JP7633569B2 - Humidifier and air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to humidifiers and air conditioning devices.

A humidifier that humidifies air using a rotor member having an adsorbent is known. Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioning system equipped with this humidifier.

In this humidifier, the rotor member is disposed so as to cross the adsorption side air passage and the regeneration side air passage, and rotates. In the humidifier, air flowing through the adsorption side air passage passes through the rotor member, and moisture contained in the air is adsorbed by the rotor member. In the humidifier, air flowing through the regeneration side air passage is heated by a heater and then passes through the rotor member, and moisture desorbed from the rotor member is imparted to the air. The humidifier humidifies the room by supplying air humidified by the rotor member to the room.

JP 2021-038869 A

In a humidifier, the portion of the rotor member that crosses the regeneration side air passage becomes hot (e.g., 100°C or higher) because it comes into contact with air heated by a heater. When the rotor member rotates, the portion of the rotor member that was located in the regeneration side air passage moves to the adsorption side air passage. The temperature of the adsorption rotor drops as it moves through the adsorption side air passage, but it still remains at a relatively high temperature (e.g., about 60°C). Therefore, the temperature of the air that comes into contact with the rotor member in the adsorption side air passage increases, and the relative humidity of that air decreases. As a result, the amount of moisture adsorbed by the rotor member decreases, and the amount of moisture (humidification amount) added to the air decreases.

The object of the present disclosure is to improve the humidification capacity of a humidifier equipped with a rotor member.

The first aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a humidifier (20) that humidifies a room by supplying the first air humidified by the rotor member (22) to the room, the humidifier comprising: a first passage (27) through which a first air flows; a second passage (62) through which a second air flows; a rotor member (22) that has an adsorbent for adsorbing moisture in the air and that rotates and is disposed so as to cross the first passage (27) and the second passage (62); and a heater (25) that heats the first air sent to the rotor member (22). The humidifier (20) of this embodiment has an intermittent humidification mode in which a unit operation of performing a moisture collection operation followed by a moisture release operation is repeatedly performed, and the moisture collection operation is an operation of supplying the second air to the rotor member (22) and causing the moisture in the second air to be adsorbed by the rotor member (22) while heating of the first air by the heater (25) and supply of the first air to the room are stopped, and the moisture release operation is an operation of sending the first air heated by the heater (25) to the rotor member (22) and supplying the first air humidified by the rotor member (22) to the room.

In a first aspect, the humidifier (20) has an intermittent humidification mode. In the intermittent humidification mode, the humidifier (20) repeatedly performs a unit operation. In the unit operation, the rotor member (22) adds moisture removed from the second air in the moisture collection operation to the first air in the moisture release operation. In the moisture collection operation, heating of the first air by the heater (25) is stopped, so that the temperature of the rotor member (22) is kept low. When the temperature of the rotor member (22) is kept low, the increase in the temperature of the second air passing through the rotor member (22) is suppressed, and as a result, the decrease in the relative humidity of the second air passing through the rotor member (22) is suppressed.

The higher the relative humidity of the second air passing through the rotor member (22), the greater the amount of moisture that the adsorbent of the rotor member (22) adsorbs from the second air. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the amount of moisture that the rotor member (22) adsorbs from the second air increases compared to when the first air heated by the heater (25) is sent to the rotor member (22) while the second air is sent to the rotor member (22). As a result, the amount of moisture that the rotor member (22) imparts to the first air during the moisture release operation increases, improving the humidification capacity of the humidifier (20).

A second aspect of the present disclosure is the first aspect, wherein the intermittent humidification mode is an operating mode in which the humidifier (20) alternately performs the moisture collection operation and the moisture release operation.

In the second aspect, the humidifier (20) starts a moisture release operation when the moisture collection operation is completed, and starts the next moisture collection operation when the moisture release operation is completed.

A third aspect of the present disclosure is that in the first or second aspect, the humidifier (20) terminates the moisture collection operation when a first termination condition is satisfied during the execution of the moisture collection operation, and the first termination condition is that the duration of the moisture collection operation reaches a first reference time.

In the third aspect, the humidifier (20) determines whether the first termination condition is met based on the duration of the moisture collection operation.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the humidifier (20) terminates the moisture release operation when a second termination condition is met during the moisture release operation, and the second termination condition is that the duration of the moisture release operation reaches a second reference time, or that the humidity of the first air humidified in the rotor member (22) is lower than a predetermined humidity.

In the fourth aspect, the humidifier (20) determines whether the second termination condition is met based on the duration of the moisture release operation or the humidity of the first air humidified in the rotor member (22).

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure is any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the humidifier (20) stops the flow of the second air in the second passage (62) for at least a portion of the time during which the moisture release operation is being performed.

In the moisture release operation of the humidifier (20) of the fifth aspect, the first air heated by the heater (25) continues to be sent to the rotor member (22) while the flow of the second air in the second passage (62) is stopped. Therefore, in this state, the temperature of the entire rotor member (22) is kept higher than in a state in which both the first air and the second air are sent to the rotor member (22). Therefore, in this aspect, the amount of heat of the heater (25) is kept low.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure is an air conditioning system (1) comprising a humidifier (20) of any one of the first to fifth aspects described above, and an outdoor unit (10) and an indoor unit (30) connected to each other by refrigerant piping (3, 4) to perform a refrigeration cycle.

In the sixth aspect, an air conditioning system (1) is formed by a humidifier (20), an outdoor unit (10), and an indoor unit (30).

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing refrigerant piping and air flow in the air conditioner. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit. FIG. 4 is a block diagram including the main elements of the air conditioning device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of the second switching damper and the air flow inside the damper casing during air supply operation. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the second switching damper and the air flow inside the damper casing during exhaust operation. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operations of the humidity adjustment unit, the heater, the first fan, and the second fan in the intermittent humidification mode. FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the operations of the humidity adjustment unit, the heater, the first fan, and the second fan in the intermittent humidification mode of the first modified example. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the operations of the humidity adjustment unit, the heater, the first fan, and the second fan in the intermittent humidification mode of the first modified example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown below, and various modifications are possible without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure. Since the drawings are intended to conceptually explain the present disclosure, dimensions, ratios, or numbers may be exaggerated or simplified as necessary for ease of understanding.

An exemplary embodiment is described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overview of the configuration of an air conditioner An air conditioner (1) adjusts the temperature and humidity of air in a room (I). As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner (1) has an air conditioner outdoor unit (10) and an air conditioner indoor unit (30). The air conditioner outdoor unit (10) is installed outdoors, and the air conditioner indoor unit (30) is installed indoors. The air conditioner (1) is a pair type having one air conditioner indoor unit (30) and one air conditioner outdoor unit (10). The air conditioner (1) has a humidity control unit (20) that is a humidity control element. The air conditioner (1) has the function of humidifying and dehumidifying air. The air conditioner (1) further has the function of ventilating the room (I).

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the air conditioning device (1) has a hose (2), a liquid connection pipe (3), and a gas connection pipe (4). The air conditioning indoor unit (30) and the humidity control unit (20) are connected to each other via the hose (2). The air conditioning indoor unit (30) and the air conditioning outdoor unit (10) are connected to each other via the liquid connection pipe (3) and the gas connection pipe (4). This forms an air conditioning element (5) including a refrigerant circuit (R). The refrigerant circuit (R) is filled with a refrigerant. The refrigerant is difluoromethane. However, the refrigerant is not limited to difluoromethane. The refrigerant circuit (R) performs a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.

The refrigerant circuit (R) mainly has a compressor (12), an outdoor heat exchanger (14), an expansion valve (15), a four-way switching valve (16), and an indoor heat exchanger (34).

The refrigerant circuit (R) performs a first refrigeration cycle or a second refrigeration cycle depending on the switching of the four-way switching valve (16). The first refrigeration cycle is a refrigeration cycle in which the indoor heat exchanger (34) functions as an evaporator and the outdoor heat exchanger (14) functions as a radiator. The second refrigeration cycle is a refrigeration cycle in which the indoor heat exchanger (34) functions as a radiator and the outdoor heat exchanger (14) functions as an evaporator.

(2) Detailed Configuration (2-1) Air Conditioning Outdoor Unit The air conditioning outdoor unit (10) is an outdoor unit that constitutes the air conditioner (1).

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the air conditioning outdoor unit (10) has an outdoor casing (11), a compressor (12), an outdoor fan (13), an outdoor heat exchanger (14), an expansion valve (15), and a four-way switching valve (16).

A partition plate (18) is provided inside the outdoor casing (11). The partition plate (18) divides the interior of the outdoor casing (11) into a first space (S1) and a second space (S2). The first space (S1) is provided with a compressor (12) and an outdoor heat exchanger (14). Strictly speaking, the first space (S1) is provided with the compressor (12), outdoor fan (13), outdoor heat exchanger (14), expansion valve (15), and four-way switching valve (16).

The outdoor casing (11) is formed with an outdoor intake port (11a), an outdoor outlet port (11b), a moisture absorption side intake port (61a), and a moisture absorption side exhaust port (61b). The outdoor intake port (11a) is formed on the rear side of the outdoor casing (11). The outdoor intake port (11a) is an opening for drawing in outdoor air (outdoor air). The outdoor outlet port (11b) is formed on the front side of the outdoor casing (11). The outdoor outlet port (11b) is an opening for blowing out air that has passed through the outdoor heat exchanger (14). Inside the outdoor casing (11), an outdoor air passage (11c) is formed from the outdoor intake port (11a) to the outdoor outlet port (11b).

The compressor (12) sucks in and compresses low-pressure gas refrigerant. The compressor (12) is driven by a first motor (M1). The compressor (12) is a variable-capacity compressor in which power is supplied to the first motor (M1) from an inverter circuit. The compressor (12) is configured so that its operating capacity can be changed by adjusting the operating frequency (rotation speed) of the first motor (M1). The compressor (12) is a so-called high-pressure dome type compressor whose interior is filled with high-pressure refrigerant. When the compressor (12) is operating, heat generated by the compressor (12) is released to its surroundings.

The outdoor fan (13) is disposed in the outdoor air passage (11c). The outdoor fan (13) is rotated by being driven by the second motor (M2). Air transported by the outdoor fan (13) is sucked into the outdoor casing (11) through the outdoor suction port (11a). This air flows through the outdoor air passage (11c) and is blown out of the outdoor casing (11) through the outdoor outlet port (11b). The outdoor fan (13) transports the outdoor air so that it passes through the outdoor heat exchanger (14).

The outdoor heat exchanger (14) is disposed upstream of the outdoor fan (13) in the outdoor air passage (11c). In this example, the outdoor heat exchanger (14) is a fin-and-tube type heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger (14) exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing therethrough and the outdoor air transported by the outdoor fan (13).

The expansion valve (15) reduces the pressure of the refrigerant. The expansion valve (15) is an electrically operated expansion valve whose opening is adjustable. The pressure reducing mechanism may be a temperature-sensitive expansion valve, an expander, a capillary tube, or the like. The expansion valve (15) may be connected to the liquid line of the refrigerant circuit (R) and may be provided in the air conditioning indoor unit (30).

The four-way switching valve (16) has a first port (P1), a second port (P2), a third port (P3), and a fourth port (P4). The first port (P1) is connected to the discharge portion of the compressor (12). The second port (P2) is connected to the suction portion of the compressor (12). The third port (P3) is connected to the gas end of the outdoor heat exchanger (14). The fourth port (P4) is connected to the gas connection pipe (4).

The four-way switching valve (16) can be switched between a first state (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2) and a second state (the state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2). In the first state, the four-way switching valve (16) connects the first port (P1) to the third port (P3) and also connects the second port (P2) to the fourth port (P4). In the second state, the four-way switching valve (16) connects the first port (P1) to the fourth port (P4) and also connects the second port (P2) to the third port (P3).

(2-2) Humidity Control Unit The humidity control unit (20) is installed outdoors. In this example, the humidity control unit (20) is integrated with the air conditioner outdoor unit (10). The humidity control unit (20) sends humidity-controlled air to the air conditioner indoor unit (30). The humidity control unit (20) is a humidifier that humidifies the room (I). The humidity control unit (20) includes an outdoor casing (11), a humidity control rotor (22), a first fan (26), a second fan (23), a heater (25), a first switching damper (24), and a second switching damper (29) (see FIG. 5). The outdoor casing (21) is shared by the air conditioner outdoor unit (10) and the humidity control unit (20).

The above-mentioned second space (S2) is defined inside the outdoor casing (11). The second space (S2) is provided with the humidity control rotor (22) and the heater (25). Strictly speaking, the second space (S2) is provided with the humidity control rotor (22), the first fan (26), the second fan (23), the heater (25), the first switching damper (24), and the second switching damper (29).

The outdoor casing (11) is formed with an intake/exhaust port (21a), a connection port (21b), and an outdoor exhaust port (21c). The intake/exhaust port (21a) is an opening through which outdoor air and room air circulate. A first passage (27) extending from the intake/exhaust port (21a) to the connection port (21b) is formed inside the outdoor casing (11). A second passage (62) extending from the moisture absorption side intake port (61a) to the moisture absorption side exhaust port (61b) is formed inside the outdoor casing (11). A hose (2) is connected to the connection port (21b).

An exhaust passage (28) is connected to the first passage (27). The exhaust passage (28) continues from the middle of the first passage (27) to the outdoor exhaust port (21c). The inlet end of the exhaust passage (28) is connected to the downstream side of the humidity control rotor (22) in the first passage (27) (more precisely, the downstream side of the first fan (26)). In the first passage (27) and the exhaust passage (28), the downstream is downstream of the direction in which air flows during air supply operation (the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 2), and the upstream is upstream of the direction in which air flows during air supply operation.

The humidity control rotor (22) is passed by the air flowing through the first passage (27). The humidity control rotor (22) is a rotor member that adsorbs moisture in the air. The humidity control rotor (22) is, for example, a disk-shaped humidity control rotor having a honeycomb structure. The humidity control rotor (22) is provided so as to cross both the first passage (27) and the second passage (62).

The humidity control rotor (22) holds an adsorbent made of a polymeric material with hygroscopic properties. This polymeric material with hygroscopic properties is a type of so-called sorption agent. With an adsorbent made of a polymeric material with hygroscopic properties, both the phenomenon of water vapor in the air being adsorbed onto the surface of the adsorbent and the phenomenon of water vapor being absorbed into the adsorbent occur. The adsorbent held by the humidity control rotor (22) may be an inorganic material such as silica gel, zeolite, or alumina. The adsorbent has the property of adsorbing moisture in the air. The hygroscopic agent has the property of desorbing the adsorbed moisture when heated.

The humidity control rotor (22) is driven by the third motor (M3) and rotates about its central axis. When the humidity control rotor (22) rotates, the portion of the humidity control rotor (22) that was located in the first passage (27) moves to the second passage (62), and the portion of the humidity control rotor (22) that was located in the second passage (62) moves to the first passage (27).

The humidity control rotor (22) has a humidity control area (22A) located in the first passage (27). In the humidity control area (22A), a regeneration operation for releasing moisture adsorbed in the adsorbent into the air and an adsorption operation for adsorbing moisture in the air onto the adsorbent are performed.

The first fan (26) is disposed downstream of the humidity control area (22A) in the first passage (27). The first fan (26) transports outdoor air so that it passes through the humidity control area (22A) of the humidity control rotor (22). The first fan (26) is rotated by the drive of the fourth motor (M4). The first fan (26) is configured so that the air volume can be switched between multiple stages by adjusting the rotation speed of the fourth motor (M4).

The heater (25) is disposed upstream of the humidity control region (22A) in the first passage (27). The heater (25) is a heater that heats the air flowing through the first passage (27). The heater (25) is configured to have a variable output. The temperature of the air passing through the heater (25) changes depending on the output of the heater (25).

The second fan (23) is disposed in the second passage (62). The second fan (23) is rotated by the drive of the sixth motor (M6). The second fan (23) transports outdoor air by passing through the second passage (62). The outdoor air transported by the second fan (23) is sent into the second passage (62) through the moisture absorption side inlet (61a) and discharged to the outside through the moisture absorption side exhaust port (61b). In the second passage (62), the adsorption region (22C) of the humidity control rotor (22) and the second fan (23) are disposed in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air flow.

The first switching damper (24) is provided at the connection portion of the first passage (27) with the exhaust passage (28). The passage switching mechanism may be constituted by a passage switching valve, a shutter, or the like. The first switching damper (24) switches between a third state (a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 2) and a fourth state (a state shown by a dashed line in FIG. 2). In the third state, the first switching damper (24) connects the first passage (27) with the inside of the hose (2) and blocks the first passage (27) with the exhaust passage (28). In the fourth state, the first switching damper (24) connects the first passage (27) with the inside of the hose (2) and connects the first passage (27) with the exhaust passage (28). The state of the first switching damper (24) is switched by driving a power source such as a motor.

The second switching damper (29) is disposed in the first passage (27). As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the second switching damper (29) is provided in a damper casing (29A). Within the damper casing (29A) are provided a space (S31) inside the second switching damper (29), a space (S32) in which the second switching damper (29) is disposed, and a space (S33). The second switching damper (29) is provided slidably within the space (S32).

The damper casing (29A) is provided with a first inlet (29a) and a second inlet (29b) that communicate between the space (S32) and the outside of the damper casing (29A). The first inlet (29a) communicates with the intake/exhaust port (21a) through the first passage (27). The second inlet (29b) communicates with the connection port (21b) for the hose (2) in the outdoor casing (11) through the first passage (27). The second inlet (29b) communicates with the outdoor exhaust port (21c) through the first passage (27) and the exhaust passage (28).

The damper casing (29A) is provided with a first communication port (29c) and a second communication port (29d) that communicate between the space (S32) and the space (S33). The second switching damper (29) is switched between a fifth state and a sixth state by sliding in the space (S32). As shown in FIG. 5, the second switching damper (29) in the fifth state has the first port (29a) as an inlet for sucking in air and the second port (29b) as an outlet for discharging air. As shown in FIG. 6, the second switching damper (29) in the sixth state has the second port (29b) as an inlet for sucking in air and the first port (29a) as an outlet for discharging air. The state of the second switching damper (29) is switched by driving a power source such as a motor.

(2-3) Air Conditioner Indoor Unit The air conditioner indoor unit (30) is an indoor unit that constitutes part of the air conditioner (1).

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the air conditioning indoor unit (30) is installed indoors. The air conditioning indoor unit (30) is a wall-mounted type that is installed on the wall (WL) of a room that forms the interior space (I). The air conditioning indoor unit (30) has an indoor casing (31), an indoor fan (32), an air filter (33), an indoor heat exchanger (34), a drain pan (35), and an air direction adjustment unit (36).

The indoor casing (31) houses the indoor fan (32), the air filter (33), the indoor heat exchanger (34), and the drain pan (35). The indoor casing (31) is formed with an indoor suction port (31a) and an indoor air outlet (31b). The indoor suction port (31a) is disposed on the upper side of the indoor casing (31). The indoor suction port (31a) is an opening for drawing in indoor air. The indoor air outlet (31b) is disposed on the lower side of the indoor casing (31). The indoor air outlet (31b) is an opening for blowing out air after heat exchange or air for humidity control. An indoor air passage (31c) continuing from the indoor suction port (31a) to the indoor air outlet (31b) is provided inside the indoor casing (31).

The indoor fan (32) is disposed approximately in the center of the indoor air passage (31c). The indoor fan (32) is, for example, a cross-flow fan. The indoor fan (32) is rotated by driving the fifth motor (M5). The indoor fan (32) takes in indoor air into the indoor air passage (31c) and transports it. The air transported by the indoor fan (32) is sucked into the indoor casing (31) through the indoor suction port (31a). This air flows through the indoor air passage (31c) and is blown out of the indoor casing (31) through the indoor outlet port (31b).

The indoor fan (32) transports indoor air so that the air passes through the indoor heat exchanger (34). The air blown out from the indoor air outlet (31b) is supplied to the room (I). The indoor fan (32) is configured so that the air volume can be switched between multiple levels by adjusting the rotation speed of the fifth motor (M5).

The air filter (33) is disposed in the indoor air passage (31c) upstream of the indoor heat exchanger (34). The air filter (33) is attached to the indoor casing (31) so that substantially all of the air supplied to the indoor heat exchanger (34) passes through the air filter (33). The air filter (33) collects dust in the air sucked in from the indoor suction port (31a).

The indoor heat exchanger (34) is disposed upstream of the indoor fan (32) in the indoor air passage (31c). In this example, the indoor heat exchanger (34) is a fin-and-tube type heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger (34) exchanges heat between the refrigerant therein and the indoor air transported by the indoor fan (32).

The drain pans (35) are disposed on the front and rear lower sides of the indoor heat exchanger (34). The drain pans (35) receive condensation water generated inside the indoor casing (31) of the air conditioning indoor unit (30). Condensation water generated on the surfaces of the fins of the indoor heat exchanger (34) flows down the surfaces due to its own weight and is received in the drain pan (35).

The airflow direction adjustment section (36) adjusts the direction of the air blown out from the indoor air outlet (31b). The airflow direction adjustment section (36) has a flap (37). The flap (37) is formed in a long plate shape extending along the longitudinal direction of the indoor air outlet (31b). The flap (37) rotates when driven by a motor. The flap (37) opens and closes the indoor air outlet (31b) as it rotates.

The flap (37) is configured so that the inclination angle can be changed in stages. The positions to which the flap (37) in this example can be adjusted include six positions. These six positions include a closed position and five open positions. The five open positions include the substantially horizontal blowing position shown in FIG. 3. The flap (37) in the closed position substantially closes the indoor blowing outlet (31b). A gap may be formed between the flap (37) in the closed position and the indoor blowing outlet (31b).

As described above, the air conditioning indoor unit (30) is connected to the humidity control unit (20) via the hose (2). The end of the hose (2) connected to the air conditioning indoor unit (30) is connected to the indoor air passage (31c) upstream of the indoor heat exchanger (34). Air sent from the humidity control unit (20) to the air conditioning indoor unit (30) is supplied to the indoor air passage (31c) upstream of the indoor heat exchanger (34) through the hose (2). Air sent from the air conditioning indoor unit (30) to the humidity control unit (20) flows into the hose (2) from the indoor air passage (31c) upstream of the indoor heat exchanger (34).

(2-4) Remote Controller As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the remote controller (40) is placed in a position in the room where the user can operate it. The remote controller (40) has a display unit (41) and an input unit (42). The display unit (41) displays predetermined information. The display unit (41) is configured, for example, by a liquid crystal monitor. The predetermined information is information indicating the operating state and set temperature of the air conditioner (1). The input unit (42) accepts input operations from the user to make various settings. The input unit (42) is configured, for example, by a plurality of physical switches. The user can set the operating mode, target temperature, target humidity, etc. of the air conditioner (1) by operating the input unit (42) of the remote controller (40).

(2-5) Sensors As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the air conditioner (1) has a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors includes a sensor for the refrigerant and a sensor for the air. The refrigerant sensors include a sensor for detecting the temperature and pressure of a high-pressure refrigerant and a sensor for detecting the temperature and pressure of a low-pressure refrigerant (not shown).

The air sensors include an outside air temperature sensor (51), an outside air humidity sensor (52), an inside air temperature sensor (53), an inside air humidity sensor (54), and a humidity sensor (55).

The outdoor air temperature sensor (51) is provided in the air conditioner outdoor unit (10). The outdoor air temperature sensor (51) detects the temperature of the outdoor air.

The outdoor air humidity sensor (52) is provided in the second passage (62) and is located upstream of the humidity control rotor (22) (e.g., near the moisture absorption side inlet (61a)). The outdoor air humidity sensor (52), like the outdoor air temperature sensor (51), may be provided near the outdoor inlet (11a) of the outdoor casing (11). The outdoor air humidity sensor (52) detects the humidity of the outdoor air. In this example, the outdoor air humidity sensor (52) detects the relative humidity of the outdoor air, but may also detect the absolute humidity.

The indoor air temperature sensor (53) and the indoor air humidity sensor (54) are provided in the air conditioning indoor unit (30). The indoor air temperature sensor (53) detects the temperature of the indoor air. The indoor air humidity sensor (54) detects the humidity of the indoor air. The indoor air humidity sensor (54) detects the relative humidity of the indoor air, but may also detect the absolute humidity.

The humidity sensor (55) in this example is provided in the first passage (27). This humidity sensor (55) is located between the second inlet/outlet (29b) of the second switching damper (29) and the connection port (21b) of the outdoor casing (11). The humidity sensor (55) detects the humidity of the air flowing through the first passage (27). The humidity sensor (55) in this example detects the relative humidity of the air, but may also detect the absolute humidity.

(2-6) Control Unit As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the air conditioner (1) has a control unit (C). The control unit (C) controls the operation of the refrigerant circuit (R). The control unit (C) controls the operation of the air conditioning outdoor unit (10), the humidity control unit (20), and the air conditioning indoor unit (30). The control unit (C) includes an outdoor control unit (OC), an indoor control unit (IC), and a remote controller (40). The outdoor control unit (OC) is provided in the air conditioning outdoor unit (10). The indoor control unit (IC) is provided in the air conditioning indoor unit (30). Each of the indoor control unit (IC) and the outdoor control unit (OC) includes an MCU (Micro Control Unit), an electric circuit, and an electronic circuit. The MCU includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory, and a communication interface. The memory stores various programs to be executed by the CPU.

The outdoor control unit (OC) receives the detection values of the outdoor air temperature sensor (51), the outdoor air humidity sensor (52), and the humidity sensor (55).

The outdoor control unit (OC) is connected to the compressor (12), outdoor fan (13), expansion valve (15), and four-way switching valve (16). The outdoor control unit (OC) outputs control signals for starting and stopping the operation of the air conditioning outdoor unit (10) to the compressor (12), outdoor fan (13), expansion valve (15), and four-way switching valve (16). The outdoor control unit (OC) controls the operating frequency of the first motor (M1) of the compressor (12), the rotation speed of the second motor (M2) of the outdoor fan (13), the state of the four-way switching valve (16), and the opening of the expansion valve (15).

The outdoor control unit (OC) is further connected to the humidity control rotor (22), the first fan (26), the second fan (23), the heater (25), and the first switching damper (24). The outdoor control unit (OC) outputs control signals for starting and stopping the operation of the humidity control unit (20) to the humidity control rotor (22), the first fan (26), the second fan (23), the heater (25), and the first switching damper (24). The outdoor control unit (OC) controls the rotation speeds of the third motor (M3) of the humidity control rotor (22), the fourth motor (M4) of the first fan (26), and the sixth motor (M6) of the second fan (23), the operation of the humidity control rotor (22) and the first switching damper (24), and the output of the heater (25).

The indoor control unit (IC) receives the detected values of the indoor air temperature sensor (53) and the indoor air humidity sensor (54).

The indoor control unit (IC) is communicatively connected to the remote controller (40). The indoor control unit (IC) is connected to the indoor fan (32). The indoor control unit (IC) outputs a control signal to the indoor fan (32) for starting and stopping the operation of the air conditioning indoor unit (30). The indoor control unit (IC) controls the rotation speed of the fifth motor (M5) of the indoor fan (32). The indoor control unit (IC) is communicatively connected to the outdoor control unit (OC).

The remote controller (40) is connected to the indoor control unit (IC) so as to be able to communicate with it. The remote controller (40) transmits an instruction signal to the indoor control unit (IC) instructing the operation of the air conditioning apparatus (1) in response to a user's operation on the input unit (42). When the indoor control unit (IC) receives an instruction signal from the remote controller (40), it transmits the instruction signal to the outdoor control unit (OC). The indoor control unit (IC) controls the operation of each of the above-mentioned devices of the air conditioning indoor unit (30) in accordance with the instruction signal. When the outdoor control unit (OC) receives an instruction signal from the indoor control unit (IC), it controls the operation of each of the above-mentioned devices of the air conditioning outdoor unit (10) and the humidity control unit (20).

(3) Operational Modes The operational modes performed by the air conditioner (1) include cooling operation, heating operation, supply air operation, exhaust operation, dehumidification operation, humidification operation, dehumidification-cooling operation, and humidification-heating operation. The control unit (C) causes these operations to be performed based on instruction signals from the remote controller (40).

(3-1) Cooling Operation Cooling operation is an operation in which the indoor air is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger (34) functioning as an evaporator. The humidity control unit (20) is stopped. In cooling operation, the control unit (C) operates the compressor (12), the outdoor fan (13), and the indoor fan (32). The control unit (C) sets the four-way switching valve (16) to the first state. The control unit (C) appropriately adjusts the opening of the expansion valve (15). In cooling operation, a first refrigeration cycle is performed in which compressed refrigerant releases heat in the outdoor heat exchanger (14) and evaporates in the indoor heat exchanger (34).

In cooling operation, the control unit (C) adjusts the target evaporation temperature of the indoor heat exchanger (34) so that the indoor temperature detected by the indoor air temperature sensor (53) converges to the set temperature. The control unit (C) controls the rotation speed of the compressor (12) so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger (34) converges to the target evaporation temperature. In cooling operation, air transported by the indoor fan (32) is cooled as it passes through the indoor heat exchanger (34). The air cooled by the indoor heat exchanger (34) is supplied to the room (I) from the indoor air outlet (31b) of the air conditioning indoor unit (30).

(3-2) Heating Operation Heating operation is an operation in which the indoor air is heated by the indoor heat exchanger (34) functioning as a radiator. The humidity control unit (20) is stopped. In heating operation, the control unit (C) operates the compressor (12), the outdoor fan (13), and the indoor fan (32). The control unit (C) sets the four-way switching valve (16) to the second state. The control unit (C) appropriately adjusts the opening of the expansion valve (15). In heating operation, a second refrigeration cycle is performed in which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor (12) releases heat in the indoor heat exchanger (34) and evaporates in the outdoor heat exchanger (14).

In heating operation, the control unit (C) adjusts the target condensing temperature of the indoor heat exchanger (34) so that the indoor temperature detected by the indoor air temperature sensor (53) converges to the set temperature. The control unit (C) controls the rotation speed of the compressor (12) so that the condensing temperature of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger (34) converges to the target condensing temperature. In heating operation, air transported by the indoor fan (32) is heated as it passes through the indoor heat exchanger (34). The air heated in the indoor heat exchanger (34) is supplied to the room (I) from the indoor air outlet (31b) of the air conditioning indoor unit (30).

(3-3) Air Supply Operation Air supply operation is an operation for supplying outdoor air to the room. In the air supply operation, outdoor air is sent to the air conditioner indoor unit (30) through the hose (2) as shown by the solid arrow in FIG. 2. In the air supply operation, the control unit (C) stops the heater (25), the humidity control rotor (22), and the second fan (23), and operates the first fan (26). The control unit (C) sets the first switching damper (24) to the third state (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2) and sets the second switching damper (29) to the fifth state (see FIG. 5). In the air supply operation, the outdoor air transported by the first fan (26) is sent to the air conditioner indoor unit (30) through the hose (2) and is supplied to the room (I) from the indoor air outlet (31b) of the air conditioner indoor unit (30). The air supply operation may be performed simultaneously with the cooling operation or the heating operation.

(3-4) Exhaust Operation The exhaust operation is an operation for discharging indoor air to the outside of the room. In the exhaust operation, as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 2, indoor air is sent to the humidity control unit (20) through the hose (2). In the exhaust operation, the control unit (C) stops the heater (25), the humidity control rotor (22), and the second fan (23), and operates the first fan (26). The control unit (C) sets the first switching damper (24) to the third state (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2) and sets the second switching damper (29) to the sixth state (see FIG. 6). In the exhaust operation, the indoor air transported by the first fan (26) is sent to the humidity control unit (20) through the hose (2) and is discharged to the outside of the room from the intake and exhaust port (21a) of the humidity control unit (20). The exhaust operation may be performed simultaneously with the cooling operation or the heating operation.

(3-5) Dehumidification Operation In the dehumidification operation, air dehumidified by the humidity control unit (20) is supplied to the room. In the dehumidification operation, air dehumidified by the humidity control unit (20) is intermittently supplied to the room. The humidity control unit (20) alternately performs a first operation and a second operation. In the first operation, moisture in the air is adsorbed by the humidity control rotor (22) and the air dehumidified by the humidity control rotor (22) is supplied to the room. In the second operation, the humidity control rotor (22) is regenerated and the air used for the regeneration is exhausted to the outside of the room.

Specifically, in the first operation, the control unit (C) operates the first fan (26), stops the second fan (23), stops the heater (25), sets the first switching damper (24) to the third state (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2), and sets the second switching damper (29) to the fifth state (see FIG. 5). The air conveyed by the first fan (26) flows through the first passage (27) and passes through the humidity control area (22A) of the humidity control rotor (22). In the humidity control area (22A), moisture in the air is adsorbed by the adsorbent. The air dehumidified in the humidity control area (22A) is sent to the air conditioning indoor unit (30) through the hose (2) and supplied to the room (I) from the indoor air outlet (31b) of the air conditioning indoor unit (30).

In the second operation (regeneration process of the humidity control rotor (22)), the control unit (C) operates the first fan (26) and the heater (25), stops the second fan (23), sets the first switching damper (24) to the fourth state (the state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2), and sets the second switching damper (29) to the fifth state (see FIG. 5). The air conveyed by the first fan (26) flows through the first passage (27) and is heated by the heater (25), and then flows through the humidity control area (22A) of the humidity control rotor (22). In the humidity control area (22A), the adsorbent is regenerated. Specifically, moisture adsorbed by the adsorbent is desorbed and released into the air. The air used to regenerate the humidity control rotor (22) flows from the first passage (27) through the exhaust passage (28) as shown by the black arrow in FIG. 2, and is discharged to the outside of the room.

(3-6) Humidification Operation In the humidification operation, air humidified by the humidity control unit (20) is supplied to the room. The humidification operation includes a continuous humidification mode and an intermittent humidification mode. The control unit (C) is configured to selectively cause the humidity control unit (20) to operate in the continuous humidification mode or the intermittent humidification mode.

The humidity control unit (20) starts a humidification operation when a humidification start condition is met, and ends the humidification operation when a humidification end condition is met. In the humidity control unit (20) of this embodiment, the humidification start condition is that a "humidification start command signal is input to the control unit (C)," and the humidification end condition is that a "humidification end command signal is input to the control unit (C)." The humidification start command signal and the humidification end command signal are each transmitted from the remote controller (40) to the control unit (C) by the user operating the remote controller (40).

The control unit (C) may be configured to automatically determine the start and end of the humidification operation of the humidity adjustment unit (20). In this case, a determination unit provided in the control unit (C) generates a humidification start command signal and a humidification end command signal based on the measurement value of the indoor air humidity sensor (54) or the like.

(3-6-1) Continuous Humidification Mode The continuous humidification mode is an operation mode in which the air (first air) humidified by the humidity control unit (20) is continuously supplied to the room. In the continuous humidification mode, the control unit (C) operates the first fan (26) and the second fan (23), rotates the humidity control rotor (22), and sets the heater (25) to the ON state (energized state). In addition, the control unit (C) sets the first switching damper (24) to the third state and the second switching damper (29) to the fifth state.

In the continuous humidification mode, the second air, which is outdoor air, flows through the second passage (62). The second air flowing through the second passage (62) flows through the adsorption region (22C) of the humidity control rotor (22). In the adsorption region (22C), moisture in the second air is adsorbed by the adsorbent. The second air that has been moistened by the humidity control rotor (22) is discharged to the outside of the room through the second passage (62).

In the continuous humidification mode, the outdoor air, which is the first air, flows through the first passage (27). The first air flowing through the first passage (27) is heated by the heater (25) and then flows through the humidity control area (22A) of the humidity control rotor (22). In the humidity control area (22A), the adsorbent is heated by the first air sent from the heater (25), and moisture is desorbed from the adsorbent. In the humidity control area (22A), the moisture desorbed from the adsorbent is released into the first air. The first air humidified by the humidity control rotor (22) is sent to the air conditioning indoor unit (30) through the hose (2) and supplied to the room (I) from the indoor air outlet (31b) of the air conditioning indoor unit (30).

(3-6-2) Intermittent Humidification Mode The intermittent humidification mode is an operation mode in which the air (first air) humidified by the humidity adjustment unit (20) is intermittently supplied to the room.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the intermittent humidification mode, the humidity adjustment unit (20) repeatedly executes a unit operation. The unit operation is an operation in which the third operation and the fourth operation are executed in sequence. In the unit operation, the fourth operation is executed after the third operation is completed. Thus, in the intermittent humidification mode, the humidity adjustment unit (20) repeatedly executes the third operation and the fourth operation alternately.

<Third Action>
The third operation is an operation in which moisture in the air is adsorbed by the humidity control rotor (22) and the air that has passed through the humidity control rotor (22) is discharged to the outside of the room. The third operation is a moisture capturing operation.

In the third operation, the control unit (C) operates the second fan (23), rotates the humidity control rotor (22), stops the first fan (26), and turns off the heater (25) (de-energized). The control unit (C) also sets the second switching damper (29) to the fifth state. The first switching damper (24) may be in either the third state or the fourth state.

When the second fan (23) is operated, the second air, which is outdoor air, flows into the second passage (62) from the moisture absorption side inlet (61a), flows through the second passage (62), and passes through the adsorption area (22C) of the humidity control rotor (22). In the adsorption area (22C), moisture in the second air is adsorbed by the adsorbent of the humidity control rotor (22). The second air that has passed through the adsorption area (22C) is discharged to the outside of the room from the moisture absorption side exhaust port (61b).

<Fourth Action>
The fourth operation is an operation for regenerating the humidity control rotor (22) and supplying air to which moisture has been added from the humidity control rotor (22) to the room. The fourth operation is a moisture releasing operation.

In the fourth operation, the control unit (C) activates the first fan (26) and the second fan (23), rotates the humidity control rotor (22), and sets the heater (25) to the ON state (energized state). The control unit (C) also sets the first switching damper (24) to the third state and the second switching damper (29) to the fifth state.

When the first fan (26) is operated, the first air, which is outdoor air, flows into the first passage (27) from the intake/exhaust port (21a), flows through the first passage (27), is heated by the heater (25), and then passes through the humidity control area (22A) of the humidity control rotor (22). In the humidity control area (22A), the adsorbent is heated by the first air sent from the heater (25), and moisture is desorbed from the adsorbent. In the humidity control area (22A), moisture is released from the adsorbent to the first air. The first air humidified by the humidity control rotor (22) is sent to the air conditioning indoor unit (30) through the hose (2) and supplied to the room (I) from the indoor air outlet (31b) of the air conditioning indoor unit (30).

As in the third operation, when the second fan (23) is operated, the second air, which is outdoor air, flows through the second passage (62) and passes through the adsorption area (22C) of the humidity control rotor (22). The second air, from which moisture has been removed by the adsorption area (22C), is discharged to the outside of the room through the moisture absorption side exhaust port (61b).

<Start and end of the third movement>
In the intermittent humidification mode of the humidity adjustment unit (20), the control section (C) causes the humidity adjustment unit (20) to start the third operation when a command to start the intermittent humidification mode is input or when the immediately preceding fourth operation is completed.

In addition, when the first termination condition is satisfied while the humidity adjustment unit (20) is performing the third operation, the control unit (C) causes the humidity adjustment unit (20) to terminate the third operation.

The first termination condition is that "the duration of the third operation reaches a predetermined first reference time (e.g., 15 minutes)." When the duration of the third operation reaches the first reference time, it can be determined that the adsorbent in the humidity control rotor (22) has essentially reached saturation, and that the amount of moisture adsorbed by the humidity control rotor (22) will not increase even if the third operation is continued. Therefore, when this first termination condition is met, the control unit (C) causes the humidity control unit (20) to terminate the third operation.

<Start and end of the fourth movement>
In the intermittent humidification mode of the humidity adjustment unit (20), the control section (C) causes the humidity adjustment unit (20) to start the fourth operation when the immediately preceding third operation has ended.

In addition, when the second termination condition is satisfied while the humidity adjustment unit (20) is performing the fourth operation, the control unit (C) causes the humidity adjustment unit (20) to terminate the fourth operation.

The second termination condition is that "the duration of the fourth operation reaches a predetermined second reference time (e.g., 10 minutes)." When the duration of the fourth operation reaches the second reference time, it can be determined that the amount of moisture held by the adsorbent of the humidity control rotor (22) is low and that a sufficient amount of humidification of the first air cannot be obtained even if the fourth operation is continued. Therefore, when this second termination condition is met, the control unit (C) causes the humidity control unit (20) to terminate the fourth operation.

The second termination condition may be that the humidity of the first air humidified in the humidity control rotor (22) (specifically, the measurement value of the humidity sensor (55)) is lower than a predetermined reference humidity. If the humidity of the first air passing through the humidity control rotor (22) is lower than the reference humidity, it can be determined that the amount of moisture remaining in the humidity control rotor (22) is low and that a sufficient amount of humidification of the first air cannot be obtained even if the fourth operation is continued. Therefore, when this second termination condition is met, the control unit (C) causes the humidity control unit (20) to terminate the fourth operation.

Notification to users
Here, when the humidity control unit (20) is operating in the intermittent humidification mode, it is preferable not to inform the user that the humidity control unit (20) is performing the third operation (moisture collection operation). This is because if the user is informed that the humidity control unit (20) is performing the third operation (moisture collection operation) and that the supply of “humidified first air” to the room has stopped, the user may mistakenly believe that the amount of humidification has decreased.

Therefore, even if the humidity control unit (20) is in the intermittent humidification mode, it is preferable that the display unit (41) of the remote controller (40) not display that the intermittent humidification mode is being executed. For example, during the period from when a humidification start command signal is input to the control unit (C) until when a humidification end command signal is input, it is preferable that the display unit (41) of the remote controller (40) does not display whether the humidity control unit (20) is in the continuous humidification mode or the intermittent humidification mode, but simply displays that the humidity control unit (20) is performing a humidification operation.

In the dehumidifying and cooling operation, the above-mentioned cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation are performed simultaneously. Specifically, the air is dehumidified by the humidity control unit (20), and the air is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger (34) functioning as an evaporator.

In the humidification heating operation, the above-mentioned heating operation and humidification operation are performed simultaneously. Specifically, the air is humidified by the humidity control unit (20), and the air is heated by the indoor heat exchanger (34) functioning as a radiator.

(4) Features of the embodiment In the air conditioner (1) of the present embodiment, the humidity control unit (20) has an intermittent humidification mode. In the intermittent humidification mode, the humidity control unit (20) repeatedly performs a unit operation. In the unit operation, the humidity control rotor (22) adds moisture, which has been removed from the second air in the third operation (moisture collection operation), to the first air in the fourth operation (moisture release operation). In the third operation (moisture collection operation), heating of the first air by the heater (25) is stopped, and therefore the temperature of the humidity control rotor (22) is kept low. When the temperature of the humidity control rotor (22) is kept low, an increase in the temperature of the second air passing through the humidity control rotor (22) is suppressed, and as a result, a decrease in the relative humidity of the second air passing through the humidity control rotor (22) is suppressed.

The higher the relative humidity of the second air passing through the humidity control rotor (22), the greater the amount of moisture that the adsorbent in the humidity control rotor (22) adsorbs from the second air. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the amount of moisture that the humidity control rotor (22) adsorbs from the second air increases compared to when the first air heated by the heater (25) is sent to the humidity control rotor (22) while the second air is sent to the humidity control rotor (22). As a result, the amount of moisture that the humidity control rotor (22) imparts to the first air in the fourth operation (moisture release operation) increases, improving the humidification capacity of the humidity control unit (20).

Here, if the humidity control unit (20) only performs the operation of sending the first air heated by the heater (25) to the humidity control rotor (22) while sending the second air to the humidity control rotor (22), the temperature of the humidity control rotor (22) increases, the amount of moisture that the humidity control rotor (22) adsorbs from the second air decreases, and even if the humidification capacity of the humidity control unit (20) is low, the heater (25) continues to be energized. Therefore, even though only a low humidification capacity is obtained, the heater (25) continues to consume power.

On the other hand, in the intermittent humidification mode performed by the humidity control unit (20) of this embodiment, the heater (25) is turned off (non-energized) during the execution of the third operation (moisture capture operation). In other words, in the intermittent humidification mode performed by the humidity control unit (20) of this embodiment, when the amount of humidification of the first air is not sufficient in the fourth operation (moisture release operation), the operation performed by the humidity control unit switches from the fourth operation to the third operation, and the heater (25) is turned off (non-energized). Therefore, according to this embodiment, the amount of moisture adsorbed by the humidity control rotor (22) from the second air can be increased while the power consumption of the heater (25) can be reduced. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the power consumption of the humidity control unit (20) can be reduced while maintaining the humidification capacity of the humidity control unit (20).

(5) Modifications of the embodiment Modifications of the air conditioner (1) of the present embodiment will be described.

(5-1) First Modification In the humidity adjustment unit (20) of this embodiment, the control section (C) may stop the second fan (23) in the fourth operation of the intermittent humidification mode.

As shown in Fig. 8, the control unit (C) may stop the second fan (23) for part of the duration of the fourth operation. In the example shown in Fig. 8, the control unit (C) stops the second fan (23) for a predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes) from the start of the fourth operation, and operates the second fan (23) when the predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the fourth operation.

As shown in Fig. 9, the control unit (C) may stop the second fan (23) for the entire duration of the fourth operation. In this case, the control unit (C) stops the second fan (23) at the start of the fourth operation, and operates the second fan (23) at the end of the fourth operation and the start of the third operation.

In the fourth operation of this modification, the first air heated by the heater (25) continues to be sent to the humidity control rotor (22) while the flow of the second air in the second passage (62) is stopped. Therefore, in this state, the temperature of the entire humidity control rotor (22) is kept higher than in a state in which both the first air and the second air are sent to the humidity control rotor (22). As a result, according to this modification, the amount of heat generated by the heater (25) can be kept low.

(5-2) Second Modification In the humidity adjustment unit (20) of the present embodiment, the control section (C) may operate both the first fan (26) and the second fan (23) in the third operation of the intermittent humidification mode.

In the third operation of this modified example, the control unit (C) operates the first fan (26) and the second fan (23), rotates the humidity control rotor (22), and sets the heater (25) to the OFF state (non-energized state). The control unit (C) also sets the first switching damper (24) to the fourth state and the second switching damper (29) to the fifth state.

In the third operation of this modified example, the first air, i.e., outdoor air, passes through the humidity control area (22A) of the humidity control rotor (22), and the second air, i.e., outdoor air, passes through the adsorption area (22C) of the humidity control rotor (22). Then, in both the humidity control area (22A) and the adsorption area (22C) of the humidity control rotor (22), moisture contained in the outdoor air is adsorbed by the adsorbent of the humidity control rotor (22). The first air that has passed through the humidity control area (22A) of the humidity control rotor (22) flows from the first passage (27) to the exhaust passage (28) and is discharged to the outside of the room. The second air that has passed through the adsorption area (22C) of the humidity control rotor flows through the second passage (62) and is discharged to the outside of the room from the moisture absorption side exhaust port (61b).

In the third operation of this modified example, moisture contained in the outdoor air is adsorbed by the adsorbent of the humidity control rotor (22) in both the humidity control area (22A) and the adsorption area (22C) of the humidity control rotor (22). This reduces the time required for the third operation and increases the number of unit operations that can be performed within a certain time period, thereby improving the humidification capacity of the humidity control unit (20).

(5-3) Third Modification The humidity control unit (20) of the present embodiment may perform an operation other than the unit operation between two unit operations in the intermittent humidification mode. One example of the operation other than the unit operation is an operation of temporarily stopping the humidity control unit (20) (for a relatively short period of time, for example, about 30 seconds).

In addition, the humidity control unit (20) of this embodiment may perform an operation other than the third and fourth operations between the third and fourth operations in each unit operation of the intermittent humidification mode. An example of an operation other than the third and fourth operations is an operation of temporarily stopping the humidity control unit (20) (for a relatively short time, for example, about 30 seconds).

(5-4) Fourth Modification In the air conditioner (1) of the present embodiment, the control unit (C) may be configured to automatically switch between a continuous humidification mode and an intermittent humidification mode in the humidification operation of the humidity adjustment unit (20).

The control unit (C) of this modified example may be configured to select one of the continuous humidification mode and the intermittent humidification mode based on, for example, the measurement value of the outdoor air humidity sensor (52) (measured value of the humidity of the outdoor air). In this case, the control unit (C) causes the humidity adjustment unit (20) to execute the continuous humidification mode when the measurement value of the outdoor air humidity sensor (52) is higher than a predetermined reference humidity (or equal to or higher than the reference humidity), and causes the humidity adjustment unit (20) to execute the intermittent humidification mode when the measurement value of the outdoor air humidity sensor (52) is lower than the predetermined reference humidity (or lower than the reference humidity).

Although the embodiments and modifications have been described above, it will be understood that various modifications of form and details are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Furthermore, elements of the above embodiments, modifications, and other embodiments may be combined or substituted as appropriate.

The descriptions "first," "second," "third," etc. mentioned above are used to distinguish the words to which these descriptions are attached, and do not limit the number or order of the words.

As described above, the present disclosure is useful for humidifiers and air conditioners.

1. Air conditioning equipment
3 Liquid liaison officer (refrigerant piping)
4 Gas connection pipe (refrigerant piping)
10 Air conditioner outdoor unit (outdoor unit)
20 Humidity control unit (humidifier)
22 Humidity control rotor (rotor component)
25 Heater
27 First Aisle
30 Air conditioning indoor unit (indoor unit)
62 2nd Aisle

Claims (6)

a first passage (27) through which the first air flows;
a second passage (62) through which the second air flows;
a rotor member (22) having an adsorbent for adsorbing moisture in the air, the rotor member (22) being disposed so as to cross the first passage (27) and the second passage (62) and rotate;
a heater (25) for heating the first air sent to the rotor member (22),
A humidifier (20) that humidifies a room by supplying the first air humidified by the rotor member (22) to the room,
An intermittent humidification mode in which a unit operation of performing a moisture collection operation and then a moisture release operation is repeated,
The moisture collection operation is an operation of supplying the second air to the rotor member (22) and causing the moisture in the second air to be adsorbed by the rotor member (22) in a state in which heating of the first air by the heater (25) and supply of the first air to the room are stopped,
The moisture release operation of the humidifier is an operation of sending the first air heated by the heater (25) to the rotor member (22) and supplying the first air humidified by the rotor member (22) to the room. 2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the intermittent humidification mode is an operation mode in which the humidifier (20) alternately and repeatedly performs the moisture collecting operation and the moisture releasing operation. The humidifier (20) terminates the moisture collecting operation when a first termination condition is satisfied during the moisture collecting operation,
3. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the first end condition is that a duration of the moisture collecting operation reaches a first reference time. The humidifier (20) terminates the moisture releasing operation when a second termination condition is satisfied during the moisture releasing operation,
3. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the second termination condition is a condition that the duration of the moisture release operation reaches a second reference time, or a condition that the humidity of the first air humidified in the rotor member (22) is lower than a predetermined humidity. 3. The humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier stops the flow of the second air through the second passageway during at least a portion of the time during which the moisture releasing operation is being performed. A humidifier (20) according to claim 1 or 2 ;
An air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit (10) and an indoor unit (30) connected to each other by refrigerant piping (3, 4) to perform a refrigeration cycle.