JP7781661B2 - dehumidifier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers with excellent condensed water recovery performance have been developed. For example, the dehumidifier disclosed in Patent Document 1 comprises a casing, a dehumidification passage, a regeneration passage, a dehumidification rotor, a heat exchanger, and a water storage tank. The dehumidification rotor crosses the dehumidification passage and the regeneration passage. The dehumidification rotor is rotatable. The dehumidification rotor absorbs moisture from air passing through the dehumidification passage. The moisture adsorbed by the dehumidification rotor is released as water vapor into hot air circulating through the regeneration passage. The water vapor is condensed in the heat exchanger and collected in the water storage tank. In the dehumidifier disclosed in Patent Document 1, the heat exchanger is inclined relative to the vertical.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-205035

However, in the dehumidifier described in Patent Document 1, although the heat exchanger is inclined relative to the vertical direction, the dehumidifying rotor is perpendicular to the vertical direction. This results in a larger dehumidifier.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a dehumidifier that can be made low in height.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a dehumidifier includes a housing, a first blower, a dehumidifying rotor, and a heat exchanger. The housing has an air inlet and an air outlet. The first blower is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. The dehumidifying rotor is disposed within the housing. The heat exchanger is disposed within the housing. The heat exchanger is disposed above or below the dehumidifying rotor. A surface of the dehumidifying rotor through which the airflow generated by the first blower passes is inclined relative to the vertical direction. The extension direction of the pipes of the heat exchanger is inclined relative to the vertical direction.

The dehumidifier of the present invention can be made smaller.

1 is a perspective view showing a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of the dehumidifier according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Note that identical or equivalent parts in the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described repeatedly.

A dehumidifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dehumidifier 100. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the interior of the dehumidifier 100. In this embodiment, the figure shows an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis that are perpendicular to each other. The Z-axis is parallel to the vertical upward direction, and the X-axis and Y-axis are parallel to the horizontal direction.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dehumidifier 100 includes a housing 10, a dehumidifying rotor 40, a heat exchanger 30, a water tank 50, and a control unit (not shown). The dehumidifier 100 is, for example, a stationary dehumidifier.

The housing 10 has a top panel 11, a bottom panel 12, a pair of side panels 13, a front panel 14, and a rear panel 15.

The top plate 11 is disposed opposite the bottom plate 12. The top plate 11 is disposed on the upper side of the housing 10. Specifically, the top plate 11 has an air outlet 11a and an operation panel 11c. The operation panel 11c accepts instructions from the outside. The operation panel 11c is disposed in the center of the top plate 11. The air outlet 11a is disposed around the operation panel 11c. The air outlet 11a is a substantially annular opening.

The front panel 14, rear panel 15, and side panels 13 are each disposed between the top panel 11 and bottom panel 12. The rear panel 15 is disposed opposite the front panel 14. The rear panel 15 is disposed on the positive side of the Y axis of the housing 10. The side panels 13 have multiple suction ports 13a. Each of the multiple suction ports 13a is an opening. Specifically, each of the multiple suction ports 13a is disposed at the bottom of the side panels 13.

The dehumidifying rotor 40 is disposed within the housing 10. Specifically, the dehumidifying rotor 40 has a filter 41, a frame 42, and a motor 43.

The frame 42 has an intake surface 42a, an outlet surface 42b, and a cylindrical portion 42c. The outlet surface 42b is positioned opposite the intake surface 42a. The outlet surface 42b is positioned above the intake surface 42a. The intake surface 42a and the outlet surface 42b are each a mesh body. The cylindrical portion 42c is positioned between the intake surface 42a and the outlet surface 42b. A ring gear is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 42c. Specifically, the ring gear is a set of teeth formed around the entire outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 42c.

The frame 42 has a rotation axis AX. The motor 43 rotates the frame 42 around the rotation axis AX. The rotation axis AX is inclined relative to the vertical direction. Specifically, the suction surface 42a and the blowing surface 42b are inclined relative to the vertical direction. Specifically, the side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 facing in the predetermined direction D1 is positioned higher than the side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 facing in the opposite direction D2 to the predetermined direction D1. The predetermined direction D1 is the direction from the front panel 14 to the rear panel 15, and extends along the Y axis.

The filter 41 is disk-shaped. It is placed inside the frame 42. The filter 41 releases moisture at temperatures above a predetermined temperature and adsorbs moisture below that temperature. The filter 41 is made of, for example, zeolite or silica gel.

The heat exchanger 30 is positioned above or below the dehumidifying rotor 40. Specifically, the heat exchanger 30 is positioned below the dehumidifying rotor 40. The heat exchanger 30 has multiple pipes 31. Air flows through each of the multiple pipes 31. The multiple pipes 31 are made of, for example, synthetic resin or metal. The synthetic resin is, for example, polypropylene.

Each of the multiple pipes 31 extends along a predetermined direction D1 in a plan view. The multiple pipes 31 are arranged horizontally in two or four rows, one above the other. As a result, the heat exchanger 30 is roughly rectangular and has an inlet surface 30a and an outlet surface 30b. The outlet surface 30b is positioned opposite the inlet surface 30a. The outlet surface 30b is positioned higher than the inlet surface 30a. The extension direction of each of the multiple pipes 31 is inclined relative to the vertical direction. In other words, the inlet surface 30a and the outlet surface 30b are inclined relative to the vertical direction. Specifically, the side of the heat exchanger 30 facing the predetermined direction D1 is positioned higher than the side of the heat exchanger 30 facing the opposite direction D2 to the predetermined direction D1.

Specifically, the distance between the predetermined direction D1 side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 and the predetermined direction D1 side of the heat exchanger 30 is smaller than the distance between the opposite direction D2 side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 to the predetermined direction D1 and the opposite direction D2 side of the heat exchanger 30 to the predetermined direction D1. Even more specifically, the distance between the predetermined direction D1 side of the suction surface 40a of the dehumidifying rotor 40 and the predetermined direction D1 side of the blowing surface 30b of the heat exchanger 30 is smaller than the distance between the opposite direction D2 side of the suction surface 40a of the dehumidifying rotor 40 to the predetermined direction D1 and the opposite direction D2 side of the blowing surface 30b of the heat exchanger 30 to the predetermined direction D1. Furthermore, the inclination angle with respect to the vertical direction is larger for the heat exchanger 30 than for the dehumidifying rotor 40.

The heat exchanger 30 exchanges heat between the first air flowing from the multiple intake ports 13a to the outlet port 11a and the second air flowing through the multiple pipes 31. Specifically, the second air transfers heat to the first air, causing the temperature of the second air to drop. As a result, water droplets based on the water vapor in the second air adhere to the multiple pipes 31. Therefore, the water droplets flow along the multiple pipes 31 in the opposite direction D2.

The water storage tank 50 is disposed within the housing 10. The water storage tank 50 is disposed below the heat exchanger 30. The water storage tank 50 stores water produced by the heat exchanger 30.

The control unit is located inside the housing 10. The control unit is located below the heat exchanger 30 on the side facing the predetermined direction D1. The control unit is a hardware circuit including a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). In detail, the control unit controls the operation panel 11c and the dehumidification rotor 40 by executing a control program.

Next, the first air flow will be explained. The dehumidifier 100 further includes a dehumidification passage 61 and a first air blower 70.

The dehumidification passage 61 is arranged between the multiple intake ports 13a and the outlet port 11a. The dehumidification passage 61 vertically crosses the dehumidification rotor 40 and the heat exchanger 30 on the predetermined direction D1 side.

The first blower 70 is disposed in the dehumidification passage 61. The first blower 70 includes, for example, a fan 70a and a motor 70b. The motor 70b rotates the fan 70a. The fan 70a generates a first airflow. The first airflow passes through the multiple intake ports 13a, the predetermined direction D1 side of the heat exchanger 30, the predetermined direction D1 side of the dehumidification rotor 40, and the outlet port 11a, in that order. As a result, the first airflow is dehumidified by the dehumidification rotor 40 as it passes through. Thus, dehumidified first air is released from the dehumidifier 100. Note that the surface of the dehumidification rotor 40 through which the first airflow generated by the first blower 70 passes is inclined relative to the vertical direction.

Next, the second air flow will be explained. The dehumidifier 100 further includes a regeneration passage 62, a second air blower 90, and a heater 95.

The regeneration passage 62 is connected to the heat exchanger 30. The regeneration passage 62 vertically crosses the dehumidification rotor 40 and the heat exchanger 30 on the opposite side of the predetermined direction D1, in the direction D2.

The second blower 90 and heater 95 are arranged in the regeneration passage 62. The second blower 90 includes, for example, a fan 90a and a motor 90b. The motor 90b rotates the fan 90a. The fan 90a generates a second airflow. The second airflow circulates through the heater 95, the side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 opposite the predetermined direction D1 in the opposite direction D2, and the side of the heat exchanger 30 opposite the predetermined direction D1 in that order. As a result, the second airflow is heated when it passes through the heater 95. Furthermore, as the second airflow passes through the dehumidifying rotor 40, the dehumidifying rotor 40 releases water into the second air. The heat exchanger 30 exchanges heat between the first air and the second air. As a result, water droplets based on water vapor in the second air adhere to the multiple pipes 31. Because the heat exchanger 30 is inclined relative to the vertical direction, water droplets flow in the opposite direction D2 along the multiple pipes 31.

As described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, according to the dehumidifier 100, the dehumidifying rotor 40 is inclined relative to the vertical direction, and the heat exchanger 30 is also inclined relative to the vertical direction. As a result, it is no longer necessary to align the dehumidifying rotor 40, heat exchanger 30, heater 95, and control unit vertically. This allows the height of the dehumidifier 100 to be reduced. Furthermore, because the flow of the primary air is vertical, by slanting the dehumidifying rotor 40, the dehumidifying rotor 40 is inclined relative to the flow of the primary air, reducing the amount of primary air that passes through without being absorbed, thereby improving the amount of moisture absorption. Furthermore, if a small foreign object is placed on the dehumidifying rotor 40, if it is horizontal, it will continue to rotate while remaining on the dehumidifying rotor 40. However, by slanting the rotor, the foreign object can be dropped off the dehumidifying rotor 40.

Furthermore, the side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 facing in the predetermined direction D1 is positioned higher than the side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 facing in the opposite direction D2 from the predetermined direction D1, and the side of the heat exchanger 30 facing in the predetermined direction D1 is positioned higher than the side of the heat exchanger 30 facing in the opposite direction D2 from the predetermined direction D1. As a result, the heater 95 and the control unit can be positioned in different directions relative to the dehumidifying rotor 40 and the heat exchanger 30. This allows the dehumidifier 100 to be made smaller.

Furthermore, the distance between the predetermined direction D1 side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 and the predetermined direction D1 side of the heat exchanger 30 is shorter than the distance between the opposite direction D2 side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 from the predetermined direction D1 and the opposite direction D2 side of the heat exchanger 30. As a result, the heater 95 can be placed on the opposite direction D2 side of the dehumidifying rotor 40 from the predetermined direction D1, and the control unit can be placed on the predetermined direction D1 side of the heat exchanger 30. This allows the dehumidifier 100 to be made even more compact.

The dehumidifier 100 has a dehumidification passage 61 and a regeneration passage 62. Compared to a dehumidifier without a regeneration passage 62, the dehumidifier 100 can dehumidify for a longer period of time.

Next, the heat exchanger 30 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the heat exchanger 30.

As shown in FIG. 3, the multiple pipes 31 include M first pipes 31a and N second pipes 31b. Within the M first pipes 31a, the second air flows in a predetermined direction D1 of the heat exchanger 30. Within the N second pipes 31b, the second air flows in a direction D2 opposite to the predetermined direction D1. M is greater than N. As a result, the second air flows in the opposite direction to the dripping direction of the condensation water, and by ensuring the area of the first pipes 31a, clogging within the multiple pipes 31 can be prevented.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be created by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all of the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined. The drawings primarily show each component diagrammatically to facilitate understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each illustrated component may differ from the actual components due to the convenience of creating the drawings. Furthermore, the materials, shapes, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a scope that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention.

The present invention provides a dehumidifier and has industrial applicability.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Housing 11a Air outlet 13a Intake port 30 Heat exchanger 30a Intake surface 30b Outlet surface 31 Pipe 40 Dehumidifying rotor 40a Intake surface 40b Outlet surface 70 First blower 100 Dehumidifier

Claims (5)

a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a first blower disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet;
a dehumidifying rotor disposed within the housing;
a heat exchanger disposed within the housing;
the heat exchanger is disposed above or below the dehumidification rotor,
a surface of the dehumidifying rotor through which the airflow generated by the first blower passes is inclined with respect to a vertical direction;
The direction in which the pipes of the heat exchanger extend is inclined with respect to the vertical direction,
one horizontal direction is a first direction, and a direction opposite to the first direction is a second direction;
the dehumidifying rotor is disposed such that an end portion on the first direction side is positioned higher than an end portion on the second direction side,
The heat exchanger is disposed so that an end portion on the first direction side is positioned higher than an end portion on the second direction side.
Dehumidifier. a distance between an end of the dehumidifying rotor on the first direction side and an end of the heat exchanger on the first direction side is smaller than a distance between an end of the dehumidifying rotor on the second direction side and an end of the heat exchanger on the second direction side ;
The dehumidifier of claim 1 . A heater and
a second blower that generates an airflow that passes through the heater and the dehumidifying rotor,
the heater is disposed on the second direction side of the center of the dehumidification rotor.
The dehumidifier according to claim 1 or 2. the heat exchanger is arranged along the first direction and includes a plurality of pipes through which the airflow generated by the second blower flows,
The plurality of pipes
a plurality of first pipes through which airflow flows from the second direction side to the first direction side;
a plurality of second pipes through which an airflow flows from the first direction side to the second direction side,
the second blower generates an airflow that circulates through the heater, the dehumidifying rotor, the plurality of first pipes, and the plurality of second pipes in this order;
The dehumidifier according to claim 3. The number of the first pipes is greater than the number of the second pipes.
The dehumidifier according to claim 4.