Daikin Industries, Ltd.

Guannan Xi

Akira Kamino

Tomohiro Yabu

Takahisa Sueoka

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

A humidity control apparatus includes two adsorbing elements (), and performs a batch-type operation. The humidity control apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit (). A second air for regenerating the adsorbing element () is heated through a regenerative heat exchanger () of the refrigerant circuit (). The refrigerant circuit () includes a first heat exchanger () and a second heat exchanger (). In a dehumidification mode, the first heat exchanger () serves as an evaporator, and the first air to be supplied exchanges heat with the refrigerant. At this point, the second heat exchanger () is inactive. In a dehumidification mode, the second heat exchanger () serves as an evaporator, and the first air to be discharged exchanges heat with the refrigerant. At this point, the first heat exchanger () is inactive.

Humidity control apparatus

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 ().

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Osaka, Japan

Guannan Xi