JPWO2016170592A1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The heat exchanger 1 and the heat exchanger 2 are condensers, the first operation mode (adsorption mode) in which the heat exchanger 3 functions as an evaporator, the heat exchanger 1 is a condenser, the heat exchanger 2 is an evaporator, Dehumidification control unit 22 that alternately performs the second operation mode (desorption mode) in which the heat exchanger 3 functions as a condenser, and water droplet adhesion determination when switching from the second operation mode to the first operation mode Drying that controls the air volume adjusting device 9 to switch from the first operation mode to the second operation mode and to reduce the air volume of the air flowing into the heat exchanger 1 when the determination result of the unit 21 is that there is water droplet adhesion. And a drying control unit 23 for executing the mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a dehumidifying function.

  Conventionally, an air conditioner having a dehumidifying function has a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. In this air conditioner, the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant circuit is compressed by the compressor, becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant, and is sent to the condenser. The refrigerant flowing into the condenser is liquefied by releasing heat to the surrounding air. The liquefied refrigerant is decompressed by the expansion valve to be in a gas-liquid two-phase state, and is sent to the evaporator. The refrigerant sent to the evaporator becomes a gas state by absorbing heat from the ambient air and returns to the compressor. The ambient air of the evaporator is absorbed and cooled by the evaporator, and is dehumidified by condensing moisture in the air by being cooled below the dew point.

  In Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a desiccant block is used in order to enhance a dehumidifying function in a low temperature range, which is not suitable for a conventional air conditioner. The desiccant block has a polymer adsorbent and adsorbs and desorbs moisture. In the air conditioners of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, heat exchangers are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the air path of the desiccant block, and one of the heat exchangers is switched to the evaporator by switching the four-way valve. Is replaced with a condenser, and one is replaced with a condenser and the other is replaced with an evaporator. Dehumidification is provided with two modes: an adsorption mode arranged in the order of evaporator-desiccant block-condenser from the upstream side of the air passage, and a desorption mode arranged in the order of condenser-desiccant block-evaporator.

JP 2013-228152 A JP 2013-228153 A JP 2014-210223 A

  The air conditioning apparatus of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can enhance the dehumidifying ability in a low temperature region by disposing a desiccant block between the condenser and the evaporator. However, when an amount of water droplets not expected in normal use adheres to the desiccant block, the paper constituting the desiccant block absorbs water droplets that cannot be adsorbed by the polymer adsorbent. In this case, it takes a long time to desorb the moisture of the desiccant block in the desorption mode, and the dehumidifying ability is lowered. Further, if the operation is continued without the desiccant block being completely dried, the adsorption / desorption amount of the desiccant block is reduced and the adsorption structure is destroyed. As a method for suppressing the adhesion of water droplets to the desiccant block, there is a method of disposing a filter on the upstream side of the desiccant block as in Patent Document 3, but it is difficult to completely prevent it.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner that can promote drying of a desiccant block when water droplets adhere to the desiccant block.

  An air conditioner according to the present invention includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a flow path switching device, a second heat exchanger, a decompression device, and a third heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant pipe. A desiccant block that adsorbs moisture in the air and desorbs moisture in the air, and an air passage from the inlet to the outlet are formed inside, and the third heat is formed in the air passage sequentially from the air upstream side. An exchanger, a desiccant block, a second heat exchanger, a casing in which the first heat exchanger is arranged, a blower that sends air outside the casing to the air passage, and air that flows into the first heat exchanger The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are condensers by switching the air volume adjusting device for adjusting the air volume, the water droplet adhesion determining unit for determining the presence or absence of water droplet adhesion to the desiccant block, and the flow path switching device. A first operating mode in which the third heat exchanger functions as an evaporator; A dehumidification controller that alternately performs a second operation mode in which the first heat exchanger functions as a condenser, the second heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the third heat exchanger functions as a condenser; When the determination result of the water droplet adhesion determination unit when the operation mode is switched to the first operation mode is that there is water droplet adhesion, the operation mode is switched from the first operation mode to the second operation mode, and the first heat And a drying control unit that performs a drying mode for controlling the air volume adjusting device so as to reduce the air volume of the air flowing into the exchanger.

  According to the present invention, when water droplets adhere to the desiccant block, the air volume adjusting device is controlled to reduce the air volume flowing into the first heat exchanger, and as a result, the temperature of the air flowing into the desiccant block is increased. Therefore, drying of the desiccant block can be promoted.

It is a block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the figure which showed the transition of the saturated water | moisture-content adsorption amount (equilibrium adsorption amount) which the adsorption agent used for the desiccant block of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention can adsorb | suck with respect to the relative humidity of air. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant | coolant at the time of adsorption mode of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant | coolant at the time of the desorption mode of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a humid air line figure showing air temperature humidity transition at the time of adsorption mode of the air harmony device concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a humid air line figure showing air temperature humidity transition at the time of desorption mode of the air harmony device concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a flowchart regarding switching of the operation mode of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
《Airway configuration》
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The air conditioner has a housing 12 in which an air passage 11 extending from a suction port 11 a to an air outlet 11 b is formed, and the air to be dehumidified passes through the air passage 11 using the blower 4. ing. The air to be dehumidified includes a heat exchanger (third heat exchanger) 3, a desiccant block 5, a heat exchanger (second heat exchanger) 2, and a heat exchanger (first heat exchanger) disposed in the air passage 11. After passing through the heat exchanger (1), it is discharged into the dehumidifying space. Here, in FIG. 1, the blower 4 is arranged at the most downstream side of the air passage 11, but if the target air volume passes through the heat exchanger 3, the heat exchanger 2, and the heat exchanger 1, You may arrange | position upstream and does not limit an arrangement position.

  Temperature sensors 10 a and 10 b are arranged before and after the desiccant block 5 in the air passage 11. The temperature sensor 10a detects an air temperature (hereinafter referred to as inlet air temperature) Ta before entering the desiccant block 5. The temperature sensor 10b detects an air temperature (hereinafter referred to as outlet air temperature) Tb coming out from the desiccant block 5. Further, an air volume adjusting device 9 is disposed between the heat exchanger 2 and the heat exchanger 1.

  The air volume adjusting device 9 adjusts the air volume in the air path 11, specifically, the air volume flowing into the heat exchanger 1 by opening and closing. The air volume adjusting device 9 is “open” when in the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 and “closed” when in the position indicated by the dotted line. Although the air volume adjusting device 9 is configured to rotate the plate member by 90 ° in FIG. 1, the configuration of the air volume adjusting device 9 is not limited to this configuration. In addition, for example, the air volume of the air flowing into the heat exchanger 1 may be adjusted by moving the slide plate up and down in FIG. Further, the quantity and arrangement of the temperature sensors 10 a and 10 b and the shape of the air volume adjusting device 9 depend on the size of the heat exchangers 1 to 3 or the desiccant block 5.

<Refrigerant circuit configuration>
Next, the refrigerant circuit configuration and operation of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor 6 that compresses the refrigerant, heat exchangers 1 to 3 that serve as a condenser that condenses the refrigerant or an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant, a decompression device 8 that decompresses the condensed refrigerant, a condenser and an evaporator, In order to replace the two, a four-way valve 7 which is a flow path switching device that reverses the flow of the refrigerant flowing in the heat exchangers 2 and 3 is provided. The refrigerant circuit is configured by sequentially connecting the compressor 6, the heat exchanger 1, the four-way valve 7, the heat exchanger 2, the decompression device 8, and the heat exchanger 3 with refrigerant piping.

"Equipment configuration"
(Compressor 6)
The compressor 6 may have a fixed capacity with a fixed rotational speed, or may be of a type in which the rotational speed is controlled and capacity control is performed. In the present invention, the number of compressors 6 is not limited to one, and two or more compressors 6 may be connected in parallel or in series.

(Heat exchangers 1-3)
The heat exchangers 1 to 3 are configured by, for example, a cross fin type fin-and-tube heat exchanger including a plurality of fins and a heat transfer tube through which a refrigerant flows.

(Blower 4)
The blower 4 is a fan capable of changing the flow rate of air passing through the air passage 11 in the air conditioner, and is a centrifugal fan, a multiblade fan or the like driven by a motor such as a DC fan motor.

(Decompression device 8)
The decompression device 8 decompresses the refrigerant and can adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit. The decompression device 8 is an electronic expansion valve capable of adjusting the opening of a throttle by a stepping motor (not shown) or a mechanical expansion valve or a capillary tube that employs a diaphragm as a pressure receiving unit.

(Four-way valve 7)
The four-way valve 7 switches the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. Although the four-way valve 7 is shown here as the flow path switching device, it is only necessary to be able to switch the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. For example, a combination of a solenoid valve and a check valve can provide the same effect. Well, the configuration is not limited.

(Refrigerant)
Examples of the refrigerant used in the air conditioner include HFC refrigerants such as R410A, R407C, and R404A, HCFC refrigerants such as R22 and R134a, or natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbon and helium.

(Desicant block 5)
The desiccant block 5 is a polygonal porous flat plate or the like along the air path cross section, and is made of paper so that air can pass in the thickness direction. Further, the porous flat plate has an adsorbent having a characteristic of absorbing moisture from relatively high humidity air such as a polymer adsorbent on the surface and releasing it to relatively low humidity air. Apply, surface treatment or impregnation.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a transition of a saturated moisture adsorption amount (equilibrium adsorption amount) that the adsorbent used in the desiccant block of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention can adsorb relative to the relative humidity of air. It is.
The equilibrium adsorption amount generally increases as the air relative humidity increases. The adsorbent used in the first embodiment is an adsorbent having a large difference between the equilibrium adsorption amount with a relative humidity of 80% or more and the equilibrium adsorption amount with a relative humidity of 40 to 60%, and this adsorbent is used. By doing so, the adsorption / desorption capability of the desiccant block 5 can be increased. Further, when a water droplet adheres to the desiccant block 5, the paper forming the desiccant block 5 absorbs moisture that cannot be adsorbed by the polymer adsorbent, leading to a decrease in dehumidifying ability and destruction of the adsorbent. In the first embodiment, an improvement measure for this problem is taken, which will be described later.

"Control device"
The air conditioner of Embodiment 1 further includes a control device 20 that controls the entire air conditioner. The control device 20 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). And the water droplet adhesion determination part 21, the dehumidification control part 22, and the drying control part 23 are comprised functionally by the control program memorize | stored in CPU and ROM.

  The water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 determines whether or not water droplets adhere to the desiccant block 5. A specific determination method will be described later.

  The dehumidification control unit 22 controls the driving frequency of the compressor 6, the opening degree of the decompression device 8, the rotation speed of the blower 4, the switching of the four-way valve 7, the opening / closing of the air volume adjustment device 9, and the like. Control dehumidification operation. The dehumidifying operation is an operation in which the first operation mode (adsorption mode) and the second operation mode (desorption mode) are alternately performed. Switching between the adsorption mode and the desorption mode is performed by switching the four-way valve 7.

  The drying control unit 23 controls the driving frequency of the compressor 6, the opening degree of the decompression device 8, the rotation speed of the blower 4, the switching of the four-way valve 7, the opening / closing of the air volume adjustment device 9, and the like. Perform drying mode. The drying mode is a mode that is performed when the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 determines that there is water droplet adhesion on the desiccant block 5, and is a mode that promotes drying of the desiccant block 5.

<Operation mode>
Hereinafter, the flow of the refrigerant in each of the adsorption mode and the desorption mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The refrigerant flow in the drying mode is the same as that in the desorption mode.

[Suction mode]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the refrigerant flow during the adsorption mode of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The arrows in FIG. 3 indicate the flow of the refrigerant.
In the adsorption mode, the refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor 6, the heat exchanger 1, the four-way valve 7, the heat exchanger 2, the decompression device 8, the heat exchanger 3, and the four-way valve 7, and flows into the compressor 6 again. Form. In the adsorption mode, the heat exchanger 1 and the heat exchanger 2 function as a condenser, and the heat exchanger 3 functions as an evaporator, and an operation of adsorbing moisture to the desiccant block 5 is performed as described later.

[Desorption mode]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a refrigerant flow during the desorption mode of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The arrows in FIG. 4 indicate the flow of the refrigerant.
In the desorption mode, the refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor 6, the heat exchanger 1, the four-way valve 7, the heat exchanger 2, the decompression device 8, the heat exchanger 3, and the four-way valve 7, and then flows into the compressor 6 again. Form. In the desorption mode, the heat exchanger 1 and the heat exchanger 2 function as a condenser and the heat exchanger 3 functions as an evaporator, and an operation of desorbing (releasing) moisture in the desiccant block 5 is performed as described later.

《Dehumidifying operation of air conditioner》
Next, the air operation | movement in each mode of an air conditioning apparatus is demonstrated using FIG.5 and FIG.6.

[Suction mode]
FIG. 5 is a moist air diagram showing air temperature / humidity transition during the adsorption mode of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (1-1) to (1-5) showing the air state of FIG. 5 are before passing through the heat exchanger 3 in the adsorption mode (1-1), after passing through the heat exchanger 3 (1-2), and a desiccant block. After passing through 5 (1-3), after passing through the heat exchanger 2 (1-4), after passing through the heat exchanger 1 (1-5) is shown. In the adsorption mode, the air volume adjusting device 9 is in the “open” state shown by the solid line in FIG.

  In the adsorption mode, air (1-1) that has flowed into the air passage 11 from the suction port 11a is sent into the heat exchanger 3. Here, the air flowing into the air passage 11 is cooled by the heat exchanger 3 functioning as an evaporator. The air cooled below the dew point temperature by this cooling becomes dehumidified air (1-2) from which moisture has been dehumidified, and is sent to the desiccant block 5.

  In the adsorption mode, the desiccant block 5 has a small water retention amount (except when a water droplet is attached), and is in a state in which moisture adsorbs and reacts with high-humidity air. For this reason, the dehumidified air sent to the desiccant block 5 is dehumidified by adsorbing the moisture in the dehumidified air to the adsorbent of the desiccant block 5. On the other hand, the air sent into the desiccant block 5 is overheated by the heat of adsorption accompanying moisture adsorption, and the air temperature rises. Therefore, the air that has flowed into the desiccant block 5 passes through the desiccant block 5, is reduced in temperature and humidity, and flows into the heat exchanger 2 (1-3).

  Since the heat exchanger 2 functions as a condenser, the air flowing into the heat exchanger 2 is heated and the air temperature rises (1-4). The air after passing through the heat exchanger 2 flows into the heat exchanger 1. Since the heat exchanger 1 functions as a condenser, the air flowing into the heat exchanger 1 further rises in air temperature (1-5) and is discharged from the outlet 11b.

[Desorption mode]
FIG. 6 is a moist air diagram showing air temperature / humidity transition during the desorption mode of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (2-1) to (2-5) showing the air state of FIG. 6 are before passing through the heat exchanger 3 in the desorption mode (2-1), after passing through the heat exchanger 3 (2-2), and a desiccant block. After passing through 5 (2-3), after passing through the heat exchanger 2 (2-4), after passing through the heat exchanger 1 (2-5) is shown. In the desorption mode, the air volume adjusting device 9 is in the “open” state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 as in the adsorption mode.

  In the desorption mode, air (2-1) flowing into the air passage from the suction port 11a is sent into the heat exchanger 3. Here, the air that has flowed into the air passage 11 is heated by the heat exchanger 3 that functions as a condenser, the air temperature rises (2-2), and is sent to the desiccant block 5.

  The desiccant block 5 has a large amount of moisture retention in the desorption mode, and is in a state of releasing (desorbing) moisture to low-humidity air. For this reason, the air sent to the desiccant block 5 is humidified by desorbing (releasing) the moisture held in the desiccant block 5 into the air. On the other hand, the air sent to the desiccant block 5 is desorbed with the desorption of moisture, and the air temperature decreases. Therefore, the air sent into the desiccant block 5 passes through the desiccant block 5 and becomes low-temperature and high-humidity and flows into the heat exchanger 2 (2-3).

  Since the heat exchanger 2 functions as an evaporator, the air flowing into the heat exchanger 2 is cooled. The air cooled to the dew point temperature or lower by this cooling becomes dehumidified air (2-4) from which moisture has been dehumidified, and flows into the heat exchanger 1. Since the heat exchanger 1 functions as a condenser, the air that has flowed into the heat exchanger 1 has an increased air temperature (2-5) and is discharged from the outlet 11b.

  The adsorption mode and the desorption mode are switched at an arbitrary cycle to dehumidify the dehumidifying target space.

  By the way, the desiccant block 5 may have an amount of moisture adhering to the desiccant block 5 that is not assumed in normal use. Hereinafter, this point will be specifically described. For example, frost may adhere to the heat exchanger 3 that functions as an evaporator in the adsorption mode. When the operation mode is switched from the adsorption mode to the desorption mode with frost on the heat exchanger 3, the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor 6 flows into the heat exchanger 3. Is defrosted. In this case, the melted frost is attached to the fin surface as water droplets, and the water droplets generate so-called dew with the air flow by the blower 4, and the water droplets adhere to the desiccant block 5. Water droplets due to this dewdrop adhere mainly to the lower part of the desiccant block 5. This is because water droplets on the fin surface flow down along the fin surface and stay in, for example, a gap between the fins at the lower end of the fin.

  In the first embodiment, when a water droplet adheres to the desiccant block 5 as described above, a drying mode is provided so that the desiccant block 5 is dried early.

  Hereinafter, prior to describing the drying mode, the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 that determines the presence or absence of water droplet adhesion in the desiccant block 5 will be described. The water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 detects water droplets on the desiccant block 5 based on the inlet air temperature Ta before the inflow of the desiccant block 5 detected by the temperature sensor 10a and the outlet air temperature Tb after the outflow of the desiccant block 5 detected by the temperature sensor 10b. Determine the presence or absence of adhesion. That is, in the case of the normal desiccant block 5 to which no water droplets are attached, in the adsorption mode, the air is adsorbed and dehumidified by passing through the desiccant block 5 as shown in FIG. For this reason, the outlet air temperature Tb is higher than the inlet air temperature Ta (for example, about 5 ° C.). However, when water droplets are attached to the desiccant block 5, the adsorption function of the desiccant block 5 is lost, so that the temperature difference between the inlet air temperature Ta and the outlet air temperature Tb becomes almost zero.

  Taking advantage of this characteristic, the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 determines whether or not a water droplet adheres to the desiccant block 5. That is, the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 reads the temperatures of the inlet air temperature Ta and the outlet air temperature Tb of the desiccant block 5 immediately after switching from the desorption mode to the adsorption mode. The water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 determines that there is water droplet adhesion when the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the inlet air temperature Ta from the outlet air temperature Tb is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 5 ° C.). Is greater than a predetermined threshold (for example, 5 ° C.), it is determined that there is no water droplet adhesion. The threshold value for water droplet adhesion determination is stored in advance in the ROM in the control device 20.

[Drying mode]
Next, the drying mode will be described. The flow of the refrigerant in the drying mode is the same as the flow of the refrigerant in the desorption mode of FIG. And the point which is performed in the state of the air volume adjusting device 9 being "closed" (dotted line in FIG. 4) is different from the desorption mode. Hereinafter, the role of the air volume adjusting device 9 in the drying mode will be described first.

<Role of the air volume adjusting device 9>
The air volume adjusting device 9 is “closed” when the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 determines that there is water droplet adhesion on the desiccant block 5 and closes the upper part of the air path. In this way, the air volume adjusting device 9 closes the upper part of the air path, and the air volume of the air flowing into the heat exchanger 1 functioning as a condenser is reduced. Thereby, the heat exchange capability in the heat exchanger 1 falls, and a condensation temperature rises. As a result, a high-temperature refrigerant is sent into the heat exchanger 3, the inlet air temperature of the desiccant block 5 rises, and it becomes possible to promote drying of the desiccant block 5.

  Further, since the adhesion of water droplets in the desiccant block 5 occurs on the lower side of the desiccant block 5 as described above, the air velocity on the lower side of the desiccant block 5 is increased from the viewpoint of promoting drying on the lower side of the desiccant block 5. It is preferable. Here, the upper part of the air passage 11 is closed by the air flow adjusting device 9 and the lower portion of the air passage 11 is opened, so that the lower portion of the heat exchanger 3 and the desiccant block 5 is the same as before the air flow adjusting device 9 is closed. An air velocity higher than that can be obtained, and drying of the lower portion of the desiccant block 5 can be promoted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart relating to switching of operation modes of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The dehumidification control unit 22 switches the operation mode from the adsorption mode to the desorption mode at an arbitrary switching time, as indicated by an arrow S1. Specifically, the dehumidification control unit 22 switches the four-way valve 7 to change the flow of the refrigerant from the flow in the adsorption mode to the flow in the desorption mode, and “open” the air volume adjusting device 9 as in the adsorption mode. Leave as it is. Then, the dehumidification control unit 22 switches from the desorption mode to the adsorption mode as indicated by an arrow S2 at an arbitrary switching time. Specifically, the dehumidification control unit 22 switches the four-way valve 7 to change the flow of the refrigerant from the flow in the desorption mode to the flow in the adsorption mode.

  The switching between the adsorption mode and the desorption mode is not limited to a method of switching at an arbitrary switching time, and in some cases, the adsorption / desorption saturation may be detected from the air temperature difference before and after the desiccant block 5 and switched. An arbitrary switching time (switching cycle) and a temperature difference threshold value for judging the adsorption / desorption saturation depend on the size of the air conditioner or the environmental conditions of the dehumidifying target space.

  When the determination result of the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 after switching from the desorption mode to the adsorption mode (for example, immediately after the switching) indicates that there is no water droplet adhesion, the dehumidification control unit 22 arbitrarily sets the adsorption mode as indicated by an arrow S3. Continue until the switchover time elapses. On the other hand, the dehumidification control unit 22 passes control to the drying control unit 23 when the determination result of the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 indicates that there is water droplet adhesion.

  The drying control unit 23 switches the operation mode from the adsorption mode to the drying mode in order to promote drying of the desiccant block 5 as indicated by an arrow S4. Specifically, the drying control unit 23 switches the four-way valve 7 to change the flow of the refrigerant from the flow in the adsorption mode to the flow in the desorption mode, and closes the air volume adjusting device 9. Thereby, at the lower part of the desiccant block 5, it is possible to obtain an air velocity equal to or higher than that before closing the air volume adjusting device 9, and to increase the inlet air temperature of the desiccant block 5. Drying of the lower part can be promoted.

  Here, the end timing of the drying mode is not particularly limited. For example, when an arbitrary drying time set in advance elapses, control is returned from the dehumidification control unit 22 to the drying control unit 23, and the dehumidification control unit 22 Switch from drying mode to adsorption mode. Thereafter, the above operation is repeated. The drying time depends on the size of the air conditioner or the environmental conditions.

"Effect of the invention"
The air conditioner configured in this way can be dried quickly even when water droplets adhere to the desiccant block 5, and can prevent a reduction in dehumidifying capacity.

  In addition, the early drying of the desiccant block 5 can prevent structural destruction of the desiccant block 5 and improve durability.

  Further, by using this water droplet adhesion detection method, it is possible to determine the adhesion of water droplets with one temperature detection when switching from the desorption mode to the adsorption mode, and easy and reliable detection is possible.

  Further, since the air volume adjusting device 9 is arranged upstream of the air in the heat exchanger 1 and blocks or opens part of the air passage 11, the air volume flowing into the heat exchanger 1 can be adjusted with a simple configuration.

  Further, in adjusting the air volume flowing into the heat exchanger 1, the air volume adjusting device 9 blocks or opens the upper side of the air passage 11, so that the air volume adjusting device 9 is closed at the lower portion of the desiccant block 5. You can get air speeds equal to or higher than. Therefore, drying of the lower part of the desiccant block 5 can be promoted.

  Further, the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 determines the desiccant block based on the temperature difference between the inlet air temperature Ta, which is the air temperature before the desiccant block 5 flows in, and the outlet air temperature Tb, which is the air temperature after the desiccant block 5 flows out. Since the presence / absence of 5 water droplet adhesion is determined, the determination process is simple.

  In addition, since water droplet adhesion to the desiccant block 5 occurs at the lower part of the desiccant block 5 as described above, it is preferable that the arrangement height of the temperature sensor 10a and the temperature sensor 10a is arranged on the lower side of the desiccant block 5. . With this arrangement, the inlet air temperature Ta and the outlet air temperature Tb on the lower side of the desiccant block 5 can be detected, so that the determination accuracy of water droplet adhesion can be increased. However, the arrangement height of the temperature sensor 10a and the temperature sensor 10a is not limited to this height. In addition, when switching between the adsorption mode and the desorption mode is performed by detecting the adsorption / desorption saturation from the air temperature difference before and after the desiccant block 5, the adsorption / desorption saturation is detected and the water droplet adhering to the desiccant block 5 is detected. A temperature sensor may be provided separately for detection.

  In addition, the water droplet adhesion determination unit 21 determines that there is no water droplet adhesion when the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the inlet air temperature Ta from the outlet air temperature Tb exceeds a preset threshold value. The presence or absence of water droplets can be determined by a simple method.

  Further, since the end timing of the drying mode is defined by time (drying time), the control is simple.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchanger, 2 Heat exchanger, 3 Heat exchanger, 4 Air blower, 5 Desiccant block, 6 Compressor, 7 Four-way valve, 8 Pressure reducing device, 9 Air volume adjustment device, 10a Temperature sensor, 10b Temperature sensor, 11 Wind Road, 11a Suction port, 11b Air outlet, 12 Housing, 20 Control device, 21 Water drop adhesion determination unit, 22 Dehumidification control unit, 23 Drying control unit

An air conditioner according to the present invention includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a flow path switching device, a second heat exchanger, a decompression device, and a third heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant pipe. A desiccant block that adsorbs moisture in the air and desorbs moisture in the air, and an air passage from the inlet to the outlet are formed inside, and the third heat is formed in the air passage sequentially from the air upstream side. An exchanger, a desiccant block, a second heat exchanger, a casing in which the first heat exchanger is arranged, a blower that sends air outside the casing to the air passage, and air that flows into the first heat exchanger The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are condensers by switching the air volume adjusting device for adjusting the air volume, the water droplet adhesion determining unit for determining the presence or absence of water droplet adhesion to the desiccant block, and the flow path switching device. A first operating mode in which the third heat exchanger functions as an evaporator; 1 of the heat exchanger is a condenser, the second heat exchanger is an evaporator, and the second operation mode and the actual Hodokosuru dehumidification control unit third heat exchanger functions as a condenser, the second operating When the determination result of the water droplet adhesion determination unit when switching from the mode to the first operation mode indicates that there is water droplet adhesion, the first operation mode is switched to the second operation mode, and the first heat exchange is performed. And a drying control unit that implements a drying mode for controlling the air volume adjusting device so as to reduce the air volume of the air flowing into the container.

Claims (6)

A refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a flow path switching device, a second heat exchanger, a decompression device, and a third heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant piping;
A desiccant block that adsorbs and desorbs moisture contained in the air;
An air passage extending from the inlet to the outlet is formed inside, and the third heat exchanger, the desiccant block, the second heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger are sequentially formed in the air passage from the air upstream side. A housing in which a heat exchanger is disposed;
A blower that sends air outside the housing into the air path;
An air volume adjusting device for adjusting an air volume of air flowing into the first heat exchanger;
A water droplet adhesion determination unit for determining the presence or absence of water droplet adhesion to the desiccant block;
A first operation mode in which the first and second heat exchangers function as a condenser and the third heat exchanger functions as an evaporator by switching the flow path switching device, and the first A dehumidification control unit that alternately performs the second operation mode in which the heat exchanger of the second is a condenser, the second heat exchanger is an evaporator, and the third heat exchanger functions as a condenser;
Switching from the first operation mode to the second operation mode when the determination result of the water droplet adhesion determination unit at the time of switching from the second operation mode to the first operation mode is that there is water droplet adhesion. And an air conditioner comprising: a drying control unit that performs a drying mode for controlling the air volume adjusting device so as to reduce the air volume of the air flowing into the first heat exchanger.   2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air volume adjusting device is disposed upstream of air in the first heat exchanger and blocks or opens a part of the air path.   The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the air volume adjusting device blocks or opens an upper portion of the air passage as a part of the air passage.   The water droplet adhesion determination unit is configured to attach water droplets to the desiccant block based on a temperature difference between an inlet air temperature that is an air temperature before the desiccant block flows in and an outlet air temperature that is an air temperature after the desiccant block flows out. The air conditioning apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3 which determines the presence or absence of.   5. The water droplet adhesion determination unit determines that there is no water droplet adhesion when a temperature difference obtained by subtracting the inlet air temperature from the outlet air temperature exceeds a preset threshold value, and that there is water droplet adhesion when the temperature difference is equal to or less than the threshold value. The air conditioning apparatus described.   The air conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an end timing of the drying mode is defined by time.

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