Air conditioner indoor unit and air conditioner

Abstract

The application discloses an air conditioner indoor unit and an air conditioner, and relates to the technical field of air conditioners. The air conditioner indoor unit comprises a shell, a deodorization module and a cleaning module. The deodorization module is arranged in the shell. The cleaning module is arranged in the shell and comprises a heating assembly and a cleaning assembly. The heating assembly has a heating inlet and a heating outlet. The heating assembly can heat water and air entering from the heating inlet into high-temperature steam and high-temperature air, respectively. The cleaning assembly is in communication with the heating outlet. The cleaning assembly can clean and dry the deodorization module by using the high-temperature steam and high-temperature air heated by the heating assembly. The technical scheme of the application can solve the problem that the deodorization module in the existing air conditioner indoor unit needs to be manually disassembled and replaced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioner technology, and particularly to an indoor air conditioner unit and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, air conditioners are becoming increasingly common. However, during the use of air conditioners, the room is usually relatively sealed in order to achieve heat exchange, resulting in poor air circulation. Over time, the air becomes polluted, causing people to feel stuffy and uncomfortable. One of the reasons for this is the increased concentration of odors. Therefore, how to effectively remove odors and purify the air in air-conditioned rooms has become a technical problem that needs to be solved.

[0003] Existing technologies typically employ a combination of fresh air and exhaust ventilation to ensure a high proportion of fresh indoor air. However, to maintain odor levels at a relatively low level, a high fresh air volume is usually required, resulting in problems such as increased overall air conditioner size, the need for enlarged holes in the wall, decreased cooling and heating efficiency, and high energy consumption when cooling, heating, and fresh air are used simultaneously. Therefore, existing air conditioners also include additional odor adsorption modules.

[0004] Existing odor adsorption modules generally use porous materials such as activated carbon, MOF (Metal-Organic Framework), and molecular sieves to adsorb odors. Once these porous materials are saturated, they are prone to causing secondary pollution, so they need to be replaced in a timely manner. It is necessary to master the replacement method, and it is not easy to judge when to replace them during use, which reduces the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioner indoor unit that solves the problem of requiring manual disassembly and replacement of the deodorization module in existing air conditioner indoor units.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an air conditioner indoor unit, comprising a housing, a deodorizing module, and a cleaning module. The deodorizing module is disposed within the housing; the cleaning module, also disposed within the housing, includes a heating component and a cleaning component. The heating component has a heating inlet and a heating outlet, and can heat water and air entering through the heating inlet into high-temperature steam and high-temperature air, respectively. The cleaning component is connected to the heating outlet, and can use the high-temperature steam heated by the heating component to clean the deodorizing module and use the high-temperature air to dry the deodorizing module.

[0007] In one embodiment, the heating inlet is connected to a water inlet pipe and an air inlet pipe, and the water inlet pipe and the air inlet pipe are respectively provided with a water inlet valve and an air inlet valve. The cleaning assembly includes a steam pipe and a nozzle. The steam pipe is connected to the heating outlet, and the nozzle is connected to the steam pipe.

[0008] In one embodiment, the steam pipe is arranged in a ring around the deodorizing module and located above it, and the nozzles are spaced apart from the steam pipe.

[0009] In one embodiment, a purification air duct is formed inside the housing. The purification air duct has an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with indoor air. An air damper is provided at the air outlet. An exhaust vent is provided on the purification air duct and communicates with outdoor air. An exhaust valve is provided at the exhaust vent. The deodorization module is located inside the purification air duct and is located upstream of the exhaust vent in the airflow path.

[0010] In one embodiment, the system further includes a fan located within the purification duct, which draws indoor air into the purification duct from the air inlet and then discharges it into the room through the air outlet, or discharges it to the outside through the air outlet.

[0011] In one embodiment, a control module is also included. The control module includes a controller and an air quality sensor. The air quality sensor is in communication with the indoor air. The controller is communicatively connected to the cleaning module and the air quality sensor. The controller can control the opening and closing of the air inlet valve, water inlet valve, exhaust valve, damper and heating component based on the air quality data obtained by the air quality sensor.

[0012] In one embodiment, the deodorizing module includes a porous substrate with a composition of molecular sieves and adhesives coated on its surface.

[0013] In one embodiment, the molecular sieve is a combination of Y-type molecular sieve and ZSM-5 type molecular sieve, and the ratio of the Y-type molecular sieve to the ZSM-5 type molecular sieve is 1:(0.1-10), and the powder fineness of the molecular sieve is 10 mesh to 500 mesh.

[0014] In one embodiment, preferably, the ratio of the Y-type molecular sieve to the ZSM-5 type molecular sieve is 1:1, and the powder fineness of the molecular sieve is 100 mesh to 200 mesh.

[0015] In one embodiment, the porous substrate is made of aluminum-based honeycomb, fiberglass corrugated paper, high-temperature resistant plastic corrugated paper, metal foam, or ceramic honeycomb.

[0016] In one embodiment, the adhesive is a hydrophilic adhesive, a hydrophobic adhesive, or a bihydrophobic adhesive.

[0017] In one embodiment, the nozzle includes a horn wall, a nozzle core, a connecting pipe, and a nozzle tube. The connecting pipe is connected in parallel to the steam pipe. One end of the nozzle tube is connected to the connecting pipe and extends toward the center of the molecular sieve deodorization module. The other end of the nozzle tube is connected to the nozzle core. The sidewall of the nozzle tube is provided with a nozzle hole. The horn wall is located on the outer periphery of the nozzle tube and is flared away from the connecting pipe. The sidewall of the nozzle core and the inner wall surface of the horn wall form a jet channel.

[0018] In one embodiment, the housing is further provided with a water receiving tray, the water inlet pipe is connected to tap water and / or the water receiving tray, and the air inlet pipe is connected to outdoor air and / or indoor air.

[0019] The present invention also proposes an air conditioner, comprising an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected by pipelines. The indoor unit comprises a housing, a deodorizing module, and a cleaning module. The deodorizing module is disposed within the housing; the cleaning module, disposed within the housing, comprises a heating component and a cleaning component. The heating component has a heating inlet and a heating outlet, and can heat water and air entering through the heating inlet into high-temperature steam and high-temperature air, respectively. The cleaning component is connected to the heating outlet, and can use the high-temperature steam and high-temperature air heated by the heating component to clean and dry the deodorizing module, respectively.

[0020] The technical solution of this invention involves setting a cleaning module inside the housing of an air conditioner indoor unit. The cleaning module includes a heating component and a cleaning component. The heating component has a heating inlet and a heating outlet. The heating component can heat water and air entering through the heating inlet into high-temperature steam and high-temperature air, respectively. The cleaning component is connected to the heating outlet. The cleaning component can use the high-temperature steam and high-temperature air heated by the heating component to clean and dry the deodorizing module, respectively. The deodorizing module's adsorption capacity can be regenerated without manual disassembly and replacement. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the indoor unit of the air conditioner of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of the deodorization module and the cleaning module;

[0024] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the cleaning component;

[0025] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the nozzle structure.

[0026] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0027] label name label name 10 air conditioner indoor unit 100 case 110 Purification air duct 111 air inlet 112 air vent 112a throttle 113 exhaust vent 113a exhaust valve 200 Odor removal module 300 Cleaning module 310 Heating components 311 Heating Inlet 312 Heating outlet 320 Cleaning components 321 nozzle 321a Connecting pipe 321b Nozzle tube 321b′ Nozzle orifice 321c Speaker wall 321d Nozzle core 321e Jet Channel 322 Steam pipe 330 Inlet pipe 331 Inlet valve 340 intake manifold 341 Intake valve 400 Fan

[0028] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0031] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this invention is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0032] In existing air conditioning systems, odor adsorption modules are added to purify the air in air-conditioned rooms and remove odors. These modules typically use porous materials such as activated carbon, MOF, and molecular sieves to adsorb odors. However, once these porous materials become saturated, they can easily cause secondary pollution, requiring timely replacement. This process is cumbersome, and determining the appropriate replacement time is difficult, thus reducing the user experience.

[0033] This invention proposes an indoor air conditioning unit that solves the problem of manually disassembling and replacing the odor adsorption module in the aforementioned air conditioning system.

[0034] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner includes a housing 100, a deodorizing module 200, and a cleaning module 300. The deodorizing module 200 is disposed within the housing 100; the cleaning module 300 is disposed within the housing 100 and includes a heating component 310 and a cleaning component 320. The heating component 310 has a heating inlet 311 and a heating outlet 312. The heating component 310 can heat water and air entering through the heating inlet 311 into high-temperature steam and high-temperature air, respectively. The cleaning component is connected to the heating outlet 312, and can use the high-temperature steam and high-temperature air heated by the heating component 310 to clean and dry the deodorizing module 200, respectively. Specifically, the heating component 310 can be a heat pump, etc.

[0035] The indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner can operate in three modes: purification mode, self-cleaning desorption mode, and drying mode. When purification mode is activated, the deodorizing module 200 adsorbs odor molecules from the indoor air. As purification mode continues to operate, the deodorizing module 200 continuously adsorbs odor molecules. If its adsorption capacity reaches saturation, it will lose its purification ability. Furthermore, because the concentration of odor molecules in the saturated deodorizing module 200 is too high, it will cause secondary pollution to the passing indoor air. Generally, the deodorizing module 200 needs to be disassembled and replaced to restore its purification capacity. In this embodiment, simply activating the self-cleaning desorption mode is sufficient to desorb odor impurities, and then activating the drying mode allows the molecular sieve deodorizing module 200 to regain its adsorption and purification function.

[0036] When the self-cleaning desorption mode is activated, the heating component 310 heats the water entering through the heating inlet 311 into high-temperature steam. The cleaning component is connected to the heating outlet 312. The high-temperature steam heated by the heating component 310 is used to clean the deodorizing module 200, desorb the odor molecules in the deodorizing module 200 and carry them away.

[0037] After the deodorizing module 200 is cleaned and desorbed by high-temperature steam, some moisture will remain inside. This residual moisture will reduce the module's ability to adsorb odor molecules. Therefore, the module needs to be dried. When the drying mode is activated, the heating component 310 heats the air entering through the heating inlet 311 into dry, high-temperature air. The cleaning component uses this dry, high-temperature air to dry the deodorizing module 200, removing the moisture left inside after cleaning. After cleaning and drying, the deodorizing module 200 regains its ability to adsorb odor molecules without requiring manual disassembly or replacement.

[0038] Please see Figure 2 The self-cleaning desorption mode and the drying mode require the heating component 310 to provide high-temperature steam and high-temperature air, i.e., it needs to provide a water source and air for the heating component 310. Therefore, in one embodiment, the heating inlet 311 is connected to a water inlet pipe 330 and an air inlet pipe 340. The water inlet pipe 330 is connected to an external tap water source, using the external tap water as the water source for the heating component 310. The air inlet pipe 340 can be connected to outdoor air, using outdoor air as the air source for heating the heating component 310, or it can be connected to indoor air, using indoor air as the air source for heating the heating component 310. The air inlet pipe 340 can also be connected to both outdoor and indoor air simultaneously.

[0039] To prevent liquid leakage from the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner, a water tray is provided inside the housing 100. Therefore, the water inlet pipe 330 can also be connected to the water tray, using the water accumulated in the water tray as the water source for the heating component 310, thus avoiding the need for an external water source. The water inlet pipe 330 can also be connected to both a tap water supply and the water tray simultaneously. When the water in the water tray is insufficient, an external tap water source can be used.

[0040] Furthermore, in order to control the sequential operation of the self-cleaning desorption mode and the drying mode, it is necessary to control whether the heating component 310 is supplied with water or air. The water inlet pipe 330 and the air inlet pipe 340 are respectively equipped with a water inlet valve 331 and an air inlet valve 341. The opening and closing of the water inlet valve 331 and the air inlet valve 341 controls whether water or air enters the heating component 310, thus controlling the operating mode of the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner. The water inlet pipe 330, the air inlet pipe 340, the water inlet valve 331, and the air inlet valve 341 can be made of materials such as PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), PP (Polypropylene), PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), and EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), with PVC being preferred.

[0041] Please see Figure 2 and Figure 3 The cleaning assembly includes a steam pipe 322 and a nozzle 321. The steam pipe 322 is connected to the heating outlet 312, and the nozzle 321 is connected to the steam pipe 322. High-temperature steam and air generated by the heating assembly 310 flow into the steam pipe 322 and are ejected from the nozzle 321. After being ejected from the nozzle 321, the high-temperature steam and air can reach a wider and farther range. The steam pipe 322 can be located inside or outside the deodorizing module 200. Preferably, in one embodiment, the steam pipe 322 is arranged around and above the deodorizing module 200, and the nozzles 321 are spaced apart from the steam pipe 322. This ensures that the high-temperature steam and air ejected from the nozzles 321 cover the entire deodorizing module 200 as much as possible, while making the temperature of the steam and air contacted by each area of ​​the deodorizing module 200 more uniform, thus improving the desorption, cleaning, and drying effects of the deodorizing module 200.

[0042] When the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner operates in purification mode, odor molecules in the indoor air after passing through the deodorization module 200 are adsorbed and transformed into purified air. However, when operating in self-cleaning desorption mode, the indoor air after passing through the deodorization module 200 is mixed with desorbed odor molecules, becoming turbid air. The purified air should be discharged into the room to improve indoor air comfort. If the turbid air is also discharged into the room, it will pollute the indoor air, violating the original purpose of the deodorization module 200 in eliminating indoor air odors.

[0043] In view of this, in one embodiment, a purification air duct 110 is formed inside the housing 100. The purification air duct 110 has an air inlet 111 and an air outlet 112 that communicate with indoor air. An air damper 112a is provided at the air outlet 112. An exhaust vent 113 is provided on the purification air duct 110, which communicates with outdoor air. An exhaust valve 113a is provided at the exhaust vent 113. The deodorization module 200 is disposed inside the purification air duct 110 and is located upstream of the exhaust vent 113 in the airflow path.

[0044] Furthermore, the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner also includes a fan 400, which is located in the purification duct 110. The fan 400 can draw indoor air into the purification duct 110 from the air inlet 111 and then exhaust it into the room from the air outlet 112 or to the outside from the air outlet 113.

[0045] When the purification mode is activated, indoor air enters the purification duct 110 through the air inlet 111 under the action of the fan 400. As it passes through the deodorization module 200, odor molecules in the air are adsorbed and retained within the module. At this time, the damper 112a opens and the exhaust valve 113a closes. Under the action of the fan 400, the purified air is finally discharged back into the room through the air outlet 112. With the purification mode continuously activated, the indoor air undergoes purification and circulation, continuously reducing the number of odor molecules, ultimately eliminating indoor odors and improving indoor environmental comfort.

[0046] When the self-cleaning desorption mode is activated, the water inlet valve 331, the exhaust valve 113a, and the heating component 310 are opened, while the damper 112a is closed. After the water inlet valve 331 is opened, water in the water inlet pipe 330 flows into the heating component 310 through the heating inlet 311. Under the action of the heating component 310, the water absorbs heat and turns into high-temperature steam. The steam pipe 322 of the cleaning component 320 is connected to the heating outlet 312 of the heating component 310. After the water absorbs heat and turns into high-temperature steam, it enters the steam pipe 322 through the heating outlet 312 of the heating component 310. Since the steam pipe 322 is arranged around the deodorizing module 200 and located above the sieve deodorizing module 200, when the high-temperature steam is ejected from the nozzles 321 spaced apart on the steam pipe 322, it can cover the entire deodorizing module 200. At this time, the fan 400 is still in operation. Since the damper 112a is closed and the exhaust valve 113a is open, the fan 400 draws indoor air into the purification duct 110 through the air inlet 111 and then exhausts the air to the outside through the exhaust outlet 113. Driven by the flowing air, high-temperature steam flows through the deodorizing module 200, removing odor molecules adsorbed within the module. The indoor air, mixed with odor molecules and high-temperature steam, is finally exhausted to the outside through the exhaust outlet 113. This prevents high-temperature steam from overflowing into the room through the air inlet 111, thus avoiding damage to indoor air comfort, and also prevents high-temperature steam from condensing and forming water within the deodorizing module 200, which would increase the difficulty of drying.

[0047] When the drying mode is activated, the water inlet valve 331 is closed, the air inlet valve 341 is opened, the damper 112a remains closed, and the exhaust valve 113a and the heating assembly 310 remain open. After the air inlet valve 341 is opened, air in the air inlet pipe 340 flows into the heating assembly 310 through the heating inlet 311. Under the action of the heating assembly 310, the air absorbs heat and becomes dry, high-temperature air. The steam pipe 322 of the cleaning assembly 320 is connected to the heating outlet 312 of the heating assembly 310. After the air absorbs heat and becomes dry, high-temperature air, it enters the steam pipe 322 through the heating outlet 312 of the heating assembly 310. Since the steam pipe 322 is arranged around and above the deodorizing module 200, the dry, high-temperature air ejected from the nozzles 321 spaced apart on the steam pipe 322 can cover the entire deodorizing module 200. At this time, the fan 400 is still in operation. Since the damper 112a is closed and the exhaust valve 113a is open, the fan 400 draws indoor air into the purification duct 110 through the air inlet 111 and then exhausts the air to the outside through the exhaust outlet 113. Driven by the flowing air, the dry, high-temperature air flows through the deodorizing module 200, carrying away any residual moisture. The indoor air, having absorbed the moisture, is finally exhausted to the outside through the exhaust outlet 113, preventing high-temperature air from overflowing into the room through the air inlet 111 and compromising indoor comfort. The deodorizing module 200 is dried, and after drying, it regains its ability to absorb odor molecules.

[0048] The indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner only needs to control the opening and closing of the air inlet valve 341, water inlet valve 331, exhaust valve 113a, damper 112a, and heating component 310 to sequentially execute the purification mode, self-cleaning desorption mode, and drying mode, thereby achieving the elimination of indoor odors by the deodorization module 200 and the regeneration of the odor adsorption function of the deodorization module 200. However, in actual use, if the air inlet valve 341, water inlet valve 331, exhaust valve 113a, and damper 112a all require manual control by the user to adjust the operating mode of the indoor unit 10, the user cannot accurately grasp the timing of activating different modes and the duration of operation for each mode. If the self-cleaning desorption mode is activated too early or runs for too long, unnecessary energy consumption will increase. If the drying mode runs for too short a time, the deodorizing module 200 will not be completely dried, which will reduce its ability to adsorb odor impurities. Excessive moisture in the deodorizing module 200 may also cause the adsorbed odor molecules to mix and solidify again, increasing the difficulty of the next cleaning and reducing the user experience.

[0049] Therefore, in one embodiment, the air conditioning deodorization system further includes a control module, which includes a controller and an air quality sensor. The air quality sensor is connected to the indoor air, and the controller is communicatively connected to the deodorization component and the air quality sensor. The controller can control the opening and closing of the air intake valve 341, water inlet valve 331, exhaust valve 113a, damper 112a, and heating component 310 based on the air quality data obtained by the air quality sensor.

[0050] The air quality sensor is connected to the indoor air and can detect the indoor air quality. The controller is communicatively connected to the air quality sensor and can synchronously obtain the indoor air quality detection data from the air quality sensor. Simultaneously, the controller includes an air quality analysis program and an odor removal control program. The air quality analysis program can calculate the indoor air quality decay index based on the detected indoor air quality data, and thereby calculate the current odor removal efficiency of the odor removal module 200. By simply setting an effective preset purification efficiency for the controller, the odor removal control program can control the operating mode of the indoor air conditioning unit 10 based on the ratio of the odor removal efficiency of the odor removal module 200 to the preset purification efficiency. When the deodorization efficiency of the deodorization module 200 is not less than the preset purification efficiency, the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner operates in purification mode; when the deodorization efficiency of the deodorization module 200 is less than the preset purification efficiency, the control program controls the vent 112a to close and the exhaust valve 113a, water inlet valve 331, and heating component 310 to open, and the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner operates in self-cleaning desorption mode. At this time, a self-cleaning desorption mode operation time T1 needs to be set for the control program. When the self-cleaning desorption mode operation time of the indoor unit 10 reaches T1, the control program controls the water inlet valve 331 to close and the air inlet valve 341 to open, and the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner operates in drying mode. Similarly, at this time, the control program needs to be set to a drying mode running time T2. When the air conditioner indoor unit 10 runs the drying mode for a duration of T2, the control program controls the water inlet valve 331, the exhaust valve 113a and the heating component 310 to be closed, and the air damper 112a to be opened, and the air conditioner indoor unit 10 continues to run the purification mode.

[0051] The values ​​of the preset purification efficiency, the self-cleaning mode operation time T1, and the drying mode operation time T2 can be obtained through experiments. Preferably, the preset purification efficiency is set to 60%, the self-cleaning mode operation time T1 is set to 15 min to 25 min, and the drying mode operation time T2 is set to 10 min.

[0052] The adsorption capacity of the deodorizing module 200 is related to the type of adsorption module. Traditional deodorizing modules 200 include activated carbon, molecular sieves, etc. In this embodiment, the deodorizing module 200 includes a porous substrate, and the surface of the porous substrate is coated with a composition of molecular sieve and adhesive. The molecular sieve can be a Y-type molecular sieve, ZMS-5 type molecular sieve, A-type molecular sieve, P-type molecular sieve, or L-type molecular sieve, etc. The porous substrate can be made of aluminum-based honeycomb, fiberglass corrugated paper, high-temperature resistant plastic corrugated paper, metal foam, or ceramic honeycomb, etc. The adhesive can be a hydrophilic adhesive, a hydrophobic adhesive, or a dual-hydrophobic adhesive, etc.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, to enable the deodorizing module 200 to have a larger adsorption capacity and faster adsorption efficiency, the molecular sieve is a combination of Y-type molecular sieve and ZSM-5 molecular sieve, with a ratio of Y-type molecular sieve to ZSM-5 molecular sieve of 1:(0.1-10), and more preferably a ratio of 1:1. To increase the uniformity of the molecular sieve coating and its adsorption capacity, the powder fineness of the molecular sieve is selected in the range of 10 mesh to 500 mesh, and more preferably, the powder fineness is selected in the range of 100 mesh to 200 mesh. To reduce airflow loss through the deodorization module 200 and increase the specific surface area of ​​the filter screen within the porous substrate, the porous substrate is made of aluminum-based honeycomb with a mesh size greater than 3 mesh. To ensure sufficient contact area between the molecular sieve and air, the mesh size of the aluminum-based honeycomb is no greater than 20 mesh, and the porosity of the aluminum-based honeycomb ranges from 1% to 99%, preferably from 50% to 80%. To ensure sufficient contact time between air and the molecular sieve, the thickness of the filter screen within the porous substrate ranges from 1 mm to 80 mm, preferably from 10 mm to 30 mm. To ensure more efficient cleaning, desorption, and drying by the deodorization module 200, the adhesive is preferably a dihydrophobic adhesive.

[0054] Please see Figure 4The cleaning effect of the cleaning module 300 on the deodorizing module 200 is related to the arrangement of the nozzle 321. Therefore, in one embodiment, the nozzle 321 includes a horn wall 321c, a nozzle core 321d, a connecting pipe 321a, and a nozzle tube 321b. The connecting pipe 321a is connected in parallel to the steam pipe 322. One end of the nozzle tube 321b is connected to the connecting pipe 321a and extends towards the center of the molecular sieve deodorizing module 200. The other end of the nozzle tube 321b is connected to the nozzle core 321d. The side wall of the nozzle tube 321b is provided with a nozzle hole 321b′. The horn wall 321c is located on the outer periphery of the nozzle tube 321b and is flared away from the connecting pipe 321a. The side wall of the nozzle core 321d and the inner wall surface of the horn wall 321c form a jet channel 321e. The steam pipe 322 is arranged around the top of the deodorizing module 200. Except for the nozzle 321, it has no other outlet. Therefore, high-temperature steam or air entering the cleaning assembly can only exit from the nozzle 321. A connecting pipe 321a is connected in parallel to the steam pipe 322, and a nozzle pipe 321b is connected to the connecting pipe 321a. High-temperature steam or air enters the connecting pipe 321a from the steam pipe 322, and is then guided into the nozzle pipe 321b through the connecting pipe 321a. After entering the nozzle pipe 321b, the high-temperature steam or air is constricted and diverted by the side wall of the nozzle pipe 321b and the nozzle core 321d, exiting through the nozzle hole 321b'. The jet angle is then adjusted by the jet channel 321e formed by the side wall of the nozzle core 321d and the inner wall of the horn wall 321c before reaching the surface of the deodorizing module 200.

[0055] If the depth of the nozzle 321 (the distance from the top surface of the horn wall 321c to the connecting pipe 321a) is too large, it will occupy the air intake area of ​​the deodorizing module 200. If it is too small, it will affect the distance from which high-temperature steam or high-temperature air is ejected from the nozzle 321. Preferably, the depth of the nozzle 321 is in the range of 5mm-30mm. The smaller the diameter ratio of the nozzle tube 321b to the connecting pipe 321a, the smaller the diameter of the nozzle hole 321b', the greater the air pressure when high-temperature steam or high-temperature air is ejected, and the farther the ejection distance, but at the same time, the amount of steam or air ejected is also less. Preferably, the diameter ratio of the nozzle tube 321b to the connecting pipe 321a is 1:(1-1.5), and the diameter range of the nozzle hole 321b' is 0.1mm-2mm. The smaller the ratio of the top diameter to the bottom diameter of the horn wall 321c, and the smaller the ratio of the distance from the top surface of the nozzle core 321d to the distance from the top surface of the horn wall 321c to the connecting pipe 321a, the stronger the jetting force of the nozzle 321, but the smaller the spraying range. Preferably, the ratio of the top diameter to the bottom diameter of the horn wall 321c is 1:(0.6-0.1), and the ratio of the distance from the top surface of the nozzle core 321d to the connecting pipe 321a to the distance from the top surface of the horn wall 321c to the connecting pipe 321a is 1:(1.2-2.1). If the cross-sectional angle of the horn wall 321c is too large, the high-temperature steam or air will experience rapid pressure decay and leakage when passing through the jet channel 321e. If it is too small, the spray range of the high-temperature steam or air will be insufficient. Preferably, the cross-sectional angle of the horn wall 321c is in the range of 30°-160°. If the overall thickness of the cleaning component is too thick, it will affect the overall size of the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner. If it is too thin, the nozzle 321 cannot adjust its angle to cover the entire deodorizing module 200. Preferably, the overall thickness of the cleaning component is in the range of 10mm-40mm. To reduce the flow resistance of high-temperature steam or air through the jet channel 321e, preferably, the sidewall of the nozzle core 321d is parallel to the inner wall of the horn wall 321c. If the number of nozzles 321 is too large, higher requirements will be placed on the steam or air flow rate in the steam pipe 322, increasing production costs. Preferably, the nozzles 321 are spaced apart on both sides of the steam pipe 322 parallel to the length of the deodorizing module 200, maximizing the area covered by the deodorizing module 200 while optimizing the number of nozzles 321. The nozzles 321 can be made of materials such as metal, high-temperature resistant plastic, glass, or ceramic. To ensure the service life of the nozzles 321, in one embodiment, the nozzles 321 are made of high-temperature resistant plastic, such as PTFE, PP, PVC, EPDM, etc. Preferably, PVC material is used.

[0056] The cleaning effect of the cleaning module 300 on the deodorizing module 200 is also affected by factors such as the heating pressure of the heating component 310, the temperature of the heated steam, and the water flow rate in the water inlet pipe 330. The higher the pressure of the heating component 310, the higher the temperature of the heated steam, and the greater the water flow rate in the water inlet pipe 330, the stronger the cleaning effect on the deodorizing module 200. However, this also consumes more energy and places higher demands on the performance of the heating component 310 and the steam pipe 322. Therefore, in one embodiment, the heating pressure of the heating component 310 ranges from 1 bar to 100 bar, the temperature of the heated steam ranges from 110°C to 180°C, and the water flow rate of the water inlet pipe 330 ranges from 10 mL / min to 100 mL / min. Preferably, the heating pressure of the heating component 310 is 5 bar, and the temperature of the heated steam ranges from 120°C.

[0057] This invention also proposes an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The specific structure of the indoor unit is as described in the above embodiments. Since this air conditioner adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it possesses at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated upon here. The outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected by pipelines.

[0058] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made under the concept of the present invention using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An indoor unit for an air conditioner, characterized in that, include: case; Odor removal module, wherein the odor removal module is disposed within the housing; as well as A cleaning module, disposed within the housing, includes a heating component and a cleaning component. The heating component has a heating inlet and a heating outlet. The heating component can heat water and air entering through the heating inlet into high-temperature steam and high-temperature air, respectively. The cleaning component is connected to the heating outlet. The cleaning component can use the high-temperature steam heated by the heating component to clean the deodorizing module and use the high-temperature air to dry the deodorizing module. The heating inlet is connected to a water inlet pipe and an air inlet pipe. The water inlet pipe and the air inlet pipe are respectively equipped with a water inlet valve and an air inlet valve. The cleaning component includes a steam pipe and a nozzle. The steam pipe is connected to the heating outlet, and the nozzle is connected to the steam pipe. The steam pipe is arranged in a ring around the deodorizing module and located above it, and the nozzles are spaced apart on the steam pipe; The nozzle includes a horn wall, a nozzle core, a connecting pipe, and a nozzle tube. The connecting pipe is connected in parallel to the steam pipe. One end of the nozzle tube is connected to the connecting pipe and extends toward the center of the deodorizing module. The other end of the nozzle tube is connected to the nozzle core. The side wall of the nozzle tube is provided with a nozzle hole. The horn wall is located on the outer periphery of the nozzle tube and is flared away from the connecting pipe. The side wall of the nozzle core and the inner wall of the horn wall form a jet channel.

2. The air conditioner indoor unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A purification air duct is formed inside the housing. The purification air duct has an air inlet and an air outlet that communicate with indoor air. An air damper is provided at the air outlet. An exhaust vent is provided on the purification air duct and communicates with outdoor air. An exhaust valve is provided at the exhaust vent. The deodorization module is located inside the purification air duct and is located upstream of the exhaust vent in the airflow path.

3. The air conditioner indoor unit as described in claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a fan, which is located in the purification duct and can draw indoor air into the purification duct from the air inlet and then discharge it into the room from the air outlet or to the outside from the air outlet.

4. The air conditioner indoor unit as described in claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a control module, which includes a controller and an air quality sensor. The air quality sensor is connected to the indoor air. The controller is communicatively connected to the cleaning module and the air quality sensor. The controller can control the opening and closing of the air inlet valve, water inlet valve, exhaust valve, damper and heating components based on the air quality data obtained by the air quality sensor.

5. The air conditioner indoor unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The deodorization module includes a porous substrate with a composition of molecular sieves and adhesives attached to its surface.

6. The air conditioner indoor unit as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The molecular sieve is a combination of Y-type molecular sieve and ZSM-5 type molecular sieve, and the ratio of the Y-type molecular sieve to the ZSM-5 type molecular sieve is 1:(0.1-10), and the powder fineness of the molecular sieve is 10 mesh to 500 mesh.

7. The air conditioner indoor unit as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The ratio of the Y-type molecular sieve to the ZSM-5 type molecular sieve is 1:1, and the powder fineness of the molecular sieve is 100 mesh to 200 mesh.

8. The indoor unit of the air conditioner as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The porous substrate is made of aluminum-based honeycomb, fiberglass corrugated paper, high-temperature resistant plastic corrugated paper, metal foam, or ceramic honeycomb.

9. The indoor unit of the air conditioner as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The adhesive is a hydrophilic adhesive, a hydrophobic adhesive, or a bihydrophobic adhesive.

10. The air conditioner indoor unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The housing is also provided with a water receiving tray, the water inlet pipe is connected to tap water and / or the water receiving tray, and the air inlet pipe is connected to outdoor air and / or indoor air.

11. An air conditioner, characterized in that, It includes an outdoor unit and an indoor air conditioning unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected by pipelines.

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