Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A humidity control system (100) for an evaporative cooling chamber (102), wherein the humidity control system (100) comprising:
a water storage tank (106) connected to the evaporative cooling chamber (102) through a water supply pipe (108), to hold a predefined amount of water to be supplied to walls of the evaporative cooling chamber (102);
a Relative Humidity (RH) sensor (116) to measure an amount of humidity present in the evaporative cooling chamber (102); and
a control unit (118) connected to the Relative Humidity (RH) sensor (116), wherein the control unit (118) is configured to:
receive the measured amount of humidity from the Relative Humidity (RH) sensor (116);
compare the received amount of humidity with a pre-set humidity stored in a memory (122); and
close a control valve (112) to control a flow of water to be supplied to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber (102) through sprinklers (114a-114m), when the received amount of humidity is greater than the pre-set humidity.
2. The humidity control system (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a water supply main valve (110) located on the water supply pipe (108) to enable the flow of the water from the water storage tank (106) to the sprinklers (114a-114m).
3. The humidity control system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (118) is further configured to open the control valve (112) to release the water from the sprinklers (114a-114m) to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber (102), when the received amount of humidity is less than the pre-set humidity.
4. The humidity control system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (118) is powered by a power source (120) such that the power source (120) is an external battery.
5. The humidity control system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaporative cooling chamber (102) is capable to accommodate a pre-defined quantity of fruits and/or vegetables stacked in perforated crates (104a-104n).
6. A method of controlling a humidity inside an evaporative cooling chamber (102) by a humidity control system (100), wherein the method comprising steps of:
receiving a measured amount of humidity from a Relative Humidity (RH) sensor (116);
comparing the received amount of humidity with a pre-set humidity stored in a memory (122); and
closing a control valve (112) to control a flow of water to be supplied to walls of the evaporative cooling chamber (102) through sprinklers (114a-114m), when the received amount of humidity is greater than the pre-set humidity.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of enabling the flow of the water from a water storage tank (106) to the sprinklers (114a-114m).
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of opening the control valve (112) to release the water from the sprinklers (114a-114m) to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber (102), when the received amount of humidity is less than the pre-set humidity.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of enabling a control unit (118) to continue receiving the measured amount of humidity from the Relative Humidity (RH) sensor (116), when the received amount of humidity is equal to the pre-set humidity.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of supplying a power to a control unit (118) by a power source (120) such that the power source (120) is an external battery.

Date: 30 March 2021
Place: Noida
Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1529)

, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

HUMIDITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVAPORATIVE COOLING CHAMBER

APPLICANT(S)
NAME: DAMARLA RAMESH BABU
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: S R ENGINEERING COLLEGE, ANANTHASAGAR (V), HASANPARTHY (M), WARANGAL, TELANGANA 506371

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an evaporative cooling chamber and particularly to a humidity control system and a method for an evaporative cooling chamber.
Description of Related Art
[002] Evaporative cooling chambers can be used for cooling of fruits and/or vegetables at a farm level without using an external refrigeration system. The evaporative cooling chambers get a cooling effect from water that is evaporated in walls of the evaporative cooling chambers. Further, it has been observed that a temperature drops in a range of six degrees to eight degrees in summers. It has also been observed that when an outside temperature was 39 Degree Celsius in the summers, then the temperature inside the evaporative cooling chambers was in a range of 31 Degree Celsius to 33 Degree Celsius and a humidity was in a range of 96% to 99.5%.
[003] However, the humidity inside the evaporative cooling chambers increases as high as 99% or sometimes close to 100% due to a continuous supply of the water from pipes to the walls of the evaporative cooling chambers through a sprinkler. This continuous evaporation of water makes a continuous increase in saturation of air. Even though a high humidity of 90% to 95% is needed for the fruits and/or vegetables to avoid a moisture loss from a fresh produce, however, an excess humidity in the evaporative cooling chambers can lead to a fungal and a mold growth.
[004] There is thus a need for an advanced humidity control system for the evaporative cooling chambers that can administer the drawbacks faced by conventional evaporative cooling chambers.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a humidity control system for an evaporative cooling chamber. The humidity control system comprising: a water storage tank connected to the evaporative cooling chamber through a water supply pipe, to hold a predefined amount of water to be supplied to walls of the evaporative cooling chamber. The humidity control system further comprising a Relative Humidity (RH) sensor to measure an amount of humidity present in the evaporative cooling chamber. The humidity control system further comprising a control unit connected to the Relative Humidity (RH) sensor. The control unit is configured to: receive the measured amount of humidity from the Relative Humidity (RH) sensor; compare the received amount of humidity with a pre-set humidity stored in a memory; and close a control valve to control a flow of water to be supplied to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber through sprinklers, when the measured amount of humidity is greater than the pre-set humidity.
[006] Embodiments of the proposed invention may provide a method of controlling a humidity inside an evaporative cooling chamber by a humidity control system, wherein the method comprising steps of: receiving a measured amount of humidity from a Relative Humidity (RH) sensor; comparing the received amount of humidity with a pre-set humidity stored in a memory; closing a control valve to control a flow of water to be supplied to walls of the evaporative cooling chamber through sprinklers, when the measured amount of humidity is greater than the pre-set humidity.
[007] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application provide a humidity control system for an evaporative cooling chamber that automatically controls a humidity inside the evaporative cooling chamber, which in turn helps in keeping a freshness of fruits and/or vegetables.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present invention provide a humidity control system that controls a flow of water to be supplied to walls of an evaporative cooling chamber based on a requirement, thereby reduces a water wastage.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present invention provide a humidity control system that provides an effective way of controlling a water flow from sprinklers to walls of an evaporative cooling chamber, thereby avoids an excess evaporation of water after the evaporative cooling chamber reached to a maximum cooling effect.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present invention provide a humidity control system that controls a humidity inside an evaporative cooling chamber along with a maintenance of a cooling effect.
[0011] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0012] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a humidity control system for an evaporative cooling chamber, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of components of a control unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method of controlling a humidity inside the evaporative cooling chamber by the humidity control system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.
[0020] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a humidity control system 100 for an evaporative cooling chamber 102, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The humidity control system 100 may be an automatically controlling system that may be configured to control a humidity inside the evaporative cooling chamber 102 in order to avoid a mold and/or a fungal growth. The evaporative cooling chamber 102 may be a zero-energy cool chamber that may be provided to keep fruits and/or vegetables fresh without a usage of an electricity. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the evaporative cooling chamber 102 may be made up of a brick. The evaporative cooling chamber 102 may be a double walled brick chamber, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the evaporative cooling chamber 102 may be capable to accommodate a pre-defined quantity of the fruits and/or vegetables that may be stacked in perforated crates 104a-104n (hereinafter referred to as the crates 104). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined quantity of the fruits and/or vegetables may be 300 Kilograms (Kgs). The evaporative cooling chamber 102 may be having an inner volume of 12 cubic meters to accommodate the fruits and/or vegetables. In an embodiment of the present invention, a pre-defined number of the crates 104 may be stacked vertically over one another. The pre-defined number of the crates 104 may be three, in an embodiment of the present invention. The crates 104 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, a wood, a metal, a steel, an aluminium, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the crates 104 may be made up of a plastic material. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the crates 104 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The crates 104 may be of any shape such as, but not limited to, a rectangular shape, a square shape, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the shape of the crates 104 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the evaporative cooling chamber 102 may comprise a lid (not shown) that may remain closed in order to maintain a cooling effect. The lid may be made up of a material such as, a dry grass, the wood, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the lid including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0023] The humidity control system 100 may comprise a water storage tank 106 that may be connected to the evaporative cooling chamber 102 through a water supply pipe 108, in an embodiment of the present invention. The water storage tank 106 may be provided to hold a predefined amount of water to be supplied to walls of the evaporative cooling chamber 102 based on an output generated by a control unit 118. Further, the water storage tank 106 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the plastic, a fiberglass, the steel, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the water storage tank 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. Further, a shape of the water storage tank 106 may be, but not limited to, a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape, a cuboidal shape, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the shape of the water storage tank 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0024] The water supply pipe 108 may be removably connected to the water storage tank 106, in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the water supply pipe 108 may be fixedly connected to the water storage tank 106. Further, the water supply pipe 108 may be, made up of a material such as, but not limited to, the plastic, a rubber, the metal, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the water supply pipe 108 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] The humidity control system 100 may further comprise a water supply main valve 110 that may be located on the water supply pipe 108, to enable a flow of water from the water storage tank 106 to sprinklers 114a-114m (hereinafter referred to as the sprinklers 114). The water supply main valve 110 may always remain opened to enable the continuous flow of the water, in an embodiment of the present invention. The water supply main valve 110 may be, but not limited to, a ball valve, a plug valve, a butterfly valve, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the water supply main valve 110 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0026] The humidity control system 100 may also comprise a control valve 112 that may be attached on the water supply pipe 108, to control the flow of the water to be supplied to the sprinklers 114 based on the output generated by the control unit 118. The control valve 112 may be, but not limited to, a gate valve, a globe valve, a needle valve, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control valve 112 may be a solenoid valve. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control valve 112 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0027] The humidity control system 100 may further comprise the sprinklers 114 that may be connected to the evaporative cooling chamber 102 to receive the water supplied by the water storage tank 106 through the water supply pipe 108, in an embodiment of the present invention. The sprinklers 114 may be used as a sprayer to spray the water to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber 102 that may evaporate the water to achieve the cooling effect inside the evaporative cooling chamber 102.
[0028] The humidity control system 100 may further comprise a Relative Humidity (RH) sensor 116 that may be installed within the evaporative cooling chamber 102, to measure an amount of humidity present in the evaporative cooling chamber 102. Furthermore, the RH sensor 116 may be electrically connected to the control unit 118 to transmit the measured amount of humidity. According to embodiments of the present invention, the RH sensor 116 may be, but not limited to, a capacitive humidity sensor, a resistive humidity sensor, a thermal conductivity humidity sensor, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the RH sensor 116, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0029] According to embodiments of the present invention, the control unit 118 may be connected to the RH sensor 116, to receive the measured amount of humidity from the RH sensor 116. The control unit 118 may be configured to execute computer readable instructions stored in a memory 122 to generate the output for controlling the flow of the water from the sprinklers 114 to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber 102. The control unit 118 may be, but not limited to, a microcontroller, microprocessor, a development board, a digital signal processor, and alike. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 118 may be an Arduino. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control unit 118, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The control unit 118 may be embedded with pre-defined instructions that may set a desired level of humidity in a range of 80% to 99% based on a type of the fruits and/or vegetables.
[0030] The control unit 118 may be connected to a power source 120 that may supply a power to the control unit 118. In an embodiment of the present invention, the power source 120 may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or an external power source. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the external power source may be an external battery of a pre-defined voltage. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the power source 120, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the power source 120 may remain switched on to supply the power to the control unit 118. Further, components of the control unit 118 will be explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0031] The humidity control system 100 may comprise the memory 122 that may be connected to the control unit 118 for storage and retrieval of data associated with operations of the evaporative cooling chamber 102, according to embodiments of the present invention. Further, the memory 122 may be used to store the computer readable instructions executed by the control unit 118. According to embodiments of the present invention, non-limiting examples of the memory 122 may be a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random-Access Memory (RAM), an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, a hard drive, a removable media drive for handling memory cards. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the memory 122, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the components of the control unit 118, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components may be a data receiving module 200, a comparison module 202 and a valve control module 204.
[0033] The data receiving module 200 may be configured to receive the measured amount of humidity from the RH sensor 116 (as shown in the FIG. 1), in an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the data receiving module 200 may be configured to transmit the received amount of humidity to the comparison module 202.
[0034] The comparison module 202 may be configured to compare the received amount of humidity with a pre-set humidity stored in the memory 122 (as shown in the FIG. 1). In an embodiment of the present invention, if the comparison module 202 determines that the received amount of humidity is greater than the pre-set humidity, then the comparison module 202 may be configured to generate a valve deactivation signal.
[0035] The valve control module 204 may be configured to close the control valve 112 (as shown in the FIG. 1) to control the flow of the water that may be supplied to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber 102 (as shown in the FIG. 1) through the sprinklers 114 (as shown in the FIG. 1) based on the received valve deactivation signal. In another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 202 may be configured to generate a valve activation signal, if the received amount of humidity is less than the pre-set humidity. The comparison module 202 may be configured to transmit the generated valve activation signal to the valve control module 204. The valve control module 204 may be configured to open the control valve 112 to release the water from the sprinklers 114 to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber 102 based on the valve activation signal. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison module 202 may be configured to enable the data receiving module 200 to continue receiving the measured amount of humidity from the RH sensor 116, when the received amount of humidity is equal to the pre-set humidity.
[0036] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 of controlling the humidity inside the evaporative cooling chamber 102 by the humidity control system 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] At step 302, the humidity control system 100 may receive the measured amount of humidity from the RH sensor 116.
[0038] At step 304, the humidity control system 100 may compare the received amount of humidity with the pre-set humidity stored in the memory 122.
[0039] At step 306, if the humidity control system 100 determines that the received amount of humidity is greater than the pre-set humidity, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 308. Otherwise, the method 300 may proceed to a step 310.
[0040] At the step 308, the humidity control system 100 may close the control valve 112 to control the flow of the water that may be supplied to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber 102.
[0041] At the step 310, if the received amount of humidity is less than the pre-set humidity, the method 300 may proceed to a step 312. If the received amount of humidity is equal to the pre-set humidity, then method 300 may proceed to the step 302.
[0042] At the step 312, the humidity control system 100 may open the control valve 112 to release the water from the sprinklers 114 to the walls of the evaporative cooling chamber 102.
[0043] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the diagrams and combinations of blocks in the diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto one or more general purpose computers, special purpose computers, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce machines, such that the instructions which execute on the computers or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. Such computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the block or blocks.
[0044] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0045] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.