Push-through conditioned air vestibule and controller

Abstract

A push through conditioned air vestibule unit includes an air vestibule having a top side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side forming a passage through the unit. Movable barrier members are attached to the unit to reduce external air flow through the passage. Return air ducts are configured to circulate air to an air moving device and a temperature conditioning device. Thermal and humidity sensors measure temperature and humidity of the passage and an external room, and a system controller controls the temperature of air moved into the passage using the temperature conditioning device if the partial pressure of moisture vapor internal to the passage is not greater than or equal to the partial pressure of moisture vapor external to the passage.

1 . An air vestibule unit configured to be positioned and provide access between a first room and a second room, the first room being warmer than the second room, the unit comprising:
 an air vestibule forming a passage through the unit;   a plurality of movable barrier members arranged vertically to reduce external air flow through the passage;   an air moving device configured to move air into the passage;   a temperature conditioning device configured to adjust the temperature of air moved into the passage by the air moving device;   an external thermal sensor positioned outside of the passage and configured to measure a temperature in the first room;   an internal thermal sensor configured to measure a temperature within the passage;   an external humidity sensor positioned outside of the passage and configured to measure humidity in the first room;   an internal humidity sensor configured to measure humidity within the passage;   a system controller configured to determine a partial pressure of moisture vapor internal to the passage using the temperature and humidity measured only in the passage and a partial pressure of moisture vapor of the first room using the temperature and humidity measured only in the first room, and to increase the temperature of air moved into the passage using the temperature conditioning device if the partial pressure of moisture vapor internal to the passage is not greater less than or equal to the partial pressure of moisture vapor of the first room only.   
     
     
         2 . The air vestibule unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable barrier members comprise flexible strips hanging from a top side of the air vestibule. 
     
     
         3 . The air vestibule unit of  claim 1 , wherein the movable barrier members are impact-type doors. 
     
     
         4 . The air vestibule unit of  claim 1 , wherein a distance through the passage is about 6 inches or greater. 
     
     
         5 . The air vestibule unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air vestibule includes lateral return air ducts having return air openings at a bottom end of the air vestibule. 
     
     
         6 . The air vestibule unit of  claim 1 , wherein the system controller is configured to maintain a partial pressure of moisture in the passage equal to or higher than a partial pressure of moisture external to the passage. 
     
     
         7 . The air vestibule unit of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cycle the temperature conditioning device on and off. 
     
     
         8 . The air vestibule unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air moving device and temperature conditioning device are positioned in an upper portion of the air vestibule. 
     
     
         9 . The air vestibule unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air vestibule includes side portions arranged vertically along opposite sides of the passage. 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling air condition in an air vestibule unit, the method comprising:
 providing an air vestibule defining a passage;   positioning the air vestibule between a first room and a second room, the first room being warmer than the second room, the vestibule providing access between the first and second rooms and being exposed to the first and second rooms;   determining an external partial pressure of moisture vapor external to the vestibule using only an external temperature and an external humidity in the first room;   determining a vestibule partial pressure of moisture vapor within the passage of the vestibule using a vestibule temperature and a vestibule humidity in the passage;   providing heated air to the passage with the air vestibule to increase the air temperature in the passage when the vestibule partial pressure of moisture vapor is greater than or equal to the external partial pressure of moisture vapor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vestibule temperature and vestibule humidity are measured using a plurality of temperature sensors and humidity sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the temperature sensors and at least one of the humidity sensors is positioned outside of the passage. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the air vestibule includes a heat source, and the heat source is cycled on and off to provide the heated air. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising circulating air in the vestibule by drawing air from a bottom of the air vestibule into an air moving device and expelling air from the air moving device into the passage. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising moving heated air into the vestibule using an air moving device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the air moved into the vestibule removes or prevents formation of at least one of ice or frost in the air vestibule. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon that, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the computer to perform steps comprising:
 controlling an air vestibule, the air vestibule being positioned between first and second rooms, the first room being warmer than the second room, the air vestibule having a passage that provides access between the first and second rooms;   measuring, with a plurality of thermal sensors, an external temperature in the first room and a vestibule temperature within the passage;   measuring, with a plurality of humidity sensors, an external humidity in the first room and a vestibule humidity within the passage;   determining an external partial pressure of moisture vapor in the first room using the external temperature and the external humidity only from the first room;   determining a vestibule partial pressure of moisture vapor within the passage of the vestibule using the vestibule temperature and the vestibule humidity;   delivering heated air to the passage if the vestibule partial pressure of moisture vapor is greater than or equal to the external partial pressure of moisture vapor.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the steps further comprise cycling a heat source on and off to deliver the heated air. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the steps further comprise circulating air in the air vestibule by drawing air from a bottom of the air vestibule and expelling air into the passage of the air vestibule after being heated. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the steps further comprise moving air into a passage of the vestibule using an air moving device.