JP2928162B2 - Heating / humidification output conversion type environmental test equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an environmental test apparatus which includes a heater and a humidifier each having a rated output, and controls the heater and the humidifier so that the temperature and humidity in a test chamber are set to target values.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, temperature and humidity control of an environmental test apparatus has conventionally been performed by appropriately determining a deviation between a set value of a temperature and a humidity and an actually measured value and other conditions and determining a heating output and a humidification output. The heater and the humidifier are driven and controlled accordingly.
This control, without controlling the output itself of the heater and humidifier, for the stability of control and simplification of the control system, etc.
As shown in FIG. 9, the heater and the humidifier operate on / off at the rated output, and the operation time (on / off) of the heater and the humidifier during the control cycle with respect to the determined heating output and the humidification output. Time) is set to a time corresponding directly to each output. In the figure, the control cycle is T
And the heating output or the humidification output is 100% and 0, respectively.
%, 50% indicates the on / off state of the heater or humidifier.

According to such control, in order to make the rated output of the heater and the humidifier effective, it is necessary to set the entire control period to the operation time at 100% output as shown in FIG. Therefore, a state where the heater and the humidifier are simultaneously operated at the rated output always occurs. Further, in the conventional apparatus, the heater and the humidifier are independently controlled, and in each control cycle, they are simultaneously turned on. As a result, in the conventional environmental test equipment, the maximum power (KW) and the maximum current correspond to the rated output of the heater and the humidifier, even though there are many operating conditions where the total value of the heating and humidification output is not so large. Is the sum of the values
It was a big value.

[0004] Therefore, according to such control, the total power consumption (KWh) is a value proportional to the sum of the heating and humidification outputs, so there is no problem. However, it is determined by the maximum power and the maximum current value. However, there is a problem that the capacity of the electric equipment of the environmental test apparatus becomes large, and the power supply equipment of the factory where the apparatus is installed becomes too large.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and makes it possible to effectively use the rated outputs of a heater and a humidifier while reducing the capacity of related electric equipment. The task is to provide

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has a heater and a humidifier each having a rated output, and a test chamber has a target temperature and humidity. In the environmental test apparatus that controls the heater and the humidifier as described above, the heating and humidifying outputs that generate the heating output and the humidification output, which are the output rates with respect to the respective rated outputs of the heater and the humidifier, according to the operating conditions. A humidification output generating means for receiving the heating output and the humidification output and transmitting their respective outputs when their total output is less than or equal to a predetermined value close to 100% or less; Output conversion means for transmitting the heater control output and the humidifier control output converted to values, and receiving the output transmitted from the output conversion means, An operation time setting means for calculating an operation time during which the humidifier is to be operated at each of the rated outputs and transmitting the operation time as a time separated from each other, wherein In addition to the above, when the total output is larger than the predetermined value, the heater control output and the humidifier control output are proportionally distributed to a ratio of the heating output and the humidification output. According to the invention of the first aspect, when the total output is larger than the predetermined value, the heating output is set to the heater control output (the predetermined value-the heater control output) is set to the humidification. It is characterized in that it is a device control output. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the feature of the first aspect, when the total output is larger than the predetermined value, the humidification output is set to the humidifier control output (the predetermined value-the humidifier control output). Is the heater control output.

[0007]

FIG. 1 shows an example of an environmental test apparatus to which the present invention is applied and a configuration of a part of a control apparatus thereof. The environmental test device is a test room 2 provided in the heat insulating wall 1.
And air conditioning room 3, blower 4 for circulating air, evaporator 5a
And a humidifier 7 having a refrigerator 5, a heater 6, and a vapor dissipating portion 7a for supplying the vapor to the humidifier 7, a temperature sensor 8, a humidity sensor 9, and a temperature control as a heating / humidifying output generating means. Unit 10, an output conversion unit 11 as output conversion means
a and operation time setting unit 11b as operation time setting means
Heater / humidifier control device 11 comprising: solid state relays 12, 13 for turning on / off the circuit by the control signal;
A power supply 14, a security device 15, electromagnetic contactors 16, 17 and the like are provided.

In this apparatus, the circulating air is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 5a of the refrigerator 5, and the heating and humidifying amounts of the heater 6 and the humidifier 7 are controlled. Is adjusted. The temperature controller 10, the heater / humidifier controller 11, and the like constitute a part of the controller of the environmental test apparatus.

The temperature controller 10 includes a temperature / humidity setting unit (not shown), receives temperature / humidity signals detected by the temperature sensor 8 and the humidity sensor 9, and sets the temperature / humidity set value and the detected value of the temperature / humidity sensor. A primary output for driving the heater 6 and the humidifier 7 is transmitted by various methods generally used in accordance with operating conditions such as a deviation from the above and a change rate of a detected value. This output is a heating output D (%) and a humidification output W (%), which are output rates with respect to respective rated outputs of the heater 6 and the humidifier 7.
Will be sent as

The output converter 11a receives the heating output D and the humidifying output W, and outputs a total output of 10 as a predetermined value.
When the output is 0% or less, the respective outputs are transmitted as they are as the heater control output D 'and the humidifier control output W'. When the total output is larger than 100%, the output is 100%.
And the humidifier control output W 'is transmitted.

As a method for determining D 'and W', for example, a proportional conversion method in which 100% is proportionally distributed by the ratio of the input heating output D and the humidification output W, and the humidification is made as it is by giving priority to the heating output. Priority conversion method to make the difference between 100% and D '. Use the latter method when the temperature and humidity rise and use the former method when the set value is reached. A method of switching to the former method after the control output is set to 100% and the temperature approaches the set value,
Conversely, during temperature or temperature / humidity rise, the humidifier control output is prioritized to W 'as it is, and the heating output is set to 100% and W'.
Humidifier priority conversion method to make a difference with the humidifier control output 100% during temperature and humidity rise, and a method using the above-mentioned proportional conversion method after the humidity approaches the set value. Can be.

When the proportional distribution method and the priority conversion method are expressed by formulas, the proportional conversion method is: D + W ≦ 100 --- D ′ = D, W ′ = W D + W> 100 --- D '= [D / (D + W)] × 100, W' = [W / (D +
W)] × 100-Equation (1) Priority conversion method (heating output priority): When D + W ≦ 100 --- D '= D, W' = W When D + W> 100 --- D '= D, W' = 100-D '----- Equation (2) Other priority conversion method (humidification output priority): When D + W ≦ 100 --- D' = D, W '= W When D + W> 100 --- W '= W, D' = 100-W '----- Expression (3) is obtained.

2 to 4 show output conversion control flows. FIG. 2 shows the case of the proportional conversion method. Output converter 11
a receives the heating output D and the humidification output W from the temperature controller 10 (S-1), determines whether or not the sum of the outputs is 100% or less (S-2). The output is transmitted as converted control outputs D 'and W' (S-3). When the output exceeds 100%, the above equation (1) is used.
The values calculated in are transmitted as D 'and W' (S-4). FIG. 3 shows a case of the priority conversion method in which the sum of D and W is 1
If it is less than 00%, the flow is the same as that in FIG. 2. If it exceeds 100%, the values calculated by the above equation (2) are transmitted as D ′ and W ′ (S-4).

FIG. 4 shows an example of another priority conversion method. When the sum of D and W is 100% or less, the flow is the same as that in FIG. 2, but when the sum exceeds 100%, the values calculated by the above equation (3) are transmitted as W ′ and D ′ (S− 4).
That is, the humidification output W 'is prioritized.

FIG. 5 shows a drop in the relative humidity when the setting is changed to increase the temperature / humidity or the set value of the temperature. When the temperature set value is increased, the heating output increases under normal control, and the temperature of the test room and the circulating air rises. However, this rise in temperature naturally causes a decrease in the relative humidity. As a result, the required humidification amount increases and the humidification output also increases, but the speed of the temperature rise is fast, and the relative humidity does not follow the humidification due to the limitation of the humidifier capacity, and the current value RHpv of the relative humidity decreases. Tend to. According to the heating output priority conversion method of FIG. 3, there is an advantage that the time to reach the set value of the temperature and the humidity is shortened, but on the contrary, the relative humidity drops in the process of reaching the set value as described above, Control disturbance accompanying this is likely to occur. Depending on the type of sample or test, a decrease in relative humidity or control disturbance may be a problem.

On the other hand, according to the humidification output priority conversion method shown in FIG. 4, the humidification output W 'is 100% or close to it, and the heating output D' = 100-W 'is 0 or a value close to this. Therefore, the temperature rises almost only by the sensible heat of the humidifier. Therefore, the temperature rise becomes somewhat slow, but it is possible to prevent the relative humidity from dropping. When the relative humidity approaches or reaches the set value, the humidification output W
Becomes smaller, the heating output D 'gradually increases, and reaches the set temperature quickly. Therefore, although the time required to reach the set temperature is slightly longer as a whole, the temperature rises while maintaining the relative humidity, so that the test can be performed under conditions close to the actual environment. Control disturbance can also be prevented.

FIG. 6 shows another problem in an actual apparatus and an example of occurrence of the above-mentioned phenomenon. In an actual apparatus, water droplets may adhere to a wall surface or a floor surface of a test room. In such a case, according to the conventional control method or the control method of the present invention shown in FIGS. However, a sudden rise in temperature may cause a problem. This example shows a transient phenomenon when the set value is changed from a stable operation state of 15 ° C. to 90% RH to 50 ° C. to 35% RH.

In the portion A shown in the drawing, the RH changes extremely rapidly, and shows a tendency to drop further than the set value of 35%. This phenomenon can be problematic if the humidifier cannot handle it. On the other hand, in this device, since a moisture load was present in the test room, the moisture was evaporated due to a rapid decrease in relative humidity, and as shown in the B portion,
The RH overshoot effect has already occurred before the relative humidity reaches the set value. Although the effect of the overshoot ends in a relatively short time in the figure, it often lasts for a long time. Using the humidification output priority control shown in FIG.
Such a device can be prevented from malfunctioning, and there is also an effect that the temperature and humidity can quickly reach the set values.

As a countermeasure against the above-mentioned problem that may occur with the temperature rise, the time for the temperature rise is set so that the amount of humidification required by the temperature rise falls within the capacity of the humidifier. Although there is a method of increasing the length, it is necessary to provide a temperature controller with a temperature / humidity gradient setting function, which complicates the device and control. In addition, there is a new problem that it is not easy to determine an appropriate set value of the temperature rise time at which the above effects can be obtained in an actual device. According to the control of FIG. 4, it is possible to easily prevent a problem caused by a rapid rise in temperature.

The operation time setting unit 11b includes an output conversion unit 11
a) receives the converted control output transmitted from a, calculates the operation time during which the heater 6 and the humidifier 7 are to be operated at their respective rated outputs, and transmits those operation times as separated times; The heat is supplied to the heater 6 and the humidifier 7. This control method is different from the conventional method of controlling the heater 6 and the humidifier 7 independently.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the time is set separately by the operation time setting unit. Although the figure shows an example in which the humidifier is operated after operating the heater in each control cycle, it is needless to say that the opposite may be applied.

In FIG. 2A, for example, D = D '= 50
%, W = W ′ = 30%, and control cycle = 10 seconds. The operation time corresponding to each output is D'T = 1
0 × 0.5 = 5 seconds, W′T = 10 × 0.3 = 3 seconds, and the state of turning on / off the heater and the humidifier with the timing shifted below the rated output is as shown in the figure. .

FIG. 2B shows D = 72%, W = 48%,
D '= 60%, W' = 40%, D'T = 6 seconds, W'T =
The case of 4 seconds is shown. In this case, the control cycle of 10 seconds is used for the ON time of the heater and the humidifier. On the other hand, in such a case, the conventional method of controlling the heater and the humidifier is as shown in FIG. 8A, and a simultaneous ON time of 4.8 seconds occurs. Also, as shown in FIG. 3B, even if the on-time of the heater and the humidifier is shifted, in order to keep the on-time of the humidifier within the control cycle, the simultaneous on-time of 2 seconds is avoided. I can't. According to the present invention, even when D + W exceeds 100%, the simultaneous ON state of the heater and the humidifier can be avoided as shown in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 7C shows that when D = 72% and W = 48%, D '= 72%, W' = 28%, and D'T = 7.2.
Second, W′T = 2.8 seconds. In this case, since the temperature first reaches the set value, the heating output gradually decreases in the process, and the humidification output gradually increases. Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, for example, D = 10%, W = 90%
%, Then D ′ = 1
0%, W '= 90%, D'T = 1 second, and W'T = 9 seconds. With this method as well, it is possible to avoid turning on the heater and the humidifier at the same time. When the temperature and humidity rise, the temperature and humidity can reach the set value more quickly by giving priority to D '.

As a method of shifting the ON time, for example, interlocking is performed so that heating output to the heater and humidification output to the humidifier are not performed simultaneously.
Various known methods can be used. In actual control, a small phase shift occurs at the end of the output time in each control cycle. However, since the control cycle is usually several seconds, such a phase shift hardly causes a problem. However, considering such a phase shift,
A heating output and a humidification output may be output with a time difference of one wavelength, for example, about 20 msec (in the case of 50 Hz). In the above, the proportional conversion method, the heating output priority conversion method, the humidification output priority conversion method, and the like have been separately described.
One environmental test apparatus may include all or a plurality of control logics capable of implementing these methods, and may be an apparatus that can be switched to an optimum one among them according to a sample, a type of a test, and the like.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an output conversion means is provided, whereby the heating output and the humidification output generated by the heating / humidification output generation means are inputted. When the total output is below 100% or a predetermined value close to this, each output is transmitted, and when the total output is larger than the predetermined value, the heater control output and the humidifier control output converted so that the total output becomes the predetermined value are output. Since transmission is performed, the total output can always be kept below a predetermined value. This predetermined value is desirably 100%, but may be, for example, about 90% depending on the control characteristics of various environmental test devices, the control method of the refrigeration capacity, and the like.

If the sum of the control outputs of the heater and the humidifier does not exceed 100%, the rated operation time of the heater and the humidifier during the control cycle can be separated. That is, for example, when the control cycle is T time, the converted heater control output is 70% and the humidifier control output is 30%
, The operation time of the heater in the control cycle is (7/10) T, and the operation time of the humidifier is (3/1)
0) T, and these times can be separated.

An operation time setting means is provided to calculate the operation time for operating the heater and the humidifier at their respective rated outputs by inputting the output transmitted from the output conversion means, and to calculate the operation time. Since the time is transmitted as a separate time, the heater and the humidifier are operated at different times within the control cycle.

As described above, the conversion of the heating / humidification output,
In any case, by combining the separation operation of the heater and the humidifier, the maximum power and the maximum current value can be set to values corresponding to the larger rated output of the heater or the humidifier. . When the rated output of the heater and the rated output of the humidifier are the same, the maximum power and the maximum current value can be reduced to half of the conventional values. As a result, the electrical equipment of the environmental test equipment, such as the breaker capacity and wiring size determined by the maximum power and maximum current value, has been significantly reduced in size,
It is possible to reduce material costs and construction costs, shorten the construction period, and further reduce the capacity of the primary-side electrical equipment such as a factory where the environmental test apparatus is installed. In addition, since the heater and the humidifier are operated in series, if the capacities are the same, a single protection device such as an overcurrent protection circuit provided for each of the conventional devices can be used. It becomes possible to share, further reducing the cost and simplifying the electric equipment.

It should be noted that the relationship between the setting conditions of the temperature and humidity and the heating output and the humidification output in the environmental test apparatus usually indicates that
At the time of stable temperature and humidity, which is the most operating state, the sum of the heating output and the humidification output is a value lower than 100%. In many of the environmental test apparatuses, the refrigerating capacity of the refrigeration circuit is controlled stepwise, and in such an environmental test apparatus, the heating / humidifying output in the normal operation is a particularly small value.
Therefore, in the normal operation state including the time when the temperature or the humidity rises, the rated output of the heater and the humidifier is fully utilized even if the control as in the present invention is performed, and the controllability of the temperature and the humidity is good as before. Is maintained.

The operating conditions of the environmental test apparatus include a temperature and humidity increasing operating condition in which both the temperature and the humidity are set to values higher than the current operating state. At this time, depending on the set values, both the heating output and the humidification output may be 100% or a value close to 100%. If the total of both outputs is limited to 100% or less under such conditions, the time required to reach the set temperature and humidity becomes longer. However, when the temperature and humidity are set to rise together as the temperature and humidity characteristics of the environmental test apparatus, usually, first, the temperature first rises and reaches the set value, and then the humidity slowly increases and reaches the set value. Follow the process. For this reason, even if the present invention is applied, the time required to reach the set temperature is increased, and the time required to reach the set value of the temperature and humidity is not significantly increased. In some cases, the environmental test apparatus may intentionally delay the humidification control time to prevent dew condensation on a sample or the like in the test chamber. Therefore, unless it is an environmental test device that frequently performs a temperature and humidity increase operation,
A certain delay of the set value arrival time under such conditions hardly causes a problem in practical use.

In the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, when the total output is larger than a predetermined value, the output conversion means converts the converted heater control output and humidifier control output. Since the output is proportionally distributed to the ratio of the heating output and the humidification output at the time of input, even if the output itself changes, the ratio does not change, and the optimum control state can be maintained.

In the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, when the total output is larger than a predetermined value, the output conversion means converts the input heating output to the converted heater control output as it is. At the same time, since the (predetermined value-heater control output) is converted to the humidifier control output, the set value is quickly reached when both outputs are close to 100%, such as when the temperature and humidity are greatly increased. By effectively raising the temperature to give priority and then increasing the humidity,
The time required to reach the set value of the temperature and the humidity can be shortened.
In this case, when the temperature approaches the set value, the heating output gradually decreases and the humidification output gradually increases, so that the control from the control mainly based on heating to the control mainly based on humidification is smoothly performed. Further, when the temperature is raised with priority, there is an advantage that dew condensation on the sample can be prevented as described above.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since control can be performed with priority given to the humidification output, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent the relative humidity from falling when the temperature or the temperature and humidity rise. A test close to the actual environment can be performed, and the occurrence of control disturbance can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an environmental test apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an output conversion method in the device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another example of the output conversion method in the above device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing still another example of the output conversion method in the device.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing a change state of temperature and humidity in normal control when a set value of temperature and humidity is increased and when a set value of temperature is increased, respectively.

FIG. 6 is an actual measurement curve diagram of a change state of temperature and relative humidity when a temperature and humidity set value is changed by an actual environmental test apparatus.

FIGS. 7A to 7D are explanatory diagrams showing examples of setting the operation time in the above device.

8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams of a setting example of an operation time, in which FIG. 8A shows a case where a conventional method is used, and FIG. 8B shows a case where the conventional method is partially changed.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional method for setting an operation time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 6 heater 7 humidifier 10 temperature controller (heating / humidification output generation means) 11a output converter (output conversion means) 11b operation time setting section (operation time setting means) D heating output D 'converted heater control output W Humidifier output W 'Converted humidifier control output

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-129236 (JP, A) JP-A-63-259343 (JP, A) JP-A-7-229644 (JP, A) 240467 (JP, A) JP-A-4-136649 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F24F 11/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An environmental test apparatus comprising a heater and a humidifier each having a rated output and controlling the heater and the humidifier so that the temperature and humidity in the test chamber are the target temperature and humidity. A heating / humidification output generating means for generating a heating output and a humidification output, which are output rates with respect to the respective rated outputs of the heater and the humidifier, and receiving the heating output and the humidification output and summing their outputs. An output converter for transmitting each output when the value is equal to or less than a predetermined value close to 100% or more, and for outputting a heater control output and a humidifier control output converted so that the total output becomes the predetermined value when the value is larger than the predetermined value. Means, and receiving the output transmitted from the output conversion means, and calculating an operation time during which the heater and the humidifier are to be operated at the respective rated outputs. Both environmental test apparatus characterized by having a operation time setting unit for transmitting a time separated from one another the operation time. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the total output is larger than the predetermined value, the heater control output and the humidifier control output are proportionally distributed to a ratio of the heating output and the humidification output. Environmental test equipment as described. 3. When the total output is larger than the predetermined value, the heating output is set as the heater control output (the predetermined value−the heater control output) is set as the humidifier control output. The environmental test device according to claim 1. 4. When the total output is larger than the predetermined value, the humidification output is set to the humidifier control output (the predetermined value−the humidifier control output) is set to the heater control output. The environmental test device according to claim 1.