WO2012091333A2

WO2012091333A2 - Humidification apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2012091333A2
Application number: PCT/KR2011/009700
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seong-Jin Yun
Original assignee: Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-29
Filing date: 2011-12-16
Publication date: 2012-07-05
Also published as: WO2012091333A3

Abstract

A humidification apparatus includes: a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port; a water tank disposed inside the housing to store water; a humidifying unit configured to be rotatable about a rotational shaft and partially immersed in the water tank, the humidifying unit including a humidifying filter member including cellulose; and a blower fan configured to blow air in order for humidification of the humidifying unit.

Description

HUMIDIFICATION APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a humidification apparatus, and more particularly, to a humidification apparatus capable of preventing the clogging of a humidifying filter and improving the humidification performance thereof.

In general, humidifiers are designed to generate and spray artificial mist so as to increase indoor humidity. Humidifiers may be classified into heating type humidifiers, ultrasonic humidifiers, and hybrid humidifiers. A heating type humidifier is configured to generate water vapor by heating water stored in a water tank to a predetermined temperature, and naturally spray the water vapor into the room. An ultrasonic humidifier is configured to generate fine water particles by ultrasonically vibrating water stored in a water tank, and spray the fine water particles into the room. A hybrid humidifier has both a heating type humidifying function and an ultrasonic humidifying function.

Meanwhile, a natural (impeller type) humidifier has recently been introduced. In the natural humidifier, a humidifying filter is immersed in a water tank, and water moved above the humidifying filter is evaporated by an air current. As another example, a plurality of discs are partially immersed in a water tank, and the discs are rotated so that water attached to the surfaces thereof may be evaporated by an air current.

In general, in the case of a vaporizing type humidifier, a blower fan intakes air from the outside of the unit, and the air intaken into the unit vaporizes while passing through the humidifying filter. The humidified air is vented out of the unit and humidifies a room.

The humidifying process, as above, is continuous in the process of humidification. This process causes the sedimentation of scaling included or dissolved in water in the humidification filter, as water vaporizes into air while passing through the filter, while scaling does not. When tap water containing metal ions, such as calcium ions or magnesium ions, is used as a substance for air humidification, scaling is generated through a chemical reaction between the metal ions contained in the tap water and the air when the tap water absorbed in the humidifying filter comes into contact with the air.

A common fixed type water absorption humidification member may cause two problems due to scaling. Scaling may be formed on the front surface of the humidifying member, or scaling may be formed on the water surface under the humidifying member.

The scaling on the front surface of the humidifying member is generally formed in a shape similar to stalactites. Therefore, if the scaling is removed by applying a physical force, the humidification performance of the humidifying member may be recovered.

However, the scaling on the water surface is difficult to remove. Since the scaling on the water surface is formed in cracks of fibers inside the humidifying filter, the scaling may not be removed even though a physical shock is applied thereto.

If such scaling is accumulated in the humidifying filter over time, the humidifying filter may be clogged. Once the humidifying filter begins to be clogged with scaling, the clogging phenomenon is accelerated. As a result, the performance of the humidifying filter may be degraded and the lifespan thereof may be shortened.

In addition, if a humidifying filter encrusted with scaling or slime is used for a long period of time without replacement, bacteria may be propagated in the humidifying filter and unsterilized water contaminated with bacteria may be sprayed directly into the room. This is very harmful to human health, especially that of invalids and infants.

An aspect of the present invention provides a humidification apparatus including a rotary humidifying filter, which may be prevented from being clogged with scaling.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a humidification apparatus including a humidifying filter made of cellulose, which may improve the moisture absorption efficiency of the humidifying filter.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a humidification apparatus, including: a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port; a water tank disposed inside the housing to store water; a humidifying unit configured to be rotatable about a rotational shaft and partially immersed in the water tank, the humidifying unit including a humidifying filter member including cellulose; and a blower fan configured to blow air in order for humidification of the humidifying unit.

The humidifying unit may include: a rotary frame having a rotational shaft coupled to a humidifying driving motor; and a plurality of humidifying filter members coupled to the rotational shaft of the rotary frame such that the humidifying filter members are spaced apart by a predetermined interval and form a disc shape.

The plurality of humidifying filter members may be spaced apart by an interval of 2 mm to 5 mm.

The humidifying filter member may be made of a synthetic resin including 70-90% of cellulose and 10-30% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The humidifying filter member may be fixed to a fixing ring installed on an outer peripheral surface of the humidifying filter member and passes through the rotational shaft of the rotary frame, such that the humidifying filter member maintains a disc shape.

The fixing ring may be formed by curing silicon provided on the outer peripheral surface of the humidifying filter member in a ring shape.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the use of a disc type humidifying filter may prevent the humidifying filter from being clogged with scaling.

In addition, the use of a humidifying filter made of cellulose may increase the moisture absorption efficiency thereof. As a result, the humidification performance of the humidification apparatus may be improved.

Furthermore, since a humidifying filter made of cellulose is lighter than a humidifying filter made of plastic, the lifespan of a motor for rotating the humidifying filter may be extended.

The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a humidification apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a humidifying filter member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a comparison test result between a conventional humidification apparatus and a humidification apparatus of an exemplary embodiment in terms of a humidification amount per unit time.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements, and thus their description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a humidification apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a humidification apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 110, an air cleaning filter 115, a water tank 120, a humidifying unit 130, and a blower fan 140.

The blower fan 140, the air cleaning filter 115, the water tank 120, and the humidifying unit 130 are provided within the housing 110. The housing 110 has an inlet port 111 through which air is drawn in during the operation of the blower fan 140, and an outlet port 112 through which filtered air is discharged.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the blower fan 140 is a member for drawing outside air into the housing 110. The blower fan 140 is disposed within the housing 110 and is spaced apart from the rear surface of the air cleaning filter 115. The blower fan 140 is coupled to a blower motor 145 fixed within the housing 110. When the blower motor 145 is driven, the blower fan 140 rotates and draws outside air into the housing 110.

A sirocco fan designed to draw in air in two directions, that is, a forward direction and a backward direction, may be used as the blower fan 140. However, the blower fan 140 used herein is not limited to the sirocco fan. Any type of fan may be used as the blower fan 140, as long as it can draw in air in two directions, that is, a forward direction and a backward direction.

The air cleaning filter 115 is a member for filtering air passing through the inlet port 111 during the operation of the blower fan 140. The air cleaning filter 115 may be formed in multiple layers such that contaminants may be filtered stepwise, depending on the characteristics and particle sizes of the contaminants contained in the air being filtered.

Meanwhile, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the water tank 120 is spaced apart from the rear surface of the air cleaning filter 115 within the housing 110 and is disposed under the blower fan 140. A humidifying filter member 133 of the humidifying unit 130 is immersed in the water tank 120.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the humidifying unit 130 is a member for humidifying the air filtered by the air cleaning filter 115. As described above, the humidifying unit 130 is disposed at the rear of the air cleaning filter 115, and a part of the humidifying unit 130 is immersed in the water tank 120.

Meanwhile, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the humidifying unit 130 is provided with a humidifying driving motor 135, a rotary frame 131, and a humidifying filter member 133. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the humidifying driving motor 135 is fixed within the housing 110, and a rotational shaft 135a of the humidifying driving motor 135 is coupled to the rotary frame 131. The rotary frame 131 rotates about the rotational shaft 135a of the humidifying driving motor 135.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of humidifying filter members 133 are installed in the rotary frame 131 in a disc shape. In this case, the plurality of humidifying filter members 133 may be provided such that the adjacent humidifying filter members are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

If the spacing between the adjacent humidifying filter members 133 is too small, it may be difficult to ventilate air through the spacing. If the spacing between the adjacent humidifying filter members 133 is too large, the humidification effect of the humidification apparatus 100 may be reduced.

Therefore, the spacing between the adjacent humidifying filter members 133 may be in a range of 2 mm to 5 mm. For example, the spacing between the adjacent humidifying filter members 133 may be 3 mm.

This spacing may increase the humidification efficiency of the humidification apparatus 100.

In order to maintain the disc shape, the plurality of humidifying filter members 133 may be fixed to fixing rings 134. The fixing rings 134 fix the outer peripheral surface of the humidifying filter members 133 and pass through the shaft of the rotary frame 131.

In this case, the fixing rings 134 may be formed by curing silicon provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the humidifying filter members in a ring shape. Also, the fixing rings 134 may be metal rings on which the humidifying filter members 133 are mounted on the inner peripheral surface thereof.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the humidifying filter member 133 may be made of a synthetic resin including 70-90% of cellulose and 10-30% polyethylene terephthalate (PET), so as to improve the moisture absorption efficiency thereof.

If the content of the cellulose included in the humidifying filter member 133 is increased, the humidification efficiency of the humidifying filter member 133 may be improved. However, it may be difficult to maintain the shape of the humidifying filter member 133, which may also be vulnerable to external shock. Therefore, the cellulose may be used within the above-mentioned range.

However, the content of the cellulose is not limited thereto, and the content of the cellulose may be changed according to conditions.

In the humidification apparatus 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the humidifying filter member 133 includes at least 70% of cellulose that is a hydrophilic material, the moisture absorption efficiency thereof is further improved as compared to a plastic humidifying filter. Hence, the humidification performance of the humidification apparatus 100 is improved.

For example, when the conventional fixed humidifying member, the conventional plastic humidifying filter, and the humidifying filer member 133 of the exemplary embodiment were tested with the same shape under the same test conditions, the humidification performance of the humidification apparatus 100 using the humidifying filter member 133 of the exemplary embodiment was improved as compared to the humidification apparatus using the conventional fixed humidifying member or the conventional plastic humidifying filter.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the humidification performance per unit time in the fixed humidifying member is 320 ml/hr, and the humidification performance per unit time in the rotary plastic humidifying member is 480 ml/hr. In contrast, the humidification performance per unit time in the rotary cellulose humidifying member is 560 ml/hr.

As a result, the humidification performance in the case of using the humidifying filter member 133, according to the exemplary embodiment, was improved by about 16% as compared to the case of using the rotary plastic humidifying member.

The graph of FIG. 3 shows the test result when the test was performed at 27℃ and 60% humidify within a constant temperature humidity chamber having a size of 2(m)×2(m)×2.4(m).

The test was performed as follows.

The humidification apparatuses (a conventional humidification apparatus and the humidification apparatus of the exemplary embodiment) were installed in a constant temperature humidity chamber and were operated for 1 hour. This was done in order that the humidification apparatuses could be balanced through the dehumidification in the constant temperature humidity chamber according to the humidification of the humidification apparatus.

Then, the humidification apparatuses were turned off and the weights [Wi] thereof were measured using electronic scales.

The humidification apparatuses were then turned on again and were operated for 2 hours.

Finally, the humidification apparatuses were turned off and the weights [Wf] thereof were measured using electronic scales.

[Wi] is the initial weight [grams] of the humidification apparatus, and [Wf] is the final weight [grams] of the humidification apparatus. A humidification speed may be calculated by the following equation:

H=(Wi-Wf)/t.

It was assumed that the density of water was 1 [g/ml]

Meanwhile, the humidification apparatus 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes cellulose. Cellulose has excellent absorption performance, and absorbed water is easily desorbed by an air current pressure or a partial pressure difference between ambient air and water vapor. Therefore, energy for desorbing the absorbed water during humidification is not required, or a small amount of energy is required.

Conventionally, zeolite has been used. The zeolite has excellent absorption performance, but the zeolite needs to be heated to a high temperature for desorption of the absorbed water. Since additional energy is required for water desorption, energy efficiency is relatively low.

However, since the humidification apparatus 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention uses cellulose, energy efficiency is increased as compared to the conventional method that requires additional energy for desorption of the absorbed water.

In the case of the conventional fixed type moisture-absorption humidifying member, scaling is formed as described above.

However, in the humidification apparatus 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the humidifying filter member 133 is rotated. Therefore, a portion of the humidifying filter member 133, which is immersed in the water tank 120, and a portion of the humidifying filter member 133, from which water is evaporated above the water, are continuously alternated. Therefore, it may be possible to prevent inorganic substances from being accumulated at high concentrations. As a result, the humidifying filter member may be used for a longer time as compared to the fixed type moisture-absorption humidifying member.

Meanwhile, since the humidification apparatus 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is provided with a plurality of humidifying filter members 133, a contact area between the air and the humidifying filter members 133 is increased. As a result, the humidification efficiency of the humidification apparatus 100 may be increased.

The plurality of humidifying filter members 133 are coupled to the shaft. Accordingly, even when some of the humidifying filters 133 are damaged, the humidifying filter members 133 may be repaired by replacing only the damaged humidifying filter members 133. As a result, replacement costs may be reduced as compared to the conventional humidification apparatus in which the entirety of the humidifying filter members needs to replace even when some of them are damaged.

Hereinafter, air flow during the operation of the blower fan 140 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the blower fan 140 is operated, outside air is drawn into the housing 110 through the inlet port 111 in a direction of an arrow F1. The air introduced into the housing 110 is filtered by the air cleaning filter 115. Then, the filtered air is drawn in from the front side of the blower fan 140, flows above the blower fan 140, and is discharged through the outlet port 112 to the exterior.

In addition, when the blower fan 140 is operated, the air introduced into the housing 110 passes through the humidifying unit 130 of the air cleaning filter 115, is drawn in from the rear side of the blower fan 140 in a humidified state, flows above the blower fan 140, and is discharged trough the outlet port to the exterior, as indicated by a direction of an arrow F2.

While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A humidification apparatus, comprising:

a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port;

a water tank disposed inside the housing to store water;

a humidifying unit configured to be rotatable about a rotational shaft and partially immersed in the water tank, the humidifying unit comprising a humidifying filter member including cellulose; and

a blower fan configured to blow air in order for humidification of the humidifying unit.
The humidification apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidifying unit comprises:

a rotary frame having a rotational shaft coupled to a humidifying driving motor; and

a plurality of humidifying filter members coupled to the rotational shaft of the rotary frame such that the humidifying filter members are spaced apart by a predetermined interval and form a disc shape.
The humidification apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of humidifying filter members are spaced apart by an interval of 2 mm to 5 mm.
The humidification apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the humidifying filter member is made of a synthetic resin including 70-90% of cellulose and 10-30% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The humidification apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the humidifying filter member is fixed to a fixing ring installed on an outer peripheral surface of the humidifying filter member and passes through the rotational shaft of the rotary frame, such that the humidifying filter member maintains a disc shape.
The humidification apparatus of claim 5, wherein the fixing ring is formed by curing silicon provided on the outer peripheral surface of the humidifying filter member in a ring shape.