Evaporative humidifier

Abstract

An evaporative humidifier including a power unit housing, a blower assembly, a water tank, and a wick. The power unit housing includes an air entrance and an air exit. The blower assembly positioned in the power unit housing, the blower assembly being configured to draw air through the power unit housing when the evaporative humidifier is in an operational state in which humidified air is being supplied to an ambient environment. The water tank configured for storing water, and having no lower water outlet used when in the operational state. The wick positioned in the water tank such that water is drawn into the wick from the water tank, through the wick, and toward an air outlet, and such that when the evaporative humidifier is in the operational state, the blower assembly moves air from the air exit, through the wick, and toward the air outlet.

1 . An evaporative humidifier comprising:
 a power unit housing including an air entrance and an air exit;   a blower assembly positioned in the power unit housing, the blower assembly being configured to draw air through the power unit housing when the evaporative humidifier is in an operational state in which humidified air is being supplied to an ambient environment;   a water tank configured for storing water, and having no lower water outlet used when in the operational state; and   a wick positioned in the water tank such that water is drawn into the wick from the water tank, through the wick, and toward an air outlet, and such that when the evaporative humidifier is in the operational state, the blower assembly moves air from the air exit, through the wick, and toward the air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater disposed in the power unit housing. 
     
     
         3 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the power unit housing defines a channel connecting the air entrance of the power unit housing to the air exit of the power unit housing in fluid communication, and the power unit housing includes a discontinuity located downstream of the blower assembly and configured for directing water entering the power unit housing away from the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 3 , wherein the discontinuity is a reservoir that extends downward from the air exit, at a position in the power unit housing located downstream from the blower assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 3 , wherein an airflow path of air drawn by the blower assembly forms a serpentine shape in the evaporative humidifier between the blower assembly and the water tank along the airflow path. 
     
     
         6 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 3 , further comprising a reservoir configured to collect water directed away from the channel by the discontinuity. 
     
     
         7 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the power unit housing defines a channel between a first power unit housing side wall and a second power unit housing side wall, the first power unit housing side wall and the second power unit housing side wall form opposite sides of the power unit housing, the channel extends in a height direction of the evaporative humidifier between the air entrance and the air exit in fluid communication, and the air entrance is located below the air exit in the height direction of the evaporative humidifier such that the blower assembly is configured to draw air upward through the channel and toward the air exit. 
     
     
         8 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge disposed in and removable from the water tank, wherein the cartridge defines a first opening in fluid communication with a portion of the water tank storing water, a second opening in fluid communication with the air exit when the evaporative humidifier is in the operational state, and a third opening in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere,
 wherein the wick includes at least one material capable of wicking water and is positioned in the cartridge such that water is drawn into the wick from the water tank through the first opening, through the cartridge, and toward the third opening, and such that when the evaporative humidifier is in the operational state, the blower assembly moves air from the air exit through the second opening, through the wick, and toward the third opening.   
     
     
         9 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein the first opening is defined in the cartridge at a position closer to a bottom end of the cartridge as compared to a top end of the cartridge in a height direction of the evaporative humidifier. 
     
     
         10 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein the second opening is defined in the cartridge at a position interposed between the first opening and the third opening in a height direction of the evaporative humidifier. 
     
     
         11 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 10 , wherein the third opening is defined in the cartridge at a position above the first opening and the second opening in a height direction of the evaporative humidifier. 
     
     
         12 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein the first opening of the cartridge is in direct fluid communication with the water tank, the second opening of the cartridge is in direct fluid communication with the air exit through direct contact between the power unit housing and the cartridge, and the third opening of the cartridge is in direct fluid communication with ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         13 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein the first opening of the cartridge is in direct fluid communication with the water tank, the second opening of the cartridge is in fluid communication with the air exit across a seal positioned between and contacting the power unit housing and the cartridge, and the third opening of the cartridge is in direct fluid communication with ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         14 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the air exit in the power unit housing and at least a portion of the second opening in the cartridge are positioned above a maximum water level of the water tank in a height direction of the evaporative humidifier, and are in fluid communication with each other over the water tank in the height direction of the evaporative humidifier. 
     
     
         15 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein a cavity is defined between an inner cartridge wall surface and the wick such that the inner cartridge wall surface is spaced from the wick along the cavity, and the cavity extends downward from the second opening in a height direction of the evaporative humidifier. 
     
     
         16 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein the water tank includes a fill indicator which indicates a maximum water level of the water tank, and the fill indicator is disposed at a position below an upper edge of the second opening in a height direction of the evaporative humidifier when the cartridge is positioned in the water tank in an operating position. 
     
     
         17 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge is configured to direct at least a portion of airflow through the wick from the second opening to the third opening in a same direction water is drawn through the wick. 
     
     
         18 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 8 , further comprising a cover disposed across an airflow path of air drawn by the blower assembly, the cover interposed between the wick and ambient atmosphere along the airflow path, wherein the cover is made from a material such that water droplets formed on an inner cover wall surface are visible through the cover from an exterior of the evaporative humidifier. 
     
     
         19 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heater positioned in the power unit housing with the blower assembly such that the heater is configured to heat air drawn by the blower assembly toward the air exit; and   a controller disposed in the power unit housing, and configured for actuating the blower assembly and the heater;   a covering configured to selectively cover at least one of the cartridge and an interior of the water tank from an exterior of the evaporative humidifier; and   a sensor disposed on the water tank, the sensor being configured to measure a position of the covering with respect to the water tank and output a corresponding signal to the controller,   wherein the controller changes operational state settings of at least one of the heater and the blower assembly when, based on output from the sensor, the controller determines that the covering has changed position with respect to the water tank.   
     
     
         20 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heater positioned in the power unit housing with the blower assembly such that the heater is configured to heat air drawn by the blower assembly toward the air exit; and   a controller disposed in the power unit housing, and configured for actuating the blower assembly and the heater;   a first sensor disposed in the power unit housing, in front of the heater with respect to a direction of airflow from the air entrance toward the air exit, the first sensor being configured to measure an air temperature in the power unit housing upstream from the heater, and configured to output a corresponding signal to the controller; and   a second sensor disposed downstream from the heater with respect to the direction of airflow from the air entrance toward the air exit, the second sensor being configured to measure an air temperature in the power unit housing downstream from the heater, and configured to output a corresponding signal to the controller;   wherein the controller actuates the heater and the blower assembly to maintain a predetermined air temperature behind the heater, and to maintain a predetermined rate of airflow through the power unit housing, based on output from the first sensor and the second sensor.   
     
     
         21 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 1 , wherein the water tank is removable from the power unit housing with the wick disposed in the water tank. 
     
     
         22 . An evaporative humidifier comprising:
 a water tank configured for storing water;   a wick positioned with respect to the water tank such that water is drawn into and through the wick toward an air outlet;   a blower assembly including a fan, the blower assembly being configured to move air through the wick and toward the air outlet; and   a controller configured to determine a condition of the wick based on a temperature and a humidity of air entering the evaporative humidifier, an amount of heat added to the air upstream from the wick, a volumetric flow rate of air traveling through the wick, and at least one of a water level in the water tank and a temperature and a humidity of air leaving the wick.   
     
     
         23 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 an upstream temperature sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned upstream from the wick, the upstream temperature sensor being configured to measure the temperature of air entering the evaporative humidifier; and   an upstream humidity sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned upstream from the wick, the upstream humidity sensor being configured to measure the humidity of air entering the evaporative humidifier.   
     
     
         24 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , further comprising a water level sensor configured to determine the water level of the water tank. 
     
     
         25 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 24 , further comprising a water reservoir, wherein the water tank meters water to the water reservoir. 
     
     
         26 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 25 , wherein the wick is positioned in the water reservoir. 
     
     
         27 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , wherein the volumetric flow rate of air traveling through the wick is based on fan velocity, which is measured or determined by the controller. 
     
     
         28 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a first upstream temperature sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned upstream from the wick, the first upstream temperature sensor being configured to measure the temperature of air entering the evaporative humidifier;   an upstream humidity sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned upstream from the wick, the upstream humidity sensor being configured to measure the humidity of air entering the evaporative humidifier; and   a second upstream temperature sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned upstream from the wick and downstream from the first upstream temperature sensor;   wherein the controller is configured to determine the amount of heat added to the air upstream from the wick by comparing signals from the first upstream temperature sensor and the second upstream temperature sensor.   
     
     
         29 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 28 , further comprising a heater in electrical communication with the controller and positioned downstream from the first upstream temperature sensor and upstream from the second upstream temperature sensor and the wick. 
     
     
         30 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 an upstream temperature sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned upstream from the wick, the upstream temperature sensor being configured to measure the temperature of air entering the evaporative humidifier; and   an upstream humidity sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned upstream from the wick, the upstream humidity sensor being configured to measure the humidity of air entering the evaporative humidifier;   a downstream temperature sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned downstream from the wick, the downstream temperature sensor being configured to measure the temperature air leaving the wick; and   a downstream humidity sensor in electrical communication with the controller and positioned downstream from the wick, the downstream humidity sensor being configured to measure the humidity air leaving the wick,   wherein the controller is configured to determine the operating condition of the wick based on signals received from the upstream temperature sensor, the upstream humidity sensor, the downstream temperature sensor, and the downstream humidity sensor.   
     
     
         31 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the fan and the user interface and is configured to determine the volumetric flow rate of air traveling through the evaporative humidifier based on a speed at which the fan is rotating, and the controller is further configured to adjust the speed at which the fan is rotating based on signals received from the user interface. 
     
     
         32 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 31 , further comprising a heater in electrical communication with the controller, and the controller receives a signal from the user interface indicative of a predetermined time the humidifier is to operate and adjusts operation of at least one of the heater and the fan based on input from the water level sensor during the predetermined time period. 
     
     
         33 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , wherein the wick is positioned in the water tank. 
     
     
         34 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the condition of the wick based on a change in the water level in the water tank over a predetermined period of time as compared to a calculated change in the water level in the water tank over the predetermined period of time for a new or ideal wick with the evaporative humidifier operating with the same temperature and humidity of air entering the evaporative humidifier, the same amount of heat added to the air upstream from the wick, the same volumetric flow rate of air traveling through the wick. 
     
     
         35 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the condition of the wick based on a change in the water level in the water tank over a predetermined period of time as compared to a previously recorded change in the water level in the water tank over the predetermined period of time for the wick with the evaporative humidifier operating with the same temperature and humidity of air entering the evaporative humidifier, the same amount of heat added to the air upstream from the wick, the same volumetric flow rate of air traveling through the wick. 
     
     
         36 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the condition of the wick based on comparing the temperature and humidity of the air leaving the wick to a calculated temperature and humidity of air leaving the wick for a new or ideal wick with the evaporative humidifier operating with the same temperature and humidity of air entering the evaporative humidifier, the same amount of heat added to the air upstream from the wick, the same volumetric flow rate of air traveling through the wick. 
     
     
         37 . The evaporative humidifier of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the condition of the wick based on comparing the temperature and humidity of the air leaving the wick to a previously recorded temperature and a previously recorded humidity of air leaving the wick with the evaporative humidifier operating with the same temperature and humidity of air entering the evaporative humidifier, the same amount of heat added to the air upstream from the wick, the same volumetric flow rate of air traveling through the wick.