Wine cellar with humidity control
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsRodrigues Stahelin, Douglas Pauli, Matteo Parnisari
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A humidity control system for a wine cooler may include a damper configured to control airflow between a cabinet defining an interior and the humidity control system, a heater configured to receive the airflow, a porous medium disposed proximate to the heater, a water inlet configured to selectively supply water to the porous medium and a controller configured to adjust a supply of water to the water inlet. Upon a humidification signal the controller may adjust the damper to allow the passage of airflow from the interior of the cabinet to the heater and the porous medium. The airflow may be humidified via the porous medium and the humidified airflow may be returned to the interior of the cabinet.
Claims20
A humidity control system fora wine cooler, the humidity control system comprising:
- at least one damper configured to control airflow between a cabinet defining an interior and the humidity control system;
- a humidity sensor configured to detect and measure a water vapor content of the interior,
- a heater configured to receive the airflow;
- a porous medium disposed proximate to the heater;
- a water inlet configured to selectively supply water to the porous medium;
- and
- a controller configured to control a supply of water to the water inlet, wherein upon reaching a humidification threshold value the controller adjusts the damper to allow the passage of airflow from the interior of the cabinet to the heater and the porous medium and wherein the airflow is humidified via the porous medium and the humidified airflow is returned to the interior of the cabinet.
A humidity control system for a refrigerating appliance, the humidity control system comprising:
- a damper configured to control airflow between a cabinet defining an interior and the humidity control system;
- a heater configured to receive the airflow;
- a porous medium disposed proximate to the heater;
- a water inlet configured to selectively supply water to the porous medium;
- and
- a controller configured to adjust a supply of water to the water inlet and upon a humidification signal the controller adjusts the damper to allow the passage of airflow from the interior of the cabinet to the heater and the porous medium and wherein the airflow is humidified via the porous medium and the humidified airflow is returned to the interior of the cabinet.
A method of controlling a water vapor content of an interior of a refrigerating appliance, the method comprising:
- detecting a humidification threshold value;
- supplying water to a porous medium;
- directing airflow from the interior to a heater;
- directing the airflow from the heater to the porous medium for humidification;
- and
- directing the humidified airflow to the interior.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.