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The present invention relates to an air conditioner wherein the energy efficiency is improved by preventing the condensation occurring on the heat exchanger of the indoor unit.
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In the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the air drawn in by the cross-flow fan passes through the indoor unit grilles and is preferably cleansed of dust in the dust filter, then undergoes heat transfer while passing over the heat exchanger. The air cooled or heated by the heat exchanger passes through the cross-flow fan and exits through an opening disposed under the lid of the indoor unit. Louvers which can direct the air or open and close the opening are disposed at the opening. When the air conditioner operates in the cooling mode, water vapor in the air condenses on the surface of the indoor unit heat exchanger. The condensation on the surface of the heat exchanger narrows the passages on the heat exchanger through which the air flows, thus causing resistance to the air flow. The flow rate of the air passing through the indoor unit heat exchanger decreases in proportion to the amount of condensation on the heat exchanger. Moreover, part of the energy consumed by the air conditioner for the cooling process is used to condense the water vapor in the air on the surface of the heat exchanger. In this case, energy efficiency is reduced.
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In the state of the art, the air drawn in by the fan in the indoor unit of the air conditioner passes through the grille and is cooled or heated in the heat exchanger depending on the operating mode. Since the air passing over the heat exchanger deposits the water vapor contained therein onto the heat exchanger in liquid form when the air conditioner operates in the cooling mode, a liquid layer is formed on the heat exchanger. The resulting liquid layer narrows the passages on the heat exchanger through which the air flows, thus increasing the resistance to the air flow on the heat exchanger. The increased air resistance leads to a decrease in the air flow rate in the indoor unit. Since less air passes through the heat exchanger when the air flow rate decreases, the heat transfer between the air and the heat exchanger is reduced, thereby decreasing energy efficiency. Moreover, part of the energy consumed by the air conditioner is used to condense the water vapor on the heat exchanger.
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In the state of the art Chinese Patent Application No.
CN110906452 , an air conditioner is disclosed, comprising a desiccant material which is disposed between the filter and the heat exchanger. The said document specifically discloses a mechanism which compresses and regenerates the desiccant material.
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In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No.
JP2013133959 , the desiccant material rotates around a shaft. The ambient air passes over the desiccant material so as to leaving its humidity on the desiccant material. By being rotated by means of the shaft, the desiccant material is heated by the air heated in the heat exchanger, thus evaporating the moisture and humidifying the ambient air.
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The aim of the present invention is the realization of an air conditioner wherein the energy efficiency is improved by preventing the condensation occurring on the heat exchanger of the indoor unit.
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The air conditioner realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises an outdoor unit; an indoor unit; at least one fan which is disposed in the indoor unit; an air suction duct; one or more than one filter which enables particles or gases increasing the pollution level in the environment to be retained; at least one heat exchanger; and at least one desiccant material which is positioned between the heat exchanger and the filter on air suction duct.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the air drawn from the environment passes through the filter and is cleansed of dust and similar particles, and then passes through the desiccant material before passing over the heat exchanger. Thus, the moisture therein is transferred to the desiccant material. By means of the desiccant material, the dehumidified air is enabled to leave little or no moisture on the heat exchanger. In this case, the need for consuming additional energy to condense the moisture in the air on the heat exchanger is eliminated.
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In the embodiment of the present invention, since no condensation occurs on the heat exchanger, the air flow passages on the heat exchanger are not blocked by the condensed water, and since the flow rate of the air passing over the heat exchanger increases, the amount of heat transfer between the heat exchanger and the air also increases. This also improves the energy efficiency of the air conditioner.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises the desiccant material which is disposed in parallel so as to align with the entire surface of the heat exchanger facing the filter. In this embodiment of the present invention, after leaving dust and similar particles on the filter, the air passes through the desiccant material before passing over the heat exchanger and leaves its moisture, and then reaches the entire surface of the heat exchanger. Since the air, which passes through the entire surface of the heat exchanger after being cleansed of moisture and particles, undergoes more heat transfer, the energy efficiency of the air conditioner is increased. In this embodiment of the present invention, since the air is cleansed of dust and similar particles by passing through the filter before reaching the desiccant material, the accumulation of dust and particles on the desiccant material is significantly slow.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises the filter which is disposed parallel to the air suction duct and the desiccant material which is disposed parallel to the filter. With respect to the air flow direction, the desiccant material is positioned after the filter.
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In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises two desiccant materials which are disposed parallel to each other.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the two desiccant materials is equal to the distance between the heat exchanger and the desiccant material closer to the heat exchanger.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the two desiccant materials is different from the distance between the heat exchanger and the desiccant material closer to the heat exchanger.
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In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises at least two desiccant materials which are placed one above the other, each being parallel to the heat exchanger, which have one or more than one passage therebetween. In this embodiment of the present invention, by arranging the desiccant materials in this manner, surfaces parallel and perpendicular to the air flow direction are formed and the air permeability of the desiccant material is increased.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises the desiccant material which is disposed at the central region of the heat exchanger. Thus, when it is not possible to place the desiccant material across the entire air suction duct, the air is enabled to be efficiently dehumidified.
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In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises at least one lid which is disposed at the air outlet and which is closed when the moisture retained in the desiccant material is desired to be removed. In the embodiment of the present invention, when the moisture retained in the desiccant material is desired to be removed, the lid at the air outlet is closed and the air conditioner is operated in the heating mode. The air heated by means of the heat exchanger which heats up reaches the desiccant material so as to remove the moisture accumulated on the desiccant material and discharge the same to the external environment.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner comprises at least one detachable desiccant material. By means of the said detachable structure, the desiccant material can be replaced with another desiccant material which has been regenerated, i.e. dried, outside, for example in warm weather.
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By means of the present invention, the problem of the water vapor in the air passing over the heat exchanger remaining on the heat exchanger in liquid form while the air conditioner operates in the cooling mode is solved. The air passes through the desiccant material before reaching the heat exchanger. Thus, since little or no water vapor condenses on the heat exchanger, the flow rate of the air passing through the air conditioner indoor unit increases. The increased air flow rate increases the amount of heat transfer between the heat exchanger and the air at the heat exchanger, thus improving energy efficiency. Moreover, since no energy is consumed to condense the water vapor on the heat exchanger, energy savings are achieved. Since the desiccant material is positioned after the filter with respect to the air flow direction, the accumulation of dust and similar particles on the desiccant material is significantly slow. As the entire air suction duct is covered by the desiccant material, there is no air flow which bypasses or avoids contact with the desiccant material. Moreover, by means of the detachable structure thereof, the desiccant material can be easily cleaned and quickly replaced with a new one.
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By means of the present invention, it is ensured that less water vapor is condensed on the heat exchanger disposed in the indoor unit, the flow rate of the air passing over the heat exchanger increases and no additional energy is consumed for condensing the water vapor.
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An air conditioner realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figure, where:
- Figure 1 - is the sideways detailed view of an air conditioner.
- Figure 2 - is the sideways detailed view of the air conditioner in another embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 3 - is the sideways detailed view of the desiccant material and the heat exchanger.
- Figure 4 - is the sideways detailed view of the desiccant material and the heat exchanger in another embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 5 - is the sideways detailed view of the air conditioner in yet another embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 6 - is the sideways detailed view of the air conditioner when the lid is closed.
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The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows.
- 1. Air conditioner
- 2. Indoor unit
- 3. Air suction duct
- 4. Filter
- 5. Heat exchanger
- 6. Desiccant material
- 7. Passage
- 8. Lid
- 9. Fan
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The air conditioner (1) comprises an outdoor unit; an indoor unit (2); at least one fan (9) which is disposed in the indoor unit (2); an air suction duct (3); one or more than one filter (4) which enables particles or gases increasing the pollution level in the environment to be retained; at least one heat exchanger (5); and at least one desiccant material (6) which is positioned between the heat exchanger (5) and the filter (4) on air suction duct (3) (Figure 1).
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the air drawn from the environment passes through the filter (4) and is cleansed of dust and similar particles, and then passes through the desiccant material (6) before passing over the heat exchanger (5). Thus, the moisture therein is transferred to the desiccant material (6). By means of the desiccant material (6), the dehumidified air is enabled to leave little or no moisture on the heat exchanger (5). In this case, the need for consuming additional energy to condense the moisture in the air on the heat exchanger (5) is eliminated.
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In the embodiment of the present invention, since no condensation occurs on the heat exchanger (5), the air flow passages on the heat exchanger (5) are not blocked by the condensed water, and since the flow rate of the air passing over the heat exchanger (5) increases, the amount of heat transfer between the heat exchanger (5) and the air also increases. This also improves the energy efficiency of the air conditioner (1).
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises the desiccant material (6) which is disposed in parallel so as to align with the entire surface of the heat exchanger (5) facing the filter (4). In this embodiment of the present invention, after leaving dust and similar particles on the filter (4), the air passes through the desiccant material (6) before passing over the heat exchanger (5) and leaves its moisture, and then reaches the entire surface of the heat exchanger (5). Since the air, which passes through the entire surface of the heat exchanger (5) after being cleansed of moisture and particles, undergoes more heat transfer, the energy efficiency of the air conditioner (1) is increased. In this embodiment of the present invention, since the air is cleansed of dust and similar particles by passing through the filter (4) before reaching the desiccant material (6), the accumulation of dust and particles on the desiccant material (6) is significantly slow.
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises the filter (4) which is disposed parallel to the air suction duct (3) and the desiccant material (6) which is disposed parallel to the filter (4). With respect to the air flow direction, the desiccant material (6) is positioned after the filter (4) (Figure 2).
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In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises two desiccant materials (6) which are disposed parallel to each other (Figure 3).
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In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the two desiccant materials (6) is equal to the distance between the heat exchanger (5) and the desiccant material (6) closer to the heat exchanger (5).
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the two desiccant materials (6) is different from the distance between the heat exchanger (5) and the desiccant material (6) closer to the heat exchanger (5).
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In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises at least two desiccant materials (6) which are placed one above the other, each being parallel to the heat exchanger (5), which have one or more than one passage (7) therebetween. In this embodiment of the present invention, by arranging the desiccant materials (6) in this manner, surfaces parallel and perpendicular to the air flow direction are formed and the air permeability of the desiccant material (6) is increased. In another embodiment of the present invention, there is one or more than one passage (7) positioned parallel to each other, perpendicular to the desiccant material (6) surface (Figure 4).
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises the desiccant material (6) which is disposed at the central region of the heat exchanger (5). Thus, when it is not possible to place the desiccant material (6) across the entire air suction duct (3), the air is enabled to be efficiently dehumidified (Figure 5).
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In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises at least one lid (8) which is disposed at the air outlet and which is closed when the moisture retained in the desiccant material (6) is desired to be removed. In the embodiment of the present invention, when the moisture retained in the desiccant material (6) is desired to be removed, the lid (8) at the air outlet is closed and the air conditioner (1) is operated in the heating mode. The air heated by means of the heat exchanger (5) which heats up reaches the desiccant material (6) so as to remove the moisture accumulated on the desiccant material (6) and discharge the same to the external environment (Figure 6).
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner (1) comprises at least one detachable desiccant material (6). By means of the said detachable structure, the desiccant material (6) can be replaced with another desiccant material (6) which has been regenerated, i.e. dried, outside, for example in warm weather.
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By means of the present invention, the problem of the water vapor in the air passing over the heat exchanger (5) remaining on the heat exchanger (5) in liquid form while the air conditioner (1) operates in the cooling mode is solved. The air passes through the desiccant material (6) before reaching the heat exchanger (5). Thus, since little or no water vapor condenses on the heat exchanger (5), the flow rate of the air passing through the air conditioner (1) indoor unit (2) increases. The increased air flow rate increases the amount of heat transfer between the heat exchanger (5) and the air at the heat exchanger (5), thus improving energy efficiency. Moreover, since no energy is consumed to condense the water vapor on the heat exchanger (5), energy savings are achieved. Since the desiccant material (6) is positioned after the filter (4) with respect to the air flow direction, the accumulation of dust and similar particles on the desiccant material (6) is significantly slow. As the entire air suction duct (3) is covered by the desiccant material (6), there is no air flow which bypasses or avoids contact with the desiccant material (6). Moreover, by means of the detachable structure thereof, the desiccant material (6) can be easily cleaned and quickly replaced with a new one.
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By means of the present invention, it is ensured that less water vapor is condensed on the heat exchanger (5) disposed in the indoor unit (2), the flow rate of the air passing over the heat exchanger (5) increases and no additional energy is consumed for condensing the water vapor.