Dehumidifying device

Abstract

To provide a dehumidifying device capable of reducing the possibility that an ignition source encounters a combustible range of leaked refrigerant.SOLUTION: A dehumidifying device 100 comprises: a refrigeration cycle 3 which is formed by sequentially and annularly connecting a compressor 7, a condenser 8, an expander 9, and an evaporator 10 within a main body case 1 having an intake port 2 and a blowout port 4, and uses a flammable refrigerant equal to or less than a warming coefficient 10; a blower unit 6 acting on the refrigeration cycle 3; and a control unit 46 which controls the refrigeration cycle 3 and the blower unit 6. A communication passage 29 is provided at a lower part of the main body case 1 to communicate the inside and outside of the main body case 1 in order to reduce stagnation of the leaked refrigerant in a case where the refrigerant leaks.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dehumidifier. [Background technology]

[0002] Dehumidifiers are known that are used in living spaces to reduce humidity in the living spaces, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a dehumidifier that has a refrigeration cycle that includes a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, a throttling device, and a blower, and uses a flammable refrigerant. This dehumidifier is equipped with a refrigerant leak detection device and a solenoid valve. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-178480 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The device described in Patent Document 1 is configured to cut off the power supply to the main body in response to a signal from the refrigerant leak detection device, but there is room for improvement in terms of reducing the possibility of an ignition source encountering the flammable range of the leaked refrigerant.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a dehumidifier that can reduce the possibility of an ignition source encountering the flammable range of leaked refrigerant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a dehumidifier according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a refrigeration cycle using a flammable refrigerant with a global warming potential of 10 or less, the refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator connected in sequence in a ring shape within a main body case having an inlet and an outlet, a blower unit that acts on the refrigeration cycle, and a controller that controls the refrigeration cycle and the blower unit. A communication passage is provided at the bottom of the main body case to communicate between the inside and outside of the main body case in the event of a refrigerant leak, in order to reduce retention of the leaked refrigerant.

[0007] Any combination of the above components, and conversion of the present disclosure into a method, device, system, recording medium, computer program, etc., are also valid aspects of the present disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a dehumidifier can be provided that can reduce the possibility of an ignition source encountering the flammable range of a leaking refrigerant. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a dehumidifying device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the dehumidifier of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing the dehumidifier of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a dehumidifier having a plurality of communication passages. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Each of the examples described below represents a preferred specific example of the present disclosure. Therefore, the numerical values, shapes, materials, components, the arrangement and connection of the components, steps (processes), and the order of steps shown in the following examples are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, among the components in the following examples, components that are not recited in the independent claims that represent the highest concept of the present disclosure will be described as optional components. Furthermore, in each figure, substantially identical components are assigned the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted or simplified.

[0011] Furthermore, terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second are used to describe various components, but these terms are used only to distinguish one component from another and do not limit the components.

[0012] [Example] A schematic configuration of a dehumidifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a perspective view that schematically shows the dehumidifier 100 according to the embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side view that schematically shows the dehumidifier 100. This view is a cross-section taken along line AA in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view that schematically shows the dehumidifier 100. This view is a cross-section taken along line BB in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view that schematically shows the dehumidifier 100.

[0013] 1, a dehumidifier 100 according to this embodiment has a box-shaped main body case 1 as an outer shell, which distinguishes the outside from the inside of the main body case 1. The main body case 1 is provided with an intake port 2 and an outlet port 4.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, the dehumidifier 100 includes a refrigeration cycle 3, a blower unit 6, and a control unit 46. The refrigeration cycle 3 is a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor 7, a condenser 8, an expander 9, and an evaporator 10 are connected in sequence in a ring, and uses a flammable refrigerant with a global warming potential of 10 or less. It is desirable for the refrigeration cycle 3 to use a refrigerant with low ozone depletion potential and global warming potential, and that is readily available for mass production. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle 3 uses a flammable refrigerant with a global warming potential of 10 or less.

[0015] The control unit 46 includes a control board unit 48 that configures an electronic circuit for controlling the refrigeration cycle 3 and the blower unit 6, and a control closed space unit 47 that isolates the control board unit 48 from the surroundings. The control closed space unit 47 functions as an outer shell that surrounds the control board unit 48. The control closed space unit 47 may be a rectangular parallelepiped box made of metal or resin.

[0016] In the main body case 1, the evaporator 10, the condenser 8, and the blower 6 are arranged in this order in the front-to-rear direction. In this specification, the directions of the device are defined as the directions when the dehumidifier is installed in a state where it can normally operate. In the dehumidifier 100, the side on which the evaporator 10 is located relative to the condenser 8 is referred to as the "front," the opposite side is referred to as the "rear," and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is referred to as the left-to-right direction.

[0017] A view from the front and back is sometimes referred to as a "front view" or "rear view," a view from the left and right is sometimes referred to as a "side view," and a view from above is sometimes referred to as a "plan view." The air flow generated by the action of the blower 6 is sometimes referred to as "wind," and the upstream and downstream of the air flow are sometimes referred to as "upwind" and "downwind." These notations do not limit the position in which the dehumidifier 100 is used, and the dehumidifier 100 can be used in any position.

[0018] In the embodiment, the front-to-back width of the main body case 1 is smaller than the left-to-right width, and the top-to-bottom width is larger than the left-to-right width. With respect to the main body case 1, the portion constituting the front outer surface is referred to as the "front surface," the portion constituting the outer surface opposite the front surface is referred to as the "rear surface," the portions constituting the left and right outer surfaces are referred to as the "side surfaces," the portion constituting the upper outer surface is referred to as the "top surface," and the portion constituting the bottom outer surface is referred to as the "bottom surface."

[0019] An operation unit 25 is provided on the front top surface of the main body case 1 for receiving input from the user and displaying information about the dehumidifier such as the operation mode and current humidity to the user.

[0020] In the embodiment, the air inlet 2 is arranged on the front surface 22 of the main body case 1. The air inlet 2 is a rectangular opening in the front surface 22 of the main body case 1 that draws in air from a direction perpendicular to the front surface 22, and is provided with a lattice. In the embodiment, the air outlet 4 is arranged on the upper rear side of the main body case 1. Above the air outlet 4, a louver 31 is provided that changes the direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 4.

[0021] Blower 6 includes a motor (not shown) and a fan (not shown) that is rotated by the motor to draw in and exhaust air. Blower 6 has an intake port 67, which is an opening for drawing in air, and an outlet port 68, which is an opening for sending out the air drawn in through intake port 67. Intake port 67 may be located on the surface facing condenser 8. Outlet port 68 opens upward.

[0022] The blower 6 acts mainly on the condenser and evaporator 10 of the refrigeration cycle 3. Hereinafter, the condenser and evaporator 10 are referred to as the dehumidifier 5. Specifically, the blower 6 draws in air that has passed through the dehumidifier 5 of the refrigeration cycle 3 through the intake port 67 and blows it out of the blower 6 through the outlet 68. In this way, the blower 6 blows the air outside the main body case 1 that it has drawn in through the intake port 2, passes through the dehumidifier 5, and then blows it out of the main body case 1 through the outlet 4. This air passage is referred to as the air passage 34. The air passage 34 connects the intake port 2 and the outlet 4, and by the action of the blower 6, intake air 60 is drawn into the main body case 1 through the intake port 2, passes through the air passage 34, and is blown out of the outlet 4.

[0023] In the embodiment, the air passage 34 includes a first air passage 35 through which air sucked from the air inlet 2 by the blower 6 flows to the air outlet 4 via the evaporator 10. The air passage 34 may include another air passage in addition to the first air passage 35.

[0024] The flow of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle 3 will now be described. The refrigerant pushed out from the compressor 7 flows through the discharge refrigerant pipe 81 as indicated by arrow M, is supplied to the upper end 852 of the heat transfer tube 85 of the condenser 8, and flows from top to bottom through the heat transfer tube 85 of the condenser 8. The refrigerant pushed out from the lower end 853 of the heat transfer tube 85 of the condenser 8 flows through the refrigerant pipe 82 as indicated by arrow N and is supplied to the expander 9. The refrigerant pushed out from the expander 9 flows through the refrigerant pipe 83 as indicated by arrow P and is supplied to the lower end 863 of the heat transfer tube 86 of the evaporator 10. The refrigerant supplied to the evaporator 10 flows from bottom to top through the heat transfer tube 86 of the evaporator 10. The refrigerant pushed out from the upper end 862 of the heat transfer tube 86 of the evaporator 10 flows through the suction refrigerant pipe 84 as indicated by arrow Q and flows into the compressor 7. The refrigeration cycle 3 is well known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The evaporator 10 and the condenser 8 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air flow in the first air passage 35.

[0025] The dehumidifying operation of the dehumidifier 100 will now be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, intake air 60 passes through the evaporator 10, the condenser 8, and the blower section 6 and is then blown out of the main body case 1 through the outlet 4. During this process, the intake air 60 is cooled by the evaporator 10, and moisture in the intake air 60 condenses to produce condensed water W1. The condensed water W1 drips below the evaporator 10 and is collected in a funnel-shaped drain pan 12 located below the evaporator 10. The drain pan 12 is a tray that receives the condensed water W1. The condensed water W1 collected in the drain pan 12 flows through a drain section 15 that leads from the drain pan 12 to a water storage tank 13, and then flows into the water storage tank 13 located below the drain pan 12 and is stored therein. The water storage tank 13 is easily detachable from the main body case 1.

[0026] The dried intake air 60 after condensation is blown out of the main body case 1 from the air outlet 4. By blowing out the dry air, the dehumidifier 100 reduces the humidity in the surrounding space.

[0027] The configuration of the embodiment will be further described. Because the refrigeration cycle 3 of the embodiment uses a flammable refrigerant, there is a possibility that the refrigerant will leak from a connection portion of the refrigerant flow passage. Specifically, in the dehumidifier 100, as shown in FIG. 2 , the condenser 8 has a first connection portion 77 to which a heat transfer tube 85, through which the refrigerant flows, is connected, and the evaporator 10 has a second connection portion 78 to which a heat transfer tube 86, through which the refrigerant flows, is connected, and which extends from one end of the evaporator 10 to the other end, is turned back. The first connection portion 77 and the second connection portion 78 are collectively referred to as connection portions 77, 78. There are no limitations on the configuration of the connection portions 77, 78, but in the embodiment, they are brazed portions.

[0028] The compressor 7 has a discharge section 71 to which a discharge refrigerant pipe 81 is connected, and a suction section 72 to which a suction refrigerant pipe 84 is connected. The discharge refrigerant pipe 81 and the suction refrigerant pipe 84 are sometimes referred to as refrigerant pipes 81 and 84, respectively. The connection between the discharge section 71 and the discharge refrigerant pipe 81 is referred to as a connection section 73, and the connection between the suction section 72 and the suction refrigerant pipe 84 is referred to as a connection section 74. Because refrigerant flows inside the connection sections 73 and 74, there is a possibility of refrigerant leakage from these sections.

[0029] An upper end 852 of a heat transfer tube 85 of the condenser 8 is connected to a discharge refrigerant pipe 81 extending from the compressor 7, and a lower end 853 of the heat transfer tube 85 is connected to a refrigerant pipe 82 extending upstream of the expander 9. Reference numeral 77 denotes a first connection portion 77 between the heat transfer tube 85 and the refrigerant pipes 81 and 82. Because the refrigerant flows inside the first connection portion 77, there is a possibility that the refrigerant may leak from this portion.

[0030] An upper end 862 of a heat transfer tube 86 of the evaporator 10 is connected to an intake refrigerant pipe 84 that extends to the compressor 7, and a lower end 863 of the heat transfer tube 86 is connected to a refrigerant pipe 83 that extends downstream of the expander 9. Reference numeral 78 denotes a second connection 78 between the heat transfer tube 86 and the refrigerant pipes 83, 84. Because refrigerant flows inside the second connection 78, there is a possibility that the refrigerant will leak from this portion. The expander 9 typically uses a capillary tube, which is a tube with a small diameter, and because refrigerant flows inside the tube, there is a possibility that the refrigerant will leak from this portion.

[0031] If the main body case 1 is closed, refrigerant leaking from the first connecting portion 77 or the second connecting portion 78 may accumulate and become highly concentrated. Therefore, it is important to diffuse the leaked refrigerant. Therefore, the dehumidifier 100 has a communication passage 29 in the lower part of the main body case 1 that connects the inside and outside of the main body case 1 to reduce the accumulation of the leaked refrigerant in the event of a refrigerant leak. In this specification, the lower part of the dehumidifier 100 refers to the portion below the upper and lower bisectors of the dehumidifier 100. Because refrigerant is heavier than air, it tends to accumulate in the lower part. The presence of the communication passage 29 in the lower part of the main body case 1 facilitates smooth flow of gas in and out whether the blower unit 6 is operating or not. This allows refrigerant leaking from any point in the refrigeration cycle 3 to be quickly diffused to the outside of the main body case 1, thereby reducing the possibility of the refrigerant becoming flammable in the main body case 1.

[0032] For example, the height of the communication passage 29 from the bottom surface of the main body case 1 may be 50 mm or less, preferably 30 mm or less, and more preferably 10 mm or less. The horizontal width of the communication passage 29 may be 10 mm to 50 mm, and the vertical width of the communication passage 29 may be 5 mm to 30 mm. For example, the communication passage 29 may be disposed in the side surface portion 21, the front surface portion 22, or the bottom surface portion 26.

[0033] A plurality of communication passages 29 may be provided, and when a distinction is made between the plurality of communication passages 29, capital letters such as A, B, and C are added to the reference numerals, and when no distinction is made, no letter is added. Figure 4 shows an example of a dehumidifier 100 having a plurality of communication passages 29B, 29C, and 29D.

[0034] 4, the communication passage 29B is provided in the bottom surface 26 of the main body case 1 below the connecting portions 77, 78 of the refrigeration cycle 3. In this case, since there is a high possibility of refrigerant leakage at the connecting portions 77, 78 of the refrigeration cycle 3, by providing the communication passage 29B below them, the refrigerant is efficiently diffused to the outside of the main body case 1 and can be prevented from accumulating inside the main body case 1. "Below the connecting portions 77, 78" refers to the area surrounded by the smallest circumscribed circle of the outline of the connecting portions 77, 78 when projected downward. The communication passage 29B may be provided at the lowest point of the bottom surface 26.

[0035] 4, communication passage 29C is provided below compressor 7. In this case, since there is a high possibility that refrigerant will leak from connecting portions 73 and 74 of discharge portion 71 and suction portion 72 of compressor 7 in refrigeration cycle 3, providing communication passage 29C below them allows the refrigerant to be efficiently diffused to the outside of main body case 1 and prevents the refrigerant from accumulating inside main body case 1. "Below compressor 7" refers to the area enclosed by the smallest circumscribing circle of the outer contour of compressor 7 when compressor 7 is projected downward.

[0036] The bottom may have multiple legs protruding downward. The multiple legs create a large gap between the bottom and the surface (such as a floor) on which dehumidifier 100 is placed. Even when the bottom is in direct contact with the floor, a small gap is created between the bottom and the floor, etc. on which dehumidifier 100 is placed, and the refrigerant in main body case 1 flows out of main body case 1 via communicating passages 29B and 29C. On the other hand, when the bottom has multiple legs protruding downward, the gap between the bottom and the floor, etc. on which dehumidifier 100 is placed is larger than when the bottom does not have multiple legs protruding downward, making it even easier for the refrigerant in main body case 1 to flow out of main body case 1 via communicating passages 29B and 29C.

[0037] As described above, the dehumidifier 100 includes the drain pan 12 that receives condensed water dripping from the evaporator 10, the water tank 13, and the drain unit 15 that sends the condensed water W1 from the drain pan 12 to the water tank 13. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the communication passage 29D is provided below the water tank 13 that collects the condensed water W1. Because the evaporator 10 and the condenser 8 are disposed above the drain pan 12, it is believed that refrigerant leaking from the evaporator 10 and the condenser 8 falls into the drain pan 12 and then falls near the water tank 13. Therefore, by providing the communication passage 29D below the water tank 13, the refrigerant is efficiently diffused outside the main body case 1, and accumulation of the refrigerant within the main body case 1 can be suppressed. The area below the water tank 13 refers to the area enclosed by the smallest circumscribing circle of the outline of the water tank 13 when the water tank 13 is projected downward.

[0038] The underside of water storage tank 13 may have multiple legs protruding downward so that water storage tank 13 can be easily slid into and removed from main body case 1. The multiple legs create a large gap between the underside and the bottom of main body case 1. Even when the underside of water storage tank 13 is in direct contact with the bottom of main body case 1, a small gap is created between the underside of water storage tank 13 and the bottom of main body case 1, and refrigerant leaking from evaporator 10 and condenser 8 falls into drain pan 12, and refrigerant that has further fallen near water storage tank 13 flows through the gap into communicating passage 29D.

[0039] On the other hand, when the bottom surface of the water storage tank 13 has multiple legs protruding downward, the gap between the bottom surface of the water storage tank 13 and the bottom surface of the main body case 1 is larger than when the bottom surface of the water storage tank 13 does not have multiple legs protruding downward. Therefore, refrigerant leaking from the evaporator 10 and the condenser 8 falls into the drain pan 12, and the refrigerant that falls further near the water storage tank 13 is more likely to flow into the communicating passage 29D through the gap. Furthermore, similar to the above, the bottom surface may have multiple legs protruding downward. The multiple legs create a large gap between the bottom surface and the floor or other surface on which the dehumidifier 100 is placed. Even when the bottom surface is in direct contact with the floor, a small gap is created between the bottom surface and the floor or other surface on which the dehumidifier 100 is placed, and the refrigerant that flows into the communicating passage 29D flows out of the main body case 1.

[0040] On the other hand, when the bottom surface has multiple legs protruding downward, the gap between the bottom surface and the floor surface on which the dehumidifier 100 is placed is larger than when the bottom surface does not have multiple legs protruding downward, so the refrigerant that flows into the connecting passage 29D is more likely to flow out of the main body case 1.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the dehumidifier 100 is provided with a refrigerant sensor 75 capable of detecting refrigerant near the drain portion 15. The vicinity of the drain portion 15 may be, for example, the space around the drain portion 15 between the drain pan 12 and the water tank 13. The refrigerant sensor 75 may be any refrigerant sensor capable of detecting the refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle 3, and any refrigerant sensor based on known principles may be used. As described above, refrigerant leaking from the evaporator 10 or condenser 8 is expected to fall into the drain pan 12 and then fall near the water tank 13. Therefore, providing the refrigerant sensor 75 near the drain portion 15 allows for early detection of the leaked refrigerant. As a result, early response to the refrigerant leak can be performed. The detection result of the refrigerant sensor 75 is transmitted to the control unit 46.

[0042] 4, dehumidifier 100 has refrigerant sensor 75, and when refrigerant sensor 75 detects a refrigerant leak, it issues a refrigerant leak alert and operates blower unit 6. In this case, operating blower unit 6 agitates the air and refrigerant in main body case 1, preventing the refrigerant concentration from increasing. Control unit 46 receives the detection result of refrigerant sensor 75, and determines whether the refrigerant concentration exceeds a preset reference value based on the received detection result. If the refrigerant concentration exceeds the reference value, it activates a predetermined alert means and operates blower unit 6.

[0043] Examples of the notification means include sound output means such as a buzzer, light output means such as an LED, means for transmitting predetermined information to an information terminal via wire or wirelessly, etc. Control unit 46 may stop blower unit 6 when refrigerant sensor 75 no longer detects a refrigerant leak, for example, when the refrigerant concentration falls below a reference value.

[0044] In this embodiment, the suction port 2 and the communication passage 29 are arranged on different surfaces of the main body case 1. In this case, it is possible to reduce stagnation areas for the flow of leaked refrigerant inside the main body case 1, thereby allowing the leaked refrigerant to quickly diffuse to the outside of the main body case 1 and reducing the possibility of the refrigerant becoming flammable. As an example, the suction port 2 is provided on the front surface 22 of the main body case 1, and the communication passage 29 is provided on the side surface 21 of the main body case 1. This reduces the possibility that the refrigerant coming out of the communication passage 29 will be sucked into the main body case 1 from the suction port 2 or the rear surface 24. The communication passage 29 may also be provided on the rear surface 24 of the main body case 1.

[0045] The features of the dehumidifier 100 of this embodiment configured as described above will be described. The dehumidifier 100 is provided with a refrigeration cycle 3 using a flammable refrigerant with a global warming potential of 10 or less, a blower 6 that acts on the refrigeration cycle 3, and a controller 46 that controls the refrigeration cycle 3 and the blower 6, and is configured with a compressor 7, a condenser 8, an expander 9, and an evaporator 10 that are connected in a circular sequence within a main body case 1 having an inlet 2 and an outlet 4. A communication passage 29 that communicates between the inside and outside of the main body case 1 is provided at the bottom of the main body case 1 to reduce retention of the leaked refrigerant in the event of a refrigerant leak.

[0046] With this configuration, since the refrigerant is heavier than air and tends to accumulate downward, providing communication passage 29 below main body case 1 allows the refrigerant to flow out of main body case 1 through communication passage 29, thereby reducing the concentration inside main body case 1. As a result, a dehumidifier can be provided that reduces the possibility of an ignition source encountering the flammable range of leaked refrigerant.

[0047] An outline of one aspect of the present disclosure is as follows. [Item 1] a refrigeration cycle (3) including a compressor (7), a condenser (8), an expander (9), and an evaporator (10) connected in series in a ring shape within a main body case (1) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (4), and using a flammable refrigerant with a global warming potential of 10 or less; a blower (6) acting on the refrigeration cycle (3); a control unit (46) that controls the refrigeration cycle (3) and the blower unit (6); Equipped with A dehumidifier (100) having a communication passage (29) provided at the bottom of the main body case (1) for communicating between the inside and outside of the main body case (1) in order to reduce accumulation of the leaked refrigerant in the event of a refrigerant leak.

[0048] [Item 2] Item 1. The dehumidifier (100) according to item 1, wherein the communication passage (29) is provided in the bottom (26) of the main body case (1) below the connecting portions (77, 78) of the refrigeration cycle (3).

[0049] [Item 3] Item 1. The dehumidifier (100) according to item 1, wherein the communication passage (29) is provided below the compressor (7).

[0050] [Item 4] Item 1. The dehumidifier (100) according to item 1, wherein the communication passage (29) is provided below a water storage tank (13) for storing condensation water.

[0051] [Item 5] The system includes a drain pan (12) for receiving condensed water dripping from the evaporator (10), and a drain section (15) for sending the condensed water from the drain pan (12) to a water storage tank (13), Item 5. The dehumidifier (100) according to item 4, wherein a refrigerant sensor (75) capable of detecting a refrigerant is provided near the drain portion (15).

[0052] [Item 6] A refrigerant sensor (75) capable of detecting a refrigerant is provided. Item 1. The dehumidifier (100) according to item 1, wherein, when the refrigerant sensor (75) detects a refrigerant leak, the dehumidifier (100) issues an alarm about the refrigerant leak and operates the blower.

[0053] The present disclosure has been described above based on examples. These examples are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component or each treatment process, and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0054] In the description of the embodiment, an example in which the suction port 2 is provided on the front surface 22 of the main body case 1 has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the suction port 2 may be provided on the side surface 21 of the main body case 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] REFRIGERATION CYCLE, 4 OUTLET, 5 DEHUMIDIFIER, 6 AIR SUPPLY, 7 COMPRESSOR, 8 CONDENSER, 9 EXPANSION DEVICE, 10 EVAPORATOR, 12 DRAIN PAN, 13 WATER TANK, 15 DRAIN PORTION, 21 SIDE PORTION, 22 FRONT PORTION, 24 REAR PORTION, 25 CONTROL PORTION, 26 BOTTOM PORTION, 29, 29B, 29C, 29D COMMUNICATION PATH, 31 LOUVER, 34 AIR PATH, 35 FIRST AIR PATH, 46 CONTROL PART, 47 CONTROL CLOSED SPACE PORTION, 48 CONTROL BOARD PORTION, 67 AIR SUPPLY, 68 OUTLET, 71 OUTLET PORTION, 72 SUPPLY PORTION, 73 CONNECTION PORTION, 75 REFRIGERATOR SENSOR, 77 FIRST CONNECTION PORTION, 78 Second connecting portion, 81 discharge refrigerant piping, 82, 83 refrigerant piping, 84 suction refrigerant piping, 85, 86 heat transfer tubes, 100 dehumidifier.

Claims

1. a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator connected in sequence in a ring shape within a main body case having an inlet and an outlet, and using a flammable refrigerant with a global warming potential of 10 or less; a blower section acting on the refrigeration cycle; a control unit that controls the refrigeration cycle and the blower unit; Equipped with The dehumidifier has a communication passage provided at the bottom of the main body case that connects the inside and outside of the main body case to reduce accumulation of leaked refrigerant in the event of a leak.

2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the communication passage is provided below a connection portion of the refrigeration cycle and on a bottom surface of the main body case.

3. The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the communication passage is provided below the compressor.

4. The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the communication passage is provided below a water storage tank for storing condensation water.

5. a drain pan that receives condensed water dripping from the evaporator; and a drain section that sends the condensed water from the drain pan to the water storage tank. The dehumidifier according to claim 4 , further comprising a refrigerant sensor capable of detecting the refrigerant provided near the drain portion.

6. A refrigerant sensor capable of detecting a refrigerant is provided.

2. The dehumidifier according to claim 1, wherein when the refrigerant sensor detects a refrigerant leak, the dehumidifier notifies the user of the refrigerant leak and operates the blower unit.

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