US20030041604A1

US20030041604A1 - Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner

Info

Publication number: US20030041604A1
Application number: US09/945,740
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Shiang Jang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-05
Filing date: 2001-09-05
Publication date: 2003-03-06

Abstract

Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner, including a water reservoir, a water level sensor, a controller and a water-injecting section. The water reservoir receives the condensed water produced from the water exhaust of the vaporizer of the air-conditioner. The water level sensor is disposed in the reservoir for real-time sending water level signal to the controller for judging whether water should get into the water reservoir or discharge therefrom. The controller is able to detect the operation state of the compressor of the air-conditioner to activate the water-injecting section to inject water onto the heat-radiator at proper time so as to continuously decrease temperature of the heat-radiator and the air therearound and enhance efficiency of the air-conditioner and avoid load loss due to high temperature of the components of the air-conditioner after long period of operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner. The device is disposed in the air-conditioner for automatically detecting the operation state of the compressor and injecting proper amount of water onto the heat-radiator at proper time so as to decrease the temperature of the heat-radiator and the air therearound. Accordingly, the efficiency of the air-conditioner can be enhanced and the load loss of the compressor due to high temperature after long period of operation.

An air-conditioner, including mobile type (car-used) and fixed type (domestically used) serves to provide a cooling effect for a specific area. The modern air-conditioner also serves to filter off the powder and dust entrained by the air.

In working, the compressor of the air-conditioner continuously operates to achieve the set temperature. Accordingly, the temperature around the heat-radiator or the exhaust of the air-conditioner will keep increasing. The heat around the heat-radiator or the exhaust can be hardly fully dissipated so that the cooling effect of the compressor will be greatly decreased. In addition, the load on the compressor will be increased and the using life of the air-conditioner will be shortened.

Moreover, the heat continuously radiated from the heat-radiator will directly lead to greenroom effect in the environment.

In order to solve the above problem, Taiwanese Utility Model Publication No. 195411 discloses an improved air-conditioner in which a receptacle is formed on the bottom or rear section of the air-conditioner. A water-pumping motor and a level switch are disposed on the receptacle. The water-pumping motor is connected with a water-injecting end and is controlled by the level switch to open/close the water-injecting end. When the amount condensed water accumulating in the receptacle reaches a set value, the level switch will activate the water-pumping motor to inject the condensed water through the water-injecting end onto the heat-radiator for cooling the same. When the level descends to the low level state, the water-injecting end cannot further activate the water-pumping motor to inject the water. When the water level again reaches the full level, the water-pumping motor is activated to inject the water. In some cases, the water injecting amount and time are not well controlled so that the continuously operating air-conditioner can be hardly provided with necessary heat-radiating effect.

After one time injection, the water reserved in the receptacle will be totally drained out without considering the actual operation state of the air-conditioner. This leads to waste of water resource. In addition, only the water level again reaches the full level, a next injection can be performed. Also, the water-injecting end is formed by a pipeline nozzle for directly injecting the water. With respect to those parts such as heat-radiator, pipeline or metal panel at high temperature, the directly injected water will lead to violent contraction and rusting or deformation thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner. The device includes a water reservoir, a water level sensor, a controller and a water-injecting section. The condensed water discharged by the air-conditioner is reserved in the water reservoir. The water level sensor is disposed in the reservoir for real-time sending water level signal to the controller. The controller is composed of a processing unit, a load sensing unit and a relay unit. The load sensing unit is connected with the compressor of the air-conditioner. The relay unit is electrically connected with a driving motor of a water-injecting section. The load sensing unit always senses the operation state of the compressor and the processing unit according to preset value automatically activates or shuts off the relay unit for controlling the driving motor. After the driving motor is activated by the relay unit, the liquid is conducted to the water-injecting section to directly spray water onto the heat-radiator of the air-conditioner so as to at proper time continuously effectively decrease temperature of the heat-radiator and the air exhaust therearound and avoid load loss due to high temperature of the components of the air-conditioner after long period of operation. The water is injected by proper amount onto the heat-radiator at proper time so that the water resource can be saved.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner in which the injector of the water-injecting section can be a nozzle, whereby the water is injected and quickly atomized in a bevel state. The atomized water can quickly dissipate into the air and combine with the surface of the heat-radiator or hot air.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner in which a filter unit is disposed on the driving motor to previously filter the condensed water conducted into the driving motor.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner in which an outdoor temperature sensor is disposed on outer side of the air-conditioner. When the controller receives the signal of the outdoor temperature sensor informing that the outdoor temperature is lower than 10 degrees, the water-injecting section is activated by the controller to totally drain out the water or strongly inject water onto the heat-radiator to entirely drain out the water in the reservoir. Accordingly, the condensed water in the reservoir can be totally drained out to further wash the heat-radiator of the air-conditioner.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner in which a water conducting section is disposed at a certain portion of the reservoir. The water conducting section is connected to the pipeline of tap water. The water-conducting section via an electromagnetic valve controls water flow. The electromagnetic valve receives the signal coming from the controller to close or open the pipeline, permitting the tap water to get into the reservoir or shut off the tap water. Therefore, the amount of the reserved water can be kept balanced.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: [0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 2 is a partially sectional view of the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 3 is a plane view according to FIG. 2; [0015]
FIG. 4 shows that the present invention is mounted on a separated type air-conditioner; and [0016]
FIG. 5 is a plane view according to FIG. 4.[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. [0018] 1 to 6. The device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner of the present invention includes a water reservoir 2, a water level sensor 3, a controller 4 and a water injecting section 5. The water reservoir 2 is formed as a container for containing the condensed water discharged from the vaporizer 12 of the air-conditioner 1. The water reservoir 2 is disposed inside or outside the air-conditioner 1 in accordance with the specification of the air-conditioner 1. (For example, fixed type air-conditioner, car-used air-conditioner, separated type air-conditioner, etc.) A water-refilling port 21 and a draining port 22 are respectively formed on a top and a lateral portion of the water reservoir 2. The water-refilling port 21 through a pipeline 211 is able to receive the condensed water produced from the water exhaust of the vaporizer 12 of the air-conditioner 1. When the water level in the water reservoir 2 reaches a certain height limit, the water is drained out from the draining port 22.
The [0019] water level sensor 3 is disposed in the reservoir 2 for real-time sending the water level state in the reservoir 2 to the controller 4.
The [0020] controller 4 is composed of a processing unit 41, a load sensing unit 42 and a relay unit 43 (with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.) The load sensing unit 42 is connected with the compressor (not shown) of the air-conditioner 1 for always sensing the operation state of the compressor and sending the message to the processing unit 41. The relay unit 43 is electrically connected with the driving motor 51 of the water-injecting section 5.
The water-injecting [0021] section 5 is composed of a driving motor 51, a water outlet tube 52 and an injector 53. The driving motor 51 is disposed in the reservoir 2. The inlet end and outlet end of the driving motor 51 are respectively provided with a filter mesh 511 and the outlet tube 52. The filter mesh 511 serves to previously filter the cooling liquid to be conducted into the driving motor 51 so as to ensure purity of the water. The outlet tube 52 extends to a corresponding portion of the heat-radiator 13 of the air-conditioner 1 and has a winding section near the heat-radiator 13. The outlet tube 52 is fixed by multiple locking members. More than one injector 53 is distributed on the winding section of the outlet tube 52. The injector 53 can be a port (not shown) or a nozzle 531. With respect to the port, the water will be injected in linear state, while with respect to the nozzle 531, the water is injected and quickly atomized in a bevel state. The atomized water can quickly dissipate into the air and combine with the surface of the heat-radiator or hot air. The pattern of the injector 53 can be varied with the type of the heat-radiator 13.
After the [0022] relay unit 43 receives the signal of the processing unit 41 and the driving motor 51 operates, the water is conducted from the outlet tube 52 into the injector 53 which sprays the water onto the heat-radiator 13 so as to quickly decrease the temperature.
Moreover, in order to enhance the protection function provided by the [0023] controller 4 for the air-conditioner 1, an outdoor temperature sensor (not shown) is additionally disposed outside the air-conditioner 1. After the processing unit 41 via the outdoor temperature sensor detects the outdoor temperature, the operation can be modified at any time.
In use, when the [0024] processing unit 41 receives the signal of the load sensing unit 42 that the compressor for first time operates, the processing unit 41 will make the relay unit 43 to activate the driving motor 51 to continuously operate for five minutes. The water will be injected one time in each ten seconds for two seconds until it ends. When receiving the stop signal of the compressor or the signal of the water level sensor 3 informing that the water level in the reservoir 2 is lower than the safety height, the relay unit 43 will immediately stop operating. When the compressor of the activated air-conditioner 1 continuously operates for over three minutes, the processing unit 41 will make the driving motor 51 to inject the water one time in each 25 seconds for two seconds until receiving the stop signal of the compressor or the signal of the water level sensor 3 informing that the water level in the reservoir 2 is lower than the safety height. At this time, the processing unit will make the relay unit 43 stop operating.
When the [0025] processing unit 41 receives the signal of the water level sensor 3 informing that the water level in the reservoir 2 is lower than the safety water level, no water will be injected. Only when the water level is restored to the safety height, the procedure will proceed. In a preferred embodiment, at the same time when the water-injecting section 5 is activated to operate, the processing unit 43 will execute a procedure of maintenance. That is, after the water-injecting section 5 injects water, the water level sensor 3 will obtain the level change. In the case that the level of the water remaining in the reservoir 2 fails to coincide with the amount of the actually injected water, an indicator lamp 44 will display to inform the operator that it is necessary to replace the injector 53 of the water-injecting section 5 or the filter mesh 511 on the driving motor 51 due to blocking. When the processing unit 41 senses that the compressor has operated for 480 hours, some operations are temporarily stopped to perform a washing procedure. When the water level sensor 3 senses that the water level in the reservoir 2 reaches the upper limit of safety height, the relay unit 43 is activated to make the water-injecting section 5 continuously spray water onto the heat-radiator 13 of the air-conditioner 1 to wash the heat-radiator 13. When the water level in the reservoir 2 reaches the low level, the driving motor 51 stops operating and restores to normal state.
In addition, when the [0026] processing unit 41 receives the signal of the water level sensor 3 informing that the water level in the reservoir 2 is higher than a predetermined level, the indicator lamp 44 lights up and the water-injecting section 5 is activated to continuously inject water until the water level in the reservoir 2 is lowered to the safety value. When the processing unit 41 receives the signal of the outdoor temperature sensor 6 informing that the outdoor temperature is lower than 10 degrees, the water-injecting section 5 is activated to inject water to entirely drain out the water in the reservoir 2. Accordingly, the condensed water in the reservoir can be totally drained out to further wash the heat-radiator 13 of the air-conditioner 1.
According to the above arrangement, the [0027] processing unit 41 keeps surveying the compressor and at proper time continuously and effectively provides injected water according to the temperature of the heat-radiator 13 and the air exhaust thereof. Therefore, the load loss of the components of the compressor due to long period of operation can be avoided. The controller 4 at proper time provides proper amount of injected water so that the water resource can be saved.
FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a [0028] water conducting section 23 is disposed at a certain portion of the reservoir 2. The water conducting section 23 is connected to the pipeline 231 of the tap water. The water-conducting section 23 via an electromagnetic valve 7 controls water flow. The electromagnetic valve 7 receives the signal coming from the controller 4 to close or open the pipeline 231, permitting the tap water to get into the reservoir 2. Accordingly, the water reserving speed of the reservoir 2 can be increased or the amount of the reserved water can be kept balanced.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, with respect to different type of air-[0029] conditioner 1 such as a separated type air-conditioner 8 composed of an outdoor apparatus 81 and an indoor apparatus 82, the reservoir 2 can be disposed on outer side of the air-conditioner 1 (between the two apparatuses). This facilitates assembly and installation.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [0030]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner, comprising:

a water reservoir mounted on inner or outer side of the air-conditioner at a certain position in accordance with the requirement of the air-conditioner, the water reservoir being provided with water-refilling port and draining port for reserving or draining condensed water discharged by the air-conditioner;

a water level sensor disposed in the reservoir for real-time sending water level signal to a controller;

a controller composed of a processing unit, a load sensing unit and a relay unit, the load sensing unit being connected with the compressor of the air-conditioner for always sensing the operation state of the compressor, the relay unit being electrically connected with a driving motor of a water-injecting section, by means of the control of the processing unit, the water-injecting section being activated to inject water or stop injecting water; and

a water-injecting section composed of a driving motor, a water outlet tube and an injector, the driving motor being disposed in the reservoir and powered on/off via the relay unit, one end of the outlet tube being disposed at an outlet end of the driving motor, while the other end of the outlet tube extending to a corresponding portion of the heat-radiator of the air-conditioner, the injector being disposed on a section of the outlet tube corresponding to the heat-radiator for injecting water onto the heat-radiator, whereby the processing unit receives signals of operation state of the compressor from the load sensing unit and according to preset value automatically activate or shut off the relay unit for controlling water injection operation of the water-injecting section.

2. Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water-refilling port of the water reservoir through a pipeline is able to receive the condensed water produced from the water exhaust of the vaporizer of the air-conditioner.

3. Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet end of the driving motor is provided with a filter mesh.

4. Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the injector of the water-injecting section is a port and the water is injected in linear state.

5. Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the injector of the water-injecting section is a nozzle and the water is injected and quickly atomized in a bevel state to quickly combine with the surface of the heat-radiator or hot air.

6. Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outdoor temperature sensor is disposed on outer side of the air-conditioner.

7. Device for enhancing efficiency of air-conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a water conducting section is disposed at a certain portion of the reservoir, the water conducting section being connected to the pipeline of tap water, the water-conducting section via an electromagnetic valve controlling water flow, the electromagnetic valve receiving the signal coming from the controller to close or open the pipeline, permitting the tap water to get into the reservoir.