JPH0354248B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention provides an atomizing device that atomizes drain and has directivity in the direction of ejection; The present invention relates to a drain processing device for an air conditioner equipped with a drive device.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, this type of air conditioner has a structure as shown in Fig. 4, which atomizes drain water and disposes it outdoors.

In the figure, a heat exchanger 2 is provided inside the main body 1,
By cooling indoor air circulating in the heat exchanger 2 as shown by arrow 3, fog is generated in the heat exchanger 2. Directly below this heat exchanger 2,
Receiver 4 that receives drain that falls from the heat exchanger 2
is arranged, and this tray 4 is connected by a passage 6 to a sprayer 5 installed on the back side inside the air conditioner. Then, the water in the saucer 4 is
It flows through this passage 6 and is supplied to the sprayer 5 in a natural fall manner.

This water is atomized by the atomizer 5 and is ejected to the mist discharge nozzle 7 of the atomizer 5. The mist ejected to the mist discharging nozzle 7 is emitted outdoors from the mist discharging port 8. In addition, as for spraying mist to the condenser during cooling operation,
There is something like the one shown in the publication. This has a structure as shown in Figure 5.

That is, the propeller fan 10 facing the condenser 9 sucks outside air from the outside air suction port and supplies it to the condenser 1.
0 and is discharged from the outside air outlet 11. During cooling operation, drain water is generated in the evaporator 12 and collected in the reservoir 14 via the drain hose 13. As the propeller fan 10 rotates, the peripheral end of the blade part of the propeller fan 10 is sequentially immersed in the reservoir part 14 and scrapes up drain water. The drain water becomes a mist, rides on the wind, and is sprayed into the condenser 9.

There is also a similar device as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-50339. As shown in Fig. 6, when the disc 15 rotates during cooling operation, the drain collected in the water reservoir 16 rotates together with the disc, and due to the force exerted at the circumferential speed and the centrifugal force, the disc 15 rotates.
The water is dispersed as small water droplets in all directions around the circumference of 5. As a result, water droplets are applied to the upper part of the condenser 17.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, although the structure of this type is effective, there are some problems. Fourth
In the structure shown in the figure, the drain atomized by the sprayer 5 can only be discharged in the direction of the discharge nozzle 7 of the sprayer 5. Therefore, the condensate mist can only be thrown outdoors at all times, so when operating the air conditioner, the condenser is
It has been difficult to improve condensation efficiency by scattering drain water. In addition, when the sprayer 5 is configured with an ultrasonic sprayer, the particle size of the mist from the ultrasonic sprayer is very small, about 10μ, so
A large number of ultrasonic atomizing elements are required to treat drain water of up to 1/h.

In addition, since a very large amount of fog is generated, the surrounding area becomes cloudy, and in home air conditioners,
It may be mistaken for a fire. Furthermore, since ultrasonic spray does not have directivity, in order to make it directional, the direction must be determined using a nozzle, etc. However, if this determined direction can be varied, it becomes very complicated. It becomes a composition.

Further, in the case shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the particles of drain water that have been scooped up are large, so it is difficult to send them outside as mist. In addition, since the direction of the particles is determined by the direction of raking, it is difficult to provide directivity.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to improve the condensation ability by atomizing condensate into a condenser during cooling operation, and to atomize condensate during heating operation using a single atomization device. To provide an air conditioner capable of discharging waste to a predetermined part other than an evaporator and eliminating the need for conventional treatment using a drainage hose.

Means for Solving the Problems The technical means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes a water tray for collecting condensate, a mist from the condensate collected in the water pan, and a mist in the direction in which the mist is ejected. On the other hand, there is a driving method that includes a directional atomizing device and directs the mist of the atomizing device toward the condenser during cooling operation and toward a predetermined part other than the evaporator during heating operation. It is equipped with a device.

Effects With the above-described configuration, the present invention can improve the condensation ability by spraying atomized condensate into the condenser during cooling operation, and can spray atomized condensate outdoors during heating operation. By discharging it, you can eliminate the need to use a drainage hose.
Air conditioners can be installed even in places where drainage is not possible.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of the air conditioner in this embodiment.

In Figures 1 and 2, 18 is the main body of the air conditioner, 19 is a condenser during heating operation, an indoor heat exchanger that acts as an evaporator during cooling operation, 20 is an evaporator during heating operation, and condensation is performed during cooling operation. The outdoor heat exchanger 21 acts as a heat exchanger, and 21 is the indoor heat exchanger 19.
Drain pipe for guiding dripping drain, 22
23 is an atomizer, and 24 is the atomizer, which collects condensate that becomes droplets from the evaporator when the indoor heat exchanger 19 and the outdoor heat exchanger 20 act as an evaporator. 23, and in this embodiment, a stepping motor is used.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the atomizing device 23.

In FIG. 3, 23 is the main body of the atomization device, 25 is a perforated disk-shaped piezoelectric vibrator which is a vibrating part, 26 is attached to the disk-shaped piezoelectric vibrator 25, and small hole 27
28 is a cavity in the atomizing device 23 which is bonded to this metal plate 26; 29 is a metal plate having a
This is a supply pipe that sends liquid to the cavity 28.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained.
First, referring to FIG. 1, the cooling operation will be explained.

During cooling operation, the indoor heat exchanger 19 in the air conditioner main body 18 acts as an evaporator, so
By exchanging heat with indoor air, dew is generated in the indoor heat exchanger 19. This dew drips from the indoor heat exchanger 19 and drains from the drain pipe 2.
1 and collects in the water tray 22. This water tray 22
The collected drainage is sprayed by the atomizing device 23 toward the outdoor heat exchanger 20, which functions as a condenser. At this time, the atomizing device 23 is oriented such that the mist it sprays is applied to the outdoor heat exchanger 20.

By atomizing the drain and spraying it onto the outdoor heat exchanger in this way, the outdoor heat exchanger 2
0 condensation capacity can be increased. Also, as will be explained later, this atomizing device 23 can be directed in a specified direction by a driving device 24, so
If the condensing capacity is too large, a part of the mist may be sprayed onto the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the rest may be discharged to the outside air.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the heating operation will be explained.
During heating operation, the indoor heat exchanger 19 acts as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 20 acts as an evaporator. Therefore, fog is generated in the outdoor heat exchanger due to heat exchange with the air and accumulates in the water tray 22. The drain collected in this water tray is discharged outdoors by an atomizer 23. At this time, the atomizing device is moved from the cooling position by a drive device 24 using a pulse motor.
It is rotated 90 degrees to direct the sprayed mist to the outside.

Therefore, the drain accumulated in the water tray during the heating operation can be discharged outdoors, and there is no need to dispose of it using a drain hose or the like. In particular, atomization makes it possible to dispose of condensate even in places where condensate cannot be disposed of by flowing it through a drainage hose, such as an air conditioner installed in a room on the side of a passage such as an apartment.

Now, referring to FIG. 3, the operation of the atomizing device used in this example will be explained.

When a voltage of about 50 V is applied between the atomizer main body 23 and the perforated disk-shaped piezoelectric vibrator, the metal plate 26 having a large number of small holes 27 vibrates in a bending manner. At this time, if the cavity 28 is filled with liquid, the metal plate 26 will bend toward the cavity 28. At this time, the internal pressure inside the cavity 28 increases and attempts to push out the liquid inside through the small hole 27. Then, when the internal pressure is sufficient to break the surface tension of the liquid, the liquid protrudes from the small holes 27.

Next, as time passes, the internal pressure gradually weakens, and the velocity of the liquid inside the cavity 28 becomes slower than the protruding liquid portion, and this gap becomes constricted, causing the droplets to separate and eject. Since a defect is created in the cavity 28 due to this ejection, liquid is replenished from the supply pipe 29 due to the negative pressure caused by the surface tension.
This supply pipe 29 is connected to the atomizer main body 23, but since this connection part is rotatable, the direction of the atomizer main body 23 changes between cooling operation and heating operation. However, it always hangs down on the water tray 22 side due to its own weight. Therefore, it is possible to always suck up the drain.

Also, the particle size of the mist ejected from this atomization device is
At approximately 100 μm, it is about 10 times larger than the particle size of fog generated by an ultrasonic vibrator, so it is possible to generate a large amount of fog without using a large number of elements like an ultrasonic vibrator. It is possible to treat the drain. Further, the mist generated from this atomization device is transmitted through the small holes 2 of the metal plate 26 attached to the disc-shaped piezoelectric vibrator 25.
Since the particle size and jetting direction of the mist are determined by the diameter and position of the small holes 27, the drain processing capacity can be changed by changing the diameter of the small holes 27. Furthermore, by changing the position of the small holes, the direction of mist ejection can be easily changed, so it is easy to change the direction of mist ejection from the air conditioner. Furthermore, since the metal plate 12 itself vibrates, dust in the drain does not adhere to it, so failures are rare and the service life is long. In addition, the electrical input
Only about 10W is required to process 2/h of drain. By the way, if the same amount of condensate were processed using an ultrasonic vibrator, the electrical input would be 320W.

Next, a drive device 24 that drives this atomization device 23
However, in this embodiment, a stepping motor is used. Therefore, depending on the number of pulses given to this motor, it can be moved to any desired position and stopped there.

In the description of this embodiment, the atomizing device 23 is rotated 90 degrees for heating and cooling, but it is also possible to stop the atomizing device 23 at an intermediate position and change the direction in which the mist is ejected.

The effects described above can be obtained by the present invention.

In this embodiment, the atomization device 23 uses a piezoelectric vibrator, but the same effect can be obtained by using other means as long as the atomization device is directional in the direction of ejection. I can do it. Further, in this embodiment, a stepping motor is used as the driving device 24, but the same effect can be obtained if the stepping motor can be driven in a similar manner, such as by manually switching the mechanism. In addition, although this example describes a window air conditioner in which the indoor and outdoor sides are integrated, the same effect can be obtained in a separate type air conditioner in which the indoor and outdoor sides are installed. .

Effects of the Invention As described above, the air conditioner of the present invention includes a water tray that collects drainage, and an atomization device that turns the drainage collected in the water tray into a mist and has directivity in the direction in which the mist is ejected. and a drive device that directs the ejection direction of the atomization device to the condenser during cooling operation and to a predetermined part other than the evaporator during heating operation, so that the condensate can be misted during cooling operation. The condensation capacity can be improved by spraying the atomized condensate into the condenser, and by discharging the atomized condensate outdoors during heating operation, the condensate treatment with wastewater is eliminated and it can be used in places where drainage is not possible. It also has the advantage of being able to install an air conditioner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention during cooling and heating, respectively; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an atomization device according to the same embodiment; and FIG.
5 and 6 are sectional views of different conventional air conditioners, respectively. 18...Air conditioner, 19...Indoor heat exchanger, 20...Outdoor heat exchanger, 22...Water tray,
23... Atomization device, 24... Drive device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water tray that collects condensate dripping from an evaporator through heat exchange with air, and the condensate collected in this water tray is turned into a mist, and the mist has directivity in the direction in which it is ejected. A drain processing device for an air conditioner, comprising: an atomizer; and a drive device that directs the spray direction of mist from the atomizer to a predetermined portion. 2. The drive device operates to direct the spray direction of mist from the atomization device toward the condenser during cooling operation and toward a predetermined portion other than the evaporator during heating operation.
A drain processing device for an air conditioner as described in Section 1. 3. The air atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the atomizer is an electronic atomizer that excites the drain with a piezoelectric vibrator and sprays the liquid from a nozzle to atomize it. Drain processing device for harmonizer.