Air conditioner humidification system and water supply preheating method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides an air conditioner humidification system and a water supply preheating method thereof, and relates to the technical field of air conditioner equipment, and the air conditioner humidification system comprises a refrigeration cycle unit and a heating type humidifier; the refrigeration cycle unit comprises an evaporator output pipe; the heating type humidifier comprises a humidifier water inlet pipe; wherein the water inlet pipe of the humidifier is in heat exchange connection with the output pipe of the evaporator. The humidifier water inlet pipe is in heat exchange connection with the evaporator output pipe of the refrigeration cycle system, and heat of the evaporator output pipe is utilized to preheat the humidifier water inlet pipe, so that the defect that in the prior art, due to the fact that normal-temperature water is supplemented to a heating type humidifier, the overall water temperature of a water tank is reduced is overcome; therefore, the problems of low humidifying response speed, high energy consumption and unstable control are solved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of air conditioning equipment, and in particular to an air conditioner humidification system and a water supply preheating method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] When an air conditioning system is cooling, it will take away the moisture in the air, resulting in dry air. Dry air is prone to static electricity, which can damage precision electronic equipment. Therefore, it is a standard practice to configure a humidifier in an air conditioning system to maintain a suitable environmental humidity.

[0003] Currently, the humidifier widely used in commercial and industrial fields is mainly a heating type humidifier, such as an infrared humidifier or an electrode type humidifier. The working principle of this type of humidifier is to heat the water in the water tank to evaporation by electric energy, and generate steam to quickly and cleanly increase the humidity of the ambient air.

[0004] This water replenishment method in the prior art has inherent technical defects. Since the normal temperature water (for example, 15-25℃ at room temperature) is directly injected into the high-temperature water tank that is working, it will mix with the hot water in the tank close to the boiling point, resulting in a significant drop in the overall water temperature in the water tank. In order to restore the humidifier to an effective working state capable of generating steam, the system must consume additional electric energy and time to reheat the mixed low-temperature water to the evaporation temperature. After each water replenishment, there is a long pause in the humidification process, which affects the continuity and timeliness of humidity control, especially in situations that require rapid response to humidity changes. The repeated cooling and reheating process consumes a large amount of additional electric energy, reduces the energy efficiency of the entire air conditioning system, and does not meet the development trend of energy saving and environmental protection. The intermittent interruption of the humidification process can cause fluctuations in the environmental humidity, interfere with the accurate measurement of the humidity sensor, and further cause the control system to frequently start and stop, affecting the stability and service life of the equipment.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to improve the existing air conditioning humidification technology to overcome the defects of the prior art. SUMMARY

[0006] To overcome the problems in the related art, the purpose of the present application is to provide an air conditioner humidification system that forms a heat exchange connection between the humidifier water inlet pipe and the evaporator output pipe of the refrigeration cycle system, and uses the heat of the evaporator output pipe to preheat the humidifier water inlet pipe, so as to overcome the problem in the prior art that the replenishment of normal temperature water to the heating type humidifier causes the overall water temperature in the water tank to drop, and further causes slow humidification response speed, high energy consumption, and unstable control.

[0007] An air conditioner humidification system, comprising:

[0008] The refrigeration cycle unit comprises an evaporator output pipe;

[0009] The heating type humidifier comprises a humidifier water inlet pipe;

[0010] The humidifier water inlet pipe and the evaporator output pipe are in heat exchange connection.

[0011] When the air conditioner is in refrigeration operation, the gaseous refrigerant in the evaporator output pipe absorbs indoor heat and has a certain temperature (for example, above 40℃), and the heat is usually directly brought back to the compressor in the traditional design and is not fully utilized. By setting the humidifier water inlet pipe and the evaporator output pipe in heat exchange structure, the waste heat is used as a preheating source to preheat the normal temperature make-up water (for example, 20℃) entering the humidifier. Since the make-up water is lifted to a higher temperature before entering the humidifier water tank, the temperature difference between the make-up water and the high-temperature water in the water tank is significantly reduced. Without adding any additional heating elements and energy consumption, the water temperature recovery time after water replenishment is greatly shortened, thereby significantly improving the response speed of the humidifier, ensuring the continuity of the humidification process, and saving electric energy.

[0012] Further, the evaporator output pipe and the humidifier water inlet pipe are made of heat-conducting materials.

[0013] The efficiency of heat exchange directly depends on the thermal conductivity of the contact material. By using high thermal conductivity materials, the thermal resistance between the two pipes is effectively reduced, ensuring that the heat transfer from high-temperature refrigerant to low-temperature make-up water can be efficiently and quickly conducted. The preheating effect is ensured to be realized, so that the heat exchange efficiency is maximized in a limited contact length and time, further strengthening the beneficial effects of improving the response speed and saving energy.

[0014] Further, the evaporator output pipe and the humidifier water inlet pipe are made of heat-conducting metals.

[0015] Metal materials not only have excellent thermal conductivity, but also have good mechanical strength, pressure resistance and temperature resistance, and are mature and reliable application materials in air conditioners and pipeline systems. The use of heat-conducting metals can not only ensure efficient heat transfer, but also ensure that the entire heat exchange structure can operate stably and reliably for a long time under the complex working conditions of the air conditioning system, taking into account performance and engineering practicability.

[0016] Further, the heat-conducting metal is one of copper, aluminum and stainless steel.

[0017] Copper has excellent thermal conductivity, aluminum is lower cost and lighter weight while maintaining good thermal conductivity, and stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance, which can effectively prevent waterway corrosion. According to the different needs of cost, performance and service life, the selection of these specific metal materials can provide the best comprehensive performance for the heat exchange structure.

[0018] Further, the heat exchange connection is achieved by the following means:

[0019] The humidifier water inlet pipe is arranged in parallel with the wall of the evaporator outlet pipe.

[0020] The heat exchange connection is achieved by the parallel arrangement of the pipe walls. This parallel arrangement structure does not require complex manufacturing processes, and only needs simple layout adjustment during pipe assembly, with extremely low modification and production costs. It provides a connection method with the simplest structure, lowest cost and easiest implementation, greatly enhancing the practicality and generalizability.

[0021] Further, the humidifier water inlet pipe and the evaporator outlet pipe are filled with a heat-conducting medium between the contact parts.

[0022] Even if the two pipes are closely attached, there is a microscopic air gap between the contact surfaces, and air is a poor conductor of heat, which will increase the contact thermal resistance and affect the heat exchange efficiency. The heat-conducting medium (such as heat-conducting silicone grease) can effectively fill these gaps, exclude air, and establish a more efficient heat conduction path. Without changing the simple mechanical structure, the heat exchange efficiency is significantly improved, so that the replenishment water can be preheated to a higher temperature, further amplifying the beneficial effects of energy saving and fast response.

[0023] Further, the heating humidifier is an infrared humidifier or an electrode type humidifier.

[0024] These two types of humidifiers are the most commonly used types in precision environments such as data centers and machine rooms, and their working efficiency and response speed are particularly sensitive to changes in water temperature.

[0025] Further, a liquid level sensor is provided in the heating humidifier.

[0026] An electromagnetic valve is provided on the humidifier water inlet pipe and is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor.

[0027] The liquid level sensor is used to trigger the electromagnetic valve to open when the water level is detected to be below a preset value.

[0028] The liquid level sensor and the electromagnetic valve are integrated, and the electrical connection control logic between the two is established.The liquid level sensor can monitor the water level in real time and accurately, and the electromagnetic valve can quickly and reliably open and close the waterway.Through the linkage of the two, when the water level is lower than the preset value, the system can automatically and timely open the water replenishment.

[0029] Further, a humidity detection sensor is arranged for detecting the ambient humidity.

[0030] A controller is electrically connected with the humidity detection sensor and the heating-type humidifier.

[0031] The controller is configured to start the heating-type humidifier when the humidity detection sensor detects that the ambient humidity is lower than a preset humidity value.

[0032] The humidity detection sensor and the controller are integrated to establish a closed-loop control system based on the ambient humidity.The humidity sensor provides real-time feedback on the ambient state for the system, and the controller compares the feedback with a preset target value to make a decision on starting or stopping the humidifier, so that the entire air conditioning humidification system can intelligently adjust according to the actual environmental demand, realize accurate and automatic control of the ambient humidity, and ensure that the humidity of the controlled environment is always maintained within an optimal range.

[0033] The second object of the present application is to provide a water supply preheating method for an air conditioning humidification system, which is applied to the air conditioning humidification system as described above, and the method comprises the following steps:

[0034] The refrigeration cycle unit is operated to make the refrigerant flow through the evaporator output pipe.

[0035] When water replenishment is needed for the heating-type humidifier, the replenishment water flows through the humidifier water inlet pipe, and the replenishment water is preheated by the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator output pipe before entering the heating-type humidifier.

[0036] The heat of the refrigerant in the evaporator output pipe is used to heat the replenishment water before the replenishment water enters the humidifier.A waste heat link in the refrigeration cycle that has been ignored is converted into a preheating link that is beneficial to the humidification subsystem.The initial thermodynamic state of the replenishment water is changed.The energy utilization efficiency of the system is optimized, the humidification interruption time caused by replenishing cold water is reduced, the humidity adjustment response speed of the system is accelerated, and a more efficient and energy-saving system operation mode is realized.

[0037] The present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0038] The air conditioner humidifying system provided by the application utilizes the waste heat in the refrigeration cycle by setting the humidifier water inlet pipe and the evaporator output pipe in a heat exchange structure. The heat carried by the high-temperature gaseous refrigerant in the evaporator output pipe is transferred to the low-temperature make-up water in the humidifier water inlet pipe, so that the make-up water is effectively preheated before entering the humidifier water tank. The temperature difference between the make-up water entering the high-temperature water tank and the hot water in the tank is significantly reduced, avoiding the significant drop in the overall temperature of the water tank caused by injecting cold water in the traditional way. The application can shorten the reheating time after the make-up water, improve the response speed and working continuity of the humidifier, and at the same time, since the preheating heat is derived from the system waste heat, no additional power consumption is required, which significantly reduces the operating energy consumption and achieves the energy-saving effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heat exchange connection between the evaporator output pipe and the humidifier water inlet pipe provided in the application;

[0040] Figure 2 Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the system structure of the air conditioner humidifying system provided in Embodiment 5 of the application.

[0041] REFERENCE NUMERALS:

[0042] 1, compressor; 2, four-way valve; 3, condenser; 4, electronic expansion valve; 5, evaporator; 6, humidifier; 7, electromagnetic valve; 8, temperature and humidity sensor; 9, liquid level sensor; 10, water pan; 101, evaporator output pipe; 102, humidifier water inlet pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The preferred embodiments of the application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the preferred embodiments of the application are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the application can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make the application more thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the application to those skilled in the art.

[0044] Embodiment 1

[0045] The embodiment provides an air conditioner humidifying system, which comprises:

[0046] a refrigeration cycle unit, the refrigeration cycle unit comprising an evaporator output pipe 101;

[0047] a heating type humidifier, the heating type humidifier comprising a humidifier water inlet pipe 102;

[0048] The humidifier water inlet pipe 102 and the evaporator output pipe 101 are in a heat exchange connection.

[0049] The refrigeration cycle unit is the basis of the air conditioning system, and its function is to transfer heat through the phase change of the refrigerant. The refrigeration cycle unit includes four standard components: compressor, condenser, electronic expansion valve, and evaporator. The evaporator output pipe 101 is connected to the outlet of the evaporator, and the refrigerant inside has completed the heat absorption in the room and evaporated from liquid to gas.

[0050] The heating humidifier is a device that increases humidity in the environment by heating water to boiling and generating steam through the consumption of electricity. The heating humidifier includes a water tank for containing water and one or more heating elements. To achieve automatic water replenishment, the heating humidifier is connected to a humidifier water inlet pipe 102, which is responsible for delivering external normal temperature replenishment water to the water tank.

[0051] In this embodiment, the heat exchange connection is not a separate component, but a specific physical arrangement. In this embodiment, the heat exchange connection refers to connecting the evaporator output pipe 101 in the refrigeration cycle unit and the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 of the heating humidifier, and selecting a section on each pipe path to form a heat exchange connection between the two sections. The waste heat generated during the operation of the air conditioning system is used to preheat the cold water entering the heating humidifier in a way that does not consume additional energy. In the case where the humidifier does not trigger water replenishment but the air conditioning refrigeration unit is still running, the static water in the section of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 that forms a heat exchange connection with the evaporator output pipe 101 will be continuously heated.

[0052] The heat exchange connection can be achieved in the following ways:

[0053] 1. Spiral winding connection

[0054] One of the pipes (which can be the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 with smaller diameter and better flexibility) is tightly and spirally wound around the outer wall of the other pipe (which can be the evaporator output pipe 101 with larger diameter and relatively fixed position) like a spring.

[0055] During assembly, the reserved length of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 in the section that needs to be heat exchanged is wound on the evaporator output pipe 101 with a certain pitch and tension. To ensure close contact, metal clamps or high-temperature resistant straps can be used to fix the two ends after winding.

[0056] Compared to side-by-side contact (which is theoretically a line contact), spiral winding is a surface contact. In the same straight distance, the actual contact length of the wound pipe can be increased by several times, significantly increasing the total heat exchange area.

[0057] Water flowing through the spiral duct has its path lengthened, meaning that the water spends more time in the heat exchange section, allowing more time for heat to transfer from the high-temperature pipe to the water.

[0058] Due to the double increase in contact area and time, the heat exchange efficiency of the spiral-wound connection is much higher than that of simple side-by-side fitting, allowing the supplementary water to be preheated to a higher temperature.

[0059] 2. Coaxial sleeve connection

[0060] One pipe is placed inside another pipe with a larger outer diameter, forming a coaxial double-layer pipe structure. Heat exchange occurs between the fluid flowing between the outer wall of the inner pipe and the inner wall of the outer pipe.

[0061] A custom pipe fitting is required. For example, the evaporator output pipe 101 can be used as the inner pipe, and the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 can be designed as a ring-shaped outer sleeve pipe. The supplementary water flows in the annular space of the outer sleeve pipe, while the high-temperature refrigerant flows in the central inner pipe. The introduction and export of the two fluids are achieved through sealing elements and branch pipes at both ends.

[0062] The inner pipe is completely surrounded by the fluid of the outer pipe, achieving full-range heat exchange without dead angles, the shortest heat transfer path, and small heat loss. Compared with the winding structure, the coaxial sleeve is more compact in radial size, occupying less space, and is suitable for installation inside the air conditioning unit with limited space. It can achieve very ideal preheating effect. However, the manufacturing and installation process is relatively complex, the cost is higher, and a specially designed connecting piece is required.

[0063] 3. Heat conduction block connection

[0064] Indirect connection through a third-party high-thermal-conductivity solid block as a heat bridge. A metal block with high thermal conductivity (such as a solid aluminum block or a copper block) is manufactured. On the metal block, two semicircular grooves or through holes matching the outer diameter of the pipes are excavated in parallel. During assembly, the evaporator output pipe 101 and the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 are tightly embedded or passed through the two grooves / through holes, respectively. To ensure optimal contact, thermal conductive silicone grease can be applied between the pipes and the block.

[0065] The two pipes do not need to be strictly parallel or adjacent, as long as they can be in good contact with the heat-conducting block, providing greater flexibility for complex pipe layout inside the unit. The heat transfer performance of the solid block is stable and not easily affected by factors such as vibration. By choosing a block with a large enough cross-section, the heat conduction path can be ensured to be unobstructed. Compared with winding and sleeve, this modular connection method is more convenient to install and disassemble.

[0066] In the air conditioning refrigeration mode, the gaseous refrigerant flowing through the evaporator output pipe 101 has a temperature much higher than that of the normal temperature of the supplementary water due to the absorption of indoor heat, but has not reached the high temperature of the compressor outlet, which is an ideal, moderate and stable medium temperature heat source. In the traditional design, this part of the heat is not utilized, but is directly taken back to the compressor for compression. The working efficiency and response speed of the heating humidifier are extremely sensitive to the water temperature in its water tank. Direct injection of cold water at room temperature will cause a significant drop in the water temperature in the entire water tank, resulting in the need for the heating element to work at full power for a long time to raise the water temperature to the boiling point again, which is the root cause of the slow response and energy waste. By constructing the above heat exchange connection, a shortcut for heat transfer is created. When the evaporator output pipe 101 and the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 are in close contact, heat will automatically and continuously conduct from the evaporator output pipe 101 with a higher temperature to the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 with a lower temperature, thereby preheating the temperature of the supplementary water before it reaches the water tank.

[0067] When the water level of the heating humidifier is sufficient and no water needs to be added, there is a static water column in the humidifier water inlet pipe 102. As long as the air conditioning refrigeration cycle unit is working, the evaporator output pipe 101 will continuously output the refrigerant with heat, and its pipe wall will remain at a relatively high temperature (e.g. about 40℃). Due to the existence of the heat exchange connection, heat will continuously conduct from the evaporator output pipe 101 to the humidifier water inlet pipe 102. The static water in the pipe will act as a heat reservoir, continuously absorbing heat, and its temperature will gradually rise, eventually reaching a thermal equilibrium state similar to the temperature of the pipe wall of the evaporator output pipe 101.

[0068] The working process of the system can be divided into two main stages: standby passive preheating stage and active water replenishment preheating stage. The synergistic effect of the two stages realizes the beneficial effect of the fast response of the present application.

[0069] Stage one: standby passive preheating stage

[0070] This stage occurs when the air conditioning refrigeration cycle unit is running, but the water level in the heating humidifier is sufficient and does not need to be replenished immediately.

[0071] The air conditioning unit's refrigeration cycle unit works stably, and the medium temperature gaseous refrigerant that has absorbed indoor heat continuously flows through the evaporator output pipe 101, so that its pipe wall maintains a stable high temperature (e.g. above 40℃).

[0072] The pipe is filled with static supplementary water. Due to the existence of the heat exchange connection between the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 and the evaporator output pipe 101, heat will continuously and passively conduct from the high-temperature evaporator output pipe 101 to the low-temperature humidifier water inlet pipe 102 through the contact of the pipe walls.

[0073] With time, the static water column in the humidifier inlet pipe 102, as a heat reservoir, absorbs heat and its temperature gradually rises, eventually reaching a thermal equilibrium state close to the temperature of the evaporator outlet pipe 101. Before the water replenishment action occurs, the system has already stored a preheated warm water column, preparing for the upcoming water replenishment action.

[0074] Stage 2: Active water replenishment preheating stage

[0075] This stage occurs when the water level in the heating-type humidifier drops due to water evaporation, triggering water replenishment.

[0076] The passive preheated warm water column in the pipe. The injection of this first warm water column minimizes the thermal shock to the original high-temperature water in the water tank, providing excellent buffering.

[0077] The normal-temperature replenishment water from the external water source begins to flow through the humidifier inlet pipe 102. When the water flows through the pipe section connected in heat exchange with the evaporator outlet pipe 101, the system enters a dynamic heat exchange process. The flowing water continuously absorbs heat from the evaporator outlet pipe 101 during its journey, and its temperature is preheated before it reaches the water tank.

[0078] When the water level returns to the preset high level, the water replenishment process ends. Throughout the water replenishment process, the water entering the water tank is always preheated warm water.

[0079] The air conditioning humidification system provided in this embodiment achieves efficient preheating of replenishment water through the above two stages. Unlike the existing technology, which directly injects cold water causing a sharp drop in water tank temperature, the air conditioning humidification system in this embodiment can cause only a slight and gradual decrease in the overall water temperature in the water tank. Therefore, the heating element of the heating-type humidifier only needs a short reheating time or a small power compensation to restore the water temperature to the effective evaporation temperature, ensuring that the humidification process almost never stops. This shortens the response time of the humidifier, improves the continuity and stability of humidity control, and significantly reduces unnecessary energy consumption.

[0080] Embodiment 2

[0081] This embodiment is an important optimization and specific limitation of the material properties of the key components of the air conditioning humidification system disclosed in Embodiment 1. The core of this embodiment is to make clear technical requirements for the manufacturing materials of the two core pipes that form the heat exchange connection, the evaporator outlet pipe 101 and the humidifier inlet pipe 102.

[0082] In this embodiment, in order to achieve efficient heat transfer, the part of the evaporator output pipe 101 and the part of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 that form the heat exchange connection are both made of heat-conducting material.

[0083] To further ensure the performance of heat exchange, the heat-conducting material in this embodiment is preferably a heat-conducting metal. This is because metal materials generally have excellent heat conduction properties, which can provide a low-resistance path for heat flow between the two pipes.

[0084] Specifically, this embodiment lists three heat-conducting metals that are excellent in performance and easy to obtain in industrial applications as the best choices, which are one or a combination of copper, aluminum, and stainless steel.

[0085] The performance of the heat exchange connection directly depends on the physical properties of the material itself, i.e., the thermal conductivity. The efficiency of heat transfer is the key to determining the effectiveness of preheating. If a material with poor heat conduction performance (such as ordinary plastic pipe) is used, even if the two pipes are tightly fitted, a large thermal resistance will be formed between them, and most of the heat will not be effectively transferred, making the design of the heat exchange connection meaningless. On the contrary, by using heat-conducting metals such as copper and aluminum with high thermal conductivity, it can be ensured that heat can be quickly and massively conducted from the pipe wall of the evaporator output pipe 101 to the pipe wall of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102, thereby heating the water in the pipe, and maximizing the effect of preheating.

[0086] The range of materials is specified to copper, aluminum, and stainless steel, which is the result of considering performance, cost, and reliability.

[0087] Copper has the top heat conduction performance and is the first choice for pursuing the ultimate heat exchange efficiency.

[0088] Aluminum has excellent heat conduction performance and has lower cost and lighter weight than copper, providing a cost-effective choice for the system.

[0089] Although stainless steel has slightly lower heat conductivity than copper and aluminum, it has excellent corrosion resistance and high mechanical strength, which can effectively resist corrosion problems that may be caused by long-term operation of the waterway, ensuring the long-term stability of the system and the water quality of the replenished water, and is particularly suitable for application scenarios with extremely high reliability requirements.

[0090] When designing and processing the pipe system, heat-conducting metal pipes that meet the above requirements should be selected for the evaporator output pipe 101 and the humidifier water inlet pipe 102. Specifically, at least in the physical section designed to form the heat exchange connection, both pipes should use the selected heat-conducting metal. For example, a copper pipe with appropriate outer diameter and wall thickness is selected, and a part of the evaporator output pipe 101 and a part of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 are processed, and then the two copper pipes are installed and fixed on the assembly line.

[0091] In addition to using a single heat-conductive metal material, the following methods can also be used:

[0092] 1. Combination of dissimilar metals:

[0093] The evaporator output pipe 101 and the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 do not need to be made of the same metal. For example, copper, which has the best heat conductivity, can be used to make the evaporator output pipe 101 to maximize heat output, while stainless steel, which is highly corrosion-resistant and relatively inexpensive, can be used to make the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 to ensure the safety and durability of the water path. This combination can achieve an ideal balance between performance and lifespan.

[0094] 2. Local material reinforcement:

[0095] It is not necessary for the entire length of the two pipes to be made of expensive heat-conductive metal. A more economical way is to use heat-conductive metal pipe material only in the core section where heat exchange connection needs to be formed, while other parts of the pipe can be connected to pipes made of ordinary steel or polymer materials through reliable connectors such as brazing or sleeve joints. In this way, the overall material cost can be significantly reduced without sacrificing the core function.

[0096] 3. Composite pipe material:

[0097] Composite pipe material can be used, for example, a layer of high-heat-conductive metal such as copper or aluminum is compounded on the outer wall or inner wall of an ordinary steel pipe. In this way, the main body of the pipe is composed of inexpensive materials that provide structural strength, while the surface responsible for heat exchange is covered with high-efficiency heat-conductive materials, also achieving the purpose of high-efficiency heat exchange.

[0098] In a more optimal implementation, the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 is a composite pipe with two different functional sections, including a heat exchange section and a delivery section.

[0099] The heat exchange section refers to the part of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 that directly forms a heat exchange connection with the evaporator output pipe 101. This section must be made of high-heat-conductive material, preferably heat-conductive metal such as copper or aluminum. Its only function is to serve as a bridge for heat transfer to absorb and transfer the heat from the evaporator output pipe 101 to the water in the pipe as efficiently and quickly as possible.

[0100] The delivery section refers to the part of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102, excluding the heat exchange section, which can only include the part of the pipe after the heat exchange section, until the connection to the heating type humidifier water tank inlet, and also can include the part of the pipe connected to the water source by the heat exchange section. This section must be made of heat preservation material (i.e. heat insulation material). Common heat preservation materials include cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), polypropylene (PPR) and other engineering plastic pipes. Its only function is to serve as a channel for heat delivery, to lose heat to the outside as low as possible, to protect the temperature of the water that has been heated.

[0101] In the heat exchange section, high thermal conductivity materials are used to ensure the high efficiency of heat transfer. The use of expensive materials with high thermal conductivity (such as copper) is limited to the core area where it is really needed. After preheating by the heat exchange section, the water itself is already higher than the ambient temperature inside the air conditioning unit during the process of flowing to the heating type humidifier. If the pipe of the delivery section is still a high thermal conductivity metal, then the heat that is hard to obtain will be lost to the surrounding cooler air through the pipe wall during delivery, causing secondary waste of energy. By replacing the delivery section with heat preservation material, the low thermal conductivity of the material forms an effective heat shield, greatly reducing heat loss. It ensures that the water is quickly and fully heated in the heat exchange section, and then the heat is maximally preserved in the delivery section. As a result, the water temperature finally reaching the heating type humidifier water tank inlet can most truly reflect the preheating effect, thereby maximizing the overall efficiency of the entire preheating system.

[0102] Embodiment 3

[0103] This embodiment provides a more in-depth and detailed description of the specific physical structure and implementation of the key heat exchange connection technical feature based on the air conditioning humidification system disclosed in Embodiment 1.

[0104] In this embodiment, the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 is arranged in close contact with the pipe wall of the evaporator output pipe 101. Specifically, in the internal pipe arrangement of the air conditioning system, a section of the evaporator output pipe 101 and a section of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 are placed along their length direction like two parallel chopsticks, and their outer walls are in contact with each other. Through mechanical fixing devices such as clamps, supports or high-temperature resistant bands, it is ensured that the two pipes can maintain a stable and close physical contact state during system operation.

[0105] Further, a heat-conducting medium can be filled between the contact part of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 and the evaporator outlet pipe. This scheme is based on the above-mentioned side-by-side arrangement, and a key auxiliary material is added. The heat-conducting medium is a paste or gasket-shaped material, which itself has a heat conduction capacity much higher than air, such as common heat-conducting silicone grease. Before the two pipes are fixed, the heat-conducting medium is evenly applied to the pipe wall surface where they will contact.

[0106] The side-by-side arrangement does not require the manufacture of any special, non-standard pipe or heat exchanger. It is only achieved by changing the spatial layout of the existing two standard pipes and adding simple fixing parts. This almost does not increase the additional process complexity and manufacturing cost for the production line, so that the technical solution of the application can be widely applied and promoted at very low cost, and has very high engineering practical value.

[0107] The heat-conducting medium is filled to overcome the contact thermal resistance. From a microscopic perspective, even if two metal surfaces are polished very smooth and pressed tightly together, they only contact at countless small protrusions. Between these contact points, there are a large number of small gaps filled with air. Since air is a poor conductor of heat (its thermal conductivity is very low), these air gaps constitute a huge obstacle to heat transfer, i.e. contact thermal resistance. By filling the heat-conducting medium, the paste with high thermal conductivity can penetrate and fill all the microscopic gaps, expel the air as a heat barrier, and thus establish a continuous and efficient heat conduction path between the two pipe walls. This can significantly reduce the contact thermal resistance, so that more and faster heat is transferred from the evaporator outlet pipe 101 to the humidifier water inlet pipe 102, thereby greatly improving the preheating effect without changing the mechanical structure.

[0108] In the actual assembly process of the air conditioning humidification system, the specific steps to realize the structure described in this embodiment are as follows:

[0109] According to the design drawing, the evaporator outlet pipe 101 and the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 are arranged to the predetermined position on the assembly line, so that the sections where they need to exchange heat are parallel and adjacent to each other.

[0110] An appropriate amount of heat-conducting medium (such as heat-conducting silicone grease) is taken, and a thin and uniform layer of medium is applied to the contact surface of one or both pipes using a scraper or automated equipment.

[0111] Two pipes are pressed together to ensure that their pipe walls are in close contact. Then, several clamps or other fasteners are used to lock along the length of the contact section. The locking pressure will make the heat-conducting medium evenly spread and fill all the gaps, while ensuring that the two pipes remain firmly attached under the vibration and other working conditions of the device during long-term operation.

[0112] In addition to the side-by-side attachment structure described in detail in this embodiment, heat exchange connection can also be achieved in many other ways to adapt to different space layouts, cost budgets and performance requirements. In applications with extremely high performance and reliability requirements, the contact surfaces of the two pipes can be metallurgically combined through brazing or welding. This method can completely eliminate the contact thermal resistance and achieve the best heat transfer efficiency, but the manufacturing cost is also the highest.

[0113] Embodiment 4

[0114] This embodiment further clarifies and elaborates on the specific type of heating humidifier in the air conditioning humidification system described in Embodiment 1, aiming to illustrate the outstanding advantages of the technical solution of the present application in specific application scenarios.

[0115] In this embodiment, the heating humidifier is specifically an electrode type humidifier.

[0116] The electrode type humidifier is a common industrial-grade humidification device. Its working principle is not to heat water through an external heat source (such as a heating pipe), but to cleverly use the electrical conductivity of water itself. Its structural core is to immerse several electrodes in the water tank. When the system is working, a voltage is applied between these electrodes, and the current will directly conduct through the water. Since water itself has resistance, according to Joule's law, the current flowing through the water will generate heat, directly heating the water itself to boiling, thereby producing clean steam. The control of its humidification capacity is usually achieved by adjusting the electrode area immersed in the water (i.e., adjusting the water level) or controlling the current size.

[0117] The electrode type humidifier is chosen as the focus of this embodiment because this type of heating humidifier shows extremely high sensitivity to changes in water temperature and water quality (especially electrical conductivity), which greatly magnifies the drawbacks of the traditional water replenishment method.

[0118] The steam generation efficiency of the electrode type humidifier directly depends on whether the water is in a boiling state. When a large amount of normal-temperature replenishment water is injected into its water tank, the overall water temperature will drop rapidly, far from the boiling point. This will cause the heat generated by the current passing through the water to only be used to raise the macroscopic temperature of the water for a long period of time, and cannot produce steam, thereby causing the complete interruption of the humidification process. This stagnation period is usually longer and slower to respond compared to other types of humidifiers.

[0119] The controller of the electrode type humidifier needs to accurately adjust the current according to the electrical conductivity of the water to achieve stable steam output. The electrical conductivity of the water changes with the change of temperature, and at the same time, the fresh water replenished and the old water concentrated in the water tank due to evaporation also have differences in mineral content and electrical conductivity. The sudden injection of a large amount of cold water will cause a sharp fluctuation of water temperature and electrical conductivity, which is easy to cause the control system to misjudge, resulting in excessive or insufficient current, unstable humidification, and even failure.

[0120] In the air conditioning humidification system of the embodiment, the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 and the evaporator output pipe 101 of the refrigeration cycle unit are connected in heat exchange according to the method described in embodiment 1.

[0121] The specific working process is as follows:

[0122] When the control system of the electrode type humidifier triggers the water replenishment instruction due to the decrease of water level, the replenished water will be preheated by the evaporator output pipe 101 during flowing through the humidifier water inlet pipe 102. The effect of these preheated warm water entering the water tank of the electrode type humidifier is mild and gradual:

[0123] Since warm water instead of cold water is entered, the overall temperature of the water tank only decreases slightly and is always maintained at a state close to the boiling point. This makes the electrode almost continuously generate heat for vaporization, thereby ensuring the continuous and stable output of steam and greatly shortening the response time.

[0124] The injection of warm water makes the mixing process of new and old water more gentle, avoiding the sudden change of electrical conductivity caused by the sharp change of temperature difference and concentration difference. This helps the control system to more accurately adjust the working current and maintain stable humidification efficiency.

[0125] More broadly, the technical solution is applicable to any heating type humidifier that relies on maintaining the water body in the water tank at a high temperature or boiling state to work. For example, humidifiers that use immersed electric heating pipes for heating also face the problem of heating interruption caused by cold water impact. Therefore, these humidifiers with different specific structures can be used as alternative solutions to the electrode type humidifier in the embodiment and obtain similar technical gains.

[0126] Embodiment 5

[0127] As shown in Figure 2 , the embodiment further integrates a complete automatic control system on the basis of the air conditioning humidification system described in embodiment 1. The complete solution of autonomous operation and intelligent adjustment of the air conditioning humidification system is realized.

[0128] The air conditioning and humidifying system of the present embodiment, based on the refrigeration cycle unit composed of compressor 1, four-way valve 2, condenser 3, electronic expansion valve 4 and evaporator 5, heating-type humidifier 6 and the heat exchange connection between the two through evaporator output pipe 101 and humidifier water inlet pipe 102, additionally adds two core automatic control circuits: water level automatic control circuit and environmental humidity closed-loop control circuit.

[0129] As shown in Figure 2 , the water level automatic control circuit is composed of liquid level sensor 9 installed inside the heating-type humidifier 6 and solenoid valve 7 installed on the humidifier water inlet pipe 102.

[0130] The function of liquid level sensor 9 is to measure the water level height of the water tank inside the heating-type humidifier 6 in real time and accurately.

[0131] The function of solenoid valve 7 is to act as a valve controlled by electrical signals, installed on the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 leading from the water source, used to accurately open or close the water path for water replenishment.

[0132] An electrical connection is established between the two components, forming a subsystem that can self-regulate the water level, ensuring that the heating-type humidifier 6 never runs out of water.

[0133] The environmental humidity closed-loop control circuit is composed of humidity detection sensor 8 and a central controller.

[0134] Humidity detection sensor 8 is installed in the target environment that needs humidity control (such as the air return of the machine room), and its function is to continuously monitor the relative humidity of the ambient air.

[0135] The controller can be a microprocessor (MCU) or programmable logic controller (PLC), which is electrically connected to humidity detection sensor 8 to receive environmental data, and is electrically connected to the power control module of heating-type humidifier 6 to issue run or stop instructions.

[0136] Further, as shown in Figure 2 , the air conditioning and humidifying system of the present embodiment also additionally adds water pan 10, adopts double water source design, and the external water source is connected to the external stable water source (such as municipal tap water) through pipeline, serving as the main source of water replenishment. Figure 2 As shown in

[0137] The water supply line of the heating-type humidifier 6 is designed to take water from both the external water source and the water tray 10. This can be achieved by a three-way valve or two independent valves scheduled by the controller. The system will preferentially use the condensed water recovered in the water tray 10. Only when the water level in the water tray 10 is insufficient, will the system switch to the external water source for replenishment. This design not only saves water resources, but also effectively slows down the rate of scale formation inside the heating-type humidifier 6 due to the higher purity of the condensed water, which is distilled water, thereby prolonging the service life of the equipment.

[0138] In actual operation, the two control loops work together, and the complete automation workflow is as follows:

[0139] Step S1, system initialization:

[0140] After the air conditioning humidification system is powered on, the controller is activated and reads the target humidity value preset by the user (for example, set to 55% relative humidity).

[0141] Step S2, environmental monitoring and decision-making:

[0142] The humidity detection sensor 8 begins to measure the environmental humidity continuously and sends the real-time data to the controller. The controller compares the received real-time humidity value with the preset target humidity value. If the real-time humidity is lower than the preset value, the controller determines that humidification is needed and outputs a start signal to the heating-type humidifier 6. If the real-time humidity is equal to or higher than the preset value, the controller determines that humidification is not needed and keeps the heating-type humidifier 6 in standby or off state.

[0143] Step S3, humidification and water level monitoring:

[0144] After the heating-type humidifier 6 is started by the controller and begins to work, the water in its water tank will be continuously consumed due to evaporation. The liquid level sensor 9 installed in the water tank monitors the water level drop in real time.

[0145] Step S4, automatic water replenishment triggering and execution:

[0146] When the liquid level sensor 9 detects that the water level has dropped to the preset low water level threshold, it automatically outputs an electrical signal. This signal is transmitted directly or through the controller to the solenoid valve 7 installed on the humidifier water inlet pipe 102, triggering the solenoid valve 7 to switch from the closed state to the open state.

[0147] Step S5, preheating water replenishment and water level recovery:

[0148] After the solenoid valve 7 is opened, the replenishment water from the water source begins to flow through the humidifier water inlet pipe 102, and is preheated by heat exchange with the evaporator output pipe 101, and then is injected into the heating-type humidifier 6. As the warm water is continuously injected, the water level in the water tank begins to rise.

[0149] Step S6, water supply stops:

[0150] The liquid level sensor 9 continues to monitor during the water level recovery process. When the water level reaches the preset high water level threshold, the liquid level sensor 9 outputs another electrical signal to trigger the electromagnetic valve 7 to close, thereby precisely stopping the water supply.

[0151] The entire process forms a complete closed loop, in which the controller decides whether to humidify based on the data from the humidity detection sensor 8, and the water level control loop composed of the liquid level sensor 9 and the electromagnetic valve 7 autonomously ensures sufficient water supply during humidification.

[0152] In this embodiment, the water level control can be a direct hard-wired connection between the liquid level sensor 9 and the electromagnetic valve 7. In a more advanced system, the signal from the liquid level sensor 9 can also be sent to a central controller first, and the software logic of the controller can determine when to open or close the electromagnetic valve 7. This approach allows more complex control strategies to be implemented, such as water supply delay, fault diagnosis and alarm, etc.

[0153] The liquid level sensor 9 can be a low-cost float switch type, or a more accurate, non-mechanical wear type, such as an electrical conductivity, ultrasonic or capacitance sensor. The humidity detection sensor 8 can also be selected according to the accuracy requirements, such as different grades of polymer sensitive resistance or capacitance sensors.

[0154] Embodiment 6

[0155] The embodiment provides a water supply preheating method for an air conditioner humidification system, which is applied to the air conditioner humidification system with the above structure.

[0156] The water supply preheating method for the air conditioner humidification system provided in the embodiment is characterized in that the refrigeration operation process of the refrigeration cycle unit is coupled with the water supply process of the heating type humidifier in terms of energy, and through a key preheating step, the operation efficiency and response performance of the entire air conditioner humidification system are optimized.

[0157] The fundamental purpose of the method is to solve the problem of thermal shock caused by injecting low-temperature water when supplementing water to the heating type humidifier. The existing method directly injects normal-temperature supplement water into the high-temperature water tank, causing the water temperature to drop sharply after mixing, and the humidifier needs to consume a large amount of time and electric energy for reheating, causing response delay and energy waste.

[0158] The principle of the method is to re-plan and utilize the internal energy flow of the air conditioning humidification system. Specifically, it identifies that the heat carried by the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator output pipe 101 is a stable and free waste heat resource when the refrigeration cycle unit is working in refrigeration mode. Through specific steps, the method guides the supplementary water to exchange heat with this waste heat resource before it enters the water tank of the heating type humidifier. In this way, the execution of the method changes the initial thermodynamic state of the supplementary water, converting the originally problematic cold water into warm water that is beneficial to the system, thereby fundamentally solving the above technical problems and achieving the dual purposes of improving response speed and saving energy.

[0159] The water supply preheating method of the air conditioning humidification system includes the following steps:

[0160] Step one: run the refrigeration cycle unit to make the refrigerant flow through the evaporator output pipe 101.

[0161] When the refrigeration cycle unit enters a stable running state, gaseous refrigerant will continuously flow through the evaporator output pipe 101 after absorbing environmental heat. This process makes the pipe wall of the evaporator output pipe 101 a stable and sustainable heat source, creating the necessary physical conditions for the subsequent preheating step.

[0162] Step two: when the heating type humidifier needs to be replenished, make the supplementary water flow through the humidifier water inlet pipe 102, and preheat the supplementary water using the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator output pipe 101 before the supplementary water enters the heating type humidifier.

[0163] As the heating type humidifier works, the water level inside it drops due to evaporation. When the water level falls below the preset lower limit, the replenishment demand is triggered, and the system automatically or manually opens the valve of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102.

[0164] When the supplementary water flows to the section of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102 that forms a heat exchange connection with the evaporator output pipe 101, the preheating process automatically occurs. Specifically, heat is first transferred from the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator output pipe 101 to the pipe wall of the evaporator output pipe 101, then through the contact surface of the two pipes, and finally to the pipe wall of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102, and is finally absorbed by the flowing supplementary water. This heat exchange process is continuous as long as the supplementary water is flowing and the refrigeration cycle unit is running, and the preheating is continuously carried out.

[0165] The preheated supplementary water eventually flows into the water tank of the heating type humidifier. When the water level reaches the preset upper limit, the valve is closed, and the current replenishment process is completed.

[0166] By performing the above steps, every time the water replenishment operation of the heating-type humidifier is performed, the process of preheating the replenishment water is inevitably and automatically included.

[0167] The water replenishment trigger described in this embodiment can be fully automatic, i.e. accomplished automatically by the liquid level sensor and the controller. But in some simplified systems, the method can also be triggered semi-automatically or manually. For example, the system can only give a liquid level alarm, and the maintenance personnel manually press the water replenishment button to start Step 2. Regardless of the triggering method, as long as the core step of preheating using the heat of the refrigerant is performed, it falls within the scope of the method.

[0168] The method works best when the refrigeration cycle unit is running continuously and stably. In some special working conditions, the performance of the method will be different. For example, in the short time after the air conditioner is started, the temperature of the evaporator output pipe 101 has not yet stabilized, and the preheating effect will be slightly weaker at this time. For example, in the defrosting cycle of some heat pump type air conditioners, the refrigeration cycle unit will run reversely for a short time, and the preheating effect will be suspended at this time. The adaptive control of these working conditions (for example, not replenishing water during defrosting) can be considered as an optimization implementation strategy of the method.

[0169] In more advanced systems, the method can be parameterized and controlled. For example, the degree of preheating can be accurately controlled to achieve an optimal outlet water temperature by adjusting the flow rate of the replenishment water flowing through the humidifier water inlet pipe 102. This fine control based on sensor feedback (such as adding a temperature sensor at the outlet of the humidifier water inlet pipe 102) is an advanced implementation of the method.

[0170] The relative arrangement of parts and steps, numerical expressions, and numerical values set forth in the examples are not meant to limit the scope of the present application unless otherwise specifically stated. In all of the examples shown and discussed herein, any particular value should be interpreted in the context of the overall disclosure, as an example only, and not as a limitation. Thus, other examples of the example embodiments can have different values. It is noted that like numbers and letters refer to like elements throughout the several views of the drawings, and that the use of or reference to certain terms in various places of the specification are not intended to exclude those terms from the scope of the application, unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0171] In addition, it should be noted that the use of the words "first", "second", etc. to define a certain item is merely for the convenience of distinguishing, and unless otherwise stated, the above words do not have special meanings, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present application.

[0172] The above only describes the preferred embodiments of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. The present application can have various modifications and changes for those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. An air conditioning humidification system, characterized in that, include: A refrigeration cycle unit, the refrigeration cycle unit including an evaporator output pipe (101); A heated humidifier, the heated humidifier including a humidifier inlet pipe (102); The humidifier inlet pipe (102) and the evaporator outlet pipe (101) are connected in a heat exchange connection.

2. The air conditioning humidification system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both the evaporator output pipe (101) and the humidifier inlet pipe (102) are made of thermally conductive material.

3. The air conditioning humidification system according to claim 2, characterized in that: Both the evaporator output pipe (101) and the humidifier inlet pipe (102) are made of thermally conductive metal.

4. The air conditioning humidification system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The thermally conductive metal is one of copper, aluminum, and stainless steel.

5. The air conditioning humidification system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The heat exchange connection is achieved in the following way: The humidifier inlet pipe (102) and the evaporator outlet pipe (101) are arranged side by side and attached to each other.

6. The air conditioning humidification system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The contact portion between the humidifier inlet pipe (102) and the evaporator outlet pipe is filled with a heat-conducting medium.

7. The air conditioning humidification system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating type humidifier is either an infrared humidifier or an electrode humidifier.

8. The air conditioning humidification system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air conditioning humidification system also includes: A liquid level sensor (9) is installed inside the heating humidifier; A solenoid valve (7) is installed on the humidifier inlet pipe (102) and is electrically connected to the liquid level sensor (9); The liquid level sensor (9) is used to trigger the solenoid valve (7) to open when the water level is detected to be lower than a preset value.

9. The air conditioning humidification system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air conditioning humidification system also includes: Humidity sensor used to detect ambient humidity; The controller is electrically connected to the humidity detection sensor and the heating humidifier; The controller is used to activate the heating humidifier when the humidity sensor detects that the ambient humidity is lower than a preset humidity value.

10. A method for preheating water supply in an air conditioning humidification system, characterized in that, Applied to an air conditioning humidification system as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprises the following steps: The refrigeration cycle unit is operated so that the refrigerant flows through the evaporator outlet pipe (101); When water needs to be added to the heating humidifier, the water is allowed to flow through the humidifier inlet pipe (102), and the water is preheated by the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator outlet pipe (101) before it enters the heating humidifier.

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