JP7808737B2 - Radiant air conditioning system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a radiant air conditioning system that uses the radiant heat of water to air condition a room.

A known prior art technology is a radiant air conditioning system that uses a radiant panel in which multiple pipes through which a heat transfer medium such as hot or cold water flows are embedded, and which conditions the interior of a room by radiating heat (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-19533

In conventional radiant air conditioning systems, there is almost no convective heat transfer due to the air circulating within the space, so the space cannot be cooled by utilizing objects that generate cooling heat, and comfort cannot be improved. On the other hand, conventional radiant air conditioning systems have the problem that when cooling is performed using radiant panels when the humidity in the space is high, condensation occurs on the surface of the radiant panels. Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a radiant air conditioning system that can improve the thermal comfort of the space while suppressing the occurrence of condensation on the surface of the radiant panels.

The radiant air conditioning system of the present invention comprises a blower comprising multiple blow-out nozzles with slit-shaped outlets and a blower that blows air to the blow-out nozzles; a radiant heat generating device having multiple pipes that generate thermal radiation in the space to be conditioned; and a control device that controls the operation of the radiant heat generating device. The multiple blow-out nozzles are arranged side by side with gaps between them so that their respective outlets are located on the same plane, and each of the multiple pipes is located in the gaps between adjacent blow-out nozzles and in an air path through which induced air drawn by the blown air from the blower device passes. The control device is characterized by controlling the radiant heat generating device to operate when the humidity in the space to be conditioned is below a first reference humidity and to stop the operation of the radiant heat generating device when the humidity in the space to be conditioned is equal to or greater than the first reference value, thereby achieving the intended purpose.

The present invention provides a radiant air conditioning system that can improve the thermal comfort of a space while suppressing the occurrence of condensation on the surface of the radiant panel.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the basic configuration of a radiant air-conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the overall layout of the radiant air-conditioning system. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram showing an image of the installation of the blower in the radiant air-conditioning system. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the connection relationship between the cold/hot water pipe of the radiant heat generating device and the cold/hot water generating device in the radiant air-conditioning system. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the relative positions of the blowing nozzles of the air blowing device and the cold and hot water pipes of the radiant heat generating device that constitute the radiant air conditioning system. FIG. 6 is a top view showing the direction of air flow within the blower. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow direction of the air blown from the blowing nozzle of the blower device and the induced air generated near the hot and cold water pipe. FIG. 8 is a schematic functional block diagram of the control device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the basic processing operation of the control device regarding dehumidification control. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the basic processing operation of the control device regarding the chilled water temperature control.

The radiant air conditioning system of the present invention comprises a blower comprising multiple blow-out nozzles with slit-shaped outlets and a blower that blows air to the blow-out nozzles; a radiant heat generating device having multiple pipes that generate thermal radiation in the space to be conditioned; and a control device that controls the operation of the radiant heat generating device. The multiple blow-out nozzles are arranged side by side with gaps between them so that their respective outlets are located on the same plane, and each of the multiple pipes is located in the gaps between adjacent blow-out nozzles and in an air path through which induced air drawn by the blown air from the blower device passes. The control device then controls the radiant heat generating device to operate when the humidity in the space to be conditioned is below a first reference humidity, and to stop the operation of the radiant heat generating device when the humidity in the space to be conditioned is equal to or greater than the first reference value.

With this configuration, when the humidity of the air in the conditioned space (the induced air drawn into the gaps between the blow-out nozzles) is below the first standard humidity and the air in the conditioned space is sufficiently dehumidified, the air in the conditioned space exchanges heat with the pipe surface and combines with the air blown out from the blow-out nozzles, resulting in a gentle, planar, uniform flow being blown into the conditioned space. On the other hand, when the humidity of the air in the conditioned space is above the first standard humidity and the air in the conditioned space is not sufficiently dehumidified and the humidity is high, the radiant heat generating device is stopped and the air is blown into the conditioned space as a gentle, planar, uniform flow. This makes it possible to achieve air conditioning that minimizes temperature imbalances or drafts while preventing condensation on the pipe surfaces. In other words, this radiant air conditioning system can improve the thermal comfort of the conditioned space while suppressing condensation on the pipe surfaces (radiant panel surfaces).

Furthermore, in the radiant air-conditioning system according to the present invention, the humidity in the conditioned space is detected by a humidity sensor installed in an air duct through which induced air passes, upstream of the multiple pipes, and the control device may control the operation of the radiant heat generating device based on the detected humidity . In this way, the operation of the radiant heat generating device is controlled based on the detected humidity of the air in the conditioned space (induced air drawn into the gaps in the outlet nozzles) flowing through the pipe surfaces that are most likely to cause condensation in the conditioned space. This allows the condensation suppression effect achieved by controlling the operation of the radiant heat generating device to be achieved with greater precision.

The radiant air-conditioning system according to the present invention further includes a dehumidifier that dehumidifies the air in the conditioned space. The control device may be configured to operate the dehumidifier when the absolute humidity in the conditioned space is equal to or higher than a target absolute humidity calculated from the target temperature and target humidity of the conditioned space, and to stop the operation of the dehumidifier when the absolute humidity is below the target absolute humidity. In this way, regardless of the temperature state of the conditioned space, the dehumidifier continues to perform dehumidification control until the absolute humidity reaches the dehumidification target value. This allows sufficient dehumidification to be achieved without cooling the conditioned space, further enhancing the effectiveness of condensation suppression.

Furthermore, in the radiant air-conditioning system of the present invention, the multiple pipes may generate radiant heat for the conditioned space by supplying cold or hot water generated by a cold or hot water chiller inside the pipes. In this way, by sending cold or hot water whose temperature has been adjusted in advance by the cold or hot water chiller to the pipes, it becomes possible to generate heat continuously. This makes it easy to increase the thermal comfort of the space.

In addition, in the radiant air-conditioning system of the present invention, the control device may control the hot and cold water chiller so that the temperature of the hot and cold water is higher than the dew point temperature of the space to be conditioned. In this way, the temperature of the pipe surface, which is most likely to cause condensation in the space to be conditioned, is controlled to a temperature range that will not cause condensation. This makes it possible to reliably suppress the occurrence of condensation by controlling the operation of the radiant heat generating device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are examples of specific embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the figures described in the embodiments are schematic diagrams, and the ratios of the sizes and thicknesses of the components in the figures do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratios.

(Embodiment 1)
First, a radiant air-conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the basic configuration of the radiant air-conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view showing the overall layout of the radiant air-conditioning system 100. Note that Figures 1 and 2 only show the main devices and representative configurations that make up the system, and the detailed configuration of each device will be described later with reference to Figures 3 and onwards.

The radiant air conditioning system 100 is a system that enhances the thermal environment of the living space (conditioned space 1) through a combination of air flow, heat exchange, dehumidification, and thermal radiation, in other words, improves the thermal comfort of the living space.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the radiant air conditioning system 100 includes a blower 11, a radiant heat generator 31, a dehumidifier 41, and a control device 51 (see FIG. 8). The blower 11 includes blowing nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d, collectively referred to as blowing nozzles 13, a blower box 14, a blower 15 (see FIG. 2), and blowing slits 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d, collectively referred to as blowing slits 22. The radiant heat generator 31 includes cold and hot water radiant pipes 32a, 32b, and 32c, collectively referred to as cold and hot water radiant pipes 32, a water supply pipe 33, a drain pipe 34, a cold and hot water generating chiller 35, and a water pump 36. As shown in Figure 2, the dehumidifying device 41 is configured to include a dehumidifier 42 and a conveying fan 43. Also, as shown in Figure 1, a temperature sensor 52, a humidity sensor 53, a remote control 54, and a display panel 55 are provided inside the conditioned space 1, and are configured to be able to communicate with the control device 51.

The radiant air-conditioning system 100 is installed in the conditioned space 1, which is part of a house. Here, the conditioned space 1 refers to the space used by residents as a place to live inside, and includes living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, private rooms, children's rooms, etc. It does not include spaces where residents do not engage in activities inside, such as closets, cupboards, or mechanical rooms. The conditioned space 1 is an enclosed space made up of walls including a ceiling, floor, and side walls. In Figure 1, the side walls and ceiling on the foreground of the drawing are shown as transparent to make it easier to see the arrangement of the radiant air-conditioning system 100 installed inside the conditioned space 1. The components of the blower device 11, including the blower box 14, blowing nozzle 13 (blowout nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d), the cold/hot water radiation pipe 32 (cold/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, 32c) of the radiant heat generating device 31, and the dehumidifier 41, are each located near the ceiling surface of the conditioned space 1.

The blower box 14 is a frame that houses all the equipment and air ducts required to supply circulating air from the air-conditioned space 1 and blow it to the blow-out nozzles 13 (blow-out nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d). As will be described in detail below, the interior of the blower box 14 houses a blower 15 and several other components. The blower box 14 is positioned within the air-conditioned space 1 so that it is in contact with the ceiling surface and the rear side wall surface. In this embodiment, the blower box 14 is positioned so that it is in contact with the ceiling surface and the rear side wall surface, but it does not necessarily have to be in contact with the inside of the air-conditioned space 1; for example, it could be suspended from the ceiling surface or built into the lowered ceiling section of the room.

The blow-out nozzles 13 (blow-out nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) are responsible for blowing air blown from the blower 15 (blowers 15a, 15b) into the conditioned space 1, and are substantially rectangular components having blow-out slits 22 (blow-out slits 22a, 22b, 22c, 22c). In this embodiment, the blow-out nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d all have the same shape. As shown in FIG. 1, one of the two smallest cross-sectional areas of the six faces of each blow-out nozzle 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d is in contact with the blower box 14, and the blow-out nozzles 13 (blow-out nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) and the blower box 14 are in communication with each other via holes through which air passes. Furthermore, the other of the two faces with the smallest cross-sectional areas among the six faces is in contact with the side wall surface of the air-conditioned space 1 (the side wall surface opposite the rear side wall surface that contacts the blower box 14). Furthermore, the remaining four faces excluding the two faces with the smallest cross-sectional areas are not in contact with the blower box 14, the ceiling surface of the air-conditioned space 1, or adjacent blow-out nozzles 13 (e.g., blow-out nozzles 13a and 13b), and are installed in a state where air occupying the air-conditioned space 1 can pass around the blow-out nozzles 13. In this embodiment, the space through which air passes around the blow-out nozzles 13 that are connected to the air-conditioned space 1 is defined as induction space 2. Furthermore, blow-out slits 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are all located on the same plane that is approximately parallel to the ceiling surface. In other words, the blowout slits 22 sides of the blowout nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d are arranged side by side with gaps between them so that they are positioned on the same plane.

Detailed details of the arrangement of other components that make up the blower will be described later with reference to Figures 3 and 5.

The chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 (chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, 32c) are hollow members that change the temperature of the air occupying the air-conditioned space 1 or generate thermal radiation between the wall surfaces that make up the air-conditioned space 1 and objects (such as furniture or human bodies) present inside, and are configured to allow water to pass through their interiors. The chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 (chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, 32c) are each made of the same material, and it is preferable to use a material with a high emissivity, such as resin, for the surface, although other materials can be used instead.

The chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 is a device for generating water to generate air conditioning and thermal radiation for the conditioned space 1, and is equipped with an internal mechanism for heating and cooling water, a tank for storing water for heating and cooling, and a mechanism for controlling the water temperature. The chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 corresponds to the "chilled/hot water chiller" in the claims.

The water supply pipe 33 is a pipe for sending water whose temperature has been adjusted by the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 to the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32. From the upstream side, the water supply pipe 33 is connected to the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35, the water supply pump 36, and the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32, in that order.

The drain pipe 34 is a pipe for returning water that has circulated through the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 to the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35. The drain pipe 34 is connected to the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 and the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 in this order from the upstream side. In this embodiment, the water supply pipe 33, drain pipe 34, chilled/hot water generating chiller 35, and water pump 36 are located within the air-conditioned space 1, but they may also be located outside the air-conditioned space 1 beyond the ceiling, floor, and sidewall surfaces that make up the space. The operation and effects of the present invention are not affected even if they are located in any position that does not interfere with the living space.

Details of the radiant heat generating device 31, including details of the connection relationship with the other cold and hot water radiation pipes 32, water supply pipes 33, and drainage pipes 34, will be described later with reference to Figure 5.

The dehumidifier 41 is a device for dehumidifying the air in the air-conditioned space 1. The dehumidifier 41 is configured with a dehumidifier 42 and a conveying fan 43 housed within a housing. As shown in FIG. 2 , the dehumidifier 41 is installed in the attic space 3, which is outside the air-conditioned space 1, and is connected to the dehumidifier outlet 44 via an outlet duct 46 and to the dehumidifier inlet 45 via an inlet duct 47. The dehumidifier 41 takes in air from the air-conditioned space 1 through the dehumidifier inlet 45, dehumidifies it using the dehumidifier 42, and then releases the dehumidified air from the dehumidifier outlet 44 into the air-conditioned space 1. This series of air flows is generated by driving the conveying fan 43. The air path resulting from the dehumidifier 41 and the air path resulting from the air blower 11 are independent of each other.

The dehumidifier 42 is a component that dehumidifies the air taken into the conditioned space 1 by cooling it and causing it to condense. The dehumidifier 42 is equipped with a cooler and a radiator, and after cooling and condensing the taken-in air, it returns the processed heat to the air, releasing it as dry air, i.e., dehumidified air with a low relative humidity. Note that this embodiment uses a dehumidifier that uses a cooling dehumidification method or a so-called compressor method, but the use of a desiccant method dehumidifier does not affect the operation and effects of the present invention.

The transport fan 43 is a fan for circulating air inside the housing, and is located upstream of the dehumidifier 42 in the air path inside the housing. When the transport fan 43 is operating, it generates an air flow from the dehumidifier inlet 45 toward the dehumidifier outlet 44. This allows the dehumidifier 41 to take in air from the conditioned space 1 through the dehumidifier inlet 45 and blow out dehumidified air from the dehumidifier outlet 44.

The dehumidifier outlet 44 is an opening that sends air that has passed through the dehumidifier 42 and been dehumidified into the conditioned space 1. The dehumidifier outlet 44 is installed at any position on the ceiling surface of the conditioned space 1, and is positioned so that the air blown out from the dehumidifier outlet 44 is blown toward the floor surface of the conditioned space 1.

The dehumidifier inlet 45 is an opening that draws in air from the conditioned space 1 and sends it to the dehumidifier 42. The dehumidifier inlet 45 is located at any position on the ceiling surface of the conditioned space 1, and is located away from the dehumidifier outlet 44 so that the air blown out from the dehumidifier outlet 44 does not directly flow in.

The outlet duct 46 is a duct that connects the dehumidifier 41 to the dehumidifier outlet 44 downstream of the dehumidifier 41's flow path.

The suction duct 47 is a duct that connects the dehumidifier 41 to the dehumidifier suction port 45 on the upstream side of the dehumidifier 41's flow path.

The control device 51 controls the operation of the air blower 11, the radiant heat generator 31, and the dehumidifier 41. Details regarding the configuration of the control device 51 will be described later with reference to Figure 8.

The temperature sensor 52 is a sensor that detects the temperature (current temperature) of the air in the air-conditioned space 1 and transmits it to the control device 51, which will be described later. The humidity sensor 53 is a sensor that detects the relative humidity (current humidity) of the air in the air-conditioned space 1 and transmits it to the control device 51, which will be described later. The current humidity detected by the humidity sensor 53 corresponds to the "detected humidity" in the claims.

In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 52 and humidity sensor 53 are installed on the side of blow-out nozzle 13c (the central portion of the nozzle length of blow-out nozzle 13c), one of the blow-out nozzles 13, to detect the temperature and humidity, respectively, of the air (induced air Q1, described below) flowing through the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32. In other words, the temperature sensor 52 and humidity sensor 53 are installed upstream of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 in the air path through which the induced air Q1 passes.

The remote control 54 is a device that has button switches and the like that allow the user to input the set temperature (target temperature) and set humidity (target humidity) for the air-conditioned space 1. The remote control 54 is installed at any position on the wall surface within the air-conditioned space 1 that can be operated by the user. The remote control 54 is connected to the control device 51 via wireless communication, and transmits information regarding the input target temperature and target humidity to the control device 51.

The display panel 55 is an LCD monitor or the like, and is installed at any position on the wall within the conditioned space 1 that is visible to the user. The display panel 55 displays on its display screen the operating status of the air blower 11, radiant heat generator 31, and dehumidifier 41, as well as the current temperature, current humidity, target temperature, target humidity, etc.

Next, the detailed configuration of the blower 11 will be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a layout diagram showing an image of the installation of the blower 11 in the radiant air-conditioning system 100.

The air blower 11 is a device that blows a gentle, planar, uniform flow of air into the air-conditioned space 1. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the air blower 11 is placed near the ceiling surface of the air-conditioned space 1, and blows a gentle, planar, uniform flow of air from the ceiling surface toward the floor surface of the air-conditioned space 1.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the blower device 11 is configured with blower nozzles 13 (blower nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d), a blower box 14, blowers 15a, 15b collectively referred to as blowers 15, blower chambers 18a, 18b collectively referred to as blower chambers 18, an intake port 21, blower slits 22 (blower slits 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d), and blower outlets 23a, 23b collectively referred to as blower outlets 23. In this embodiment, the blower device 11 is configured with multiple (here, two) blower units 12 (blower units 12a, 12b).

Here, blower unit 12a includes blower nozzles 13a and 13b, a portion of blower box 14, blower 15a, blower chamber 18a, a portion of suction port 21, blower slits 22a and 22b, and blower outlet 23a. Blower unit 12b includes blower nozzles 13c and 13d, a portion of blower box 14, blower 15b, blower chamber 18b, a portion of suction port 21, blower slits 22c and 22d, and blower outlet 23b. Note that the components that make up blower unit 12 do not necessarily have to be configured as described above; it is sufficient to include at least one blower, blower nozzle, blower chamber, suction port, blower slit, and blower outlet.

In this way, by dividing the air blowing device 11 into multiple air blowing units 12, it becomes possible to represent the air blowing mechanism in any conditioned space 1 as a combination of air blowing units 12, making the system more versatile.

The components that make up the air blower device 11 in this embodiment are described in detail below. Note that air blower unit 12a and air blower unit 12b have equivalent components, so here we will use air blower unit 12a as an example of the air blower unit included in air blower device 11.

As described above, the blower unit 12a is composed of the blower nozzles 13a and 13b, part of the blower box 14, the blower 15a, the blower chamber 18a, part of the suction port 21, the blower slits 22a and 22b, and the blower outlet 23a.

The blower 15a generates a pressure difference between the conditioned space 1 and the blower box 14, drawing in circulating air from the conditioned space 1 through the intake port 21 and blowing it into the blowing chamber 18a. The blower 15a is equipped with an impeller 16a and a motor 17a, and blows air by driving the impeller 16a with the motor 17a.

Air blowing chamber 18a is a space that temporarily stores circulating air blown from blower 15a, and serves to uniformly distribute the air supplied from blower 15 to ensure equal amounts of air are blown to blowing nozzle 13a and blowing nozzle 13b. Inside blower box 14, blower 15a and air blowing chamber 18a are separated by a wall (partition plate) and communicate with each other via blower outlet 23a. Air blowing chamber 18a communicates with blowing nozzle 13a and blowing nozzle 13b on the side opposite to the side connected to blower 15a, forming continuous air paths from blower 15a to blowing nozzle 13a and blowing nozzle 13b, respectively.

Each of the blow-out nozzles 13a and 13b has six faces, each of which has a blow-out slit 22a or 22b on the face facing the floor. The blow-out slit 22 (blow-out slit 22a or 22b) is an outlet for blowing air supplied through the blow-out chamber 18a and the blow-out nozzle 13 (blow-out nozzle 13a or 13b) into the conditioned space 1. The blow-out slit 22 (blow-out slit 22a or 22b) is formed in a slit shape along the direction in which the blow-out nozzle extends from the blower box 14 (corresponding to the left-right direction in Figure 3). The length of the blow-out nozzles 13a and 13b in the left-right direction is defined as the blow-out nozzle length. This length should be sufficiently longer than the length of one side of the contact surface with the blower box 14. It is preferable that the length of the contact surface with the blower box 14 in the normal direction of the blow-out slit 22a or 22b be longer than the tangential direction. In this case, when the side lengths of the contact surfaces of the blowout nozzles 13a and 13b are, for example, 17 cm vertically and 4 cm horizontally, the blowout nozzle length is set to approximately 2 m. Furthermore, the blowout nozzles 13a and 13b are arranged parallel to each other so that the blowout slits 22a and 22b are positioned on the same plane, roughly parallel to the ceiling surface, with a predetermined distance (e.g., 16 cm) between the blowout nozzles 13a and 13b. This arrangement ensures sufficient induction space 2 between the blowout nozzles 13a and 13b while generating a wide-ranging airflow in the blowing direction. The blowout units 12a and 12b are also arranged parallel to each other so that the same predetermined distance (e.g., 16 cm) is also maintained between the blowout nozzle 13b and the blowout nozzle 13b of the blower unit 12b.

The blower unit 12a is configured as described above.

When the blower 15a in the blower unit 12a is activated, it draws in air from the air-conditioned space 1 through the intake port 21 and sends the drawn-in air into the blower chamber 18a through the blower outlet 23a. The air sent into the blower chamber 18a is then sent to the blower nozzle 13a. The air sent to the blower nozzle 13a is blown out through the blower slit 22a toward the floor of the air-conditioned space 1. The air sent into the blower chamber 18a is also sent to the blower nozzle 13b, just like the blower nozzle 13a. The air sent to the blower nozzle 13b is blown out through the blower slit 22b toward the floor of the air-conditioned space 1. At this time, air (induced air Q1, described later) induced by the air blown out from the blowout slits 22a and 22b (blown out air Q0, described later) flows between the blowout nozzles 13a and 13b, and the inflowing induced air Q1 is combined with the blown out air Q0 and blown out in the direction of the floor of the conditioned space 1.

Next, the detailed configuration of the radiant heat generating device 31 will be described with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the connection relationship between the cold/hot water radiation pipe 32 and other related components in the radiant heat generating device 31.

The radiant heat generating device 31 is a device that conditions the conditioned space 1 by radiant heat from multiple pipes through which a heat transfer medium such as hot or cold water flows. In this embodiment, the radiant heat generating device 31 primarily controls the temperature of the induced air Q1 blown out from the air blower 11.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the radiant heat generator 31 is configured to include a chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 (chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, 32c), a water supply pipe 33, a drain pipe 34, a chilled/hot water generating chiller 35, and a water pump 36. In this embodiment, the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32a constitutes a pipe group having four straight pipes (pipes 32a1, 32a2, 32a3, 32a4). Similarly, the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32b and the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32c each constitute a pipe group having four straight pipes 32b1, 32b2, 32b3, 32b4, and a pipe group having pipes 32c1, 32c2), 32c3, 32c4, respectively.

Here, among these pipe groups, the cold and hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, and 32c with numbers ending in "1" and "2" and "3" and "4" are directly connected at one end, while the pipes with numbers ending in "1" and "3" are directly connected at the other end to the water supply pipe 33, and the pipes with numbers ending in "2" and "4" are directly connected at the other end to the drain pipe 34. In this way, the cold and hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, and 32c are each connected to the same water supply pipe 33 and drain pipe 34, forming a single closed system. This allows the supply paths for the cold and hot water that serves as the heat source to be consolidated into a single system, simplifying the equipment. Note that the connection of these chilled and hot water radiation pipes 32 does not necessarily have to be in this order, as long as all of the following conditions are met: (a) at least one pipe is connected to the water supply pipe 33, and the same number of pipes as the pipes connected to the water supply pipe 33 are connected to the drain pipe 34; and (b) when pipes are directly connected to each other, one of them is connected to the water supply pipe 33 and the other is connected to the drain pipe 34. For example, the chilled and hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, and 32c with numbers ending in "1" and "2" may be connected to the water supply pipe 33, the pipes with numbers ending in "3" and "4" may be connected to the drain pipe 34, and the pipes with numbers ending in "1" and "3", and "2" and "4" may be directly connected, respectively.

In order to ensure reliable water supply and drainage with all of the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, and 32c, it is preferable that the water supply pipe 33 and the drain pipe 34 be made of pipes with a larger diameter than the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, and 32c, and configured to handle large flow rates. For example, if the diameter of all pipes included in the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 is 5 mm, the water supply pipe 33 and the drain pipe 34 should each have a diameter of approximately 20 mm. Note that although the diameter of the water supply pipe 33 and the drain pipe 34 is referred to as "diameter," their cross sections do not necessarily have to be circular; for example, pipes with a rectangular cross section may also be used.

Next, with reference to Figures 1 and 4, we will explain the flow of water circulating inside the radiant heat generating device 31.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, water introduced into the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 is heated or cooled within the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35. For example, a heat pump system using a refrigerant is used for heating or cooling. The heated or cooled chilled/hot water is then temporarily stored in a tank built into the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35, and is delivered to the water supply pipe 33 at a desired flow rate by driving the water supply pump 36. The chilled/hot water supplied to the water supply pipe 33 is then distributed and delivered to the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, and 32c, respectively, and circulates near the blowing nozzle 13 of the air blower 11 before being collected in the drain pipe 34. The water collected in the drain pipe 34 is then sequentially sent to the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 and reused as a heat source. In this way, the water in the radiation heat generator 31 is repeatedly used as a heat source, allowing the system to be completed with a small amount of water. However, if there are concerns that the quality of the water flowing inside may deteriorate due to scale buildup on the piping, it is preferable to ensure redundancy by setting up a separate route connected to a purification filter or water supply, etc., and purify or replace the water.

Here, we will explain the water temperature transition when using the radiant heat generating device 31 in this embodiment, using the cooling season as an example.

In the radiant heat generator 31, water flowing into the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 at 25°C is cooled to 18°C and sent to the water supply pipe 33. The chilled water then passes through the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32, where it gradually warms as it passes through the air in the conditioned space 1 (induced air Q1 blown out from the air blower 11) and through heat radiation from radiating bodies such as the walls that make up the conditioned space 1, furniture placed inside, and human bodies. The water, which has reached 25°C by the time it is collected from the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 into the drain pipe 34, is sent back to the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 and cooled to 18°C, repeating this cycle. Note that the temperature transition shown here is merely an example and may not apply to use during the heating season, for example. Furthermore, if the cold or hot water passing through the water supply pipe 33 can easily change depending on the external environment, there is a concern that the capacity as a heat source may be insufficient or that the temperature of the cold or hot water may become uneven between the cold or hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, and 32c. In such cases, it is preferable to take measures such as using a highly insulating material for the water supply pipe 33.

Next, referring to Figure 5, the relative positioning of the blowing nozzle 13 of the air blower 11 and the cold/hot water radiation pipe 32 of the radiant heat generator 31 will be described. Figure 5 is a structural diagram showing the relative positioning of the blowing nozzle 13 of the air blower 11 and the cold/hot water radiation pipe 32 of the radiant heat generator 31 that constitute the radiant air conditioning system 100.

As shown in Figure 5, the blowout nozzles 13 (blowout nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) are positioned offset from the ceiling surface within the conditioned space 1 to form an induction space 2 between the ceiling surface and the blowout slits. Each of the blowout nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d has a blowout slit 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d on the surface facing the floor. The blowout nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d are arranged in parallel at equal intervals, and the blowout slits 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d are also arranged in parallel at equal intervals. For example, the distance between the center lines of each blowout nozzle 13 (the distance between each blowout slit 22) is 200 mm, and the gap between the blowout nozzles 13 (part of the induction space 2) is 160 mm. Each blowout slit 22 is provided along the length of the blowout nozzle 13. The blowout slits 22 are positioned on a line that divides the surface of the blowout nozzle 13 into two equal parts in the parallel direction of the blowout nozzle 13 (direction perpendicular to the length direction).

As shown in Figure 5, in the radiant air conditioning system 100, cold/hot water radiation pipes 32 are arranged in the gaps between adjacent blow-out nozzles 13. The cold/hot water radiation pipes 32 can also be said to be arranged on the air paths formed in the gaps between adjacent blow-out nozzles 13. More specifically, cold/hot water radiation pipe 32a is arranged between blow-out nozzle 13a and blow-out nozzle 13b, cold/hot water radiation pipe 32b is arranged between blow-out nozzle 13b and blow-out nozzle 13c, and cold/hot water radiation pipe 32c is arranged between blow-out nozzle 13c and blow-out nozzle 13d. In other words, the cold/hot water radiation pipe 32a is arranged in the air passage formed between the blow-out nozzle 13a and the blow-out nozzle 13b, the cold/hot water radiation pipe 32b is arranged in the air passage formed between the blow-out nozzle 13b and the blow-out nozzle 13c, and the cold/hot water radiation pipe 32c is arranged in the air passage formed between the blow-out nozzle 13c and the blow-out nozzle 13d.

Here, the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 have multiple pipes, the same number of pipes, in all gaps between adjacent blowout nozzles 13. The chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 are all arranged so that the distance between adjacent pipes is the same, and the pipes located at the ends of consecutively arranged pipes (e.g., pipes 32a1 and 32a4 in Figure 5) are all located at a constant distance from the nearest blowout nozzle 13. These distances are set, for example, so that the distance between adjacent pipes is 40 mm and the distance between adjacent blowout nozzles 13 is 20 mm. In this way, air paths for the airflow that has passed through the induction space 2 are formed between adjacent pipes and between adjacent blowout nozzles 13, allowing the passing airflow to reach the conditioned space 1 while maintaining a uniform distribution. The airflow paths around each pipe of the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 will be described later with reference to Figure 7.

Furthermore, the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 (chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, 32c) is arranged on the same plane as the surface of the blow-out slit 22 (blow-out slits 22a, 22b, 22c), and all of the pipe groups (pipes 32a1-32a4, etc.) are arranged on the same plane as the blow-out slit 22. More specifically, all of the multiple pipes (pipes 32a1-32a4, etc.) are arranged at the same height, and the pipes are arranged so that their lowest points are at the same height as the blow-out slit 22. In this way, the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 is not shaded by the blow-out nozzle 13 and is arranged in a position exposed to the air-conditioned space 1. In this case, heat radiation from a human body or the like arranged in the air-conditioned space 1 is reliably carried out, further enhancing the thermal comfort felt by people living in the air-conditioned space 1. This effect is based on the principle that the amount of heat transferred between two objects due to thermal radiation is proportional to the cross-sectional area of direct contact between the two objects and the distance between the two objects.

Next, we will explain the air flow within the blower device 11 with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a top view showing the air flow within the blower device 11.

In the blower device 11, the intake air A0 drawn in through the air inlet 21 is distributed by the action of the blowers 15a and 15b into air A1a flowing into the blower unit 12a and air A1b flowing into the blower unit 12b. Because the blower units 12a and 12b have the same configuration and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the blower units 12a and 12b, the relationship between the air volume of air A1a and the air volume of air A1b generally holds true between the blower units 12a and 12b. Thereafter, air A2a and air A2b that pass through blower outlet 23a and blower outlet 23b are temporarily stored in blower chamber 18a and blower chamber 18b, respectively, and are forced in by blowers 15a and 15b, and are blown sequentially to blower nozzles 13a, 13b and blower nozzles 13c, 13d.

Nozzle air A3a, A3b, A3c, and A3d are blown out of blow nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d, respectively. While the relationship between the respective air volumes is not strictly defined, it is desirable to arrange blow nozzles 13a and 13b, and blow nozzles 13c and 13d symmetrically about the center lines of blowing chambers 18a and 18b, respectively, so that the air volume of nozzle air A3a = the air volume of nozzle air A3b = the air volume of nozzle air A3c = the air volume of nozzle air A3d. Nozzle air A3a, A3b, A3c, and A3d flow in the nozzle length direction, respectively, and a portion of them flows out of blowing slits 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d toward the back of the drawing as blown air Q0 (see Figure 7). Although not shown in Figure 6, rectifying fins or the like may be provided inside the blow-out nozzle 13 to ensure that the volume of air flowing out of the blow-out slit 22 is constant regardless of the nozzle length direction.

Next, referring to Figure 7, we will explain the flow of blown air Q0 from the blow-out nozzle 13 and the resulting flow of induced air Q1 generated near the blow-out nozzle 13 and the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow direction of blown air Q0 from the blow-out nozzle 13 of the blower 11 and induced air Q1 generated near the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32.

Air blown into the blowout nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d is discharged as blown air Q0 from the blowout slits 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d into the conditioned space 1. Because blowout nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d each discharge approximately the same amount of air from the blowout slits 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d, as described above, the blown air Q0 has a wind speed distribution with peaks at each spacing between the blowout slits 22, without any bias in the parallel direction of the blowout nozzles 13. Because this blown air Q0 utilizes a slit-shaped outlet, it has a relatively high wind speed relative to its air volume, generating an airflow with a high degree of linearity in the blowout direction. Furthermore, this blown air Q0 generates a pressure difference between the area around the blowout nozzle 13 and the induction space 2, generating induced air Q1 that flows into the induction space 2 between the blowout nozzle 13 and the ceiling surface. Here, the induced air Q1 is air introduced into the induction space 2, which has a cross-sectional area that is very large compared to the cross-sectional area of the blow-out slit 22, and therefore has the property of having a very low wind speed relative to the air volume, and the relationship of air volume generally holds: blown air Q0 air volume < induced air Q1 air volume.

Induced air Q1 is drawn in the direction of the blown air Q0 from the blow-out nozzle 13 and passes near the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 (chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32a, 32b, 32c). Because the diameter of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 is such that sufficient space is secured between adjacent blow-out nozzles 13, induced air Q1 passes near the pipe while maintaining its linearity without compromising its distribution, and is released into the conditioned space 1 as induced air Q2. In other words, the air volume relationship is (air volume of induced air Q1 - air volume of induced air Q2) / air volume of induced air Q2 << 1.

Furthermore, as the induced air Q1 passes near the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 and becomes induced air Q2, it is heated or cooled by convective heat transfer. For example, when the temperature T1 of the induced air Q1 is 28°C (the same temperature as the temperature of the conditioned space 1) and the surface temperature Tp of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 is 18°C, the temperature T2 of the induced air Q2 is cooled to a value between the temperature T1 and the temperature Tp (for example, 25°C). The cooled induced air Q2 then combines with the blown air Q0 from the blow-out nozzle 13 and is blown into the conditioned space 1 as a gentle, uniform, planar flow.

In this way, the radiant heat generating device 31 conditions the air in the conditioned space 1 by utilizing the blown air Q0 and induced air Q1 from the blower 11, thereby improving thermal comfort. Generally, the heat transfer coefficient on the surface of the chilled/hot water radiant pipe 32 increases as the wind speed of the airflow over the surface increases. Therefore, the generation of induced air Q1 can achieve higher air conditioning capacity than when no airflow is generated. Therefore, in this embodiment, the thermal comfort of the radiant air-conditioning system 100 can be further improved.

Next, the basic functions of the control device 51 will be explained with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the basic functions of the control device 51.

The control device 51 is configured to include an input unit 51a, a processing unit 51b, an output unit 51c, a memory unit 51d, and a timing unit 51e. The control device 51 is also connected to a temperature sensor 52, a humidity sensor 53, a remote control 54, a radiant heat generating device 31, a dehumidifier 41, and a display panel 55 so that they can communicate with each other.

The input unit 51a receives information (first information) related to the temperature of the air-conditioned space 1 transmitted from the temperature sensor 52, information (second information) related to the humidity of the air-conditioned space 1 transmitted from the humidity sensor 53, and information (third information) related to the user's input settings transmitted from the remote control 54. The input unit 51a outputs the received first to third information to the processing unit 51b.

The memory unit 51d stores data referenced or updated by the processing unit 51b. For example, the memory unit 51d stores algorithms that determine the operating modes of the air blower 11, the radiant heat generating device 31, and the dehumidifier 41. The memory unit 51d also stores the first information through the third information received by the input unit 51a in chronological order. The memory unit 51d then outputs the stored data (stored data) to the processing unit 51b in response to a request from the processing unit 51b.

The timing unit 51e is used to measure time as needed within the programs executed by the processing unit 51b. The timing unit 51e then outputs data indicating the current time (time data) to the processing unit 51b.

The processing unit 51b receives the first to third information from the input unit 51a, the stored data from the memory unit 51d, and the time data from the timer unit 51e. Using the received information, the processing unit 51b determines the air blowing operation, dehumidifying operation, and cooling operation for the air-conditioned space 1 at regular intervals (e.g., five minutes). More specifically, the processing unit 51b determines whether to perform or stop the operation of the air blower 11 based on the third information. Furthermore, the processing unit 51b determines whether to perform or stop the operation of the dehumidifier 41 at regular intervals based on the time data obtained from the timer unit 51e and the humidity difference between the target humidity stored in the memory unit 51d and the current humidity detected by the humidity sensor 53 installed in the air-conditioned space 1. Furthermore, while the air blower 11 is operating, the processing unit 51b periodically determines whether the radiant heat generator 31 is operating or not based on the humidity difference between the target temperature stored in the memory unit 51d and the current temperature detected by the temperature sensor 52 installed in the air-conditioned space 1, or information regarding the current temperature and humidity detected by the temperature sensor 52 and humidity sensor 53 installed in the air-conditioned space 1, based on time data acquired from the timer unit 51e. If the processing unit 51b determines that the radiant heat generator 31 is operating, it determines the chilled water temperature at the time of the operation. The processing unit 51b then outputs the determined control information to the output unit 51c. Furthermore, the processing unit 51b updates the display information on the display panel 55 and outputs the updated display information to the output unit 51c. The method for determining the processing operations of the dehumidifier 41 and the radiant heat generator 31 executed by the processing unit 51b will be described later with reference to Figures 9 and 10.

The output unit 51c outputs the control information received from the processing unit 51b to the air blower 11, the dehumidifier 41, and the radiant heat generator 31. The display panel 55 outputs the display information received from the processing unit 51b to the display panel 55.

Then, the air blower 11 performs an air blowing operation based on the control information output from the output unit 51c. The dehumidifier 41 performs a dehumidifying operation based on the control information output from the output unit 51c. The radiant heat generating device 31 performs a cooling operation based on the control information output from the output unit 51c. The display panel 55 updates the screen display based on the display information output from the output unit 51c.

In this manner, the control device 51 controls the dehumidifier 41 and the radiant heat generator 31 to perform their respective operations.

Next, the processing operation of dehumidification control by the control device 51 will be described with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the processing operation related to dehumidification control by the control device 51. Note that, since the operation of the dehumidifier 41 basically changes its processing operation only during the cooling period, the following description will be limited to processing operation control during the cooling period.

<Dehumidification control operation>
First, the control device 51 determines whether time has elapsed based on information from the timer 51e (step S01). If the control device 51 determines that a certain time (e.g., 10 minutes) has not elapsed since the previous process (NO in step S01), the control device 51 returns to step S01. On the other hand, if the certain time has elapsed since the previous process (YES in step S01), the control device 51 proceeds to step S02, where it determines the processing operation related to dehumidification control.

Next, the control device 51 acquires information regarding the current temperature and current humidity obtained from the temperature sensor 52 and humidity sensor 53 installed in the air-conditioned space 1, as well as information regarding the target temperature and target humidity input from the remote control 54, and calculates and determines the current absolute humidity and target absolute humidity of the air-conditioned space 1. Then, the process proceeds to step S03.

In step S03, the dehumidification operation of the dehumidifier 41 is determined by determining whether the current absolute humidity calculated in step S02 exceeds the target absolute humidity. If the result of the determination is that the current absolute humidity exceeds the target absolute humidity (YES in step S03), it is determined that dehumidification treatment is necessary for the air-conditioned space 1, the dehumidification operation of the dehumidifier 41 is turned "ON," and the dehumidification operation is performed by the dehumidifier 41 (step S04). On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that the current absolute humidity is equal to or lower than the target absolute humidity (NO in step S03), it is determined that dehumidification treatment is not necessary for the air-conditioned space 1, the dehumidification operation of the dehumidifier 41 is turned "OFF," and the dehumidification operation by the dehumidifier 41 is not performed (step S05), and the processing operation ends.

In this way, the control device 51 determines the dehumidification operation of the dehumidifier 41 and returns to step S01 to repeat the dehumidification control processing operation.

Next, referring to Figure 10, we will explain the processing operations related to chilled water temperature control by the control device 51. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the processing operations of the control device 51 related to chilled water temperature control.

<Chilled water temperature control>
First, the control device 51 determines whether time has passed based on information from the timer 51e (step S11). If the control device 51 determines that a certain time (e.g., 10 minutes) has not passed since the previous process (NO in step S11), the control device 51 returns to step S11. On the other hand, if the certain time has passed since the previous process (YES in step S11), the control device 51 proceeds to step S12, where it determines the processing operation related to dehumidification control.

Next, the control device 51 acquires information regarding the current temperature and current humidity obtained from the temperature sensor 52 and humidity sensor 53 installed in the conditioned space 1, as well as information regarding the target temperature and target humidity input from the remote control 54 (step S12). Then, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the control device 51 determines whether the current temperature acquired in step S12 exceeds the target temperature as an operating operation determination for the radiant heat generating device 31. If the result of the determination is that the current temperature exceeds the target temperature (YES in step S13), it determines that cooling treatment is necessary for the air-conditioned space 1, and proceeds to step S14 to specify the treatment operation to be performed by the radiant heat generating device 31. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that the current temperature is equal to or lower than the target temperature (NO in step S13), it determines that cooling treatment is not necessary for the air-conditioned space 1, turns the cooling operation of the radiant heat generating device 31 "OFF," and terminates the treatment operation without performing a cooling operation by the radiant heat generating device 31 (step S18).

Next, in step S14, the control device 51 determines whether to operate the radiant heat generating device 31 based on the current humidity information of the air-conditioned space 1. More specifically, it determines whether the current absolute humidity of the air-conditioned space 1 exceeds a first reference humidity. Here, the first reference humidity is defined as the absolute humidity at which cooling of the air-conditioned space 1 can begin, and is set to, for example, 14.2 g/kg (an absolute humidity value equivalent to a temperature of 28°C and a relative humidity of 60%).

If the result of the determination in step S14 is that the current absolute humidity is less than the first standard humidity (YES in step S14), it is determined that the radiant heat generator 31 should be operated, and the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is that the current absolute humidity is equal to or greater than the first standard humidity (NO in step S14), it is determined that the radiant heat generator 31 should not be operated, the cooling operation of the radiant heat generator 31 is turned "OFF," and the processing operation is terminated without performing the cooling operation by the radiant heat generator 31 (step S18). As a result, if the current absolute humidity in the air-conditioned space 1 is high, cooling of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 does not occur, and the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 is cooled only after the current absolute humidity has dropped to the first standard humidity, thereby suppressing condensation on the surface of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 in the pre-dehumidification stage of the air-conditioned space 1.

Next, in step S15, the control device 51 calculates and determines the dew point temperature of the air-conditioned space 1 based on information about the current temperature and current humidity obtained from the temperature sensor 52 and humidity sensor 53 installed in the air-conditioned space 1. Here, the dew point temperature indicates the lower limit temperature at which condensation does not occur at a predetermined absolute humidity value. The processing in step S15 is performed as a preliminary step to controlling the temperature of the cold water used to cool the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 to a range that does not cause condensation. The dew point temperature can be determined using empirical formulas such as the following equations (1) and (2).

Tdp=A+B*t+C*rh+D/rh (rh≧60)...Formula (1)
Tdp=E+F*t+G*rh (rh<60)...Formula (2)
where Tdp is the dew point temperature, t is the temperature, rh is the relative humidity, and A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are experimentally determined constants: A = -4.8, B = 0.983, C = 0.109, D = -583, E = -26.44, F = 0.899, and G = 0.3545.

Next, in step S16, the control device 51 determines the chilled water temperature based on the dew point temperature determined in step S15. More specifically, the control device 51 updates the set water temperature of the radiant heat generator 31 to the lowest integer value that is not lower than the dew point temperature determined in step S15. That is, for example, if the dew point temperature is 17.5°C, the set water temperature is set to 18°C. The process then proceeds to step S17, where the radiant heat generator 31 performs cooling operation at the determined chilled water temperature. Note that if the chilled water temperature is higher than the current temperature of the air-conditioned space 1, the surface temperature of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 will be higher than the set water temperature. Therefore, by controlling the set water temperature so that it does not fall below the dew point temperature of the air-conditioned space 1, the surface temperature of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 will be higher than the dew point temperature. This ensures that condensation on the surface of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 is suppressed reliably.

In this way, the control device 51 identifies the cooling operation to be performed by the radiant heat generating device 31, and returns to step S11 to repeat the processing operation.

As described above, the radiant air-conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment can provide the following benefits:

(1) The radiant air conditioning system comprises a blower device 11 comprising a plurality of blowing nozzles 13 (blowing nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) having blowing slits 22 (blowing slits 22a, 22b, 22c, 22c) and a blower 15 (blowers 15a, 15b) that blows air to the blowing nozzles 13; a radiant heat generator 31 having a plurality of chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32 (chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32a, 32b, 32c) that generate thermal radiation in the conditioned space 1; and a control device 51 that controls the operation of the radiant heat generator 31. The plurality of blowing nozzles 13 are arranged side by side with gaps between them so that the blowing slits 22 are positioned on the same plane. Each of the multiple cold/hot water radiation pipes 32 is positioned in the gap between adjacent blow-out nozzles 13, and is also positioned in an air path through which induced air Q1 passes, which is induced by blown air Q0 blown from the air blower 11. The control device 51 controls the radiant heat generating device 31 to operate when the humidity (current humidity) in the air-conditioned space 1 is less than a first reference humidity, and stops the operation of the radiant heat generating device 31 when the humidity in the air-conditioned space 1 is equal to or greater than the first reference value.

As a result, when the humidity of the air in the conditioned space 1 (induced air Q1 drawn into the gaps in the blow-out nozzles) is below the first standard humidity and the air in the conditioned space 1 is sufficiently dehumidified, the air in the conditioned space 1 exchanges heat with the surface of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32 and combines with the air blown out from the blow-out nozzle 13, resulting in a gentle, planar, uniform flow being blown into the conditioned space 1. On the other hand, when the humidity of the air in the conditioned space 1 is above the first standard humidity and the air in the conditioned space 1 is not sufficiently dehumidified and the humidity is high, the radiant heat generating device 31 is stopped and the air is blown into the conditioned space 1 as a gentle, planar, uniform flow. This makes it possible to achieve air conditioning within a range that does not cause condensation on the surface of the chilled/hot water radiation pipe 32, while minimizing temperature bias or draftiness. In other words, the radiant air conditioning system 100 can improve the thermal comfort of the air-conditioned space 1 while suppressing condensation on the surface of the hot and cold water radiant pipe 32 (radiant panel surface).

(2) In the radiant air-conditioning system 100, the humidity in the air-conditioned space 1 is the detected humidity (current humidity) detected by a humidity sensor 53 installed in the air path through which the induced air Q1 passes upstream of the multiple chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32, and the control device 51 controls the operation of the radiant heat generating device 31 based on the detected humidity. This controls the operation of the radiant heat generating device 31 based on the detected humidity of the air in the air-conditioned space 1 (induced air Q1 induced into the gaps in the outlet nozzles 13) flowing over the surfaces of the chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32, which are most likely to cause condensation in the air-conditioned space 1. This makes it possible to more accurately enjoy the effect of suppressing condensation by controlling the operation of the radiant heat generating device 31.

(3) The radiant air conditioning system 100 is equipped with a dehumidifier 41 that dehumidifies the air in the conditioned space 1. The control device 51 controls the dehumidifier 41 to operate when the current absolute humidity in the conditioned space 1 is equal to or higher than the target absolute humidity calculated from the target temperature and target humidity of the conditioned space 1, and to stop the operation of the dehumidifier 41 when the current absolute humidity is lower than the target absolute humidity. As a result, regardless of the temperature state of the conditioned space 1, the dehumidifier 41 continues to perform dehumidification control until the absolute humidity reaches the dehumidification target value. Therefore, sufficient dehumidification can be achieved without cooling the conditioned space 1, further enhancing the effect of suppressing condensation.

(4) In the radiant air conditioning system 100, the multiple chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32 generate radiant heat for the air-conditioned space 1 by supplying chilled/hot water generated by the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 to the inside of the chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32. This makes it possible to continuously generate heat by sending chilled/hot water whose temperature has been adjusted in advance by the chilled/hot water generating chiller 35 to the chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32. This makes it easy to increase the thermal comfort of the air-conditioned space 1.

(5) In the radiant air-conditioning system 100, the control device 51 controls the temperature of the cold/hot water generated by the cold/hot water generating chiller 35 so that it is higher than the dew point temperature of the air-conditioned space 1. This controls the surface temperature of the cold/hot water radiation pipe 32, which is most likely to cause condensation in the air-conditioned space 1, to a temperature range that does not cause condensation. Therefore, the occurrence of condensation due to the operational control of the radiant heat generating device 31 can be reliably suppressed.

(6) The radiant air conditioning system 100 is configured to include a blower 11 having a plurality of blow-out nozzles 13 (blow-out nozzles 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) that generate a gentle breeze of planar air (blow-out air Q0), and a radiant heat generator 31 that is arranged between adjacent blow-out nozzles 13 and has a plurality of chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32 (chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32a, 32b, 32c) that generate thermal radiation. The radiant heat generator 31 is configured to perform operating operations based on the humidity (current humidity) of the air (induced air Q1) flowing into the chilled/hot water radiant pipes 32.

As a result, when the induced air Q1 is sufficiently dehumidified, the radiant heat generating device 31 operates, allowing for even temperature adjustment across the entire air blowing surface blown by the blower 11. On the other hand, when the induced air Q1 is not sufficiently dehumidified and the humidity is high, the radiant heat generating device 31 stops operating, allowing the induced air Q1 to be blown into the air-conditioned space 1 as a gentle, uniform, planar flow without temperature adjustment. In other words, while suppressing the occurrence of condensation on the surface of the chilled/hot water radiant pipe 32 due to the operation of the radiant heat generating device 31, air conditioning is achieved that suppresses temperature bias or a drafty feeling throughout the air-conditioned space 1, resulting in an air-conditioned space 1 with no uneven perceived temperature.

The present disclosure has been described above based on an embodiment. This embodiment is merely an example, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

In the radiant air-conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment, the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 are arranged on the same plane as the discharge slits 22, but this is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 are arranged so that they are exposed to the air-conditioned space 1 without being shaded by the discharge nozzles 13. For example, all of the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 may be arranged on the same plane downstream of the plane defined by the discharge slits 22 in the direction of the flow of the discharged air Q0. Alternatively, each of the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 may be arranged in the space formed between adjacent discharge nozzles 13. In such a case, all of the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 may be arranged on the same plane, or may be arranged differently. Even in this case, there are no obstacles between the chilled/hot water radiation pipes 32 and the air-conditioned space 1, which promotes heat radiation. This further enhances thermal comfort through radiant heat.

In addition, in the radiant air-conditioning system 100 according to the first embodiment, the group of pipes arranged between the blow-out nozzles 13 is configured with four pipes, but this is not limited to this. As long as at least one pipe is connected to the water supply pipe 33 and the drain pipe 34 and the number of pipes connected is the same, for example, the number of pipes making up the group of pipes may be two, six, eight, etc.

In addition, in the radiant air-conditioning system 100 according to Embodiment 1, the blower 11 is offset from the ceiling surface that constitutes the air-conditioned space 1, and the air Q0 blown from the blowing nozzle 13 is blown from the ceiling surface toward the floor surface, but this is not limited to this. For example, the blower 11 may be offset from the side wall surface of the air-conditioned space 1, and the air Q0 blown from the blowing nozzle 13 may be blown toward the opposite side wall surface. Even in this way, induced air Q1 can be taken in over a wide area from the induction space 2 between the side wall surface and the blowing nozzle 13, and stable air blowing toward the opposite side wall surface can be achieved.

In addition, while the radiant air-conditioning system 100 according to Embodiment 1 has one dehumidifier outlet 44 and one dehumidifier inlet 45, this is not limited to this. Since it is sufficient to take in air of a temperature and humidity representative of the entire conditioned space 1 and dehumidify it uniformly, the dehumidifier outlets 44 and dehumidifier inlets 45 may be provided at multiple locations on the ceiling surface and used to blow air. In this case, the outlet ducts 46 and inlet ducts 47 connecting the multiple dehumidifier outlets 44 and the multiple dehumidifier inlets 45 are connected or separated using branch ducts or the like, and the inflow path to the dehumidifier 41 and the outflow path from the dehumidifier 41 are each configured to be consolidated into a single path.

The radiant air conditioning system of the present invention is useful for suppressing condensation on the surface of the radiant panel while increasing thermal comfort within the conditioned space.

100 Radiant air conditioning system 1 Air-conditioned space 2 Induction space 3 Ceiling space 11 Blower device 12, 12a, 12b Blower unit 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d Blowing nozzle 14 Blower box 15, 15a, 15b Blower 16a, 16b Impeller 17a, 17b Motor 18, 18a, 18b Blowing chamber 21 Intake port 22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d Blowing slit 23, 23a, 23b Blower outlet 31 Radiant heat generating device 32, 32a, 32b, 32c Cold/hot water radiation pipe 32a1, 32a2, 32a3, 32a4 Pipe 32b1, 32b2, 32b3, 32b4 Pipes 32c1, 32c2, 32c3, 32c4 Pipes 33 Water supply pipe 34 Drain pipe 35 Chilled/hot water generating chiller 36 Water pump 41 Dehumidifier 42 Dehumidifier 43 Conveying fan 44 Dehumidifier outlet 45 Dehumidifier inlet 46 Outlet duct 47 Inlet duct 51 Control device 51a Input section 51b Processing section 51c Output section 51d Memory section 51e Timer section 52 Temperature sensor 53 Humidity sensor 54 Remote control 55 Display panel A0 Intake air A1a, A1b Air A2a, A2b Air A3a, A3b, A3c, A3d Nozzle air Q0 Blowout air Q1 Induced air Q2 Induced air

Claims (5)

a blower device including a plurality of blowing nozzles each having a slit-shaped blowing outlet and a blower that blows air to the blowing nozzles;
a radiant heat generating device having a plurality of pipes that generate thermal radiation in the space to be air-conditioned;
a control device for controlling the operation of the radiant heat generating device;
Equipped with
the plurality of blow-out nozzles are arranged side by side with gaps between them so that the blow-out ports are positioned on the same plane,
each of the plurality of pipes is disposed in the gap between the adjacent blowout nozzles and on an air path through which induced air passes that is induced by the blown air blown from the blower device;
The control device controls the operation of the radiant heat generating device when the humidity in the air-conditioned space is less than a first standard humidity, and stops the operation of the radiant heat generating device when the humidity in the air-conditioned space is equal to or greater than the first standard humidity. the humidity in the conditioned space is a detected humidity detected by a humidity sensor installed on an air path through which the induced air passes, the humidity being upstream of the plurality of pipes;
The radiant air-conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device controls the operation of the radiant heat generating device based on the detected humidity . Further provided is a dehumidifying device that dehumidifies the air in the conditioned space,
The radiant air conditioning system described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device controls the dehumidifier to operate when the absolute humidity of the air-conditioned space is equal to or higher than the target absolute humidity calculated from the target temperature and target humidity of the air-conditioned space, and controls the dehumidifier to stop operating when the absolute humidity is below the target absolute humidity. The radiant air conditioning system described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the multiple pipes generate radiant heat for the conditioned space by supplying cold and hot water generated by a cold and hot water chiller to the inside of the pipes. The radiant air conditioning system described in claim 4, characterized in that the control device controls the chilled/hot water chiller so that the temperature of the chilled/hot water is higher than the dew point temperature of the conditioned space.