EP1571400A1 - Dispositif d'enrichissement de gaz, dispositif de production de pression differentielle approprie et conditionneur d'air - Google Patents

Dispositif d'enrichissement de gaz, dispositif de production de pression differentielle approprie et conditionneur d'air Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1571400A1
EP1571400A1 EP03809425A EP03809425A EP1571400A1 EP 1571400 A1 EP1571400 A1 EP 1571400A1 EP 03809425 A EP03809425 A EP 03809425A EP 03809425 A EP03809425 A EP 03809425A EP 1571400 A1 EP1571400 A1 EP 1571400A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
gas
flow channel
enrichment
air
gas enrichment
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03809425A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1571400A4 (fr
Inventor
Yoshikazu Nishihara
Ikuo Akamine
Yasuhiro Nakamura
Noriya Asada
Atsushi Takeuchi
Hirozumi Ito
Shinichi Sato
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Panasonic Corp
Original Assignee
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Publication of EP1571400A1 publication Critical patent/EP1571400A1/fr
Publication of EP1571400A4 publication Critical patent/EP1571400A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/06—Separate outdoor units, e.g. outdoor unit to be linked to a separate room comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0043—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
    • F24F1/0057—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in or on a wall
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/06—Separate outdoor units, e.g. outdoor unit to be linked to a separate room comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger
    • F24F1/46—Component arrangements in separate outdoor units
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F8/00—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
    • F24F8/60—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying by adding oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
    • F24F3/14—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
    • F24F2003/1435—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification comprising semi-permeable membrane
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/10—Temperature
    • F24F2110/12—Temperature of the outside air

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a gas enrichment apparatus for increasing the concentration of a certain specific gas in relation to the other gas components in the air and a differential pressure generating equipment for use in the gas enrichment apparatus.
  • the invention also includes an air conditioner which contains the above items.
  • Oxygen enrichment apparatus, nitrogen enrichment apparatus, etc. which increase relative concentration of a certain specific gas component of the air, for example oxygen, nitrogen, in these apparatus, by means of selective permeable membrane, absorbent used in the PSA process or the like, have been in use in the field of medical gas enrichment apparatus, air conditioners, air purifiers and other such appliances.
  • Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. H5-113227 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2002-39569 disclose examples of the oxygen enrichment in a separate type air conditioner. Outdoor unit of the air conditioner is provided with oxygen enrichment means, which enrichment means increases the concentration of oxygen and delivers the oxygen-enriched air via a tube into a room space which is the target of air conditioning in order to improve the amenity of people in the space.
  • oxygen enrichment membrane which is one of the selective gas permeable membranes
  • nitrogen gas which occupies a major part of the air component is separated from oxygen, and oxygen is allowed with priority to pass through the membrane.
  • the moisture contained in the air is also allowed to go through the membrane, in the above process.
  • the secondary air after the oxygen enrichment membrane has a higher relative humidity than that of the primary air before passing through the membrane, reflecting the nitrogen gas component separated from it.
  • the secondary air has a higher dew point as compared with that of the primary air, which often brings about dew drops due to dew condensation residing in the secondary delivery tube.
  • the dew drop is sometimes dispersed by the room unit of an air conditioner; which water wets the room, or even drops from above the people to the deterioration of amenity.
  • a conventional room unit is provided with a cooling unit in the flow channel of oxygen-enriched air so that the water content in the air is forcedly condensed there, it is further provided with a water separator so that the water is prevented from entering to the room space.
  • the secondary gas not only oxygen gas
  • the dew drop readily occurs.
  • the dew drop of gas-enriched gas in the delivery channel may get iced, which ice blocks transportation of the enriched gas.
  • the dew drop in the delivery channel it causes a pulse motion with the travelling gas flow; which leads to generation of abnormal sounds, even exploding sounds due to burst of dripping water.
  • Such annoying sounds are carried into the room space to the discomfort of the people there.
  • the dew drop stream into decompression pump or other components used for driving the air, etc. into gas enrichment apparatus it may ill-affect the operating life of such components, or seriously damage the total system, if the dew drop is taken into the system and compressed.
  • the present invention addresses the above-described problems, and aims to offer a gas enrichment apparatus and a differential pressure generating equipment for use in the apparatus.
  • the dew drop with the enriched gas travelling in the delivery channel is suppressed to a minimum and the icing is prevented, even if the outdoor temperature is low. In this way, the flow volume is assured to be sufficient through the delivery channel, and pump and other members of the apparatus can be operating in a stable manner.
  • An air conditioner containing these items is also disclosed in the present invention.
  • a gas enrichment apparatus in the present invention includes at least gas enrichment means, differential pressure generation means for generating a differential pressure with the gas enrichment means, a gas delivery channel for delivering a second gas which gas has been enriched with respect to a certain specific gas component of a first gas by having the first gas to go through the gas enrichment means, and flow channel gating means for supplying a third gas whose relative humidity is lower than that of the second gas to the delivery channel.
  • dew drop in the delivery channel can be pushed out or re-evaporated; thereby, staying of dew drop in the delivery channel and generation of the annoying sounds are prevented, and a stable operation of gas enrichment apparatus is implemented.
  • the gas enrichment apparatus is an oxygen enrichment apparatus built in a separate type air conditioner for harmonizing the air in a living space.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a gas enrichment apparatus in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • the differential pressure generation means in the present embodiment 1 for generating a differential pressure with gas enrichment means is a decompression pump.
  • Gas enrichment apparatus 30 includes gas enrichment means, or oxygen enrichment unit 1, differential pressure generation means, or decompression pump 2, delivery tube 3, flow channel gate means, or flow channel gate valve 4, temperature detection means, or temperature sensor 5, control means 6, etc.
  • the entire structure is housed in case 7.
  • Decompression pump 2 is connected at the outlet side to main outlet tube 8 for delivering the enriched gas to the point of use.
  • Gate valve 4 is connected with delivery tube 3 via branch tube 9 coming from delivery tube 3.
  • the valve is connected also with flow resistance member 10 and intake tube 11.
  • Oxygen enrichment unit 1 can be either a selective permeable membrane which selectively allows a certain specific gas component to go through, or a selective absorption membrane which absorbs a certain specific gas component.
  • outdoor air 12 which is the source gas for enrichment, or first gas, is sucked into oxygen enrichment unit 1 by the effect of decompression pump 2 disposed at the exit side of oxygen enrichment unit 1.
  • Oxygen is selectively allowed to go through a selective permeable membrane or other membrane of same function disposed in oxygen enrichment unit 1, and second gas of higher oxygen concentration is provided.
  • the second gas proceeds to delivery tube 3 to be discharged to main outlet tube 8 via decompression pump 2.
  • a fan (not shown) may be provided at the intake side, viz. the side facing the outdoor air of oxygen enrichment unit 1, in order to blow the resultant nitrogen-rich air staying in the neighborhood of oxygen enrichment unit 1 away. Operation of the fan can be coupled with operation of gas enrichment apparatus 30.
  • oxygen enrichment unit 1 may be disposed in the outdoor unit's blown air circuit so that the fan of the outdoor unit serves also for the above-described purpose.
  • a electro-magnetic two-way valve, or the like gate valve may be used.
  • a capillary tube or the like item may be used. Opening-and-closing operation of flow channel valve 4 is controlled by the signal delivered from control means 6, which signal is generated based on temperature detected by temperature detection means, or temperature sensor 5. In a case where gas enrichment apparatus 30 is coupled with other appliances, the opening-and-closing operation of valve 4 may be controlled under the control of external signals delivered from the appliance.
  • Gate valve 4 may be operated in either a simple ON-OFF action, or variable opening-and-closing degrees so that volume of gas flow running through it is controlled accordingly.
  • the sensing point of temperature sensor 5 may be determined at option in any places; for example, the outdoor air temperature where gas enrichment apparatus 30 is installed, temperature in the neighborhood of oxygen enrichment unit 1, tube temperature of delivery tube 3, main outlet tube 8, etc.
  • decompression pump 2 When decompression pump 2 is put into operation, first gas, or outdoor air 12, is sucked into oxygen enrichment unit 1.
  • the air of higher oxygen concentration created as the result of passing through oxygen enrichment unit 1 proceeds to delivery tube 3 to be sucked into decompression pump 2, and sent out via main outlet tube 8.
  • FIG. 2 shows a control specification of a flow channel gate valve in a gas enrichment apparatus in accordance with embodiment 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of flow channel gate valve and decompression pump under the above control specification.
  • gate valve 4 is in closed state.
  • control means 6 starts to control the opening-and-closing operation of flow channel gate valve 4 in accordance with the outdoor air temperature detected by temperature sensor 5.
  • the upper area represents the higher outdoor air temperature detected, while the lower area the lower temperature.
  • FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 when the detected outdoor air temperature T is at point a, which is higher than certain specified temperature T1, flow channel gate valve 4 stays in the closed state.
  • point b which is lower than specified temperature T1
  • relative humidity of the outdoor air rises, and the relative humidity of the oxygen-enriched second gas goes to be still higher; as the result, the dew condensation readily takes place in delivery tube 3 and main outlet tube 8.
  • the tubes can be blocked by iced condensation water, etc.
  • the flow volume can be optimized by means of flow resistance member 10 provided for controlling the flow volume to be introduced through intake tube 11. Evaporation of dew drop and anti-icing of the water can be effected in more reliable manner by introducing a third gas whose temperature is higher than that of first gas sucked into oxygen enrichment unit 1.
  • a certain specific temperature for performing the opening-and-closing operation with flow channel gate valve 4 in re-ascending stage of outdoor temperature T is provided with a hysteresis, as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the outdoor air temperature T at which flow channel gate valve 4 is made to open in the outdoor air temperature descending stage does not bring the valve back to closed state even at point c in the ascending stage; the valve is closed only when the outdoor air temperature T reached point d.
  • T1 T2
  • the hysteresis eliminates chattering of flow channel gate valve 4 at the vicinity of T1, and ill-affect to the valve reliability is prevented. Also the users are relieved from the chattering noise.
  • the detected outdoor air temperature may be compared to a plurality of certain specific temperatures, and an open time of gate valve 4 may be increased to be longer for the lower outdoor temperatures in order to make sure of anti-icing of the dew drop in the flow channel.
  • intake tube 11 in the present embodiment 1 is provided with flow resistance member 10. If no flow resistance member 10 is provided, a sudden change in the sucking pressure arises at decompression pump 2 when valve is opened, which brings about big abnormal sounds. Flow resistance member 10 contributes to reduce the sudden change in the pressure, which is effective to reduce the abnormal sounds. Furthermore, flow resistance member 10 can be used to control the flow volume, as described earlier. When the flow resistance member 10 is structured to have a smaller flow resistance than that of oxygen enrichment unit 1, it is advantageous in purging the dew drop.
  • temperature sensor 5 in the above descriptions is provided to detect the outdoor air temperature, it may detect temperatures of delivery tube 3, main outlet tube 8, etc., or the outdoor air temperatures at the vicinity of the tubes. By so doing, dew condensation and the icing in these flow channels can be avoided at a higher reliability level.
  • flow channel gate valve 4 can be controlled to make an intermittent opening-and-closing operation based on a certain time schedule, being irrelevant to the outdoor air temperature.
  • an air conditioner containing a gas enrichment apparatus for example, can switch its operation mode from introduction of the fresh outdoor air into the room, to supply of the oxygen-enriched air, from time to time.
  • the air conditioner can be provided with a ventilation function.
  • the air conditioner's temperature sensor may be used in common to perform the function of temperature sensor 5, or control means 6 may be built within the air conditioner's control gear in the outdoor unit.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a gas enrichment apparatus in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • branch tube 9 is provided to delivery tube 3.
  • branch tube 20, or gas introduction portion, in the present embodiment is connected direct with the sucking side of decompression pump 2, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • Flow channel gate valve 4, etc. are connected to branch tube 20.
  • Other structures remain the same as those in embodiment 1.
  • Branch tube 20 in the present embodiment may be provided beforehand on decompression pump 2. In this structure, it is not necessary for delivery tube 3 between oxygen enrichment unit 1 and decompression pump 2 to have a branch. A unit of flow channel gate valve 4, branch tube 20, etc. may be assembled to decompression pump 2 during manufacturing stage of the pump; then, decompression pump 2 is completed as a decompression pump containing built-in dew condensation suppression function.
  • flow channel gate valve 4 in embodiment 1 is controlled based on the detected outdoor air temperature, it may be controlled instead based on, for example, load current of decompression pump 2.
  • the flow channel gate valve 4 operates based on a judgement as to whether main outlet tube 8 is troubled with dew condensation or the icing.
  • Branch tube 9 in embodiment 1 is provided to delivery tube 3, while branch tube 20 in embodiment 2 is connected direct to the sucking side of decompression pump 2. There can be another structure of connecting the branch tube 9 direct to oxygen enrichment unit 1.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a gas enrichment apparatus in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • a decompression pump has been used as the differential pressure generation means for generating a differential pressure with gas enrichment means, or oxygen enrichment unit 1.
  • a pressurizing facility not a decompression facility, is used for the same purpose. Namely, as shown in FIG. 5, outdoor air 12, or first gas, is pressurized by turbo fan 40, or a pressurizing facility, to be supplied via flow channel 41 to gas enrichment means, viz. oxygen enrichment unit 42. Second gas coming out of oxygen enrichment unit 42, which is the oxygen-enriched gas, proceeds to delivery tube 43.
  • oxygen enrichment unit 42 a selective gas permeable membrane, the PSA process or the like absorbent, etc. may be used, as described earlier in embodiments 1 and 2.
  • the structure in accordance with the present embodiment 3, where a pressurizing pump or an air blower is used for the differential pressure generation means, is advantageous in such cases where a hollow fiber membrane is used for oxygen enrichment unit 42.
  • Flow channel gate valve 44 is provided in parallel with oxygen enrichment unit 42, forming bypass channel 45 which couples flow channel 41 with delivery tube 43.
  • a heater (not shown) may be provided in bypass channel 45 for heating the gas going through the bypass channel 45.
  • the opening-and-closing operation of flow channel gate valve 44 is controlled by control means 6 in accordance with the temperature detected by temperature sensor 5.
  • Method of introducing the second gas to delivery tube and main outlet tube is not limited to the above-described.
  • An example of alternative methods is; providing an ejector in the delivery tube or main outlet tube, and sucking and introducing the second gas by taking advantage of the ejector effect.
  • the opening-and-closing operation of flow channel gate valves in embodiments 1 through 3 has been based on electrical control. Instead, the operation may be done by, for example, a valve whose valve blade is made with a shape memory alloy; where, the gate action is controlled by deformation of the shape memory alloy exhibited at a certain specific temperature.
  • FIG. 6 is a time chart used to describe the operation of flow channel gate valve and decompression pump in embodiment 4.
  • the structure of gas enrichment apparatus remains the same as that in embodiment 1; so, description on which is eliminated here.
  • flow channel gate valve 4 when temperature sensor 5 detects a certain specific outdoor air temperature T1, flow channel gate valve 4 is put into an intermittent opening-and-closing operation in order to introduce dry outdoor air of low relative humidity for a large volume before the air from oxygen enrichment unit 1, whose relative humidity is high, makes dew drop. The icing phenomenon is thus prevented.
  • Outdoor air in this context means the atmospheric air; it may be either the outdoor air or the ambient air of decompression pump.
  • the intermittent operation of flow channel gate valve 4 means a cyclical mode of open and close operation; where, when outdoor temperature goes to be lower than T1 it opens (ON operation) for a duration of time ta, and then closes (OFF operation) for a duration of time tb. As soon as the outdoor air temperature goes to be higher than T2, flow channel gate valve 4 is closed and the intermittent opening-and-closing operation is terminated.
  • anti-icing effects on the dew drop in flow channel can be enhanced, by comparing a detected outdoor air temperature with a plurality of specified temperatures and increasing a ratio of opening-and-closing operation for the lower outdoor air temperature.
  • the ratio of opening-and-closing operation in this context means proportion of the open time during the intermittent opening-and-closing operation.
  • FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 The opening-and-closing operation of flow channel gate valve in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment is described referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.
  • the structure of gas enrichment apparatus remains the same as that in embodiment 1; so, description on which is eliminated here.
  • FIG. 7 shows a control specification of flow channel gate valve 4, which valve is controlled based on results of comparison of the outdoor air temperature as detected by temperature sensor 5 with certain specified temperatures.
  • FIG. 8 is a time chart of flow channel gate valve 4 and decompression pump 2, which are operating in accordance with the outdoor air temperature as detected by temperature sensor 5.
  • flow channel gate valve 4 in the present embodiment 5 is put into opening-and-closing operation mode A; where, flow channel gate valve 4 opens (ON operation) for a duration of time ta, and then closes (OFF operation) for a duration of time tb.
  • opening-and-closing operation mode A When outdoor air temperature goes higher than T4, flow channel gate valve 4 is closed and the intermittent operation is terminated.
  • flow channel gate valve 4 is put into opening-and-closing operation mode B; where, flow channel gate valve 4 opens (ON operation) for a duration of time tc, and then closes (OFF operation) for a duration of time td.
  • Mutual relationship between the open times ta and tc is : ta ⁇ tc, and tc > td.
  • the dew drop residing in flow channel and main outlet tube can be surely purged even when the outdoor air temperature is low.
  • the gas enrichment apparatus does not generate abnormal sounds and keeps on operating in a stable manner.
  • a separate type air conditioner consisting of room unit and outdoor unit, which contains a gas enrichment apparatus in accordance with one of embodiments 1 through 5, is described below as a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view used to describe the structure of an air conditioner provided with gas enrichment apparatus in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
  • the air conditioner consists of room unit 50 and outdoor unit 51, which are coupled together by means of connecting tube (not shown) through which a refrigerant gas circulates.
  • Room unit 50 is provided with room fan 52.
  • Outdoor unit 51 is provided with compressor 53, outdoor heat exchanger 54 and outdoor fan 55, and oxygen enrichment apparatus 56, or a gas enrichment apparatus, is provided thereon housed in a separate chamber.
  • Oxygen enrichment apparatus 56 corresponds to gas enrichment apparatus 30 of embodiment 1.
  • Oxygen enrichment apparatus 56 is provided with outlet mouth 57, which discharges the gas-enriched second gas having a high oxygen concentration within, or in the neighborhood of, room unit 50's cabinet via main outlet tube 8.
  • Outlet mouth 57 is means for discharging the gas-enriched second gas in a room space, which space being the target of air conditioning. If outlet mouth 57 is disposed facing to the blown air circuit inside the cabinet of room unit 50, the air blown by room fan 52 to be sent out into the room space is added with the oxygen-rich air provided through outlet mouth 57. The mixed air goes out through guide wing 58.
  • room fan 52 functions also as diffusion means for diffusing the second gas.
  • oxygen enrichment apparatus 56 can make use of the gas enrichment apparatus, differential pressure generation means and the methods of controlling the flow channel gate valve described in one of embodiments 1 through 5. Therefore, the air conditioner delivers oxygen gas, besides performing the basic functions, into a room space, viz. the target of air conditioning, to an improved amenity of people staying there.
  • the oxygen-rich air from oxygen enrichment apparatus 56 When the oxygen-rich air from oxygen enrichment apparatus 56 is delivered to a room space, dew condensation readily occurs in main outlet tube 8 in summer season, for example, when the relative humidity of outdoor air is high, and in winter season when the temperature of outdoor air is low. Especially during cold season, the dew drop easily get iced. In the present embodiment, however, the dew condensation and its icing are prevented by introducing the low relative humidity outdoor air into the oxygen-rich air having a high relative humidity, in an intermittent mode or for a big volume. Therefore, the room space can receive the oxygen-rich air in a stable and reliable manner.
  • an expanded portion may be provided just before outlet mouth 57 so that the water or ice is melted and evaporated at the expanded portion.
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the structure of an air conditioner with built-in gas enrichment apparatus in accordance with a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 basic structure of the air conditioner remains the same as that in embodiment 6, and the key corresponding items of the air conditioners bear the same numerical symbols.
  • outdoor unit 51 includes compressor chamber 60 which houses compressor 53, four-way valve (not shown), etc., an oxygen enrichment apparatus consisting of oxygen enrichment unit 61, decompression pump 62, etc., and electrical components chamber 64 which houses control unit 63, etc. for controlling the air conditioner. All these items form a machine chamber. It also includes heat exchanger chamber 65 which houses outdoor fan 55 and outdoor heat exchanger 54.
  • Room unit 50 is provided with room fan 52, as well as outlet mouth 57 of oxygen enrichment apparatus 56.
  • the oxygen enrichment apparatus includes a selective gas permeable membrane, or oxygen enrichment unit 61, decompression pump 62 for decompressing the secondary side of oxygen enrichment unit 61, main oxygen supply tube 66 which couples the former two items to be air-through, three way valve 68 having air intake tube 67 disposed in the middle of main oxygen supply tube 66, and main outlet tube 69 connected with decompression pump 62 at the outlet side.
  • the other end of air intake tube 67 is extended so that air intake mouth 70 is disposed within inside of compressor chamber 60.
  • Air tube 71 is a connection tube for coupling main outlet tube 69 with outlet mouth 57.
  • the air tube 71 comes out of outdoor unit 51 and goes into room unit 50.
  • a fan (not shown) at the primary side (the side of atmospheric air) of oxygen enrichment unit 61 for sweeping the nitrogen-rich air staying in the neighborhood away. Operation of the fan may be linked with operation of the oxygen enrichment apparatus.
  • the primary side of oxygen enrichment apparatus 61 is disposed within the blown air circuit in heat exchanger chamber 65 having outdoor fan 55, in order that the nitrogen-rich air at the primary side of oxygen enrichment unit 61 is swept away by the blown air generated by outdoor fan 55.
  • the flow resistance in a state where three-way valve 68 is in open state is lower than that in a state where the three-way valve 68 is in closed state (main oxygen supply tube 66 at the oxygen enrichment unit 61 side and the tube 66 at the decompression pump 62 side are connected through).
  • the outdoor air is introduced with priority on the route of air intake mouth 70 of air intake tube 67, not on the route of oxygen enrichment unit 61.
  • the air is introduced for more volume than via oxygen enrichment unit 61 route, reflecting the reduced flow resistance, the wind velocity in the tube increases, and dew drop residing in main outlet tube 69, etc. can be easily pushed forward to outlet mouth 57.
  • the increased wind velocity expedites the evaporation of dew drop either. These contributes to reduce volume of the dew drop. Even if it get iced within flow channel, the increased wind velocity can easily push the ice towards outlet mouth 57.
  • Air intake mouth 70 in the present embodiment 7 is disposed in the inside of compressor chamber 60. Since the inside temperature of compressor chamber 60 is higher than outer environmental temperature of outdoor unit 51 because of heat radiation from compressor 53 and other items, the air introduced from there has an advantage in expediting evaporation of dew drop and making main outlet tube 69 and air tube 71 dry. If three-way valve 68 is controlled to operate in an appropriate intermittent mode, a cycle of dew condensation and evaporation is repeated and storage of dew drop in volume is prevented. Furthermore, an optimized control may implement a state of no dew condensation.
  • Air intake mouth 70 may be disposed instead in the inside of electrical components chamber 64. Heats generated from control unit 63, etc. provide the same advantage also in this setup. Thus, air intake mouth 70 disposed in the inside of machine chamber of outdoor unit 51 has advantages over the case in which the air is introduced direct from the outside; in that the possibility of sucking dusts or particles is less and influence due to rough weather is small.
  • air intake mouth 70 it is preferred to dispose air intake mouth 70 somewhere in the inside of room space. Because the air in the inside of a room space has stable temperature, humidity and other properties, the air introduced from there brings about less influence on the room environment, as compared to the air introduced from the outdoor. This concept can be implemented easily by the use of a double tube for air tube 71; coupling air intake tube 67 with the outer part of the double tube, while leaving the other end of the outer part open somewhere at a point where air tube 71 comes into the room space.
  • Air intake mouth 70 may be disposed instead in the inside of heat exchanger chamber 65.
  • a gas enrichment apparatus is applied to a separate type air conditioner for harmonizing the room air of a house
  • it can be applied likewise to, for example, air conditioners for vehicles, unitized type air conditioners.
  • a gas enrichment apparatus described in the present embodiment can be applied also to air purifiers, medical-use oxygen enrichment apparatuses, portable oxygen enrichment equipment, oxygen enrichment equipment for combustion facilities, etc. to implement the same advantages.
  • the enriched gas having a high relative humidity is prevented from making dew condensation in the flow channel, dew drop is discharged or re-evaporated.
  • the gas enrichment apparatus is assured of a stable operation.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation Using Semi-Permeable Membranes (AREA)
EP03809425A 2002-10-24 2003-09-03 Dispositif d'enrichissement de gaz, dispositif de production de pression differentielle approprie et conditionneur d'air Withdrawn EP1571400A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002309327 2002-10-24
JP2002309327 2002-10-24
JP2002318181 2002-10-31
JP2002318181 2002-10-31
JP2002318175 2002-10-31
JP2002318175 2002-10-31
PCT/JP2003/011238 WO2004038299A1 (fr) 2002-10-24 2003-09-03 Dispositif d'enrichissement de gaz, dispositif de production de pression differentielle approprie et conditionneur d'air

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EP1571400A1 true EP1571400A1 (fr) 2005-09-07
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EP (1) EP1571400A4 (fr)
KR (1) KR100701528B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1271376C (fr)
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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63218232A (ja) * 1987-03-04 1988-09-12 Kiyuubitsuku Eng:Kk 空気調節装置
JPS6475851A (en) * 1987-09-17 1989-03-22 Hitachi Ltd Air conditioner
JP2002039569A (ja) * 2000-07-24 2002-02-06 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 空気調和機
KR20020048176A (ko) * 2000-12-16 2002-06-22 구자홍 공기 조화기

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5129921A (en) * 1991-05-30 1992-07-14 Membrane Technology & Research, Inc. Membrane gas separation process and apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63218232A (ja) * 1987-03-04 1988-09-12 Kiyuubitsuku Eng:Kk 空気調節装置
JPS6475851A (en) * 1987-09-17 1989-03-22 Hitachi Ltd Air conditioner
JP2002039569A (ja) * 2000-07-24 2002-02-06 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 空気調和機
KR20020048176A (ko) * 2000-12-16 2002-06-22 구자홍 공기 조화기

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2004038299A1 *

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KR20040036538A (ko) 2004-04-30
EP1571400A4 (fr) 2008-05-07
KR100701528B1 (ko) 2007-03-29
MY137642A (en) 2009-02-27
CN1271376C (zh) 2006-08-23
WO2004038299A1 (fr) 2004-05-06
CN1499147A (zh) 2004-05-26

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