Air conditioning system

Abstract

To provide an air quality improving unit that can efficiently supply modified air.SOLUTION: An air conditioning system includes: a duct for supplying air into an object space; a blower installed in a middle part of the duct; and an air quality improving unit for improving air quality of the air flowing through the duct. The air quality improving unit includes an air quality improving device for improving air quality and a control unit for operating the air quality improving device while interlocking with the operation of the blower.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to air conditioning systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for sterilizing the room and circulating air in the air flow path by providing an irradiation device capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays in a duct installed in the ceiling. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-049731 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure provides an air conditioning system that can efficiently supply reformed air. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The air conditioning system of the present disclosure comprises a duct that supplies air to a target space, a blower installed midway through the duct, and an air quality improvement unit for improving the air quality of the air flowing through the duct, the air quality improvement unit comprising air quality improvement equipment that improves the air quality and a control unit that operates the air quality improvement equipment in conjunction with the operation of the blower. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] In the air conditioning system of the present disclosure, the blower and the air quality improvement device operate in conjunction with each other, so that the air in the duct can be reformed and the reformed air can be supplied efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1]Schematic diagram showing an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air quality improvement unit according to a first embodiment; [Figure 3] Block diagram showing a control configuration according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Schematic diagram showing an air conditioning system according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time when the inventors came up with the idea of ​​the present disclosure, there was a technique in which an ultraviolet irradiation device was installed inside a duct and the air inside the duct was sterilized by ultraviolet rays. However, the inventors discovered that conventional technology irradiates ultraviolet rays even when there is no air flowing through the duct, resulting in poor energy efficiency, and in order to solve this problem, they came up with the subject matter of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning system that can efficiently reform air.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, in some cases, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or redundant explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) [1-1.Configuration] [1-1-1. Air conditioning system configuration] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning system 1 includes an indoor unit 25 equipped with a blower 26, and an air quality improving unit 40.

[0011] The indoor unit 25 is connected to an outdoor unit (not shown) via refrigerant piping to form a refrigeration cycle circuit. The indoor unit 25 is installed in the ceiling of the room. An intake duct 11 communicating with an intake port 13 inside the room is connected to the upstream side of the indoor unit 25, and an outlet duct (duct) 12 communicating with an outlet port 14 inside the room is connected to the downstream side of the indoor unit 25. An air quality improvement unit 40 is provided midway through the outlet duct 12.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air quality improvement unit 40. As shown in FIG. The air quality improvement unit 40 includes a rectangular cylindrical duct portion 41 that constitutes part of the outlet duct 12, and an electrostatic atomizer serving as air quality improvement equipment 43 is attached to the inner surface of the duct portion 41.

[0013] The duct portion 41 has flanges 42 formed on both end edges thereof, which extend outward. In addition, a flange (not shown) is formed at the location where the air quality improvement unit 40 of the blow-out duct 12 is attached, and the flange 42 of the duct portion 41 and the flange of the blow-out duct 12 are butted together and connected using bolts, nuts, etc.

[0014] The air quality improvement unit 40 is configured to be detachable from the air outlet duct 12. Therefore, it can be retrofitted by replacing part of an already installed air outlet duct 12 with the air quality improvement unit 40, and it is also possible to remove the air quality improvement unit 40 once it has been installed and change it into a normal duct.

[0015] An inspection hatch 21 is provided in the air discharge duct 12 near the upstream side of the air quality improvement unit 40. The inspection hatch 21 is an opening for performing maintenance on the air quality improvement unit 40, and an inspection door 20 is provided at the inspection hatch 21 so that it can be opened and closed freely.

[0016] A remote control (external operating device) 30 for operating the indoor unit 25 is connected to the indoor unit 25.

[0017] [1-2. Control configuration] Next, the control configuration of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit 25 includes an indoor unit control unit 27 and an indoor unit communication unit .

[0018] The indoor unit control unit 27 is equipped with a processor that executes programs, such as a CPU or MPU, and memory such as a ROM or RAM, and performs various processes through cooperation between hardware and software, such that the processor reads out the control program stored in the memory and executes the process.

[0019] The remote control 30 connected to the indoor unit 25 includes a remote control operation unit 31 and a remote control communication unit 32, which allow the user to perform operations such as setting the indoor temperature, setting the air volume of the fan 26, and switching between cooling and heating.

[0020] The indoor unit communication section 28 communicates with the remote control communication section 32 and a unit communication section 45 of the air quality improvement unit 40, which will be described later, via wireless or wired communication.

[0021] The indoor unit control unit 27 receives detection signals from various sensors based on a control program and controls the operation of the blower 26, etc. The operating status and detection signals from the various sensors are transmitted by the indoor unit control unit 27 to the air quality improvement unit 40 via the indoor unit communication unit 28.

[0022] The air quality improving unit 40 includes a unit control section (control section) 44 and a unit communication section 45.

[0023] The unit control unit 44 is equipped with a processor that executes programs, such as a CPU or MPU, and memory such as a ROM or RAM, and performs various processes through cooperation between hardware and software, such that the processor reads out the control program stored in the memory and executes the process.

[0024] The unit communication section 45 communicates with the indoor unit control section 27 of the indoor unit 25 via wireless communication or wired communication.

[0025] Inspection hatch 21 is provided with an opening / closing sensor 22 that detects whether inspection door 20 is open or closed. A detection signal from opening / closing sensor 22 is configured to be transmitted to indoor unit communication unit 28 of indoor unit control unit 27. The detection signal of the open / close sensor 22 may be transmitted to the unit communication section 45 of the air quality improvement unit 40.

[0026] [1-2. Operation] When the user operates the remote control operation section 31 of the remote control 30 to start operation of the indoor unit 25, the indoor unit control section 27 drives the blower 26 and sends a signal to the unit communication section 45 of the air quality improvement unit 40 via the indoor unit communication section 28 to indicate that the blower 26 has been driven. When the unit communication section 45 of the air quality improvement unit 40 receives a signal indicating that the blower 26 has been driven, the unit control section 44 activates the air quality improvement device 43 . When the blower 26 is driven, indoor air is introduced into the intake duct 11 from the intake port 13, and in the indoor unit 25, the indoor air is cooled or heated by exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger.

[0027] The air that has undergone heat exchange in the indoor unit 25 is sent to the outlet duct 12, and the air quality improvement device 43 of the air quality improvement unit 40 generates, for example, ions, ozone, and OH radicals that are produced by dissociating water in the air, thereby sterilizing and deodorizing the air. The air that has passed through the air quality improvement unit 40 is sent through the outlet 14 via the outlet duct 12 into the room whose air quality is to be improved. In this way, the air whose quality has been improved by the air quality improvement unit 40 is supplied to the target space whose air quality is to be improved, thereby improving the air quality in the target space.

[0028] In addition, when an operation to stop the operation of the indoor unit 25 is performed by operating the remote control operation unit 31 of the remote control 30, the indoor unit control unit 27 stops the blower 26 and sends a signal to the unit communication unit 45 of the air quality improvement unit 40 via the indoor unit communication unit 28 to indicate that the blower 26 has been stopped. When the unit communication section 45 of the air quality improvement unit 40 receives a signal indicating that the blower 26 has been stopped, the unit control section 44 stops the air quality improvement device 43 .

[0029] As described above, in this embodiment, when the blower 26 of the indoor unit 25 is driven, the operation of the air quality improvement device 43 starts, and when the blower 26 of the indoor unit 25 is stopped, the operation of the air quality improvement device 43 also stops. In other words, the operations of the blower 26 and the air quality improvement device 43 are controlled so as to be linked.

[0030] When the inspection door 20 of the inspection hatch 21 is opened while the blower 26 and the air quality improvement equipment 43 are operating, a detection signal indicating that the inspection door 20 has been opened is sent from the opening / closing sensor 22 to the indoor unit communication unit 28. When the indoor unit communication unit 28 receives a detection signal indicating that the inspection door 20 has been opened, the indoor unit control unit 27 stops the blower 26 and sends a signal to the unit communication unit 45 via the indoor unit communication unit 28 indicating that the blower 26 has been stopped, thereby causing the unit control unit 44 to stop the operation of the air quality improvement equipment 43.

[0031] The indoor unit control unit 27 may have a timer function. In this case, the indoor unit control unit 27 can use a timer, for example, to operate the blower 26 and the air quality improvement device 43 when there is no one in the space targeted for air quality improvement. By providing the indoor unit control unit 27 with a timer function, it is possible to improve air quality while taking into consideration people who are sensitive to the distinctive smell of ozone and the like generated by the air quality improvement device 43. [1-3. Effects, etc.]

[0032] The air conditioning system 1 comprises a duct that supplies air to a target space, a blower 26 installed midway through the duct, and an air quality improvement unit 40 that improves the quality of the air flowing through the duct. The air quality improvement unit 40 comprises air quality improvement equipment 43 that improves the air quality, and a unit control unit 44 that operates the air quality improvement equipment 43 in conjunction with the operation of the blower 26. According to this, the air quality improvement unit 40 can efficiently reform the air in the duct and supply the reformed air because the blower 26 and the air quality improvement device 43 operate in conjunction with each other.

[0033] The blower 26 and the air quality improvement device 43 are configured to be able to communicate with each other, and when the blower 26 is operated, the unit control unit 44 sends the operating status of the blower 26 to the air quality improvement device 43 and operates the air quality improvement device 43 based on the operating status of the blower 26. According to this, the air quality improvement device 43 operates in accordance with the operation of the blower 26, so that the air in the duct can be reformed and the reformed air can be supplied efficiently.

[0034] The unit is provided with a remote control 30, which is configured to be able to communicate with the blower 26 or the air quality improvement device 43, and when operation of the blower 26 is performed from the remote control 30, the unit control unit 44 starts operation of the blower 26. According to this, the air quality improvement device 43 operates in accordance with the operation of the blower 26, so that the air in the duct can be reformed and the reformed air can be supplied efficiently.

[0035] The blower 26 is provided in an indoor unit 25 of an air conditioner. According to this, by using the blower 26 attached to the air conditioner, it is possible to reform the air in the duct and supply the reformed air.

[0036] (Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an air conditioning system according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment, the air quality improvement unit 40 was provided in the outlet duct 12, but in the second embodiment, the air quality improvement unit 40 is arranged in the intake duct (duct) 11, which is upstream of the indoor unit. In this way, by providing the air quality improvement unit 40 upstream of the blower 26, it is possible to improve the air quality of the air drawn into the indoor unit 25. This prevents contamination of the blower 26 and allows reformed air to be blown into the target space.

[0037] (Other embodiments) As described above, the above-mentioned first and second embodiments have been described as examples disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to these, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments to create new embodiments. Therefore, other embodiments will be described below as examples.

[0038] In the embodiment, the air in the room is sucked in by the intake duct 11, and the air is supplied to the room of the target space by the outlet duct 12. However, the intake duct 11 may be a duct that introduces air from the outside.

[0039] In the embodiment, the blower 26 of the air conditioning system 1 has been described as the blower 26 of the indoor unit 25. However, the blower 26 can be any machine that can blow air, and can also be applied to the blower 26 of a ventilation system or a total heat exchanger.

[0040] In the embodiment, the air quality improvement unit 40 is described as being installed either upstream or downstream of the indoor unit 25. However, it is also possible to install the air quality improvement unit 40 both upstream and downstream of the indoor unit 25, and operate at least one of them as needed.

[0041] In the embodiment, the remote control 30 is connected to the indoor unit 25, and the indoor unit 25 is connected to the air quality improvement unit 40. However, the remote control 30 may be connected to both the indoor unit 25 and the air quality improvement unit 40.

[0042] In the embodiment, an electrostatic atomizer is used as the air quality improvement device 43 of the air quality improvement unit 40. However, the air quality improvement device 43 can be changed as appropriate as long as it can improve the air quality.

[0043] For example, humidity regulators, air purifiers, sterilization devices, deodorization devices, fragrance generators, etc. can be applied as the air quality improvement devices 43. Humidity regulators include, for example, humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Air purifiers and sterilization devices include, for example, machines that generate ultraviolet rays, ozone, electrolyzed water, ions, etc. These can be replaced as appropriate depending on the application.

[0044] When using air quality improvement equipment 43 that generates a unique odor such as ozone, an exhaust fan in the target space may be linked to air quality improvement equipment 43. This allows the unique odor to be exhausted by the exhaust fan after the air quality in the target space has been improved.

[0045] (Addendum) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques.

[0046] (Technology 1) An air conditioning system comprising: a duct that supplies air to a target space; a blower installed midway through the duct; and an air quality improvement unit that improves the quality of the air flowing through the duct, wherein the air quality improvement unit comprises air quality improvement equipment that improves the air quality and a control unit that operates the air quality improvement equipment in conjunction with the operation of the blower. According to this, in this air quality improvement unit, the blower and the air quality improvement device operate in conjunction with each other, so that the air in the duct can be reformed and the reformed air can be supplied efficiently.

[0047] (Technology 2) The air conditioning system described in Technology 1, wherein the blower and the air quality improvement device are configured to be able to communicate with each other, and when the blower is operated, the control unit sends the operating status of the blower to the air quality improvement device and operates the air quality improvement device based on the operating status of the blower. According to this, the air quality improvement device operates in accordance with the operation of the blower, so that the air in the duct can be reformed and the reformed air can be supplied efficiently.

[0048] (Technology 3) An air conditioning system according to Technology 2, which is provided with an external operation device, which is configured to be able to communicate with the blower or the air quality improvement device, and in which, when the operation of the blower is performed from the external operation device, the control unit starts operation of the blower. According to this, the air quality improvement device operates in accordance with the operation of the blower, so that the air in the duct can be reformed and the reformed air can be supplied efficiently.

[0049] (Technical Aspect 4) The air conditioning system according to Technical Aspect 1, wherein the blower is a blower provided in an indoor unit of an air conditioner. According to this, by using a blower attached to the air conditioner, it is possible to reform the air in the duct and supply the reformed air. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] As described above, the air conditioning system according to the present invention can be used to improve indoor air quality, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Air conditioning system 11 Intake duct 12 Air outlet duct 13 Intake port 14 Air outlet 20 Inspection door 21 Inspection hatch 22 Open / close sensor 25 Indoor unit 26 Blower 27 Indoor unit control unit 28 Indoor unit communication section 30 Remote control (external control device) 31 Remote control operation section 32 Remote control communication unit 40 Air Quality Improvement Unit 41 Duct section 42 flange 43 Air quality improvement equipment 44 Unit control section (control section) 45 Unit communication section

Claims

1. The system comprises a duct that supplies air to a target space, a blower installed midway through the duct, and an air quality improvement unit that improves the air quality of the air flowing through the duct, The air quality improvement unit includes an air quality improvement device that improves air quality, A control unit is provided that operates the air quality improvement device in conjunction with the operation of the blower. Air conditioning system.

2. The blower and the air quality improvement device are configured to be able to communicate with each other, When the blower is operated, the control unit sends the operating status of the blower to the air quality improvement device and operates the air quality improvement device based on the operating status of the blower. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

3. Equipped with external operating equipment, The external operation device is configured to be able to communicate with the blower or the air quality improvement device, When an operation of the fan is performed from the external operation device, the control unit starts the operation of the fan.

3. The air conditioning system of claim 2.

4. The blower is a blower provided in an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus, The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

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