Daikin Industries, Ltd.

Akira Kamino

Manabu Yoshimi

Kazuo Yonemoto

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Chun-cheng Piao

Takahisa Sueoka

Guannan Xi

Shotaro Mishina

Tomohiro Yabu

Nobuki Matsui

Yoshimasa Kikuchi

Hirohiko Matsushita

A closed space forming unit (-) forms a closed space () around an adsorption member () supporting thereon an adsorbent for desorbing and adsorbing moisture. An active species generating unit () supplies active species, for decomposing odorous components, into the closed space ().

Humidity control system

An apparatus () for manufacturing an adsorption heat exchanger includes a storage tank () for storing a source liquid prepared by dispersion of an adsorbent in a liquid binder, a support member () for supporting a heat exchanger main body (), and a shaft member (). The heat exchanger main body () is rotated around the shaft member () extending along the direction in which a plurality of fins () are arrayed. When the heat exchanger main body () is rotated in the source liquid, the source liquid is distributed throughout the entire area of the void between each adjacent pair of the fins () whereby the source liquid is adhered to the entire surface area of each of the fins (). On the other hand, when the heat exchanger main body () is rotated in the air, excess source liquid remaining in the void between each adjacent pair of the fins () is scattered away therefrom, and a layer of the source liquid is formed throughout the entire surface area of each of the fins ().

Method for manufacturing an adsorption heat exchanger

Disclosed is a dehumidification unit which comprises alternate laminations of an adsorption element () provided with a plurality of first air ventilation passages () and a cooling element () provided with a plurality of second air ventilation passages (). In the dehumidification unit, the cooling element () is provided, at a planewise inner area thereof, with an opening (), thereby being shaped like a frame. Cooling air (Ab) is passed through the opening (). With such configuration, the length of the second air ventilation passages () becomes shorter by an amount corresponding to the formation of the opening (). Consequently, the pressure loss of the cooling air (Ab) is reduced and its flow rate increases accordingly. In addition, at the opening's () area, the cooling air (Ab) is brought into direct contact with the adsorption element's () side, and the efficiency of heat transfer therebetween is improved. Hereby, as a synergistic effect of the increased flow rate of the cooling air (Ab) and the improved heat transfer efficiency, the heat-liberation action of heat of adsorption is accelerated and the dehumidification capability of the dehumidification unit is maintained at high levels over a long period of time.

Dehumidification element

A dehumidification unit comprised of alternate laminations of an adsorption element which supports an adsorbent and which is provided with a first air ventilation passage and a cooling element, which is provided with a second air ventilation passage. The first air ventilation passage of the adsorption element and the second air ventilation passage of the cooling element are adjacently formed, with a single plate member lying between the first and second air ventilation passages. As a result of such arrangement, as compared with a structure formed with two plate members lying therebetween second air ventilation passages, the performance of heat transfer between the air ventilation passages is further improved, whereby the dehumidification capability of the dehumidification unit is maintained at high levels over a long period of time.

Dehumidification unit and adsorption element for use in such a dehumidification unit

Disclosed is an air conditioning apparatus which is provided with two adsorption elements (). The air conditioning apparatus repeats in alternation an operation in which the second adsorption element () is regenerated and, at the same time, air is dehumidified by the first adsorption element (), and an operation in which the first adsorption element () is regenerated and, at same time, air is dehumidified by the second adsorption element (). Additionally, the air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit performs a refrigeration cycle in which a regenerative heat exchanger () operates as a condenser and a first cooling heat exchanger () or a second cooling heat exchanger () operates as an evaporator. For example, air, which has robbed heat of adsorption in the first adsorption element (), is further heated by the regenerative heat exchanger () and is introduced into the second adsorption element (). Consequently, the second adsorption element () is regenerated.

Air conditioning device

An adsorption element () is formed by an alternating lamination of flat plate members () and corrugated plate members (). Each flat plate member () is a given rectangle of L/L=2. In the adsorption element (), humidity adjusting side passageways () are opened on side surfaces of the adsorption element () which are located on the longer-side side of the flat plate members (). Additionally, cooling side passageways () are opened on side surfaces of the adsorption element () which are located on the shorter-side side of the flat plate members ().

Adsorption element and air conditioning device

A cycle-side system ( ) is formed by duct connecting a compressor ( ), a heat exchanger ( ), a demoisturizer ( ), and an expansion device ( ) in that order. The compressor ( ) draws in room air and supply air for ventilation and compresses the same. The compressed air exchanges heat with exhaust air for ventilation in the heat exchanger ( ), thereby being cooled. Water vapor in the cooled, compressed air is removed in the demoisturizer ( ). The demoisturizer ( ) is provided with a separation membrane and separates water vapor in the compressed air without the occurrence of condensation. Thereafter, the compressed air is expanded in the expansion device ( ) to change into low-temperature air. The low-temperature air is supplied into a room. On the other hand, the heat exchanger ( ) is fed exhaust air cooled in a humidifying cooler ( ). Further, in the heat exchanger ( ), a latent heat of vaporization of moisture supplied by a humidifying part ( ) is also utilized for cooling of the compressed air.

Air-conditioning apparatus

A compressor ( ), a heat exchanger ( ), a demoisturizer ( ), and an expansion device ( ) are duct connected in that order to form a heat source-side system ( ). The compressor ( ) draws and compresses outdoor air and exhaust air for ventilation. The compressed air is subjected to heat exchange with air for conditioning in the heat exchanger ( ). The compressed air is demoisturized in the demoisturizer ( ). Thereafter, the compressed air is expanded in the expansion device ( ), changes to low-temperature air, and then is expelled to outside the room. On the other hand, the conditioning air is delivered, through an inlet duct ( ), to the heat exchanger ( ). The conditioning air is a mixture of supply air for ventilation and air in the room. The conditioning air is subjected to heat exchange with the compressed air in the heat exchanger ( ), whereby the conditioning air is heated. Further, the conditioning air is humidified in a humidifying part ( ). Thereafter, the conditioning air is supplied into the room for effecting room heating.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Akira Kamino