KR20130016552A - Apparatus and method for dehumidifier, and air purifier having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An Air purifier with a DEHUMIDIFIER, a dehumidifying method and a dehumidifying device with a thermal element are provided to maintain humidity in a room, and to effectively control a dehumidification amount. CONSTITUTION: A dehumidifying device comprises a humidity sensor, a cooling plate, a thermal element, and a power supply unit. The humidity sensor outputs a humidity value by measuring the humidity outside. The cooling plate is in contact with air, and freezes the vapor in the air. The thermal element adjusts the temperature of the cooling plate according to the level of voltage. The power supply unit determines the level of the voltage according to the humidity value, and applies the voltage to the thermal element. The power supply unit comprises a control unit and a switch mode power supply. The control unit outputs a control signal for generating the voltage. The switch mode power supply generates the voltage corresponding to the control signal, and applies the voltage to the thermal element. [Reference numerals] (AA) Start; (BB) Ha=external humidity-target humidity; (CC) Yes; (DD) No; (EE) End; (S10) Inputting a target humidity; (S20) Measuring the exterior humidity; (S40) Supplying power; (S50) Adjusting a defrosting amount; (S60) Removing moisture

Description

Dehumidifying apparatus, dehumidifying method using a thermoelectric element and an air purifier having the dehumidifying apparatus {Apparatus and method for dehumidifier, and air purifier having the same}

The present invention relates to a dehumidifying apparatus using a thermoelectric element, a dehumidifying method and an air purifier having the dehumidifying apparatus, and in particular, a dehumidifying apparatus using a thermoelectric element, a dehumidifying method, which can adjust a dehumidifying amount according to an external humidity value. And an air purifier having the dehumidifier.

In relation to the humidity in the air, high humidity causes decay, corrosion, condensation, and odors and bacteria. Therefore, in the hospital, moisture, electrical, communication, and various electronic equipment, a device for removing such moisture is provided. Required.

However, the conventional dehumidifier is mainly composed of a refrigeration cycle using a refrigerant gas such as CFG as well as environmental problems, the complexity of the structure, such as compressor, noise, vibration and power consumption is very large, there is a problem that takes up a lot of installation space.

Recently, a dehumidifying apparatus using a thermoelectric effect has been used.

The thermoelectric effect refers to the conversion of energy between heat and electricity. When a temperature difference exists between both ends of a conversion device, electromotive force is generated by moving a carrier inside the device.

The thermoelectric phenomenon has a Seebeck effect of obtaining an electromotive force by using a temperature difference between both ends, a Peltier effect of cooling and heating with electromotive force, and an Thompson of which electromotive force is generated by a temperature difference between conductors. Can be divided into effects.

Dehumidifying apparatus using the thermoelectric phenomenon, it is possible to adjust the humidity by cooling the air introduced by using the Peltier effect.

The present invention is to provide a dehumidifying apparatus and a dehumidifying method that can control the dehumidification performance according to the supply voltage.

The present invention also provides an air purifier including a dehumidifier capable of controlling the dehumidification performance according to the supply voltage.

Dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, the humidity sensor for measuring the external humidity to output the external humidity value; A cooling plate in contact with the incoming air to condense water vapor present in the incoming air with water; A thermoelectric element for controlling a temperature of the cooling plate according to a supply voltage; And a power supply unit determining the magnitude of the supply voltage according to the external humidity value and applying the supply voltage to the thermoelectric element.

The power supply unit may include: a controller configured to subtract a target humidity value from the external humidity value, determine a magnitude of the supply voltage by multiplying a voltage supply time constant, and output a control signal to generate the supply voltage; And a switched mode power supply (SMPS) for generating the supply voltage in response to the control signal and applying the supply voltage to the thermoelectric element.

The controller may control not to supply a voltage to the thermoelectric element when the value obtained by subtracting the target humidity value from the external humidity value is less than or equal to zero.

The dehumidifier is an operation unit for receiving the target humidity; And a display unit indicating an operation state of the dehumidifier.

Dehumidification method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the humidity sensor is an external humidity measurement step of measuring the external humidity; A supply voltage determination step of determining a magnitude of a supply voltage by subtracting a target humidity value from the measured external humidity value and multiplying a voltage supply time constant; A power supply step of supplying the determined supply voltage to a thermoelectric element by a power supply device; Dehumidification amount adjusting step of the thermoelectric element to adjust the temperature of the cooling plate in accordance with the supply voltage; And a moisture removal step of condensing water vapor present in the inflowing air by contacting the inflowing air with the cooling plate.

An air purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing including an air inlet and an air outlet; A humidity sensor provided in the housing to measure an outside humidity of the housing to output an external humidity value; A blowing fan configured to form an air flow so that air is introduced into the housing through the air inlet; And a dehumidifying apparatus for condensing water vapor present in the introduced air with water using a supply voltage determined according to the external humidity value.

The dehumidifier is in contact with the incoming air, the cooling plate for condensing water vapor present in the incoming air with water; A thermoelectric element for controlling a temperature of the cooling plate according to a supply voltage; A controller for subtracting a target humidity value from the external humidity value, multiplying a voltage supply time constant to determine the magnitude of the supply voltage, and outputting a control signal to generate the supply voltage; And a switched mode power supply (SMPS) for generating the supply voltage in response to the control signal and applying the supply voltage to the thermoelectric element.

The air purifier may further include a humidifier configured to apply moisture to the introduced air when the value obtained by subtracting the target humidity value from the external humidity value is less than zero.

According to the dehumidifying apparatus, the dehumidifying method using the thermoelectric element of the present invention, and the air purifier having the dehumidifying apparatus, the amount of dehumidification can be effectively controlled by controlling the magnitude of the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric element.

According to the air cleaner of the present invention, since the humidification function is included in addition to dehumidification, the humidity in the room can be kept constant.

1 is a block diagram showing the function of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a dehumidification method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings.

In addition, in the entire specification, when a part is referred to as being 'connected' to another part, it may be referred to as 'indirectly connected' not only with 'directly connected' . Also, to "include" an element means that it may include other elements, rather than excluding other elements, unless specifically stated otherwise.

1 is a block diagram showing the function of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the dehumidifying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the humidity sensor 10, the power supply unit 20, the control unit 21, a switch mode power supply (SMPS: Switched Mode Power Supply, 22), The thermoelectric element 30 may include a cooling plate 40 and a heating plate 50.

Hereinafter, a dehumidifying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

The humidity sensor 10 may measure an external humidity and output an external humidity value. The humidity sensor 10 may measure the humidity of the outside of the dehumidifier, that is, the room where the dehumidifier is located. The humidity sensor 10 may be used as long as it is generally used in the dehumidifier to measure the humidity. The humidity sensor 10 may generate an electrical signal corresponding to the measured external humidity and transmit it to the power supply unit 20.

The power supply unit 20 may determine the magnitude of the supply voltage according to the external humidity value and apply the supply voltage to the thermoelectric element 30.

The power supply unit may include a control unit 21 and a switch mode power supply 22 (hereinafter referred to as SMPS).

The controller 21 may subtract a target humidity value from the external humidity value, multiply the voltage supply time constant to determine the magnitude of the supply voltage, and output a control signal to generate the supply voltage.

The target humidity value may be a value input from a user or a preset value, and the voltage supply time constant k may be a fixed value as a preset constant.

In order to determine the magnitude of the voltage to be supplied to the thermoelectric element 30, after subtracting the target humidity value from the external humidity value measured by the humidity sensor 10 (Ha = external humidity value-target humidity value), the The supply voltage (Va = Ha * k) supplied to the thermoelectric element 30 can be obtained by multiplying the voltage supply time constant k.

Referring to Equation Va = Ha * k, the supply voltage Va may be in proportion to the difference Ha between the external humidity value and the target humidity value. Therefore, the higher the difference between the external humidity value and the target humidity value, the higher voltage may be applied to the thermoelectric element 30, and the lower the difference between the external humidity value and the target humidity value may be applied.

The controller 21 may output a control signal for generating the supply voltage Va. The control signal may be transmitted to the SMPS 22 to cause the SMPS 22 to generate the supply voltage Va.

If the value obtained by subtracting the target humidity value from the external humidity value is less than or equal to 0, the controller 21 may control not to supply a voltage to the thermoelectric element 30.

If the value of the external humidity value minus the target humidity value (Ha) is less than or equal to 0, it means that the current indoor humidity is equal to or lower than the target humidity, in which case the dehumidifier There is no need to drive to lower humidity.

Accordingly, the controller 21 may not supply power to the thermoelectric element 30, so that the dehumidifier does not drive.

The SMPS 22 may generate the supply voltage in response to the control signal, and apply the supply voltage to the thermoelectric element 30. Since the thermoelectric element 30 is to cool the air introduced by using the Peltier effect, the operation of the thermoelectric element 30 is controlled according to the magnitude of the voltage supplied by the SMPS 22, and the dehumidification amount is adjusted accordingly. Can be.

The SMPS 22 may convert an AC power source according to an input control signal to generate a supply voltage (direct current) having an accurate magnitude and apply it to the thermoelectric element 30.

The thermoelectric element 30 may adjust the temperature of the cooling plate 50 according to the supplied voltage. The thermoelectric element 40 may generate heat at one end of the thermoelectric element 30 and generate heat at the other end by using a Peltier effect. Here, the endotherms and the exotherms correspond to each other, and when the endotherms occur largely, the exotherms also occur largely.

As the high voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element 30, the endothermic and heat generation may appear larger, and as the low voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element 30, the endothermic and heat generation may appear less. The temperature at both ends of the thermoelectric element 30 may also vary depending on the amount of heat absorption and heat generation.

As shown in FIG. 1, both ends of the thermoelectric element 30 may be provided with the cooling plate 40 and the heating plate 50, respectively, and the cooling plate 40 may absorb heat and the heating plate 50. Fever may occur.

The cooling plate 40 may be in contact with the incoming air to condense water vapor present in the incoming air with water. Since the cooling plate 40 is lower than the inflowing air, the cooling plate 40 may absorb the thermal energy possessed by the air. Accordingly, the heat energy of the water vapor contained in the air is transferred to the cooling plate 40, and the water vapor may be condensed with water.

The condensed water may be collected using a separate water tank, and the humidity of the air may be lowered by condensing water vapor contained in the air with water.

The amount of condensed water may be determined according to the endothermic amount of the cooling plate 40, and thus the amount of dehumidification may be determined according to the magnitude of the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric element 30.

The heating plate 50 may release heat as opposed to the cooling plate 40. The heat generating plate 50 may be well-heated so that the heat absorbing may be good at the cooling plate 40. Therefore, it is necessary to cool the heat generating plate 50 so that the heat generating plate 50 is well heated. Here, the heating plate 50 may be cooled by the wind of the blowing fan provided in the dehumidifier.

Although not shown, the dehumidifier may further include an operation unit and a display unit.

Here, the operation unit may receive the target humidity. The user may input a desired target humidity by using the operation unit provided in the dehumidifier, and the dehumidifier may determine the magnitude of the voltage to be supplied to the thermoelectric element 30 using the target humidity.

The display unit may indicate an operation state of the dehumidifier. The display unit may be implemented by LCD, LED, etc., and may present the operating state of the dehumidifier in a visual form.

The display unit may display the target humidity value, the external humidity value measured by the humidity sensor 10, and the user may know an operation state of the dehumidifier through the display unit.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a dehumidification method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the dehumidification method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the target humidity input step (S10), external humidity measurement step (S20), supply voltage determination step (S30), power supply step (S40), dehumidification It may include a volume control step (S50) and the moisture removal step (S60).

Hereinafter, a dehumidifying method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

In the target humidity input step S10, the target humidity may be input from the user. Here, the target humidity may mean the indoor humidity to be obtained through the dehumidification method.

External humidity measurement step (S20), the humidity sensor can measure the external humidity. Humidity sensor can be used to measure the humidity of the outside, ie indoor. The humidity sensor is generally used in the dehumidifier can be used anything that can measure the humidity. The external humidity measurement step S20 may generate an electrical signal corresponding to the measured external humidity.

In the supply voltage determining step S30, after subtracting a target humidity value from the measured external humidity value, the supply voltage may be determined by multiplying a voltage supply time constant.

Here, the target humidity is a value received in the target humidity input step S10, and the voltage supply time constant k may be a fixed value as a predetermined constant.

As shown in FIG. 2, after subtracting the target humidity value from the external humidity value (Ha = external humidity-target humidity), the difference between the external humidity value and the target humidity value Ha is less than or equal to 0 again. Return to the external humidity measurement step (S20). If the difference (Ha) between the external humidity value and the target humidity value is less than or equal to 0, it means that the current indoor humidity is equal to or lower than the target humidity, and in this case, it is not necessary to lower the humidity.

If the difference Ha between the external humidity value and the target humidity value is greater than zero, the voltage Va to be supplied to the thermoelectric element by multiplying the difference Ha between the external humidity value and the target humidity value by the voltage supply time constant k. = Ha * k).

Referring to the equation Va = Ha * k, it can be seen that the supply voltage Va is proportional to the difference Ha between the external humidity value and the target humidity value. Therefore, as the difference between the external humidity value and the target humidity value increases, a higher voltage may be applied to the thermoelectric element.

In the power supply step S40, the power supply device may supply the determined supply voltage to the thermoelectric element.

Since the thermoelectric element cools the air introduced using the Peltier effect, the amount of dehumidification of the thermoelectric element may be adjusted according to the magnitude of the voltage supplied in the power supply step (S40).

In the power supply step S40, a switch mode power supply may be used to supply the determined supply voltage. The switch mode power supply can accurately convert a commercial power of AC to generate a desired DC voltage. Therefore, the determined supply voltage can be accurately applied to the thermoelectric device by using the switch mode power supply.

Dehumidification step (S50), the thermoelectric element may adjust the temperature of the cooling plate according to the supply voltage.

Since the thermoelectric element may use the Peltier effect, the thermoelectric element may cause endothermic and exothermic effects at both ends of the thermoelectric element by using the supply voltage. A cooling plate may be attached to one end of the thermoelectric element in which the endothermic action occurs, and a heating plate may be attached to the other end of the thermoelectric element in which the exothermic action occurs.

The endothermic and heat generation of the thermoelectric element may vary depending on the magnitude of the supply voltage supplied to the thermoelectric element, and the degree of endotherm and heat generation may increase in proportion to the magnitude of the supply voltage.

Therefore, the thermoelectric element may adjust the temperature of the cooling plate and the heating plate according to the magnitude of the supplied supply voltage.

In the moisture removing step (S60), the incoming air may be brought into contact with the cooling plate to condense water vapor present in the incoming air with water.

The cooling plate may be maintained at a lower temperature than the inflowing air by the Peltier effect, so that the cooling plate may absorb the thermal energy of the air. Accordingly, the inflowing air delivers the thermal energy of the water vapor contained in the air to the cooling plate, and the water vapor may be condensed with water.

The condensed water may be collected using a separate water tank, and the humidity of the introduced air may be lowered by condensation of water vapor contained in the air with water.

Although not shown, the air cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a housing, a humidity sensor, a blowing fan, and a dehumidifier.

The housing may include an air inlet and an air outlet. The housing may form an exterior of the air cleaner, and the outside air may be introduced into the air cleaner through the air inlet, and the air inside the air cleaner may be discharged to the outside through the air outlet. The interior of the space composed of the housing may be distinguished according to the function and role of the air cleaner.

The humidity sensor may be provided in the housing and may measure an external humidity to output an external humidity value. Since the humidity sensor has been described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The blowing fan may form an air flow such that air is introduced into the housing through the air inlet. The blowing fan may be driven by a motor, and external air may be introduced into the air purifier through the air inlet by the rotation of the blowing fan. In addition, the air that has been processed, such as air purification, dehumidification can be discharged to the air outlet using the blowing fan. The front or rear of the blowing fan may further include a filter for filtering the incoming air. In addition, the heating plate of the thermoelectric element constituting the dehumidifying apparatus may be cooled by using the blowing fan.

The dehumidifier may condense water vapor present in the inflowing air with water using a supply voltage determined according to the external humidity value. The dehumidifier may include a cooling plate, a thermoelectric element, a controller, and a switched mode power supply (SMPS).

The cooling plate may contact the incoming air to condense water vapor present in the incoming air with water, and the thermoelectric element may adjust the temperature of the cooling plate according to the magnitude of the supply voltage. The control unit may subtract a target humidity value from the external humidity value, multiply the voltage supply time constant to determine the magnitude of the supply voltage, and output a control signal to generate the supply voltage, wherein the SMPS outputs the control signal. The supply voltage may be generated in response to the supply voltage, and the supply voltage may be applied to the thermoelectric element.

The dehumidifying apparatus, the cooling plate, the thermoelectric element, the controller, and the SMPS constituting the dehumidifying apparatus have been described above, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The air cleaner may further include a humidifier configured to apply moisture to the inflowing air when the value obtained by subtracting the target humidity value from the external humidity value is less than zero.

If the difference between the external humidity value and the target humidity value is less than zero, it means that the current external humidity is insufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to provide moisture in order to maintain proper humidity.

Conventionally, in order to keep the air clean and maintain proper indoor humidity, air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, etc. should be provided separately, and in this case, proper arrangement and installation in a narrow indoor space is not only cumbersome and inconvenient, but also increases the economic burden. there was.

However, the air purifier may further include the humidifier in addition to the dehumidifier, so that all three functions may be performed by one air cleaner.

The present invention is not limited by the above-described embodiment and the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, .

10: humidity sensor 20: power supply
21: control unit 22: switch mode power supply
30: thermoelectric element 40: cooling plate
50: heating plate
S10: target humidity input step S20: external humidity measurement step
S30: supply voltage determination step S40: power supply step
S50: Dehumidification step S60: Dehumidification step

Claims (8)

A humidity sensor for measuring an external humidity and outputting an external humidity value;
A cooling plate in contact with the incoming air to condense water vapor present in the incoming air with water;
A thermoelectric element for controlling a temperature of the cooling plate according to a supply voltage; And
And a power supply unit for determining the magnitude of the supply voltage according to the external humidity value and applying the supply voltage to the thermoelectric element.
The plasma display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit
A controller for subtracting a target humidity value from the external humidity value, multiplying a voltage supply time constant to determine the magnitude of the supply voltage, and outputting a control signal to generate the supply voltage; And
And a switched mode power supply (SMPS) for generating the supply voltage in response to the control signal and applying the supply voltage to the thermoelectric element.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control unit
And a control unit not to supply a voltage to the thermoelectric element when the value obtained by subtracting the target humidity value from the external humidity value is less than or equal to zero.
The method of claim 3,
An operation unit receiving the target humidity; And
Dehumidifying apparatus further comprising a display unit for indicating an operating state of the dehumidifying apparatus.
An external humidity measurement step of the humidity sensor measuring an external humidity;
A supply voltage determination step of determining a magnitude of a supply voltage by subtracting a target humidity value from the measured external humidity value and multiplying a voltage supply time constant;
A power supply step of supplying the determined supply voltage to a thermoelectric element by a power supply device;
Dehumidification amount adjusting step of the thermoelectric element to adjust the temperature of the cooling plate in accordance with the supply voltage; And
And a moisture removal step of contacting the incoming air with the cooling plate to condense water vapor present in the incoming air with water.
A housing including an air inlet and an air outlet;
A humidity sensor provided in the housing to measure an outside humidity of the housing to output an external humidity value;
A blowing fan configured to form an air flow so that air is introduced into the housing through the air inlet; And
And a dehumidifier for condensing water vapor present in the introduced air with water using a supply voltage determined according to the external humidity value.
According to claim 6, The dehumidifier is
A cooling plate in contact with the incoming air to condense water vapor present in the incoming air with water;
A thermoelectric element for controlling a temperature of the cooling plate according to a supply voltage;
A controller for subtracting a target humidity value from the external humidity value, multiplying a voltage supply time constant to determine the magnitude of the supply voltage, and outputting a control signal to generate the supply voltage; And
And a switched mode power supply (SMPS) for generating the supply voltage in response to the control signal and applying the supply voltage to the thermoelectric element.
The method of claim 7, wherein
And a humidifier configured to apply moisture to the incoming air when the value obtained by subtracting the target humidity value from the external humidity value is less than zero.

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