JP2001221459A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Object] To provide an air conditioner capable of increasing the heating efficiency of a moisture absorbing element and reducing power consumption without complicating a manufacturing process. Kind Code: A1 Abstract: A moisture absorbing rotor having a property of absorbing moisture in air and releasing the moisture by heating, and a non-absorbing rotor for releasing moisture absorbed by the moisture absorbing rotor using radiant heat. A heat source 14 provided in a contact state is provided, and the heat absorbing material 19 is carried on at least a surface of the rotor base 15 that constitutes the moisture absorbing rotor 1 and faces the heat source.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adsorbent for adsorbing moisture in air, the air heated by a heat source being brought into contact with the adsorbent to evaporate the moisture and supply the air containing the steam to a room or outdoors. The present invention relates to an air conditioner such as a humidifier, a ventilator, and a dehumidifier that does not require water supply.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of air conditioner includes a moisture absorbing rotor 101 and an air heating chamber 107 in which a heat source for heating air is incorporated, as shown in FIG.
The moisture absorbing rotor 101 has a honeycomb structure, an adsorbent is carried on the surface of a base material, and is driven to rotate about a central axis 113 by a motor (not shown). As a heat source incorporated in the air heating chamber 107, a nichrome wire heater, an infrared heater, a halogen heater, or the like is generally used.

In the apparatus having the above-described structure, at the time of dehumidification, air 109 sucked from the indoor side is sent to a moisture absorption rotor 101 through an intake duct 110, moisture is absorbed by the moisture absorption rotor 101, and discharged as dry air 111. Conversely, when desorbing moisture adsorbed by the moisture absorbing rotor 101, the air 105 sucked from the regeneration air suction duct 106 is heated in an air heating chamber 107 provided on the upstream side of the moisture absorbing rotor 101. The moisture adsorbed on the adsorbent is desorbed by being sent to the side to regenerate the moisture absorbing rotor 101.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional air conditioner, when the heat source is energized to heat the regeneration air, much of the energy applied to the heater is consumed for heat generation, but a part of the energy is consumed for heat generation. It is emitted in the form of electromagnetic waves, including infrared and visible light, ie, radiant heat. Most of the radiant heat is turned into thermal energy at the heater cover, and is radiated to the air outside the heater cover without being used for the regeneration of the moisture absorbing rotor. Therefore, there has been a problem that the power consumption of the heater is large and the running cost of the air conditioner is large.

As a heating method for reducing the power consumption, a method of causing the rotor to self-heat as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-49137 and a method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
As described in JP-A-083737, there is a method of inserting a heat transfer leg to improve the heat transfer efficiency of heater heat.

However, in the case of the former self-heating,
It is practically extremely difficult to use this method because, for example, 1) the manufacturing process is complicated, 2) the cost is high, and 3) the method of supplying power to the rotating electrode is difficult. In addition, the latter method of sandwiching the electric heating leg is not an effective solution to the problem that 1) increase in air pressure loss, 2) increase in cost, and 3) little effect.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of increasing the heating efficiency of the moisture absorbing element and reducing the power consumption without complicating the manufacturing process.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, non-contact radiant heat, which has been emitted from a heat source but has not been actively used so far, has been used. Paying attention, if a heat absorbing material is supported on the surface of the base material that constitutes the moisture absorbing element so that this radiant heat can be effectively absorbed on the surface of the moisture absorbing element, it is non-contact compared to self-heating and heat transfer method In addition, the structure of the moisture absorbing element can be simplified. In addition, since a heat absorbing material is supported to complement the non-contact radiant heat heating method, the heating efficiency is improved and the power consumption is reduced.

Here, the heat absorbing material may be any material having a higher radiant heat absorption rate than other materials constituting the moisture absorbing element, and specifically, silicon nitride, iron oxide, silicon carbide, carbon black, etc. Can be suitably used. It is preferable to use a powdery heat absorbing material in order to ensure uniform loading on the moisture absorbing element. These materials can be used alone or in combination of two or more. In particular, it is preferable to use carbon black capable of coloring the moisture-absorbing element black in order to suppress reflection of radiant heat and promote heat absorption.

As a means for supporting the heat-absorbing material, a method in which a liquid or paste-like composition in which the heat-absorbing material is dispersed in a dispersion medium is used, and this is applied or impregnated on the surface of the base material is preferable. In addition, by using a mixture composition in which a heat absorbing material is dispersed in a dispersion medium together with a moisture absorbing material or a binder described later and supporting the mixture on the substrate surface, the heat absorbing material and the moisture absorbing material can be combined in one step. It can be carried on the material surface.

At this time, the ratio of the heat absorbing material in the mixture is preferably 5 to 50% by weight. If the amount is less than 5% by weight, the heat absorbing material cannot be expected to improve the heat absorption rate. If the amount exceeds 50% by weight, the amount of the hygroscopic material may be reduced, which may affect the hygroscopic ability.

The moisture-absorbing element is not particularly limited as long as it has a property of absorbing moisture in the air and releasing the moisture by heating. Any of a rotor type rotating around an axis may be used, but a rotor type having a high moisture absorption capacity and a high moisture release capacity is preferably used.

The constituent material of the moisture-absorbing element can be exemplified by a sheet-shaped ceramic raw material, a metal sheet, or a sheet-shaped base made of a heat-resistant resin molded product. An embodiment in which a honeycomb structure is used to ensure air circulation can be suitably adopted.
At the same time, in order to ensure the moisture absorbing function, the moisture absorbing element can suitably adopt a configuration in which a moisture absorbing material such as zeolite or silica gel is supported on the surface of the base material by application or impregnation.

The heat source in the present invention is not particularly limited, and a nichrome wire heater, an infrared heater, a halogen heater, or the like can be appropriately used. In order to enhance absorption of radiant heat to the moisture absorbing element, a position facing the moisture absorbing element is used. It is desirable to arrange in. Further, if a reflection plate that reflects radiant heat is provided on the side opposite to the moisture absorbing element centering on the heat source, the radiant heat radiated to the opposite side of the moisture absorbing element can be effectively used.

Using a rotor type moisture absorbing element, that is, a moisture absorbing rotor, the moisture absorbing rotor is disposed over a moisture absorbing path for absorbing moisture in room air and a moisture releasing path for releasing moisture absorbed by the moisture absorbing rotor. If a heat source is arranged on the upstream side of the moisture absorption rotor in the moisture release path, moisture absorption and humidification can be performed simultaneously in parallel, and it is possible to easily recover the moisture absorption ability in a region where moisture has been evaporated by radiant heat absorption. Become.

When the heat absorbing material is supported on the rotor base material, the heat absorbing material may be supported on the entire surface of the base material or may be partially supported. When the heat absorbing material is partially supported, if it is applied only to the surface of the rotor base material on the heat source side arranged upstream of the moisture absorbing rotor, the heat absorption of the base material portion near the heat source to which the radiant heat is most intensely irradiated is performed. Therefore, the material cost can be suppressed while maintaining the heat absorption rate close to that of the case where the entire surface is supported.

In particular, if the heat absorbing material is carried only on the surface of the base material on the side of the heat source, and the counterflow method in which the air flows in the moisture absorption path and the moisture release path is opposed to each other, the above-mentioned material cost can be reduced. In addition, since the heating of the upstream of the moisture absorption path of the moisture absorption rotor by the heater can be minimized, the moisture absorption efficiency is improved, and an air conditioner that can satisfy both the moisture absorption efficiency and the moisture release efficiency is provided. it can.

As described above, according to the present invention, the manufacturing process is complicated only by supporting a heat absorbing material as the third component in addition to the adsorbent and the binder conventionally supported on the base material. The heat absorption rate of the moisture absorbing rotor can be increased without performing.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] In the present embodiment, a moisture absorbing rotor 1 is used as a moisture absorbing element, and this moisture absorbing rotor 1 is, as shown in FIGS. (Not shown))
And a rotor base material 15 fixed around it.

The rotor substrate 15 is formed in a cylindrical shape by spirally winding a corrugated substrate on which a corrugated substrate 2 and a band-shaped substrate 3 are adhered. By an operation such as coating or impregnation, the mixture 4 composed of the moisture absorbing material, the heat absorbing material 19 and the binder is carried on the entire surface. In this embodiment, carbon black powder is used as the heat absorbing material 19, and is blended so that the ratio in the mixture is 25% by weight.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an air conditioner according to the present embodiment. Inside the air conditioner, the air 9 to be treated sucked from outside the device is introduced into the moisture absorbing rotor 1,
After adsorbing moisture in the air, the moisture absorption path 17 for releasing the dry air 11 to the outside of the apparatus, and the regenerated air 5 for regenerating the moisture absorption rotor sucked from the outside of the apparatus, and then heating the moisture absorption rotor 1
After the moisture absorbed by the rotor 1 is desorbed by the rotor 1, and the moisture-containing air 8 containing the moisture is discharged to the outside of the apparatus.
Are formed, and the moisture absorbing rotor 1 is disposed so as to straddle the two paths 17 and 18.

Various members can be added to the moisture absorption path 17 and the moisture release path 18 according to the purpose of air conditioning. For example, a configuration in which a damper is installed on the suction port side of the suction ducts 10 and 6 so that indoor air and outdoor air can be selectively sucked as the air 9 to be treated and the regeneration air 5, the moisture absorption path 17 and the moisture release There is a configuration in which a damper is installed on the discharge port side of the passage 18 so that the dry air 11 and the humid air 8 can be selectively discharged to the indoor side and the outdoor side.

A motor 16 is mounted on a central shaft 13 of the moisture absorbing rotor 1.
Are connected directly, whereby the moisture absorbing rotor 1 is driven to rotate between the moisture absorbing path 17 and the moisture releasing path 18 in the direction of the arrow 12.

An air heating chamber 7 is formed on the upstream side of the moisture absorbing rotor 1 in the moisture releasing path 18, and a nichrome wire heater 14 is installed in the air heating chamber 7 as a heat source facing the moisture absorbing rotor. The air heating chamber 7 is covered with a heat shield cover so as to shut off the air from the outside. Therefore, exhaust heat from the air heating chamber 7 to the outside is minimized, so that thermal energy efficiency is improved. It is preferable that the cover is made of a material having excellent heat insulation properties, a mirror-like reflective film is formed on the inner surface, and the radiant heat from the heater is effectively guided to the rotor.

In the air conditioner having the above configuration, for example, in the case of the dehumidifying operation, first, the indoor air is sucked into the moisture absorbing passage 17 as the air to be treated 9, the moisture is absorbed by the moisture absorbing rotor 1, and then the dry air 11 is dried. To the indoor side. In the dehumidification path 18, outdoor air is sucked in as the regenerated air 5, guided to the air heating chamber 7 through the suction duct 6, heated by the heat transfer from the heater 14 that has generated a high temperature, and then the heated high-temperature air is removed. The rotor 1 is heated by being introduced into the moisture absorbing rotor 1. Water molecules that have absorbed predetermined energy from the heated rotor 1 are desorbed from the adsorbent, are taken into the humidified air 8, and are discharged outside the room.

In the humidifying operation, outdoor air is sucked in as the air 9 to be treated and the dry air 5 is discharged outside the room.
May be discharged to the indoor side.

As the heating mechanism, the radiant heat radiated from the heater 14 is absorbed by the heat absorbing material 19 on the surface of the rotor and converted into heat, so that the structure of the rotor can be simplified as compared with the prior art. The heat absorption efficiency of the moisture absorption rotor 1 is improved.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment. The present embodiment is characterized in that the heat absorbing material 19 is carried only on the surface of the base material at a predetermined portion of the moisture absorbing rotor, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.
That is, in the present embodiment, the moisture absorbing rotor 1 has a configuration in which the heat absorbing material 19 is carried only on the substrate surface on the side of the nichrome wire heater 14 as the heat source.

When the air conditioner having the above configuration is operated, the first embodiment in which the heat absorbing material 19 is supported on the entire surface of the base material 15 by increasing the heat absorption rate of the base material portion to which the radiant heat is most intensely focused. The material cost can be suppressed while maintaining the heat absorption rate close to that of the moisture absorbing rotor in the form.

Further, as shown in FIG.
If a counter-current method is adopted as the flow of air to and from the moisture release path 18, the upstream side of the moisture absorption rotor 1 has the highest temperature in the moisture release path, and the heat is gradually transferred to the downstream side. It can release moisture, and when it reaches the moisture absorption path, the high-temperature portion is on the downstream side, so that smooth moisture adsorption is possible.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a non-contact type heat source utilizing radiant heat is used as a heating method of the moisture releasing section of the moisture absorbing element, and is opposed to at least the heat source of the moisture absorbing element. Because the heat absorbing material was carried on the surface,
Compared with the conventional self-heating or heat transfer method, the effect of simplifying the production of the moisture absorbing element and significantly improving the heat absorption efficiency is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a moisture absorbing rotor used in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an air conditioner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a moisture absorbing rotor used in a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Moisture absorption rotor 4 Mixture 7 Air heating chamber 14 Heater 15 Rotor base material 19 Heat absorption material

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A moisture-absorbing element having a property of absorbing moisture in the air and releasing the moisture by heating, and a non-absorbing element for releasing the moisture absorbed by the moisture-absorbing element using radiant heat. An air conditioner comprising: a heat source provided in a contact state; and a heat absorbing material carried on a surface of a base material constituting the moisture absorbing element. 2. A moisture absorbing rotor having a property of absorbing moisture in air and releasing moisture by heating, and a moisture absorbing element for releasing moisture absorbed by the moisture absorbing rotor using radiant heat. An air conditioner comprising: a heat source provided in a contact state; and a heat absorbing material carried on a surface of a rotor base material constituting the moisture absorbing rotor. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the rotor is disposed over a moisture absorption path that adsorbs moisture in the indoor air and a moisture release path that releases moisture absorbed by the rotor. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the heat source is arranged on an upstream side of a moisture release path, and the heat absorbing material is carried only on a heat source side surface of the base material. 5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the air flows between the moisture release path and the moisture absorption path are of a countercurrent type. 6. The heat absorbing material includes silicon nitride, iron oxide,
One or two selected from silicon carbide and carbon black
The air conditioner according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, which is at least one kind. 7. A mixture containing an adsorbent, a binder and a heat absorbing material is carried on the surface of the base material, and the proportion of the heat absorbing material in the mixture is 5 to 50% by weight. 7. The air conditioner according to 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.