JP2004188371A - Dehumidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dehumidifier capable of detecting a degradation abnormality of an adsorbent in its early stages and efficiently performing regeneration by monitoring the regenerated state of the adsorbent in the dehumidifier at all times. <P>SOLUTION: The adsorbents 2, 3 disposed on the dehumidifier, in which adsorbed water is removed by heated air or the adsorbed water is removed by direct heating by means of a heater and the regeneration is performed, is provided with a temperature sensor 9 for measuring the exhaust gas temperature from the adsorbent 3, a regeneration time measuring means for measuring the time from the inlet starting time of the heated air into the adsorbent 3 or for measuring the time from the heating start time by means of the heater to the adsorbent 3 and a controller 10 which compares the temperature data from the temperature sensor and the regeneration time from the regeneration time measuring means with reference data and, when the temperature data from the temperature sensor exceeds the reference temperature within the reference time, judges that the adsorbent is deteriorated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dehumidifier, for example, to a dehumidifier used in an automobile painting line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Painting work in a painting line of an automobile is performed in a shielded painting booth so that a solvent of the paint or the like does not diffuse outside. The humidity of the atmosphere in the shielded coating booth becomes high due to the coating operation.
Since good coating cannot be performed when the humidity is high, the humid atmosphere in the coating booth is usually exhausted, and dry air is introduced into the coating booth.
[0003]
The schematic configuration of a dehumidifier A for discharging a humid atmosphere in the coating booth and introducing dry air into the coating booth will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 20 denotes a painting booth in a painting line of an automobile, in which three automatic machines 21 such as painting robots are arranged. An air blower 22 for introducing air into the painting booth 20 is arranged on the introduction side of the painting booth 20. Further, following the coating booth 20, a baking furnace 23 for baking the coating is provided.
[0004]
Air panels 24 and 25 are provided facing the painting booth 20. The air panel 24 has an outlet (not shown) for supplying dry air into the coating booth 20 and is connected to an introduction pipe 26 connected to the dehumidifier body 1. The air panel 25 has a discharge port (not shown) for discharging the humid atmosphere in the coating booth 20 and is connected to a discharge pipe 27 connected to the dehumidifier body 1.
[0005]
In the dehumidifier A configured as described above, the moist atmosphere in the coating booth 20 is discharged from the air panel 25 and introduced into the dehumidifier main body 1 through the discharge pipe 27. Then, the moisture of the introduced air is absorbed and removed by the adsorbent contained in the dehumidifier main body 1, and the air is dried.
The air dried in this way is introduced into the coating booth 20 via the introduction pipe 26 and the air panel 24. As a result, the humidity of the atmosphere in the coating booth 20 is kept in an optimal state, and good coating is performed.
[0006]
Further, when the adsorbent accommodated in the dehumidifier main body 1 adsorbs water, the water adsorbing power decreases. Therefore, the performance of the adsorbent has been regenerated by feeding heated air to the adsorbent or directly heating the adsorbent to evaporate water. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-120942 discloses a technique in which a desiccant (adsorbent) is directly heated by a ceramic heater disposed in a storage container to regenerate the desiccant (adsorbent). .
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-120942 (page 2, line 1 to line 30)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as the regenerating process of the adsorbent is repeatedly performed, the water adsorbing performance of the adsorbent gradually deteriorates, and the adsorbent does not adsorb moisture. For this reason, the adsorbent determined to be deteriorated is discarded and needs to be replaced with a new adsorbent.
As a method for determining the deterioration of the adsorbent, for example, the dew point temperature of the dry air derived from the dehumidifier body is measured, and if the dew point temperature rises above a reference value, it is determined that the adsorbent has deteriorated. There is a method. Specifically, after using the dehumidifier for a predetermined time (for example, 8 hours), the dew point of the dry air derived from the dehumidifier body is measured, and when the dew point temperature is −20 ° C. or more, A method of determining that the adsorbent has deteriorated can be considered.
However, the above-mentioned method of determining the deterioration of the adsorbent is not very preferable because of the dispersion of the measurement by the measurer, the dispersion of the determination, or the forgetting of the measurement.
[0009]
Further, as described above, after using the dehumidifier for a predetermined time (for example, 8 hours), the dew point of the dry air derived from the dehumidifier body is measured, and when the dew point temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, It is determined that the adsorbent is deteriorated, and the adsorbent is replaced with a new adsorbent without performing the regeneration process. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no deterioration, a reproduction process is performed and used after the reproduction process.
Therefore, the adsorbent is used even if the function (performance) of the adsorbent does not recover in the regeneration treatment. As a result, there has been a technical problem that the discovery of the deterioration of the adsorbent is delayed, and the humidity of the atmosphere in the coating booth cannot be maintained in an optimum state. As a method of solving this problem, it is only necessary to judge the deterioration again after the regeneration treatment of the adsorbent, but a new problem arises that it is not efficient.
[0010]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, and by constantly monitoring the regeneration state of the adsorbent in the dehumidifying device, it is possible to discover abnormalities of the adsorbent at an early stage, and more efficiently. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dehumidifier capable of performing a regenerating process.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The dehumidifier according to the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, removes moisture adsorbed by heated air or removes moisture adsorbed by directly heating with a heater to achieve regeneration. In a dehumidifier equipped with an adsorbent, a temperature sensor that measures the exhaust temperature from the adsorbent and measures the time from the start of introduction of heated air to the adsorbent, or from the start of heating of the adsorbent by a heater Reproduction processing time measuring means for measuring the time, the temperature data from the temperature sensor and the reproduction processing time from the reproduction processing time measurement means are compared with reference data, and when the reference temperature is exceeded within the reference time, Is characterized by having at least a control device for determining that the adsorbent has deteriorated.
[0012]
As described above, the temperature sensor for measuring the exhaust temperature of the adsorbent is provided, and the temperature data from the temperature sensor and the regeneration processing time from the regeneration processing time measuring means are compared with the reference data. If it exceeds, it is determined that the adsorbent has deteriorated.
In other words, when the adsorbent is used for a predetermined time and the regeneration process is performed thereafter, if the process is completed in a shorter time than the normal regeneration process time, it means that the amount of water adsorbed by the adsorbent is small. . In other words, when the time required for the regeneration process is short, the adsorbent does not adsorb the water that should be originally absorbed, and it can be determined that the adsorbent has deteriorated.
[0013]
For example, when the adsorbent is used for a predetermined time and then the regenerating process is performed, when the normal regenerating process time is about 150 to 240 minutes and the exhaust temperature reaches 85 ° C., the reference data is set to 150 minutes or 85 minutes. ° C.
Then, the actual temperature data is compared with the regeneration processing time and the reference data. If the temperature is less than 150 minutes and exceeds 85 ° C., it is determined that the adsorbent is deteriorated.
[0014]
As described above, by monitoring the temperature of the exhaust gas from the adsorbent in the dehumidifier, it is possible to find out the abnormality of the adsorbent during the regeneration process and to perform the regeneration process efficiently. In addition, it is possible to make an appropriate judgment of deterioration without being affected by a variation in measurement by a measurer. Further, since the deterioration abnormality of the adsorbent can be found at an early stage, it is possible to maintain the humidity in an optimum state by using a suitable adsorbent.
[0015]
In addition, the apparatus is provided with two adsorbents, and when one adsorbent is performing an adsorption operation of adsorbing moisture, the other adsorbent performs a regeneration process, and is configured to continuously perform an adsorption operation of moisture. In the dehumidifier, it is preferable that the exhaust from the two adsorbents is exhausted to the same pipe via a switching valve, and the pipe is provided with the temperature sensor.
As described above, since the exhaust from the two adsorbents is exhausted to the same pipe provided with the temperature sensor, the deterioration of each of the adsorbents can be determined efficiently and easily.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a dehumidifier according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 or FIG. In the drawing, the same or equivalent members as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0017]
The dehumidifier body 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes two adsorbents 2 and 3, and when one adsorbent is performing an adsorption operation, the other adsorbent is performing a regeneration operation (recovery processing). ) Can be performed, and the adsorbents 2 and 3 are alternately switched to perform a continuous water adsorption operation.
That is, FIG. 1 shows a case where the adsorbent 2 is in the adsorption operation state, and FIG. 2 similarly shows a case where the adsorbent 3 is in the adsorption operation state.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the introduction pipe 26 connected to the air panel 24 is connected to a four-way valve 7. The four-way valve 7 has a pipe h connected to the adsorbent 2 and an adsorbent 3. Is connected to the pipe d. A pipe c to which heated air is supplied is connected to the four-way valve 7.
Further, the pipe c is connected to the heater 4 so that the regeneration air introduced from the blower 5 is heated and introduced into the adsorbent for performing the regeneration treatment.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air is drawn out from a regenerative air storage tank (not shown) via a pipe a by a blower 5, and is sent out to a heater 4 via a pipe b. The heater 4 is configured to heat the regeneration air and supply the heated regeneration air to the adsorbent 2 or the adsorbent 3 via the pipe c and the four-way valve 7.
[0019]
A discharge pipe 27 connected to the air panel 25 is connected to the four-way valve 8, and a pipe g connected to the adsorbent 2 and a pipe e connected to the adsorbent 3 are connected to the four-way valve 8. I have. The four-way valve 8 is connected to a pipe f connected to a regeneration air storage tank.
Further, a temperature sensor 9 is provided in the pipe f, and temperature data from the temperature sensor 9 is input to the control device 10. The temperature of the regenerated air (exhaust gas) passing through the pipe f is monitored by the temperature sensor 9, and when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature within a predetermined time, the alarm means 12 is operated.
[0020]
The control device 10 is provided with a regeneration processing time measuring means for measuring the time from the start of the introduction of heated air to the adsorbents 2 and 3. Specifically, a timer for measuring the reproduction processing time is provided.
Note that a lamp, a buzzer, or the like can be used as the alarm unit 12. Reference numeral 11 in the figure is a connection line connecting the temperature sensor 9 and the control device 10.
[0021]
In the dehumidifying apparatus 1 configured as described above, when the adsorbent 2 is performing the adsorption operation as shown in FIG. 1, the other adsorbent 3 performs the regeneration operation (recovery processing). That is, the humid air from the discharge pipe 27 (the atmosphere in the coating booth 21 discharged from the coating booth 21) is introduced into the adsorbent 2 through the four-way valve 8 and the pipe g, and the moisture is absorbed by the adsorbent 2. , Will be removed. Then, the air from which the moisture has been removed is supplied from the air panel 24 into the coating booth 20 via the pipe h, the four-way valve 7, and the introduction pipe 26. As a result, the humidity in the coating booth 20 is kept at an optimal state for coating.
[0022]
On the other hand, the regeneration air sucked by the air blow 5 from the regeneration air storage tank via the pipe a is supplied to the heater 4 via the pipe b. The regeneration air heated by the heater 4 is supplied to the adsorbent 3 via the pipe c, the four-way valve 7, and the pipe d.
Then, the moisture adsorbed by the adsorbent 3 is evaporated and removed by the heated regeneration air, and the moisture is returned to the regeneration air storage tank via the pipe e, the four-way valve 8 and the pipe f.
[0023]
The air heated by the heater 4 introduced into the adsorbent 3 is about 200 ° C., but the temperature of the regenerated air (exhaust gas) passing through the pipe f to evaporate the moisture absorbed by the adsorbent 3 Is about 55 ° C.
Then, when the evaporation of the water absorbed by the adsorbent 3 is completed and the temperature sensor 9 detects that the exhaust temperature has reached 85 ° C. or higher, the blower 5 and the heater 4 are stopped, and the regeneration of the adsorbent 3 ( (Recovery) Operation ends. The reproduction operation is usually completed in about 240 minutes.
As described above, the adsorbent 3 can perform the regeneration operation while performing the water adsorption operation by the adsorbent 2.
[0024]
In addition, a lamp or the like (not shown) is provided on the control device 10, a temperature sensor 9 informs a worker that the exhaust gas temperature has reached 85 ° C. or higher, and the worker stops the blower 5 and the heater 4. You may. Further, the control device 10 may automatically stop the blower 5 and the heater 4.
[0025]
Next, the four-way valves 7 and 8 are switched to perform the operation of regenerating the adsorbent 2 while performing the operation of adsorbing moisture by the adsorbent 3.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the humid air from the discharge pipe 27 (the atmosphere in the coating booth 21 discharged from the coating booth 21) is introduced into the adsorbent 3 through the four-way valve 8 and the pipe e. The adsorbent 3 absorbs and removes water. The air from which the moisture has been removed is supplied from the air panel 24 into the coating booth 20 via the pipe d, the four-way valve 7, and the introduction pipe 26. As a result, the humidity in the coating booth 20 is kept at an optimal state for coating.
[0026]
On the other hand, the regeneration air sucked by the air blow 5 from the regeneration air storage tank via the pipe a is supplied to the heater 4 via the pipe b. The regeneration air heated by the heater 4 is supplied to the adsorbent 2 via the pipe c, the four-way valve 7, and the pipe h.
Then, the moisture adsorbed by the adsorbent 2 is evaporated and removed by the heated regeneration air, and is returned to the regeneration air storage tank via the pipe g, the four-way valve 8 and the pipe f.
[0027]
The air heated by the heater 4 introduced into the adsorbent 2 is about 200 ° C. as described above, but the regenerated air (exhaust) passing through the pipe f to evaporate the moisture absorbed by the adsorbent 2 Is about 55 ° C. Then, when the evaporation of the moisture absorbed by the adsorbent 2 is completed, and the temperature sensor 9 detects that the exhaust temperature has reached 85 ° C. or higher, the blower 5 and the heater 4 are stopped, and the adsorbent 3 is regenerated ( (Recovery) Operation ends. The reproduction operation is usually completed in about 240 minutes.
As described above, the adsorbent 2 can perform the regeneration operation while performing the water adsorption operation by the adsorbent 3.
[0028]
As described above, by switching the four-way valves 7 and 8, when one of the adsorbents is performing the adsorption operation, the other adsorbent performs the regeneration operation (recovery processing). A suction operation can be performed.
[0029]
Next, a case where the adsorbents 2 and 3 are deteriorated will be described.
Since the amount of water passing through the adsorbents 2 and 3 is substantially constant throughout the year, when the adsorbents 2 and 3 are used for a predetermined time, the amount of adsorbed water is substantially constant, and the time required for the regeneration process is reduced. Is also substantially constant.
That is, when the adsorbents 2 and 3 are used for a predetermined period of time and then the regenerating process is performed, if the process is completed in a shorter time than the normal regenerating process time, the amount of water adsorbed by the adsorbents 2 and 3 is It means less. In other words, when the time required for the regeneration process is short, the adsorbents 2 and 3 do not adsorb the moisture that should be originally absorbed, and it can be determined that the adsorbents 2 and 3 are deteriorated.
[0030]
Normally, air heated to 200 ° C. is introduced into the adsorbents 2 and 3 to evaporate the adsorbed water, and then the temperature of the exhaust air from the adsorbents 2 and 3 rises to 85 ° C. It takes 150 to 240 minutes from the start of the introduction. Since the time and the activity of the adsorbent have a correlation as described above, the exhaust gas temperature is measured by the temperature sensor during the regeneration process, and the exhaust gas temperature exceeds 85 ° C. in less than 150 minutes. Then, it is determined that the adsorbent has deteriorated, and the adsorbent is replaced with a new one.
[0031]
More specifically, a timer (not shown) provided in the control device 10 measures the time from the start of the introduction of the heated air to the adsorbents 2 and 3. Further, the temperature of the exhaust gas passing through the pipe f is constantly monitored by the temperature sensor 9.
Then, the time when the temperature exceeds 85 ° C. is determined by comparing with the reference data of 150 minutes and 85 ° C. If the time is less than 150 minutes, it is determined that the adsorbent is deteriorated, and the control is performed. The device 10 operates the alarm means 12.
[0032]
As described above, since the deterioration of the adsorbent is determined based on the exhaust gas temperature and the regeneration treatment time, the worker can know the deterioration of the adsorbent during the regeneration processing, and can find abnormality in the deterioration of the adsorbent at an early stage. In addition, it is possible to make an appropriate judgment of deterioration without being affected by a variation in measurement by a measurer. Furthermore, it is possible to maintain the humidity in an optimum state by using a suitable adsorbent, and to perform a good coating operation.
[0033]
In addition, in the said embodiment, although demonstrated taking the example of the dehumidifying apparatus used in the coating line of a motor vehicle, this invention is not specifically limited to this, It applies to the dehumidifying apparatus of another use. Can of course also be applied.
Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the adsorbent is judged to be deteriorated when the exhaust air temperature of the regeneration air rises above 85 ° C. in less than 150 minutes, and the adsorbent is replaced with a new one will be described. However, these times and temperatures are merely examples, and naturally change when the type, amount, etc. of the adsorbent changes.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the adsorbed water is removed by introducing heated air into the adsorbent has been described, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Naturally, the present invention can also be applied to a dehumidifier for directly heating an agent.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, by constantly monitoring the regeneration state of the adsorbent in the dehumidifier, abnormal deterioration of the adsorbent can be found early, and the regeneration process can be performed efficiently. A dehumidifier can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a painting process of an automobile.
[Explanation of symbols]
A dehumidifier 1 dehumidifier body 2 adsorbent 3 adsorbent 4 heater 5 blower
7 Four-way valve 8 Four-way valve 9 Temperature sensor 10 Control device 11 Connection line 12 Alarm means ah Pipe 26 Inlet pipe 27 Discharge pipe

Claims (2)

In a dehumidifier equipped with an adsorbent for removing water adsorbed by heated air, or removing water adsorbed by directly heating with a heater to regenerate,
A temperature sensor for measuring the exhaust gas temperature from the adsorbent,
Regeneration processing time measuring means for measuring the time from the start of the introduction of heated air to the adsorbent, or measuring the time from the start of the heating of the adsorbent by the heater,
The temperature data from the temperature sensor and the regeneration processing time from the regeneration processing time measuring means are compared with reference data, and if the temperature exceeds the reference temperature within the reference time, it is determined that the adsorbent has deteriorated. A dehumidifier comprising at least a controller. A dehumidifying device that has two adsorbents, and is configured so that when one adsorbent is performing an adsorption operation of adsorbing moisture, the other adsorbent performs a regeneration process and continuously performs an adsorption operation of moisture. A device,
2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein exhaust from the two adsorbents is exhausted to the same pipe via a switching valve, and the temperature sensor is provided on the pipe. 3.

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