JP2001221470A - Method and apparatus for humidification - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To humidify only a required part locally without causing increase in absolute indoor humidity (total quantity of moisture). SOLUTION: The humidifier has a humidified air passage 8 and a dehumidified air passage 13 for sucking air from a room and delivering air into the room, respectively. The humidified air passage 8 is provided with means 6 for humidifying sucked air, and a fan 5 for delivering humidified air into the room. The dehumidified air passage 13 is provided with an evaporator 9 and a condenser 10 constituting a refrigeration cycle, and a fan 11 for delivering air dehumidified using a refrigeration cycle into the room. Only a required part can be humidified locally without increasing the absolute indoor humidity (total quantity of moisture) in a space by dehumidifying and humidifying air in the same space simultaneously thereby creating a humidity gradient. Consequently, a comfortably humidified environment can be provided for a sleeping person, for example, and the window or wall in the room can be prevented from getting moldy due to dew formation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidifying method and a humidifying device for humidifying a room, and is suitable for, for example, humidifying by limiting a space around a bedside of a bedding.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a room is heated in winter or the like, the air dries and causes sore throat, dry eyes, and bulky skin.
In order to prevent these, the humidifier is usually used to humidify the indoor air. There are various methods of humidification, such as a method of evaporating water by heating it with a heater, a method of evaporating water by blowing air on a water-absorbing body, and a method of generating small water droplets by ultrasonic waves.

[0003]

However, in either method, the absolute humidity (total water content) of the whole room rises because the moisture is simply added to the air, and the temperature is increased by windows and walls. Condensation occurs at the lower point, which can cause mold.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can locally humidify a predetermined space requiring humidification without increasing the absolute humidity (total water content) in a room. An object of the present invention is to provide a humidifying method and a humidifying device.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a humidity gradient is formed by simultaneously performing humidification of air and dehumidification of air using a refrigeration cycle in a room. And locally humidifying a predetermined space (S) in the room.

Thus, the absolute humidity (total water content) in the room
It is possible to locally humidify a predetermined space that requires humidification without causing the rise of water, and to prevent the detrimental effects such as the occurrence of dew condensation on a window or a wall in a room and the occurrence of mold and the like.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a bedding (2) is provided in the room, and a space around the bedside of the bedding (2) is locally humidified as the predetermined space (S). Thereby, a comfortable humidifying environment suitable for a sleeping person can be provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a humidified air passage (8) and a dehumidified air passage (13) for inhaling room air and discharging air into the room, and inhaling air into the humidified air passage (8). A humidifying means (6) for humidifying the air, and a humidified air blower (5) for discharging the humidified air into the room;
An evaporator (9) and a condenser (10) constituting a refrigeration cycle are provided in a dehumidification air passage (13), and a dehumidification air blower (1) for discharging air dehumidified using the refrigeration cycle into a room.
1). This is the configuration required to achieve the humidification method.

As a means for simultaneously dehumidifying and humidifying air, a method using an adsorbent has been proposed, but in this case, the amount that can be humidified is the same as the dehumidified amount. However, this means that even if a humidity gradient is created, the difference in elevation becomes small when the absolute amount is small.

In other words, with this method alone, when the absolute humidity is extremely low, the amount of dehumidification is so small that the humidification amount is too small to achieve sufficient humidification. Conversely, when the absolute humidity is high and the amount of dehumidification is sufficient, humidification is not possible. Although the ability will be sufficient, there may be situations where only humidification is not required but only dehumidification is required.

On the other hand, if the humidifying means and the dehumidifying means (evaporator of the refrigeration cycle) are separately provided as in the present invention, a humidity gradient can be basically formed without changing the overall humidity. Depending on the situation, it is possible to control the overall humidity by increasing the humidifying ability to increase the overall humidity, or increasing the dehumidifying ability to decrease the overall humidity.

According to the present invention, a water supply / drainage tank (16) for storing condensed water generated in the evaporator (9) is provided,
The water accumulated in the water supply and drainage tank (16) is used for humidification by the humidification means (6).
As a result, it is possible to save the trouble of supplying water to the humidifying means other than supplying water at the time of starting operation.

[0013] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the air from the humidified air passage (8) is incorporated into the bedding (2) and the air from the humidified air passage (8) is used.
Is discharged into a predetermined space (S) around the bedside, and the predetermined space (S) is locally humidified. Thus, when used in a bed, the board portion on the bedside can be functionally and compactly configured, and the configuration is suitable for providing a humid environment to a sleeping person.

[0014]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an outline of the structure of a humidifier 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

While a part of the room air A is taken in from the suction port 4 by the humidified air blower 5 and flows through the humidified air passage 8, a humidifying means 6 described later is arranged. Air B is blown out from the humidified air outlet 7.

Immediately inside the suction port 4, a dust filter 19 for removing dust from the air taken in is installed. The humidified air blower 5 is a well-known centrifugal fan and is rotated by a motor (not shown). 7a is a louver for adjusting the blowing direction of the humidified air B.

While the indoor air A is also taken in from the suction port 4 by the dehumidifying air blower 11 and flows through the dehumidifying air passage 13, an evaporator 9 and a condenser 10 constituting a known refrigeration cycle are arranged. Here, the air is dehumidified and becomes dehumidified air C, which is blown out from the dehumidified air outlet 12.

The mechanism of the dehumidification is that the air is once cooled in the evaporator 9 and the supersaturated water is condensed and removed.
Thereafter, the dehumidified air is heated again to around room temperature in the condenser 10 and dried.

The dehumidifying air blower 11 is a well-known centrifugal fan 1.
1a and a motor 11b for rotating it. 12
a is a louver for adjusting the blowing direction of the dehumidified air C.

The humidified air passage 8 and the dehumidified air passage 13
Is not shown, but is composed of passages independent of each other,
The air in both passages 8 and 13 does not mix. On the air suction side of both passages 8 and 13, a wall 20 for partitioning both suction airs extends to the dust filter 19, and forms respective suction ports. However, the blowers 5 and 11 may be configured as a single blower to distribute air to both passages 8 and 13.

Further, the humidified air outlet 7 and the dehumidified air outlet 12 are provided at least in a position where both the blown air does not directly hit, and a humidity gradient is formed in the space where the humidifier 1 is installed. The predetermined space can be locally humidified.

In the present embodiment, the dehumidifying capacity of the refrigeration cycle provided in the dehumidifying air passage 13 is set to be substantially the same as the humidifying capacity of the humidifying means 6 provided in the humidifying air passage 8. Is not changed.

The water condensed in the evaporator 9 is drained as drain water, collected at the drain port section 15 and dropped and stored in a water supply / drain tank 16 set thereunder. The water stored in the water supply / drainage tank 16 is supplied to a humidification sub-tank 18 communicated from a water stop valve section 17. In the space adjacent to the humidifying sub-tank 18, the compressor 14 constituting the refrigeration cycle is placed.

The water stop valve section 17 is a part for stopping water in the water supply / drainage tank 16 and the humidification sub-tank 18 when the water supply / drainage tank 16 is detached from the humidifier 1, so that water does not fall. When the humidifying device 1 is returned to the home position and set, the valve opens and the humidifying sub-tank 1 is opened.
8 is maintained.

The humidifying means 6 comprises a cloth-shaped water absorbing body 6a
The upper rotating shaft 6b is rotated at a low speed by a motor (not shown), which is tubularly stretched between the rotating shafts 6b and 6c. Further, since the lower rotating shaft 6c is provided in the humidifying sub-tank 18, the water absorbing body 6a is immersed in water in the humidifying sub-tank 18. Then, the water-absorbing portion of the water-absorbing body 6a rises one after another by rotation, and the humidified air passage 8 provides humidity to the air passing through the water-absorbing body 6a.

Next, the installation state of the humidifier and the general operation thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an installation state.

The humidifying device 1 is mounted on a board portion 2a on the bedside of the bed 2 so that the room air A is supplied to the suction port 4a.
The humidified air B taken in from the humidifier and humidified by the humidifying means 6 is blown out from the outlet 7 by being adjusted in the direction of a person's bedside by the preceding louver 7a to form a local humidified space S around the bedside. . However, the humidification space S is an approximate range, and is not necessarily limited to the range illustrated in FIG.

The dehumidified air C, which has been dehumidified by the previous refrigeration cycle, flows from the outlet 12 to the louver 12a.
The air is blown out after being adjusted in the direction of the window 3a or the wall 3b where dew condensation easily occurs.

Thus, the predetermined space S requiring humidification
, While locally humidifying by blowing out humidified air, dehumidifying air is blown out to the space side where dehumidification is required to perform dehumidification, thereby forming a humidity gradient in the room. If the humidification capacity and the dehumidification capacity are set to be substantially the same, humidification and dehumidification can be performed basically without changing the absolute humidity (total water content) of the whole room.

For example, if the humidifying device 1 according to the present embodiment is used for humidifying only a bedside space in a hospital bed 2, only the skin exposed from a respiratory or bedding requiring humidity on the bed 2. It is possible to effectively and humidify the spot (locally) and effectively with little energy. Thus, it is possible to prevent sore throat and dry skin of the throat due to drying of air, which tend to occur during bedtime, and to prevent drying of the mucous membrane of the throat and moisturizing of the skin.

In addition, it is possible to prevent the detrimental effects such as the formation of dew on the windows 3a and the walls 3b in the room and the occurrence of mold, so that the hygiene in the hospital can be maintained. This is not limited to the bed, and the humidifier 1 may be placed at the bedside of Japanese-style bedding.

Further, a humidity sensor is added, and the detection value of the humidity sensor is feedback-controlled to both means so that the desired total humidity (absolute humidity) is obtained by combining the humidifying means 6 and the dehumidifying means (evaporator 9). With this configuration, it is possible to increase the overall humidity by increasing the humidifying ability, decrease the overall humidity by increasing the dehumidifying ability, or adjust the absolute humidity of the entire room to a desired humidity value.

At this time, in the case of humidification, water must be supplied to the water supply / drainage tank 16, and in the case of dehumidification, the water accumulated in the water supply / drainage tank 16 must be discarded. The trouble of water supply can be saved.

Also, if the air outlets 7 and 12 are provided in the hood portion 2a on the bedside side by being incorporated into the bed 2 from the beginning,
It can be configured to be functional and compact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an outline of the structure of a humidifier in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an installation state of a humidifier in one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Humidifier 2 Bed (bedding) 5 Humidifying air blower 6 Humidifying means 8 Humidifying air passage 9 Evaporator 10 Condenser 11 Dehumidifying air blower 13 Dehumidifying air passage 16 Supply / drain tank S Humidifying space

Claims (5)

[Claims] In a room, a humidity gradient is formed by simultaneously performing humidification of air and dehumidification of air using a refrigeration cycle, and a predetermined space (S) in the room is locally humidified. How to humidify. 2. A humidifier according to claim 1, wherein a bedding (2) is provided in the room, and a space around a bedside of the bedding (2) is locally humidified as the predetermined space (S). Method. 3. A humidifying air passage (8) and a dehumidifying air passage (1) for sucking air in a room and discharging air into the room.
3), the humidified air passage (8) includes humidifying means (6) for humidifying the sucked air, and a humidified air blower (5) for discharging the humidified air into the room. (13) includes an evaporator (9) and a condenser (10) constituting a refrigeration cycle, and a dehumidification air blower (11) for discharging air dehumidified by using the refrigeration cycle into the room. A humidifying device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. A structure comprising a water supply / drainage tank (16) for storing condensed water generated in the evaporator (9), and using the water stored in the water supply / drainage tank (16) for humidification in the humidification means (6). The humidifier according to claim 3, wherein 5. The humidified air passage (8) is incorporated into the bedding (2) and discharges air from the humidified air passage (8) into the predetermined space (S) around the bedside of the bedding (2). The humidifier according to claim 4, wherein the humidifier is configured to locally humidify.