Daikin Industries, Ltd.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Manabu Yoshimi

Kazuo Yonemoto

Chun-cheng Piao

Yuji Watanabe

Akira Kamino

Shotaro Mishina

Chung-cheng Piao

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

Water is used as a refrigerant, and a humidification cooler ( ) which evaporates the water to generate cold heat and a dehumidifier ( ) are provided. A compressor ( ) which compresses water vapor separated by the dehumidifier ( ) is provided. A moisture discharging device ( ) which discharges water vapor compressed in the compressor ( ) is provided. The compressor ( ) is driven by a steam turbine ( ) capable of generating rotational power from thermal energy.

Refrigeration system

A water vapor separating section ( ), a compressor ( ), and a main heat exchanger ( ) are connected in that order to form a cycle system ( ). The inside of the water vapor separating section ( ) is divided by a water vapor permeable membrane ( ) into an air space ( ) and a water vapor space ( ). A mixture of ventilation exhaust air and outdoor air is delivered, as heat source air, to the water vapor space ( ). Water vapor contained in the heat source air passes through the water vapor permeable membrane ( ), thereby being separated from the heat source air. The water vapor separated is compressed in the compressor ( ) and thereafter delivered to the main heat exchanger ( ). In the main heat exchanger ( ), the water vapor from the compressor ( ) condenses and to-be-heated air in a utilization system ( ) is heated by heat of condensation of the water vapor.

Heat pump

In a refrigeration system ( ), an evaporator ( ) and a condenser ( ) are each formed of a container-like member ( ). The inside of the container-like member ( ) is divided into a liquid side space ( ) and a gas side space ( ) by a moisture permeable membrane ( ). Both the gas side spaces ( ) are held in a predetermined reduced-pressure condition. Both the liquid side spaces ( ) are placed in an atmospheric pressure condition. Water vapor provided by evaporation of water in the liquid side space ( ) of the evaporator ( ) passes through the moisture permeable membrane ( ) and moves to the gas side space ( ). The water vapor in the gas side space ( ) is sucked by a compressor ( ) so as to be pumped to the gas side space ( ) of the condenser ( ). In the condenser ( ), the water vapor in the gas side space ( ) moves to the liquid side space ( ) and then condensates therein.

A cyclic circuit ( ) is constructed by sequentially connecting an expander ( ), a heat exchanger ( ) and a compressor ( ). A dehumidifying mechanism ( ) is provided for dehumidifying a heat-absorbing air taken in through an inlet duct ( ). An internal heat exchanger ( ) is provided for cooling the dehumidified heat-absorbing air and then supplying it to the expander ( ). The heat-absorbing air expands in the expander ( ) to reduce its temperature. Since the heat-absorbing air has been dehumidified in advance, the moisture thereof does not condense during the expansion thereof. The heat-absorbing air having reached a low temperature through expansion flows into the heat exchanger ( ) and absorbs heat from a room air therein. Thereafter, the heat-absorbing air is compressed in the compressor ( ), regenerates a rotor member ( ) and is then discharged.

Refrigerating system

A first channel ( ) is formed by sequentially connecting a compressor ( ), a heat exchanger ( ) and an expander ( ). In the first channel ( ), an outside air is taken through a first inlet duct ( ) and supplied to a room through a first outlet duct ( ). A second channel ( ) is formed by connecting both ends of the heat exchanger ( ) to ducts ( ). In the second channel ( ), a room air is taken through the second inlet duct ( ) and discharged to outdoors through the second outlet duct ( ). A moisture absorbing section ( ) of a dehumidifying mechanism ( ) is provided in the first inlet duct ( ), while a moisture releasing section ( ) thereof is provided in the second inlet duct ( ). A rotor member ( ) including a solid adsorbent rotatively moves between the moisture absorbing section ( ) and the moisture releasing section ( ). Air dehumidified in the moisture absorbing section ( ) is supplied to the compressor ( ).

Air conditioning system

A first channel ( ) is formed by sequentially connecting a compressor ( ), a vapor separator ( ), a heat exchanger ( ) and an expander ( ). In the first channel ( ), a room air is taken as a primary air and discharged to outdoors. A second channel ( ) is formed by connecting a heat exchanger ( ) to a second inlet duct ( ) and a second outlet duct ( ). In the second channel ( ), an outside air is taken as a secondary air and supplied to a room. The vapor separator ( ) is connected to a vacuum pump ( ). The vapor separator ( ) separates vapor from the compressed primary air to dehumidify the primary air to or below the absolute humidity of the outside air. The vapor separated by the vapor separator ( ) is partly supplied to the secondary air in the second outlet duct ( ). Then, the secondary air thus humidified is supplied to the room.

Air conditioner

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.

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Osaka, Japan

Ryuichi Sakamoto