EP2163842A1 - Total heat exchanger element and process for manufacturing the same - Google Patents
Total heat exchanger element and process for manufacturing the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2163842A1 EP2163842A1 EP07828155A EP07828155A EP2163842A1 EP 2163842 A1 EP2163842 A1 EP 2163842A1 EP 07828155 A EP07828155 A EP 07828155A EP 07828155 A EP07828155 A EP 07828155A EP 2163842 A1 EP2163842 A1 EP 2163842A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- adhesive
- heat exchange
- water
- total heat
- moisture absorbent
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 77
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 24
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 title description 20
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 145
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 145
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 127
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 89
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 89
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 87
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 36
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 claims description 36
- 239000004831 Hot glue Substances 0.000 claims description 30
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 30
- 239000002585 base Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 238000005304 joining Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- -1 alkali metal salt Chemical class 0.000 claims description 10
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052784 alkaline earth metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004823 Reactive adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000003960 organic solvent Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 abstract description 14
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 55
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 30
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 26
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 14
- KWGKDLIKAYFUFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-M lithium chloride Chemical compound [Li+].[Cl-] KWGKDLIKAYFUFQ-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 12
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 10
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 7
- RNFJDJUURJAICM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2,2,4,4,6,6-hexaphenoxy-1,3,5-triaza-2$l^{5},4$l^{5},6$l^{5}-triphosphacyclohexa-1,3,5-triene Chemical compound N=1P(OC=2C=CC=CC=2)(OC=2C=CC=CC=2)=NP(OC=2C=CC=CC=2)(OC=2C=CC=CC=2)=NP=1(OC=1C=CC=CC=1)OC1=CC=CC=C1 RNFJDJUURJAICM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 229920003043 Cellulose fiber Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 239000012790 adhesive layer Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000003063 flame retardant Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229920001200 poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 239000003463 adsorbent Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000005038 ethylene vinyl acetate Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000003578 releasing effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- UXVMQQNJUSDDNG-UHFFFAOYSA-L Calcium chloride Chemical compound [Cl-].[Cl-].[Ca+2] UXVMQQNJUSDDNG-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 3
- 239000001110 calcium chloride Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910001628 calcium chloride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000004927 fusion Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 3
- NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,2-bis(ethenyl)benzene;1-ethenyl-2-ethylbenzene;styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1.CCC1=CC=CC=C1C=C.C=CC1=CC=CC=C1C=C NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- TWRXJAOTZQYOKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L Magnesium chloride Chemical compound [Mg+2].[Cl-].[Cl-] TWRXJAOTZQYOKJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- XTXRWKRVRITETP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Vinyl acetate Chemical compound CC(=O)OC=C XTXRWKRVRITETP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000000783 alginic acid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000010443 alginic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229920000615 alginic acid Polymers 0.000 description 2
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- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
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- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 2
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- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003456 ion exchange resin Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003303 ion-exchange polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229940117958 vinyl acetate Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 239000004254 Ammonium phosphate Substances 0.000 description 1
- GEHMBYLTCISYNY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonium sulfamate Chemical compound [NH4+].NS([O-])(=O)=O GEHMBYLTCISYNY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001661 Chitosan Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004372 Polyvinyl alcohol Substances 0.000 description 1
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 1
- XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Urea Chemical compound NC(N)=O XSQUKJJJFZCRTK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910000148 ammonium phosphate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000019289 ammonium phosphates Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- BFNBIHQBYMNNAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N ammonium sulfate Chemical compound N.N.OS(O)(=O)=O BFNBIHQBYMNNAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052921 ammonium sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000011130 ammonium sulphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000011148 calcium chloride Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000004202 carbamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- LNEUSAPFBRDCPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N carbamimidoylazanium;sulfamate Chemical compound NC(N)=N.NS(O)(=O)=O LNEUSAPFBRDCPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000679 carrageenan Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001525 carrageenan Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000010418 carrageenan Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229940113118 carrageenan Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- ZZTURJAZCMUWEP-UHFFFAOYSA-N diaminomethylideneazanium;hydrogen sulfate Chemical compound NC(N)=N.OS(O)(=O)=O ZZTURJAZCMUWEP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- MNNHAPBLZZVQHP-UHFFFAOYSA-N diammonium hydrogen phosphate Chemical compound [NH4+].[NH4+].OP([O-])([O-])=O MNNHAPBLZZVQHP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003292 glue Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960000789 guanidine hydrochloride Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 150000002357 guanidines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- PJJJBBJSCAKJQF-UHFFFAOYSA-N guanidinium chloride Chemical compound [Cl-].NC(N)=[NH2+] PJJJBBJSCAKJQF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910001629 magnesium chloride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000011147 magnesium chloride Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012466 permeate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001282 polysaccharide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000005017 polysaccharide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000004804 polysaccharides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229920002451 polyvinyl alcohol Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000741 silica gel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002027 silica gel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008107 starch Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920006132 styrene block copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000012209 synthetic fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002994 synthetic fiber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003169 water-soluble polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- UHVMMEOXYDMDKI-JKYCWFKZSA-L zinc;1-(5-cyanopyridin-2-yl)-3-[(1s,2s)-2-(6-fluoro-2-hydroxy-3-propanoylphenyl)cyclopropyl]urea;diacetate Chemical compound [Zn+2].CC([O-])=O.CC([O-])=O.CCC(=O)C1=CC=C(F)C([C@H]2[C@H](C2)NC(=O)NC=2N=CC(=CC=2)C#N)=C1O UHVMMEOXYDMDKI-JKYCWFKZSA-L 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D9/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
- F28D9/0025—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being formed by zig-zag bend plates
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D9/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21D53/00—Making other particular articles
- B21D53/02—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers
- B21D53/04—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers of sheet metal
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F3/00—Plate-like or laminated elements; Assemblies of plate-like or laminated elements
- F28F3/02—Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/4935—Heat exchanger or boiler making
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a total heat exchange element and a manufacturing method thereof, the total heat exchange element being used in a heat exchanger included in an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator and being configured so as to exchange latent heat as well as to exchange sensible heat between two types of air flows.
- the present invention more specifically relates to a total heat exchange element used in a stationary-type heat exchanger and a manufacturing method thereof.
- heat exchangers included in air-conditioning apparatuses and ventilators there are two types such as rotation-type heat exchangers and stationary-type heat exchangers.
- total heat exchange elements are preferably used because total heat exchange elements have higher heat exchange efficiency than sensible heat exchange elements, which exchange only sensible heat.
- a total heat exchange element is obtained by manufacturing a long product by using a single-face corrugated cardboard manufacturing apparatus (i.e., single-facer apparatus) and using the long product as a material for the heat exchange element, the long product having a structure in which a sheet-like partition member and a corrugated-plate-like spacing member are pasted together.
- a total heat exchange element used in a rotation-type heat exchanger is manufactured by applying an adhesive to a predetermined surface of the long product described above and rolling the long product into a wheel-like configuration.
- a total heat exchange element used in a stationary-type heat exchanger is manufactured by obtaining a plurality of element structuring units by cutting the long product described above into pieces of a predetermined size and stacking, in the manner of layers, the element structuring units oriented in predetermined directions (in other words, by stacking the element structuring units in the manner of layers in such a manner that the corrugation stripes of the spacing members included in the element structuring units that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction are substantially orthogonal to each other.) In this situation, the elements structuring units that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction are joined together by using an adhesive.
- the functions that the partition members and the spacing members are expected to have are different, because operation principles of the heat exchangers are different. Roughly speaking, in the total heat exchange elements that are used in rotation-type heat exchangers, the partition members and the spacing members are expected to have heat storing and releasing properties as well as moisture storing and releasing properties.
- the partition members are expected to have heat conductivity and moisture permeability, whereas the spacing members are expected to play a role of securing air flow passages by maintaining intervals between the partition members and to have a certain degree of gas blocking properties for the purpose of inhibiting leaks of the air flows.
- the present invention relates to a total heat exchange element that is used in a stationary-type heat exchanger.
- a water-soluble or non-water-soluble moisture absorbent moisture permeable agent
- an alkali metal salt such as lithium chloride or an alkali earth metal salt such as calcium chloride
- the non-water-soluble moisture absorbent for example, silica gel or powder of a strongly acidic ion-exchange resin or a strongly basic ion-exchange resin may be used.
- Patent Document 1 describes a paper that can be used in a total heat exchange member.
- the paper is obtained by applying a moisture absorbing/releasing coating layer of which the main components are moisture absorbing/releasing powder (i.e., a non-water-soluble moisture absorbent) and a binder, onto one or both surfaces of a flame-retardant base paper, and further applying a thermal-adhesion-type adhesive layer onto one of the surfaces of the flame-retardant base paper.
- a moisture absorbing/releasing coating layer of which the main components are moisture absorbing/releasing powder (i.e., a non-water-soluble moisture absorbent) and a binder
- Patent Document 2 describes an adsorbing sheet obtained by partially embedding granular adsorbing members into an adhesive layer formed on a base material for the sheet, and further covering the adhesive layer and the granular adsorbing members with an adsorbent layer containing a particulate adsorbent (i.e., a non-water-soluble moisture absorbent).
- adsorbing sheet is used in, for example, a rotation-type total heat exchanger or a dehumidifying rotor.
- Patent Document 3 describes a heat exchange element obtained by manufacturing a partition member (i.e., a flat plate) by using craft paper or a film having moisture permeability or moisture absorbing properties, and also, manufacturing a spacing member (i.e., a corrugated plate) by using a metallic foil on which a synthetic resin film is laminated or a synthetic resin film, and further adding a water-soluble moisture absorbent to the partition member.
- Patent Document 4 describes a composite heat-transfer element obtained by manufacturing a partition member (i.e., a liner) by using a paper to which a water-soluble moisture absorbent or non-water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added, and also, manufacturing a spacing member (i.e., a corrugate) by using a metallic foil.
- the composite heat-transfer element can be used in a total heat exchanger.
- Patent Document 5 describes a heat exchanger obtained by manufacturing a spacing member (i.e., a spacing plate) by using a material obtained by blending fiber (i.e., cellulose fiber) that has a high softening point with a resin that has a lower softening point than the fiber and making the blended material into the form of paper, and also, manufacturing an element structuring unit (i.e., a unit member) by joining, by way of thermal fusion bonding, the spacing member and a partition member together while using the same resin as a binder, and further stacking a predetermined number of element structuring units in the manner of layers by using an aqueous adhesive or by using the same resin as a binder.
- a spacing member i.e., a spacing plate
- a material obtained by blending fiber i.e., cellulose fiber
- an element structuring unit i.e., a unit member
- Patent Document 6 describes a heat exchanger obtained by manufacturing a partition member, by using a gas blocking product obtained by forming a moisture permeable film being capable of blocking air on one of the surfaces of a plate-like porous member, and also, forming a moisture absorbent layer on the other surface, and further joining the partition member and a spacing member together by using an aqueous adhesive.
- Patent Document 7 describes a heat exchange element obtained by configuring a spacing member (i.e., a spacing plate) by disposing a thin film having air blocking properties so as to be in close contact with a porous member (i.e., woven cloth, nonwoven cloth, knitted cloth, paper, or the like), and also, manufacturing an element structuring unit (i.e., a unit member) by bonding the spacing member with a partition member (i.e., a partition plate) by using a thermal-adhesion-type adhesive layer formed on the entirety of one of the surfaces of the spacing member or the partition member, and subsequently stacking a predetermined number of element structuring units in the manner of layers by using an aqueous adhesive.
- the partition member included in the heat exchange element is configured by, for example, disposing a moisture permeable film so as to be in close contact with a porous member, the moisture permeable film being capable of selectively allow water vapor to permeate therethrough.
- the inventors of the present invention have placed their focus on a situation in which, when a partition member to which a water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added and a spacing member manufactured by using a water retentive material are joined together by using an aqueous adhesive, between the time at which the aqueous adhesive is applied and the time at which the aqueous adhesive has dried and the joining process is completed, the water, which is the solvent in the aqueous adhesive, seeps into both the partition member and the spacing member, so that a part of the water-soluble moisture absorbent in the partition member moves into the spacing member via the aqueous adhesive.
- the partition member Because the water-soluble moisture absorbent moves from the partition member into the spacing member, when the partition member has been assembled into a total heat exchange element, the partition member is not able to maintain the moisture permeability that could be achieved when the partition member was by itself. It has been implied that, as a result, there is a possibility that the latent heat exchange efficiency may decrease.
- a total heat exchange element according to the present invention has a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members being joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members, wherein the spacing members have water retention properties, and the adhesive exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- a manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to the present invention having a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members being joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members, the manufacturing method includes a unit manufacturing step of obtaining a plurality of element structuring units in each of which one of the partition members and a corresponding one of the spacing members each being made of a water retentive material are joined together by using the adhesive; and a layer stacking step of joining the element structuring units together by using an adhesive and obtaining the total heat exchange element in which the plurality of element structuring units are stacked in layers, wherein the adhesive used at the unit manufacturing step and the adhesive used at the layer stacking step each exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- an adhesive that exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is used as the adhesive used for joining the partition members and the spacing members together.
- such an adhesive is used into which the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to dissolve, while the adhesive is in an unhardened state, and into which the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to seep, after the adhesive is hardened.
- the total heat exchange element it is easy to enhance the latent heat exchange efficiency by adding a desired amount of moisture absorbent to the partition members. In addition, it is also easy to inhibit the latent heat exchange efficiency from decreasing over the course of time.
- the spacing members has water retention properties, even if condensation has occurred so that the water-soluble moisture absorbent dissolves into the condensation water, it is possible to have the condensation water absorbed by the spacing members.
- an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator is structured by using the total heat exchange element according to the present invention, it is possible to inhibit serious malfunctions such as the tracking phenomenon that may occur when the condensation water in which the water-soluble moisture absorbent has dissolved comes into contact with an electric power charging unit of such an apparatus.
- Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a total heat exchange element.
- a total heat exchange element 20 shown in Fig. 1 is of a cross-flow type and has a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members 1 and corrugated-plate-like spacing members 5 are stacked in the manner of layers so as to alternate.
- the stacked-layer structure is formed by stacking six element structuring units 10a to 10f in the manner of layers.
- a top plate member 15 is further stacked on top of the element structuring unit 10f that is provided in the uppermost position.
- the corrugation stripes of the spacing member 5 in any one of the element structuring units are substantially orthogonal, in a planar view, to the corrugation stripes of the spacing member 5 in another one of the element structuring units that is positioned above or below the one of the element structuring units.
- the lengthwise directions of ridges or grooves of the corrugated-plate-like spacing member 5 in any one of the element structuring units are substantially orthogonal, in a planar view, to the lengthwise directions of ridges or grooves of the corrugated-plate-like spacing member 5 in another one of the element structuring units that is positioned above or below the one of the element structuring units.
- Each of the partition members 1 includes a base material and a water-soluble moisture absorbent that has been added to the base material.
- a base material for each of the partition members 1 such a material is used to which it is possible to add a water-soluble moisture absorbent and with which it is possible to join a corresponding one of the spacing members 5 by using an adhesive described below.
- a material having a high level of air permeation resistance e.g., approximately 200 seconds or higher
- a material having a low level of air permeation resistance e.g., the levels of air permeation resistance denote ones measured by using a Gurley tester.
- a material having a low level of air permeation resistance it is desirable to impregnate the base material having the low level of air permeation resistance with a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol as a sealing agent.
- an alkali metal salt that is deliquescent such as lithium chloride
- an alkali metal salt that is deliquescent such as calcium chloride
- alginic acid alginic acid
- a salt of alginic acid a polysaccharide such as carrageenan or chitosan
- urea a polysaccharide
- any other substances having water solubility and moisture absorbing properties as the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- Deliquescent alkali metal salts and deliquescent alkali earth metal salts have higher capabilities of adsorbing water than other water-soluble moisture absorbents and are able to dramatically change the performance level of the total heat exchange element 20 according to an added amount thereof.
- a deliquescent alkali metal salt or a deliquescent alkali earth metal salt is particularly desirable as the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- the water-soluble moisture absorbent to the base material by, for example, preparing an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent and impregnating the base material with the aqueous solution or by applying the aqueous solution to one or both surfaces of the base material by using equipment such as a gravure coater.
- a binder component or a sealing agent to the aqueous solution.
- the binder component may inhibit the base material from being impregnated with the water-soluble moisture absorbent, depending on what type of binder component is used.
- each of the partition members 1 depends on the level of moisture permeability that the partition members 1 are expected to have and the material strength of the base material, it is generally desirable to configure the thickness of each of the partition members 1 so as to be approximately 20 ⁇ m to 100 ⁇ m, because when the partition members 1 are too thick, the moisture permeability of the partition members 1 decreases, whereas when the partition members 1 are too thin, the partition members 1 may be damaged during the manufacturing process of the element structuring units or the total heat exchange element due to an imbalance in the strength between the partition members 1 and the spacing members 5 or due to too low a material strength of the partition members 1. It is possible to manufacture the top plate member 15 by using the same material as the base material for the partition members 1.
- the spacing members 5 have water retention properties, and a material having water retention properties (hereinafter, a "water retentive material”) is used as a material for the spacing members 5.
- a material having water retention properties include materials obtained by impregnating paper, woven cloth, or nonwoven cloth made of cellulose fiber with a water-absorbing resin or by applying a water-absorbing resin to the same.
- a material for the spacing members 5 it is also possible to use a material obtained by impregnating woven cloth or nonwoven cloth made of synthetic fiber having no water retention properties with a water-absorbing resin or by applying a water-absorbing resin to the same, or a material-blended paper made of cellulose fiber and a resin, because these materials also have water retention properties, although only slight. It should be noted, however, that the water retention amounts of the spacing members 5 become smaller when any of these materials is used.
- each of the spacing members 5 so as to be thick.
- the spacing members 5 alone are configured to be too thick, a problem will arise where the strengths of the spacing members 5 and the partition members 1 become imbalanced, so that deformation may occur during the manufacturing process of the element structuring units or the total heat exchange element.
- configuring the spacing members 5 so as to be thick can be a cause of an increase in the costs.
- a flame retardant to each of the spacing members 5, as long as the water retention properties thereof are not inhibited.
- the flame retardant include materials that are often used in the process of arranging papers to be flame retardant, fire-proof or the like, such as guanidine salts e.g., guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine sulfate, guanidine sulfamate, and inorganic salts e.g., ammonium sulfamate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride.
- guanidine salts e.g., guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine sulfate, guanidine sulfamate, and inorganic salts e.g., ammonium sulfamate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride.
- Each of the element structuring units is formed by joining one partition member 1 and one spacing member 5 by using an adhesive.
- the element structuring units that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction as well as the element structuring unit 10f provided in the uppermost position and the top plate member 15 are also joined together by an adhesive.
- each of the partition members 1 is a sheet-like member and each of the spacing members 5 is a corrugated-plate-like member
- air flow passages Ps are formed in the space between the partition member 1 and the spacing member 5 in each of the element structuring units 10a to 10f, the space between the spacing member 5 included in any one of the element structuring units 10a to 10e and the partition member 1 included in the one of the element structuring units 10b to 10f that is positioned above the element structuring unit, and the space between the spacing member 5 included in the element structuring unit 10f and the top plate members 15.
- the total heat exchange element 20 performs a latent heat exchanging process and a sensible heat exchanging process via the partition members 1, between air flows flowing in the air flow passages P formed below the partition members 1 and air flows flowing in the air flow passages P formed above the partition members 1.
- one is an airflow (i.e., a primary air flow) that is taken into the inside of a building from the outside of the building, whereas the other is an airflow (i.e., a secondary air flow) that is discharged to the outside of the building from the inside of the building.
- air flows Af 1 and other air flows Af 2 between which the heat exchanging processes are performed via the partition member 1 included in the element structuring unit 10d are indicated with arrows drawn with solid lines.
- the total heat exchange element 20 that is configured as described above is characterized with the adhesive described above that is used for joining the partition members 1 and the spacing members 5 together.
- the adhesive will be explained in detail, with reference to Fig. 2 .
- Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a joint portion and the surroundings thereof between the element structuring unit 10a and the element structuring unit 10b that is positioned above the element structuring unit 10a both of which are included in the total heat exchange element 20 described above.
- the partition member 1 and the spacing member 5 are joined together by adhesive 3 that is applied to the rear surface side of a corrugated groove portion R of the spacing member 5.
- the element structuring unit 10a and the element structuring unit 10b are joined together by adhesive 13 that is applied to the upper surface side of a corrugated ridge portion T of the spacing member 5 included in the element structuring unit 10a.
- the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13 exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent that has been added to the partition members 1 or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- the adhesive while the adhesive is in an unhardened state, the water-soluble moisture absorbent with which the partition members 1 are impregnated is not able to dissolve into the adhesive. Also, after the adhesive is hardened, the water-soluble adhesive and an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent are not able to seep into the adhesive.
- Specific examples of the adhesive include organic-solvent-based adhesives (including non-aqueous emulsion-type adhesives) that do not contain water as a solvent, solventless reactive adhesives, and hot-melt adhesives.
- the total heat exchange element 20 in which the partition members 1 and the spacing members 5 are joined together by the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13 it is possible to inhibit the water-soluble moisture absorbent from moving into the spacing members 5 from the partition members 1 via the adhesive 3 and/or the adhesive 13, during the manufacturing process thereof, needless to say, and also, even after the manufacturing process.
- the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not contained in the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13.
- the adhesive 3 and/or the adhesive 13 may allow a very small amount of the water-soluble adsorbent to dissolve into the adhesive or may allow a very small amount of the water-soluble adsorbent to seep into the adhesive.
- the "unhardened state" of a hot-melt adhesive denotes a state in which the hot-melt adhesive is softened or melted.
- the partition members 1 and the spacing members 5 are joined together by using the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13.
- the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13 it is easy to enhance the latent heat exchange efficiency by adding a desired amount of moisture absorbent to the partition members 1.
- the moisture absorbent from moving from the partition members 1 into the spacing members 5
- the spacing members 5 have water retention properties, even if condensation has occurred in the total heat exchange element 20 so that the water-soluble moisture absorbent dissolves into the condensation water, it is possible to have the condensation water absorbed by the spacing members.
- an apparatus such as an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator that is structured by using the total heat exchange element 20, it is possible to inhibit serious malfunctions such as the tracking phenomenon that may occur when the condensation water in which the water-soluble moisture absorbent has dissolved comes into contact with an electric power charging unit of such an apparatus.
- the total heat exchange element 20 is easy to obtain a total heat exchange element having high latent heat exchange efficiency. Further, it is also easy to constitute an air-conditioning apparatus, a ventilator, or the like that has high reliability by using the total heat exchange element 20. In the case where the total heat exchange element 20 is used in an apparatus that is installed indoor like an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator, it is desirable to use a solventless reactive adhesive or a hot-melt adhesive as the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13 so that no organic solvent is emitted therefrom and no odor is released therefrom.
- the total heat exchange element 20 that is able to achieve the technical advantageous effects as described above by using a method that includes, for example, a unit manufacturing step of obtaining a plurality of element structuring units in each of which a partition member is joined with a spacing member having water retention properties by using an adhesive; and a layer stacking step of joining the element structuring units together by using an adhesive and obtaining the total heat exchange element in which the plurality of element structuring units are stacked in the manner of layers.
- an adhesive exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is used.
- such an adhesive is used into which the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to dissolve, while the adhesive is in an unhardened state, and into which the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to seep, after the adhesive is hardened.
- the unit manufacturing step into a first sub-step and a second sub-step.
- a long material used for making the spacing members 5 (cf. Fig. 1 ) having water retention properties is shaped into a corrugated-plate form so as to obtain a long corrugated-plate-like product.
- the adhesive 3 (cf. Fig. 2 ) in an unhardened state is applied to apex portions of the corrugated ridges on one side of the corrugated-plate-like product.
- a long material to which the water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added
- the unhardened adhesive is hardened so that a long element structuring unit member is obtained by joining the long material used for making the partition members 1 with the corrugated-plate-like product.
- the long element structuring unit member that has been obtained at the first sub-step is cut into pieces of a predetermined size, so as to obtain the plurality of element structuring units in each of which a partition member 1 and the spacing member 5 are joined together by the adhesive 3.
- the obtained element structuring units correspond to the element structuring units 10a to 10f shown in Fig. 1 .
- the adhesive 13 (cf. Fig. 2 ) in an unhardened state is applied to apex portions of the corrugated ridges of the spacing members 5 included in the element structuring units.
- the element structuring units to which the unhardened adhesive i.e., the adhesive 13 in an unhardened state
- the element structuring units to which the unhardened adhesive are sequentially stacked in the manner of layers, while determining the orientation of each of the element structuring units in such a manner that the corrugation stripes of the spacing member 5 in any one of the element structuring units are substantially orthogonal, in a planar view, to the corrugation stripes of the spacing member 5 in another one of the element structuring units that is positioned above or below the one of the element structuring units.
- the top plate member 15 (cf. Fig. 1 ) is stacked on top of the uppermost element structuring unit.
- the element structuring units that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction as well as the uppermost element structuring unit and the top plate member 15 are joined together so that the total heat exchange element 20 shown in Fig. 1 is obtained.
- the long element structuring unit member one after another, by using, for example, equipment as shown in Fig. 3 .
- the long material, used for making the spacing members and the long material used for making the partition members are shaped in rolls in advance, respectively.
- Fig. 3 is a schematic'drawing illustrating an example of the equipment that is used to manufacture the long element structuring unit member one after another at the unit manufacturing step described above.
- Equipment 120 shown in Fig. 3 is a single-facer apparatus.
- the single-facer apparatus shapes a long material 5A used for making the spacing members 5 into a roll R 1 in advance, and also shapes a long material 1A used for making the partition members 1 (cf. Fig. 1 ) into a roll R 2 in advance.
- the material 5A that is pulled out of the roll R 1 in the equipment 120 is first forwarded to a corrugator 101 including a pair of corrugating rollers 101a and 101b.
- the corrugator 101 is configured so that the upper corrugating roller 101a in the form of a gear and the lower corrugating roller 101b also in the form of a gear rotate while being engaged with each other.
- the material 5A is continuously shaped into the corrugated-plate form at the position where the corrugating roller 101a and the corrugating roller 101b are engaged with each other. As a result, a long corrugated-plate-like product 5B is manufactured one after another.
- the corrugated-plate-like product 5B is forwarded in a predetermined direction by the lower corrugating roller 101b, and an adhesive 3a in an unhardened state is applied to the corrugated-plate-like product 5B by an application roller 103 while the corrugated-plate-like product 5B is being forwarded.
- the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state is stored in an adhesive tank 107, while the circumferential surface of the application roller 103 is partially immersed in the adhesive tank 107. Also, the circumferential surface of the application roller 103 is substantially in contact with apex portions of gear teeth of the lower corrugating roller 101b.
- the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state adheres to the circumferential surface of the application roller 103, so that the adhesive 3a is further applied to the one side of the corrugated-plate-like product 5B.
- a squeezing roller 107 is disposed near the application roller 103. By adjusting the gap between the lower corrugating roller 101b and the squeezing roller 107, it is possible to adjust the amount of the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state to be applied to the corrugated-plate-like product 5B.
- the adhesive tank 107 is provided with, for example, a heater (not shown), so that the hot-melt adhesive is melted by the heater, and the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state can be obtained.
- the material 1A that is pulled out of the roll R 2 is introduced to a press roller 113 by two guide rollers 111a and 111b.
- the press roller 113 is disposed so that the circumferential surface thereof is substantially in contact with apex portions of gear teeth of the lower corrugating roller 101b.
- the press roller 113 forwards the material 1A in a predetermined direction, the material 1A is pressed so as to be in contact with the corrugated-plate-like product 5B.
- the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state has been applied to the corrugated-plate-like product 5B as described above, the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state is hardened by using a predetermined means (not shown; e.g., a heater, an artificial light source that emits light in a predetermined wavelength range, an air blower that blows out warm air, or an air blower that blows out cold air) after the material 1A is pressed so as to be in contact with the corrugated-plate-like product 5B, so that the corrugated-plate-like product 5B and the material 1A are joined together by the hardened adhesive 3 (cf. Fig. 2 ).
- a predetermined means not shown; e.g., a heater, an artificial light source that emits light in a predetermined wavelength range, an air blower that blows out warm air, or an air blower that blows out cold air
- a long element structuring unit member 10A used for making the element structuring units is manufactured one after another.
- the corrugating rollers 101a and 101b and the press roller 113 are heated to a predetermined temperature of, for example, approximately 150°C or higher so that it is easy to adjust the shape of the corrugated-plate-like product 5B.
- a predetermined temperature for example, approximately 150°C or higher so that it is easy to adjust the shape of the corrugated-plate-like product 5B.
- Fig. 3 the rotation directions of the rollers and the transport directions of the materials 1A and 5A are indicated with arrows drawn with solid lines.
- the element structuring unit member 10A After that, by cutting the element structuring unit member 10A into pieces of the predetermined size, one by one, starting from an end of the element structuring unit member 10A while using a cutting machine, the element structuring units serving as the element structuring units 10a to 10f (cf. Fig. 1 ) are manufactured one after another.
- the layer stacking step that is performed to obtain the total heat exchange element by stacking, in the manner of layers, the plurality of element structuring units that have been manufactured in this manner, it is possible to apply the adhesive to the element structuring units by using, for example, equipment of which a schematic drawing is shown in Fig. 4 .
- Equipment 130 shown in Fig. 4 includes a pair of rollers 121a and 121b, an adhesive tank 123 in which an adhesive 13a in an unhardened state is stored, a squeezing roller 125 that is disposed near the roller 121b, and a transporting device (not shown).
- Each of the element structuring units 10 is transported to the pair of rollers 121a and 121b by the transporting device, while being positioned in such a manner that the partition member 1 is on top, while the spacing member 5 is on the bottom.
- the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state is applied to each of the element structuring units 10 at the pair of rollers 121a and 121b.
- the plurality of element structuring units 10 are transported to the pair of rollers 121a and 121b at predetermined intervals.
- the roller 121a on the upper side functions as a transporting roller that transports each of the element structuring units 10 in the predetermined direction.
- a roller 120b on the lower side is partially immersed in the adhesive tank 123 and functions as an application roller for applying the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state to each of the element structuring units 10.
- the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state adheres to the circumferential surface of the roller 121b, so that the adhesive 13a is further applied to the spacing member 5 included in each of the element structuring units 10.
- the squeezing roller 125 is disposed near the roller 121b and removes excessive adhesive 13a in the unhardened state that has been adhered to the circumferential surface of the roller 121b.
- the gap between the roller 121b and the squeezing roller 125 it is possible to adjust the amount of the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state to be applied to each of the element structuring units 10.
- the adhesive tank 123 is provided with, for example, a heater (not shown), so that the hot-melt adhesive is melted by the heater, and the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state can be obtained.
- the element structuring units 10 to which the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state has been applied by the equipment 130 are stacked in the manner of layers while being oriented in the predetermined directions, as explained above, and further, the top plate member 15 (cf. Fig. 1 ) is stacked on top of the uppermost element structuring unit.
- a process of hardening the adhesive 13a that has been in the unhardened state is performed by using a predetermined means (not shown; e.g., a heater, an artificial light source that emits light in a predetermined wavelength range, an air blower that blows out warm air, or an air blower that blows out cold air).
- a predetermined means not shown; e.g., a heater, an artificial light source that emits light in a predetermined wavelength range, an air blower that blows out warm air, or an air blower that blows out cold air.
- a feed roller 133 that is disposed so as to be in contact with the circumferential surface of the application roller 103 and supplies the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state (i.e., the hot-melt adhesive that has been melted) to the circumferential surface of the application roller 103; a supply pipe 135 that supplies the melted hot-melt adhesive to an area in which the application roller 103 and the feed roller 133 rub against each other while being in contact with each other, from above the area; and an adhesive supply source (not shown) that sends the melted hot-melt adhesive into the supply pipe 135.
- the configuration of the equipment 140 is the same as the configuration of the equipment 120 shown in Fig. 3 .
- some of the constituent elements shown in Fig. 5 that are the same as the constituent elements shown in Fig. 3 are referred to by using the same reference characters as in Fig. 3 , and the explanation thereof will be omitted.
- a hot-melt adhesive is used at the layer stacking step
- the equipment 150 shown in Fig. 6 The equipment 150 shown in Fig.
- a pair of rollers 141a and 141b includes: a pair of rollers 141a and 141b; a feed roller 143 that is disposed near the roller 141b and supplies the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state to the circumferential surface of the roller 141b; a supply pipe 145 that supplies the melted hot-melt adhesive to a border area between the roller 141b and the feed roller 143, from above the border area; an adhesive supply source (not shown) that sends the melted hot-melt adhesive into the supply pipe 145; and a transporting device (not shown).
- the roller 141a on the lower side functions as a transporting roller that transports each of the element structuring units 10 in the predetermined direction.
- the roller 141b on the upper side functions as an application roller for applying the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state to each of the element structuring units 10.
- Each of the element structuring units 10 is transported to the pair of rollers 141a and 141b by the transporting device, while being positioned in such a manner that the partition member 1 is on the bottom, while the spacing member 5 is on top.
- the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state is applied to each of the element structuring units 10 at the pair of rollers 141a and 141b.
- Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a joint portion and the surroundings thereof between an element structuring unit and another element structuring unit that is positioned above the element structuring unit both of which are included in an example of the total heat exchange element where the joining mode described above is used.
- an element structuring unit 40a and another element structuring unit 40b that is positioned above and joined with the element structuring unit 40a are shown.
- Some of the constituent elements shown in Fig. 7 that are the same as the constituent elements shown in Fig. 2 are referred to by using the same reference characters as in Fig. 2 , and the explanation thereof will be omitted.
- Each of the element structuring units 40a and 40b includes the partition member 1 and a spacing member 35 that is joined with the partition member 1.
- Each of the spacing members 35 includes: a base material 35A that is manufactured by using a water retentive material; and a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B that is provided on the entirety of a lower surface of the base material 35A.
- the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B is formed by, for example, attaching a film or a sheet made of a thermal-adhesion-type resin such as polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), onto the one of the surfaces of the base material 35A by way of thermal fusion bonding.
- a thermal-adhesion-type resin such as polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)
- the sheet or the film may be porous or may not be porous.
- the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B is formed by using a porous film or a porous sheet, it is easy to enhance the water retention properties of the spacing member 35.
- the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B is formed by using a non-porous film or a non-porous sheet, it is easy to enhance the level of air permeation resistance of the spacing member 35.
- the partition member 1 and the spacing member 35 included in each of the element structuring units 40a and 40b are joined together on the rear surface side of the corrugated groove portion R of the spacing member 35, by using the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B as a hot-melt adhesive.
- the element structuring unit 40a and the element structuring unit 40b are joined together by the adhesive 13 that is applied to the upper surface side of the corrugated ridge portion T of the spacing member 35 included in the element structuring unit 40a.
- the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B that function as the hot-melt adhesive exhibit insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent that has been added to the partition members 1 or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B are in an unhardened state, the water-soluble moisture absorbent with which the partition members 1 are impregnated is not able to dissolve into the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B.
- the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B are hardened, the water-soluble adhesive and an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to seep into the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B.
- the element structuring units 40a and 40b are manufactured by using a single-facer apparatus, it is possible to melt the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B by using a corrugator or a press roller included in the single-facer apparatus as a heat source.
- resins expand or shrink only a little when absorbing moisture.
- the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B are configured so as to be thick, it is possible to inhibit deformation caused by expansion or shrinkage of the spacing members 35.
- the total heat exchange element in which the joining mode for the partition members 1 and the spacing members 35 as described above is used, for the same reasons that are explained in the first embodiment about the total heat exchange element 20, it is easy to obtain a total heat exchange element having high latent heat exchange efficiency. Further, it is also easy to structure an air-conditioning apparatus, a ventilator, or the like that has high reliability by using the total heat exchange element. In addition, it is easy to reduce the time required to manufacture the total heat exchange element and to reduce the input energy required to manufacture the total heat exchange element. Consequently, it is easy to reduce the costs and to reduce environmental burdens on the surrounding environment.
- a long element structuring unit member was manufactured by using equipment that is the same as the equipment 120 shown in Fig. 3 , while using, as a material for partition members, a long product obtained by impregnating a specially-processed paper with a predetermined amount of lithium chloride, which is a water-soluble moisture absorbent, the specially-processed paper having been obtained as a result of a process of crushing cellulose fiber (pulp) and having a thickness of approximately 300 ⁇ m and an air permeation resistance level of 5000 seconds or higher, and also using, as a material for spacing members, a long product made of white single-side-glazed high-quality paper having a thickness of approximately 80 ⁇ m.
- an adhesive used for joining a corrugated-plate-like product obtained by shaping the material for the spacing members by using a corrugator and the material for the partition members together an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA)-based hot-melt adhesive having an open time (i.e., a usable time) of a number of seconds was used.
- EVA ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin
- a melted substance obtained by heating the hot-melt adhesive to approximately 150°C was applied to the corrugated-plate-like product so that the application amount was approximately 25 g/m 2 .
- the element structuring unit member was cut into pieces of a predetermined size so that a plurality of element structuring units were obtained.
- a hot-melt adhesive having been made of a styrene-ethylenebutylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS)-based elastomer and having an open time of approximately 20 seconds to 30 seconds was applied to the element structuring units by using equipment that is the same as the equipment 130 shown in Fig. 4 . In this situation, a melted substance was obtained by heating the hot-melt adhesive to approximately 180°C, and the application amount was approximately 45 g/m 2 .
- SEBS styrene-ethylenebutylene-styrene block copolymer
- the element structuring units were sequentially stacked in the manner of layers in such a manner that the corrugation stripes of the spacing member in any one of the element structuring units were substantially orthogonal, in a planar view, to the corrugation stripes of the spacing member in another one of the element structuring units that was positioned above or below the one of the element structuring units.
- the top plate member was stacked on top of the uppermost element structuring unit.
- the melted substance of the hot-melt adhesive made of the SEBS-based elastomer was hardened so that a total heat exchange element that had the same exterior appearance as the total heat exchange element 20 shown in Fig. 2 was obtained.
- the partition members and the spacing members were joined together by using the same joining mode as shown in Fig. 2 .
- a long product was prepared by impregnating a specially-processed paper with a predetermined amount of lithium chloride, which is a water-soluble moisture absorbent, the specially-processed paper having been obtained as a result of a process of crushing cellulose fiber (pulp) and having a thickness of approximately 300 ⁇ m and an air permeation resistance level of 5000 seconds or higher.
- a material for spacing members a long product was prepared in which a film of which the main component was polyethylene and had a thickness of approximately 15 ⁇ m was attached, by way of thermal fusion bonding, to one of the surfaces of a base material made of a water-resistant paper having a thickness of approximately 85 ⁇ m.
- the film functioned as a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer.
- the material for the spacing members was shaped into a corrugated-plate-like product by using a corrugator, starting from an end of the material.
- the film By using the film as a hot-melt adhesive, the material for the spacing members was joined with the material for the partition members, in such a manner that any portion of the material for the spacing members that had been shaped into the corrugated-plate-like product was subsequently joined with the material for the partition members.
- a long element structuring unit member was obtained.
- the element structuring unit member was cut into pieces of a predetermined size so that a plurality of element structuring units were obtained.
- the element structuring units were stacked in the manner of layers under the same condition as the one used in Example 1, so that a total heat exchange element having the same exterior appearance as the total heat exchange element 20 shown in Fig. 1 was obtained.
- the partition members and the spacing members were joined together by using the same joining mode as shown in Fig. 7 .
- a long piece of flame-retardant paper (corresponding to Grade 2 Flame Retardancy defined in the Japanese Industrial Standards [JIS]) having a thickness of approximately 70 ⁇ m was used as a material for spacing members.
- the adhesive used for manufacturing a long element structuring unit member and as the adhesive used for stacking a plurality of element structuring units in the manner of layers a substance obtained by adding water, for the purpose of adjusting the viscosity, to a vinyl-acetate-based emulsion adhesive, which is a water-solvent-type adhesive, was used. Except for these features, a total heat exchange element was manufactured under the same condition as the one used in Example 1.
- the application amount of the adhesive used for manufacturing the long element structuring unit member was 14 g/m 2 .
- the application amount of the adhesive used for stacking the plurality of element structuring units in the manner of layers was 29 g/m 2 .
- Example 1 For each of the total heat exchange elements that were manufactured as Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example, temperature exchange efficiency (i.e., sensible heat exchange efficiency), moisture exchange efficiency (i.e., latent heat exchange efficiency), and total heat exchange efficiency in a high-humidity environment as well as temperature exchange efficiency, moisture exchange efficiency, and total heat exchange efficiency in a low-humidity environment were measured.
- temperature exchange efficiency i.e., sensible heat exchange efficiency
- moisture exchange efficiency i.e., latent heat exchange efficiency
- total heat exchange efficiency in a high-humidity environment as well as temperature exchange efficiency, moisture exchange efficiency, and total heat exchange efficiency in a low-humidity environment were measured.
- the levels of exchange efficiency in the high-humidity environment were measured under a condition that was compliant with an exchange efficiency measuring condition (i.e., a summer condition) according to JIS B8628 (total heat exchangers), whereas the levels of exchange efficiency in the low-humidity environment were measured under a condition that was compliant with an exchange efficiency measuring condition (i.e., a cooled-room condition) according to Standard 1060 Rating Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Ventilation Equipment defined by the Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) in the USA, while using a method that was compliant with JIS B8628 (total heat exchangers).
- the measured results are shown in a table in Fig. 8 .
- each of the spacing members is able to hold two partition members with a predetermined interval therebetween, sheets that have been shaped into rectangular corrugations or triangular corrugations or a plurality of plate pieces may be used as the spacing members.
- the overall shapes of each of the element structuring units and the total heat exchange element it is possible to select any shape, as necessary, according to the applications of the total heat exchange element to be manufactured and the performances that the total heat exchange element is expected to achieve.
- the present invention is applicable to a total heat exchange element in any mode as long as the total heat exchange element is used in a stationary-type heat exchanger. It is possible to use the total heat exchange element according to the present invention in any of various apparatuses that are used for the purpose of air-conditioning or ventilating buildings, automobiles, vessels, and the like.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a total heat exchange element and a manufacturing method thereof, the total heat exchange element being used in a heat exchanger included in an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator and being configured so as to exchange latent heat as well as to exchange sensible heat between two types of air flows. The present invention more specifically relates to a total heat exchange element used in a stationary-type heat exchanger and a manufacturing method thereof.
- As for heat exchangers included in air-conditioning apparatuses and ventilators, there are two types such as rotation-type heat exchangers and stationary-type heat exchangers. In both types of heat exchangers, total heat exchange elements are preferably used because total heat exchange elements have higher heat exchange efficiency than sensible heat exchange elements, which exchange only sensible heat. In many situations, a total heat exchange element is obtained by manufacturing a long product by using a single-face corrugated cardboard manufacturing apparatus (i.e., single-facer apparatus) and using the long product as a material for the heat exchange element, the long product having a structure in which a sheet-like partition member and a corrugated-plate-like spacing member are pasted together.
- A total heat exchange element used in a rotation-type heat exchanger is manufactured by applying an adhesive to a predetermined surface of the long product described above and rolling the long product into a wheel-like configuration. A total heat exchange element used in a stationary-type heat exchanger is manufactured by obtaining a plurality of element structuring units by cutting the long product described above into pieces of a predetermined size and stacking, in the manner of layers, the element structuring units oriented in predetermined directions (in other words, by stacking the element structuring units in the manner of layers in such a manner that the corrugation stripes of the spacing members included in the element structuring units that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction are substantially orthogonal to each other.) In this situation, the elements structuring units that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction are joined together by using an adhesive.
- Between the total heat exchange elements that are used in rotation-type heat exchangers and the total heat exchange elements that are used in stationary-type heat exchangers, the functions that the partition members and the spacing members are expected to have are different, because operation principles of the heat exchangers are different. Roughly speaking, in the total heat exchange elements that are used in rotation-type heat exchangers, the partition members and the spacing members are expected to have heat storing and releasing properties as well as moisture storing and releasing properties. In contrast, in the total heat exchange elements that are used in stationary-type heat exchangers, because a latent heat exchanging process and a sensible heat exchanging process are performed between two types of air flows via the partition members, the partition members are expected to have heat conductivity and moisture permeability, whereas the spacing members are expected to play a role of securing air flow passages by maintaining intervals between the partition members and to have a certain degree of gas blocking properties for the purpose of inhibiting leaks of the air flows. The present invention relates to a total heat exchange element that is used in a stationary-type heat exchanger. Thus, in the following sections, a focus of the explanation will be placed on the total heat exchange elements that are used in stationary-type heat exchangers.
- As materials for partition members and spacing members included in a total heat exchange element, paper, materials obtained by blending pulp and a resin and shaping the blended materials into a sheet-like form, resins, metallic foils, or the like are used. Usually, for the purpose of exchanging latent heat efficiently, a water-soluble or non-water-soluble moisture absorbent (moisture permeable agent) is added in advance to the material for the partition members. As the water-soluble moisture absorbent, for example, an alkali metal salt such as lithium chloride or an alkali earth metal salt such as calcium chloride may be used. As the non-water-soluble moisture absorbent, for example, silica gel or powder of a strongly acidic ion-exchange resin or a strongly basic ion-exchange resin may be used.
- For example,
Patent Document 1 describes a paper that can be used in a total heat exchange member. The paper is obtained by applying a moisture absorbing/releasing coating layer of which the main components are moisture absorbing/releasing powder (i.e., a non-water-soluble moisture absorbent) and a binder, onto one or both surfaces of a flame-retardant base paper, and further applying a thermal-adhesion-type adhesive layer onto one of the surfaces of the flame-retardant base paper. Also,Patent Document 2 describes an adsorbing sheet obtained by partially embedding granular adsorbing members into an adhesive layer formed on a base material for the sheet, and further covering the adhesive layer and the granular adsorbing members with an adsorbent layer containing a particulate adsorbent (i.e., a non-water-soluble moisture absorbent). Such an adsorbing sheet is used in, for example, a rotation-type total heat exchanger or a dehumidifying rotor. -
Patent Document 3 describes a heat exchange element obtained by manufacturing a partition member (i.e., a flat plate) by using craft paper or a film having moisture permeability or moisture absorbing properties, and also, manufacturing a spacing member (i.e., a corrugated plate) by using a metallic foil on which a synthetic resin film is laminated or a synthetic resin film, and further adding a water-soluble moisture absorbent to the partition member. Patent Document 4 describes a composite heat-transfer element obtained by manufacturing a partition member (i.e., a liner) by using a paper to which a water-soluble moisture absorbent or non-water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added, and also, manufacturing a spacing member (i.e., a corrugate) by using a metallic foil. The composite heat-transfer element can be used in a total heat exchanger. -
Patent Document 5 describes a heat exchanger obtained by manufacturing a spacing member (i.e., a spacing plate) by using a material obtained by blending fiber (i.e., cellulose fiber) that has a high softening point with a resin that has a lower softening point than the fiber and making the blended material into the form of paper, and also, manufacturing an element structuring unit (i.e., a unit member) by joining, by way of thermal fusion bonding, the spacing member and a partition member together while using the same resin as a binder, and further stacking a predetermined number of element structuring units in the manner of layers by using an aqueous adhesive or by using the same resin as a binder. - Patent Document 6 describes a heat exchanger obtained by manufacturing a partition member, by using a gas blocking product obtained by forming a moisture permeable film being capable of blocking air on one of the surfaces of a plate-like porous member, and also, forming a moisture absorbent layer on the other surface, and further joining the partition member and a spacing member together by using an aqueous adhesive.
- Furthermore, Patent Document 7 describes a heat exchange element obtained by configuring a spacing member (i.e., a spacing plate) by disposing a thin film having air blocking properties so as to be in close contact with a porous member (i.e., woven cloth, nonwoven cloth, knitted cloth, paper, or the like), and also, manufacturing an element structuring unit (i.e., a unit member) by bonding the spacing member with a partition member (i.e., a partition plate) by using a thermal-adhesion-type adhesive layer formed on the entirety of one of the surfaces of the spacing member or the partition member, and subsequently stacking a predetermined number of element structuring units in the manner of layers by using an aqueous adhesive. The partition member included in the heat exchange element is configured by, for example, disposing a moisture permeable film so as to be in close contact with a porous member, the moisture permeable film being capable of selectively allow water vapor to permeate therethrough.
- Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
H10-153398 - Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2003-251133 - Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
H06-109395 - Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
H07-19789 - Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
H10-54691 - Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
2001-27489 - Patent Document 7: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
H08-219676 - From the point of view of keeping manufacturing costs of total heat exchange elements down, it is more desirable to use a water-soluble moisture absorbent than to use a non-water-soluble moisture absorbent like in the paper that can be used in a total heat exchange member described in
Patent Document 1 or in the adsorbing sheet described inPatent Document 2. For example, by applying an aqueous solution of a water-soluble moisture absorbent to a paper and drying the paper, it is possible to easily manufacture a material that is suitable for obtaining a partition member to which the moisture absorbent has been added. - It should be noted, however, that when having dissolved in water, many water-soluble moisture absorbents make the electric conductivity of the water (i.e., the aqueous solution) extremely high by causing ionization or the like. Thus, in air-conditioning apparatuses, ventilators, and the like including a total heat exchange element in which a water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added to the partition member, there is a possibility that the water-soluble moisture absorbent may dissolve into condensation water that can form during a heat exchanging process, and a serious malfunction like a tracking phenomenon may occur when the condensation water comes into contact with an electric power charging unit.
- For the purpose' of inhibiting such a malfunction, it is more desirable to configure a spacing member by using a material having water retention properties like paper than to configure a spacing member by using a metallic foil or a synthetic resin film like in the heat exchange element described in
Patent Document 3 or in the composite heat-transfer element described in Patent Document 4, or than to configure a spacing member by using a material-blended paper containing a resin like in the heat exchanger described inPatent Document 5. - Further, like in the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 6, when a partition member and a spacing member are joined together by using an aqueous adhesive such as starch glue or a vinyl-acetate-based emulsion, although it is possible to enhance workability during the manufacturing process of the total heat exchange element and handleability of the adhesive, a phenomenon may occur in which the actual latent heat exchange efficiency level is lower than a latent heat exchange efficiency level estimated from a result of measuring the moisture permeability achieved by the partition member alone. Such a phenomenon does not occur in total heat exchange elements in which the partition member is manufactured by using a resin sheet or the like having low water retention properties. In other words, such a phenomenon is unique to total heat exchange elements in which the partition member is manufactured by using a water retentive material, like paper. This phenomenon occurs prominently in total heat exchange elements in which a large amount of water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added to the partition member.
- During studies to determine the causes of the phenomenon described above, the inventors of the present invention have placed their focus on a situation in which, when a partition member to which a water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added and a spacing member manufactured by using a water retentive material are joined together by using an aqueous adhesive, between the time at which the aqueous adhesive is applied and the time at which the aqueous adhesive has dried and the joining process is completed, the water, which is the solvent in the aqueous adhesive, seeps into both the partition member and the spacing member, so that a part of the water-soluble moisture absorbent in the partition member moves into the spacing member via the aqueous adhesive. Because the water-soluble moisture absorbent moves from the partition member into the spacing member, when the partition member has been assembled into a total heat exchange element, the partition member is not able to maintain the moisture permeability that could be achieved when the partition member was by itself. It has been implied that, as a result, there is a possibility that the latent heat exchange efficiency may decrease.
- For example, like in the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 7, in the case where an element structuring unit is manufactured by forming a thermal-adhesion-type adhesive layer on the entirety of one of the surfaces of the spacing member or the partition member and thermally bonding the spacing member or the partition member by using the adhesive layer, even if a water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added to the partition member, it is possible to prevent the water-soluble moisture absorbent from moving from the partition member into the spacing member. However, in the total heat exchanger described in Patent Document 7, the aqueous adhesive is used when the total heat exchange element is manufactured by stacking the predetermined number of element structuring units in the manner of layers. Thus, the water-soluble moisture absorbent moves from the partition member into the spacing member at that time. As a result, when the partition member has been assembled into the total heat exchange element, the partition member is not able to maintain the moisture permeability that could be achieved when the partition member was by itself. Consequently, the latent heat exchange efficiency decreases.
- In view of the circumstances described above, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a total heat exchange element with which it is possible to easily constitute an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator that has high latent heat exchange efficiency and has high reliability. Further, it is another object of the present invention to obtain a manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element with which it is possible to easily constitute an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator that has high latent heat exchange efficiency and has high reliability.
- A total heat exchange element according to the present invention has a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members being joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members, wherein the spacing members have water retention properties, and the adhesive exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- A manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to the present invention having a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members being joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members, the manufacturing method includes a unit manufacturing step of obtaining a plurality of element structuring units in each of which one of the partition members and a corresponding one of the spacing members each being made of a water retentive material are joined together by using the adhesive; and a layer stacking step of joining the element structuring units together by using an adhesive and obtaining the total heat exchange element in which the plurality of element structuring units are stacked in layers, wherein the adhesive used at the unit manufacturing step and the adhesive used at the layer stacking step each exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- In the total heat exchange element according to the present invention, as the adhesive used for joining the partition members to which the water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added with the spacing members that have water retention properties, an adhesive that exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is used. In other words, as the adhesive used for joining the partition members and the spacing members together, such an adhesive is used into which the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to dissolve, while the adhesive is in an unhardened state, and into which the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to seep, after the adhesive is hardened.
- Thus, it is possible to inhibit the water-soluble moisture absorbent from moving from the partition members into the spacing members via the adhesive, during the manufacturing process of the total heat exchange element, needless to say, and also, even after the manufacturing process. As a result, in the total heat exchange element according to the present invention, it is easy to enhance the latent heat exchange efficiency by adding a desired amount of moisture absorbent to the partition members. In addition, it is also easy to inhibit the latent heat exchange efficiency from decreasing over the course of time.
- Further, because the spacing members has water retention properties, even if condensation has occurred so that the water-soluble moisture absorbent dissolves into the condensation water, it is possible to have the condensation water absorbed by the spacing members. Thus, when an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator is structured by using the total heat exchange element according to the present invention, it is possible to inhibit serious malfunctions such as the tracking phenomenon that may occur when the condensation water in which the water-soluble moisture absorbent has dissolved comes into contact with an electric power charging unit of such an apparatus.
- For these reasons, according to the present invention, it is easy to obtain a total heat exchange element with which it is possible to easily constitute an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator that has high latent heat exchange efficiency and has high reliability.
-
- [
Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a total heat exchange element according to the present invention. - [
Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a joint portion and the surroundings thereof between an element structuring unit and another element structuring unit positioned above the element structuring unit both of which are included in the total heat exchange element shown inFig. 1 . - [
Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating an example of equipment that is used to manufacture a long element structuring unit member one after another at a unit manufacturing step included in a total heat exchange element manufacturing method according to the present invention. - [
Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating an example of equipment that is used to apply an adhesive to element structuring units at a layer stacking step included in the total heat exchange element manufacturing method according to the present invention. - [
Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating an example of equipment that is used to manufacture a long element structuring unit member one after another by using a hot-melt adhesive, at the unit manufacturing step included in the total heat exchange element manufacturing method according to the present invention. - [
Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a schematic drawing illustrating an example of equipment that is used to apply a hot-melt adhesive to element structuring units at the layer stacking step included in the total heat exchange element manufacturing method according to the present invention. - [
Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a joint portion and the surroundings thereof between an element structuring unit and another element structuring unit that is positioned above the element structuring unit both of which are included in a total heat exchange element according to the present invention where a spacing member and a partition member are joined together by using a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer included in the spacing member as an adhesive. - [
Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a table illustrating results of measuring temperature exchange efficiency, moisture exchange efficiency, and total heat exchange efficiency in a high-humidity environment and in a low-humidity environment, for each of total heat exchange elements manufactured as Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example. -
- 1
- partition member
- 3
- adhesive
- 5, 35
- spacing member
- 10, 10a to 10f
- element structuring unit
- 13
- adhesive
- 20
- total heat exchange element
- 35A
- base material for spacing members
- 35B
- thermal-adhesion-type resin layer
- Exemplary embodiments of a total heat exchange element and a manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention will be explained in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described below.
-
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of a total heat exchange element. A totalheat exchange element 20 shown inFig. 1 is of a cross-flow type and has a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members 1 and corrugated-plate-like spacing members 5 are stacked in the manner of layers so as to alternate. In the totalheat exchange element 20, the stacked-layer structure is formed by stacking sixelement structuring units 10a to 10f in the manner of layers. Atop plate member 15 is further stacked on top of theelement structuring unit 10f that is provided in the uppermost position. The corrugation stripes of the spacingmember 5 in any one of the element structuring units are substantially orthogonal, in a planar view, to the corrugation stripes of the spacingmember 5 in another one of the element structuring units that is positioned above or below the one of the element structuring units. In other words, the lengthwise directions of ridges or grooves of the corrugated-plate-like spacing member 5 in any one of the element structuring units are substantially orthogonal, in a planar view, to the lengthwise directions of ridges or grooves of the corrugated-plate-like spacing member 5 in another one of the element structuring units that is positioned above or below the one of the element structuring units. - Each of the
partition members 1 includes a base material and a water-soluble moisture absorbent that has been added to the base material. As the base material for each of thepartition members 1, such a material is used to which it is possible to add a water-soluble moisture absorbent and with which it is possible to join a corresponding one of thespacing members 5 by using an adhesive described below. From the point of view of inhibiting gas from being exchanged between two types of air flows between which a heat exchanging process is to be performed, it is more desirable to use, as the base material, a material having a high level of air permeation resistance (e.g., approximately 200 seconds or higher) than to use a material having a low level of air permeation resistance (Hereinafter, the levels of air permeation resistance denote ones measured by using a Gurley tester). In the case where a material having a low level of air permeation resistance is used, it is desirable to impregnate the base material having the low level of air permeation resistance with a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol as a sealing agent. In the case where a paper that is designed so as to achieve a high level of air permeation resistance through, for example, a process of crushing cellulose fiber (pulp) is used as the base material, it is possible to obtain thepartition members 1 that are able to achieve ideal performance only by impregnating the base material with a water-soluble moisture absorbent. - As the water-soluble moisture absorbent described above, it is possible to use, for example, an alkali metal salt that is deliquescent such as lithium chloride, an alkali metal salt that is deliquescent such as calcium chloride, alginic acid, a salt of alginic acid, a polysaccharide such as carrageenan or chitosan, or urea.
It is also acceptable to use any other substances having water solubility and moisture absorbing properties as the water-soluble moisture absorbent. Deliquescent alkali metal salts and deliquescent alkali earth metal salts have higher capabilities of adsorbing water than other water-soluble moisture absorbents and are able to dramatically change the performance level of the totalheat exchange element 20 according to an added amount thereof. Thus, a deliquescent alkali metal salt or a deliquescent alkali earth metal salt is particularly desirable as the water-soluble moisture absorbent. - It is possible to add the water-soluble moisture absorbent to the base material by, for example, preparing an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent and impregnating the base material with the aqueous solution or by applying the aqueous solution to one or both surfaces of the base material by using equipment such as a gravure coater. Further, it is acceptable to add, as necessary, a binder component or a sealing agent to the aqueous solution. It should be noted, however, that the binder component may inhibit the base material from being impregnated with the water-soluble moisture absorbent, depending on what type of binder component is used. Thus, in the case where a binder component is added to the aqueous solution, it is desirable to carefully select the type of binder component and the added amount thereof.
- Although the desirable thickness of each of the
partition members 1 depends on the level of moisture permeability that thepartition members 1 are expected to have and the material strength of the base material, it is generally desirable to configure the thickness of each of thepartition members 1 so as to be approximately 20 µm to 100 µm, because when thepartition members 1 are too thick, the moisture permeability of thepartition members 1 decreases, whereas when thepartition members 1 are too thin, thepartition members 1 may be damaged during the manufacturing process of the element structuring units or the total heat exchange element due to an imbalance in the strength between thepartition members 1 and thespacing members 5 or due to too low a material strength of thepartition members 1. It is possible to manufacture thetop plate member 15 by using the same material as the base material for thepartition members 1. - The
spacing members 5 have water retention properties, and a material having water retention properties (hereinafter, a "water retentive material") is used as a material for thespacing members 5. Examples of the water retentive material include materials obtained by impregnating paper, woven cloth, or nonwoven cloth made of cellulose fiber with a water-absorbing resin or by applying a water-absorbing resin to the same. As a material for thespacing members 5, it is also possible to use a material obtained by impregnating woven cloth or nonwoven cloth made of synthetic fiber having no water retention properties with a water-absorbing resin or by applying a water-absorbing resin to the same, or a material-blended paper made of cellulose fiber and a resin, because these materials also have water retention properties, although only slight. It should be noted, however, that the water retention amounts of thespacing members 5 become smaller when any of these materials is used. - From the point of view of ensuring the water retention properties of the
spacing members 5 and the strength of the totalheat exchange element 20 as a whole, it is desirable to configure each of thespacing members 5 so as to be thick. However, if thespacing members 5 alone are configured to be too thick, a problem will arise where the strengths of thespacing members 5 and thepartition members 1 become imbalanced, so that deformation may occur during the manufacturing process of the element structuring units or the total heat exchange element. In addition, in case of fire, it is not desirable to have a large amount of burnable substances. Further, configuring thespacing members 5 so as to be thick can be a cause of an increase in the costs. Thus, it is generally desirable to configure the thickness of each of thespacing members 5 so as to be approximately 50 µm to 250 µm. - Further, it is also acceptable to add, in advance, a flame retardant to each of the
spacing members 5, as long as the water retention properties thereof are not inhibited. Examples of the flame retardant include materials that are often used in the process of arranging papers to be flame retardant, fire-proof or the like, such as guanidine salts e.g., guanidine hydrochloride, guanidine sulfate, guanidine sulfamate, and inorganic salts e.g., ammonium sulfamate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. - Each of the element structuring units is formed by joining one
partition member 1 and onespacing member 5 by using an adhesive. The element structuring units that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction as well as theelement structuring unit 10f provided in the uppermost position and thetop plate member 15 are also joined together by an adhesive. Because each of thepartition members 1 is a sheet-like member and each of thespacing members 5 is a corrugated-plate-like member, air flow passages Ps are formed in the space between thepartition member 1 and the spacingmember 5 in each of theelement structuring units 10a to 10f, the space between the spacingmember 5 included in any one of theelement structuring units 10a to 10e and thepartition member 1 included in the one of theelement structuring units 10b to 10f that is positioned above the element structuring unit, and the space between the spacingmember 5 included in theelement structuring unit 10f and thetop plate members 15. - The total
heat exchange element 20 performs a latent heat exchanging process and a sensible heat exchanging process via thepartition members 1, between air flows flowing in the air flow passages P formed below thepartition members 1 and air flows flowing in the air flow passages P formed above thepartition members 1. For example, of the two types of air flows between which the heat exchanging processes are performed, one is an airflow (i.e., a primary air flow) that is taken into the inside of a building from the outside of the building, whereas the other is an airflow (i.e., a secondary air flow) that is discharged to the outside of the building from the inside of the building. In the example shown inFig. 1 , air flows Af1 and other air flows Af2 between which the heat exchanging processes are performed via thepartition member 1 included in theelement structuring unit 10d are indicated with arrows drawn with solid lines. - The total
heat exchange element 20 that is configured as described above is characterized with the adhesive described above that is used for joining thepartition members 1 and thespacing members 5 together. Thus, in the following sections, the adhesive will be explained in detail, with reference toFig. 2 . -
Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a joint portion and the surroundings thereof between theelement structuring unit 10a and theelement structuring unit 10b that is positioned above theelement structuring unit 10a both of which are included in the totalheat exchange element 20 described above. As shown inFig. 2 , in each of theelement structuring units partition member 1 and the spacingmember 5 are joined together by adhesive 3 that is applied to the rear surface side of a corrugated groove portion R of the spacingmember 5. Theelement structuring unit 10a and theelement structuring unit 10b are joined together by adhesive 13 that is applied to the upper surface side of a corrugated ridge portion T of the spacingmember 5 included in theelement structuring unit 10a. Also, thepartition member 1 and the spacingmember 5 in each of the otherelement structuring units 10c to 10f shown inFig. 1 ; any two of the otherelement structuring units 10c to 10f that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction; and theelement structuring unit 10f and thetop plate member 15 are joined together in the same manner as described above. - The adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13 exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent that has been added to the
partition members 1 or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent. In other words, while the adhesive is in an unhardened state, the water-soluble moisture absorbent with which thepartition members 1 are impregnated is not able to dissolve into the adhesive. Also, after the adhesive is hardened, the water-soluble adhesive and an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent are not able to seep into the adhesive. Specific examples of the adhesive include organic-solvent-based adhesives (including non-aqueous emulsion-type adhesives) that do not contain water as a solvent, solventless reactive adhesives, and hot-melt adhesives. - In the total
heat exchange element 20 in which thepartition members 1 and thespacing members 5 are joined together by the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13, it is possible to inhibit the water-soluble moisture absorbent from moving into thespacing members 5 from thepartition members 1 via the adhesive 3 and/or the adhesive 13, during the manufacturing process thereof, needless to say, and also, even after the manufacturing process. The water-soluble moisture absorbent is not contained in the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13. Further, due to some water that has been adsorbed by the adhesive 3 and/or the adhesive 13 from the air during the manufacturing process, during a storing process, or in actual use thereof, the adhesive 3 and/or the adhesive 13 may allow a very small amount of the water-soluble adsorbent to dissolve into the adhesive or may allow a very small amount of the water-soluble adsorbent to seep into the adhesive. In the present description, the "unhardened state" of a hot-melt adhesive denotes a state in which the hot-melt adhesive is softened or melted. - In the total
heat exchange element 20 configured as described above, thepartition members 1 and thespacing members 5 are joined together by using the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13. Thus, it is easy to enhance the latent heat exchange efficiency by adding a desired amount of moisture absorbent to thepartition members 1. It is also easy to inhibit the latent heat exchange efficiency from decreasing over the course of time. In addition, because it is possible to inhibit the moisture absorbent from moving from thepartition members 1 into thespacing members 5, it is possible to reduce the amount of water-soluble moisture absorbent that is required to obtain a total heat exchange element having a level of latent heat exchange efficiency that is the same as or similar to that of a conventional total heat exchange element. As a result, it is also easy to reduce the costs. - Further, because it is possible to inhibit the moisture absorbent from moving from the
partition members 1 into thespacing members 5, it is also possible to inhibit deformation of the element structuring units caused by thespacing members 5 absorbing moisture and becoming soft or thepartition members 1 and thespacing members 5 absorbing moisture and expanding/shrinking or the strengths thereof changing, during the manufacturing process of the totalheat exchange element 20. As a result, it is possible to have excellent workability during the manufacturing process of the element structuring units, excellent handleability of the element structuring units, and excellent workability and productivity during the manufacturing process of the totalheat exchange element 20. - In addition, because the
spacing members 5 have water retention properties, even if condensation has occurred in the totalheat exchange element 20 so that the water-soluble moisture absorbent dissolves into the condensation water, it is possible to have the condensation water absorbed by the spacing members. Thus, in an apparatus such as an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator that is structured by using the totalheat exchange element 20, it is possible to inhibit serious malfunctions such as the tracking phenomenon that may occur when the condensation water in which the water-soluble moisture absorbent has dissolved comes into contact with an electric power charging unit of such an apparatus. - For the reasons stated above, with the configuration of the total
heat exchange element 20, is easy to obtain a total heat exchange element having high latent heat exchange efficiency. Further, it is also easy to constitute an air-conditioning apparatus, a ventilator, or the like that has high reliability by using the totalheat exchange element 20. In the case where the totalheat exchange element 20 is used in an apparatus that is installed indoor like an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator, it is desirable to use a solventless reactive adhesive or a hot-melt adhesive as the adhesive 3 and the adhesive 13 so that no organic solvent is emitted therefrom and no odor is released therefrom. In the case where a hot-melt adhesive is used, the process of joining thepartition members 1 and thespaces 5 together is completed when the hot-melt adhesive that has been melt becomes hard through natural cooling or through a chemical reaction process. Thus, there is no need to perform a drying step. As a result, it is easy to reduce the time required to manufacture the totalheat exchange element 20 and to reduce the input energy required to manufacture the totalheat exchange element 20. Consequently, it is easy to reduce the costs and to reduce environmental burdens on the surrounding environment. - It is possible to manufacture the total
heat exchange element 20 that is able to achieve the technical advantageous effects as described above by using a method that includes, for example, a unit manufacturing step of obtaining a plurality of element structuring units in each of which a partition member is joined with a spacing member having water retention properties by using an adhesive; and a layer stacking step of joining the element structuring units together by using an adhesive and obtaining the total heat exchange element in which the plurality of element structuring units are stacked in the manner of layers. In this situation, at the unit manufacturing step and at the layer stacking step, an adhesive exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is used. In other words, such an adhesive is used into which the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to dissolve, while the adhesive is in an unhardened state, and into which the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to seep, after the adhesive is hardened. In the following sections, each of the steps included in this method will be explained in detail. - For example, it is possible to divide the unit manufacturing step into a first sub-step and a second sub-step. At the first sub-step, first, a long material used for making the spacing members 5 (cf.
Fig. 1 ) having water retention properties is shaped into a corrugated-plate form so as to obtain a long corrugated-plate-like product.
After that, the adhesive 3 (cf.Fig. 2 ) in an unhardened state is applied to apex portions of the corrugated ridges on one side of the corrugated-plate-like product. After that, a long material (to which the water-soluble moisture absorbent has been added) used for making the partition members 1 (cf.Fig. 1 ) is disposed so as to abut against the corrugated-plate-like product. Subsequently, the unhardened adhesive is hardened so that a long element structuring unit member is obtained by joining the long material used for making thepartition members 1 with the corrugated-plate-like product. - At the second sub-step, the long element structuring unit member that has been obtained at the first sub-step is cut into pieces of a predetermined size, so as to obtain the plurality of element structuring units in each of which a
partition member 1 and the spacingmember 5 are joined together by the adhesive 3. The obtained element structuring units correspond to theelement structuring units 10a to 10f shown inFig. 1 . - At the layer stacking step that is performed after the unit manufacturing step, first, the adhesive 13 (cf.
Fig. 2 ) in an unhardened state is applied to apex portions of the corrugated ridges of thespacing members 5 included in the element structuring units. Subsequently, the element structuring units to which the unhardened adhesive (i.e., the adhesive 13 in an unhardened state) has been applied are sequentially stacked in the manner of layers, while determining the orientation of each of the element structuring units in such a manner that the corrugation stripes of the spacingmember 5 in any one of the element structuring units are substantially orthogonal, in a planar view, to the corrugation stripes of the spacingmember 5 in another one of the element structuring units that is positioned above or below the one of the element structuring units. After that, the top plate member 15 (cf.Fig. 1 ) is stacked on top of the uppermost element structuring unit. Subsequently, by hardening the adhesive that has been in the unhardened state, the element structuring units that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction as well as the uppermost element structuring unit and thetop plate member 15 are joined together so that the totalheat exchange element 20 shown inFig. 1 is obtained. - At the unit manufacturing step described above, it is possible to manufacture the long element structuring unit member one after another, by using, for example, equipment as shown in
Fig. 3 . In this situation, the long material, used for making the spacing members and the long material used for making the partition members are shaped in rolls in advance, respectively. -
Fig. 3 is a schematic'drawing illustrating an example of the equipment that is used to manufacture the long element structuring unit member one after another at the unit manufacturing step described above.Equipment 120 shown inFig. 3 is a single-facer apparatus. The single-facer apparatus shapes along material 5A used for making thespacing members 5 into a roll R1 in advance, and also shapes along material 1A used for making the partition members 1 (cf.Fig. 1 ) into a roll R2 in advance. - The
material 5A that is pulled out of the roll R1 in theequipment 120 is first forwarded to acorrugator 101 including a pair ofcorrugating rollers corrugator 101 is configured so that theupper corrugating roller 101a in the form of a gear and thelower corrugating roller 101b also in the form of a gear rotate while being engaged with each other. Thematerial 5A is continuously shaped into the corrugated-plate form at the position where thecorrugating roller 101a and thecorrugating roller 101b are engaged with each other. As a result, a long corrugated-plate-like product 5B is manufactured one after another. - After that, the corrugated-plate-
like product 5B is forwarded in a predetermined direction by thelower corrugating roller 101b, and an adhesive 3a in an unhardened state is applied to the corrugated-plate-like product 5B by anapplication roller 103 while the corrugated-plate-like product 5B is being forwarded. The adhesive 3a in the unhardened state is stored in anadhesive tank 107, while the circumferential surface of theapplication roller 103 is partially immersed in theadhesive tank 107. Also, the circumferential surface of theapplication roller 103 is substantially in contact with apex portions of gear teeth of thelower corrugating roller 101b. - When the
application roller 103 rotates in a predetermined direction, the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state adheres to the circumferential surface of theapplication roller 103, so that the adhesive 3a is further applied to the one side of the corrugated-plate-like product 5B. To avoid a situation in which an excessive amount of the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state adheres to the circumferential surface of theapplication roller 103, a squeezingroller 107 is disposed near theapplication roller 103. By adjusting the gap between thelower corrugating roller 101b and the squeezingroller 107, it is possible to adjust the amount of the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state to be applied to the corrugated-plate-like product 5B. In the case where a hot-melt adhesive is used as the adhesive 3 (cf.Fig. 2 ), theadhesive tank 107 is provided with, for example, a heater (not shown), so that the hot-melt adhesive is melted by the heater, and the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state can be obtained. - The
material 1A that is pulled out of the roll R2 is introduced to apress roller 113 by twoguide rollers press roller 113 is disposed so that the circumferential surface thereof is substantially in contact with apex portions of gear teeth of thelower corrugating roller 101b. During the process in which thepress roller 113 forwards thematerial 1A in a predetermined direction, thematerial 1A is pressed so as to be in contact with the corrugated-plate-like product 5B. - Because the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state has been applied to the corrugated-plate-
like product 5B as described above, the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state is hardened by using a predetermined means (not shown; e.g., a heater, an artificial light source that emits light in a predetermined wavelength range, an air blower that blows out warm air, or an air blower that blows out cold air) after thematerial 1A is pressed so as to be in contact with the corrugated-plate-like product 5B, so that the corrugated-plate-like product 5B and thematerial 1A are joined together by the hardened adhesive 3 (cf.Fig. 2 ). As a result, a long element structuringunit member 10A used for making the element structuring units is manufactured one after another. Thecorrugating rollers press roller 113 are heated to a predetermined temperature of, for example, approximately 150°C or higher so that it is easy to adjust the shape of the corrugated-plate-like product 5B. InFig. 3 , the rotation directions of the rollers and the transport directions of thematerials - After that, by cutting the element structuring
unit member 10A into pieces of the predetermined size, one by one, starting from an end of the element structuringunit member 10A while using a cutting machine, the element structuring units serving as theelement structuring units 10a to 10f (cf.Fig. 1 ) are manufactured one after another. - At the layer stacking step that is performed to obtain the total heat exchange element by stacking, in the manner of layers, the plurality of element structuring units that have been manufactured in this manner, it is possible to apply the adhesive to the element structuring units by using, for example, equipment of which a schematic drawing is shown in
Fig. 4 . -
Equipment 130 shown inFig. 4 includes a pair ofrollers adhesive tank 123 in which an adhesive 13a in an unhardened state is stored, a squeezingroller 125 that is disposed near theroller 121b, and a transporting device (not shown). Each of theelement structuring units 10 is transported to the pair ofrollers partition member 1 is on top, while the spacingmember 5 is on the bottom. The adhesive 13a in the unhardened state is applied to each of theelement structuring units 10 at the pair ofrollers element structuring units 10 are transported to the pair ofrollers - Of the pair of
rollers roller 121a on the upper side functions as a transporting roller that transports each of theelement structuring units 10 in the predetermined direction. A roller 120b on the lower side is partially immersed in theadhesive tank 123 and functions as an application roller for applying the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state to each of theelement structuring units 10. When theroller 121b rotates in the predetermined direction, the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state adheres to the circumferential surface of theroller 121b, so that the adhesive 13a is further applied to thespacing member 5 included in each of theelement structuring units 10. The squeezingroller 125 is disposed near theroller 121b and removesexcessive adhesive 13a in the unhardened state that has been adhered to the circumferential surface of theroller 121b. By adjusting the gap between theroller 121b and the squeezingroller 125, it is possible to adjust the amount of the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state to be applied to each of theelement structuring units 10. In the case where a hot-melt adhesive is used as the adhesive 13 (cf.Fig. 2 ), theadhesive tank 123 is provided with, for example, a heater (not shown), so that the hot-melt adhesive is melted by the heater, and the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state can be obtained. - The
element structuring units 10 to which the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state has been applied by theequipment 130 are stacked in the manner of layers while being oriented in the predetermined directions, as explained above, and further, the top plate member 15 (cf.Fig. 1 ) is stacked on top of the uppermost element structuring unit. After that, a process of hardening the adhesive 13a that has been in the unhardened state is performed by using a predetermined means (not shown; e.g., a heater, an artificial light source that emits light in a predetermined wavelength range, an air blower that blows out warm air, or an air blower that blows out cold air). When this hardening process has been completed, the total heat exchange element 20 (cf.Figs. 1 and4 ) in which theelement structuring units 10 that are positioned adjacent to each other in the layer stacking direction are joined together by the adhesive 13 (cf.Fig. 2 ) is obtained. - In the case where a hot-melt adhesive is used at the unit manufacturing step, it is also possible to manufacture the element structuring
unit member 10A by usingequipment 140 of which a schematic drawing is shown inFig. 5 . Instead of anadhesive tank 105 and the squeezingroller 107 shown inFig. 3 , theequipment 140 shown inFig. 5 includes: afeed roller 133 that is disposed so as to be in contact with the circumferential surface of theapplication roller 103 and supplies the adhesive 3a in the unhardened state (i.e., the hot-melt adhesive that has been melted) to the circumferential surface of theapplication roller 103; asupply pipe 135 that supplies the melted hot-melt adhesive to an area in which theapplication roller 103 and thefeed roller 133 rub against each other while being in contact with each other, from above the area; and an adhesive supply source (not shown) that sends the melted hot-melt adhesive into thesupply pipe 135. Except for these features, the configuration of theequipment 140 is the same as the configuration of theequipment 120 shown inFig. 3 . Thus, some of the constituent elements shown inFig. 5 that are the same as the constituent elements shown inFig. 3 are referred to by using the same reference characters as inFig. 3 , and the explanation thereof will be omitted. - Further, in the case where a hot-melt adhesive is used at the layer stacking step, it is also possible to apply the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state (i.e., the hot-melt adhesive that has been melted) to the
element structuring units 10 by usingequipment 150 of which a schematic drawing is shown inFig. 6 . Theequipment 150 shown inFig. 6 includes: a pair ofrollers feed roller 143 that is disposed near theroller 141b and supplies the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state to the circumferential surface of theroller 141b; asupply pipe 145 that supplies the melted hot-melt adhesive to a border area between theroller 141b and thefeed roller 143, from above the border area; an adhesive supply source (not shown) that sends the melted hot-melt adhesive into thesupply pipe 145; and a transporting device (not shown). - Of the pair of
rollers roller 141a on the lower side functions as a transporting roller that transports each of theelement structuring units 10 in the predetermined direction. Theroller 141b on the upper side functions as an application roller for applying the adhesive 13a in the unhardened state to each of theelement structuring units 10. Each of theelement structuring units 10 is transported to the pair ofrollers partition member 1 is on the bottom, while the spacingmember 5 is on top. The adhesive 13a in the unhardened state is applied to each of theelement structuring units 10 at the pair ofrollers - It is also possible to join the partition member and the spacing member together that are included in each of the element structuring units structuring a total heat exchange element and to join the element structuring units together, by configuring the spacing member by using a base material and a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer and using the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer included in the spacing member as an adhesive. The overall shape of the total heat exchange element in which such a joining mode is used can be the same as, for example, the overall shape of the total
heat exchange element 20 shown inFig. 1 . Thus, the drawing of the total heat exchange element is omitted. -
Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a joint portion and the surroundings thereof between an element structuring unit and another element structuring unit that is positioned above the element structuring unit both of which are included in an example of the total heat exchange element where the joining mode described above is used. InFig. 7 , anelement structuring unit 40a and anotherelement structuring unit 40b that is positioned above and joined with theelement structuring unit 40a are shown. Some of the constituent elements shown inFig. 7 that are the same as the constituent elements shown inFig. 2 are referred to by using the same reference characters as inFig. 2 , and the explanation thereof will be omitted. - Each of the
element structuring units partition member 1 and a spacingmember 35 that is joined with thepartition member 1. Each of thespacing members 35 includes: abase material 35A that is manufactured by using a water retentive material; and a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B that is provided on the entirety of a lower surface of thebase material 35A. The thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B is formed by, for example, attaching a film or a sheet made of a thermal-adhesion-type resin such as polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), onto the one of the surfaces of thebase material 35A by way of thermal fusion bonding.
The sheet or the film may be porous or may not be porous. In the case where the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B is formed by using a porous film or a porous sheet, it is easy to enhance the water retention properties of the spacingmember 35. In contrast, in the case where the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B is formed by using a non-porous film or a non-porous sheet, it is easy to enhance the level of air permeation resistance of the spacingmember 35. - The
partition member 1 and the spacingmember 35 included in each of theelement structuring units member 35, by using the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer 35B as a hot-melt adhesive. Theelement structuring unit 40a and theelement structuring unit 40b are joined together by the adhesive 13 that is applied to the upper surface side of the corrugated ridge portion T of the spacingmember 35 included in theelement structuring unit 40a. The thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B that function as the hot-melt adhesive exhibit insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent that has been added to thepartition members 1 or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent. In other words, while the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B are in an unhardened state, the water-soluble moisture absorbent with which thepartition members 1 are impregnated is not able to dissolve into the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B. After the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B are hardened, the water-soluble adhesive and an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is not able to seep into the thermal-adhesion-type resin layers 35B. - For example, in the case where the
element structuring units spacing members 35. As a result, it is possible to enhance workability in the manufacturing process of the element structuring units and in the process of manufacturing the total heat exchange element by stacking the plurality of element structuring units in the manner of layers. - In the total heat exchange element in which the joining mode for the
partition members 1 and thespacing members 35 as described above is used, for the same reasons that are explained in the first embodiment about the totalheat exchange element 20, it is easy to obtain a total heat exchange element having high latent heat exchange efficiency. Further, it is also easy to structure an air-conditioning apparatus, a ventilator, or the like that has high reliability by using the total heat exchange element. In addition, it is easy to reduce the time required to manufacture the total heat exchange element and to reduce the input energy required to manufacture the total heat exchange element. Consequently, it is easy to reduce the costs and to reduce environmental burdens on the surrounding environment. - In the following sections, the total heat exchange element and the manufacturing method thereof according to an aspect of the present invention will be specifically explained, by using Examples and a Comparative Example.
- First, a long element structuring unit member was manufactured by using equipment that is the same as the
equipment 120 shown inFig. 3 , while using, as a material for partition members, a long product obtained by impregnating a specially-processed paper with a predetermined amount of lithium chloride, which is a water-soluble moisture absorbent, the specially-processed paper having been obtained as a result of a process of crushing cellulose fiber (pulp) and having a thickness of approximately 300 µm and an air permeation resistance level of 5000 seconds or higher, and also using, as a material for spacing members, a long product made of white single-side-glazed high-quality paper having a thickness of approximately 80 µm. In this situation, as an adhesive used for joining a corrugated-plate-like product obtained by shaping the material for the spacing members by using a corrugator and the material for the partition members together, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA)-based hot-melt adhesive having an open time (i.e., a usable time) of a number of seconds was used. A melted substance obtained by heating the hot-melt adhesive to approximately 150°C was applied to the corrugated-plate-like product so that the application amount was approximately 25 g/m2. - After that, the element structuring unit member was cut into pieces of a predetermined size so that a plurality of element structuring units were obtained. A hot-melt adhesive having been made of a styrene-ethylenebutylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS)-based elastomer and having an open time of approximately 20 seconds to 30 seconds was applied to the element structuring units by using equipment that is the same as the
equipment 130 shown inFig. 4 . In this situation, a melted substance was obtained by heating the hot-melt adhesive to approximately 180°C, and the application amount was approximately 45 g/m2. - After that, the element structuring units were sequentially stacked in the manner of layers in such a manner that the corrugation stripes of the spacing member in any one of the element structuring units were substantially orthogonal, in a planar view, to the corrugation stripes of the spacing member in another one of the element structuring units that was positioned above or below the one of the element structuring units. Further, the top plate member was stacked on top of the uppermost element structuring unit. After that, the melted substance of the hot-melt adhesive made of the SEBS-based elastomer was hardened so that a total heat exchange element that had the same exterior appearance as the total
heat exchange element 20 shown inFig. 2 was obtained. In this total heat exchange element, the partition members and the spacing members were joined together by using the same joining mode as shown inFig. 2 . - First, as a material for partition members, a long product was prepared by impregnating a specially-processed paper with a predetermined amount of lithium chloride, which is a water-soluble moisture absorbent, the specially-processed paper having been obtained as a result of a process of crushing cellulose fiber (pulp) and having a thickness of approximately 300 µm and an air permeation resistance level of 5000 seconds or higher. Also, as a material for spacing members, a long product was prepared in which a film of which the main component was polyethylene and had a thickness of approximately 15 µm was attached, by way of thermal fusion bonding, to one of the surfaces of a base material made of a water-resistant paper having a thickness of approximately 85 µm. The film functioned as a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer. Subsequently, the material for the spacing members was shaped into a corrugated-plate-like product by using a corrugator, starting from an end of the material. By using the film as a hot-melt adhesive, the material for the spacing members was joined with the material for the partition members, in such a manner that any portion of the material for the spacing members that had been shaped into the corrugated-plate-like product was subsequently joined with the material for the partition members. Thus, a long element structuring unit member was obtained.
- After that, the element structuring unit member was cut into pieces of a predetermined size so that a plurality of element structuring units were obtained. The element structuring units were stacked in the manner of layers under the same condition as the one used in Example 1, so that a total heat exchange element having the same exterior appearance as the total
heat exchange element 20 shown inFig. 1 was obtained. In this total heat exchange element, the partition members and the spacing members were joined together by using the same joining mode as shown inFig. 7 . - A long piece of flame-retardant paper (corresponding to
Grade 2 Flame Retardancy defined in the Japanese Industrial Standards [JIS]) having a thickness of approximately 70 µm was used as a material for spacing members. Also, as the adhesive used for manufacturing a long element structuring unit member and as the adhesive used for stacking a plurality of element structuring units in the manner of layers, a substance obtained by adding water, for the purpose of adjusting the viscosity, to a vinyl-acetate-based emulsion adhesive, which is a water-solvent-type adhesive, was used. Except for these features, a total heat exchange element was manufactured under the same condition as the one used in Example 1. The application amount of the adhesive used for manufacturing the long element structuring unit member was 14 g/m2. The application amount of the adhesive used for stacking the plurality of element structuring units in the manner of layers was 29 g/m2. - For each of the total heat exchange elements that were manufactured as Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example, temperature exchange efficiency (i.e., sensible heat exchange efficiency), moisture exchange efficiency (i.e., latent heat exchange efficiency), and total heat exchange efficiency in a high-humidity environment as well as temperature exchange efficiency, moisture exchange efficiency, and total heat exchange efficiency in a low-humidity environment were measured. The levels of exchange efficiency in the high-humidity environment were measured under a condition that was compliant with an exchange efficiency measuring condition (i.e., a summer condition) according to JIS B8628 (total heat exchangers), whereas the levels of exchange efficiency in the low-humidity environment were measured under a condition that was compliant with an exchange efficiency measuring condition (i.e., a cooled-room condition) according to Standard 1060 Rating Air-to-Air Energy Recovery Ventilation Equipment defined by the Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) in the USA, while using a method that was compliant with JIS B8628 (total heat exchangers). The measured results are shown in a table in
Fig. 8 . - As apparent from
Fig. 8 , the temperature exchange efficiency and the moisture exchange efficiency in the high-humidity environment as well as the temperature exchange efficiency in the low-humidity environment were substantially the same for the total heat exchange elements according to Example 1, Example 2, and Comparative Example. In contrast, each of the total heat exchange elements according to Example 1 and Example 2 had a very much higher level of moisture exchange efficiency in the low-humidity environment than the total heat exchange element according to Comparative Example. The reason for these results can be explained as follows: In the total heat exchange element according to Comparative Example, the water-soluble moisture absorbent (i.e., lithium chloride) moved from the partition members into the spacing members, both during the manufacturing process of the total heat exchange element and after the manufacturing process of the total heat exchange element. In contrast, in each of the total heat exchange elements according to Example 1 and Example 2, the water-soluble moisture absorbent (i.e., lithium chloride) hardly moved from the partition members into the spacing members, both during the manufacturing process of the total heat exchange element and after the manufacturing process of the total heat exchange element. It is therefore conjectured that, in each of the total heat exchange elements according to Example 1 and Example 2, the water adsorbing characteristics was improved especially in the low-humidity environment, and the level of moisture permeability therefore increased, because the water-soluble moisture absorbent hardly moved. - The total heat exchange element and the manufacturing method thereof as well as the heat exchange ventilation device according to aspects of the present invention have been explained through the exemplary embodiments and the Examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. For example, to apply the adhesive in an unhardened state, it is acceptable to use any other method (e.g., spraying the adhesive) that is suitable for the properties of the adhesive, instead of using the application roller.
- Further, as long as each of the spacing members is able to hold two partition members with a predetermined interval therebetween, sheets that have been shaped into rectangular corrugations or triangular corrugations or a plurality of plate pieces may be used as the spacing members. In addition, as for the overall shapes of each of the element structuring units and the total heat exchange element, it is possible to select any shape, as necessary, according to the applications of the total heat exchange element to be manufactured and the performances that the total heat exchange element is expected to achieve. Furthermore, besides the exemplary embodiments above, it is possible to apply various changes, modifications, and combinations to the total heat exchange element and the manufacturing method thereof according to any of the aspects of the present invention.
- The present invention is applicable to a total heat exchange element in any mode as long as the total heat exchange element is used in a stationary-type heat exchanger. It is possible to use the total heat exchange element according to the present invention in any of various apparatuses that are used for the purpose of air-conditioning or ventilating buildings, automobiles, vessels, and the like.
Claims (10)
- A total heat exchange element having a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members being joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members, wherein
the spacing members have water retention properties, and
the adhesive exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent. - The total heat exchange element according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is an organic-solvent-based adhesive, a solventless reactive adhesive, or a hot-melt adhesive.
- The total heat exchange element according to claim 1, wherein each of the partition members is made of a water retentive material that is impregnated with the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- The total heat exchange element according to claim 1, wherein
each of the spacing members includes a base material made of a water retentive material and a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer disposed on one of surfaces of the base material, and
the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer functions as the adhesive used for causing the spacing members to be joined with the partition members. - The total heat exchange element according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble moisture absorbent is a deliquescent alkali metal salt or a deliquescent alkali earth metal salt.
- A manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element having a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members being joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members, the manufacturing method comprising:a unit manufacturing step of obtaining a plurality of element structuring units in each of which one of the partition members and a corresponding one of the spacing members each being made of a water retentive material are joined together by using the adhesive; anda layer stacking step of joining the element structuring units together by using an adhesive and obtaining the total heat exchange element in which the plurality of element structuring units are stacked in layers, whereinthe adhesive used at the unit manufacturing step and the adhesive used at the layer stacking step each exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- The manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to claim 6, wherein the adhesive used at the unit manufacturing step and the adhesive used at the layer stacking step are each an organic-solvent-based adhesive, a solventless reactive adhesive, or a hot-melt adhesive.
- The manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to claim 6, wherein each of the partition members is made of a water retentive material that is impregnated with the water-soluble moisture absorbent.
- The manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to claim 6, wherein
each of the spacing members includes a base material made of a water retentive material and a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer disposed on one of surfaces of the base material, and
the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer is used as the adhesive at the unit manufacturing step. - The manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to claim 6, wherein the water-soluble moisture absorbent is a deliquescent alkali metal salt or a deliquescent alkali earth metal salt.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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PCT/JP2007/063166 WO2009004695A1 (en) | 2007-06-29 | 2007-06-29 | Total heat exchanger element and process for manufacturing the same |
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US (1) | US20100175859A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2163842B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5503285B2 (en) |
KR (2) | KR101160398B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101688761B (en) |
HK (1) | HK1139726A1 (en) |
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EP1312870A2 (en) * | 2001-11-16 | 2003-05-21 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Heat exchanger and heat exchange ventilator |
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- 2007-06-29 JP JP2009521450A patent/JP5503285B2/en active Active
- 2007-06-29 US US12/667,133 patent/US20100175859A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-06-29 EP EP07828155.7A patent/EP2163842B1/en active Active
- 2007-06-29 KR KR1020127008492A patent/KR20120051756A/en active IP Right Grant
- 2007-06-29 WO PCT/JP2007/063166 patent/WO2009004695A1/en active Application Filing
- 2007-06-29 CN CN2007800535724A patent/CN101688761B/en active Active
- 2007-07-05 TW TW096124461A patent/TW200900176A/en unknown
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2010
- 2010-06-09 HK HK10105693.7A patent/HK1139726A1/en unknown
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US6019170A (en) * | 1996-08-08 | 2000-02-01 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Spacer for heat exchangers, element for heat exchangers, and heat exchanger |
JP2002372393A (en) * | 2001-06-19 | 2002-12-26 | Matsushita Seiko Co Ltd | Heat exchanger element and its manufacturing method |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20100175859A1 (en) | 2010-07-15 |
KR20100032376A (en) | 2010-03-25 |
EP2163842A4 (en) | 2013-07-03 |
HK1139726A1 (en) | 2010-09-24 |
KR101160398B1 (en) | 2012-06-26 |
CN101688761A (en) | 2010-03-31 |
KR20120051756A (en) | 2012-05-22 |
TW200900176A (en) | 2009-01-01 |
WO2009004695A1 (en) | 2009-01-08 |
TWI313626B (en) | 2009-08-21 |
JP5503285B2 (en) | 2014-05-28 |
CN101688761B (en) | 2011-09-14 |
JPWO2009004695A1 (en) | 2010-08-26 |
EP2163842B1 (en) | 2014-10-08 |
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