Dehumidifying structure and bath heater

Abstract

The utility model relates to a dehumidification structure and a bath heater. The dehumidification structure comprises a box body, an indoor air inlet, an indoor air outlet and an outdoor air outlet are formed in the box body, a first air duct, a second air duct and a regeneration air duct are arranged in the box body, the first air duct communicates with the indoor air inlet and the indoor air outlet, and a centrifugal fan is arranged in the first air duct; the second air duct communicates with the first air duct and the outdoor air outlet, and a first air door capable of being opened and closed is arranged between the second air duct and the first air duct. The regeneration air duct communicates with the first air duct and the second air duct, and a second air door capable of being opened and closed is arranged between the regeneration air duct and the first air duct. An adsorption wheel is rotatably arranged on the regeneration air duct, at least part of the adsorption wheel is located in the first air duct, at least part of the adsorption wheel is located in the regeneration air duct, and the regeneration air duct is further provided with a heater; part of airflow in the first air duct enters the regeneration air duct under the air guide effect of the second air door, no extra fan needs to be arranged, and therefore the equipment cost and operation power consumption are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of bathroom heaters, and in particular to a dehumidification structure and a bathroom heater. Background Technology

[0002] A fan-driven bathroom heater is used to raise the temperature in the bathroom. Its working principle is as follows: a fan blows air to circulate. Cold air enters the air duct through the air inlet and is heated by the PTC device. Finally, warm air is blown out from the air outlet. The circulation of hot air raises the temperature in the bathroom. Existing fan-driven bathroom heaters have basic functions such as lighting, heating, and ventilation, but most do not have dehumidification function.

[0003] Some bathroom heaters have a dehumidification function, but their actual principle is to first heat the space through the heating function of the bathroom heater, and then use the exhaust ventilation function to remove the humidity.

[0004] This type of dehumidification function has high power consumption and low efficiency, cannot be used in conjunction with the heating function, and because it dehumidifies by exchanging air with the outside space, it will lower the indoor temperature when used, affecting the customer experience. Utility Model Content

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to address the current issues of existing fan-heated bathroom heaters lacking dehumidification functions or having various defects in their dehumidification functions, and to provide a dehumidification structure and bathroom heater that is low in power consumption, highly efficient, can be used simultaneously with the heating function, and does not lower the room temperature during use.

[0006] This application first provides a dehumidification structure, including a housing, wherein the housing has an indoor air inlet, an indoor air outlet, and an outdoor air outlet, and the housing contains a first air duct, a second air duct, and a regeneration air duct, wherein...

[0007] The first air duct connects the indoor air inlet and the indoor air outlet and is equipped with a centrifugal fan inside; the second air duct connects the first air duct and the outdoor air outlet and is equipped with an openable and closable first air damper between the second air duct and the first air duct; the regeneration air duct connects the first air duct and the second air duct and is equipped with an openable and closable second air damper between the regeneration air duct and the first air duct.

[0008] An adsorption wheel is rotatably provided on the regeneration air duct. The adsorption wheel is at least partially located in the first air duct and at least partially located in the regeneration air duct. The regeneration air duct is also provided with a heater.

[0009] In one embodiment, the adsorption wheel is directly opposite the centrifugal fan along its axial direction.

[0010] In one embodiment, the regeneration duct is divided into a dehumidification inlet section, a regeneration section, and a dehumidification outlet section along the airflow path direction. The three sections are connected sequentially along the axis of the adsorption wheel. The adsorption wheel is at least partially located in the regeneration section. The dehumidification inlet section is connected to the first duct, and the dehumidification outlet section is connected to the second duct.

[0011] In one embodiment, the airflow paths of the first air duct and the regeneration air duct at the location of the adsorption wheel are parallel to each other and in the same direction.

[0012] In one embodiment, the heater is located on the side of the dehumidification air intake section near the regeneration section, and the heater is directly opposite the adsorption wheel in the regeneration section along the axial direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, the airflow paths of the first air duct and the regeneration air duct at the location of the adsorption wheel are parallel to each other and in opposite directions. The heater is disposed on the side of the dehumidification air intake section near the regeneration section, and the heater and the adsorption wheel in the regeneration section are directly opposite each other along the axial direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the housing is further provided with a drive unit that corresponds to and is poweredly connected to the first air damper, the second air damper and the adsorption wheel, and a PTC heater is provided at the end of the first air duct near the indoor air outlet. The first air damper and the second air damper are both provided between the PTC heater and the centrifugal fan.

[0015] Both the first damper and the second damper are located within the first air duct and their openings face the centrifugal fan when they are in their respective open states.

[0016] In one embodiment, the housing is further provided with a humidity sensor, which is electrically connected to the drive components corresponding to the first damper and the second damper.

[0017] In one embodiment, the housing includes a main housing and a face shield, the indoor air inlet is located on the face shield or between the main housing and the face shield, the indoor air outlet is located on the face shield, and the outdoor air outlet is located on the side of the main housing.

[0018] A second aspect of this application provides a bathroom heater / ventilation unit, including the aforementioned dehumidification structure.

[0019] The above-mentioned dehumidification structure connects the regeneration air duct to the first air duct and sets an openable and closable second air damper between the first air duct and the regeneration air duct. It can start or stop the dehumidification function as needed. When the second air damper is open and the dehumidification function is started, part of the airflow in the first air duct enters the regeneration air duct under the air guiding effect of the second air damper. Without the need to set up an additional fan, the centrifugal fan can be used to provide the power for airflow circulation for the dehumidification function, thereby reducing equipment costs and operating power consumption.

[0020] In addition, when the dehumidification function is activated, only a portion of the airflow enters the regeneration duct to dry the regeneration adsorption wheel, while the remaining air dehumidified by the adsorption wheel can still be circulated back into the room through the first duct. This means that the dehumidification and heating functions can operate simultaneously, and the impact on the heating function is minimized while achieving the dehumidification effect, thereby preventing the room temperature from dropping and improving the customer's user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the dehumidification structure of this application;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A sectional view along the frontal viewing direction;

[0023] Figure 3 A three-dimensional view of the interior of the first air duct;

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A 3D image showing the mask hidden behind the face shield;

[0025] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A 3D view of the first air damper after it is closed.

[0026] Reference numerals: 100, housing; 100a, indoor air inlet; 100b, indoor air outlet; 100c, outdoor air outlet; 110, main housing; 120, face mask; 10, first air duct; 11, centrifugal fan; 12, first damper; 13, second damper; 14, PTC heater; 20, second air duct; 30, regeneration air duct; 30a, dehumidification air inlet section; 30b, regeneration section; 30c, dehumidification air outlet section; 31, adsorption wheel; 32, heater; 40, drive unit. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0028] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0029] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0030] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0031] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0032] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0033] Please combine Figure 1 , Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 As shown, this application first provides a dehumidification structure, including a housing 100. The housing 100 has an indoor air inlet 100a, an indoor air outlet 100b, and an outdoor air outlet 100c. The housing 100 is equipped with a first air duct 10, a second air duct 20, and a regeneration air duct 30.

[0034] The first air duct 10 connects the indoor air inlet 100a and the indoor air outlet 100b and is equipped with a centrifugal fan 11 inside. The second air duct 20 connects the first air duct 10 and the outdoor air outlet 100c and is equipped with an openable and closable first air damper 12 between the second air duct 20 and the first air duct 10. The regeneration air duct 30 connects the first air duct 10 and the second air duct 20 and is equipped with an openable and closable second air damper 13 between the regeneration air duct 30 and the first air duct 10.

[0035] An adsorption wheel 31 is rotatably provided on the regeneration air duct 30. The adsorption wheel 31 is at least partially located in the first air duct 10 and at least partially located in the regeneration air duct 30. The regeneration air duct 30 is also provided with a heater 32.

[0036] In this application, by connecting the regeneration air duct 30 to the first air duct 10 and setting an openable and closable second air damper 13 between the first air duct 10 and the regeneration air duct 30, the dehumidification function can be started or stopped as needed. When the second air damper 13 is opened and the dehumidification function is started, part of the airflow in the first air duct 10 enters the regeneration air duct 30 under the air guiding effect of the second air damper 13. Without setting an additional fan, the centrifugal fan 11 can be used to provide the power for airflow circulation for the dehumidification function, thereby reducing equipment cost and operating power consumption.

[0037] In addition, when the dehumidification function is activated, only a portion of the airflow enters the regeneration air duct 30 to dry the regeneration adsorption wheel 31. The remaining air dehumidified by the adsorption wheel 31 can still be circulated back into the room through the first air duct 10. That is, the dehumidification and heating functions can operate simultaneously, and the impact on the heating function is minimized while achieving the dehumidification effect, thereby preventing the room temperature from dropping and improving the customer's user experience.

[0038] Specifically, indoor air enters the first air duct 10 through the indoor air inlet 100a under the negative pressure generated by the centrifugal fan 11. During this process, the moisture in the air is adsorbed onto the adsorption wheel 31 to complete dehumidification. Part of the dehumidified air is circulated back into the room through the indoor air outlet 100b for heating, while the other part enters the regeneration air duct 30 under the air guiding effect of the second air damper 13 (i.e., the airflow in the regeneration air duct 30 is obtained from the first air duct 10). This part of the air is heated by the heater 32 and dries and regenerates the adsorption wheel 31 in the regeneration air duct 30. With the rotation of the adsorption wheel 31, the adsorption wheel 31 located in the first air duct 10 can continuously adsorb the moisture in the airflow. The dried humid air is then discharged through the second air duct 20 and the outdoor air outlet 100c.

[0039] Based on this, a first damper 12 that can be opened and closed is provided between the first air duct 10 and the second air duct 20 to meet basic heating and ventilation needs. Specifically, when the first damper 12 is closed, the first air duct 10 and the second air duct 20 are isolated, and the airflow is blown out from the indoor air outlet 100b through the first air duct 10 under the agitation of the centrifugal fan 11 to complete indoor heating. When the first damper 12 is open, the first air duct 10 and the second air duct 20 are connected, and the first damper 12 blocks the first air duct 10, so that the airflow is blown out from the outdoor air outlet 100c through the first air duct 10 and the second air duct 20 under the agitation of the centrifugal fan 11 to complete ventilation.

[0040] More specifically, when the first damper 12 is open, the second damper 13 is located between the first damper 12 and the centrifugal fan 11. This allows the dehumidification intensity of the dehumidification structure to be adjusted according to actual needs by regulating the opening and closing state of the first damper 12, thereby improving the versatility of the application. The reasons are as follows:

[0041] When the first damper 12 is closed and the second damper 13 is open, part of the airflow in the first duct 10 enters the regeneration duct 30 under the air guiding effect of the second damper 13 and is dehumidified and discharged. The other part of the airflow is only dehumidified by the adsorption wheel 31, which cannot completely remove the moisture. At this time, the air circulating back into the room may still contain moisture, but this mode has little impact on the heating function.

[0042] When the first damper 12 is opened, because the first damper 12 blocks the first air duct 10, all the airflow in the first air duct 10 is eventually discharged to the outside through the outdoor air outlet 100c. The humid air will not be circulated back into the room, thus enabling rapid dehumidification of the room.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the adsorption wheel 31 is directly opposite the centrifugal fan 11 along the axial direction to improve the air intake efficiency and at the same time improve the adsorption efficiency of the adsorption wheel 31 in adsorbing moisture in the air.

[0044] Please combine Figure 2 as well as Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the regeneration air duct 30 is divided into a dehumidification inlet section 30a, a regeneration section 30b, and a dehumidification outlet section 30c along the airflow path direction. The three sections are connected sequentially along the axis of the adsorption wheel 31. The adsorption wheel 31 is at least partially located in the regeneration section 30b. The dehumidification inlet section 30a is connected to the first air duct 10, and the dehumidification outlet section 30c is connected to the second air duct 20.

[0045] This configuration minimizes the dimensions (i.e., thickness) of the dehumidification structure along the axis of the centrifugal fan 11, avoiding a significant increase in thickness due to the addition of the regeneration air duct 30, and minimizing space occupancy.

[0046] Preferably, the airflow paths of the adsorption wheel 31 in the first air duct 10 and the regeneration air duct 30 are parallel to each other and in the same direction. It is easy to understand that the air humidity is the highest on the side where the indoor air inlet 100a is located. Therefore, the part of the adsorption wheel 31 near this side absorbs relatively more moisture. By setting the airflow paths of the first air duct 10 and the regeneration air duct 30 in the same direction, the hot air in the regeneration air duct 30 is blown from the side of the adsorption wheel 31 with more moisture to the other side, thereby improving the regeneration and drying effect of the adsorption wheel 31.

[0047] More preferably, the heater 32 is disposed on the side of the dehumidification air intake section 30a near the regeneration section 30b, and the heater 32 and the adsorption wheel 31 in the regeneration section 30b are directly opposite each other along the axial direction.

[0048] According to the enthalpy-humidity diagram of humid air, the higher the temperature, the higher the water content that a unit of air can hold, and the higher the desorption and regeneration efficiency. Therefore, by setting the heater 32 on the side of the dehumidification inlet section 30a close to the regeneration section 30b, the temperature of the hot air blown onto the adsorption wheel 31 can be increased, thereby improving the regeneration and drying efficiency of the adsorption wheel 31.

[0049] In some embodiments, the airflow paths of the first air duct 10 and the adsorption wheel 31 in the regeneration air duct 30 are parallel to each other and in opposite directions. The heater 32 is located on the side of the dehumidification air inlet section 30a close to the regeneration section 30b, and the heater 32 and the adsorption wheel 31 in the regeneration section 30b are directly opposite each other along the axial direction. This arrangement can also be selected according to actual space constraints or functional requirements, and the regeneration and drying of the adsorption wheel 31 can also be completed.

[0050] Please combine Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the housing 100 is also provided with a drive unit 40 that corresponds to and is poweredly connected to the first air damper 12, the second air damper 13 and the adsorption wheel 31. A PTC heater 14 is provided at one end of the first air duct 10 near the indoor air outlet 100b. The first air damper 12 and the second air damper 13 are both provided between the PTC heater 14 and the centrifugal fan 11.

[0051] Both the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 are located inside the first air duct 10 and their openings face the centrifugal fan 11 when they are in their respective open states.

[0052] By providing independent drive components 40 for the first damper 12 and the second damper 13, the dehumidification structure of this application can switch between four different modes—heating mode, heating + dehumidification mode, high-efficiency dehumidification mode, and ventilation mode—according to the implementation needs of the customer, thereby improving the versatility of the dehumidification structure of this application.

[0053] For specific details, please refer to... Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the damper opening and closing states corresponding to the four modes of the dehumidification structure in this application are as follows:

[0054] In heating mode, the first damper 12 is closed and the second damper 13 is closed;

[0055] In heating + dehumidification mode, the first air damper 12 is closed and the second air damper 13 is open;

[0056] In high-efficiency dehumidification mode, the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 are open;

[0057] In ventilation mode, the first air damper 12 is open and the second air damper 13 is closed.

[0058] In some embodiments, the housing 100 is further provided with a humidity sensor, which is electrically connected to the drive components 40 corresponding to the first damper 12 and the second damper 13; based on the real-time humidity information detected by the humidity sensor, the dehumidification structure of this application can automatically start and adjust the dehumidification mode, thereby improving the level of automation, for example,

[0059] Set a low humidity threshold and a high humidity threshold. When the humidity detected by the humidity sensor is less than the low humidity threshold, the heating mode is activated; when the detected humidity is between the low humidity threshold and the high humidity threshold, the heating + dehumidification mode is activated; when the humidity detected by the humidity sensor is greater than the high humidity threshold, the high-efficiency dehumidification mode is activated.

[0060] Please refer to Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the housing 100 includes a main housing 110 and a face shield 120. An indoor air inlet 100a is opened in the face shield 120 or between the main housing 110 and the face shield 120. An indoor air outlet 100b is opened in the face shield 120, and an outdoor air outlet 100c is opened on the side of the main housing 110.

[0061] Of course, in some other embodiments, the indoor air inlet 100a, the indoor air outlet 100b, and the outdoor air outlet 100c may also be opened in other positions of the housing 100 according to actual needs, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0062] A second aspect of this application provides a bathroom heater / ventilation unit, including the aforementioned dehumidification structure.

[0063] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0064] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dehumidification structure, characterized in that, Includes a housing (100), the housing (100) having an indoor air inlet (100a), an indoor air outlet (100b), and an outdoor air outlet (100c), and the housing (100) having a first air duct (10), a second air duct (20), and a regeneration air duct (30), wherein, The first air duct (10) connects the indoor air inlet (100a) and the indoor air outlet (100b) and is equipped with a centrifugal fan (11). The second air duct (20) connects the first air duct (10) and the outdoor air outlet (100c) and is equipped with an openable and closable first damper (12) between the second air duct (20) and the first air duct (10). The regeneration air duct (30) connects the first air duct (10) and the second air duct (20) and is equipped with an openable and closable second damper (13) between the regeneration air duct (30) and the first air duct (10). An adsorption wheel (31) is rotatably provided on the regeneration air duct (30). The adsorption wheel (31) is at least partially located in the first air duct (10) and at least partially located in the regeneration air duct (30). The regeneration air duct (30) is also provided with a heater (32).

2. The dehumidification structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption wheel (31) and the centrifugal fan (11) are directly opposite each other along the axial direction.

3. The dehumidification structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The regeneration duct (30) is divided into a dehumidification inlet section (30a), a regeneration section (30b), and a dehumidification outlet section (30c) along the airflow path direction. The three sections are connected in sequence along the axis of the adsorption wheel (31). The adsorption wheel (31) is at least partially located in the regeneration section (30b). The dehumidification inlet section (30a) is connected to the first duct (10), and the dehumidification outlet section (30c) is connected to the second duct (20).

4. The dehumidification structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The airflow paths of the adsorption wheel (31) in the first air duct (10) and the regeneration air duct (30) are parallel to each other and have the same direction.

5. The dehumidification structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heater (32) is located on the side of the dehumidification air intake section (30a) near the regeneration section (30b), and the heater (32) and the adsorption wheel (31) in the regeneration section (30b) are directly opposite each other along the axial direction.

6. The dehumidification structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The airflow paths of the adsorption wheel (31) in the first air duct (10) and the regeneration air duct (30) are parallel to each other and opposite in direction. The heater (32) is located on the side of the dehumidification air intake section (30a) close to the regeneration section (30b), and the heater (32) and the adsorption wheel (31) in the regeneration section (30b) are directly opposite each other along the axial direction.

7. The dehumidification structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (100) is also provided with a drive unit (40) that corresponds to and is poweredly connected to the first air damper (12), the second air damper (13) and the adsorption wheel (31). A PTC heater (14) is provided at one end of the first air duct (10) near the indoor air outlet (100b). The first air damper (12) and the second air damper (13) are both located between the PTC heater (14) and the centrifugal fan (11). When the first damper (12) and the second damper (13) are in their respective open states, they are located in the first air duct (10) and their openings face the centrifugal fan (11).

8. The dehumidification structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The housing (100) is also provided with a humidity sensor, which is electrically connected to the drive unit (40) corresponding to the first damper (12) and the second damper (13).

9. The dehumidification structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (100) includes a main housing (110) and a face shield (120). The indoor air inlet (100a) is located on the face shield (120) or between the main housing (110) and the face shield (120). The indoor air outlet (100b) is located on the face shield (120). The outdoor air outlet (100c) is located on the side of the main housing (110).

10. A bathroom heater, characterized in that, It includes the dehumidification structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images