JP7369912B2 - dehumidifier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dehumidifying device used for drying clothes, for example.

Conventionally, this type of dehumidification device has a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a radiator, an expander, and a heat absorber are sequentially connected in an annular manner within a main body case that has an inlet and an outlet, and a moisture absorption section that adsorbs moisture. It is equipped with a dehumidifying rotor that releases moisture in a moisture releasing section, a heating means that heats the air supplied to the humidity releasing section, and a blowing means that blows the air. At this time, a configuration in which a heat radiator, a heat absorber, a dehumidifying rotor, and an air blower are arranged in parallel is known (for example, a related prior document is Patent Document 1 listed below).

Patent No. 4696482

In the conventional defrosting operation method, under conditions where frost formation is likely to occur, such as when the indoor temperature is low, after the defrosting operation ends, frost formation occurs again, the heat absorber is blocked, and the temperature of the heating section decreases. There was a problem in that the temperature rose, the safety device was activated, and the operation of the heating section was stopped, making it impossible to perform a sufficient defrosting operation.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes a main body case having an inlet and an outlet, and a heat pump provided in the main body case, and the heat pump includes a compressor and a compressor. It is formed by a heat radiator, an expander, and a heat absorber that are sequentially provided downstream, and the air sucked into the main body case from the suction port is passed through the heat radiator and the heat absorber sequentially into the main body case. an air blowing section that blows air to the air outlet; an air path of the air blowing section that is a moisture releasing section of a dehumidifying rotor provided between the heat radiator and the heat absorber; and a moisture releasing section between the heat absorber and the air outlet. a moisture absorbing section of the dehumidifying rotor provided; a heating section provided between the heat radiator and the moisture releasing section of the dehumidifying rotor; a rotating section that rotates the dehumidifying rotor; and a heat absorbing section that measures the temperature of the heat absorber. a control unit that controls the compressor, the air blowing unit, the heating unit, and the rotating unit, the control unit controlling the compressor, the air blowing unit, A dehumidifying operation in which the heating section and the rotating section are operated is started, and if the temperature measured by the heat absorber temperature sensor after a first predetermined time is equal to or lower than the first set temperature, the dehumidification operation is started for a second predetermined time. During the dehumidification operation, a dehumidification suppression operation is performed in which the amount of dehumidification is smaller than the dehumidification operation, and after the dehumidification suppression operation is completed, a defrosting operation is performed to melt the frost attached to the heat absorber for a third predetermined period of time. It is characterized in that the dehumidification operation is performed after the frost operation ends, thereby achieving the intended purpose.

According to the present invention, there is provided a dehumidifying device that prevents the heat absorber from being blocked under conditions where frost formation is likely to occur, the safety device of the heating section is activated, the operation of the heating section is stopped, and defrosting operation is no longer possible. Can be provided.

External perspective view of a dehumidifier according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Exploded perspective view of the dehumidifier Schematic sectional view of the dehumidifier Schematic sectional view of the dehumidifier External perspective view of the radiator of the dehumidifier External perspective view of the heat absorber of the dehumidifier Diagram showing the control operation of the dehumidifier by operation mode Diagram showing the control operation of the dehumidifier by operation mode

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a dehumidifier according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dehumidifier according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Note that FIGS. 1 and 2 are views of the dehumidifier as viewed from the rear side. 3 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views of a dehumidifying device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Note that FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the main case 1 has a shape in which the size in the horizontal direction W is larger than the size in the depth direction D and the vertical direction H. An air temperature sensor 26 is arranged on the rear surface (one side surface in the depth direction of the main body case 1) in order to measure the temperature of the air sucked in from the suction port 2 and the outside of the main body case 1. At the upper part of the main body case 1, an air outlet 3 is arranged. The air outlet 3 has a horizontally long rectangular shape and is open to the upper and rear surfaces of the main body case 1. A louver 4 that changes the direction of air from the air outlet 3 is provided on the rear side of the top surface of the main body case 1 (one side surface side in the depth direction of the main body case 1). An operating section 5 is provided on the other side in the depth direction of the main body case. The operation unit 5 has a plurality of switches for turning the power on and off, changing the operation mode, etc.

The main body case 1 includes a heat pump 6, a blower section 7, a dehumidifying rotor section 8, a mounting base 9, a water storage tank section 10, and a control section 11.

The heat pump 6 has a configuration in which a compressor 12, a radiator 13, an expander 14, and a heat absorber 15 are sequentially connected in an annular manner to circulate a refrigerant.

The compressor 12 is arranged on the left side of the main body case 1 (one side surface side in the lateral direction of the main body case 1) when viewed from the front side of the main body case 1. The compressor 12 is fixed on the bottom surface of the main body case 1.

The heat radiator 13 is arranged on the rear surface side of the main body case 1 (one side surface side in the depth direction of the main body case). The heat radiator 13 is arranged on the bottom surface of the main body case 1 so that a gap between adjacent heat radiating fins in the radiator 13 (described later) faces the suction port 2 of the main body case 1.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the radiator of the dehumidifier according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Note that FIG. 5 is a diagram of the radiator of the dehumidifying device viewed from the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 5, the radiator 13 includes a large number of radiating fins 13a and a connecting pipe 13b connecting the radiating fins 13a.

The radiation fin 13a has a vertically long rectangular plate shape and is made of aluminum. The large number of radiation fins 13a are arranged such that the surfaces of adjacent radiation fins 13a face each other. A gap between adjacent radiation fins 13a becomes an air path.

The connecting pipe 13b has a cylindrical shape and is made of copper. The cylindrical connecting pipe 13b is provided in multiple stages in the longitudinal direction of the radiation fin 13a, and is bent multiple times in a meandering manner. A large number of radiation fins 13a are fixed to the straight pipe portion of the connecting pipe 13b. A large number of radiation fins 13a are stacked at predetermined intervals in the direction of the central axis of the straight pipe portion of the connecting pipe 13b.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the heat absorber 15 is arranged on the right side of the main case 1 (on the other side in the lateral direction of the main case 1) when viewed from the front of the main case 1, and is described later. The heat absorber 15 is fixed to the mounting base 9 so that the central axis of the air passage, which is the gap between the adjacent heat absorbing fins 15a, extends in the left-right direction of the main body case 1.

Furthermore, a heat absorber temperature sensor 25 that measures the temperature of the heat absorber 15 is fixedly arranged on the heat absorber 15 in order to detect the frosting state of the heat absorber 15.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the heat absorber of the dehumidifier according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Note that FIG. 6 is a view of the radiator of the dehumidifier as viewed from the left side of the main body case.

As shown in FIG. 6, the heat absorber 15 includes a large number of heat absorbing fins 15a and a connecting pipe 15b that connects the large number of heat absorbing fins 15a.

The heat absorbing fin 15a has a vertically long rectangular plate shape and is made of aluminum. The large number of heat-absorbing fins 15a are arranged such that the surfaces of adjacent heat-absorbing fins 15a face each other. A gap between adjacent heat absorbing fins 15a becomes an air path.

The connecting pipe 15b has a cylindrical shape and is made of copper. The cylindrical connecting pipe 15b is provided in multiple stages in the longitudinal direction of the heat-absorbing fin 15a, and is bent multiple times in a meandering manner. A large number of heat-absorbing fins 15a are fixed to the straight pipe portion of the connecting pipe 15b. A large number of heat-absorbing fins 15a are stacked at predetermined intervals in the direction of the central axis of the straight pipe portion of the connecting pipe 15b.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the blower section 7 is arranged to face the radiator 13 and is fixed to the mounting base 9.

The air blower 7, the radiator 13, and the suction port 2 of the main case 1 are arranged in a straight line in the depth direction of the main case 1. The blower section 7 includes a motor 16, a fan 17 rotated by the motor 16, and a casing 18 surrounding the fan 17.

The fan 17 is a turbo fan and includes a main plate 17a, a large number of blades 17b, and a suction ring 17c.

The main plate 17a has a substantially disk shape with a downwardly convex central portion, and a cylindrical rotating shaft fixing portion 17d is provided in the central portion. The rotating shaft fixing part 17d has a structure in which the rotating shaft of the motor 16 is inserted and can be fixed to this rotating shaft. The peripheral edge of the main plate 17a has a plurality of blades 17b extending downward from the main plate 17a, and the blades 17b have a wing-shaped horizontal cross section. The end portion of the blade 17b on the peripheral edge side of the main plate 17a has a shape facing in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the fan 17. A circular suction ring 17c is provided at the lower end of the plurality of blades 17b.

The casing 18 has an intake port 18a on the bottom surface and a discharge port 18b on the top surface. When the fan 17 is rotated by the motor 16, air sucked in from the intake port 18a of the casing 18 flows into the fan 17 through the suction ring 17c of the fan 17. The air that has flowed in is blown out in the radial direction of the fan 17 along the blades 17b, and is blown to the air outlet 3 of the main body case 1 via the outlet 18b of the casing 18.

The dehumidifying rotor section 8 is arranged between the blower section 7 and the heat absorber 15. The heat absorber 15, the dehumidifying rotor section 8, and the air blower section 7 are arranged in a straight line in the lateral direction of the main body case 1. The dehumidifying rotor section 8 includes a dehumidifying rotor 19, a rotor frame 20, a rotating section 21, and a heating section 22.

The dehumidifying rotor 19 has a disk shape as a whole. This disc body is a circular ring in which a ventilation body is provided. The ventilation body has a second band (not shown) provided in a zigzag pattern between two first bands (not shown), and is arranged in a spiral shape from the inner circumference to the outer circumference within the circular ring. It has a ventilation structure by winding it around the body.

These first and second strips are made of heat-resistant fibers, and a moisture-absorbing substance such as zeolite is adhered to the surface of the fibers using, for example, a silica-based adhesive.

The dehumidifying rotor 19 is formed into a disk shape, is rotatably erected on the rotor frame 20 so that the central axis extends in the left-right direction of the main body case 1, and is rotated by the rotating part 21.

The rotor frame 20 is fixed to the mounting base 9. The dehumidifying rotor 19 has a moisture absorption section 19a that adsorbs moisture from the air, and a moisture release section 19b that releases moisture into the air.

The heating section 22 is installed to face the moisture release section 19b of the dehumidification rotor 19. The heating section 22 is arranged upstream of the moisture releasing section 19b of the dehumidifying rotor 19 in the air path described below.

The mounting base 9 has a box shape with open bottom and front surfaces of the main body case 1, and includes a mounting plate 9a and support legs 9b.

The mounting plate 9a has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and the air blowing section 7, the dehumidifying rotor section 8, and the heat absorber 15 are fixed to the upper surface.

The support legs 9b are three rectangular plates that extend downward from the periphery of the mounting plate 9a. The plate is integrally formed. The support leg 9b has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped space 9c between the mounting plate 9a and the bottom surface of the main body case 1. The height of the space 9c is approximately the same as the height of the support leg 9b, and the water storage tank 10 is installed in the space 9c.

The water tank section 10 is disposed in the lower space 9c of the main body case 1, and is configured to be detachable from the front surface of the main body case 1 (one side surface in the depth direction of the main body case). The attachment/detachment direction of the water storage tank portion 10 is the front-rear direction of the main body case 1 (the depth direction of the main body case). A ventilation section 7, a dehumidifying rotor section 8, and a heat absorber 15 are arranged above the water storage tank section 10. The water storage tank section 10 includes a flat box-shaped tank 10a with an open top and a funnel-shaped water collecting cover 10b. The water collecting cover 10b is removably provided on the upper part of the tank 10a. That is, the structure is such that dew condensation is caused by the heat absorber 15, and the condensed water is collected by the funnel-shaped water collecting cover 10b and flows into the tank 10a.

The control unit 11 is arranged on the left side of the main body case 1 (one side surface side in the lateral direction of the main body case 1) when viewed from the front side of the main body case 1. The control unit 11 is fixed on the bottom surface of the main body case 1. The control unit 11 controls the motor 16 of the blower unit 7, the compressor 12, the rotating unit 21 of the dehumidifying rotor unit 8, and the heating unit 22 based on a switch on the operating unit 5 pressed by the user. .

Inside the main body case 1, a first air passage 23 and a second air passage 24 are provided.

The first air passage 23 uses the air blower 7 to suck air from the suction port 2 and supply it to the radiator 13 , the heating section 22 , the moisture release section 19 b , the heat absorber 15 , and the moisture absorption section 19 a in this order. This is an air path through which the air is discharged from the air outlet 3.

The second air passage 24 is an air passage in which the air is sucked from the suction port 2 by the air blower 7, supplied to the radiator 13, and is discharged from the air outlet 3 via the air blower 7.

To explain in detail, in the first air passage 23, the indoor air warmed by the radiator 13 is further warmed by the heating section 22, and is supplied to the moisture discharging section 19b of the dehumidifying rotor 19.

In the moisture release section 19b, the moisture adsorbed by the moisture absorption section 19a moves to the moisture release section 19b by rotation of the dehumidification rotor 19, and is released into the supplied air by heating of the heating section 22. This high-humidity air is supplied to the heat absorber 15, where it is cooled to form dew condensation, and moisture is extracted as water droplets. Thereafter, the cooled air is supplied to the moisture absorption section 19a of the dehumidification rotor 19, and the moisture in the air is further adsorbed by the moisture absorption section 19a, resulting in dry air. Furthermore, since heat of adsorption is generated when moisture is adsorbed, indoor air is sucked into the air blowing section 7 with reduced humidity and increased temperature, and is blown into the room from the air outlet 3. Note that the moisture condensed in the heat absorber 15 drips downward as water droplets and flows into the tank 10a of the water storage tank section 10.

In the second air passage 24, the indoor air warmed by the radiator 13 is sucked into the air blower 7, and is blown into the room from the air outlet 3. That is, the air passing through the first air passage 23 and the air passing through the second air passage 24 are mixed in the air blowing section 7, and are blown out from the air outlet 3 by the air blowing section 7.

The feature of this embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 performs the dehumidification suppressing operation immediately before the defrosting operation. Specifically, first, the control unit 11 starts the dehumidification operation by operating the compressor 12 (heat pump 6), the blowing unit 7, the heating unit 22, and the rotating unit 21 in conjunction with each other. Next, the control unit 11 measures the temperature of the heat absorber 15 using the heat absorber temperature sensor 25 after a first predetermined time (20 minutes) from the start of the dehumidifying operation. When the temperature measured by the heat absorber temperature sensor 25 is lower than or equal to the first set temperature (0.5° C.), the control unit 11 causes the frost to gradually form on the heat absorber 15 while there is frost on the heat absorber 15. It is determined that the amount of frost will increase due to the accumulation, and a dehumidification suppressing operation in which the amount of dehumidification is smaller than that of the dehumidifying operation is performed for a second predetermined time (5 minutes).

The dehumidification suppressing operation is a dehumidifying operation using the compressor 12 (heat pump 6) and the blower section 7 while the operation of the heating section 22 and the rotating section 21 is stopped. In this operation, by stopping the operation of the heating section 22 and the rotating section 21, the dehumidifying function of the dehumidifying rotor 19 is eliminated, so that the amount of frost accumulated on the heat absorber 15 is reduced. Moreover, by controlling the amount of frost accumulated in the heat absorber 15, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of unmelted parts during the defrosting operation.

After the dehumidification suppressing operation ends, a defrosting operation is performed to melt the frost attached to the heat absorber 15 for a third predetermined period of time (10 minutes). This dehumidification operation is a defrosting method using warm air using the heating unit 22 in which the operation of the compressor 12 (heat pump 6) is stopped and the blowing unit 7, the heating unit 22, and the rotating unit 21 are operated in conjunction with each other. By using warm air, it is possible to perform a defrosting operation that efficiently melts the frost attached to the heat absorber 15.

After the defrosting operation is completed, the original dehumidifying operation is automatically returned to prevent the heat absorber 15 from being blocked under conditions where frost formation is likely to occur, and the safety device of the heating section 22 being activated, making it impossible to perform the defrosting operation. Therefore, a highly reliable dehumidification device can be provided. Note that the heating section 22 is provided with a safety device (not shown), and when the heating section 22 reaches a temperature higher than a predetermined temperature, the control section stops the operation of the heating section 22. In addition, reliable defrosting operation prevents the heat absorber 15 from being blocked due to the growth of unmelted material, and the drainage channel is not blocked by ice causing problems such as water leakage, thereby providing a highly reliable dehumidifying device. be able to.

In addition, by increasing the rotational speed of the blower section 7 during the temperature rise suppression operation compared to the rotational speed during the dehumidifying operation and the defrosting operation, the amount of air passing through the heating section 22 is increased, thereby making it more effective. It is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the safety device. Moreover, at the same time, more frost attached to the heat absorber 15 can be melted.

In addition, by setting the temperature of the heating unit 22 in the defrosting operation immediately after the temperature rise suppression operation to be higher than the temperature of the heating unit 22 in the defrosting operation immediately before the temperature rise suppression operation, the temperature of the heating unit 22 can be set higher than that in the defrosting operation immediately before the temperature rise suppression operation, so that the heat absorber 15 can be heated in a shorter time. It can eliminate the remaining frost that has melted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 turns on the dehumidifier, starts the dehumidifying operation, and after a sixth predetermined time (5 minutes) shorter than the first predetermined time (20 minutes), The temperature measured by the air temperature sensor 26 that measures the temperature of the air taken in from the outside of the heat absorber 1 is equal to or lower than the second set temperature (9° C.), and the temperature measured by the heat absorber temperature sensor 25 that measures the temperature of the heat absorber 15 is If the temperature is lower than the third set temperature (2°C), the defrosting operation is performed for the third predetermined time (10 minutes), and as the defrosting operation and dehumidification operation are repeated alternately, the remaining melt is removed. It is possible to limit the possibility that ice will grow and block the heat absorber 15 and the drainage channel will be blocked by ice and problems such as water leakage will occur.

In the above, the first predetermined time is 20 minutes, the second predetermined time is 5 minutes, the third predetermined time is 10 minutes, the sixth predetermined time is 5 minutes, the first set temperature is 0.5°C, and the second set temperature is set. An example in which the temperature was set at 9°C and the third set temperature was set at 2°C was explained.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing control operations for each operating mode of the dehumidifier according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Components similar to those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the difference from the first embodiment is that a temperature rise suppression operation is provided during the defrosting operation. Specifically, by performing a temperature rise suppression operation in which the operation of the heating section 22 and the rotating section 21 is stopped for a fourth predetermined period (3 minutes) during the defrosting operation, the operation of the heating section 22 is more reliably performed. It is possible to avoid the possibility that the safety device is activated and defrosting operation becomes impossible.

The temperature rise suppression operation is a defrosting method in which the operation of the compressor 12 (heat pump 6), heating section 22, and rotating section 21 is stopped, and only the blowing section 7 is operated. Therefore, since the output of the heating section 22 is OFF, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the safety device.

By making the fifth predetermined time (4 minutes), which is the operating time of the defrosting operation immediately after the temperature rise suppressing operation, longer than the operating time of the defrosting operation immediately before the temperature rise suppressing operation, the heat absorber 15 is more reliably attached. It can eliminate the unmelted remains of frost.

The above has been explained using an example in which the fourth predetermined time is 3 minutes and the fifth predetermined time is 4 minutes.

The dehumidifying device according to the present invention is related to defrosting operation control that reliably removes frost from a heat absorber, improves defrosting performance, and can stably remove frost from a heat absorber, so it is suitable for drying clothes and dehumidifying. It is useful as a dehumidifying device used for other purposes.

1 Main body case 2 Suction port 3 Air outlet 4 Louver 5 Operation part 6 Heat pump 7 Air blower part 8 Dehumidifying rotor part 9 Mounting stand 9a Mounting plate 9b Support leg 9c Space part 10 Water storage tank part 10a Tank 10b Water collection cover 11 Control part 12 Compression Machine 13 Heat sink 13a Heat sink 13b Connecting pipe 14 Expander 15 Heat absorber 15a Heat absorbing fin 15b Connecting pipe 16 Motor 17 Fan 17a Main plate 17b Blade 17c Suction ring 17d Rotating shaft fixing part 18 Casing 18a Inlet 18b Outlet 19 Dehumidifying rotor 19a Moisture absorption section 19b Moisture release section 20 Rotor frame 21 Rotating section 22 Heating section 23 First air passage 24 Second air passage 25 Heat absorber temperature sensor 26 Air temperature sensor

Claims (8)

A main case having an inlet and an outlet;
and a heat pump provided within the main body case,
The heat pump is formed by a compressor, and a radiator, an expander, and a heat absorber sequentially provided downstream of the compressor,
Inside the main body case,
a blowing unit that blows the air sucked into the main body case from the suction port to the blowout port through the heat radiator and the heat absorber;
an air path of the air blowing section, a moisture releasing section of a dehumidifying rotor provided between the heat radiator and the heat absorber; and a moisture absorbing section of the dehumidifying rotor provided between the heat absorber and the air outlet;
a heating section provided between the radiator and the moisture radiating section of the dehumidifying rotor;
a rotating part that rotates the dehumidifying rotor;
a heat absorber temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the heat absorber;
a control unit that controls the compressor, the blower unit, the heating unit, and the rotating unit;
The control unit starts a dehumidifying operation in which the compressor, the air blowing unit, the heating unit, and the rotating unit operate, and after a first predetermined time, the temperature measured by the heat absorber temperature sensor increases. , when the temperature is lower than the first set temperature, a dehumidification suppressing operation is performed in which the amount of dehumidification is smaller than that of the dehumidifying operation for a second predetermined period of time, and after the end of the dehumidifying suppressing operation, the dehumidifying operation is performed for a third predetermined period of time. A dehumidifying device characterized in that a defrosting operation is performed to melt frost attached to a heat absorber, and after the defrosting operation is completed, the dehumidifying operation is performed. The dehumidification suppressing operation stops the operation of the heating section and the rotating section,
The dehumidification device according to claim 1, wherein the compressor and the air blower are operated. The dehumidifying device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the defrosting operation involves stopping the operation of the compressor and operating the blowing section, the heating section, and the rotating section. The control unit includes:
4. The dehumidification device according to claim 3, wherein during the defrosting operation, a temperature rise suppressing operation is performed in which operation of the heating section and the rotating section is stopped for a fourth predetermined period of time. The control unit includes:
5. The dehumidifier according to claim 4, wherein the number of rotations of the air blower is increased during the temperature rise suppression operation. The control unit includes:
According to claim 4 or 5, the fifth predetermined time period, which is the operating time of the defrosting operation immediately after the temperature rise suppressing operation, is longer than the operating time of the defrosting operation immediately before the temperature rise suppressing operation. Dehumidifier as described. The control unit includes:
The temperature of the heating section in the defrosting operation immediately after the temperature rise suppression operation is:
The dehumidifying device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the temperature is higher than the temperature of the heating section in the defrosting operation immediately before the temperature rise suppression operation. The control unit starts the dehumidification operation, and after a sixth predetermined time period shorter than the first predetermined time period, the temperature measured by an air temperature sensor that measures the temperature outside the main body case is equal to or lower than a second set temperature. 8. Any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein if the temperature measured by the heat absorber temperature sensor is less than a third set temperature, the defrosting operation is performed for a third predetermined time. Dehumidifier as described.