Air-conditioning system

Abstract

To provide an air-conditioning system which can improve a humidification environment in a living room, and also can improve the energy efficiency of the system as a whole.SOLUTION: An air-conditioning system of the present embodiment comprises: an air introduction part for introducing air; a dehumidification part for dehumidifying the air which is introduced into the air introduction part; a water supply part for supplying cooling water to the dehumidification part; an air supply part for supplying the air which is dehumidified by the dehumidification part into a living room; a humidity detection part for detecting humidity in the living room; and a control part for controlling the supply of the cooling water to the dehumidification part from the cooling water supply part. The control part adjusts the humidity in the living room by controlling at least either of a temperature and a supply quantity of the cooling water which is supplied to the dehumidification part from the cooling water supply part on the basis of the humidity which is detected by the humidity detection part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE An embodiment of the present invention relates to an air conditioning system. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioning system equipped with an outdoor air conditioning unit and an indoor air conditioning unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-86246 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional air conditioning systems, the outdoor and indoor air conditioning units are controlled independently. As a result, conventional air conditioning systems can sometimes fail to improve the humidity environment in a room or fail to improve the energy efficiency of the entire system, including the outdoor and indoor air conditioning units.

[0005] The present embodiment provides an air conditioning system that can improve the humidity environment in a room and improve the energy efficiency of the entire system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The air conditioning system of this embodiment includes an air inlet section that introduces air, a dehumidifier section that dehumidifies the air introduced into the air inlet section, a cold water supply section that supplies cold water to the dehumidifier section, an air supply section that supplies the air dehumidified by the dehumidifier section into a living room, a humidity detection section that detects the humidity in the living room, and a control section that controls the supply of cold water from the cold water supply section to the dehumidifier section, and the control section adjusts the humidity in the living room by controlling at least one of the temperature and the supply amount of cold water supplied from the cold water supply section to the dehumidifier section based on the humidity detected by the humidity detection section. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an air conditioning system according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an air conditioning system according to a third embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, a number of embodiments of the air conditioning system will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the number of embodiments, substantially the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0009] (First embodiment) The air conditioning system 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 is an air conditioning system known as an air handling unit or the like, and includes an outdoor air conditioning unit 101 and an indoor air conditioning unit 102. The outdoor air conditioning unit 101 includes a blower (not shown) therein, and is capable of drawing in air from the outside and supplying the drawn-in air into a room 103. The outdoor air conditioning unit 101 is an example of an air introduction section. The outdoor air conditioning unit 101 includes an inverter 104 that controls the driving of the blower. Hereinafter, the inverter 104 may be simply referred to as "INV104".

[0010] The outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 is provided with a cooler 105 therein, and the cooler 105 can dehumidify the air introduced into the outdoor air-conditioning unit 101. Thus, air dehumidified by the cooler 105 is supplied to the living room 103. The cooler 105 is an example of a dehumidifying unit. The outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 may be provided with a heater (not shown) therein, and the heater can heat the air introduced into the outdoor air-conditioning unit 101. The outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 may be provided with a humidifier (not shown) therein, and the humidifier can humidify the air introduced into the outdoor air-conditioning unit 101. The outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 may be provided with an air filter (not shown) therein, and the air filter can capture foreign matter such as dust contained in the air introduced into the outdoor air-conditioning unit 101. The outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 may be provided with an eliminator (not shown) therein, and may be configured to be capable of dispersing or removing water droplets sprayed by a humidifier (not shown).

[0011] Outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 is connected to air intake port 106. Air intake port 106 is an example of an air intake section, and supplies air supplied from outdoor air-conditioning unit 101, that is, air dehumidified by cooler 105, into living room 103. A humidity sensor 107 that detects the humidity in living room 103 is provided in living room 103. Humidity sensor 107 is an example of a humidity detection section.

[0012] The indoor conditioning unit 102 is a so-called indoor unit, and together with an outdoor unit (not shown), constitutes a well-known air conditioner. The indoor conditioning unit 102 can adjust the temperature of the air in the living room 103 by cooling or heating the air in the living room 103.

[0013] The air conditioning system 100 further includes a heat source unit 108. The heat source unit 108 is configured, for example, by a known refrigerator, and can supply cold water to the cooler 105 via a circulation water passage 109. The heat source unit 108 is an example of a cold water supply unit. The heat source unit 108 is provided with a module controller 110. Hereinafter, the module controller 110 may be simply referred to as "MC 110." The MC 110 can control the overall operation of the heat source unit 108. The MC 110 can control the temperature and supply amount of cold water supplied from the heat source unit 108 to the cooler 105. That is, the heat source unit 108 can appropriately change the settings of the temperature and supply amount of cold water supplied to the cooler 105.

[0014] Air-conditioning system 100 further includes an air-handling unit controller 111. Hereinafter, air-handling unit controller 111 may be simply referred to as "AUC 111." AUC 111 is an example of a control unit, and is capable of controlling the overall operation of air-conditioning system 100. AUC 111 controls INV 104, that is, a blower (not shown), based on the humidity in room 103 detected by humidity sensor 107, thereby changing the amount of air introduced into outdoor air-conditioning unit 101, and therefore the amount of air supplied to room 103.

[0015] Here, the more the amount of air introduced into outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 is increased, the more the amount of air that exchanges heat with cooler 105 becomes, and it becomes easier for sufficiently dehumidified air to be supplied into living room 103. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the humidity in living room 103. On the other hand, the more the amount of air introduced into outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 is decreased, the less the amount of air that exchanges heat with cooler 105 becomes, and it becomes harder for sufficiently dehumidified air to be supplied into living room 103. Therefore, it is possible to increase the humidity in living room 103.

[0016] The AUC 111 is connected to the MC 110 via a group controller 112. Hereinafter, the group controller 112 may be simply referred to as "GC 112." The AUC 111 controls the MC 110, i.e., the heat source unit 108, via the GC 112 based on the humidity in the room 103 detected by the humidity sensor 107, thereby being able to change the temperature and supply amount of cold water supplied from the heat source unit 108 to the cooler 105.

[0017] Here, the higher the temperature of the cold water supplied from heat source unit 108 to cooler 105, the weaker the dehumidifying action in cooler 105, and therefore the humidity in room 103 can be increased. On the other hand, the lower the temperature of the cold water supplied from heat source unit 108 to cooler 105, the stronger the dehumidifying action in cooler 105, and therefore the humidity in room 103 can be reduced.

[0018] Furthermore, the smaller the supply amount of cold water supplied from heat source unit 108 to cooler 105, the weaker the dehumidifying action of cooler 105, and therefore the humidity in room 103 can be increased. On the other hand, the larger the supply amount of cold water supplied from heat source unit 108 to cooler 105, the stronger the dehumidifying action of cooler 105, and therefore the humidity in room 103 can be reduced.

[0019] As described above, the AUC 111 is configured to be able to appropriately change the temperature and supply amount of chilled water set by the MC 110 in the heat source unit 108 via the GC 112. As a result, the AUC 111 is configured to be able to adjust the humidity in the room 103 by controlling the heat source unit 108. Note that the AUC 111 may be configured to be able to directly control the heat source unit 108, i.e., the MC 110, without going through a relay device such as the GC 112.

[0020] When adjusting the humidity in the room 103, the AUC 111 first changes the amount of air introduced into the outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 while controlling, or maintaining, the temperature and supply amount of cold water supplied from the heat source unit 108 to the cooler 105 at a constant value. In this way, the AUC 111 attempts to adjust the humidity in the room 103 to a predetermined humidity. The predetermined humidity can be changed and set as appropriate.

[0021] However, there may be cases where the humidity in room 103 cannot be adjusted to the predetermined humidity level simply by changing the amount of air introduced into outdoor air-conditioning unit 101. Therefore, if the humidity in room 103 does not reach the predetermined humidity level even when the amount of air introduced into outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 is changed, AUC111 changes the temperature and supply amount of chilled water supplied from heat source unit 108 to cooler 105. In this way, AUC111 attempts to adjust the humidity in room 103 to the predetermined humidity level.

[0022] In addition, AUC111 may change the temperature and supply amount of cold water supplied from the heat source unit 108 to the cooler 105 while continuing to change the amount of air introduced into the outdoor air-conditioning unit 101, or may stop changing the amount of air introduced into the outdoor air-conditioning unit 101 and then change the temperature and supply amount of cold water supplied from the heat source unit 108 to the cooler 105.

[0023] In addition, AUC111 may simultaneously change both the temperature and supply amount of the cold water supplied from heat source unit 108 to cooler 105, or may change either one of the temperature and supply amount of the cold water supplied from heat source unit 108 to cooler 105, and as a result, if the humidity in room 103 cannot be adjusted to a specified humidity, change the other of the temperature and supply amount of the cold water supplied from heat source unit 108 to cooler 105.

[0024] According to the air conditioning system 100 illustrated above, the humidity in the living room 103 can be appropriately adjusted by changing the amount of air introduced into the outdoor air conditioning unit 101 or by changing the temperature and amount of cold water supplied from the heat source unit 108 to the cooler 105, thereby improving the humidity environment in the living room 103.

[0025] Moreover, according to the air conditioning system 100, the humidity of the air in the living room 103 that is conditioned by the indoor conditioning unit 102 is detected by the humidity sensor 107, and based on the detected humidity, the amount of air introduced into the outdoor conditioning unit 101 can be changed, and the temperature and supply amount of cold water supplied from the heat source unit 108 to the cooler 105 can be changed. Therefore, according to the air conditioning system 100, it is possible to adjust the humidity in the living room 103 while mutually coordinating the outdoor conditioning unit 101, the indoor conditioning unit 102, and the heat source unit 108, and this makes it possible to improve the energy efficiency of the air conditioning system 100 as a whole, compared to an air conditioning system in which the outdoor conditioning unit, the indoor conditioning unit, and the heat source unit are each independently controlled.

[0026] Second embodiment The air conditioning system 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of water temperature sensors 113, in this case two, in the middle of a circulation water passage 109 that circulates cold water between the heat source unit 108 and the cooler 105. The water temperature sensors 113 can detect the temperature of the cold water flowing through the circulation water passage 109. The circulation water passage 109 includes an outward path 109a and a return path 109b starting from the heat source unit 108. One water temperature sensor 113 is provided on each of the outward path 109a and the return path 109b. The air conditioning system 100 further includes a control valve 114. In this case, the control valve 114 is provided on the return path 109b of the circulation water passage 109. The control valve 114 is also provided on the cooler 105 side of the water temperature sensor 113 on the return path 109b.

[0027] The control valve 114 functions as an opening / closing valve for the flow path of the circulation water path 109, and the opening degree thereof can be changed. The AUC 111 can control the amount of cold water circulating in the circulation water path 109 by changing the opening degree of the control valve 114. The AUC 111 can adjust the humidity in the living room 103 by changing the amount of cold water circulating in the circulation water path 109.

[0028] That is, the AUC 111 reduces the amount of cold water circulating in the circulation water passage 109 by reducing the opening of the control valve 114. This makes it difficult for cold water cooled by the heat source unit 108 to be supplied to the cooler 105, weakening the dehumidification effect of the cooler 105. This makes it easier for insufficiently dehumidified air to be supplied into the living room 103, thereby making it possible to increase the humidity in the living room 103.

[0029] On the other hand, AUC 111 increases the amount of cold water circulating in circulation water passage 109 by increasing the opening of control valve 114. This makes it easier for cold water cooled by heat source device 108 to be supplied to cooler 105, and strengthens the dehumidification effect of cooler 105. Therefore, sufficiently dehumidified air is more easily supplied to room 103, and the humidity in room 103 can be reduced.

[0030] Furthermore, the AUC 111 can detect the temperature of the cold water circulating through the circulation water passage 109 using a water temperature sensor 113, and adjust the opening of the control valve 114 based on the detected temperature. This allows the opening of the control valve 114 to be finely adjusted according to the temperature of the cold water circulating through the circulation water passage 109, and therefore allows the humidity in the living room 103 to be finely adjusted.

[0031] Third embodiment The air conditioning system 100 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a bypass water passage 115 in the middle of a circulation water passage 109 that circulates cold water between a heat source unit 108 and a cooler 105. The bypass water passage 115 is provided so as to span between an outward path 109a and a return path 109b that constitute the circulation water passage 109, and forms a detour water passage that circulates cold water in the circulation water passage 109 without passing through the heat source unit 108. The air conditioning system 100 further includes a control valve 114. In this case, the control valve 114 is provided in the outward path 109a of the circulation water passage 109. The control valve 114 is also provided on the outward path 109a closer to the heat source unit 108 than the bypass water passage 115.

[0032] The air conditioning system 100 includes a circulation pump 116 in the circulation water passage 109. In this case, the circulation pump 116 is provided in the outward path 109a of the circulation water passage 109. The control valve 114 is provided on the outward path 109a closer to the cooler 105 than the bypass water passage 115.

[0033] The circulation pump 116 forms a water flow in the circulation water passage 109 that mainly passes through the bypass water passage 115. That is, the water in the circulation water passage 109 that passes through the heat source unit 108 can circulate through the circulation water passage 109 by the pumping force generated by the heat source unit 108. However, the water in the circulation water passage 109 that does not pass through the heat source unit 108, i.e., the water that passes through the bypass water passage 115, cannot receive the pumping force generated by the heat source unit 108. Therefore, the circulation pump 116 generates a pumping force or a suction force for circulating the water in the circulation water passage 109 that passes through the bypass water passage 115 in particular.

[0034] The operation of the circulation pump 116 is controlled by a controller separate from the AUC 111. However, the operation of the circulation pump 116 may be configured to be controlled by the AUC 111. In addition, the operation of the circulation pump 116 may be controlled based on the temperature of the cold water circulating through the circulation water passage 109, for example.

[0035] The AUC 111 can control the flow rate of the cold water flowing through the bypass water passage 115 in the circulation water passage 109 by changing the opening of the control valve 114. The AUC 111 can adjust the humidity in the living room 103 by changing the flow rate of the cold water flowing through the bypass water passage 115 in the circulation water passage 109.

[0036] That is, the AUC 111 increases the flow rate of chilled water flowing through the bypass water passage 115 in the circulation water passage 109 by reducing the opening of the control valve 114. This makes it easier for the chiller 105 to be supplied with chilled water flowing through the bypass water passage 115, i.e., chilled water not cooled by the heat source unit 108, and makes it harder for the chiller 105 to be supplied with chilled water cooled by the heat source unit 108, thereby weakening the dehumidifying effect of the cooler 105. This makes it easier for insufficiently dehumidified air to be supplied into the living room 103, thereby making it possible to increase the humidity in the living room 103.

[0037] On the other hand, the AUC 111 reduces the flow rate of the chilled water flowing through the bypass water passage 115 in the circulation water passage 109 by increasing the opening of the control valve 114. This makes it difficult for the chiller 105 to be supplied with chilled water flowing through the bypass water passage 115, i.e., chilled water not cooled by the heat source unit 108, and makes it easier for the chiller 105 to be supplied with chilled water cooled by the heat source unit 108, thereby strengthening the dehumidifying effect of the cooler 105. As a result, sufficiently dehumidified air is more easily supplied to the living room 103, and the humidity in the living room 103 can be reduced.

[0038] In the third embodiment, the air conditioning system 100 may also be configured to include a water temperature sensor 113 in the circulation water channel 109. According to this configuration example, the AUC 111 can detect the temperature of the cold water circulating through the circulation water channel 109 by the water temperature sensor 113 and adjust the opening of the control valve 114 based on the detected temperature. This allows the opening of the control valve 114 to be finely adjusted according to the temperature of the cold water circulating through the circulation water channel 109, and therefore allows the humidity in the room 103 to be finely adjusted.

[0039] (Other embodiments) In addition, the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and extensions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the air conditioning system can be configured by appropriately selecting and combining the above-described embodiments.

[0040] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc. can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The present embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] In the drawing, reference numeral 100 denotes an air conditioning system, 101 denotes an outdoor air conditioning unit (air introduction section), 105 denotes a cooler (dehumidification section), 106 denotes an air intake port (air intake section), 107 denotes a humidity sensor (humidity detection section), 108 denotes a heat source unit (chilled water supply section), 109 denotes a circulating water channel, 111 denotes an air handling unit controller: AUC (control section), 114 denotes a control valve, and 115 denotes a bypass water channel.

Claims

1. An air introduction section that introduces air; a dehumidification section that dehumidifies the air introduced into the air introduction section; A cold water supply unit that supplies cold water to the dehumidifier; an air supply unit that supplies the air dehumidified by the dehumidifier to the living room; A humidity detection unit that detects humidity in the living room; a control unit that controls the supply of cold water from the cold water supply unit to the dehumidification unit; Equipped with The control unit adjusts the humidity in the room by controlling at least one of the temperature and the supply amount of cold water supplied from the cold water supply unit to the dehumidification unit based on the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit.

2. The air introduction section is capable of changing an amount of air introduced, 2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit adjusts the humidity in the room by changing the amount of air introduced into the air introduction unit while controlling a temperature and supply amount of the cold water supplied from the cold water supply unit to the dehumidification unit to be constant.

3. The cold water supply unit is capable of changing a setting of a temperature of the cold water supplied to the dehumidification unit, The air conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit adjusts the humidity in the room by changing a temperature of the cold water set in the cold water supply unit.

4. a circulation water channel that circulates cold water between the cold water supply unit and the dehumidification unit; a control valve for controlling the amount of cold water circulated in the circulation water passage; Further equipped with The air conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit adjusts the humidity in the room by changing an opening degree of the control valve.

5. a circulation water channel that circulates cold water between the cold water supply unit and the dehumidification unit; a bypass water passage for circulating cold water in the circulation water passage without passing through the cold water supply unit; Further equipped with The air conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit adjusts the humidity in the room by changing a flow rate of the cold water flowing through the bypass water passage.

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