JP3893234B2 - Dehumidifier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dehumidifier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a dehumidifier, a blow-molded resin heat exchanger (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-300166) or a heat exchanger in which flat tubes and meandering fins are alternately laminated (Japanese Patent No. 2819497) The one using the gazette is proposed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the former heat exchanger, since the heat transfer coefficient is poor, the heat exchanger becomes large and requires a die for blow molding.
[0004]
On the other hand, in the case of the latter heat exchanger, in order to allow the condensed water to flow smoothly, the flat tube must be arranged in the vertical direction. Further, since the air flow flowing outside is along the flat tube, it is necessary to consider this point. That is, there are great design restrictions.
[0005]
Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the dehumidifier which is excellent in the collection | recovery performance of condensed water using a small heat exchanger with a high heat transfer rate, and is hard to receive the restrictions on a design.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a dehumidification rotor that can be driven to rotate so as to cross the dehumidification passage and the regeneration passage formed in the casing, and when the dehumidification rotor crosses the dehumidification passage, The rotor absorbs moisture from the air passing through the dehumidification passage, and when the dehumidification rotor crosses the regeneration passage, it is converted into water vapor by hot air circulating through the regeneration passage, and then the water vapor is condensed by a heat exchanger and stored in a water storage tank. In the dehumidifier to collect,
The heat exchanger, a support wall facing at a predetermined interval, a metal straight pipe that is held through both ends of the support wall, a metal radiating fin provided on the surface of the pipe, both supporting walls composed of the set digit duct member in communication with the open end of the pipe,
In the one duct member, an air inflow path through which hot air after passing through the dehumidification rotor flows is formed, and in the other duct member, an air outflow path for returning the air after passing through the pipe to the regeneration path is formed,
In the air inflow path and the air outflow path, a drainage path for allowing the condensed water obtained by the pipe to flow down is formed,
By disposing the lower end opening of the drainage channel in an accommodation recess formed in the guide tank, it can be closed with condensed water stored in the accommodation recess,
The guide tank is formed with a communication hole for discharging condensed water overflowing from the housing recess to the water storage tank .
[0007]
With this configuration, since the heat exchanger is formed of the metal pipe and the heat radiating fin, the heat transfer rate is high and the size can be reduced. In addition, since air can be passed from any direction around the pipe, it is difficult to be restricted by design. Moreover, since each pipe is straight, the internal air flow can be made smooth, and the condensed water generated in the pipe can be prevented from staying due to its surface tension.
[0008]
When the heat exchanger is provided so as to be inclined in the range of 5 to 90 degrees so that the air inflow path side is located above the air outflow path side, the condensed water is combined with the effect of the flow path cross-sectional area. It is preferable in that the pipe can be more effectively prevented from being closed.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0010]
1 and 2 show a dehumidifier according to the present embodiment. This dehumidifier has a configuration in which a dehumidification rotor 2, a main fan 3, a heater 4, a heat exchanger 5, and a water storage tank 6 are disposed in a substantially vertical casing 1 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
[0011]
The casing 1 is formed with a storage chamber 7 on the front side of the lower side for detachably storing the water storage tank 6. A drain hole 8 is formed in a front portion of the upper wall constituting the storage chamber 7. In addition, the casing 1 has a plurality of slits arranged in parallel, and an intake hole 9 is formed on the lower back surface and an exhaust hole 10 is formed on the upper surface. Further, a dehumidifying passage 12 and a regeneration passage 13 are formed in the casing 1 by the partition wall 11. The dehumidifying passage 12 communicates the intake hole 9 and the exhaust hole 10, and hot air circulates in the regeneration passage 13.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 3, the dehumidifying rotor 2 has a donut-shaped ceramic honeycomb rotor 14 bonded with zeolite or silica gel, a cover 15 is provided on the front and back surfaces, and the cover 15 is held by a holding member 16. is there. The cover 15 is a thin-walled mesh-like material made of a metal such as stainless steel or a synthetic resin and excellent in rust prevention. The holding member 16 has a configuration in which the intermediate portion of the radially extending beam is connected by a beam extending in the circumferential direction so as not to increase the ventilation resistance in the dehumidifying rotor 2 and the cover 15. The cover 15 is covered and the peripheral edge of the other cover 15 is held. A bearing portion 17 is formed at the center of the holding member 16, and a rotating shaft 19a of a motor 19 is fitted therein. The dehumidification rotor 2 is disposed so as to straddle both the passages 12 and 13, and about 3/4 thereof is located in the dehumidification passage 12 and about ¼ is located in the regeneration passage 13. Then, the motor 19 is rotated at a predetermined speed (for example, one rotation for 2 minutes) by driving the motor 19. The ratio between the dehumidifying passage 12 and the regeneration passage 13 is preferably changed in accordance with various conditions such as the material of the dehumidifying rotor 2, the rotational speed, and the sealability between the passages, and the ratio of the dehumidifying passage 12 is increased. It is also possible to improve the dehumidifying capacity.
[0013]
The seal piece 18 provided on the partition wall 11 that partitions both the passages 12 and 13 contacts the front and back surfaces of the dehumidifying rotor 2. Thereby, the flow of air between both the passages 12 and 13 is prevented. The seal piece 18 is formed of a material excellent in wear resistance and heat resistance, for example, a flame retardant polyester film.
[0014]
The main fan 3 is constituted by a sirocco fan disposed in the upper space of the casing 1, and rotates when the motor 19 is driven.
[0015]
The heater 4 is disposed in the vicinity of the dehumidification rotor 2 in the middle of the regeneration passage 13 and generates heat by power supplied from a power supply circuit (not shown). The air heated by the heater 4 is blown to the dehumidifying rotor 2 by the sub fan 21 that rotates by driving the motor 20 and circulates in the regeneration passage 13.
[0016]
The heat exchanger 5 holds a plurality of straight pipes 23 arranged in parallel in two rows on a rectangular plate-like support wall 22 facing each other at a predetermined interval, and forms fins 24 on the surface of the pipe 23. In addition, the entire outer surface of both support walls 22 is covered with a duct member 25 so as to communicate with the open end of the pipe 23. As the fin 24, a thin plate in which holes corresponding to the arrangement of the pipes 23 are provided at predetermined intervals can be used. In addition, by arranging the pipes 23 at regular intervals, air can be passed in any direction. Furthermore, since the pipe 23 and the fin 24 are each made of copper alloy, aluminum alloy or the like having high thermal conductivity, the heat exchanger 5 is very compact. Air ducts 26a and 26b extending upward and drainage channels 27a and 27b extending downward are formed at the center of each duct member 25, respectively. The flow passage cross-sectional areas of the air flow passages 26 a and 26 b are larger than the total flow passage cross-sectional area of each pipe 23.
[0017]
The heat exchanger 5 constitutes a part of the regeneration passage 13 by the duct member 25 and the pipe 23 and is located in the middle of the dehumidification passage 12 so that the downstream side of the air flow is directed obliquely downward. ing. The inclination angle of the heat exchanger 5 is set in a range of 5 to 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane, so that the condensed water can flow smoothly through the pipe 23.
[0018]
A guide tank 28 that guides condensed water to the water storage tank 6 is disposed below the heat exchanger 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide tank 28 has a substantially box structure in which an upper case 29 and a lower case 30 are fitted and integrated.
[0019]
At both ends of the upper case 29, through holes 31a and 31b into which the drainage channels 27a and 27b of the duct member 25 are fitted are respectively drilled. A housing recess 32 that protrudes upward is formed on the lower surface of the upper case 29 at one end side, and a spring 33 is disposed there. In addition, a slit 34 communicating with the front and back surfaces is formed in the vicinity of the housing recess 32, and a limit switch 35 is provided on the upper surface in the vicinity thereof. When the limit switch 35 is turned on / off, the dehumidifier is driven / stopped.
[0020]
Water storage recesses 36a and 36b projecting downward are formed at both ends of the lower case 30, and the level of the condensed water flowing down by the inner standing walls 37a and 37b is blocked from the opening end of the drainage channel 27. It is possible to raise to. Thereby, the air flowing through the regeneration passage 13 is prevented from leaking from the drainage passage 27 to the water storage tank 6 side. A communication hole 38 is formed on one end side of the lower case 30. The communication hole 38 has an opening edge projecting downward in a cylindrical shape and is fitted into the drain hole 8 of the casing 1. An operation plate 39 is disposed on the upper surface of one end side of the lower case 30 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 39a. In the operation plate 39, a pressing piece 40 is formed on the upper surface opposite to the support shaft 39a, and a cylindrical pressure receiving portion 41 is formed on the lower surface. The pressing piece 40 protrudes upward through the slit 34 of the upper case 29 and turns the limit switch 35 on and off. The pressure receiving portion 41 protrudes into the accommodation chamber 7 through the communication hole 38 fitted in the drain hole 8 of the casing 1. An annular packing 42 is fixed around the pressure receiving portion 41. The operation plate 39 is urged downward by a spring 33 in which the upper surface on the tip side of the pressing piece 40 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 32. Therefore, unless the force is applied to the pressure receiving portion 41 as will be described later, the packing plate 42 is in pressure contact with the upper opening edge of the communication hole 38 of the lower case 30, and the operation plate 39 is moved from the guide tank 28 to the storage chamber 7 side. Prevent leakage of condensed water to That is, the actuating plate 39 not only turns on / off the limit switch 35 but also opens and closes the communication hole 38 and serves as two functions with one member.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the water storage tank 6 has a box shape whose upper surface is open, and a float member 43 is disposed inward. The float member 43 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 44 that spans between both side walls. A pressing portion 45 is formed on the front surface side from the rotation shaft 44, and a float portion 46 is formed on the rear surface side. The pressing part 45 is inclined so that the upper surface gradually protrudes upward as it goes to the tip. The float unit 46 includes an air tank 47 that opens downward. Thereby, when the water level in the water storage tank 6 rises, the air is confined in the air tank 47, the float part 46 floats, and the float member 43 rotates. Further, the inside of the air tank 47 is divided by a plurality of (here, two) partition plates 48 parallel to the rotation shaft 44. For this reason, even if the inclination angle of the lower surface of the float part 46 changes with the rotation of the float member 43 until the water storage tank 6 is full of water, the amount of air leaking from the air tank 47 is suppressed, and the float The power hardly decreases. By the way, the rotating shaft 44 is located on the pressing portion 45 side, and the float portion 46 is heavier than the pressing portion 45. For this reason, when the water storage tank 6 is empty, the float member 43 rotates clockwise around the rotation shaft 44 in FIG. 1, and the pressing portion 45 protrudes upward. However, a float support portion 6a protrudes inward from the rear surface of the water storage tank 6 to prevent the float portion 46 from moving downward from a substantially horizontal position. This is because air can be reliably confined in the air tank 47 as the water level rises. FIG. 1 shows a state where the water storage tank 6 is full and the float 46 is levitated.
[0022]
Next, the operation of the dehumidifier configured as described above will be described.
[0023]
The dehumidifier is driven based on an ON signal from the limit switch 35 when a power switch (not shown) is turned on. The limit switch 35 is turned on when the water storage tank 6 is set in the housing chamber 7 of the casing 1 and the water is not full. That is, in a state where the water storage tank 6 is set and the amount of water stored is small, the float member 43 rotates clockwise about the rotation shaft 44 and becomes almost horizontal. Therefore, the pressing portion 45 of the float member 43 pushes up the pressing receiving portion 41 of the operating plate 39, the operating plate 39 rotates about the support shaft 39a in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the pressing piece 40 moves up. The limit switch 35 is turned on.
[0024]
As a result, the main fan 3 is driven to rotate, and air outside the casing 1 is sucked from the intake hole 9. The sucked air flows upward in the dehumidification passage 12 and passes through an area of about 3/4 located outside the heat exchanger 5 and further in the dehumidification passage 12 of the dehumidification rotor 2. When passing through the dehumidifying rotor 2, the dehumidified and dried air is discharged to the surroundings through the exhaust hole 10.
[0025]
At the same time, the heater 4 is energized and the sub fan 21 and the dehumidifying rotor 2 are rotationally driven. As a result, the air heated by the heater 4 passes through about a quarter of the region located in the regeneration passage 13 of the dehumidifying rotor 2, and the water collected when the dehumidifying rotor 2 passes through the dehumidifying passage 12 is evaporated. Let it be steam. Thereby, the dehumidification rotor 2 is reproduced | regenerated. When the water vapor enters the duct member 25 of the heat exchanger 5 and then passes through the pipe 23, it condenses by exchanging heat with the air passing through the external dehumidifying passage 12. The flow passage cross-sectional areas of the air flow passages 26 a and 26 b are larger than the total flow passage cross-sectional area of each pipe 23. Moreover, as for the heat exchanger 5, the downstream side of an air flow inclines toward the downward direction. For this reason, the condensed water flows smoothly without blocking the inside of the pipe 23. The condensed water that has flowed down is temporarily stored in the water storage recesses 36a and 36b of the guide tank 28, and the water level is raised to block the drainage channels 27a and 27b. Therefore, the air circulating through the regeneration passage 13 does not leak through the drainage channels 27a and 27b.
[0026]
By the way, a seal piece 18 is provided at the edge of the partition wall 11 that partitions the regeneration passage 13 and the dehumidification passage 12 and is in pressure contact with the cover 15 provided on the front and back surfaces of the dehumidification rotor 2. Therefore, even if the dehumidifying rotor 2 is driven to rotate, the seal piece 18 does not directly contact the front and back surfaces of the dehumidifying rotor 2 and the damage is prevented. Further, since the cover 15 is a thin wall formed in a mesh shape, there is no gap between the seal piece 18 and the dehumidifying rotor 2 so that an air flow is generated between the passages. Therefore, there is no problem that the dehumidifying ability is lowered by the air heated by the heater 4 or the water vapor after passing through the dehumidifying rotor 2 leaking out to the dehumidifying passage 12 side. The mesh size of the cover 5 is preferably larger than the air passages of the ceramic honeycomb rotor 14.
[0027]
In addition, as described above, since the operation plate 39 is rotated by the float member 43, the communication hole 38 (drainage hole 8) is opened, so the condensed water that sequentially flows into the guide tank 28 is It flows down to the water storage tank 6 through the communication hole 38.
[0028]
When the amount of water stored in the water storage tank 6 gradually increases, air is trapped in the float portion 46 of the float member 43 due to the rise of the water surface. As a result, the levitation force of the float 46 increases, and the float member 43 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. At this time, the float portion 46 is slightly inclined, but since the interior of the float portion 46 is divided into a plurality of spaces parallel to the rotation shaft 44 by the partition plate 48, leaking air is suppressed. Therefore, the rotation of the float member 43 is performed smoothly.
[0029]
Further, as the float member 43 rotates, the pressing portion 45 is separated from the pressing receiving portion 41 of the operating plate 39, and the operating plate 39 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 around the support shaft 39 a according to the biasing force of the spring 33. Rotate in the direction. As a result, the pressing piece 40 turns off the limit switch 35 and stops the dehumidifier (main motor 19, sub motor 20, heater 4, etc.). By the way, even if the dehumidifier is stopped, the generation of condensed water is not immediately stopped. However, since the packing 42 is pressed against the peripheral edge of the communication hole 38 by the rotation of the operation plate 39, the condensed water does not flow down from the guide tank 28 to the water storage tank 6.
[0030]
When the water storage tank 6 is removed from the dehumidifier due to reasons such as discarding the water in the water storage tank 6, only the urging force of the spring 33 acts on the operation plate 39. Therefore, the actuating plate 39 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 about the support shaft 39a, and the pressing piece 40 is separated from the limit switch 35 and is turned off. Therefore, the dehumidifier is not driven with the water storage tank 6 removed. Further, the packing 42 is pressed against the peripheral edge of the communication hole 38 to prevent the condensed water from flowing down from the guide tank 28. Therefore, the condensed water does not flow down from the guide tank 28 to the accommodation chamber 7 of the casing 1 in a state where the water storage tank 6 is removed.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the heat exchanger has a metal structure in which heat radiation fins are provided on the outer surfaces of a plurality of pipes arranged side by side. It can be made less susceptible to design constraints. In addition, a drainage channel is formed in the air inflow channel and the air outflow channel to allow the condensed water obtained by the pipe to flow down, and an accommodation recess is formed around the lower end opening of the drainage channel to store the condensed water. Since the lower end opening of the drainage channel can be closed by the condensed water, the air flowing through the heat exchanger does not leak to unnecessary portions.
[0032]
In addition, since the heat exchanger is provided with an inclination in the range of 5 to 90 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane, it is possible to collect condensed water more effectively in combination with the relationship of the flow path cross-sectional area. It becomes.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a dehumidifier according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of a dehumidifier according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front view (a), a bottom view (b), and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the dehumidification rotor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
4 is an exploded sectional view of the guide tank shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Casing 2 ... Dehumidification rotor 4 ... Heater 5 ... Heat exchanger 6 ... Water storage tank 7 ... Storage chamber 11 ... Partition wall 12 ... Dehumidification passage 13 ... Regeneration passage 18 ... Seal piece 22 ... Support wall 23 ... Pipe 24 ... Radiation fin 25 ... Duct members 26a, 26b ... Air flow path 28 ... Guide tank 35 ... Limit switch

Claims (2)

A dehumidification rotor is rotatably provided so as to cross the dehumidification passage and the regeneration passage formed in the casing, and when the dehumidification rotor crosses the dehumidification passage, the dehumidification rotor absorbs moisture of the air passing through the dehumidification passage, In the dehumidifier that, when the dehumidification rotor crosses the regeneration passage, it is converted into water vapor by hot air circulating through the regeneration passage, and then the water vapor is condensed in a heat exchanger and collected in a water storage tank.
The heat exchanger, a support wall facing at a predetermined interval, a metal straight pipe that is held through both ends of the support wall, a metal radiating fin provided on the surface of the pipe, both supporting walls composed of the set digit duct member in communication with the open end of the pipe,
In the one duct member, an air inflow path through which hot air after passing through the dehumidification rotor flows is formed, and in the other duct member, an air outflow path for returning the air after passing through the pipe to the regeneration path is formed,
In the air inflow path and the air outflow path, a drainage path for allowing the condensed water obtained by the pipe to flow down is formed,
By disposing the lower end opening of the drainage channel in an accommodation recess formed in the guide tank, it can be closed with condensed water stored in the accommodation recess,
A dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein a communication hole is formed in the guide tank for discharging condensed water overflowing from the housing recess to the water storage tank .   2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is provided so as to be inclined in a range of 5 to 90 degrees so that the air inflow path side is positioned above the air outflow path side.

Images