Control of a humidity and a temperature of a respiratory air flow

A method for controlling a humidity and a temperature of a respiratory air flow by a control unit of a respiratory air humidification system which comprises, in addition to the control unit:

• a respiratory air humidifier having a respiratory air inlet, a respiratory air outlet, a liquid container and an electrically controllable humidification device, which is formed in order to convert an aqueous liquid from the liquid container into water vapour and/or water droplets, the respiratory air humidifier being formed in order to humidify respiratory air, which is supplied at the respiratory air inlet, by mixing with the water vapour and/or the water droplets and to provide it in a thereby humidified state as the respiratory air flow at the respiratory air outlet;
• an electrically controllable thermal regulation device, which is formed in order additionally to regulate the temperature of the respiratory air flow;
• a humidity sensor for recording the humidity of the respiratory air flow;
• a temperature sensor for recording the temperature of the respiratory air flow;
• wherein the method (M) comprises:
• controlling the humidity of the respiratory air flow in a plurality of successive time intervals in a humidity control loop, wherein in each time interval of the humidity control loop a setpoint humidity value and an actual humidity value, which indicates a humidity of the respiratory air flow as recorded by the humidity sensor, are received, a humidity deviation is determined by comparing the setpoint humidity value with the actual humidity value and at least one humidity control parameter for controlling a power with which the humidification device converts the liquid into the water vapour and/or the water droplets, is adjusted in order to reduce the humidity deviation;
• controlling the temperature of the respiratory air flow in a plurality of successive time intervals in a temperature control loop, wherein in each time interval of the temperature control loop a setpoint temperature value and an actual temperature value, which indicates a temperature of the respiratory air flow as recorded by the temperature sensor, are received, a temperature deviation is determined by comparing the setpoint temperature value with the actual temperature value and at least one temperature control parameter for controlling a power with which the thermal regulation device additionally regulates the temperature of the respiratory air flow, is adjusted in order to reduce the temperature deviation;
• the at least one humidity control being adjusted while additionally taking into account the temperature deviation and/or the at least one temperature control parameter from at least one of the time intervals of the temperature control loop and/or
• the at least one temperature control parameter being adjusted while additionally taking into account the humidity deviation and/or the at least one humidity control parameter from at least one of the time intervals of the humidity control loop.