System and method for controlling temperature and water content of an airstream

System for controlling temperature and water content of an air stream, the system (1) comprising

• a contact device (10) that transfers thermal energy and water vapor between a medium and an air stream flowing through the contact device, the contact device (10) allowing contact between the medium and the air stream in which thermal energy and water vapor is transferred,
• a first control device (20) that controls water content of the medium,
• a second control device (30) that controls temperature of the medium,
• wherein the contact device (10), the first control device (20) and the second control device (30) are connected such that the medium is able to flow in a loop (50) comprising the contact device (10), the first control device (20), and the second control device (30),
• processing circuitry (40) configured to control the first control device (20) and the second control device (30),
• a first sensor (S1) configured to measure a medium water content parameter, wcmedium, of the medium and to send signals indicative of the medium water content parameter to the processing circuitry, said medium water content parameter being a parameter indicative of an amount of water in the medium,
• a second sensor (S2) configured to measure a medium temperature of the medium, Tmedium, and to send signals indicative of the temperature to the processing circuitry,
• a third sensor (S3) configured to measure an air temperature of the air stream, Tair, and to send signals indicative of the temperature to the processing circuitry, and
• a fourth sensor (S4) configured to measure an air water content parameter, wcair, of the air stream and to send signals indicative of the air water content parameter to the processing circuitry, said air water content parameter being a parameter indicative of an amount of water in the air stream,
• wherein said third sensor and said fourth sensor are configured to measure air temperature and air water content in a downstream section, said downstream section being a section that the air stream passes after flowing through the contact device, wherein the processing circuitry (40) is configured to control air temperature and air water content of the air stream passing through the contact device by
• receiving, from the first sensor, a first input signal comprising the medium water content parameter, wcmedium,
• receiving, from the second sensor, a second input signal comprising the measured medium temperature, Tmedium,
• receiving, from the third sensor, a third input signal, comprising the measured air temperature, Tair,
• receiving, from the fourth sensor, a fourth input signal comprising the measured air water content parameter, wcair, and
• determining, based on the received first, second, third and fourth input signals, a desired temperature change, Tchange, and desired water content change,
• wcchange of the medium as a first function f1:
• (Tchange,wcchange)=f1(Tmedium,wcmedium,Tair,wcair,f2(Tair,wcair)),
• wherein the second function f2 (Tair, wcair) defines a relationship between the air temperature, Tair, and the air water content parameter, wcair, as co-dependent variables such that a change in the value of one of the air temperature, Tair, and the air water content parameter, wcair, affects the value of the other, and
• wherein the desired temperature change, Tchange and the desired water content change, wcchange are determined such that the air stream flowing through the contact device approaches a predetermined temperature setpoint, Tset, and a predetermined water content setpoint, wcset, through contact with the medium in the contact device,
• generating a first control signal which is configured to cause the first control device to apply the water content change, wcchange, to the medium such that the medium water content changes from the value of the medium water content parameter, wcmedium, by the desired water content change, wcchange, and
• generating a second control signal which is configured to cause the second control device to apply the temperature change, Tchange to the medium such that the medium temperature changes from the measured medium temperature, Tmedium, by the desired temperature change, Tchange.