when adjusting not only the humidity but also the temperature in the cultivation room, it is essential to install an air conditioner such as an air conditioner in addition to the dehumidifier.

On the other hand, when the dehumidifier of Patent Document 2 is used, the heat exchanger is cooled while releasing the heat of the indoor air to the outside air, and the water vapor in the indoor air is converted into liquid water and discharged. Therefore, during the dehumidifying operation, the heat of the indoor air flows out to the outside even when the heat in the room is not desired to be discharged to the outside, resulting in energy loss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a humidity control system capable of reducing energy consumption for properly maintaining an indoor air environment.

In order to achieve the above objects, the humidity control system according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (12).
(1) A humidity adjustment system that adjusts the air humidity in a space within a controlled room,
A function of having a primary side air flow path and a secondary side air flow path that are isolated from each other and allowing passage of moisture according to a humidity gradient between the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path. a total heat exchanger having
The primary side air flow path is configured to allow air in the controlled room to flow in,
The secondary air flow path is configured to allow outside air to flow in from an external space outside the control target room and to allow air containing heat recovered from an external heat source to flow in.
Humidity control system.
(2) a first connection path that connects the primary-side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the space in the controlled room in a state in which air can flow;
a second connection path that connects the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger and an external space outside the controlled room in a state in which outside air can flow;
a third connection path capable of supplying air containing heat recovered from an external heat source to the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger;
The humidity control system according to (1) above.

(3) The ratio of the air introduced from the second connection path and the air introduced from the third connection path in the air flowing through the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger can be adjusted. comprising an adjustment unit,
The humidity control system according to (2) above.

(4) the control target room is a cultivation room for cultivating plants;
The total heat exchanger dehumidifies the air in the cultivation chamber by moving moisture in a direction from the primary air flow path toward the secondary air flow path.
The humidity control system according to any one of (1) to (3) above.

(5) the control target room is a cultivation room for cultivating plants;
The third connection path collects air containing exhaust heat generated from a device that adjusts the environment in the cultivation chamber to an environment suitable for plant cultivation, or air containing exhaust heat generated from the surrounding environment of the cultivation chamber.
The humidity control system according to (2) above.

(6) the first connection path includes a bypass path arranged in parallel with the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger;
A bypass flow rate adjusting unit that varies the ratio between the flow rate of air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the flow rate of air flowing through the bypass path,
The humidity control system according to any one of (2), (3), and (5) above.

(7) an indoor flow rate adjusting unit that controls the overall air flow rate circulating through the controlled room according to a target value;
The bypass flow rate adjusting section adjusts the ratio of the flow rate of the air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass path according to the control state of the indoor flow rate adjusting section. adjust,
The humidity control system according to (6) above.

(8) A total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit that interlocks and adjusts the flow rate of air flowing through the secondary side air flow path and the flow rate of air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger,
The humidity control system according to (7) above.

(9) The adjusting unit suppresses the amount of outside air introduced from the second connection path among the air flowing through the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger, and introduces from the third connection path adjusting the ratio to increase the amount of air to
The humidity control system according to (3) above.

(10) The adjustment unit suppresses the amount of air introduced from the third connection path among the air flowing through the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger, and introduces from the second connection path adjusting the ratio to increase the amount of outside air flowing through
The humidity control system according to (3) above.

(11) The total heat exchanger includes a moisture permeable membrane having a function of permeating moisture in a portion separating the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path.
The humidity control system according to any one of (1) to (10) above.

(12) A cultivation room for cultivating plants is provided as the controlled room,
The humidity control system according to any one of (1) to (11) above.

According to the humidity control system having the configurations of (1) and (2) above, since moisture can pass from the primary side air flow path toward the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger according to the humidity gradient, the control It is possible to reduce the humidity of the indoor air in the target room. In addition, since heat also moves through the total heat exchanger, for example, when the temperature difference between the primary side air flow path side and the secondary side air flow path side of the total heat exchanger becomes large, such as in winter, the above The temperature of indoor air in the controlled room may drop more than necessary. However, by supplying the air containing the heat to the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger, the temperature difference between the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger can be reduced. can do. As a result, in a situation in which indoor heat is not desired to be discharged to the outside, heat transfer from the total heat exchanger to the outside can be suppressed, and energy loss can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the energy consumption required for adjusting the indoor air temperature of the controlled room. Further, according to the humidity adjustment system having the configuration of (2) above, the air in the controlled room can be circulated through the primary side air flow path via the first connection path, and the second connection path and the third connection path Outside air and heat-laden air can be supplied to the secondary air flow path via the .

According to the humidity adjustment system having the configuration of (3) above, the adjustment unit includes the air introduced from the second connection path (outside air) and the air introduced from the third connection path (air containing heat). By adjusting the ratio of , the heat balance in the indoor space can be controlled, and the energy loss can be reduced. For example, in a situation where indoor heat is not desired to be discharged to the outside, heat transfer to the outside from the total enthalpy heat exchanger can be suppressed by increasing the ratio of the air introduced from the third connection path. In addition, when the outside air temperature is low and it is desired to discharge the indoor heat to the outside, the indoor heat can be efficiently discharged by introducing the cold outside air as it is for heat exchange.

According to the humidity control system having the configuration of (4) above, even when the outside air temperature fluctuates greatly due to, for example, seasonal fluctuations, energy consumption is suppressed and the cultivation chamber is kept suitable for plant cultivation. It becomes easier to maintain in an air environment. That is, the moisture generated by transpiration from the plants can be discharged to the outside by the dehumidification function of the total heat exchanger without consuming special energy, and the energy consumption associated with temperature control in the cultivation chamber can also be reduced. can.

According to the humidity control system having the configuration (5) above, it is possible to effectively utilize exhaust heat from equipment used for plant cultivation or exhaust heat from another facility outside the cultivation room. When using waste heat from equipment used for plant cultivation, there is no need to connect piping to the outside to utilize waste heat from another facility, making it easier to downsize the cultivation equipment. Costs can also be reduced.

According to the humidity control system having the above configuration (6), the flow rate of the air circulating in the controlled room can be stabilized, so that an environment suitable for plant cultivation, for example, can be easily maintained. That is, in order to obtain desired dehumidification performance in the total heat exchanger, the flow rates of the air flowing through the primary side air flow path and the secondary side flow path of the total heat exchanger must be adjusted. However, when the flow rate of the air flowing through the primary air flow path of the total heat exchanger changes, the flow rate of the air circulating inside the control target room also changes. As a result, the indoor air environment tends to be uneven. In addition, especially when cultivating plants, the air around the leaves of plants is affected by changes in the flow rate of indoor air. There is concern that it will lead to a decline in However, the bypass flow rate adjusting unit changes the ratio between the flow rate of the air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass path, whereby the indoor air flow rate of the control target room It is possible to adjust the dehumidification performance without changing the flow rate of the air that circulates.

According to the humidity control system having the configuration (7) above, it becomes easy to maintain the flow rate of the entire air circulating through the controlled room at a target value by controlling the indoor flow rate adjusting section. Further, the bypass flow rate adjustment unit adjusts the ratio of the flow rate of the air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass path, thereby circulating in the controlled room. Desired dehumidification performance can be adjusted without affecting the air flow rate.

According to the humidity adjustment system having the configuration of (8) above, the differential pressure between the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger is reduced to 0 by the adjustment function of the total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit. becomes easier to approach. Thereby, the gas barrier property in the total heat exchanger can be maintained. In other words, it is possible to avoid carbon dioxide in the air in the controlled room from leaking out to the secondary side through the total heat exchanger.

According to the humidity adjustment system having the configuration of (9) above, the adjustment unit adjusts the amount of outside air introduced from the second connection path out of the air flowing through the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger. The ratio is adjusted so as to suppress and increase the amount of air introduced from the third connection path. This adjustment reduces the temperature difference between the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger, thereby reducing the amount of heat released from the total heat exchanger to the outside air. Therefore, in a situation where it is necessary to stop heat release from the controlled room, for example, when the outside air temperature is too low, the heat transfer from the total heat exchanger to the outside is suppressed, and the energy loss is reduced while the control is performed. It becomes easier to stabilize the temperature in the target room.

According to the humidity adjustment system having the configuration of (10) above, the adjustment unit adjusts the components of the air introduced from the third connection path out of the air flowing through the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger. The proportion is adjusted so as to suppress and increase the proportion of the outside air component introduced from the second connection path. This adjustment increases the temperature difference between the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger, and this thermal gradient increases the amount of heat released from the total heat exchanger to the outside air. Therefore, in a situation where it is necessary to release heat from the controlled room, for example, when the temperature in the controlled room is too high, the heat in the room is efficiently discharged to the outside to lower the temperature in the controlled room. becomes easier.

According to the humidity control system having the configuration (11) above, by providing the moisture-permeable membrane in the total heat exchanger, the dehumidification function and the heat dissipation function can be realized without supplying a large amount of electric energy from the outside. . Therefore, when cultivating plants in the controlled room, the cost of energy required for maintaining the air environment necessary for cultivating can be reduced.

According to the humidity control system having the configuration (12), it is possible to realize a cultivation apparatus that can easily maintain an air environment suitable for plant cultivation in the cultivation chamber while suppressing energy consumption.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the humidity control system which can reduce the energy consumption for maintaining indoor air environment appropriately can be provided.

The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the best mode for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts of a humidity control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a heat exchange element. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing part of the heat exchange element shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation example of circulation air volume control in the humidity adjustment system. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of total heat exchange air volume control in the humidity adjustment system. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example of exhaust heat utilization control in the humidity adjustment system.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to each drawing.
<Configuration of main parts of the system>
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the main part of a humidity control system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As an example, the humidity control system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is configured for the purpose of being used for adjusting the air conditioning, particularly humidity and temperature, of the cultivation space 11 inside the cultivation room 10 provided in the cultivation apparatus. . The humidity adjustment system 100 is connected to the cultivation room 10 and adjusts the air humidity of the cultivation space 11 blocked from the outside air, that is, the space inside the cultivation room 10 . Of course, it is also possible to use the humidity control system 100 to control the air conditioning of spaces other than the cultivation room 10 .

The cultivation chamber 10 for cultivating plants has, for example, a box shape, and the walls, ceiling, and floor are made of a heat insulating material such as resin or a light-shielding material so as to isolate the internal cultivation space 11 from the outside air. have a face. That is, the cultivation room 10 has therein a cultivation space 11 that is an airtight space isolated from the outside air. By cultivating plants such as vegetables in the cultivation space 11 that is shut off from the outside air, it is possible to stably cultivate the plants in a state that is less susceptible to the outside air. In addition, by using the cultivation chamber 10, it becomes easy to avoid invasion of pests, bacteria, and the like that adversely affect plant growth.

When cultivating plants in the cultivation space 11, it is necessary to maintain the humidity, temperature, oxygen concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, etc. of the indoor air in a state suitable for growing the plants. In addition, although light is necessary for photosynthesis of plants, when light from the outside does not enter the cultivation space 11 or is insufficient, the interior of the cultivation space 11 is illuminated by a lighting device using an LED light source, for example. to irradiate the plants with light. Furthermore, if the leaves of the plant are not always exposed to an appropriate amount of wind, the absorption of carbon dioxide and the opening and closing of stomata may be adversely affected, resulting in a decrease in the photosynthetic rate. Therefore, it is necessary to circulate air within the cultivation space 11 . Moreover, in order to avoid uneven growth conditions of the plants in different locations in the room, it is necessary to manage the air circulation condition in the cultivation space 11 so as not to cause unevenness.

In addition, when plants are grown, transpiration occurs from the leaves of the plants, so if air conditioning is not performed, water vapor increases in the cultivation space 11 isolated from the outside air, and the relative humidity eventually rises to 100%. It becomes unsuitable for plant growth. Therefore, it is necessary to dehumidify the cultivation space 11 .

In addition, in the cultivation apparatus, the temperature in the cultivation space 11 rises due to heat generated by the operation of a light source that generates light necessary for photosynthesis of plants, a device for circulating and managing the nutrient solution, and the like. can become unsuitable for the growth of Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the temperature in the cultivation space 11 such that the cooling operation is required even in winter when the outside air temperature is low.

Inside the cultivation room 10 shown in FIG. 1, a fan 14 and an indoor unit 15a of an air conditioner 15 are installed. The outdoor unit 15b of the air conditioner 15 is installed outside the cultivation room 10 and connected to the indoor unit 15a through a plurality of pipes 15c. The air conditioner 15 can be used to adjust the temperature of the air inside the cultivation space 11 . Although the air conditioner 15 mainly performs cooling operation, it may also have a heating function.

The blower 14 can form a wind flow so that the air circulates through the cultivation space 11 by rotating a fan arranged at a predetermined portion in the cultivation space 11 . By uniformly circulating the air in the cultivation space 11, it is possible to suppress unevenness in temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, and the like in the air. In particular, by forming a uniform air flow near the leaves of each plant, the absorption of carbon dioxide and the opening and closing of stomata are maintained in a state that promotes photosynthesis, creating an air environment suitable for plant growth. can.

The blower 14 is preferably positioned near the air inlet 13, i.e. at the position indicated by reference numeral 16 in FIG. The rotation of the fan arranged near the air inlet 13 can increase the air flow in the direction discharged into the cultivation space 11 from the air inlet 13, so that the pressure inside the cultivation space 11 is positive compared to the outside air. can be By maintaining the inside of the cultivation space 11 at a positive pressure, it is possible to prevent pests, bacteria, and the like, which adversely affect the growth of plants, from entering the cultivation space 11 through gaps from the outside air side.

On the other hand, the air circulation pipes 21, 22, and 23 connected to the outside of the cultivation space 11, the total heat exchanger 30, and the like form another air passage for air conditioning.

The air circulation pipe 21 has one end connected to the air outlet 12 of the cultivation chamber 10 and the other end connected to air volume control valves 25 and 26 . The air circulation pipe 22 has one end connected to the air circulation pipe 21 via the air volume control valve 25 and the other end connected to the air inlet of the primary side flow path 31 of the total heat exchanger 30 .

The air circulation pipe 23 has one end connected to the air inlet 13 of the cultivation chamber 10 and the other end connected to the air outlet of the primary side flow path 31 of the total heat exchanger 30 . The pipes of the bypass route 24 are arranged so as to connect the air circulation pipes 21 and 23 via the air volume control valve 26 .

The bypass route 24 forms another flow path parallel to the primary flow path 31 of the total heat exchanger 30 . A blower 33 is installed near the outlet of the primary side flow path 31 of the total heat exchanger 30 . The blower 33 can form an air flow in the direction from the inlet to the outlet of the primary flow path 31 by rotating the fan.

Therefore, the air in the cultivation space 11 is introduced from the air outlet 12 into the air circulation pipe 21, the air circulation pipe 21, the air volume adjustment valve 25, the air circulation pipe 22, the primary side flow path 31, the blower 33, and the air circulation pipe 21. The air passes through the air circulation pipe 23 in order, and circulates back from the air inlet 13 to the cultivation space 11. - 特許庁That is, the air in the cultivation space 11, which is an example of the air in the room to be controlled, can flow into the primary-side flow path 31 via the air circulation pipe 21 and the air circulation pipe 22, and the air circulation pipe 23 It is configured to be able to flow out through. In addition, the air in the cultivation space 11 may flow into and out of the primary flow path 31 without passing through a pipe.

Further, by opening the air volume adjustment valve 26, an air passage is formed so that at least part of the circulating air passes through the bypass passage 24 without passing through the primary side passage 31 of the total heat exchanger 30. can also

The total heat exchanger 30 includes a primary side flow path 31 and a secondary side flow path 32 which have gas barrier properties and are separated from each other. This total heat exchanger 30 incorporates a heat exchange element having a function of exchanging latent heat and sensible heat between the primary side flow path 31 and the secondary side flow path 32 . This heat exchange element has a function of allowing moisture to permeate the portion separating the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path, that is, the boundary between the primary side flow path 31 and the secondary side flow path 32. Equipped with a moisture permeable membrane. That is, although the air passing through the primary side flow path 31 and the air passing through the secondary side flow path 32 do not directly contact each other, water vapor in the air passes through the primary side flow path 31 via the moisture permeable membrane. , and the secondary flow path 32 according to the humidity gradient, the latent heat adjustment function can be realized. In addition, since sensible heat can move between the primary side flow path 31 and the secondary side flow path 32 via the moisture permeable membrane according to the temperature gradient, a sensible heat adjustment function can also be realized.

A secondary side pipe 35 is connected to the inlet side of the secondary side flow path 32 of the total heat exchanger 30 , and a secondary side pipe 40 is connected to the outlet side of the secondary side flow path 32 . A blower 34 is installed near the outlet of the secondary flow path 32 . The blower 34 can form an air flow from the inlet side to the outlet side of the secondary flow path 32 by rotating the fan. The exit side of the secondary pipe 40 is open so that the air can be released to the outside.

Air volume control valves 36 and 38 are connected to the air introduction side end of the secondary pipe 35 . The air volume adjustment valve 36 can adjust the amount of air flowing into the secondary side pipe 35 from the pipe of the outside air introduction part 37 . One end of the outside air introduction part 37 communicates with the outside air so as to introduce the outside air. That is, the secondary flow path 32 allows outside air to flow in from the external space outside the cultivation room 10 via the piping of the outside air introduction part 37 and the secondary piping 35, and to flow out via the secondary piping 40. configured as possible. In addition, the secondary side flow path 32 may be configured so that outside air can flow in and out from an external space outside the cultivation room 10 without passing through a pipe.

The exhaust heat recovery pipe 39 has a pipe inlet side 39a connected to the outdoor unit 15b, and a pipe outlet side 39b connected to the air introduction side of the air volume control valve 38. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the exhaust heat generated by the outdoor unit 15b due to the operation of the air conditioner 15 can be recovered at the piping inlet side 39a and guided to the air introduction side of the air volume control valve 38 via the exhaust heat recovery piping 39. In other words, the air heated by the exhaust heat of the air conditioner 15 and having a higher temperature than the outside air can be supplied to the air volume control valve 38, and by opening the air volume control valve 38, the air is supplied to the secondary side stream of the total heat exchanger 30. 32 can be supplied. That is, the secondary flow path 32 is configured such that air containing heat recovered from the outdoor unit 15b, which is an example of an external heat source, can flow through the exhaust heat recovery pipe 39 and the secondary pipe 35 . It should be noted that the secondary flow path 32 may be configured so that air containing heat recovered from an external heat source can flow into the secondary flow path 32 without passing through piping.

Therefore, if the opening ratio of the air volume adjustment valves 36 and 38 is adjusted, the external air introduced from the air volume adjustment valve 36 to the secondary pipe 35 and the air introduced from the air volume adjustment valve 38 to the secondary pipe 35 can be made variable. In other words, the temperature of the air introduced from the secondary side pipe 35 to the secondary side passage 32 of the total heat exchanger 30 can be adjusted by adjusting the ratio of opening degrees of the air volume control valves 36 and 38 .

In the total heat exchanger 30, sensible heat moves according to the temperature gradient between the primary side flow path 31 and the secondary side flow path 32, so the temperature change of the air flowing through the secondary side flow path 32 causes the sensible heat transfer. Affects amount and movement speed. Therefore, by adjusting the distribution of two types of air flowing into the secondary side pipe 35 by adjusting the opening degrees of the air volume adjustment valves 36 and 38, the amount of sensible heat exchanged by the total heat exchanger 30 and the amount of transfer You can control the speed.

The humidity control system 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a controller 50 for controlling the entire system. The control device 50 can be configured by combining, for example, a control unit such as a personal computer, various sensors, switches, actuators, software for control, and the like.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the control device 50 includes an indoor temperature/humidity detection unit 51, a circulation air volume detection unit 52, a circulation air volume adjustment unit 53, a bypass flow rate ratio adjustment unit 54, a total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit 55, an outside temperature/humidity A detection unit 56 and a secondary flow rate ratio adjustment unit 57 are provided.

The indoor temperature/humidity detection unit 51 includes, for example, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor installed at a predetermined portion within the cultivation space 11 . The control device 50 performs air conditioning control of the humidity adjustment system 100 based on the temperature and humidity in the cultivation space 11 detected by the indoor temperature and humidity detection unit 51, and maintains an air environment with a temperature and humidity suitable for plant cultivation. can be done.

For example, when the temperature in the cultivation space 11 exceeds the target range, the temperature can be lowered by operating the air conditioner 15 for cooling. In addition, by passing the air circulating in the cultivation space 11 through the total heat exchanger 30, for example, dehumidification and heat can be discharged, so the humidity and temperature in the cultivation space 11 can be maintained within the respective target ranges. become. Of course, the total heat exchanger 30 can also humidify and heat the air passing through the primary side flow path 31 when the air circulating in the cultivation space 11 has a lower temperature and lower humidity than the outside air.

The circulation air volume detection unit 52 can detect the air volume or wind speed of the air circulating in the cultivation space 11 using an air volume sensor installed in the air circulation pipe 21, for example.
The circulation air volume adjustment unit 53 adjusts, for example, the fan of the blower 14 based on the air volume or wind speed detected by the circulation air volume detection unit 52 so that the air volume or wind speed of the air circulating in the cultivation space 11 is maintained within a target range. The rotation speed of can be adjusted.

The bypass flow ratio adjustment unit 54 adjusts the air volume adjustment valve 25 based on the air volume or wind speed detected by the circulation air volume detection unit 52 so that the air volume or wind speed of the air circulating in the cultivation space 11 is maintained within a target range. and 26 are adjusted respectively. That is, the bypass flow rate ratio adjuster 54 adjusts the ratio between the flow rate of air passing through the air circulation pipe 22 and the flow rate of air passing through the bypass path 24 . Thereby, even when the flow rate of the air passing through the air circulation pipe 22 fluctuates, the air volume or wind speed of the air circulating in the cultivation space 11 can be kept constant.

The outside air temperature/humidity detection unit 56 includes sensors that detect the temperature and humidity of the outside air, that is, the air outside the cultivation room 10 to be controlled.

The total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit 55 controls the fans 33 and 34 by reflecting the indoor humidity Hin and the outdoor air humidity Hout so that the humidity adjustment function required in the total heat exchanger 30 can be realized. The flow rate of the air flowing through the channel 31 and the air flowing through the secondary side channel 32 is adjusted. As an example, the total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit 55 first adjusts the flow rate of air flowing through the primary flow path 31 by controlling the blower 33, reflecting the indoor humidity Hin and the outdoor air humidity Hout. Next, the total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit 55 controls the blower 34 so that the differential pressure between the air pressure in the primary side flow path 31 and the air pressure in the secondary side flow path 32 approaches 0, Adjust the flow rate of air flowing through passage 32 .

By maintaining a state in which the differential pressure between the air pressure in the primary side passage 31 and the air pressure in the secondary side passage 32 in the total heat exchanger 30 is close to 0, the gas barrier property of the moisture permeable film between them is maintained. As a result, gas such as carbon dioxide can be prevented from leaking out of the total heat exchanger 30 .

The secondary flow rate ratio adjustment unit 57 adjusts the opening degrees of the air volume adjustment valves 36 and 38 based on the indoor temperature Tin, the outside air temperature Tout, etc., and the air is introduced from the outside air introduction unit 37 to the secondary side pipe 35. The flow rate ratio between air and air introduced from the exhaust heat recovery pipe 39 to the secondary pipe 35 is adjusted. For example, when the outside air temperature Tout is too low, by reducing the ratio of the outside air and increasing the ratio of the air introduced from the exhaust heat recovery pipe 39, the transfer of sensible heat in the total heat exchanger 30 is suppressed, and the thermal energy is can reduce the loss of

<Configuration example of heat exchange element>
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the heat exchange element 70 incorporated in the total heat exchanger 30. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of a portion of the heat exchange element 70 in a longitudinal section.

This heat exchange element 70 has two types of spacers SPC1 and SPC2 formed in substantially the same shape, and a moisture permeable film 71 arranged therebetween. Each of the spacers SPC1 and SPC2 has a regular shape in which a mountain-shaped portion and a valley-shaped portion are alternately repeated.

As shown in FIG. 2, two types of spacers SPC1 and SPC2 are stacked in the thickness direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) with the planar moisture-permeable membrane 71 sandwiched between the respective boundaries to obtain a cross-sectional shape. can periodically form a large number of isosceles triangular air passages. The shape of each spacer SPC1, SPC2 may be changed as required.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, two types of spacers SPC1 and SPC2 adjacent to each other are arranged so that their directions are substantially perpendicular to each other. can be placed with

That is, the airflow A11 passing through the air passage P1 corresponding to the primary side passage 31 of the total heat exchanger 30 and the airflow A21 passing through the air passage P2 corresponding to the secondary side passage 32 flow in directions different from each other. The heat exchange elements 70 are formed so as to face each other with the moisture permeable film 71 interposed therebetween.

One airflow A11 enters the air passage P1 in the heat exchange element 70 from the port P1I on the inlet side and is discharged from the port P1O on the outlet side. The other airflow A21 enters the air passage P2 in the heat exchange element 70 from the port P2I on the inlet side and is discharged from the port P2O on the outlet side.

By stacking a large number of cells formed by combining two types of spacers SPC1 and SPC2 and moisture permeable membranes 71, airflows A11 and A21 passing through two types of air paths face each other within the heat exchange element 70. can be increased to improve the efficiency of heat exchange.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the airflow path P1 located above the moisture permeable membrane 71, that is, the airflow A11 that entered the primary side flow path 31, and the air path P2 located below the moisture permeable membrane 71, that is, The airflow A21 entering the secondary flow path 32 flows while being isolated by the moisture permeable membrane 71 and facing each other. Here, the moisture-permeable membrane 71 has a function of permeating moisture, that is, water vapor, according to the humidity gradient between the primary-side channel 31 and the secondary-side channel 32 . Also, the moisture permeable membrane 71 has a function of transferring sensible heat according to the temperature gradient between the primary side flow path 31 and the secondary side flow path 32 .

For example, when the humidity in the primary-side channel 31 is high and the humidity in the secondary-side channel 32 is relatively low, moisture permeates the moisture-permeable membrane 71 from the primary-side channel 31 toward the secondary-side channel 32 . to move through In addition, when the temperature of the primary side flow path 31 is high and the temperature of the secondary side flow path 32 is relatively low, sensible heat is transferred from the primary side flow path 31 toward the secondary side flow path 32 to the moisture permeable membrane. Travel through 71. That is, the total heat exchanger 30 having such a heat exchange element 70 can exchange latent heat and sensible heat.

Incidentally, the moisture permeable film 71 has sufficient gas barrier properties as its physical properties. Therefore, gas components such as carbon dioxide and oxygen do not pass through the moisture-permeable membrane 71 as long as the wind pressures of the primary-side passage 31 and the secondary-side passage 32 are approximately the same. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the carbon dioxide in the cultivation space 11 from leaking out of the total heat exchanger 30 .

<Operation of circulation air volume control>
FIG. 4 shows an operation example of circulation air volume control in the humidity adjustment system 100 shown in FIG. For example, in the control device 50 shown in FIG. 1, the circulating air volume detection unit 52, the circulating air volume adjusting unit 53, and the bypass flow ratio adjusting unit 54 perform the circulating air volume control shown in FIG. The operation of FIG. 4 will be described below.

The control device 50 acquires, for example, a predetermined constant from the internal memory or the like, which indicates a range of the circulation air volume target value suitable for the air environment in the cultivation space 11 (S11).
The control device 50 acquires the actual circulating air volume in the cultivation space 11 from the circulating air volume detector 52, for example, based on the value measured on the air circulation pipe 21 (S12).

The control device 50 compares the range of the circulation air volume target value acquired in S11 and the actual circulation air volume acquired in S12 to determine whether adjustment of the circulation air volume is necessary (S13). This comparison result is reflected in the control of the circulating air volume adjustment unit 53 and the bypass flow ratio adjustment unit 54 .

For example, when the actual circulating air volume is insufficient compared to the target value, the circulating air volume adjustment unit 53 increases the rotation speed of the blower 14 to increase the air volume. However, when it is necessary to suppress the amount of air flowing through the primary side passage 31 of the total heat exchanger 30 for proper air conditioning, the amount of air passing through the air circulation pipes 21, 22, and 23 decreases. Therefore, the actual circulating air volume may be insufficient. In such a case, the control device 50 advances from S13 to S14 and adjusts the bypass flow rate ratio by the bypass flow rate adjustment section 54 . That is, the opening degrees of the air volume control valves 25 and 26, or both, are adjusted so that part of the air circulating through the air circulation pipes 21 and 23 bypasses the air circulation pipe 22 and passes through the bypass route 24. properly adjust the opening ratio.

<Operation of total heat exchange air volume control>
FIG. 5 shows an operation example of total heat exchange air volume control in the humidity adjustment system 100 shown in FIG. For example, in the control device 50 shown in FIG. 1, the total heat exchange air volume adjustment section 55 performs the total heat exchange air volume control shown in FIG. The operation of FIG. 5 will be described below.

The control device 50 acquires a value representing a target range of indoor humidity suitable for the air environment in the cultivation space 11, for example, as a predetermined constant from an internal memory or the like (S21).
The control device 50 acquires the information of the current indoor humidity Hin and the outdoor humidity Hout, for example, as the latest values measured by the outdoor air temperature/humidity detector 56 using sensors (S22).

The control device 50 controls the air blower 33 so as to obtain an appropriate dehumidification performance in the total heat exchanger 30, and adjusts the air volume of the primary side passage 31 (S23).

Further, the total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit 55 of the control device 50 controls the blower 34 in order to bring the differential pressure between the primary side passage 31 and the secondary side passage 32 of the total heat exchanger 30 closer to zero. , to adjust the flow rate of the air flowing through the secondary flow path 32 (S24). By making this differential pressure close to 0, it is possible to avoid deterioration of the gas barrier properties of the moisture permeable membrane 71 and prevent carbon dioxide in the cultivation space 11 from leaking from the total heat exchanger 30 to the outside.

For example, when the indoor humidity Hin is higher than the target range, if the outside air humidity Hout is lower than the indoor humidity Hin but relatively high and the difference from the indoor humidity Hin is small, the humidity gradient becomes small, and the total heat exchanger 30 dehumidification performance is reduced. In this case, it is necessary to increase the air volume of the primary side passage 31 and the secondary side passage 32 of the total heat exchanger 30 to enhance the dehumidification performance.

Also, for example, when the outside air humidity Hout is relatively low, the humidity gradient increases and the dehumidification performance of the total heat exchanger 30 increases. may be reduced to adjust for appropriate dehumidification performance. In addition, when dehumidification of the room is unnecessary, the air volume of the primary side passage 31 and the secondary side passage 32 of the total heat exchanger 30 may be reduced to lower the dehumidification performance.

<Operation of Exhaust Heat Utilization Control>
FIG. 6 shows an operation example of exhaust heat utilization control in the humidity adjustment system 100 shown in FIG. For example, in the control device 50 shown in FIG. 1, the secondary side flow rate ratio adjustment section 57 performs the exhaust heat utilization control shown in FIG. The operation of FIG. 6 will be described below.

The secondary flow rate ratio adjustment unit 57 of the control device 50 adjusts the opening degrees of the air volume adjustment valves 36 and 38 to adjust the air containing the exhaust heat from the exhaust heat recovery pipe 39 and the outside air from the outside air introduction unit 37. The mixing ratio in the secondary pipe 35 is adjusted (S31). Thereby, the temperature of the air introduced into the secondary side passage 32 of the total heat exchanger 30 can be adjusted.

In a case where the outside air temperature Tout is lower than the inside temperature Tin, the secondary flow rate ratio adjusting unit 57 identifies in S32 whether or not the temperature difference between the inside temperature Tin and the outside air temperature Tout is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Further, when the temperature difference between the indoor temperature Tin and the outside air temperature Tout is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the secondary side flow rate ratio adjusting unit 57 identifies in S33 whether or not the sensible heat in the cultivation space 11 is not desired to be discharged. do. The situation in which sensible heat in the cultivation space 11 is not desired to be discharged is, for example, when the indoor temperature Tin is within the target range or lower than the target range. It is a situation where you want to discharge the sensible heat in 11.

In a situation in which sensible heat in the cultivation space 11 is not desired to be discharged, the secondary-side flow rate ratio adjustment unit 57 adjusts the ratio of air containing exhaust heat introduced from the exhaust heat recovery pipe 39 to the secondary-side pipe 35. and reduce the ratio of outside air introduced into the secondary pipe 35 (S34). Thereby, the temperature drop of the air introduced into the secondary side passage 32 of the total heat exchanger 30 can be suppressed. That is, the temperature gradient between the primary side flow path 31 and the secondary side flow path 32 can be reduced to suppress the movement of sensible heat within the total heat exchanger 30 .

If it is desired to discharge the sensible heat in the cultivation space 11 (NO in S33), the secondary-side flow rate ratio adjustment unit 57 controls the air containing exhaust heat introduced from the exhaust heat recovery pipe 39 to the secondary-side pipe 35. to increase the ratio of outside air introduced into the secondary pipe 35 (S35). Thereby, the temperature of the air introduced into the secondary side passage 32 of the total heat exchanger 30 can be lowered. That is, the temperature gradient between the primary side flow path 31 and the secondary side flow path 32 can be increased to promote the transfer of sensible heat within the total heat exchanger 30 .

<Possibility of deformation>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The humidity control system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is intended to air-condition the cultivation room 10, but it is also necessary to adjust the humidity and temperature in rooms other than the cultivation room 10, which are similarly isolated from the outside air. The humidity control system 100 can be used for any application.

Humidity adjustment system 100 shown in FIG. However, the external heat source is not limited to the air conditioner 15 . It is also possible to use waste heat from equipment used for plant cultivation other than the air conditioner 15 . For example, when the main body of the light source that generates the light to irradiate the plants is located outside the cultivation space 11 , the waste heat of this light source can be recovered and supplied to the secondary side flow path 32 . It is also possible to use waste heat from equipment or facilities unrelated to plant cultivation used in the cultivation room 10 as an external heat source. Furthermore, it is also possible to use the ambient environment of the cultivation room 10, that is, waste heat from facilities outside the cultivation room 10 as an external heat source.

Although the cultivation space 11 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called "semi-closed space", the humidity adjustment system 100 of the present invention performs air conditioning control for either the "semi-closed space" or the "completely closed space". may Here, "semi-enclosed space" means a space that is isolated from the outside air except for the parts necessary for environmental control, and "completely enclosed space" means a space that is completely isolated from the outside air and closed. means.

<Supplementary explanation>
Here, the features of the embodiments of the humidity control system according to the present invention described above are summarized and listed briefly in [1] to [12] below.
[1] A humidity adjustment system (100) that adjusts the air humidity of a space (cultivation space 11) in a control target room (cultivation room 10),
Having a primary side air flow path (primary side flow path 31) and a secondary side air flow path (secondary side flow path 32) isolated from each other, the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path A total heat exchanger (30) having a function of allowing passage of moisture according to the humidity gradient between
The primary side air flow path is configured to allow air in the controlled room to flow in,
The secondary air flow path is configured to allow outside air to flow in from an external space outside the control target room and to allow air containing heat recovered from an external heat source to flow in.
Humidity control system.
[2] a first connection path (air circulation pipes 21 to 23) that connects the primary air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the space in the controlled room in a state in which the air can flow; ,
A second connection path (secondary side pipes 35, 40, outside air introduction part 37);
a third connection path (exhaust heat recovery pipe 39) capable of supplying air containing heat recovered from the external heat source to the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger;
The humidity control system (100) according to [1] above.

[3] The ratio of the air introduced from the second connection path and the air introduced from the third connection path in the air flowing through the secondary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger can be adjusted. Provided with an adjustment unit (air volume adjustment valves 36, 38, secondary flow rate ratio adjustment unit 57),
The humidity control system (100) according to [2] above.

[4] The controlled room is a cultivation room (10) for cultivating plants,
The total heat exchanger (30) dehumidifies the air in the cultivation chamber by moving moisture in a direction from the primary air flow path toward the secondary air flow path.
The humidity control system according to any one of [1] to [3] above.

[5] The controlled room is a cultivation room for cultivating plants,
The third connection path is air containing exhaust heat generated from a device (air conditioner 15) that adjusts the environment in the cultivation chamber to be suitable for plant cultivation, or air containing exhaust heat generated from the surrounding environment of the cultivation chamber. recover the
The humidity control system according to [2] above.

[6] The first connection path includes a bypass path (24) arranged in parallel with the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger,
A bypass flow rate adjustment unit (bypass flow ratio adjustment unit 54) that varies the ratio between the flow rate of air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the flow rate of air flowing through the bypass path,
The humidity control system according to any one of [2], [3] and [5] above.

[7] An indoor flow rate adjusting section (circulating air rate adjusting section 53) that controls the overall air flow rate circulating through the controlled room according to a target value;
The bypass flow rate adjustment unit (bypass flow rate ratio adjustment unit 54) adjusts the flow rate of the air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the flow rate of the bypass route according to the control state of the indoor flow rate adjustment unit. Adjusting the ratio with the flow rate of the flowing air,
The humidity control system according to [6] above.

[8] A total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit (55, S24),
The humidity control system according to [7] above.

[9] The adjustment unit suppresses the amount of outside air introduced from the second connection path among the air flowing through the secondary side air flow path (secondary side flow path 32) of the total heat exchanger. , adjusting the ratio so as to increase the amount of air introduced from the third connection path (S33, S34);
The humidity control system according to [3] above.

[10] The adjustment unit extracts air flowing through the secondary-side air flow path (secondary-side flow path 32) of the total heat exchanger from the third connection path (exhaust heat recovery pipe 39) In order to suppress the amount of air to be introduced and increase the amount of outside air to be introduced from the second connection path (outside air introduction portion 37),
adjusting the ratio (S33, S35);
The humidity control system according to [3] above.

[11] The total enthalpy heat exchanger comprises a moisture permeable membrane (71) having a function of permeating moisture in a portion separating the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path,
The humidity control system according to any one of [1] to [10] above.

[12] A cultivation room for cultivating plants is provided as the controlled room,
The humidity control system according to any one of [1] to [11] above.

10 cultivation room 11 cultivation space 12 air outlet 13 air inlet 14 blower 15 air conditioner 15a indoor unit 15b outdoor unit 15c piping 21, 22, 23 air circulation piping 24 bypass path 25, 26 air volume control valve 30 total heat exchanger 31 primary side Flow path 32 Secondary side flow path 33, 34 Blower 35, 40 Secondary side pipe 36, 38 Air volume adjustment valve 37 Outside air introduction part 39 Exhaust heat recovery pipe 39a Pipe entry side 39b Pipe exit side 50 Control device 51 Room temperature and humidity Detecting part 52 Circulating air volume detecting part 53 Circulating air volume adjusting part 54 Bypass flow rate ratio adjusting part 55 Total heat exchange air volume adjusting part 56 Outside temperature and humidity detecting part 57 Secondary side flow rate ratio adjusting part 70 Heat exchange element 71 Moisture permeable membrane 100 Humidity adjustment system

Claims (12)

A humidity adjustment system that adjusts the air humidity in a space within a controlled room,
A function of having a primary side air flow path and a secondary side air flow path that are isolated from each other and allowing passage of moisture according to a humidity gradient between the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path. a total heat exchanger having
The primary side air flow path is configured to allow air in the controlled room to flow in,
The secondary air flow path is configured to allow outside air to flow in from an external space outside the control target room and to allow air containing heat recovered from an external heat source to flow in.
Humidity control system. a first connection path connecting the primary-side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the space in the controlled room in a state in which the air can flow;
a second connection path that connects the secondary-side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the external space outside the controlled room in a state in which the outside air can flow;
a third connection path capable of supplying air containing heat recovered from the external heat source to the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger;
A humidity control system according to claim 1 . an adjusting unit capable of adjusting the ratio of the air introduced from the second connection path and the air introduced from the third connection path out of the air flowing through the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger. prepare
The humidity control system according to claim 2. The control target room is a cultivation room for cultivating plants,
The total heat exchanger dehumidifies the air in the cultivation chamber by moving moisture in a direction from the primary air flow path toward the secondary air flow path.
The humidity control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The control target room is a cultivation room for cultivating plants,
The third connection path collects air containing exhaust heat generated from a device that adjusts the environment in the cultivation chamber to an environment suitable for plant cultivation, or air containing exhaust heat generated from the surrounding environment of the cultivation chamber.
The humidity control system according to claim 2. The first connection path includes a bypass path arranged in parallel with the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger,
A bypass flow rate adjusting unit that varies the ratio between the flow rate of air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the flow rate of air flowing through the bypass path,
The humidity control system according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 5. an indoor flow rate adjusting unit that controls the overall air flow rate circulating through the controlled room according to a target value;
The bypass flow rate adjusting section adjusts the ratio of the flow rate of the air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger and the flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass path according to the control state of the indoor flow rate adjusting section. adjust,
Humidity control system according to claim 6. A total heat exchange air volume adjustment unit that interlocks and adjusts the flow rate of air flowing through the secondary side air flow path and the flow rate of air flowing through the primary side air flow path of the total heat exchanger,
Humidity control system according to claim 7. The adjustment unit suppresses the amount of outside air introduced from the second connection path among the air flowing through the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger, and reduces the amount of air introduced from the third connection path. adjusting the proportion to increase the amount;
Humidity control system according to claim 3. The adjustment unit suppresses the amount of air introduced from the third connection path among the air flowing through the secondary air flow path of the total heat exchanger, and reduces the amount of outside air introduced from the second connection path. adjusting the proportion to increase the amount;
Humidity control system according to claim 3. The total heat exchanger comprises a moisture permeable membrane having a function of permeating moisture in a portion separating the primary side air flow path and the secondary side air flow path,
Humidity control system according to any one of claims 1 to 10. A cultivation room for cultivating plants is provided as the control target room,
Humidity control system according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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