JP2005241030A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner restricted in generation of noise due to condensed water generated inside a ventilation passage wherein oxygen-enriched air passes. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner is provided with an indoor unit 2 connected to an outdoor unit 1 through a refrigerant pipe (not expressed in a figure), an oxygen enriching unit 6, a pump 7 for reducing pressure on a secondary side of the oxygen enriching unit 6, and a discharge opening 10 provided in the indoor unit 2 and communicated with the pump 7 to discharge the oxygen enriched air obtained by the oxygen enriching unit 6. A silencer means 9 is provided in a ventilation part for communicating the pump 7 with the discharge opening 10 in a part positioned inside the indoor unit 2. With this structure, noise such as air pulsation and explosion sound to be generated when condensed water is carried to an indoor side with the oxygen enriched air is restricted by the silencer means 9, and not transmitted inside a room to protect resident from uncomfortableness. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner with an oxygen enrichment function for supplying oxygen-enriched air.

  Conventionally, oxygen enrichment devices and nitrogen enrichment devices that use a selective gas permeable membrane to relatively improve specific gas concentrations are medical oxygen enrichment devices, air conditioners, air purifiers, and other devices. Application to is proposed.

  As a conventional air conditioner of this type, an oxygen enrichment means comprising an oxygen enriched film that relatively increases the oxygen concentration is provided in an outdoor unit of a separation type air conditioner, and the oxygen enriched air is sent out. Some of them are sent to indoor units through piping and released to the indoor side to improve the oxygen concentration in the room, which is the air-conditioned space, for the comfort of the occupants.

  On the other hand, the oxygen-enriched membrane is separated from nitrogen, which occupies most of the air component, and selectively permeates oxygen. However, the oxygen-enriched membrane currently in practical use has the feature of permeating at least moisture in the air simultaneously with oxygen. have.

That is, relative to the air on the primary side of the oxygen-enriched membrane, the secondary side that has passed through the oxygen-enriched membrane has a relatively high humidity due to the separation of nitrogen, and the dew point is higher than that on the primary side. Therefore, it is known that condensed water is often generated in the secondary side piping of the oxygen-enriched membrane (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-5-113227

  In such a conventional technique, when the oxygen-enriched air transport channel is exposed to a low-temperature atmosphere at least on the secondary side of the oxygen-enriched film (for example, the transport channel is exposed to the outdoor air, When the temperature is low), dew condensation water is generated inside the transport channel, and when it is carried indoors by the flow of oxygen-enriched air, air pulsations and popping sounds such as “copocopo” and “concon” There was a problem that occurred.

  Also, when the condensed water generated inside the transport channel is transported indoors along with the flow of enriched air and is released from the discharge port provided in the indoor unit of the air conditioner, it generates a bubble burst sound. There is a problem that they propagate to the room where the user lives and give the user unpleasantness.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner in which noise due to condensed water generated in a ventilation path through which oxidation-enriched air passes is reduced.

  In order to solve the above conventional problems, an air conditioner of the present invention includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit via a refrigerant pipe, an oxygen enrichment unit, and the oxygen enrichment unit. A pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure on the secondary side; and a discharge port provided in the indoor unit and communicating with the pressure reducing means and for discharging the oxygen-enriched air obtained by the oxygen enriching unit. Air pulsation that occurs when dew condensation is generated in the ventilation unit communicating with the outlet in the indoor unit, and the condensed water generated in the ventilation channel is carried along with oxygen-enriched air to the indoor side. Since noises such as plosives and plosives are muffled by the muffling means and are not propagated indoors, the occupant can use the air conditioner comfortably without feeling uncomfortable.

  The air conditioner of the present invention can be used comfortably because noise due to condensed water generated in the ventilation path through which the oxidation-enriched air passes is greatly reduced.

  The first aspect of the present invention is an outdoor unit, an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit via a refrigerant pipe, an oxygen enrichment unit, a decompression means for decompressing a secondary side of the oxygen enrichment unit, The indoor unit of a ventilation path provided in an indoor unit, having a discharge port that communicates with the decompression unit and discharges oxygen-enriched air obtained by the oxygen enrichment unit, and communicates the decompression unit and the discharge port Noise reduction means is provided in the part located inside, and abnormal noise such as air pulsation and plosive sound generated when condensed water generated in the ventilation path is carried indoors with oxygen-enriched air Since the sound is silenced and is not propagated indoors, the resident can use the air conditioner comfortably without feeling uncomfortable.

  In the second invention, in particular, the oxygen-enriched air of the first invention flows into the silencer from above, and even if condensed water accumulates in the lower part of the silencer, it flows into the silencer. There is no occurrence of water bubbles caused by the oxygen-enriched air and the bursting sound of the water bubbles, so there is no unpleasant feeling.

  In the third invention, in particular, the silencer of the first or second invention is provided with two fluid outlets and a fluid inlet into which oxygen-enriched air flows, and one of the fluid outlets of the silencer is provided. On the upper side, the other is provided below the silencing means, and the dew condensation water generated in the ventilation path and flowing into the silencing means can be discharged from the fluid outlet provided below the silencing means, Since the other fluid outlet is provided on the upper side, the condensed water is not mixed again into the oxygen-enriched air sent to the discharge port, and the air conditioner can be used comfortably.

  In the fourth invention, in particular, the inner diameter of the fluid outlet provided above the silencer of the third invention is set larger than the inner diameter of the fluid inlet, and the flow velocity of the oxygen-enriched air on the outlet side is Since it is alleviated, air circulation sound at the discharge port is greatly reduced.

  In the fifth invention, in particular, the inner diameter of the fluid outlet provided above the silencer of the third or fourth invention is set to be four times or more than the inner diameter of the other fluid outlet. Since the flow resistance of the condensed water discharged from the fluid outlet is increased and the discharge flow rate of the condensed water is suppressed, the noise at the time of discharging the condensed water can be greatly reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, the air conditioner is composed of an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit 2 connected to the outdoor unit 1 via a connection pipe (not shown) for circulating refrigerant gas. The outdoor unit 1 includes a compressor 3, an outdoor heat exchanger 4, and an outdoor fan 5, and main components of an oxygen enrichment device 20 such as an oxygen enrichment unit 6 and a pump 7 described later are provided. . The indoor unit 2 communicates with an indoor heat exchanger (not shown), a water tray 8 that receives condensed water generated by the indoor heat exchanger, a silencer 9 that will be described later, and an oxygen enrichment that communicates with the silencer 9. A discharge port 10 for discharging air is provided.

  The oxygen enrichment apparatus 20 includes an oxygen enrichment unit 6 having an oxygen enrichment film, a pump 7 that is a decompression unit that decompresses the secondary side of the oxygen enrichment unit 6, an oxygen enrichment unit 6, and a pump 7. Are connected to the discharge side of the pump 7.

  Reference numeral 13 denotes a blower pipe that communicates and connects the discharge main pipe 12 and the silencer 9, and is led out from the outdoor unit 1 and introduced into the indoor unit 2.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the silencer 9. The silencer 9 having an enlarged inner diameter and a volume part is provided at the end of the air duct 13 on the indoor unit 2 side. Above the silencer 9, there is a fluid inlet 14 connected to the blower pipe 13 and an upper fluid outlet 15 serving as a fluid outlet for discharging oxygen-enriched air, and below the silencer 9, the condensed water is discharged. A lower fluid outlet 16 serving as a fluid outlet is disposed. The upper fluid outlet 15 and the discharge port 10 are connected by an oxygen supply pipe 17, and this discharge port 10 is rich in air permeability such as a porous material such as a urethane material, a fiber material, or a nonwoven fabric, or a granular material, and has condensed water. The material and structure are not allowed to pass.

  As described above, the pump 7 and the discharge port 10 are communicated with each other through the ventilation path formed by the discharge main pipe 12, the blower pipe 13, and the oxygen supply pipe 17, and in the middle of the portion of the ventilation path in the indoor unit 2. Silencer 9 is interposed in the middle.

  One end of a drain pipe 18 is connected to the lower fluid outlet 16 below the silencer 9, and the other end of the drain pipe 18 is led into the water tray 8.

  Further, the inner diameters of the fluid inlet 14 and the upper fluid outlet 15 provided above the silencer 9 are set larger than the inner diameter of the fluid inlet 14.

  Furthermore, the inner diameter of the upper fluid outlet 15 of the silencer 9 is set to be four times or more the inner diameter of the lower fluid outlet 16.

  The operation and action of the oxygen enricher 20 in the above configuration are as follows. In addition, about the structure and operation | movement of the refrigerating cycle of an air conditioner, since it is the same as the past and is not directly related to this invention, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  When the pump 7 is operated, outside air is sucked into the oxygen enrichment unit 6, and the oxygen enriched air obtained through the built-in oxygen enrichment membrane passes through the oxygen supply main pipe 11 to the pump 7. The air is sucked in and sequentially passes through the discharge main pipe 12 and the blower pipe 13 and is guided to the silencer 9. At this time, the oxygen-enriched air that passes through the discharge main pipe 12 or the blower pipe 13 is cooled by the outside air, and dew condensation water may be generated. Air pulsations and plosives such as “copocopo” and “concon” that are generated when this condensed water is carried into the room by the flow of oxygen-enriched air in the blower pipe 13 are silenced on the indoor side. In the means 9, once the pressure is reduced, it is surely eliminated.

  Moreover, the dew condensation water carried to the silencer 9 accumulates below the volume 9a of the silencer 9, and is separated from the oxygen-enriched air. At this time, if the fluid inlet 14 is below the silencer 9, air is supplied from below the separated condensed water, and a burst of water bubbles is generated. Therefore, the fluid inlet 14 is above the silencer 9. Must.

  The oxygen-enriched air separated from the dew condensation water is discharged from the upper fluid outlet 15 provided above the silencer 9 into the room through the oxygen supply pipe 17 and from the discharge port 10. At this time, since the inner diameter of the upper fluid outlet 15 is larger than the inner diameter of the fluid inlet 14, the flow velocity of air on the upper fluid outlet 15 side is relaxed, and a porous material such as a urethane material, a fiber material, or a nonwoven fabric, Or the air circulation sound in the discharge port 10 formed with the granular material is greatly reduced.

  On the other hand, the condensed water separated in the silencer 9 is guided from the lower fluid outlet 16 of the silencer 9 to the water tray 8 via the drain pipe 18. At this time, since the inner diameter of the upper fluid outlet 15 is set to be four times or more than the inner diameter of the lower fluid outlet 16, the flow resistance of the condensed water discharged from the lower fluid outlet 16 is increased, and the dew condensation is increased. The outflow flow rate of water can be suppressed, and noise at the time of dew condensation water discharge to the water tray 8 can be reduced.

  As described above, the air conditioner according to the present invention can prevent noise caused by dew condensation water generated in a ventilation path through which oxygen-enriched air passes. It can also be applied to various devices and devices such as medical oxygen enrichment devices and air purifiers.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Main part configuration diagram of the air conditioner

Explanation of symbols

1 Outdoor unit 2 Indoor unit 6 Oxygen enrichment unit 7 Pump (pressure reduction means)
9 Silencer 10 Discharge port 12 Discharge main pipe 13 Blower pipe 14 Fluid inlet 15 Upper fluid outlet (fluid outlet)
16 Lower fluid outlet (fluid outlet)

Claims (5)

An outdoor unit, an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit via a refrigerant pipe, an oxygen enrichment unit, decompression means for decompressing a secondary side of the oxygen enrichment unit, and the decompression unit provided in the indoor unit And a discharge port for discharging the oxygen-enriched air obtained by the oxygen-enriching unit, and silences a portion located in the indoor unit of the ventilation path that connects the pressure-reducing means and the discharge port. An air conditioner characterized by providing means. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen-enriched air flows into the silencer from above. The silencer is provided with two fluid outlets and a fluid inlet through which oxygen-enriched air flows, and one of the fluid outlets is provided above the silencer and the other is provided below the silencer. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein an inner diameter of the fluid outlet provided above the silencer is set larger than an inner diameter of the fluid inlet. The air conditioner according to claim 3 or 4, wherein an inner diameter of the fluid outlet provided above the silencer is set to be four times or more than an inner diameter of the other fluid outlet.

Images