Air conditioner and liquid cargo tank

Abstract

The utility model provides an air conditioner and a liquid cargo tank. The air conditioner comprises a shell (1), wherein a fresh air opening (11) and an air supply opening (12) are formed in the shell (1); the first evaporator (25) and the second evaporator (26) are arranged on the first refrigerant circulation loop and the second refrigerant circulation loop respectively and are sequentially arranged in the shell (1) in the direction that airflow flows from the fresh air opening (11) to the air supply opening (12); the reheating condenser (3) is arranged in the shell (1), is arranged on the downstream of the second evaporator (26) in the direction that the airflow flows from the fresh air opening (11) to the air supply opening (12), and is used for heating the airflow; and the electric heater (4) is arranged in the shell (1), is arranged on the downstream of the reheating condenser (3) in the direction that the airflow flows from the fresh air opening (11) to the air supply opening (12), and is used for heating the airflow. In this way, the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner in the defrosting process can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of air conditioning, and in particular to an air conditioner and a liquid cargo tank. Background Art

[0002] When the outdoor temperature is low, the outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner may frost. In order to prevent frost from affecting the heating effect, the air conditioner needs to be defrosted.

[0003] Typically, when defrosting, the air conditioner switches to cooling mode and turns off the air supply fan to reduce the impact of cooling on indoor thermal comfort. However, when defrosting, the air supply fan stops, and heat is transferred only through natural convection, resulting in low heat transfer efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] A technical problem to be solved by this application is to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner during the defrosting process.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides an air conditioner, comprising:

[0006] A shell body, wherein a fresh air inlet and an air supply outlet are provided on the shell body;

[0007] The air supply fan is arranged in the housing and drives the air flow from the fresh air inlet to the air supply outlet;

[0008] The refrigerant circulation system includes a first evaporator and a second evaporator, the first evaporator and the second evaporator are respectively provided on the first refrigerant circulation loop and the second refrigerant circulation loop, and are sequentially arranged in the housing along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet to the air supply outlet;

[0009] a reheat condenser, disposed in the shell and arranged downstream of the second evaporator along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet to the air supply outlet, to heat the air flow toward the air supply outlet; and

[0010] The electric heater is arranged in the shell and arranged downstream of the reheat condenser along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet to the air supply outlet, heating the air flow flowing to the air supply outlet.

[0011] In some embodiments, the air conditioner also includes a first filter, which is arranged upstream of the first evaporator along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet to the supply air outlet to remove salt mist in the air flow flowing to the first evaporator; and / or, the air conditioner also includes a dehumidifier, which is arranged upstream of the first evaporator along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet to the supply air outlet to dehumidify the air flow flowing to the first evaporator.

[0012] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes a dehumidifier and a first filter, and the first filter is arranged upstream of the dehumidifier along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet to the supply air outlet.

[0013] In some embodiments, a return air outlet is provided on the shell, and the return air outlet is arranged downstream of the fresh air outlet and upstream of the first evaporator along the direction of air flow from the fresh air outlet to the supply air outlet, so that the return air entering from the return air outlet is mixed with the fresh air entering from the fresh air outlet and then flows to the first evaporator together.

[0014] In some embodiments, the air conditioner also includes a second filter, which is arranged downstream of the return air outlet and upstream of the first evaporator along the direction of air flow from the fresh air outlet to the supply air outlet to filter the mixed air flow of return air and fresh air flowing to the first evaporator.

[0015] In some embodiments, in the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet to the air supply outlet, at least one of the distance between the first evaporator and the second evaporator, the distance between the second evaporator and the reheat condenser, and the distance between the reheat condenser and the electric heater is 300~400mm; and / or, the distance between the electric heating tubes of the electric heater is greater than or equal to 50mm.

[0016] In some embodiments, the interior of the shell is divided into an upper layer and a lower layer, the first evaporator and the second evaporator are arranged in the lower layer, and the first condenser located on the first circulation loop and the second condenser located on the second circulation loop of the refrigerant circulation system are arranged in the upper layer; and / or, the shell adopts a welded integrated structure.

[0017] In some embodiments, a hanging portion is provided on the shell, and the hanging portion is used to connect to a hanging device so that the air conditioner can be hung by the hanging device; and / or, an insulation layer is provided in the shell.

[0018] In some embodiments, the air conditioner is a direct expansion air conditioner.

[0019] In addition, the present application also provides a liquid cargo tank, which includes the air conditioner of any embodiment.

[0020] By arranging the first evaporator and the second evaporator in sequence along the air flow direction and located on two refrigerant circulation loops respectively, and arranging the reheat condenser and the electric heater in sequence downstream of the second evaporator, the defrosting process can be achieved without stopping the fan, effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner during the defrosting process.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional diagram of the air conditioner in the embodiment of the present application.

[0024] Figure 2 for Figure 1 main view.

[0025] Figure 3 for Figure 2 rear view.

[0026] Description of reference numerals:

[0027] 10. Air conditioning;

[0028] 1. Housing; 11. Fresh air inlet; 12. Supply air outlet; 13. Return air inlet; 14. Fresh air valve; 15. Return air valve; 16. Upper layer; 17. Lower layer; 18. Suspension unit;

[0029] 2. Refrigerant circulation system; 21. First refrigerant circulation device; 22. Second refrigerant circulation device; 23. First compressor; 24. Second compressor; 25. First evaporator; 26. Second evaporator; 27. First condenser; 28. Second condenser;

[0030] 3. Reheat condenser;

[0031] 4. Electric heater;

[0032] 5. Dehumidifier;

[0033] 6. First filter;

[0034] 7. Second filter;

[0035] 8. Air supply fan. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present application and its application or use. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without carrying out creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0037] Technologies, methods, and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the technologies, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0038] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction or be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this application; the directional words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0039] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the use of words such as "first" and "second" to limit components is only for the convenience of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above words have no special meaning and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0040] In addition, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0041] Under winter heating conditions, the air conditioner's outdoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator. After running for a period of time, frost may appear on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger, causing the heat transfer resistance of the outdoor heat exchanger to increase and the heat exchange efficiency to decrease, affecting the heating effect of the air conditioner.

[0042] In order to reduce the adverse effects of defrosting, the air conditioner needs to enter the defrost mode, and then re-enter the heating mode after the frost on the outdoor heat exchanger is completely removed.

[0043] Normally, in defrost mode, the outdoor heat exchanger switches from an evaporator to a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger switches from a condenser to an evaporator. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor first passes through the outdoor heat exchanger to release heat and condense. The released heat heats the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger to defrost. Then, after throttling, the refrigerant flows to the indoor heat exchanger to evaporate and absorb heat.

[0044] When using the above-mentioned defrosting method, the refrigerant must first be converted into a low-temperature liquid refrigerant at the outdoor heat exchanger. When the low-temperature liquid refrigerant flows through the indoor unit, its temperature is relatively low and it inevitably absorbs heat from the room. This will cause the indoor temperature to drop, affecting indoor thermal comfort. In order to minimize the impact of the cooling effect generated by the evaporation of the indoor heat exchanger on indoor thermal comfort during defrosting, the indoor supply fan is usually stopped during defrosting, and heat is only transferred through natural convection. However, this situation has low heat exchange efficiency and poor heat transfer, which is prone to liquid backflow. Moreover, after defrosting, when the supply fan is restarted to supply air, it is prone to instantaneous cold air supply and condensation, making it difficult to meet indoor environmental requirements.

[0045] It can be seen that stopping the air supply fan during defrosting will affect the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner, and it is easy to cause problems such as instantaneous cold air supply and condensation after defrosting.

[0046] In response to the above situation, the present application provides an air conditioner, which can keep the air blower running continuously during defrosting to improve heat exchange efficiency and reduce the risk of instantaneous cold air supply and condensation problems after defrosting.

[0047] Figure 1-Figure 3 The structure of the air conditioner in this application is shown exemplarily.

[0048] See also Figure 1-Figure 3 In the present application, the air conditioner 10 includes a housing 1, a supply air blower 8, a refrigerant circulation system 2, a reheat condenser 3, and an electric heater 4. The housing 1 is provided with a fresh air inlet 11 and a supply air inlet 12. The supply air blower 8 is disposed within the housing 1 and drives the airflow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the supply air inlet 12. The refrigerant circulation system 2 includes a first evaporator 25 and a second evaporator 26. The first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 are disposed on the first refrigerant circulation loop and the second refrigerant circulation loop, respectively, and are sequentially arranged within the housing 1 along the direction of airflow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the supply air inlet 12 (hereinafter referred to as the airflow direction). The reheat condenser 3 is disposed within the housing 1 and is disposed downstream of the second evaporator 26 along the direction of airflow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the supply air inlet 12, thereby heating the airflow toward the supply air inlet 12. The electric heater 4 is disposed in the housing 1 and arranged downstream of the reheat condenser 3 along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the air supply outlet 12 to heat the air flow toward the air supply outlet 12 .

[0049] In the above scheme, the air conditioner 10 includes two independent refrigerant circulation loops, and the evaporators on these two refrigerant circulation loops, i.e., the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, are arranged in sequence along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the air supply outlet 12. Therefore, when one refrigerant circulation loop is defrosting, the other refrigerant circulation loop is heating, so that when the defrosting refrigerant circulation loop lowers the indoor temperature, the heating refrigerant circulation loop can increase the indoor temperature, reducing the impact of the cooling effect of the defrosting refrigerant circulation loop on the indoor thermal comfort.

[0050] Moreover, in the above scheme, the air conditioner 10 not only includes two independent refrigerant circulation loops, but also includes a reheat condenser 3 and an electric heater 4 sequentially arranged downstream of the second evaporator 26 along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the air supply outlet 12. The corresponding reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 can heat the air flow that flows through the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 and then flows to the air supply outlet 12 twice in succession, thereby further improving the air temperature delivered to the room by the air conditioner 10. This can not only further reduce the impact of the cooling effect of the defrosted refrigerant circulation loop on the indoor thermal comfort when one refrigerant circulation loop is defrosting and the other refrigerant circulation loop is heating. The invention not only reduces the impact of the refrigeration effect of the two refrigerant circulation circuits on indoor thermal comfort when both refrigerant circulation circuits are defrosted, but also effectively reduces the impact of the refrigeration effect of the two refrigerant circulation circuits on indoor thermal comfort when both refrigerant circulation circuits are defrosted. Not only does it allow the two refrigerant circulation circuits to defrost simultaneously, but it also ensures that whether only one refrigerant circulation circuit is defrosted or both refrigerant circulation circuits are defrosted, the indoor thermal comfort is good. Furthermore, even if the air supply fan 8 is not stopped, the indoor thermal comfort requirements can be met. Therefore, the air supply fan 8 does not need to be stopped, and a defrosting process can be achieved without stopping the fan (i.e., the air supply fan 8 is not stopped). In this way, during the defrosting process, the air supply fan 8 can be used for forced convection heat exchange, which can effectively improve the heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, because the air supply fan 8 is continuously operating before and after defrosting, the risk of instantaneous cold air supply and condensation problems after defrosting due to the air supply fan 8 being stopped during the defrosting process and restarted after defrosting can be effectively reduced.

[0051] It can be seen that by arranging the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 which are arranged in sequence along the direction of air flow and are respectively located on two refrigerant circulation loops, and arranging the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 in sequence downstream of the second evaporator 26, the air supply fan 8 does not need to be stopped during the defrosting process, thereby realizing a defrosting process without stopping the fan, effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner during the defrosting process, and reducing the risk of instantaneous cold air supply and condensation problems after defrosting.

[0052] Moreover, in the above scheme, under the action of the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4, the air conditioner 10 can realize the working mode of defrosting all refrigerant circulation loops, so that the air conditioner 10 does not need to be limited to the working mode of defrosting only part of the refrigerant circulation loops. This can effectively enrich the working mode of the air conditioner 10, making the working mode of the air conditioner 10 more diverse. At the same time, it can also meet the defrosting needs of different refrigerant circulation loops in a timely and effective manner.

[0053] In addition, in the above scheme, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 are arranged in sequence along the direction of air flow. From one perspective, the cold air released by defrosting can be heated more effectively, the indoor temperature can be increased more effectively, and the indoor thermal comfort requirements can be met. Moreover, from another perspective, since the total heating demand can be shared by the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4, compared with the case where only one of the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 is provided, the thermal burden of the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 can be effectively reduced, which is conducive to reducing the power requirements for the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4, reducing costs, and improving the working reliability of the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4, and extending the life of the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4.

[0054] For example, compared with the case where only the electric heater 4 is set downstream of the second evaporator 26 without the reheat condenser 3, the reheat condenser 3 is set between the electric heater 4 and the second evaporator 26. The reheat condenser 3 can share the heating amount of the electric heater 4 and reduce the heating amount of the electric heater 4. This is conducive to reducing the power requirement for the electric heater 4, improving the working reliability of the electric heater 4, and extending the life of the electric heater 4.

[0055] For another example, compared with the case where only the reheat condenser 3 is set downstream of the second evaporator 26, an electric heater 4 is set between the reheat condenser 3 and the second evaporator 26. The electric heater 4 can share the heating amount of the reheat condenser 3 and reduce the heating amount of the reheat condenser 3. This is beneficial to reduce the power requirement for the reheat condenser 3, improve the working reliability of the reheat condenser 3, and extend the life of the reheat condenser 3.

[0056] It can be seen that by arranging the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 which are arranged in sequence along the direction of air flow and are respectively located on two refrigerant circulation loops, and arranging the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 in sequence downstream of the second evaporator 26, not only can the defrosting process without stopping the fan be realized, the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner during the defrosting process can be effectively improved, and the risk of instantaneous cold air supply and condensation problems after defrosting can be reduced, but the air conditioner can also realize the working mode of defrosting not only part of the refrigerant circulation loops, but also the working mode of defrosting all the refrigerant circulation loops, which can more flexibly meet the defrosting requirements of different refrigerant circulation loops, and the working reliability of the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 is high and the service life is long.

[0057] As mentioned above, in the present application, the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 are arranged in sequence in the direction of air flow. Under corresponding circumstances, the interval between any two adjacent ones of the four can be set in a variety of ways. For example, in some embodiments, in the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the air supply outlet 12, at least one of the distance between the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, the distance between the second evaporator 26 and the reheat condenser 3, and the distance between the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 is 300~400mm. At this time, the interval is relatively appropriate, which can make the air flow fully mixed in the process of flowing from an upstream one to an adjacent downstream one, reduce the unevenness of the air flow, and avoid affecting the heat exchange effect due to the uneven air flow.

[0058] For example, when the interval between the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 is 300~400mm, the airflow can be fully mixed in the process of flowing from the first evaporator 25 to the second evaporator 26, reducing the uneven airflow phenomenon and preventing the uneven airflow and large airflow temperature deviation from affecting the heat exchange effect between the airflow and the refrigerant at the second evaporator 26.

[0059] For another example, when the interval between the second evaporator 26 and the reheat condenser 3 is 300~400mm, the airflow can be fully mixed in the process of flowing from the second evaporator 26 to the reheat condenser 3, reducing the uneven airflow phenomenon and preventing the uneven airflow and large airflow temperature deviation from affecting the heat exchange effect between the airflow and the refrigerant in the reheat condenser 3.

[0060] For another example, when the interval between the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 is 300~400mm, the airflow can be fully mixed in the process of flowing from the reheat condenser 3 to the electric heater 4, reducing the uneven airflow phenomenon and preventing the uneven airflow and large deviation in airflow temperature from affecting the heating effect of the airflow at the electric heater 4.

[0061] In addition, in some embodiments, the distance between the electric heating tubes (not shown) of the electric heater 4 is greater than or equal to 50 mm. In this case, the distance between the electric heating tubes of the electric heater 4 is relatively appropriate, which can effectively reduce the heat radiation between the electric heating tubes, thereby improving the electric heating efficiency of the electric heater 4.

[0062] As a further improvement to the above embodiments, see Figure 1-Figure 3 The air conditioner 10 also includes a first filter 6, which is arranged upstream of the first evaporator 25 along the direction of the air flow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the air supply outlet 12 to remove salt mist in the air flow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the first evaporator 25.

[0063] By disposing a first filter 6 upstream of the first evaporator 25 to filter salt mist from the airflow, the amount of salt mist in the airflow flowing to the first evaporator 25, as well as the second evaporator 26, reheat condenser 3, electric heater 4, and air outlet 12 located downstream of the first evaporator 25, can be effectively reduced. This not only prevents excessive salt mist in the air flowing into the room from affecting indoor comfort, but also reduces damage (such as corrosion) to the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, reheat condenser 3, and electric heater 4 caused by salt mist, effectively extending the lifespan of components such as the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, reheat condenser 3, and electric heater 4. This effect is particularly important when the air conditioner 10 is installed in an environment with a high salt content in the ambient air, such as a cargo tank.

[0064] A cargo tank is a space used to store liquid commodities such as oil and liquid chemicals. It usually operates at sea, where the air contains a high amount of salt. In addition, it has high requirements for temperature and humidity. The temperature inside the tank needs to be between 20 and 30°C, the relative humidity needs to be below 70%, and condensation is not allowed. Therefore, the air conditioner 10 of the present application is installed in the cargo tank, and a first filter 6 is provided upstream of the first evaporator 25 of the air conditioner 10 to remove salt mist. This can effectively improve the air comfort inside the cargo tank and effectively reduce the damage caused by salt mist in the working environment of the cargo tank to the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, reheat condenser 3 and electric heater 4 located downstream of the first evaporator 25, thereby extending the life of the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, reheat condenser 3 and electric heater 4 located downstream of the first evaporator 25.

[0065] It can be seen that the first filter 6 for removing salt mist is provided upstream of the first evaporator 25, which is conducive to further improving indoor comfort and reducing the damage of salt mist to the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 located downstream of the first evaporator 25, making the air conditioner 10 particularly suitable for occasions with high salt content such as liquid cargo tanks.

[0066] In addition, as a further improvement to the above embodiments, see Figure 1-Figure 3 The air conditioner 10 further includes a dehumidifier 5 , which is arranged upstream of the first evaporator 25 along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the air supply outlet 12 to dehumidify the air flow toward the first evaporator 25 .

[0067] By providing a dehumidifier 5 in the air conditioner 10, the humidity of the air flowing into the room can be effectively reduced, preventing the indoor comfort from being affected by excessive humidity, and further reducing the risk of condensation, which is particularly helpful in meeting the higher requirements of liquid cargo tanks for no condensation.

[0068] Moreover, since the dehumidifier 5 is located upstream of the first evaporator 25, the dehumidifier 5 can dehumidify the air flow flowing to the first evaporator 25, so that the air flow flowing through the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 located downstream of the first evaporator 25 has a lower humidity. Therefore, it can prevent the effects of the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 located downstream of the first evaporator 25 from being affected by excessive air humidity.

[0069] Moreover, since the lower the humidity, the lower the salt content in the air, arranging a dehumidifier 5 upstream of the first evaporator 25 is also beneficial to reducing the damage of salt mist to the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 located downstream of the first evaporator 25, thereby extending the service life of the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 located downstream of the first evaporator 25, making the air conditioner 10 particularly suitable for occasions with high salt content such as liquid cargo tanks.

[0070] It can be seen that the arrangement of the dehumidifier 5 upstream of the first evaporator 25 is conducive to further improving indoor comfort and reducing the damage of salt mist to the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 located downstream of the first evaporator 25, making the air conditioner 10 particularly suitable for occasions with high salt content such as liquid cargo tanks.

[0071] Only one of the first filter 6 and the dehumidifier 5 can be provided in the air conditioner 10, or both can be provided in the air conditioner 10. When both the first filter 6 and the dehumidifier 5 are provided in the air conditioner 10, the dehumidifier 5 and the first filter 6 can work together to remove humidity and salt mist, thereby more effectively improving indoor comfort and reducing damage caused by salt mist to the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26 located downstream of the first evaporator 25, the reheat condenser 3, and the electric heater 4.

[0072] When the air conditioner 10 includes both the dehumidifier 5 and the first filter 6, see Figure 1-Figure 3 In some embodiments, the first filter 6 is arranged upstream of the dehumidifier 5 along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the air supply outlet 12. In this case, the first filter 6 and the dehumidifier 5 are arranged sequentially along the air flow direction, so that the first filter 6 can be used to remove salt mist first, and then the dehumidifier 5 can be used to dehumidify. In this way, the dehumidifier 5 and the first filter 6 can work together to better remove humidity and salt mist. Moreover, the first filter 6 is located upstream of the dehumidifier 5, which can reduce the salt content in the air flowing to the dehumidifier 5, reduce the damage to the dehumidifier 5 caused by salt mist, and extend the life of the dehumidifier 5.

[0073] It can be seen that arranging the first filter 6 and the dehumidifier 5 in sequence along the air flow direction upstream of the first evaporator 25 can more effectively improve indoor comfort and reduce the damage of salt fog to the dehumidifier 5, the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4.

[0074] Also, see Figure 3 In some embodiments, a return air outlet 13 is provided on the shell 1, and the return air outlet 13 is arranged downstream of the fresh air outlet 11 and upstream of the first evaporator 25 along the direction of air flow from the fresh air outlet 11 to the supply air outlet 12, so that the return air entering from the return air outlet 13 and the fresh air entering from the fresh air outlet 11 are mixed and flow toward the first evaporator 25 together.

[0075] By setting the return air port 13, indoor return air is introduced to mix with fresh air, which not only increases the air volume and improves the indoor air flow, but also increases the temperature of the air flowing to the first evaporator 25, making it convenient for the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 to adjust the gas temperature to the target temperature more quickly.

[0076] In the case where the housing 1 is provided with a return air port 13, see Figure 3 In some embodiments, the air conditioner 10 further includes a second filter 7, which is arranged downstream of the return air outlet 13 and upstream of the first evaporator 25 along the direction of air flow from the fresh air outlet 11 to the supply air outlet 12 to filter the mixed air flow of return air and fresh air flowing to the first evaporator 25.

[0077] Since the second filter 7 can filter the mixed air flow of return air and fresh air flowing to the first evaporator 25, the purity of the mixed air flow can be improved, and the introduction of impurities due to the introduction of return air can be prevented, which may affect the operation of the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4.

[0078] In the above embodiments, the internal and external units of the air conditioner 10 may be separately provided and not located in the same housing 1; or the internal and external units of the air conditioner 10 may be integrated and located in the same housing 1. For example, see Figure 1-Figure 3 In some embodiments, the interior of the housing 1 is divided into an upper layer 16 and a lower layer 17. The first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 are located in the lower layer 17, and the first condenser 27 located on the first circulation loop and the second condenser 28 located on the second circulation loop of the refrigerant circulation system 2 are located in the upper layer 16. In this case, the indoor and outdoor units of the air conditioner 10 are integrated, resulting in a simpler and more compact structure, less space occupation, higher space utilization, and easier transportation.

[0079] In addition, in order to facilitate the transportation of the air conditioner 10, see Figure 1 、 oneIn some embodiments, the housing 1 is provided with a hanging portion 18, which is used to connect to a lifting device so that the lifting device can lift the air conditioner 10. This facilitates the connection between the lifting device and the air conditioner 10, thereby facilitating the lifting of the air conditioner 10 by the lifting device and efficiently completing the transportation of the air conditioner 10.

[0080] In addition, in some embodiments, the housing 1 adopts a welded integral structure, so that the housing 1 has a higher strength and is convenient for lifting.

[0081] As a further improvement to the aforementioned embodiments, a thermal insulation layer (not shown) is provided within the housing 1. This reduces heat exchange between the housing and the outside, prevents internal cooling leakage, and prevents the unintentional inflow of external wind, which could affect the temperature regulation effect and introduce impurities such as salt mist or dust, potentially affecting the structural components within the housing 1 (e.g., the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3, and the electric heater 4).

[0082] The air conditioner 10 in each of the aforementioned embodiments can be a direct expansion air conditioner or an air-cooled heat pump air conditioner. In direct expansion air conditioners, the refrigerant directly contacts the air, while in air-cooled heat pump air conditioners, chilled water is used as an intermediary. In direct expansion air conditioners, the refrigerant directly evaporates within the evaporator coil, absorbing heat and cooling the indoor air without requiring secondary heat exchange. Therefore, direct expansion air conditioners offer higher efficiency and simpler operation.

[0083] Next, combine Figure 1-Figure 3 The present application is further described with reference to the embodiments.

[0084] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the air conditioner 10 is a direct expansion air conditioner installed in a liquid cargo tank, and includes a shell 1, a refrigerant circulation system 2, a reheat condenser 3, an electric heater 4, a dehumidifier 5, a first filter 6, a second filter 7 and an air supply fan 8.

[0085] The housing 1 is used to support and accommodate the refrigerant circulation system 2, the reheat condenser 3, the electric heater 4, the dehumidifier 5, the first filter 6, the second filter 7 and the air supply fan 8. Figure 1-3As shown, in this embodiment, the housing 1 utilizes a high-strength, one-piece welded frame structure, its interior divided into two layers: an upper layer 16 and a lower layer 17. Furthermore, the housing 1 is provided with a fresh air inlet 11, a supply air inlet 12, and a return air inlet 13. The fresh air inlet 11, located on the upper layer 16, connects the interior of the housing 1 with the external environment, allowing fresh air (i.e., outside air) to flow into the housing 1. The supply air inlet 12, located on the lower layer 17 and arranged at the opposite end of the housing 1 from the fresh air inlet 11, connects the interior of the housing 1 with the interior of the room (i.e., the cargo tank interior), allowing air within the housing 1 to flow into the room, cooling or heating the room and regulating the indoor temperature. The return air inlet 13, located on the back of the housing 1, connects the interior of the housing 1 with the room, allowing indoor air to enter the housing 1 as return air, mix with the fresh air entering the housing 1 through the fresh air inlet 11, and flow together toward the supply air inlet 12. Both the fresh air inlet 11 and the return air inlet 13 are provided with valves, namely the fresh air valve 14 and the return air valve 15, which are respectively used to adjust the opening and closing of the fresh air inlet 11 and the return air inlet 13 and the opening size in the open state.

[0086] In this embodiment, the upper and lower portions of the housing 1 are each provided with a hanging portion 18, which includes lifting lugs and / or rings to facilitate connection to a lifting device for transport. Furthermore, the lower layer 17 is provided with an insulation layer to prevent internal cooling leakage and prevent the ingress of external wind, which could introduce impurities such as salt frost and potentially affect the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3, and the electric heater 4.

[0087] The refrigerant circulation system 2 is used to regulate the temperature in the cabin by circulating the refrigerant. Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the refrigerant circulation system 2 includes a first refrigerant circulation device 21 and a second refrigerant circulation device 22. The first refrigerant circulation device 21 includes a first compressor 23, a first four-way valve (not shown), a first evaporator 25, a first throttle element (not shown, such as a first electronic expansion valve), and a first condenser 27, located on a first circulation loop for circulating refrigerant. Driven by the first compressor 23, the refrigerant flows through the first four-way valve, the first evaporator 25, the first throttle element, and the first condenser 27, achieving cooling or heating. The second refrigerant circulation device 22 includes a second compressor 24, a second four-way valve (not shown), a second evaporator 26, a second throttle element (not shown, such as a second electronic expansion valve), and a second condenser 28, located on a second circulation loop for circulating refrigerant. Driven by the second compressor 24, the refrigerant flows through the second four-way valve, the second evaporator 26, the second throttle element, and the second condenser 28, achieving cooling or heating.

[0088] like Figure 1-Figure 3As shown, in this embodiment, the first condenser 27 and the second condenser 28 of the refrigerant circulation system 2 are both disposed on the upper layer 16, while the first compressor 23, the second compressor 24, the first evaporator 25, and the second evaporator 26 of the refrigerant circulation system 2 are all disposed on the lower layer 17. The first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 are sequentially arranged downstream of the return air inlet 13 along the airflow direction (i.e., the direction of airflow from the fresh air inlet 11 to the air supply inlet 12). The pipelines of the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 pass through the upper layer 16 and are connected to the first compressor 23 and the second compressor 24, respectively.

[0089] The reheat condenser 3, electric heater 4, and air blower 8 are also located on the lower level 17 and arranged sequentially between the second evaporator 26 and the air supply port 12 along the airflow direction. The reheat condenser 3 is connected to the first compressor 23 or the second compressor 24 so that a portion of the refrigerant flowing out of the first compressor 23 or the second compressor 24 flows into the reheat condenser 3 to reheat the air. The electric heater 4 electrically heats the air. The air supply fan 8 serves as a power component, overcoming the unit's resistance and driving air from the fresh air port 11 to the air supply port 12.

[0090] The dehumidifier 5 is arranged on the upper layer 16 and is located directly above the first compressor 23 and the second compressor 24. At this time, the dehumidifier 5 is located upstream of the first evaporator 25 along the air flow direction. In this embodiment, the dehumidifier 5 is a rotary dehumidifier.

[0091] The first filter 6 is arranged between the fresh air inlet 11 and the dehumidifier 5 to remove salt mist, dust and the like.

[0092] The second filter 7 is disposed on the lower layer 17 and arranged between the return air port 13 and the first evaporator 25 .

[0093] Based on the above settings, the first filter 6, the dehumidifier 5, the return air outlet 13, the second filter 7, the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3, the electric heater 4 and the supply air fan 8 are arranged in sequence along the direction of the air flow from the fresh air outlet 11 to the supply air outlet 12. In this way, when the whole machine is running, the air is driven by the supply air fan 8 and flows through the first filter 6, the dehumidifier 5, the second filter 7, the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 in sequence, and then flows into the room, and is mixed with the return air in the process of flowing from the dehumidifier 5 to the second filter 7.

[0094] First filter 6 is a desalination filter. As a front-end component, it primarily functions to prevent sand, remove salt mist, and filter air. Because cargo tanks typically operate at sea, where the air contains a high salt content, first filter 6 removes salt from the air entering the unit. This effectively prevents salt mist from impacting the reliability and lifespan of downstream components (e.g., dehumidifier 5, second filter 7, first evaporator 25, second evaporator 26, reheat condenser 3, and electric heater 4).

[0095] The dehumidifier 5 is connected to the middle end of the first filter 6 and is mainly used to reduce the air humidity to reduce the humidity in the cabin and further reduce the amount of salt spray, thereby improving the working reliability and life of downstream components (such as the second filter 7, the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4).

[0096] The second filter 7 is arranged downstream of the return air inlet 13 to filter the mixed air flow formed by the fresh air flowing out of the dehumidifier 5 and the return air flowing into the unit from the return air inlet 13, so that the mixed air remains relatively pure, preventing impurities from affecting the working reliability and life of downstream components (such as the first evaporator 25, the second evaporator 26, the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4).

[0097] The first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 are arranged downstream of the second filter 7 to regulate the air temperature. In this embodiment, the spacing between the first evaporator 25 and the second evaporator 26 is 300-400 mm. This allows sufficient space for air to mix as it flows from the first evaporator 25 to the second evaporator 26, reducing uneven airflow that could affect the effectiveness of the second evaporator 26.

[0098] The reheat condenser 3 is arranged downstream of the second evaporator 26 and is used to heat the air flowing from the second evaporator 26 to the electric heater 4, raising the air temperature to achieve heat compensation during the defrost mode, meet the indoor heat demand during the defrost process, and also help reduce the heating capacity of the electric heater 4. In this embodiment, the distance between the reheat condenser 3 and the second evaporator 26 is 300-400 mm, allowing sufficient space for air to mix during the process of flowing from the second evaporator 26 to the reheat condenser 3, reducing uneven airflow that may affect the effectiveness of the reheat condenser 3.

[0099] The electric heater 4 is positioned downstream of the reheat condenser 3 to further heat the air flowing from the reheat condenser 3 to the air outlet 12, thereby further raising the air temperature and better achieving heat compensation during defrost mode, thereby meeting the indoor heat demand during the defrost process. In this embodiment, the distance between the electric heater 4 and the reheat condenser 3 is 300-400 mm, allowing sufficient space for air mixing as it flows from the reheat condenser 3 to the electric heater 4, reducing uneven airflow that could affect the effectiveness of the reheat condenser 3. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the distance between the electric heating tubes of the electric heater 4 is greater than 50 mm to reduce inter-tube heat radiation and improve electric heating efficiency.

[0100] Based on the above configuration, in this embodiment, when only one of the first refrigerant circulation device 21 and the second refrigerant circulation device 22 requires defrosting, the other of the first refrigerant circulation device 21 and the second refrigerant circulation device 22, at least one of the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 can perform defrost heat compensation to improve cabin thermal comfort; and when both the first refrigerant circulation device 21 and the second refrigerant circulation device 22 require defrosting, at least one of the reheat condenser 3 and the electric heater 4 can perform defrost heat compensation to improve cabin thermal comfort. Specifically, if the other of the first refrigerant circulation device 21 and the second refrigerant circulation device 22 is operating in heating mode and can perform defrost heat compensation, the first refrigerant circulation device 21 and the second refrigerant circulation device 22 operating in heating mode can be prioritized for defrost heat compensation, without turning on the electric heater 4.

[0101] In the above process, since the cold amount generated by defrosting can be compensated, the air supply fan 8 does not need to be stopped but can be kept turned on, thereby realizing the defrosting process of the air supply fan 8 without stopping, effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency, and reducing the risk of instantaneous cold air blowing after defrosting and condensation in the cabin.

[0102] It can be seen that the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment has its inner and outer units arranged in an integrated manner, which is convenient for lifting and can realize the defrosting operation process without stopping the fan, effectively meeting the high requirements of the liquid cargo tank for temperature and humidity.

[0103] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, 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 conditioner (10), characterized in that: include: A housing (1), wherein the housing (1) is provided with a fresh air inlet (11) and an air supply outlet (12); An air supply fan (8) is disposed in the housing (1) and drives air flow from the fresh air inlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12); A refrigerant circulation system (2) comprising a first evaporator (25) and a second evaporator (26), wherein the first evaporator (25) and the second evaporator (26) are respectively arranged on a first refrigerant circulation loop and a second refrigerant circulation loop, and are sequentially arranged in the housing (1) along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12); a reheat condenser (3) disposed in the housing (1) and arranged downstream of the second evaporator (26) along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12), heating the air flow toward the air supply outlet (12); and An electric heater (4) is disposed in the housing (1) and arranged downstream of the reheat condenser (3) along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12), heating the air flow toward the air supply outlet (12).

2. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The air conditioner (10) further includes a first filter (6), which is arranged upstream of the first evaporator (25) along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12) to remove salt mist in the air flow flowing to the first evaporator (25); and / or, the air conditioner (10) further includes a dehumidifier (5), which is arranged upstream of the first evaporator (25) along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12) to dehumidify the air flow flowing to the first evaporator (25).

3. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that The air conditioner (10) comprises the dehumidifier (5) and the first filter (6), wherein the first filter (6) is arranged upstream of the dehumidifier (5) along the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12).

4. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The shell (1) is provided with a return air port (13), and the return air port (13) is arranged downstream of the fresh air port (11) and upstream of the first evaporator (25) along the direction of air flow from the fresh air port (11) to the air supply port (12), so that the return air entering from the return air port (13) and the fresh air entering from the fresh air port (11) are mixed and flow together to the first evaporator (25).

5. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that The air conditioner (10) further includes a second filter (7), which is arranged downstream of the return air outlet (13) and upstream of the first evaporator (25) along the direction of air flow from the fresh air outlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12) to filter the mixed air flow of return air and fresh air flowing to the first evaporator (25).

6. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that In the direction of air flow from the fresh air inlet (11) to the air supply outlet (12), at least one of the distance between the first evaporator (25) and the second evaporator (26), the distance between the second evaporator (26) and the reheat condenser (3), and the distance between the reheat condenser (3) and the electric heater (4) is 300-400 mm; and / or the distance between the electric heating tubes of the electric heater (4) is greater than or equal to 50 mm.

7. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The interior of the shell (1) is divided into an upper layer (16) and a lower layer (17), the first evaporator (25) and the second evaporator (26) are arranged in the lower layer (17), and the first condenser (27) located on the first refrigerant circulation loop and the second condenser (28) located on the second refrigerant circulation loop of the refrigerant circulation system (2) are arranged in the upper layer (16); and / or, the shell (1) adopts a welded integral structure.

8. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The housing (1) is provided with a hanging portion (18), and the hanging portion (18) is used to be connected to a hanging device so that the air conditioner (10) can be hung by the hanging device; and / or, a heat-insulating layer is provided in the housing (1).

9. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The air conditioner (10) is a direct expansion air conditioner.

10. A liquid cargo tank, characterized in that: Comprising the air conditioner (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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