JP5066767B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to an air conditioner equipped with electric dust collecting means.

  The air conditioner installed in the room collects large dust, such as dust, by the air filter when the dust contained with the air is sucked into the machine. The spore passes through the mesh of the air filter and adheres to the fin surface of the heat exchanger, the blade surface of the blower, or is sent back into the room through the outlet.

  And long-term use causes dust to accumulate on the surface of the fins of the heat exchanger, causing a reduction in the operating efficiency of the air conditioner.

  As a countermeasure, an electrostatic precipitator is placed between the air filter and the heat exchanger, and fine dust that has passed through the air filter and spores such as mold are adsorbed and collected by the electric precipitator to the heat exchanger side. I was trying not to send it.

However, when the air conditioner is used for a long time, fine dust and spores such as mold are accumulated in the dust collecting electrode of the electric dust collector together with the air filter. In recent years, air conditioners that are equipped with an automatic air filter cleaning device that automatically removes and discharges dust adhering to the surface of the air filter and cleans it without bothering the user have been commercialized. There was no means to automatically clean the electrostatic precipitator located behind the filter. For this reason, the air filter can always be kept in a dust-free state, but the electric dust collector accumulates dust and deteriorates the dust collection performance. In order to use it efficiently, it has been desired that the user periodically removes and cleans the electrostatic precipitator from the indoor unit. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-151453

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and while maintaining the function of an electric dust collector, it collects all dirt components in the air in a maintenance-free manner and cleans the surface of the electric dust collector indoor heat exchanger. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can be kept at a low temperature.

In order to achieve the above-described object, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a rear body that houses components to be mounted therein, a front panel that covers the front side, and a front panel that has an air outlet opened therein. A housing provided with a ventilation path communicating the opening and the outlet, an air filter provided opposite to the suction port in the ventilation path, and a side cross section provided in the ventilation path with an inverted V-shape. In the middle part of the refrigeration cycle piping path, an electromagnetic valve is provided to perform a throttling function when the valve is closed, both of which evaporate during cooling operation and both condense during heating operation, and dehumidifying operation Sometimes the front upper part and the upper rear part consist of a first heat exchanger that functions as a heating part that performs a condensing action, and a second heat exchanger that functions as a dehumidifying part that the lower part of the front face performs an evaporating action, Conductivity with coating with hydrophilic function An indoor heat exchanger that is grounded using plate aluminum fins of the material, an indoor blower disposed so as to be surrounded by the indoor heat exchanger in the ventilation path, and a space behind the air filter in the second space. Negative ion electrode which is arranged in a position opposite to the upstream front surface of the heat exchanger and is arranged in the width direction of the indoor heat exchanger 4 and is provided with a large number of needle-like electrodes to which a high potential power source having a negative potential is applied. And a negative ion generator that is provided opposite to the upstream side and has a ground potential that promotes the generation of negative ions, and that negatively charges suspended particles in the surrounding air, and heating operation or single air after cleaning the end of the operation, that and a control unit having means for performing a surface condensation operation to condense surface of the plate aluminum fin by dehumidifying operation or a cooling operation And butterflies.

  According to the air conditioner according to the present invention, the indoor heat exchanger surface has a function of an electric dust collector, so that fine dirt components in the air are collected and the indoor heat exchanger surface is clean and maintenance-free. It is possible to provide an air conditioner that can be kept at a low level.

  Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the configuration of the indoor unit body 2 installed on the indoor side of the air conditioner 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit main body 2 constitutes a housing 18 including a rear main body that houses components to be mounted therein and a front panel that covers the front side. Suction ports 18a and 18b are opened on the front surface and the upper surface of the casing 18, a blower outlet 18c is opened at the lower part, and a rotary louver 18d is provided at the blower outlet 18c.

  The air passage 19 that communicates both the suction ports 18a and 18b and the blower port 18c has air filters 20a and 20b that are vertically opposed to the suction ports 18a and 18b, respectively, and a substantially inverted V-shaped room. A heat exchanger 4 is disposed, and the indoor blower 3 is disposed so as to be surrounded by the indoor heat exchanger 4.

  In addition, a filter cleaning device 21 is housed in the upper front portion of the indoor unit body 2 between the opposing edges of the upper and lower air filters 20a and 20b. When the air filter cleaning operation mode of the control device 11 is activated, The filter cleaning device 21 is configured to remove dust attached to the surfaces of the air filters 20a and 20b by alternately reciprocating the air filters 20a and 20b.

  Further, a high voltage power source with a negative potential provided opposite to the front lower surface of the indoor heat exchanger 4 is applied between the indoor heat exchanger 4 at the lower front of the indoor unit body 2 and the air filter 20a on the front side. Thus, a negative ion generator 22 for generating negative ions in the air is provided.

  This negative ion generator 22 is arranged in the widthwise direction of the indoor heat exchanger 4 and is opposite to the upstream side of the negative ion electrode 22a in which a large number of needle-like electrodes to which a high potential power source of negative potential is applied are arranged in parallel. And a counter electrode 22b having a ground potential that promotes the generation of negative ions.

  Further, a drain pan 23 that receives condensed water is provided below the indoor heat exchanger 4, and dew water received by the drain pan 23 is discharged from the drain hose to the outside of the room.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor heat exchanger 4 is provided with a throttle valve 4 c formed by an electromagnetic valve having a throttle function when the valve is closed at an intermediate portion of the refrigeration cycle piping path. Cycle dehumidification comprising a first heat exchanger 4b configured from the rear and functioning as a heating unit during dehumidifying operation, and a second heat exchanger 4a configured from the lower portion of the front surface and functioning as a dehumidifying unit during dehumidifying operation A function is provided, the refrigerant is circulated from the first heat exchanger 4b during the dehumidifying operation, the first heat exchanger 4b is condensed, and sent to the second heat exchanger 4a through the throttle valve 4c. The second heat exchanger 4a performs the evaporating action. The negative ion generator 22 is disposed in the lower part of the front surface of the heat exchanger 4, that is, in the space behind the air filter 20a so as to face the front surface of the second heat exchanger 4a.

  In the air conditioner 1 of the present invention, the air filter 20a, the negative ion generator 22, and the indoor heat exchanger 4 constitute an electric dust collector.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the air filter 20a constituting the electrostatic precipitator has conductivity with metal deposition on the surface, and the indoor heat exchanger 4 is made of a conductive material. It consists of plate aluminum fins. The negative ion generator 22 disposed between the air filter 20a and the indoor heat exchanger 4 is connected to a negative ion electrode 22a to which a negative high voltage is applied and a ground potential for promoting the generation of negative ions. It consists of a counter electrode 22b. Further, the air filter 20a and the indoor heat exchanger 4 are connected to the ground GND together with the counter electrode 22b, and have the same potential as the counter electrode 22b. Accordingly, the negative ions generated by the negative ion generator 22 and released to the surroundings negatively charge the dust contained in the surrounding air, and the negatively charged dust is conductive and has the same potential as the counter electrode 22b. It collects with the air filter 20a and the indoor heat exchanger 4 which become, and it is comprised so that high dust collection property may be acquired.

  Next, the control device of the air conditioner 1 will be described with reference to the control system diagram shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the control device 11 of the air conditioner 1 is housed in the indoor unit body 2 and housed in the indoor control circuit 13, the remote controller 14 that can communicate with the indoor control circuit 13, and the outdoor unit 5. And an outdoor control circuit 15.

  The indoor control circuit 13 includes means for executing control of the indoor unit control target element 12 including filter automatic operation cleaning control, indoor fan motor, and louver rotation motor.

  The indoor control circuit 13 is provided with an indoor temperature sensor St and an indoor humidity sensor Sh, and detects and stores the indoor temperature and the indoor humidity. The determination means for determining the implementation of the surface dew condensation operation is realized by the indoor temperature sensor St, the indoor humidity sensor Sh, and a calculation means for calculating the dew point temperature from the temperature information and the humidity information obtained from both the sensors St and Sh.

  The remote controller 14 includes means for operating / stopping the air conditioner 1 and selecting operating conditions and transmitting the command signal to the indoor unit body 2.

  The outdoor control circuit 15 is connected to an indoor control circuit 13 that controls the entire air conditioner 1, and performs inverter output frequency control, compressor restart control, defrosting operation control, outdoor temperature estimation, etc. Means for executing control of the outdoor control target element 17 including the machine 7 is provided.

  In addition, the control device 11 maintains the air filter 20a, the indoor heat exchanger 4 and the like installed in the indoor unit main body 1 in a clean state after the air conditioner operation is finished, so that the heat exchanger or the like at the end of the cooling operation or the like. In order to suppress the generation of mold due to moisture such as condensed water adhering to the inside, the operation such as the in-machine drying operation mode such as the air blowing operation and the heating operation, the air filter cleaning operation mode and the heat exchanger clean operation mode, which will be described later, are performed for a predetermined time. An in-flight clean operation mode is provided that can be executed individually or arbitrarily.

  Further, in the heating operation mode, the control device 11 performs a heat exchanger clean operation mode in which water is attached to the surface of the plate aluminum fins 4f of the indoor heat exchanger 4 to remove oil and the like on the surface of the plate aluminum fins 4f after the heating operation. Means for executing. This clean operation mode is an operation mode in which the four-way switching valve 6 is switched after the heating operation so that the indoor heat exchanger 4 acts as an evaporator, and the cooling operation capable of adhering moisture to the indoor heat exchanger 4 is performed. Or dehumidification operation.

As shown in FIG. 6, the surface of the plate aluminum fin 4 f of the indoor heat exchanger 4 has hydrophilicity as a fine uneven surface that allows water to penetrate into the gap, and the surface is made of fluorine resin or the like. The antifouling treatment is performed by the resin coating 4f ₁ having a structure having an antifouling action having water and oil repellency.

  By forming this fine and dense uneven surface, oil contained in the air adheres to the surface of the plate aluminum fin 4f, but the oil-repellent surface does not soak into the fine uneven surface, In this state, water droplets are generated on the surface of the plate aluminum fins 4f due to the evaporation action of the indoor heat exchanger 4, and the water droplets penetrate into the fine uneven surface gaps. The water that has soaked into the gaps between the concave and convex surfaces on the surface floats the oil component from the inside, and the action of pushing the oil component downward with the water can be obtained.

  Next, the electric dust collection operation of the air conditioner of this embodiment will be described. In the operation of the remote controller 14 of the control device 11 shown in FIG. 5, based on the operation conditions set by the remote controller, the outdoor control circuit 15 through the indoor control circuit 13 performs the cooling operation, the dehumidifying operation, the heating operation, or the air cleaning. Air conditioning operation is performed in an operation mode such as operation.

  When this air conditioning operation is performed, as shown in FIG. 1, the indoor air that has passed through the air filters 20a and 20b passes through the indoor heat exchanger 4 and is cooled and dehumidified or heated, and is blown into the room from the outlet. In this way, the indoor air conditioning is performed. At this time, the room air that has passed through the air filter 20 a on the front side of the room passes through the negative ion generator 22 disposed in front of the indoor heat exchanger 4.

  Since the negative ion generator 22 has a negative voltage applied to the negative ion generation electrode 22a, the negative ion generator 22 is electrically connected to the grounded counter electrode 22b and similarly to the grounded conductive air filter 20a, Negative ions are released between the indoor heat exchanger 4. Accordingly, the dust contained in the air passing through this space is negatively charged and is attracted and adhered to the surface of the aluminum plate fin 4f of the indoor heat exchanger 4. Further, a part of the negative ions emitted by the negative ion generating electrode 22a is sent to the front of the air filter 20a, and the dust contained in the air passing through the air filter 20a is negatively charged. Therefore, the surface is made of a conductive material. The dust collecting effect can be enhanced also on the surface of the air filter 20a.

  The dust adhering to the air filter 20a is caused to reciprocate the air filter 20a to the filter cleaning device 21 by operating the filter cleaning device 21 shown in FIG. The brush is scraped off by a brush built in the filter cleaning device 21, and dust collected in the filter cleaning device 21 is sucked by an exhaust device (not shown) connected to the filter cleaning device 21 and discharged outside the apparatus. The filter cleaning device is not limited to the above-described means, and a method of moving the filter cleaning device, a method of removing dust on the air filter surface by suction, or the like may be used.

  In addition, the dust that is attracted and adhered to the surface of the aluminum plate fin 4f of the second indoor heat exchanger 4a accumulates dust on the surface as the operation continues. During the period when the indoor cooling is in operation, the entire indoor heat exchanger 4 acts as an evaporator, and therefore, condensation occurs on the surface of the aluminum plate fin 4f.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the surface of the plate aluminum fins. 4f are subjected to resin coating 4f _1, dirt adhering to the plate aluminum fins 4f (oil or tar) but is attached at a point contact, The surface of the plate aluminum fins 4f is cleaned by the self-cleaning action of the drain water that permeates into the resin during cooling and causes the dirt to slide down. The oil that has been slid down is received by the drain pan 23 together with moisture, and is discharged to the outside through the drain hose.

However, in periods other than the season in which the cooling operation is performed, that is, in the heating operation, the dehumidifying operation, the air cleaning operation by air blowing, etc. in the winter season or the intermediate period, dew condensation is formed on the surface of the plate aluminum fin 4f in a part or the whole of the indoor heat exchanger 4. Since it does not occur, the collected dust accumulates. When the heating operation is continued, dust composed mainly of captured oil content, the plate of aluminum fins 4f surface of the resin coating 4f ₁ and an air filter 20a, attached to 20b, is deposited. Therefore, a heat exchanger clean operation is executed.

  This heat exchanger clean operation is performed by executing a control program stored in the ROM of the indoor control circuit 13, for example, at a position where at least the negative ion generator 22 is disposed after a predetermined time of heating operation. The opposing second indoor heat exchanger 4a functions as an evaporator, and performs surface dew condensation operation in which moisture condenses on the plate aluminum fins 4f.

  In this surface condensation operation, only the cooling operation in which the entire indoor heat exchanger 4 functions as an evaporator and the second indoor heat exchanger 4a facing the position where the negative ion generator 22 is disposed function as an evaporator. Here, the dehumidifying operation is described. Here, the dehumidifying operation will be described as an example.

  Prior to the execution of the surface condensation operation, execution is determined by the surface condensation operation execution determination algorithm as described below.

As shown in FIG. 7, the indoor control circuit 13 calculates the dew point temperature from the room temperature sensor St and the room temperature and room humidity detected by the room humidity sensor Sh (S1).
It is determined whether the dew point temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature ( S2).
If the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature (Yes), a surface dew condensation operation for dew condensation on the surface of the plate aluminum fin 4f is performed according to a command from the control device 11 (S3).
If the temperature is not lower than the predetermined temperature (No), the surface condensation operation is not performed (S4).

  In S3, the surface condensation operation switches the four-way switching valve 6 to the cooling operation position, throttles the throttle valve 4c, performs the dehumidification operation, and causes the second indoor heat exchanger 4a to act as an evaporator. As the second indoor heat exchanger 4a acts as an evaporator, moisture is condensed and attached to the plate aluminum fins 4f.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, since the surface of the plate aluminum fins 4f are subjected to resin coating 4f _1, dirt adhering to the plate aluminum fins 4f (oil or tar) but is attached at a point contact, The surface of the plate aluminum fin 4f is cleaned by the self-cleaning action of the drain water that permeates into the resin and removes dirt by cooling and dehumidifying.

  In this surface condensation operation (defrosting operation), the dust collecting means is composed of the second indoor heat exchanger 4a and the negative ion generator 22 disposed between the air filters 20a, so the defrosting operation is performed. This makes it possible to clean the second indoor heat exchanger 4a where dust is likely to adhere, and the room is not cooled.

  In addition, the surface of the plate aluminum fin 4f is subjected to antibacterial treatment, so that generation of bacteria, sputum, virus and allergen can be suppressed, and the maintenance becomes free.

  The plate aluminum fin is subjected to antifouling treatment by an antifouling resin coating having a water-repellent / oil-repellent property such as a fluororesin with a fine uneven surface densely formed on the surface having such an action, By applying moisture to the surface of the plate aluminum fin, the indoor heat exchanger can be maintained in a clean state at all times, and energy-saving operation can be performed for a long time during heating operation.

  When performing surface condensation operation with dehumidification operation, the room does not cool down during the season of heating operation, so there is no discomfort to the user and indoor heat exchange is maintained while maintaining indoor comfort. The vessel can be cleaned.

  Since the execution of the surface dew condensation operation is determined prior to the execution of the surface dew condensation operation, energy saving can be realized without performing the surface dew condensation operation under conditions that are difficult to dry and form dew condensation.

  Moreover, when performing surface dew condensation operation by air_conditionaing | cooling operation, it is preferable to control a compressor and to perform below the air_conditioning | cooling rating capability of this air conditioner. As a result, the air-conditioned room does not cool even in the season when the heating operation is performed, so that the indoor heat exchanger is cleaned while maintaining comfort in the room without causing discomfort to the user. be able to.

  According to the air conditioner of the present embodiment, an air conditioner that can maintain a clean surface of the indoor heat exchanger that collects dirt components in the air without maintenance is realized.

The side sectional view of the indoor unit of the air harmony machine concerning one embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the indoor heat exchanger used for the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the electric dust collector used for the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The conceptual diagram of the electric dust collector used for the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the electric control apparatus of the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the plate aluminum fin of the indoor heat exchanger used for the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The surface dew condensation operation execution determination flowchart figure of the indoor heat exchanger used for the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the stain removal process of the plate aluminum fin of the indoor heat exchanger used for the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air conditioner, 2 ... Indoor unit main body, 3 ... Indoor fan, 4 ... Indoor side heat exchanger, 4a ... 2nd heat exchanger, 4b ... 1st heat exchanger, 4c ... Throttle valve, 4f ... Plate aluminum fins, 4f ₁ ... resin coating, 11 ... control device, 13 ... indoor control circuit, 14 ... remote control, 15 ... outdoor control circuit, 18 ... casing, 18a ... front suction port, 18b ... top suction port, 18c ... Air outlet, 20a ... Air filter, 20b ... Air filter, 21 ... Filter cleaning device, 22 ... Negative ion generator, 22a ... Negative ion electrode, 22b ... Counter electrode.

Claims (1)

A housing having a ventilation path that communicates between the suction port and the air outlet, and is composed of a front panel that houses a rear body that houses components to be mounted therein and a front surface that covers the front side and an air outlet, and
An air filter provided facing the suction port in the ventilation path;
Provided in the ventilation path, the side cross-section has an inverted V shape, and an electromagnetic valve is provided in the middle part of the refrigeration cycle piping path to perform a throttling function when the valve is closed. During the heating operation, both perform condensation, and during the dehumidification operation, the front upper part and the upper rear part function as a heating unit that performs condensation, and the front lower part performs evaporation. An indoor heat exchanger having a ground potential using a plate aluminum fin made of a conductive material coated with a hydrophilic function, the second heat exchanger functioning as a part,
An indoor blower arranged to be surrounded by the indoor heat exchanger in the ventilation path;
A large number of high-voltage power supplies having a negative potential are applied in the space on the back side of the air filter, facing the upstream front surface of the second heat exchanger, and arranged in the widthwise direction of the indoor heat exchanger 4. A negative ion electrode that has needle-shaped electrodes arranged in parallel and a counter electrode that is provided on the upstream side of the negative ion electrode and has a ground potential that promotes the generation of negative ions, and negatively charges suspended particles in the surrounding air An ion generator;
An air conditioner comprising: a control device including means for performing surface dew condensation operation to dew the surface of the plate aluminum fin by dehumidification operation or cooling operation after completion of heating operation or single air cleaning operation .

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