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EP0777087A1 - Dispositif de conditionnement d'air et systeme de conditionnement d'air comportant ledit dispositif - Google Patents

Dispositif de conditionnement d'air et systeme de conditionnement d'air comportant ledit dispositif Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0777087A1
EP0777087A1 EP95929217A EP95929217A EP0777087A1 EP 0777087 A1 EP0777087 A1 EP 0777087A1 EP 95929217 A EP95929217 A EP 95929217A EP 95929217 A EP95929217 A EP 95929217A EP 0777087 A1 EP0777087 A1 EP 0777087A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
unit
temperature
humidity
air conditioning
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95929217A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Kanichi Technical Institute of K. K. KADOTANI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Komatsu Ltd
Original Assignee
Komatsu Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP6199585A external-priority patent/JPH0861705A/ja
Priority claimed from JP25217594A external-priority patent/JP3262462B2/ja
Application filed by Komatsu Ltd filed Critical Komatsu Ltd
Publication of EP0777087A1 publication Critical patent/EP0777087A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/12Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
    • F24F3/14Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
    • F24F3/1411Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification by absorbing or adsorbing water, e.g. using an hygroscopic desiccant
    • F24F3/1423Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification by absorbing or adsorbing water, e.g. using an hygroscopic desiccant with a moving bed of solid desiccants, e.g. a rotary wheel supporting solid desiccants
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/12Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
    • F24F3/14Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
    • F24F3/147Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification with both heat and humidity transfer between supplied and exhausted air
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F5/00Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater
    • F24F5/0046Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/12Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
    • F24F3/14Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
    • F24F2003/1458Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification using regenerators
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2203/00Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
    • F24F2203/10Rotary wheel
    • F24F2203/1008Rotary wheel comprising a by-pass channel
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2203/00Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
    • F24F2203/10Rotary wheel
    • F24F2203/1016Rotary wheel combined with another type of cooling principle, e.g. compression cycle
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2203/00Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
    • F24F2203/10Rotary wheel
    • F24F2203/1032Desiccant wheel
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2203/00Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
    • F24F2203/10Rotary wheel
    • F24F2203/104Heat exchanger wheel
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2203/00Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
    • F24F2203/10Rotary wheel
    • F24F2203/1056Rotary wheel comprising a reheater
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2203/00Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
    • F24F2203/10Rotary wheel
    • F24F2203/1072Rotary wheel comprising two rotors
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2203/00Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
    • F24F2203/10Rotary wheel
    • F24F2203/1076Rotary wheel comprising three rotors
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2203/00Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
    • F24F2203/10Rotary wheel
    • F24F2203/1084Rotary wheel comprising two flow rotor segments

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus for conditioning the temperature and the humidity of an air by using a temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type with a thermoelectric element and a humidity conditioning unit with a moisture absorbing material, as well as an air conditioning system incorporating an air conditioning apparatus as described.
  • thermoelectric element An air conditioning apparatus that makes use of a thermoelectric element only for conditioning the temperature and the humidity of an air has presently been put into a practical utilization in the form of a dehumidifier and a refrigerator which are small sized. It has been recognized, however, that since in order for the air dehumidification to be achieved by simply conditioning the air temperature the moisture condensation needs to be attained by cooling the air to elevate the relative humidity in the air to 100 %, an operation is unavoidably required that is capable of creating a large temperature difference. Thus, in order for such an operation to be applicable to a dehumidifier and refrigerator which are medium or large sized, the problem has arisen that they are unsatisfactory in terms of its cost and efficiency.
  • thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material are utilized to achieve the air temperature conditioning with the thermoelectric element and to attain the air humidity conditioning with the moisture absorbing material, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model publication No. Sho 64-1374 and Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Hei 4-50386.
  • thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material as mentioned above, however, it has been found that not only are a heating and cooling unit (i. e., a temperature conditioning unit) with a thermoelectric element and a dehumidifying unit (i. e., a humidity conditioning unit) with a moisture absorbing material separately required in an apparatus but also there is no connection whatsoever between these units in terms of the temperature conditioning and humidity conditioning control functions and they are simply included and configured in the apparatus as totally independent of each other.
  • a heating and cooling unit i. e., a temperature conditioning unit
  • dehumidifying unit i. e., a humidity conditioning unit
  • thermoelectric element is poor in its efficiency in the entire apparatus but there arises the problem that in order for a predetermined amount of the air to be both temperature and humidity conditioned, only an equipment would ensue that is simply large sized and yet is poor in its controllability.
  • thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material, and which is made capable of reducing the load upon the thermoelectric element, enhancing its efficiency, controlling the air conditioning temperature and humidity with a high precision, and being reduced in its size and its manufacturing cost.
  • thermoelectric type thermoelectric type
  • the hybrid air conditioning apparatus as a prior art disclosed in the former Publication noted above is configured to make use of a solar cell as the power supply for a thermoelectric element and has a construction in which an air warmed by the solar heat is passed through a heat absorptive side of the said thermoelectric element and is supplied into a dwelling space to warm that space.
  • thermoelectric element In the hybrid air conditioning apparatus as a prior art disclosed in the latter Publication as well, the temperature of an air is lowered by a thermoelectric element and the water content in the air is condensed. Accordingly, if an attempt is made to dehumidify a necessary amount of the air, the thermoelectric element will have to bear a large load. It has been found that a thermoelectric element currently technologically available cannot bear such a load in terms of thermoelectric efficiency and so forth. In the prior art hybrid air conditioning apparatus disclosed in the latter Publication, therefore, it will be seen that the water content in an air cannot be positively removed and the air conditioning including the humidity control cannot be accomplished efficiently.
  • an air conditioning apparatus which comprises: a humidity conditioning unit with an moisture absorbing material; a heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type with a thermoelectric element; an air conditioning passage that is provided with those respective one portions of the said humidity conditioning unit and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type which are connected with each other in series; and a regenerating passage that is provided with those respective other portions of the said humidity conditioning unit and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type which are connected with each other in series.
  • the air conditioning apparatus may further comprise a heat exchanger unit, in which a portion of said heat exchanger unit may constitute a portion of the said air conditioning passage and in which another portion of the said heat exchanger unit constitutes a portion of the said regenerating passage.
  • a heating source that is disposed at a side upstream of the said humidity conditioning unit in the said regenerating passage.
  • an air that is absorbed from the interior or the exterior of a room into the said air conditioning passage will be dehumidified or humidified by being passed through a portion of the said humidity conditioning unit, then will be heated to have a final conditioned air humidity at the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type or will be heated or cooled to a temperature that approaches a final conditioned air temperature at the said heat exchanger and will subsequently cooled or heated to have a final air conditioned temperature at the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type.
  • the said humidity conditioning unit will be humidified or dehumidified, the said heat exchanger will be cooled or heated and further the said heating and cooling unit will be heated or cooled. They will each be regenerated by the regenerated air that flows through the said regenerating passage.
  • an air conditioning apparatus that makes use of a thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material, is made capable of reducing the load upon the said thermoelectric element to enhance its efficiency while accurately controlling the outlet temperature with a heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type having a thermoelectric element. Also, By virtue of the fact that an air conditioning passage and a regenerating passage are constructed integrally, the entire air conditioning equipment can be reduced in both its size and its manufacturing cost.
  • an air conditioning system that comprises: a hybrid solar panel constituted by a section for generating an electric power from a solar energy and a heat collecting section; and a hybrid air conditioning apparatus having an absorptive humidity conditioning unit and an electrical temperature conditioning unit disposed in an air conditioning passage, in which the said heat collecting section is connected to a regenerating passage section of the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit and a regenerating passage section of the said electrical temperature conditioning unit and in which the said power generating section is connected to a power receiving section of the said electrical temperature conditioning unit.
  • an air conditioning system may further comprise: a temperature measurement section for measuring a temperature of the said power generating section; and a control section for controlling the operation of an outside air absorbing fan of the said heat collecting section in accordance with a temperature measured in the said temperature measurement section.
  • the said electrical temperature conditioning unit may include a thermoelectric element.
  • an air that is sucked into an air conditioning passage will be dehumidified at the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit, then will be temperature controlled at the said electrical temperature conditioning section and thereafter will be caused to flow into a room.
  • a power will be generated in the said power generating section so that the air which is heated at the said heat collecting section may be furnished.
  • the heated air from the above mentioned heat collecting section will be used as a regenerated air for the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit while being functioning as a heat source for absorbing the heat at the said electrical temperature conditioning unit.
  • the above mentioned power generating section will serve to act as a heat source for heating (i. e. regenerating) the said electrical temperature conditioning unit.
  • a hybrid air conditioning system in which a solar cell is utilized as the power supply for the said electrical temperature conditioning unit and further an air that is warmed by the solar heat, the dehumidification of the air can be carried out without the resort on the cooling of the air by the above mentioned electrical temperature conditioning unit, thus enabling the load upon the said electrical temperature conditioning unit for the humidity conditioning function to be reduced.
  • a thermoelectric element is utilized in the said electrical temperature conditioning unit, the resultant effect has been found to be remarkable.
  • Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic construction of an air conditioning apparatus according to the present invention.
  • a humidity conditioning unit 1 a heat exchanger 2 and a heating and cooling unit 3 of thermoelectric type.
  • an air conditioning passage 4 and a regenerating passage 5.
  • the above mentioned humidity conditioning unit 1 has a construction in which it is provided therein with a multitude of honeycomb shaped partition walls which define air passages and each of which has a moisture absorbing material such as silica gel coated on a surface thereof.
  • a portion of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 constitutes an air conditioning passage section 1a thereof that is a portion of an air conditioning passage 4 whereas another portion thereof constitutes a regenerating passage section 4 thereof that is a portion of a regenerating passage 5.
  • the said humidity conditioning unit 1 is so constructed that if it is rotated the said two passage sections 1a and 1b may be exchanged.
  • the said humidity conditioning unit 1 As a specific example of the said humidity conditioning unit 1, there is available a rotary type dehumidifier that is sold in the market as a dehumidifying rotor.
  • the above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2 is so constructed that a portion thereof may constitute an air conditioning passage section 2a thereof that is a portion of the air conditioning passage 4 and another portion thereof may constitute a regenerating passage section 2b thereof that is a portion of the regenerating passage 5.
  • the said heat exchanger unit 2 there is available a rotary regenerative heat exchanger, a fixed plate type heat exchanger, a fixed heat pipe type heat exchanger or the like that belongs to the public domain.
  • thermoelectric type 3 has a construction in which a multitude of thermoelectric elements are integrated and one of the electrodes of each of these thermoelectric elements is opposed to an air conditioning passage section 3a that is a portion of the above mentioned air conditioning passage 4 whereas the other electrode of each of the said thermoelectric elements is opposed to a regenerating passage section 3b that is a portion of the above mentioned regenerating passage 5.
  • the above mentioned air conditioning passage 4 has a construction in which the respective air conditioning passage sections 1a, 2a and 3a of the said humidity conditioning unit 1, the said heat exchanger unit 2 and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 are connected with each other in series and in which an inlet side thereof is open to the interior of a room or an outside thereof whereas an outlet thereof is open to a clean room, a dwelling room or a chamber to be air conditioned and requiring an air conditioned air.
  • the above mentioned regenerating passage 5 has a construction in which the respective regenerating passage sections 3b, 2b and 1b of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3, the said heat exchanger 2 and the said humidity conditioning unit 1 are connected in series and in which the direction of air flow therein is opposite to that of air flow in the above mentioned air conditioning passage 4. And, an inlet side thereof is open to the interior of a room or to an outside thereof whereas an outlet side thereof is open to the interior of a room or an outside thereof.
  • the above mentioned regenerating passage 5 at a downstream side of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 has an air suction and exhaust line 6a connected thereto that communicates with another path lying inside or outside of a room.
  • the said regenerating passage 5 is provided with a heat exchanger by-pass line 7 that by-passes the said heat exchanger unit 2 and to which is connected an air suction and exhaust line 6b that communicates with another path lying inside or outside of a room.
  • the above mentioned regenerating passage 5 at an upstream side of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 has a heater 8 wound about it for heating the regenerated air that is entering into the said regenerating passage section 1b of this humidity conditioning unit 1.
  • Each of the junctions of the above mentioned suction and exhaust passages 6a and 6b with the by-passing passage 7 and the regenerating passage 5 is provided with a directional switching valve 9 so as to be surrounded thereby.
  • Air conditioning for a high temperature and high humidity air (1) Air conditioning for a high temperature and high humidity air:
  • a high temperature and a high humidity air that is sucked into the interior of a room or out to its exterior will first be dehumidified though the said air conditioning section 1a in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 to reduce its absolute humidity.
  • the defumidifying action will then be effected with the moisture absorbing material such as silica gel. For this reason, a latent heat will then be emitted due to the condensation of a water content in the air and, as a result, the temperature of the air outgoing from the said air conditioning passage section 1a will be made higher than the temperature of the air at the time it was sucked.
  • the above mentioned moisture absorbing material of the said air conditioning passage section 1a in the above mentioned humidity conditioning unit 1 will then be gradually degraded due to its moisture absorbing activity. If a rotary type dehumidifier is employed for this humidity conditioning unit 1, however, the said air conditioning passage section 1 that is opposed to the said air conditioning passage 1 will gradually be exchanged with the said regenerating passage section 1b that is opposed to the said regenerating passage 5, and then will thus be successively regenerated.
  • the air conditioned air that has raised in its temperature by being dehumidified through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 1a in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 will be cooled down to a temperature that approaches the temperature of the air conditioned air that is needed through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 2a in the said heat exchanger 2.
  • the relative humidity of the air conditioned air will at this time be elevated. It should be noted here that there will be no change in the absolute humidity at this time.
  • the air will be temperature conditioned to a predetermined temperature through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 3a in the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3.
  • the air conditioning passage section 3a in the heating and cooling unit 3 of thermoelectric type will at this time reside at a cooling side.
  • the air conditioned air will upon passing through this section have its sensible heat absorbed and then will thus be cooled. And, it should be noted here that this cooling temperature will be accurately controlled by controlling the amount of electric current that is carried into the said thermoelectric elements.
  • thermoelectric type 3 The above mentioned regenerating section 3b in the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 will be deprived of the heat by the regenerated air passing though the said regenerating passage 4. Then, the heat that has been absorbed through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 3a will be emitted.
  • the regenerated air which, while it is passing through the above mentioned heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2, has been discharged therefrom to raise its temperature will further be elevated in temperature by the above mentioned heater 8 and, then passing through the above mentioned regenerating passage section 1b in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 and thereafter acting to dry the moisture absorbing material that has absorbed a moisture through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 1a, will be regenerated.
  • the path in which the regenerated air should then pass will be generally a path in which the respective regenerating passage sections 3b, 2b and 1b of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3, the said heat exchanger unit 2 and the said humidity conditioning unit 1 are connected in series. But, depending on the relative temperature of the regenerated air to the temperatures in height of the respective regenerating passage sections 3b and 2b of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the said heat exchanger unit 2, it will be a path by-passing the regenerating passage section 2b of the said heat exchanger unit 2 as shown in Fig. 2, or alternatively may make use of the separate regenerated flows of the air passing through the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and a downstream side thereof as shown in Fig.
  • thermoelectric type 3 or the separate regenerated flows of the air passing through the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and a downstream side thereof while at the same time utilizing the regenerated air that is caused to flow into a downstream side of the said heat exchanger unit 2 from another path as shown in Fig. 4.
  • thermoelectric type thermoelectric type
  • the air conditioned air will have an absolute humidity of 0.0115 kg/kg (meaning the humidity of a dry air).
  • an air to be air conditioned has an inlet temperature of 33 °C and an inlet humidity of 63 % (i. e. the point A )
  • the air in the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 1a in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 will be dehumidified until the air conditioned has an absolute humidity of 0.0115 kg/kg (meaning the humidity of a dry air) as mentioned above.
  • the temperature in this case will be elevated due to the emission of a latent heat that has arisen from the condensation of a water content generated as the dehumidifying action proceeds.
  • the air will be cooled, for example, to have a temperature of 38 °C such that the above mentioned temperature of 53 °C in the said dehumidified state may approach as much as possible to the temperature of 26 °C of a finally air conditioned air.
  • the air humidity at this instant will thereby become 28 % (i. e. the point C ).
  • the air conditioned in the preceding stage will further be cooled to reach the predetermined temperature of 26 °C in the above mentioned heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3.
  • the humidity of the air will at this instant become 55 % (i. e. the point D ).
  • thermoelectric elements need not to change the absolute humidity but may only change the temperature from 38 °C to 26 °C .
  • thermoelectric elements For the purpose of a comparison with the above mentioned embodiment, it should be noted that if a cooling operation for the dehumidification purpose is carried out with the thermoelectric elements only as in the prior art, an explanation as follows will apply with reference to Fig. 5 noted above:
  • the air In order for an air having a temperature of 33 °C and a humidity of 63 % to be dehumidified, the air will have to be dehumidified to have a humidity of 100 % by following a change as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 so that a condensation may then be made. Therefore, in order for a humidity of 55 % to be reached at first, the air will have to be cooled to reach a temperature of 16 °C .
  • the air to be conditioned may be first humidified in the above mentioned humidity conditioning unit 1, and then heated in the above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2 to a temperature that approaches the temperature of the finally air conditioned air and finally heated in the above mentioned heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 to a predetermined temperature.
  • FIGs. 6 to 8 show different specific examples of the air conditioning apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 shows a first specific example in which a rotary type dehumidifier 10 is utilized for the above mentioned humidity conditioning unit 1 and a rotary type heat exchanger 11 is employed for the above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2.
  • FIG. 7 shows a second specific example in which a fixed plate type heat exchanger 12 is utilized for the said heat exchanger unit 2 whereas Fig. 8 shows a third specific example in which a fixed heat pipe type heat exchanger 13 is employed therefor.
  • Fig. 9 shows a first applied example in which an air conditioning apparatus 14 that represents the above mentioned first specific example is employed in a dwelling space and in which the air conditioning apparatus 14 is embedded in a wall 15 for achieving both cooling and warming purposes in the said dwelling space.
  • Figs. 10 and 11 show a second and a third applied examples, respectively, in which the above mentioned first example is employed for achieving the cooling and warming purposes in a dwelling space as mentioned above.
  • both the inlet side and the outlet side of a said air conditioning passage 4 are open to the interior of a room. And, it has a construction in which an outside air may be taken into the regenerating passage 3b of a said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3, and may be cooled in order to be emitted out of the room and returned to the exterior thereof, and in which a separate outside air may be taken from an upstream side of a said heat exchanger 2 into the respective regenerating passages sections 2b and 1b of the said rotary type heat exchanger 2 and the said rotary type humidity conditioner 1.
  • the third applied example shown in Fig, 11 represents an arrangement in which an air inlet is provided at an upstream side as well of the regenerating passage section 1b in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 in the arrangement shown in Fig. 10.
  • the said heat exchanger unit 2 and the said humidity conditioning unit 1 there are provided respective outside air intakes 15a, 15b and 15c, each of which is connected via an opening and closing plate 16a, 16b, 16c to a duct 17 which is in turn connected to a solar heat collector.
  • the said outside air intakes 15a, 15b and 15c for both the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the said heat exchanger unit 2 have outside air inlets 18a and 18b connected thereto which are capable of alternately establishing and blocking a communication with the side of the above mentioned duct 17 at the above mentioned opening and closing plates 16a and 16b.
  • the above mentioned opening and closing plates 16a, 16b and 16c may each be made up from a shape memory alloy such that they may be opened and closed in response to an ambient temperature.
  • each opening and closing plate 16a, 16b, 16c may change its position between the summer season in which the ambient air is hot and the winter season in which it is cold.
  • the system in the summer season in which it is hot, the system is so operatively arranged that an outside air may be taken into both the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the said heat exchanger unit 2 whereas a warm air from the said solar heat collector may be taken through the said duct 17 into the said humidity conditioning unit 1.
  • the system is so operatively arranged that a warm air may be taken from the said solar heat collector into both the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the said heat exchanger unit 2 whereas the inlet of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 may remain closed.
  • the humidity conditioning unit 1 is made of rotary type and makes use of the moisture absorbing material such as silica gel, in an alternative example in which the said humidity conditioning unit 1 may employ a membrane modular construction.
  • Fig. 12 shows such a specific example of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 in which between an upper header 19a and a lower header 19b there are arranged a multitude of hollow thread membranes 20 and a moisture absorbing fluid or a regenerating fluid flows through each of these hollow thread membranes 20 whereas an air being conditioned is caused to flow outside of the said hollow thread membranes 20 so that the air flowing outside of the hollow thread membranes 20 may be either dehumidified or humidified through the hollow thread membranes 20 by the moisture absorbing fluid or the regenerated fluid flowing through these hollow thread membranes 20.
  • Fig. 13 shows a certain embodiment of the air conditioning system according to the present invention in which the above mentioned third applied example is assembled in a house actually.
  • the hybrid air conditioner 101 comprises: a housing 106 having an air conditioning passage 104 and a regenerating passage (i. e. an outside air passage) 105 into which the housing is halved by a partition wall 103 in an axially perpendicular direction; and an absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, a heat exchanger unit 108 and a temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 which are successively arranged in an axial direction within the housing 106.
  • the both ends of the above mentioned air conditioning passage 104 are arranged to be open to the inside of a room RM.
  • the both ends of the above mentioned regenerating passage 105 are led via an outside duct 100 to the outside of the room.
  • the above mentioned absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 has a multitude of partition walls of a honeycomb configuration which constitute air passages, and is constructed to have a moisture absorbing material such as silica gel on a surface of each of the said partition walls.
  • the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 and the said heat exchanger unit 108 are each configured to be in the form of a rotary cylinder journaled on the above mentioned partition wall 103 such that when rotated they may be exchanged successively so as to be opposed alternately to the said air conditioning passage 104 and the said regenerating passage 105.
  • thermoelectric type 109 is constructed of a multitude of thermoelectric elements integrated so that one of the electrodes of each of these thermoelectric elements may be opposed to the said air conditioning passage 104 whereas the other electrode thereof may be opposed to the said regenerating passage 105.
  • the above mentioned housing 106 is provided at the inlet portion of the air conditioning passage 104 with an air conditioning fan 110 so that an air sucked at one side of the air conditioning passage 104 may flow through the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, the said heat exchanger unit 108 and the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and may then be exhausted through the other side of the air conditioning passage 104. And, at the outlet of the air conditioning passage 104 there is disposed a humidifier 111.
  • the above mentioned regenerating passage 105 comprises a first regenerating passage 105a through which the air passes via the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 and flows out to the outside of the room, a second regenerating passage 105b through which the air passes via the said heat exchanger unit 108 and the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit 107 and flows out to the outside of the room, and a third regenerating passage 105c through which the air passes via the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and flows out to the outside of the room.
  • first, second and third regenerating passages 105a, 105b and 105c are connected via a first, a second and a third opening and closing valve 112a, 112b and 112c, respectively, which are provided independently of each other, to an outside air introducing duct 113.
  • the said second and third opening and closing valves 112b and 112c of the said second and third regenerating passages 105b and 105c are configured to be selectively openable to either of the above mentioned outside air introducing duct 113 and a first duct 114a leading to the outside of the room or to either of the said outside air introducing duct 113 and a second duct 114b leading to the outside of the room.
  • first and third regenerating passages 105a and 105c are provided at their respective outlets with a first and a second blow out fan 115a and 115b, respectively.
  • the above mentioned hybrid solar panel 102 comprises a solar cell 116 in the form of a planar configuration and a solar heat collector 17 provided at the rear side of the solar cell 116; and they are installed on an upper surface of a roof B .
  • the said solar heat collector 117 comprises a cavity 118 provided along the rear side of the said solar cell 116 and an outside air suction fan 119 for sucking an air into the said cavity 118 from an outside thereof.
  • the said fan 119 has the rate of rotation controllable by a control unit 123.
  • the said cavity 118 of the solar heat collector 117 is connected to the above mentioned outside air introducing duct 113 of the said hybrid air conditioner 101 via a duct 120 and a switching section 121.
  • This switching section 121 is so configured that a part or all of heated air from the said solar heat collector 117 may be capable of flowing into the room A as a need arises.
  • thermoelectric elements of the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 of the above mentioned hybrid air conditioning unit 101 are connected to a commercial power supply.
  • a high temperature and high humidity air that has been sucked into the above mentioned air conditioning passage 104 from the room inside RM will first be absorption dehumidified by the above mentioned absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 to lower its absolute temperature.
  • the dehumidification action at this time will be performed by the said moisture absorptive material such as silica gel.
  • a latent heat due to the condensation of a water content in the air will be emitted so that the air outgoing from the said air conditioning passage 104 section in the absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 may be made higher in temperature than the air at its suction inlet side.
  • the capacity to absorb by the said moisture absorbing material in an area that is opposed to the said air conditioning passage 104 in the above mentioned absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 will gradually be degraded owing to its absorption of a water content in the air being conditioned.
  • the said absorptive dehumidifying unit 107 is gradually rotated, a portion that has been degraded will gradually be exchanged for a portion that is opposed to the side of the said outside air passage 105 and hence will successively be regenerated.
  • the air conditioning air that is elevated in temperature will be heat exchanged for an outside air of a given temperature in the said heat exchanger unit 108 to lower its temperature.
  • the relative humidity of the air conditioning air will then be raised. It should be noted, however, that no change will then occur in the absolute humidity.
  • the air will be temperature conditioned in the temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 to have a predetermined temperature and will then be exhausted to exist again in the room inside RM.
  • the side of said air conditioning passage 104 of the temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 at this instant will represent a cooling side and, by passing therethrough, the air conditioning air will have its sensible heat absorbed and will thereby be cooled. It will be noted here that the cooling temperature will then be accurately controlled by controlling the quantity of electric current carried into the said thermoelectric elements. The electric power that will then be required will be served also from the said solar cell 116 of the above mentioned hybrid solar panel 102.
  • an air to the said outside air passage 105 will be introduced from the outside of the room by operating the said switch 112a, 112b, 112c, or from the said solar heat collector 117 of the above mentioned hybrid solar panel 102. It is by this introduced outside air that the absorbing portion in the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 will be dried and regenerated. To this end, as a need arises, an electric heater 122 may be provided at a side upstream of the the said outside air passage 105 of the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 to warm the said introduced outside air.
  • each of Tables 1 and 2 represents an operating mode in the summer season whereas each of Tables 3 and 4 represents an operating mode in the winter season.
  • the terms "the operation ON” and “the operation OFF" for the hybrid panel are intended to mean the case in which the hybrid solar panel 102 is operated, i. e. there is a sunshine, and the case in which it is not operated, i. e. there is no sunshine, respectively.
  • the intensiveness and weakness for the operation of the said solar heat collector are intended to mean the case in which a large quantity of solar heat is taken in and the case in which only a small quantity of solar heat is taken in, respectively, by controlling the operation of the said fan 19 for sucking the outside air.
  • the outside air has a temperature T 1
  • the said solar cell 116 has a temperature T 2 at its rear side
  • the air that is introduced into the said hybrid air conditioner 101 and that is emitted from the said solar heat collector 117 has a temperature of T 3
  • the said room inside has a temperature of T 4 and a humidity of H 4 and is given a preset temperature T 5 and a preset humidity H 5
  • the said solar cell 116 is given a preset temperature T 6 at its read side.
  • the respective temperature and humidity measuring sections (not shown).
  • the present air conditioning system involves a control method in which a temperature and a humidity are controlled independently of each other. More specifically, the group I of Table 5 listed above is related to the conditioning of a temperature and is subject to a control by the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 whereas the group II is related to the conditioning of a humidity and is subject to a control by the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, the said heat exchanger unit 108 and the said humidifier 111.
  • thermoelectric type 109 Where the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 is driven electrically, it should be noted that the output of the said solar cell 116 is preferentially utilized and it is only when the said output becomes deficient that an electric power from the commercial power supply is utilized. Also, where the regenerating operation for the moisture absorbing section of the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 is carried out thermally, it should be noted that the thermal output from the said solar heat collector 117 is preferentially utilized and it is only when the said output becomes deficient that the said electric heater 122 for heating by an electric power from the commercial power supply is utilized.
  • both the electrical output of the said solar cell 116 and the thermal output of the said solar heat collector 117 are required. Then, a control is made to ensure that both the said solar cell 116 and the said solar heat collector 117 should provide their respective outputs as much as possible. More specifically, if the temperature T 2 becomes not less than the temperature [T 1 +10] °C , the above mentioned fan 119 of the solar heat collector 117 will be turned ON and its rate of rotation will be controlled in a control unit 23 so that the temperature T 3 may reach a preset temperature established therefor, say, 60 °C .
  • the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 is increased so that both the temperature T 2 and T 3 may be controlled at 60 °C .
  • This will simultaneously allow a drop in efficiency arising from a temperature increase of the solar cell 116 to be avoided and the efficiency of the absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 owing to the thermal output of the solar heat collector 117 to be enhanced. It can be seen that the thermal output of the said solar heat collector 117 will enter into the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 and will be used for the dehumidification of the air inside of the room; it is the temperature level that is sustained at that time instant which is here important.
  • thermoelectric type 109 In the case, while an electric power into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 is required, a heat into the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 is unnecessary.
  • a control is made in the said control unit 123 to increase the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 so that the output of the said solar cell 116 may reach a maximum and that the temperature T 2 may be made not greater than [T 1 +5] °C .
  • thermoelectric type 109 the electric power and the heat into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and the heat into the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 are required, however, since the heat for both the warming and the dehumidification are then more needed, a control is here made to take out the heat as much as possible. More specifically, if the temperature T 2 is made not less than [T 1 +5] °C , the the fan 119 of the said solar heat collector 117 will be turned ON. And, the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 will be controlled by the said control unit 123 so that the temperature T 3 may reach a preset temperature established therefor, say 60 °C . If, however, 60 °C is exceed, the temperature needs not to be controlled.
  • thermoelectric type 109 While the thermal output of the said solar heat collector 117 is partially furnished into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and its remainder is supplied into the said heat exchanger unit 108 and the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, their proportion will be varied depending upon a temperature and a humidity level which are preset. It is both the temperature level and the quantity of heat which are here important.
  • the thermal output will be more important in terms of the quantity of heat than in terms of the temperature level.
  • the temperature level will then be reduced while taking as much a heat of quantity as possible. More specifically, if the temperature T 2 is made not less than [T 1 +5] °C , the above mentioned fan 119 of the said solar heat collector 117 will be turned ON. And, the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 will be controlled by the said control unit 123 so that a temperature T 3 may be reached 40 °C . If T 3 is exceeded 40 °C , the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 will be increased so that the temperature T 3 may be controlled at 40 °C .
  • thermoelectric type 109 While the thermal output of the said solar heat collector 117 is partially supplied into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and its remainder is furnished into the said heat exchanger unit 108, their proportion will be varied depending upon a temperature and a humidity level which are preset. It is the quantity of heat which is here important.
  • the electrical temperature conditioning unit is exemplified by a said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 with thermoelectric elements, it may be embodied as a compressor type temperature conditioning unit 124 as shown in Fig. 14.
  • This compressor type temperature conditioning unit 124 may make use of a heat pump in a typical configuration and includes an exterior air side section 125 located at the side of the above mentioned outside air passage 105c and a room interior side section 126 located at the side of the above mentioned air conditioning passage 104, the said sections 125 and 126 being here connected via a pipe line 127 for the coolant to a room exterior unit 131 that comprises three way valve 128, a compressor 129, an expansion valve 130 and so forth.
  • an air conditioning apparatus that makes use of a thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material, is made capable of reducing the load upon the said thermoelectric element to enhance its efficiency while accurately controlling the outlet temperature with a heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type having a thermoelectric element. Also, By virtue of the fact that an air conditioning passage and a regenerating passage are constructed integrally, the entire air conditioning equipment can be reduced in both its size and its manufacturing cost.
  • an air conditioning system of hybrid type that makes use a solar cell as the power supply for an electrical temperature conditioning unit and utilizes an air that is warmed by a solar heat, is made capable of dehumidifying the air without the resort of cooling the air by the said electrical temperature conditioning unit and capable of reducing the load upon the said electrical temperature conditioning unit for its humidity conditioning function.
  • the said electrical temperature conditioning unit is constituted by a thermoelectric element, the resultant effect is remarkable.
  • the system is made capable of enhancing the effeciency of the said solar cell and the efficiency of a humidity conditioning unit and further being operated with an increased efficiency even in the winter season.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Devices For Blowing Cold Air, Devices For Blowing Warm Air, And Means For Preventing Water Condensation In Air Conditioning Units (AREA)
  • Central Air Conditioning (AREA)
EP95929217A 1994-08-24 1995-08-23 Dispositif de conditionnement d'air et systeme de conditionnement d'air comportant ledit dispositif Withdrawn EP0777087A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP199585/94 1994-08-24
JP6199585A JPH0861705A (ja) 1994-08-24 1994-08-24 空調装置
JP25217594A JP3262462B2 (ja) 1994-10-18 1994-10-18 ハイブリッド空調装置
JP252175/94 1994-10-18
PCT/JP1995/001675 WO1996006311A1 (fr) 1994-08-24 1995-08-23 Dispositif de conditionnement d'air et systeme de conditionnement d'air comportant ledit dispositif

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EP0777087A1 true EP0777087A1 (fr) 1997-06-04

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EP (1) EP0777087A1 (fr)
KR (1) KR970705729A (fr)
WO (1) WO1996006311A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102569285A (zh) * 2010-12-27 2012-07-11 北京印刷学院 太阳能制冷制热自动控温真空玻璃
CN105091142A (zh) * 2014-05-06 2015-11-25 创升科技股份有限公司 湿度调整装置
CN109539437A (zh) * 2018-11-08 2019-03-29 上海交通大学 开式的温湿度独立控制太阳能直驱空调系统及其工作方法

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101806514B (zh) * 2010-03-10 2011-08-03 中国科学技术大学 建筑复合太阳能光伏热水供冷和采暖系统
CN102535766A (zh) * 2010-12-27 2012-07-04 北京印刷学院 太阳能制冷制热自动控温墙壁空调砖

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JPS4817094Y1 (fr) * 1970-08-31 1973-05-16
JP2697823B2 (ja) 1987-06-23 1998-01-14 キヤノン株式会社 シエーデイング補正装置
JPH02121117A (ja) 1988-10-28 1990-05-09 Nec Corp 磁気ストライプカード
JPH0450386A (ja) 1990-06-11 1992-02-19 Kao Corp 濃色化立毛製品の製造法
JPH0510543A (ja) 1991-07-01 1993-01-19 Shunichi Kikuchi 屋内空調システム

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102569285A (zh) * 2010-12-27 2012-07-11 北京印刷学院 太阳能制冷制热自动控温真空玻璃
CN105091142A (zh) * 2014-05-06 2015-11-25 创升科技股份有限公司 湿度调整装置
CN105091142B (zh) * 2014-05-06 2018-03-09 创升科技股份有限公司 湿度调整装置
CN109539437A (zh) * 2018-11-08 2019-03-29 上海交通大学 开式的温湿度独立控制太阳能直驱空调系统及其工作方法

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KR970705729A (ko) 1997-10-09

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