JP3738240B2 - Humidity control device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a humidity control apparatus suitable for adjusting the humidity in the air, for example, in a vegetable compartment of a refrigerator.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this kind of refrigerator has a vegetable room for storing vegetables. Since vegetables do not like drying in nature, the vegetable room is usually configured in a vegetable container that opens to the top, and this container can be pulled out of the refrigerator. When the container is stored in the refrigerator, the top of the vegetable container is closed and the vegetable container is closed. A method of indirectly cooling the vegetable compartment by circulating cool air that passes through the refrigerator compartment around the room.
[0003]
However, since moisture evaporates from the vegetables stored in the vegetable compartment, the humidity in the vegetable compartment becomes too high as it is, and flooding or mold occurs. For this reason, in recent years, a humidity control filter made of a porous material such as silica gel or zeolite is provided in the vegetable room, and in a situation where the humidity of the air in the vegetable room is high, the humidity filter absorbs moisture in the air and the humidity is reduced. In the case of a decrease, a device has been devised to increase the humidity by releasing moisture from the humidity control material into the air.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the moisture release from the humidity control filter is due to the humidity difference from the surroundings (vegetable room air), so it is inevitably slow in its speed, and depending on the situation, the humidity in the vegetable room may be abnormally reduced. There was also a case.
[0005]
Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-257933 has proposed a method of strongly humidifying the vegetable compartment by providing a general-purpose ultrasonic humidifier in the vegetable compartment and spraying fine water droplets into the vegetable compartment. Since the separately supplied water is atomized and discharged into the vegetable compartment, it is easy to cause an excessive increase in humidity.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the conventional technical problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a humidity control apparatus capable of accurately adjusting the humidity in the air within a suitable range. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The humidity control apparatus of the present invention includes a humidity control member made of a porous material capable of absorbing and releasing moisture in the air, and an ultrasonic oscillator that generates ultrasonic waves. And the thickness dimension of the humidity control member in the propagation direction of the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic oscillator is matched with the half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave.
[0008]
In addition to the above, the humidity control apparatus of the invention of the second aspect is characterized in that the thickness dimension of the humidity control member is determined based on the speed at which the ultrasonic wave propagates through the humidity control member.
[0009]
The humidity control apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above-described inventions, the humidity control member is made of silica gel or zeolite.
[0010]
The humidity control apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above inventions, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic oscillator is 20 kHz to 60 kHz.
[0011]
A humidity control apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention includes a plurality of ultrasonic oscillators in addition to the above inventions, and applies ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic oscillators to the humidity control member.
[0012]
According to the present invention, when the surroundings of the humidity control member are in a high humidity state, moisture in the air is absorbed by the humidity control member, and in the case of a low humidity state, the ultrasonic oscillator is operated. Thus, it is possible to apply ultrasonic waves to the humidity control member and forcibly release the moisture held by the humidity control member into the surrounding air with the energy of the ultrasonic waves.
[0013]
As a result, the humidity in the surrounding air can be accurately adjusted to a desired range. Further, there is no inconvenience that the temperature of the target air is raised as in the case where the water is evaporated by the heater and humidified. In addition, water is not atomized and released as is the case with normal ultrasonic humidifiers, but the moisture held by the humidity control member is released softly as moisture, causing inconvenience that promotes the growth of mold and bacteria. Absent.
[0014]
In particular, since the thickness dimension of the humidity control member in the propagation direction of the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic oscillator matches the half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave, the particle speed of the ultrasonic wave on the moisture release surface of the humidity control member Becomes the largest, and the moisture held by the humidity control member can be efficiently discharged with the maximum energy. In this case, the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave varies depending on the medium, but if the thickness dimension of the humidity control member is determined based on the speed at which the ultrasonic wave propagates through the humidity control member, the moisture release efficiency Is further improved.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal side view of the refrigerator 1 when the humidity control apparatus HC of the present invention is applied to the refrigerator.
[0016]
In this figure, 1 is a household vertical refrigerator, and the main body is composed of a heat insulating box 2 that opens to the front. The inside of the heat insulating box 2 is partitioned up and down by a partition wall 3, and a freezer compartment 4 is formed below the partition wall 3. Reference numeral 6 denotes an ice making chamber defined in the upper part of the freezer compartment 4, and an automatic ice maker 7 is installed. The inside of the heat insulating box 2 above the partition wall 3 is a refrigeration room 8 on the top and a vegetable room 9 as a storage room on the bottom, and both rooms are partitioned by a partition plate 11 made of hard resin.
[0017]
Reference numeral 12 denotes a freezer compartment door, 13 denotes an ice making compartment door, 14 denotes a refrigerator compartment door, and 16 denotes a vegetable compartment door, each of which is a heat insulating door that opens and closes the front opening of the heat insulating box 2 corresponding to each room. It is. In this case, the freezer compartment 4 is configured in a freezer compartment container 17 opened on the upper surface, and the freezer compartment container 17 can be drawn forward together with the freezer compartment door 12. In addition, the vegetable compartment 9 is also configured in a vegetable compartment container 18 opened on the upper surface, and this can also be pulled out forward together with the vegetable compartment door 16. In a state where the vegetable compartment container 18 is housed in the heat insulating box 2, the partition plate 11 closes the top opening of the vegetable compartment container 18. Thereby, the inside of the vegetable compartment 9 will be in a substantially sealed state.
[0018]
In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a machine room formed in the lower part of the heat insulating box 2, and a compressor 22 constituting a refrigerant cycle of the refrigerator 1 is installed in the machine room 21. A freezer cooler 23 is provided vertically in the heat insulating box 2 at a position corresponding to the rear of the freezer compartment 4, and a freezer blower 24 is provided above the cooler 23. Further, a back plate 26 is attached to the rear part of the refrigerating room 8, and a refrigerating room cooler 27 is provided vertically between the back plate 26 and the heat insulating box 2, and a refrigerating room blower 28 is disposed above the back plate 26. Has been.
[0019]
Then, the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor 22 is condensed by a condenser (not shown) (consisting of an evaporating dish pipe or a frame pipe) and then depressurized by a capillary tube (not shown) to the refrigerator compartment cooler 27. Enters, evaporates and absorbs heat from the surroundings to exert a cooling effect. The refrigerant that has exited the refrigerator compartment cooler 27 then enters the freezer compartment cooler 23 where it also evaporates and absorbs heat from the surroundings to exert a cooling action.
[0020]
The cold air exchanged with the freezer cooler 23 is circulated into the ice making chamber 6 and the freezer chamber 4 by the freezer blower 24. Further, the cold air exchanged with the refrigerator compartment cooler 27 is discharged into the refrigerator compartment 8 by the refrigerator compartment fan 28, circulates inside, and then passes from the communication hole formed around the partition plate 11 to the periphery of the vegetable compartment container 18. It flows down and circulates through it. Thereby, the vegetable compartment 9 comprised in the vegetable compartment container 18 is indirectly cooled from the partition plate 11 and the wall surface of the vegetable compartment container 18.
[0021]
In this case, the operation of the compressor 22 is executed based on the temperature in the freezer compartment 4. In addition, an electromagnetic valve (not shown) is provided for controlling whether the refrigerant that has exited the capillary tube flows into the refrigerator compartment cooler 27 or bypasses the refrigerator compartment cooler 27 and flows directly to the refrigerator compartment cooler 23. This control of the electromagnetic valve is executed based on the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 8.
[0022]
That is, for example, when the temperature in the freezer compartment 4 rises to -16 ° C (freezer compartment upper limit temperature), the compressor 22 is started, and when the temperature falls to -20 ° C (freezer compartment lower limit temperature), for example, the compressor 22 is turned on. Stop. Thereby, the inside of the freezer compartment 4 and the ice making chamber 6 is maintained at a freezing temperature zone of, for example, an average of −18 ° C. On the other hand, the solenoid valve performs a cooling operation in which, for example, when the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 8 rises to + 7 ° C. (the refrigerator compartment upper limit temperature), the refrigerant flows to the refrigerator compartment cooler 27 (from the refrigerator compartment cooler 27 to the freezer). The refrigerant flows into the room cooler 23), for example, when the temperature drops to 3 ° C. (lower limit temperature of the refrigerating room), the refrigerant flow (circulation) to the refrigerating room cooler 27 is stopped and directly bypassed the refrigerating room cooler 27 It operates to flow through the freezer cooler 23. Thereby, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 8 is maintained in the refrigerator temperature zone of average +5 degreeC, for example.
[0023]
Since the inside of the vegetable compartment 9 is indirectly cooled by the cold air passing through the inside of the refrigerating compartment 8 as described above, the refrigerating temperature dependent on the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 8 is maintained.
[0024]
And the humidity control apparatus HC of this invention is attached to the partition plate 11 which partitions off the said vegetable compartment 9 and the refrigerator compartment 8. FIG. This humidity control device HC releases a humidity control filter 32 as a humidity control member and moisture absorbed and held by the humidity control filter 32 into a rectangular solid case made of transparent hard resin (moisture release). ), The electric circuit board to which the ultrasonic oscillator 33 for applying ultrasonic waves to the humidity control filter 32 is mounted and the sealing material are housed, so that these components are integrally unified. Yes.
[0025]
The ultrasonic oscillator 33 generates ultrasonic waves having a frequency of, for example, 20 kHz to 60 kHz (for example, trade name “Nicera” manufactured by Nippon Ceramic Co., Ltd.).
[0026]
In the embodiment, the humidity control filter 32 is made of activated carbon, palladium, and B-type silica gel (B-type silica gel or zeolite), and is formed into a rectangular thin plate as a whole. The activated carbon is a porous body having a function of adsorbing and deodorizing odor components in the air and a function of absorbing and releasing moisture (humidity) in the air. The palladium has a function of decomposing ethylene gas in the air. Further, the silica gel is a porous body having a function of absorbing and releasing moisture (humidity) in the air.
[0027]
That is, the humidity control filter 32 of the embodiment has an action of adsorbing and deodorizing odorous components contained in the air and an action of decomposing ethylene gas contained in the air, and the main action is moisture in the air. Adsorbs and releases moisture. That is, when the humidity of the air increases, the moisture contained in the air is absorbed and retained (hygroscopic action), and when the humidity of the air decreases, the retained moisture is released into the air ( A moisture releasing action), thereby adjusting the humidity of the air.
[0028]
Here, with reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, the determination method of the thickness dimension of the humidity control filter (humidity control member) 32 is demonstrated. As is well known, an ultrasonic wave has a property of propagating in a medium by repeating a portion where the sound pressure of the longitudinal wave is large and a portion where the particle velocity (acceleration) is the largest due to its acoustic characteristics. The relationship between the particle velocity of the ultrasonic wave and sound pressure which concern on FIG. 2 is shown.
[0029]
From the vibration surface (lower surface) of the ultrasonic oscillator 33, the particle velocity becomes the largest at a distance that is an integral multiple of a half wavelength (1 / 2λ). A location that is 1 / 2λ away from the vibration surface of the ultrasonic oscillator 33 is a point at which the initial particle velocity increases. And since the point where particle velocity becomes large can give the largest energy, when applying ultrasonic vibration to the upper surface of humidity control filter 32, thickness dimension t (mm) of humidity control filter 32 Is made to match 1 / 2λ (mm), it becomes possible to efficiently release the moisture absorbed by the humidity control filter 32 from its lower surface (moisture release surface).
[0030]
Here, the relationship between the speed of sound and the wavelength of ultrasonic waves is
λ (m) = V (m / s) / f (l / s)
However, since the humidity control filter 32 is solid with respect to the sound speed V = 343 (m / s) in the air, the sound speed is also faster than 343 (m / s). Since the humidity control filter 32 of the embodiment is porous and has many gaps, the speed of sound is not as fast as that of metal, and is about 400 (m / s).
[0031]
In the embodiment, since the frequency of the ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic oscillator 32 is 40 kHz (1 / S) as described above,
λ (m) = 400 (m / s) / (40 × 1000 (1 / S)) = 10/100
0 (m). That is, since the wavelength is 10 mm, the half wavelength point where the particle velocity is large is 5 mm. Therefore, in the embodiment, the dimension of the humidity control filter 32 in the ultrasonic wave propagation direction, that is, the thickness dimension t is set to 5 mm.
[0032]
Thereby, the particle speed of the ultrasonic wave is maximized on the moisture releasing surface (lower surface) of the humidity control filter 32, and the moisture held by the humidity control filter 32 can be efficiently released with the maximum energy. . In particular, since the thickness dimension t of the humidity control filter 32 is determined based on the speed at which the ultrasonic wave propagates through the humidity control filter 32, the moisture release efficiency is further improved.
[0033]
And the humidity control apparatus HC assembled as mentioned above is attached to the lower surface of the partition plate 11 of the refrigerator 1. Here, the ultrasonic wave used in a normal ultrasonic humidifier is a high-frequency wave of 200 kHz to 3 MHz, but in the present invention, a low-frequency ultrasonic wave of 40 kHz is used. For example, when ultrasonic waves having a frequency of 1 MHz are used, according to the thickness calculation of the humidity control filter 32 described above, the thickness is an integral multiple of 0.2 mm, and the filter cannot be established. Because. Further, since the amplitude is increased due to the low frequency, the transmission efficiency of vibration to the humidity control filter 32 is also increased.
[0034]
In the embodiment, the humidity control filter 32 contains activated carbon or palladium. However, the humidity filter 32 may be composed of only silica gel (or zeolite). An effective humidity control action can be obtained by using such silica gel. In the embodiment, the single ultrasonic oscillator 33 is provided for the single humidity control filter 32, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of single humidity control filters 32 are provided in accordance with the area of the humidity control filter 32. May be provided so that ultrasonic waves from all the ultrasonic oscillators 33... Are applied to the humidity control filter 32. With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the water release capability. Furthermore, although the humidity control apparatus HC of the present invention is employed in the refrigerator 1 in the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is effective for various devices that require humidity adjustment.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the surroundings of the humidity control member are in a high humidity state, moisture in the air is absorbed by the humidity control member and in the low humidity state, By operating the oscillator and applying ultrasonic waves to the humidity control member, it is possible to forcibly release the moisture held by the humidity control member into the surrounding air with the energy of the ultrasonic waves.
[0036]
As a result, the humidity in the surrounding air can be accurately adjusted to a desired range. Further, there is no inconvenience that the temperature of the target air is raised as in the case where the water is evaporated by the heater and humidified. In addition, water is not atomized and released as is the case with normal ultrasonic humidifiers, but the moisture held by the humidity control member is released softly as moisture, causing inconvenience that promotes the growth of mold and bacteria. Absent.
[0037]
In particular, since the thickness dimension of the humidity control member in the propagation direction of the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic oscillator matches the half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave, the particle speed of the ultrasonic wave on the moisture release surface of the humidity control member Becomes the largest, and the moisture held by the humidity control member can be efficiently discharged with the maximum energy. In this case, the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave varies depending on the medium, but if the thickness dimension of the humidity control member is determined based on the speed at which the ultrasonic wave propagates through the humidity control member, the moisture release efficiency Is further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a vertical side view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining a thickness dimension of a humidity control filter of a humidity control apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method for determining a thickness dimension of a humidity control filter of the humidity control apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
HC humidity control device 1 Refrigerator 2 Heat insulation box 8 Refrigeration room 9 Vegetable room 11 Partition plate 18 Vegetable room container 27 Refrigeration room cooler 28 Refrigeration room blower 31 Case 32 Humidity adjustment filter 33 Ultrasonic oscillator

Claims (5)

A humidity control member made of a porous material that can absorb and release moisture in the air, and an ultrasonic oscillator that generates ultrasonic waves,
The ultrasonic wave generated by the ultrasonic oscillator is applied to the humidity adjusting member, and the thickness dimension of the humidity adjusting member in the propagation direction of the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic oscillator is set to a half of the ultrasonic wave. A humidity control device that matches the wavelength. The humidity control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a thickness dimension of the humidity control member is determined based on a speed at which the ultrasonic wave propagates through the humidity control member. The humidity control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidity control member is made of silica gel or zeolite. The humidity control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic frequency generated by the ultrasonic oscillator is 20 kHz to 60 kHz. The humidity control according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein a plurality of the ultrasonic oscillators are provided, and an ultrasonic wave generated by each ultrasonic oscillator is applied to the humidity control member. apparatus.

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