JPWO2015083733A1 - Dehumidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

The dehumidifier comprises a moisture absorbent material that directly discharges moisture absorbed by heating as water droplets, a rotor (1) that supports the moisture absorbent and has a ventilation structure, and heats the rotor (1) to release moisture. A dehumidifier comprising a stimulus applying unit (6) and a rotating mechanism for rotating the rotor (1) around an axis to continuously absorb and release moisture, the stimulus applying unit (6) A closed space is formed with the ventilation structure of the rotor (1) as a part of the air circulation path.

Description

  The present invention relates to a dehumidifier using a hygroscopic material.

  As a device for performing dehumidification and humidity control, there are a refrigeration cycle type and a hygroscopic material type. The “refrigeration cycle type” has a built-in compressor, compresses and expands the refrigerant, and cools the indoor air with an evaporator to condense and dehumidify the humidity in the air. In the “hygroscopic material type”, moisture in the room air is absorbed by the hygroscopic material carried on the rotor, high-temperature air is applied to the absorbed rotor, and the moisture in the rotor is taken out as high-temperature and high-humidity air, and the air is extracted. By cooling, moisture contained in high-temperature and high-humidity air is condensed and removed.

  JP-A-2003-144833 (Patent Document 1) can be cited as a document in which an example of a refrigeration cycle is described. JP-A-2001-259349 (Patent Document 2) can be cited as a document describing an example of the hygroscopic material type. A configuration combining both features is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-34838 (Patent Document 3).

  Further, unlike conventional hygroscopic materials such as zeolite, a polymer gel material has been developed that exhibits a moisture absorption state and a moisture release state due to a change in molecular structure, and can be used as a water absorbent sheet or a dehumidifying agent. -126442 (patent document 4).

JP 2003-144833 A JP 2001-259349 A JP 2005-34838 A JP 2002-126442 A

  In the mechanism for dehumidification and humidity adjustment, in the refrigeration cycle type using a compressor, high-efficiency dehumidification and humidity adjustment such that the refrigeration efficiency COP reaches 5 is possible. However, such refrigeration cycle types still have problems such as the use of halogen-based gases that lead to environmental destruction, the tendency to increase in size due to the installation of a compressor, and the loud noise.

  On the other hand, in the hygroscopic material type, regeneration heat is required to discharge moisture from the hygroscopic material that has absorbed moisture, and generally a high temperature of around 200 ° C. is necessary as regeneration heat, and hot air generated by a heater and a fan on the regeneration side. After being applied to the hygroscopic material, the resulting high-temperature and high-humidity air was cooled with a heat exchanger to form condensed water, so the efficiency was poor.

  In addition, the hybrid type, which combines these, has been improved by partially using the compression heat of the compressor for the regeneration of the hygroscopic rotor, which can widen the range of use of the hygroscopic material type. A mechanism is required, and an increase in size is inevitable. Further, the water vapor collected by adsorption or the like is cooled by a cooling heat exchanger and condensed by supersaturated cooling, which is the same as the refrigeration cycle type.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifier that can reduce the size of the apparatus without using a halogen-based gas and that further reduces energy loss.

  In order to achieve the above object, the dehumidifier according to the present invention uses a hygroscopic material. Furthermore, the hygroscopic material has a first state in which moisture can be absorbed and a second state in which the moisture absorbed in the first state is released. A polymer gel moisture-absorbing material having a property of returning to the first state when the state changes to 2 and the stimulus is lost is used. In the following description, the polymer gel hygroscopic material is simply referred to as a hygroscopic material.

  Further, the stimulus applying part is a closed space, and the energy used as the external stimulus is configured to be usable without leaking outside.

  Furthermore, it is possible to effectively use external stimuli by using a plurality of polymer gel hygroscopic materials whose phase transition (volume phase transition) temperature is changed so that the polymer gel hygroscopic material changes from the first state to the second state. I made it.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to make a dehumidifier that uses a hygroscopic material, does not use a halogen-based gas, can be downsized, and has a reduced energy loss by making the stimulus imparting portion a closed space. it can.

It is a top view which shows the notional structure of the dehumidifier in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the conceptual structure cut | disconnected by the II-II line | wire in FIG. It is a schematic diagram explaining the moisture release mechanism in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is axial direction sectional drawing which shows the rotor structure in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a partial enlarged plan view which shows the rotor structure in Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is an axial sectional view showing a rotor structure in a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining a series of operation | movement of the dehumidifier in Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a partial enlarged plan view which shows the rotor structure in Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the notional structure of the dehumidifier in Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the notional structure of the dehumidifier in Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the moisture release mechanism in Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the conceptual structure of the dehumidifier in Embodiment 8 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the conceptual structure cut | disconnected by the XII-XII line | wire in FIG.

(Embodiment 1)
With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the dehumidifier 100 in Embodiment 1 based on this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a plan view conceptually showing the structure of the dehumidifier 100, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure taken along the center line II-II in FIG. The actual dimensional ratio and positional relationship of each part are not necessarily as described above.

  The dehumidifier 100 carries the moisture absorbent 2 and has a ventilation structure, the outside air supply device 4 that supplies the moisture 3 to the moisture absorbent 2 through the rotor 1, and the moisture absorbed by the rotor 1. A stimulating unit 6 is provided. A polymer gel hygroscopic material is used for the hygroscopic material 2. In this embodiment, the polymer gel moisture-absorbing material is a temperature-responsive moisture-absorbing material using a temperature-sensitive polymer such as poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (p-NIPAM) and its derivatives, polyvinyl ether and its derivatives, , Having a first state in which moisture can be absorbed after being sufficiently dried after creation, and a second state in which moisture absorbed in the first state is discharged as water droplets, by heat stimulation from the outside The phase transition from the first state to the second state has the property of returning to the first state by phase transition in the opposite direction when the stimulus is lost.

  The stimulus imparting unit 6 includes a case 6a attached with a heat insulating material, a heating device 7, an air circulation device 8, and a discharge hole 9 for taking out moisture discharged from the rotor 1 to the outside of the machine. The case 6a is an annular cylindrical container having an air circulation passage 6b inside, and a portion where the rotor 1 is sandwiched is cut off. The case 6a is configured to be slidable at the end while the rotor 1 rotates. The case 6a forms a closed space serving as an air circulation path 6b by the ventilation structure of itself and the rotor 1.

  The rotor 1 has a structure in which a corrugated base material and a flat base material are integrally wound up in a roll shape, and a rotating shaft 10 is inserted in the center. The rotor 1 is made rotatable by being supported by the rotating shaft 10 and is provided with a toothed belt on the outer peripheral portion, and is slowly moved in one direction as indicated by a white arrow A by a geared drive motor 13. Rotated. A space is formed between the corrugated base material and the flat base material of the rotor 1 to provide a ventilation structure.

  Operation | movement of the dehumidifier 100 comprised in this way is demonstrated. In the dehumidifier 100, the moist air 3 is taken from outside the machine via the suction air passage 11 and guided to the rotor 1 by the outside air supply device 4. The rotor area inside the suction air passage 11 is a moisture absorption area 1a where the moisture absorbent 2 carried on the rotor 1 and the damp air 3 come into contact. The air dehumidified by touching the hygroscopic material 2 becomes dry air 5 and goes out into the room through the blowout air passage 12.

  The rotor 1 containing moisture in the previous step is slowly rotated around the rotation shaft 10 by the drive motor 13 and reaches the moisture release area 1b formed by the stimulus applying unit 6. The inside of the stimulus applying unit 6 is filled with the high temperature air 6c circulated by the action of the heating device 7 and the air circulation device 8, and the moisture absorbing material 2 is used when the high temperature air 6c passes through the ventilation structure of the rotor 1. By applying thermal stimulation, a phase transition occurs in the hygroscopic material 2 from the first state which is a moisture absorption state to the second state which is a moisture release state. The polymer gel hygroscopic material poly-N-isopropylacrylamide employed as the hygroscopic material 2 has a low temperature such as 32 ° C. or 40 ° C. for causing a phase transition. That is, this is a temperature-sensitive polymer that is sensitive at low temperatures, and if the air temperature after passing through the ventilation structure of the rotor 1 is equal to this temperature, the minimum condition for phase transition is achieved. . Accompanying the phase transition of the hygroscopic material 2, the moisture that has been absorbed is directly discharged as water, collected in the lower part of the stimulus applying unit 6, drained from the discharge hole 9, and received by the water receiving container 14. The water receiving container 14 is not essential.

  In the first embodiment, the hygroscopic material 2 is changed from the first state that absorbs moisture to the second state that releases moisture by receiving thermal stimulation. The hygroscopic material 2 carried on the rotor 1 is heated when the high-temperature air 6c passes, and the phase transitions from the first state to the second state, and the moisture absorbed in accordance with this transition is discharged as water droplets. Is done. The state at this time is conceptually shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the hygroscopic material 2 adjusted to a temperature sensitive temperature of 40 ° C. is evenly carried on the rotor 1. The high temperature air 6c that has flowed in from the upper end surface of the rotor 1 moves to the lower end surface through the ventilation structure while heating the adjacent rotor base material and the hygroscopic material 2. At the same time, the temperature of the hot air 6c decreases as it approaches the lower end surface. If the temperature of the high-temperature air 6c is 40 ° C. when passing through the upper end surface, the lower end surface is below that temperature. In this state, even if the hygroscopic material 2 near the upper end surface can undergo phase transition, Since the hygroscopic material 2 near the lower end surface does not reach the phase transition temperature, the hygroscopic material 2 continues to absorb moisture.

  In other words, moisture that has absorbed moisture is discharged as water droplets in the vicinity of the upper end surface, but water droplets that have drooped in the vicinity of the lower end surface are absorbed. If such a state is continued for a long time, the hygroscopic material 2 swells with a large amount of water near the lower end surface, and the rotor is deformed. Therefore, the temperature of the hot air 6c after passing through the rotor 1 is required to be equal to or higher than the phase transition temperature of the moisture absorbent material 2.

  In order to make the inside of the case 6a efficient closed space for air circulation, the end surface where the case 6a and the rotor 1 are in contact is in contact with the rotation of the rotor 1 so that the rotation of the rotor 1 is not hindered, and air leakage is minimized. It is preferable to configure. The case 6a is preferably insulated so that heat leakage can be minimized. By comprising in this way, a heat leak decreases and a dehumidifier can be operated with high energy efficiency.

  Further, the moisture absorbing material 2 has a low temperature of about 40 ° C. causing the phase transition, and the minimum condition is achieved if the air temperature after passing through the ventilation structure of the rotor 1 is equal to this temperature. Since the temperature inside the case 6a and the outside temperature are not so different from each other, the amount of heat leaked through the heat insulating material is reduced. The temperature of the circulating high-temperature air 6c depends on the heat capacity of the rotor 1 determined by the dimensions of the rotor 1, the material of the base material, the mass of the hygroscopic material 2, the number of rotations of the rotor 1, etc.

  Since the inside of the case 6a is kept at a temperature of about 40 ° C., it is conceivable that a part of the water discharged from the rotor 1 evaporates due to the circulating high-temperature air 6c, but the amount of saturated water vapor in the air is 40 ° C. Then, it is about 51 grams / cubic meter (dry air), 83 grams / cubic meter (dry air) at 50 ° C., and no further water vapor is included even if the dehumidifier 100 is continuously operated. All water droplets are discharged as water droplets.

  Considering the case of a conventional moisture absorbent dehumidifier using zeolite as a moisture absorbent for the present invention, the following inconvenience occurs.

  In a moisture absorbent dehumidifier using zeolite, hot air of about 200 ° C. is required to dry the moisture-absorbed rotor. Further, since the zeolite releases the absorbed moisture as water vapor, high temperature air and high temperature water vapor are discharged from the rotor. The amount of saturated water vapor in air at 200 ° C. is about 7500 grams / cubic meter (dry air), and high-temperature water vapor is not discharged as water droplets unless the amount of water vapor discharged from the rotor exceeds this value. For this reason, in the conventional moisture absorption material type dehumidifier, the heat exchanger was provided in order to cool high temperature steam, and the structure discharged | emitted out of the apparatus as condensed water was required. Further, when the heat exchanger is not provided, the stimulation imparting part is not made into the circulation type closed space, and the hot air containing water vapor can only be discharged outside the room as it is. In addition, when a heat exchanger for obtaining condensed water is installed, the hot air temperature for drying the rotor is greatly lowered by the function, and a large amount of energy is required for reheating.

  If the structure is such that only hot air is circulated without a heat exchanger, the water vapor pressure of the hygroscopic material carried on the rotor and the water vapor pressure of the circulating air approach each other as the hot air contains water vapor. Water vapor can no longer be released. This is because the moisture absorption / release characteristics of zeolite are based on physical and chemical adsorption of water molecules in the micropores. When the ambient humidity is higher than the humidity in the zeolite micropores, water molecules are drawn into the micropores, and when the ambient humidity is low, water molecules in the micropores are discharged. The high temperature energy given for drying is used as the energy required to peel off water molecules from the micropore surface. Due to such characteristics, when the high-temperature circulating air is saturated with water vapor, the rotor is not dried at all and does not function as a dehumidifier.

  In other words, with conventional moisture absorbent dehumidifiers that use zeolite or the like, a heat exchanger for cooling can also be used as a structure that insulates the case of the stimulus imparting part and circulates hot air to prevent leakage of heat energy that dries the rotor. It causes a big contradiction that a lot of heat energy is deprived.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the polymer gel moisture-absorbing material has been described as poly-N-isopropylacrylamide, but similarly, between the first state where moisture is absorbed in response to temperature and the second state where moisture is released. Since other polymer gel materials that undergo phase transition are known, they can be applied as dehumidifiers although their operating conditions differ from those of the former. For example, there are polyethylene oxide, polymethyl vinyl ether, vinyl ether and polymethacrylate having an oxyethylene chain, polyhydroxybutyl vinyl ether, and derivatives thereof.

  As the dehumidifier system, only the hygroscopic material is changed, and the structure and the like are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the condition is that the temperature of the high-temperature air 6c after passing through the rotor 1 is about 40 ° C. or more of the phase change temperature of the hygroscopic material 2. In the embodiment, the phase transition temperature of the hygroscopic material near the upper end surface and the phase transition temperature of the hygroscopic material near the lower end surface are made different. That is, it is configured such that the phase transition temperature of the hygroscopic material near the lower end surface is lower than the phase transition temperature of the hygroscopic material near the upper end surface of the rotor. It is preferable to adjust the phase transition temperature according to the temperature change of the hot air passing through the ventilation structure. The dehumidifier structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment denote the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  The concept of the moisture release operation of the rotor configured as described above is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the upper half of the rotor 31 is configured to carry the same hygroscopic material 2 as in the first embodiment, and the lower half is configured to carry a hygroscopic material 22 having a low phase transition temperature. If the same polymer gel hygroscopic material as in the first embodiment is used, it is known that the phase transition temperature can be varied depending on the amount of ions contained in the gel. Since the phase transition temperature is lower as the amount of ions is larger, and the phase transition temperature is higher as the amount of ions is smaller, adjustment is possible.

  In the dehumidifier using the rotor configured as described above, when the moisture absorbing material 2 undergoes phase transition in the upper half of the rotor 31 and moisture absorbed is released, the moisture absorbing material 22 in the lower half also undergoes phase transition. The discharged water 15 dripping from above reaches the lower end surface without being reabsorbed by the lower half of the rotor portion, and becomes dripped water 16. Moreover, by comprising in this way, the air temperature after rotor 31 passage can be made low, and heating temperature can be lowered | hung as a whole. This requires less heating energy and further reduces the temperature difference between the stimulus applying section 6 and the outside air, so that the heat energy leaked further decreases.

  The degree of difference in the phase transition temperature between the hygroscopic material 2 carried on the upper half of the rotor 31 and the hygroscopic material 22 carried on the lower half depends on the temperature of the high-temperature air 6c, the amount of circulating air, the rotational speed of the rotor, and the rotor Therefore, it is preferable to set an optimum one by performing experiments as appropriate.

  In this embodiment, an example in which two types of moisture absorbent materials having different phase transition temperatures are used has been described. However, it is needless to say that the moisture absorbent material to be used is not limited to two types, and varies depending on the thickness of the rotor and operating conditions. It is preferable to prepare several types of hygroscopic materials having a phase transition temperature. Needless to say, the number of divisions increases correspondingly. Further, in the present embodiment, the example in which the thickness direction of the rotor is equally divided into two has been shown, but the ratio can be appropriately determined without being divided equally.

(Embodiment 4)
In the third embodiment, the structure in which several types of moisture absorbing materials are supported in the thickness direction of the rotor in order of decreasing phase transition temperature has been described. However, in this embodiment, moisture absorbing materials having different phase transition temperatures in the radial direction of the rotor are used. The case where it carries is demonstrated.

  5 and 6 are structural schematic diagrams of the rotor 41 of the present embodiment. The rotor 41 uses a water permeable material for the substrate 44. Further, a hygroscopic material 42 and a hygroscopic material 43 which are polymer gel hygroscopic materials having temperature responsiveness and different phase transition temperatures are used as the hygroscopic material. A moisture absorbent material 42 is carried on one surface of the substrate 44 and a moisture absorbent material 43 is carried on the other surface. Here, it is assumed that the hygroscopic material 42 undergoes phase transition at a higher temperature than the hygroscopic material 43. The base material 44 carrying the hygroscopic material 42 and the hygroscopic material 43 is molded and combined into a corrugated plate shape and a flat plate shape, and the gaps provide a ventilation structure.

  In addition, since the structure as a dehumidifier is the same as that of Embodiment 1, please refer to FIG. Operation | movement is demonstrated about the dehumidifier using the rotor 41 comprised in this way. It is assumed that the rotor 41 has already finished the moisture absorption stage and has shifted to a heating stage for moisture release.

  When the rotor 41 rotates around the rotation axis and enters the moisture release area 1b of the stimulus applying unit 6, the moisture absorbent 42 and the moisture absorbent 43 are heated by the high temperature air 6c. It is assumed that the high-temperature air 6c has a temperature sufficient to cause the hygroscopic material 42 to undergo phase transition even after passing in the thickness direction of the rotor 41. Since the hygroscopic material 43 has a low phase transition temperature, it reaches the phase transition temperature before the hygroscopic material 42 and starts to release moisture. At this stage, the hygroscopic material 42 is still in a hygroscopic state and absorbs moisture released by the hygroscopic material 43 via the base material 44.

  Thereafter, the rotation of the rotor 41 continues and the moisture absorbing material 42 gradually reaches the phase transition temperature as time passes while rotating in the moisture release area 1b. At this stage, all of the hygroscopic material 43 is in a moisture releasing state and does not absorb moisture again, and the hygroscopic material 42 absorbs all of the moisture released by the hygroscopic material 43. Here, when the hygroscopic material 42 reaches the phase transition temperature, both the moisture contained in the hygroscopic material 43 and the moisture contained in the hygroscopic material 42 are released all at once. By releasing the water at once, the size of the dripping water 16 is increased, the dripping water 16 is easily dripped, and it is hardly affected by the high-temperature air 6c, so that evaporation is suppressed and drainage is performed well. This is because the smaller the particle size, the larger the ratio of the surface area to the mass of the water droplets, and the water droplets are strongly influenced by the outside air and are easily evaporated. On the contrary, if the particle size of the water droplet is increased, the ratio of the surface area to the mass is decreased, and it is difficult to be evaporated due to being hardly influenced by the outside air.

  FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the above operation. FIG. 7A shows a state in which moisture 3 containing air 3 is supplied to the rotor 41 by the outside air supply device 4 and the moisture absorbents 42 and 43 absorb moisture. In FIG. 7B, the rotor 41 rotates to move to the moisture release area 1b, high temperature air 6c heated by the heating device 7 and the air circulation device 8 is supplied to the rotor 41, and the hygroscopic material 43 has a phase transition temperature. It is in a state where it reaches and is dehumidified. At this time, moisture released from the hygroscopic material 43 passes through the base material 44 and is absorbed by the hygroscopic material 42. FIG. 7C shows a state in which the moisture absorbent 42 has reached the phase transition temperature and the moisture has been released over time, and the moisture transferred from the moisture absorbent 43 and the moisture originally absorbed by the moisture absorbent 42. Since both are discharged, dripping water 16 is formed. FIG. 7 (d) shows a state where the rotor 41 has finished discharging moisture and further rotated and moved out of the moisture release area 1 b. After that, the rotor 41 continues to rotate and enters the moisture absorption area 1a to absorb moisture again. The dehumidifier operates by repeating such an operation.

(Embodiment 5)
The ventilation structure formed by the base material 44 of the rotor 41 is not particularly limited as long as the cross section is triangular as shown in FIG. In addition, the hygroscopic material is molded into a granular shape and packed in a casing that has a cylindrical shape with both ends in the central axis direction ventilated, and a structure in which the hygroscopic material is supported on a substrate having a net-like three-dimensional structure, etc. The shape known from

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 9 shows a more preferable structure of the stimulus imparting unit 61 when a plurality of hygroscopic materials having different phase transition temperatures as shown in the fourth embodiment or the fifth embodiment are used. In the present embodiment, a dehumidifier that uses the rotor 41 used in the fourth embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the inside of the stimulus applying unit 61 is partitioned by the partition wall 61d so that the heating devices 7a and 7b are arranged in parallel in the rotation direction of the rotor. Inside the stimulus applying unit 61, the high temperature air is also set to a plurality of temperatures so as to correspond to a plurality of hygroscopic materials having different phase transition temperatures, and the heating temperature is adjusted by the temperature after passing through the rotor 41 in the thickness direction. It is. In the present embodiment, the moisture release area 41b generates high-temperature air 61c corresponding to the moisture absorbent material 43 that undergoes phase transition at a low temperature, and the moisture release area 41c generates hot air 62c that corresponds to the moisture absorbent material 42 that undergoes phase transition at a high temperature. Adjust the heating temperature.

  The stimulus imparting unit 61 is a cylindrical container formed in an annular shape, and air circulates inside. It arrange | positions so that a part of annular shape may be excised and the rotor 41 may be pinched | interposed. The contact portion between the stimulus applying unit 61 and the rotor 41 is configured such that the rotor 41 can rotate and the air circulating inside does not leak.

  In this embodiment, the moisture release area 41b is heated by the high temperature air 61c, the moisture release area 41c is heated by the high temperature air 62c, and the temperature after passing through the rotor causes the moisture absorbent material 43 to change phase. The high-temperature air 62c is higher than the high-temperature air 61c, and the temperature after passing through the rotor is sufficient to cause the hygroscopic material 42 to undergo phase transition. In addition, the inside of the stimulus imparting unit 61 is divided into two equal parts, and the moisture release area 41b and the moisture release area 41c have the same size. Further, a region where the polymer gel hygroscopic material absorbs moisture upon receiving the supply of room air is a hygroscopic area 41a. Since other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  The dehumidifying operation in such a configuration will be described. The rotor 41 uses a water-permeable material for the base material 44 as described above. A hygroscopic material 42 made of a polymer gel hygroscopic material is supported on one surface of the substrate 44, and a hygroscopic material 43 is supported on the other surface. The hygroscopic material 42 undergoes a phase transition at a higher temperature than the hygroscopic material 43.

  It is assumed that the rotor 41 has finished the moisture absorption stage and has shifted to a heating stage for moisture release. At the stage where the rotor 41 rotates around the rotation axis and enters the moisture release area 41b of the stimulus applying unit 61, the moisture absorbing materials 42 and 43 are heated by the high temperature air 61c generated by the heating device 7a. Since the hygroscopic material 43 has a low phase transition temperature, it reaches the phase transition temperature before the hygroscopic material 42 and starts to release moisture. At this stage, the hygroscopic material 42 is still in a hygroscopic state and absorbs moisture released by the hygroscopic material 43 via the base material 44.

  When the rotor 41 continues to rotate and moves to the moisture release area 41c, in the moisture release area 41c, the high-temperature air 62c that is hotter than the high-temperature air 61c is circulated by the heating device 7b. The phase transition temperature is reached. At this stage, all of the hygroscopic material 43 has finished the phase transition and is in a dehumidified state and does not absorb moisture again, and the hygroscopic material 42 absorbs all the moisture released by the hygroscopic material 43. Here, when the hygroscopic material 42 reaches the phase transition temperature, both the moisture originally contained in the hygroscopic material 43 and the moisture contained in the hygroscopic material 42 are released all at once. By releasing the water at a stretch, the size of the dropped water 16 becomes large and becomes easy to drop, and is less susceptible to the influence of the high-temperature air 61c or 62c, thereby suppressing evaporation and allowing good drainage. Moreover, since the circulating hot air 61c and the hot air 62c pass from the upper surface of the rotor 41 toward the lower surface, the dripping is assisted. The dehumidifier operates by repeating such an operation.

  In the present embodiment, the inside of the stimulus imparting unit 61 is divided into two equal parts, but it may be divided into three or more parts. Since the heat capacity depends on the type of the polymer gel hygroscopic material, the mass of the rotor, the amount of the polymer gel hygroscopic material, and the rotation speed of the rotor, the division ratio can be changed as appropriate. Further, it is preferable that the division ratio is appropriately determined by experimental confirmation.

(Embodiment 7)
In the sixth embodiment, a description has been given assuming that a plurality of hygroscopic materials having different phase transition temperatures are arranged in the radial direction of the rotor. However, as used in the third embodiment, a plurality of hygroscopic materials having different phase transition temperatures are used. It is possible to operate in the same manner even if a rotor disposed in the thickness direction of the rotor is used. The structure of a dehumidifier shows the schematic diagram explaining a rotor structure in FIG. 10, FIG.

  In the third embodiment, the rotor 31 is used and the hygroscopic material 2 that undergoes phase transition at a high temperature is disposed on the upper surface side, and the hygroscopic material 22 that undergoes a phase transition at a low temperature is disposed on the lower surface side. That is, in the rotor 71 used in the present embodiment, the hygroscopic material 22 that undergoes phase transition at a low temperature is disposed on the upper surface side, and the hygroscopic material 2 that undergoes a phase transition at a high temperature is disposed on the lower surface side.

  The stimulus applying unit is the same as in the sixth embodiment. As described above, the high-temperature air 61c is a temperature sufficient for the phase after passing through the rotor to cause phase transition of the hygroscopic material 22, and the high-temperature air 62c is higher than the high-temperature air 61c. The temperature is sufficient to cause the transition.

  It is assumed that the rotor 71 has finished the moisture absorption stage and has shifted to a heating stage for moisture release. When the rotor 71 rotates around the rotation axis and enters the moisture release area 71b of the stimulus applying unit 61, the hygroscopic materials 22 and 2 are heated by the high temperature air 61c generated by the heating device 7a. Since the hygroscopic material 22 has a low phase transition temperature, it reaches the phase transition temperature before the hygroscopic material 2 and starts to release moisture. Moisturized moisture moves to the lower side of its own weight and high-temperature air 61c and 62c rotor 71. At this stage, the hygroscopic material 2 is still in the hygroscopic state and absorbs the moisture released by the hygroscopic material 22.

  When the rotor 71 continues to rotate and moves to the moisture release area 71c, the high temperature air 62c that is hotter than the high temperature air 61c is circulated by the heating device 7b in the moisture release area 71c. The phase transition temperature is reached. At this stage, all of the hygroscopic material 22 has finished the phase transition and is in a moisture releasing state and does not absorb moisture again, and the hygroscopic material 2 absorbs all of the moisture released by the hygroscopic material 22. Here, when the hygroscopic material 2 reaches the phase transition temperature, both the moisture originally contained in the hygroscopic material 22 and the moisture contained in the hygroscopic material 2 itself are released all at once. By releasing the water at a stretch, the size of the dropped water 16 becomes large and becomes easy to drop, and is less susceptible to the influence of the high-temperature air 61c or 62c, thereby suppressing evaporation and allowing good drainage. Further, since the circulating hot air 61c and the hot air 62c pass from the upper surface to the lower surface of the rotor 71, the dripping is assisted. The dehumidifier operates by repeating such an operation.

  In the present embodiment, the inside of the stimulus imparting unit is divided into a passage through which the high temperature air 61c circulates and a passage through which the high temperature air 62c circulates, but the same configuration as in the first embodiment may be used without division. . In this case, it is important to set the temperature of the hygroscopic material 2 in which the circulating high-temperature air is disposed on the lower surface side of the rotor 71 so that it can be heated to the phase transition temperature. By arranging the moisture absorbents having different phase transition temperatures in this way, in the initial stage of moisture release, the moisture absorbent 22 on the upper surface side of the rotor 71 first releases moisture, but the moisture absorbent material 2 on the lower surface side still absorbs moisture. The moisture is released from the hygroscopic material 22 and is absorbed by the hygroscopic material 2. When the rotor 71 rotates and the moisture absorbing material 2 on the lower surface side reaches the phase transition temperature, the moisture contained in the moisture absorbing material 22 and the moisture contained in the moisture absorbing material 2 are released all at once. It becomes easy to be discharged. Moreover, this makes it less susceptible to the influence of high-temperature air, and drainage is performed well.

(Embodiment 8)
Although Embodiments 1 to 7 have been described on the assumption that the hygroscopic material used is a polymer gel hygroscopic material having temperature responsiveness, polymer gel hygroscopic materials having characteristics other than temperature responsiveness can also be used. For example, a polymer gel hygroscopic material having electromagnetic wave response can be used for the dehumidifier. The polymer gel hygroscopic material having electromagnetic wave responsiveness can be realized by mixing the above-described polymer gel hygroscopic material having temperature responsiveness with a substance that absorbs electromagnetic waves and generates heat. For example, carbon-based materials such as graphite, carbon graphite, and carbon nanotubes, carbides such as titanium carbide and zirconium carbide, metal oxides such as blackened silver and iron oxide, natural pigments, and organic pigments can be used. The electromagnetic wave absorbing substance to be added is preferably a substance that does not dissolve in the moisture contained in the polymer gel moisture-absorbing material, does not separate electrically, and does not ionize.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a dehumidifier equipped with a rotor 81 using a polymer gel hygroscopic material having electromagnetic wave response, and FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view. The rotor 81 is one in which a hygroscopic material 82 mixed with an electromagnetic wave absorbing material is evenly supported on a base material, and the basic structure is the same as that of the rotor 1 used in the first embodiment. As a portion different from the above-described embodiment in the configuration of the dehumidifier, a stimulus applying unit 83 is provided instead of the stimulus applying unit used in the first to seventh embodiments.

  The stimulus imparting unit 83 includes a case 83a, an air circulation device 8, an electromagnetic wave generation device 20, and a drain hole 9. Unlike Embodiments 1-7, case 83a does not necessarily require heat insulation, and may be structured to be cooled by ambient air. Further, since there is no heating device, it is not necessary to make a large internal space, and the entire size can be reduced. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Operation | movement of the dehumidifier 200 comprised in this way is demonstrated. In the dehumidifier 200, the moist air 3 is taken in from outside the machine via the suction air passage 11 and guided to the rotor 81 through the outside air supply device 4. The rotor area inside the suction air passage 11 is a moisture absorption area 81a where the moisture absorbent 82 carried on the rotor 1 and the moist air 3 come into contact. The air dehumidified by touching the hygroscopic material 82 becomes dry air 5 and goes out into the room via the blowout air passage 12.

  The rotor 81 containing moisture in the previous step is slowly rotated around the rotary shaft 10 and reaches the moisture release area 81 b formed by the stimulus applying unit 83. Inside the stimulus applying unit 83, the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the electromagnetic wave generator 20 is absorbed by the electromagnetic wave absorbing material of the rotor 81, and the electromagnetic wave absorbing material generates heat to heat the rotor 81. At this time, by applying a thermal stimulus to the hygroscopic material 82, the hygroscopic material 82 undergoes a phase transition from the moisture absorbing state to the moisture releasing state. Moisture absorbed by this phase transition is directly discharged as water, accumulated at the bottom of the stimulus applying portion 83, drained from the discharge hole 9, and received by the water receiving container 14.

  The amount of the electromagnetic wave absorbing substance to be mixed with the polymer gel hygroscopic material is determined by an appropriate experiment because the heat generation state varies depending on the substance used, the shape and size of the substance, and the like. In order to efficiently use the heat generated by the electromagnetic wave absorbing material, it is preferable that the electromagnetic wave absorbing material and the polymer gel material are uniformly mixed. Moreover, in order to improve the heat propagation in the polymer gel hygroscopic material, a material excellent in heat transfer characteristics may be further added.

  In the present embodiment, it can be interpreted that the air circulation device 8 mainly plays a role of sending an air flow that blows away water droplets that have oozed out of the rotor 81. In addition, polymer gel moisture-absorbing material is self-heated by microwaves, which is a type of electromagnetic wave, if it contains moisture even when there is no electromagnetic wave-absorbing material such as carbon. The gel ruptures as if it were hard and made a boiled egg in the range. In order to prevent this, an electromagnetic wave absorbing material that absorbs electromagnetic waves and rises in temperature prior to the gel should be put in the center of the gel as much as possible to reduce the peripheral part.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although it demonstrated that the stimulus imparting part 83 did not necessarily heat-insulate, it is preferable to stick a heat insulating material in order to maintain internal temperature, since it assists the heat_generation | fever by electromagnetic waves. In addition, electromagnetic waves include not only so-called radio waves but also infrared rays and other light.

  In addition, the said embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration in all the points, Comprising: It is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention can be used for a dehumidifier using a hygroscopic material.

  1, 31, 41, 71, 81 Rotor, 1a, 41a, 71a, 81a Moisture absorption area, 1b, 41b, 41c, 71b, 81b Moisture release area, 2, 22, 42, 43, 82 Hygroscopic material, 3 (wet ) Air, 4 Outside air supply device, 5 Dry air, 6, 61, 83 Stimulation section, 6a, 61a, 83a Case, 6b, 83b Air circulation passage, 6c, 61c, 62c, 83c Hot air, 7, 7a, 7b Heating device, 8 Air circulation device, 9 Drain hole, 10 (Rotor) rotating shaft, 11 Suction air passage, 12 Blow air passage, 13 (Rotor) drive motor, 14 Water receiving container, 15 Discharge water, 16 Drop water 20 Electromagnetic wave generator, 100, 200 Dehumidifier.

Claims (6)

A moisture absorbent material that directly discharges moisture absorbed by heating as water droplets;
A rotor carrying the hygroscopic material and having a ventilation structure;
A stimulus applying unit that heats and dehumidifies the rotor;
A dehumidifier comprising a rotation mechanism for rotating the rotor around an axis to continuously absorb and release moisture;
The stimulator is a dehumidifier that forms a closed space in which the ventilation structure of the rotor is part of an air circulation path.   The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein the rotor has a plurality of hygroscopic materials having different moisture release start temperatures supported on a base material.   The dehumidifier according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of moisture absorbing materials having different moisture release start temperatures are arranged in a radial direction of the rotor.   The dehumidifier according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of moisture absorbing materials having different moisture release start temperatures are arranged in the axial direction of the rotor.   The dehumidifier in any one of Claim 1 to 4 with which the heat insulation layer which prevents the heat radiation from the said stimulus provision part is provided.   The dehumidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hygroscopic material is first dried and then used.

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