JP2974672B2 - Humidification unit - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifying unit, which can be widely used in the field of air conditioning requiring humidification. In particular, the present invention is used as a humidifier for air conditioning of buildings, houses, vehicles and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Humidification in air conditioning has conventionally been conducted by spraying water with a spray nozzle, dropping water with a shower from above, passing air, dropping water drops on a hot plate heated by electric heating, or the like. There is a method of humidifying using a wet film. Since the method using a moisture permeable membrane is more excellent in energy efficiency than other humidification methods, it has recently attracted attention, for example, JP-A-60-171337 and JP-A-61-72984. Is known to.

[0003]

In the conventional system as described above, the humidifier itself is generally large, and it is very difficult to reduce the size of the humidifier by installing the humidifier on the roof due to water drops or the like. Was. Further, a large amount of energy such as electric power is required as power, and running costs tend to be relatively high.

Further, the generated steam has a size in the range of water particles, and cannot be said to be humidification in a vapor state. In particular, problems such as health hazards due to scattering of inorganic substances (silicon, limestones, etc.) and organic substances (bacteria, molds, etc.) contained in tap water or drainage have been pointed out.
In addition, although moisture evaporates in the humidifier itself, inorganic and organic substances remain as residues in the humidifier itself, causing clogging, which significantly shortens the life of the humidifier and causes other problems.

Attention has been paid to a system utilizing a moisture permeable membrane as described above. According to this system, humidification in a vapor state is possible, but in particular, miniaturization and simplification, and prevention of scattering and residue of inorganic and organic substances. However, drawbacks such as durability and the like have not been sufficiently solved.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides at least two pillars for solving the above problems.
A hydrophobic porous tube that is reciprocated between the columns, a water supply tank connected to one end of the hydrophobic porous tube, and a service tank connected to the other end of the hydrophobic porous tube. A humidification unit characterized by having a humidification unit.

In the conventional humidification method using a moisture permeable membrane, attention has been paid to increasing the surface area of the moisture permeable membrane in order to improve the humidification efficiency, that is, the amount of water vapor permeated. According to research, the amount of water vapor permeation is proportional to the surface area of the moisture permeable membrane in a simple system, but is not necessarily directly proportional to the total surface area of the moisture permeable membrane in an actually assembled system. The humidification efficiency does not increase in places where the water vapor pressure of the surrounding air is high due to the influence of the water vapor pressure of the surrounding air in the situation where the humidifier is installed. It has been found that a practical humidification amount can be sufficiently secured by a structure in which a hydrophobic porous tube is wound around at least two pillars and wound without being restricted by the surface area of the membrane.

According to the configuration in which the hydrophobic porous tube is bridged over the at least two columns, the configuration can be simplified and miniaturized, and no special power is required. It can be installed and used in such places. Of course, this system is basically characterized in that it is smaller than other systems, has excellent energy efficiency, and is capable of humidifying in a vapor state. Further, in this method, the humidifying film itself prevents the scattering of inorganic substances and organic substances to some extent, but further according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the scattering of inorganic substances and organic substances by adding a moisture-permeable resin layer to the humidifying film.

Further, the inventor of the present invention has found that by connecting the water supply tank to one end of the hydrophobic porous tube and connecting the service tank to the other end, an appropriate flow of water is generated in the hydrophobic porous tube. As a result, it has been found that inorganic substances and organic substances do not remain in the hydrophobic porous tube or the like, preventing deterioration of the moisture permeable membrane and significantly improving the durability of the humidifier.

In the humidifying unit of the present invention, the hydrophobic porous tube is impermeable to water and has a function of permitting permeation of water vapor. Further, the number of hydrophobic porous tubes may be one or plural. Examples of the material of the hydrophobic porous tube include polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polytetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer, polyvinyl fluoride, and polyvinylidene fluoride. From the viewpoint of chemical properties and the like, porous polytetrafluoroethylene stretched is preferred. Such a polytetrafluoroethylene porous body has a thickness of 1 to 1000 μm, a porosity of 5 to 95%, and a pore size of 0.01 to
15 μm range, water vapor permeability,
It is preferable that the thickness is 20 to 200 μm and the porosity is 60 to 90% in consideration of water resistance and strength.

The tube can be formed by a known method, for example, a method of extruding into a tube, a method of winding a sheet of the above-mentioned material around a core material, and the like. is there. Furthermore, these porous bodies are heat-sealed with reinforcing layers such as non-woven fabrics, felts, nets,
It may be laminated and reinforced by partial adhesion with an adhesive or the like. Further, the reinforcement may be performed by simply overlapping without bonding.

[0012] The tube diameter of the hydrophobic porous tube depends on the application location of the humidification unit, required humidification conditions, and the like.
Generally, the inner diameter is preferably 1 mm to 20 mm, and 3 mm to 8 mm in consideration of clogging due to impurities. The length of the tube is generally about 20 mm, but this depends on the required amount of humidification. The hydrophobic porous tube may be provided with a water vapor permeable resin layer on its inner surface or outer surface. The water vapor permeable resin layer (solid layer) contains inorganic substances (silicon, limestone, etc.) and organic substances (bacteria, molds, etc.) contained in clean water and well water, etc. That gives a function to prevent the inorganic and organic substances from penetrating into the porous membrane and deteriorating into the air through the hydrophobic porous body. It is.

As such a water vapor permeable resin, a polymer having a hydrophilic group such as a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group and an amino group, which is water-swellable and water-insoluble is used. . Examples of such a hydrophilic resin include hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose acetate, and cellulose nitrate at least partially crosslinked, polyamino acids, polyurethanes, hydrophilic fluoropolymers, and the like. In consideration of chemical resistance and processability, polyurethane, hydrophilic fluoropolymer and the like are preferable.

The polyurethane has a molecular weight of 500 to 500.
A reaction polymer of 3000 polyether polyol and organic polyisocyanate, having an oxyethylene content of 6
A 0-90% by weight polyurethane polymer is preferably used. The hydrophilic fluoropolymer can be obtained by copolymerizing a fluorine-containing ethylenic monomer and a fluorine-containing hydrophilic group-containing vinyl monomer. As the fluorine-containing monomer, for example, tetrafluoroethylene, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride, monochlorotrifluoroethylene, dichlorodifluoroethylene,
Hexafluoropropylene and the like can be mentioned.

Further, the hydrophobic porous tube may be provided with an internal spacer for maintaining the shape of the tube. The strut used in the present invention is a support of the hydrophobic porous tube for stretching the hydrophobic porous tube, and a groove or the like can be appropriately provided for attaching the tube. At least two columns are required, but three or more columns may be used. For example, four pillars may be used to reciprocate the hydrophobic porous tube twice. Also, for example, one pipe can be bent to function as two pipes. In the present invention, at least two columns are defined as columns that are separated and a hydrophobic porous tube is stretched between them. The number is expressed by paying attention to the function of attaching the hydrophobic porous tube, which enables the above, and actually, two or more columns may be formed of an integral member. Also, in practice, at least two struts
Further, it needs to be supported or fixed by some support.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the water supply tank and / or the service tank itself can be used as a support, and a part of the support can be used as a water supply tank or a service tank. When the water supply tank used in the present invention is directly connected to a water supply or the like to the hydrophobic porous tube, it is not preferable that the water pressure such as tap water is applied to the hydrophobic porous tube, and that the water is kept flowing unnecessarily. It has the effect of preventing. The water used for humidification is temporarily stored in a water supply tank, and is sent to a hydrophobic porous tube connected to the water supply tank by operating a level sensor, a float switch, or the like. Although the size and shape of the water supply tank are not particularly limited, it is necessary to arrange the water supply tank so that the water level is higher than the highest position of the hydrophobic porous tube. This is because water is sent from the water supply tank to the inside of the hydrophobic porous tube by the water pressure of the head.

The service tank used in the present invention is a container that is connected to the other end of the hydrophobic porous tube and stores water discharged from the hydrophobic porous tube. By installing this service tank, it is possible to prevent inorganic substances, organic substances, etc. from remaining in the hydrophobic porous tube, and to prevent the porous structure of the hydrophobic porous tube from being clogged and causing a decrease in moisture permeability. Was found. It is considered that this is because water naturally evaporates from the service tank, so that water does not stay in the hydrophobic porous tube, and organic substances and the like move with the flow of the water. Therefore, the upper part of the service tank needs to be open.

The service tank is connected to the other end of the hydrophobic porous tube. If the bottom of the tank is formed lower than the connection portion with the tube, the inorganic and organic substances discharged from the tube are collected. It can be settled at the bottom of the tank and is preferred. Of course, it is preferable to provide a drain at the bottom of the tank for removing precipitated inorganic and organic substances.

The humidifying unit of the present invention, as described above,
It is planned to be installed in a panel type in air-conditioning duct piping or at the outlet, etc., and to have no special blower as its main usage. Therefore, it is only necessary to connect this unit to the water supply pipe. Of course, in combination with the blower,
For example, it can be used for humidifying humidified foods in food vending machines such as hamburgers and hot docks.

[0020]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 are a perspective view and a schematic view of a humidifying unit of the present invention. A hydrophobic porous tube 3 is stretched between two parallel columns 1 and 2 and wound between the columns. One end (upper end) 4 of the hydrophobic porous tube 3 is connected to a water supply tank (in this example, the upper part of the column 1 also serves as a water supply tank) 6, and the other end (lower end) 5 is a service tank (in this example) The support 2 is also connected to a service tank 7).

Referring to FIG. 2, for example, water supplied from tap water 8 is temporarily stored in a water supply tank 6, passes through the hydrophobic porous tube 3 with water pressure, fills the inside thereof, and further has a service tank 7. Accumulate in In this state, in the portion of the hydrophobic porous tube 3 stretched as shown in FIG. 1, water vapor permeates from the inside of the tube to the outside air, particularly under the action of air blowing. Since the water that has permeated and is insufficient is replenished from the supply tank 6, the inside of the hydrophobic porous tube 3 is always filled with water. On the other hand, the water stored in the service tank 7 is also replenished from the water supply tank 6 to the extent that the water is naturally evaporated and reduced. For this reason, water in the hydrophobic porous tube 3 can flow without remaining. This flow of water prevents inorganic and organic substances contained in tap water and well water from remaining in the hydrophobic porous tube 3, adhering to the inner surface of the tube, and entering the porous structure of the tube.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams of the humidifying unit of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the columns 1 and 2, the water supply tank 6, and the service tank 7 are configured as separate members. In the water supply tank 6, supply water such as tap water is supplied from a faucet 8 via a valve 9, and is maintained at a constant water level by a float switch 10. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which the support 1 also serves as the water supply tank 6 and the support 2 also serves as the service tank 7.

The humidifying unit of the embodiment shown in FIG.
It was produced and used under various conditions. (1) Example 1 Hydrophobic porous tube: Material Polytetrafluoroethylene obtained by extruding and forming into a tubular shape, which is made porous by stretching The number of tubes 1 Distance 22 m Diameter 4 mm Inner diameter 4 mm Thickness 0.5 mm Void Rate 65% Air volume: 5 m / sec (2) Example 2 Hydrophobic porous tube: Material The same porous tube as in Example 1 coated with urethane resin Number 2 Distance 10 m (Total 20 m of 2 tubes) 4) Caliber: 4 mm Inner diameter: 0.4 mm Thickness: 0.4 mm Porosity: 65% Air volume: 5 m / sec In Examples 1 and 2, the water vapor transmission rates were 5060 cc / day and 5300 cc / day, respectively. Further, it was possible to operate without special power, to perform humidification in a vapor state, and to perform good humidification without scattering of inorganic substances and organic substances. In addition, during operation for a long time, inorganic and organic substances are discharged and settled at the bottom of the service tank, and do not stay in the hydrophobic porous tube, so that the humidification performance of the humidification unit does not decrease over a long period of time. ,
It had excellent durability.

[0024]

The humidifying unit according to the present invention has a small size, a simple structure, high energy efficiency, humidification in a vapor state, good humidification without scattering of inorganic and organic substances, and hydrophobicity. The porous tube has excellent effects such as preventing inorganic substances and organic substances from staying in the porous tube.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a humidifying unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a humidification unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a humidification unit of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a humidification unit of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Prop 2 ... Prop 3 ... Hydrophobic porous tube 4 ... End of hydrophobic porous tube 5 ... End of hydrophobic porous tube 6 ... Water supply tank 7 ... Service tank 8 ... Supply water such as tap water 9 ... Valve 10 ... Float switch

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] At least two struts, a hydrophobic porous tube reciprocated between the struts, a water supply tank connected to one end of the hydrophobic porous tube, and a hydrophobic porous tube. A humidification unit comprising a service tank connected to the other end of the quality tube. 2. The humidifying unit according to claim 1, wherein the water supply tank and the service tank serve as at least two of the columns. 3. The humidifying unit according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic porous tube has a moisture-permeable resin layer.