WO2016085416A1

WO2016085416A1 - Dust mite-bacteria-fungus killing air conditioner system

Info

Publication number: WO2016085416A1
Application number: PCT/TH2015/000077
Authority: WO
Inventors: Somsak CHITIPALUNGSRI
Original assignee: Chitipalungsri Somsak
Priority date: 2014-11-26
Filing date: 2015-11-10
Publication date: 2016-06-02

Abstract

An air conditioner that kills dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control comprises an air-reconditioning unit (3) installed in the outdoor air conditioner unit (1). The air-reconditioning unit (3) comprises an air pump creating air suction in two attached tubes (13, 14). A first tube (13) brings in moisture from a water-based heat exchanger (2). A second tube (14) brings in heat from a fan (5). The mixture is sent through an air pipe (4) back into a room through the indoor air conditioner unit (6). The air conditioner controls the level of moisture and heat brought in from outside into the room.

Description

Title of Invention

DUST MITE-BACTERIA-FUNGUS KILLING AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM Related Science

Engineering in relation to killing dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using a humidity control system.

Background

Todays' air conditioners have a variety of features such as air purification, rapid cooling, and power saving features. However, most do not possess a humidity control system. Those that do tend to be very expensive and complicated. Research shows that dust mites, bacteria, and fungus in a room, particularly the bedroom, could cause a number of illnesses such as allergies and respiratory infections. Research also shows that dust mites, bacteria, and fungus die or are unable to proliferate in an environment with a certain humidity and temperature level. For example, these organisms cannot grow and will die off when the relative humidity is between 40-60%. The case with most air conditioners is that as a room gets cooler, the moisture in the air condensates into water, causing the humidity level in the room to drop and the relative humidity to fall far below 40%. To increase the relative humidity in order to control dust mites, bacteria, and fungus, the temperature needs to be set higher. However, this can cause discomfort for the occupants. Most air conditioners are unable to keep both the humidity and temperature at a level where the occupants feel comfortable while controlling dust mites, bacteria, and fungus growth at the same time.

The Thai Patent Application number 1 101001040 is a bacteria-virus-fungus-dust mite control system that contains a humidifier in the outdoor unit. The unit contains a water tank where steam is generated either by an ultrasonic or heat-based boiler. However, the invention as mentioned in that particular patent has a number of problems such as excessive heat in the outdoor unit caused by the heater. This forces the air conditioner to have to work harder, increasing power consumption and causing the plastic enclosure to become brittle and prone to damage. Other problems include the inconvenience of having to refill the water tank frequently and the possibility of a leak in the tank after prolonged use.

Nature and Purpose of Invention

The objective of this invention is to design an air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using a humidity-temperature control system. This is achieved through the use of software in the air conditioner to create a specific humidity-temperature range that suits the purpose. The system adds humidity into the room by reintroducing condensed moisture from the outdoor unit back into the room via the air conditioner itself. This helps to retain the air conditioner's power conservation characteristics. Description of Drawings

Figure 1 shows an air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using a humidity control system mentioned in this patent application.

Figure 2 is a diagram describing the details of the air conditioner system shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 is a graph showing the target humidity-temperature range. Figure 4 is a graph showing the level of humidity that affects dust mites, bacteria, and fungus.

Detailed Description of Invention

Figure 1 shows this invention, an air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using a humidity control system. The humidity control system is installed in the outdoor unit (1). A suction tube (14) is used to extract hot air from the vented air from the fan that contains heat dissipated by the air conditioner coolant. Another suction tube (13) brings in moisture from the water-based heat exchanger. Both are brought into the air re-conditioning unit (3). Here, the temperature or the humidity level of the air, or both, could be adjusted, and the resulting mixture reintroduced back into the room through the indoor unit (6). Humidity added to the air from tube (13) is obtained from the heat exchanger (2) through which water flows. Hot air is released from the outdoor unit (1) using the fan (5). Some of the hot air is pulled into tube (14) into the air re-conditioning unit (3) which opens or closes a valve releasing the re-conditioned air based on the commands from the control module (7) shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a detailed diagram of this invention, an air conditioner that kills dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using a humidity control system. It shows the components and structure of the invention, which comprises the air re-conditioning unit (3) installed in the outdoor unit (1). The air re-conditioning unit (3) has an air suction pump (not shown) which draws air into tubes (13) and (14). The unit could be controlled to pull in humid air, or hot air, or both. Tube (13) draws in humid air from the water-based heat exchanger (2), while tube (14) sucks in hot air containing heat from the air conditioner coolant. The air re-conditioning unit (3) filters out dust and sterilizes the air using ozone from an ozone generator, or using ultraviolet light from a UV light source (not shown), both of which is installed in the unit (3) itself. The resulting air mixture is sent through a pipe (4) to the indoor unit (6). The end of the pipe (4) is installed between the back of the cooling coil (16) and the fan (17). Humidity and temperature control is done through a remote control (22) through a controller (21 and 7).

Figure 3 is a graph showing the target humidity and temperature range. Zone A is where the relative humidity is below 50% and the temperature is above 25 °C. In zone B, the relative humidity is above 50% and the temperature is higher than 25°C. In zone C, the relative humidity is below 50% while the temperature is under 25°C. Finally, the relative humidity is above 50% and the temperature is lower than 25°C in zone D.

If a user sets the temperature at 25°C and the relative humidity at 50%, and if the conditions in the room are currently in zone A where the relative humidity is below 50%, and the temperature is above the set value, the controller (7) will command the air re-conditioning unit (3) to draw in only humid air. At the same time it will also control the compressor. Controller (20) will increase the fan speed of the indoor unit (17) in order to lower the temperature and increase the humidity, bringing both values to the desired level. If the conditions in the room are in zone B where the relative humidity is above 50%, and the temperature is higher than the set value, the controllers (7 and 20) will control the compressor and control the indoor unit fan speed (17) so that the temperature and humidity are lowered to the desired values. For zone C where the relative humidity is below 50% and the temperature is lower than the set value, both controllers (7 and 20) will stop the compressor but keep the indoor unit fan running to increase the temperature and humidity to the desired levels. If the air conditions in the room correspond to zone D where the relative humidity is above 50% and the temperature is lower then the desired level, controller (7) will command the air re-conditioner (3) to bring in only the hot air. At the same time it will also activate the compressor. Controller (20) will lower the indoor unit fan speed (17) to raise the temperature and the lower the humidity to the desired level.

Temperature control could be done in increments of +/- 1°C, and humidity in increments of +/- 3%.

Figure 4 is a graph showing the effects of relative humidity on dust mites, fungus, and bacteria. When the relative humidity is less than 50%, fungus and dust mites cannot proliferate and will eventually die off. On the other hand, the growth rate of viruses and bacteria increase in proportion to the decrease in relative humidity below 50%. When the relative humidity is above 50%, the higher the RH, the higher the growth rates of dust mites, viruses, fungus, and bacteria. The area between 40% and 60% is the optimum range where viruses, fungus, and bacteria are unable to proliferate and will eventually be eradicated, while dust mites could still grow but at a low rate. The better range is at 45% to 55% where dust mites could still proliferate, albeit at a lower rate. The best relative humidity level is at 50%. This is where neither viruses, fungus, bacteria, nor dust mites could grow, and they will die off eventually. The air conditioner system in this invention is able to control the relative humidity to these desired levels. Best Method of Construction

Same as indicated in the detailed description of the invention section.

Claims

1. The air conditioner that kills dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control, which contains an air-reconditioning unit (3) installed in the outdoor air conditioner unit (1). Within the air-reconditioning unit (3) is an air pump that creates air suction in two attached tubes (13 and 14). Tube (13) brings in moisture from the water-based heat exchanger (2). Tube (14) brings in heat from the fan, which is essentially the heat from the cooling fluid. The mixture is sent through an air pipe (4) back into the room through the indoor air conditioner unit (6)

2. The air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control as mentioned in 1) where the air re-conditioning unit (3) is able to control either the suction of air with moisture or the suction of heated air, or both at the same time.

3. The air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control as mentioned in 1) and 2) where the air re-conditioning unit (3) is able to filter out dust and kill microorganisms using ozone or ultraviolet light from an internally installed ozone generator or UV light generator. The generators are installed inside the air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control as mentioned in either 1), 2), or 3). The controller (7) commands the air-reconditioning unit (3) to suck in only humid air and controls the compressor, while controller (20) increases the fan speed of the indoor unit (17) to lower the temperature and increase the humidity to the set values whenever the condition in the room is such that the relative humidity is below 50% and the temperature is higher than the set values.

4. The air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control as mentioned in either 1), 2) or 3) where the controllers (7 and 20) control the compressor and the speed of the fan in the indoor unit (17) to lower the temperature and humidity to meet the set values whenever the condition in the room is such that the relative humidity is above 50% and the temperature is higher than the set value.

5. The air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control as mentioned in either 1), 2) or 3) where the controllers (7 and 20) stop the compressor and control the speed of the fan in the indoor unit (17) to increase the temperature and humidity to meet the set values whenever the condition in the room is such that the relative humidity is below 50% and the temperature is lower than the set value.

6. The air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control as mentioned in either 1), 2) or 3) where the controller (7) commands the air re-conditioning unit (3) to suck in heated air, while at the same time controlling the compressor, while the controller (20) will decrease the speed of the cooling unit (17) to increase the temperature and lower the humidity to the set levels whenever the condition in the room is such that the relative humidity is above 50% and the temperature is lower than the set value.

7. The air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control as mentioned in either 4), 5), 6) or 7) where the temperature could be controlled at +/- 1 °C increments and the relative humidity at +/- 3% increments.

8. The air conditioner that is able to kill dust mites, bacteria, and fungus using humidity control as mentioned in either 1) through 8) that could be remotely controlled (22), controlled via a wired or wireless remote controller, or controlled via the internet.