Dehumidification apparatus

Abstract

To provide a dehumidification apparatus that can reduce risk that water may leak out of a main body case.SOLUTION: In a dehumidification apparatus, a heat absorber 10, a heat exchanger 11, a heat radiator 8, and an air blower 6 are arranged, in parallel in a first direction which is a horizontal direction, in a main body case 1. A water collection part 12 that receives dew condensation water, a heat absorber clearance 15 formed between an inner surface of the main body case 1 at the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction and the heat absorber 10, an upper surface portion 41 extending from an upper side of the heat absorber 10 toward the inner surface of the main body case at the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction, and a protrusion portion 43 extending from the inner surface of the main body case at the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction toward the heat absorber clearance 15 are provided below the heat exchanger 11 and the heat absorber 10. The water collection part 12 extends from a lower side of the heat absorber 10 toward the inner surface of the main body case 1 at the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction. A tip of the protrusion portion 43 is positioned between the upper surface portion 41 and the water collection part 12. Dew condensation water dripping from the upper surface portion 41 is guided to the water collection part 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] There is known a dehumidifier that is used in a living space to reduce humidity in the living space, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a dehumidifier that includes a dehumidifying section that is configured with a heat exchanger and a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a radiator, an expander, and a heat absorber are sequentially connected in a ring shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-116580 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Dehumidifiers used in living spaces to reduce humidity are known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a dehumidifier equipped with a dehumidifying unit configured with a heat exchanger and a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a radiator, an expander, and a heat absorber are sequentially connected in a ring. The dehumidifier includes a main body case having an air inlet and an air outlet. The main body case is arranged with a heat absorber, a heat exchanger, a radiator, and a blower aligned in a first horizontal direction. The dehumidifier has a first dehumidification path through which a first portion of the intake air drawn into the main body case through the air inlet by the action of the blower is blown out of the main body case through the air outlet via the heat absorber, a first passage of the heat exchanger, and the radiator. The dehumidifier also has a second dehumidification path through which a second portion of the intake air is blown out of the main body case through the air outlet via the second passage of the heat exchanger and the radiator. A water collection section is provided below the heat exchanger and the heat absorber to temporarily collect condensation water that condenses on the heat exchanger and the heat absorber.

[0005] Condensation is likely to occur on the outer wall of the resin part that covers the heat exchanger. Condensation tends to accumulate especially on the top surface, and depending on the installation conditions of the product, the condensed water may not be collected in the drain pan or tank, resulting in the risk of water leaking out of the main body case.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a dehumidifier that reduces the risk of water leakage outside the main body case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a dehumidifier according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a main body case having an air intake port and an air outlet port, and a heat absorber, a heat exchanger, a radiator, and a blower arranged in the main body case in a first direction that is horizontal, and a first dehumidification path that blows a first portion of the intake air drawn into the main body case from the air intake port through the heat absorber, a first passage of the heat exchanger, and the radiator to the outside of the main body case through the air outlet port, a second dehumidification path that blows a second portion of the intake air through a second passage of the heat exchanger and the radiator to the outside of the main body case through the air outlet port, and a second dehumidification path that blows a second portion of the intake air through the heat exchanger, a second passage of the heat exchanger, and the radiator to the outside of the main body case through the air outlet port, and a first dehumidification path that blows a second portion of the intake air through the heat exchanger, a second passage of the heat exchanger, ... first dehumidification path that blows a second portion of the intake air through the a heat absorber gap provided below the heat absorber between the heat absorber and an inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction; an upper surface portion extending a predetermined distance from above the heat absorber toward the inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction; and a protrusion portion extending from the inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction into the heat absorber gap, the water collecting portion extending from below the heat absorber toward the inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction, and a tip of the protrusion portion being located between the upper surface portion and the water collecting portion, The condensation water dripping from the portion is guided to the water collection portion, thereby achieving the intended purpose. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a dehumidifier that reduces the risk of water leaking outside the main body case. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a dehumidifying device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the dehumidifying device. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an air passage of the dehumidifier; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic view of the air flow in the dehumidifier. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inside of the dehumidifying device. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the dehumidifying device. 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. [Example] The schematic configuration of a dehumidifier 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the dehumidifier 100 according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the cross section of the dehumidifier 100 taken along line AA in Figure 1.

[0012] 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 air inlet 2 and an air outlet 4.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the dehumidifier 100 includes a heat absorber 10, a heat exchanger 11, a radiator 8, and a blower 6. The heat absorber 10, the heat exchanger 11, the radiator 8, and the blower 6 are arranged in this order in the front-to-back direction (the direction from the front surface 22 to the rear surface 23, a first direction which is the horizontal direction) in the main body case 1. In this specification, the directions of the device are defined as the directions when the dehumidifier is installed in a normal operable state. In the dehumidifier 100, the side on which the heat absorber 10 is arranged with respect to the radiator 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-back direction is referred to as the left-to-right direction.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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 part that forms the front outer surface is referred to as the "front surface," the part that forms the outer surface opposite the front surface is referred to as the "rear surface," the parts that form the left and right outer surfaces are referred to as the "side surfaces," and the part that forms the upper outer surface is referred to as the "top surface."

[0016] An operation unit 25 is provided on the front side of the top surface of the main body case 1 for, for example, receiving input from the user and displaying information about the dehumidifier such as the operating mode and current humidity to the user. In the front-to-rear direction, a heat absorber gap 15 is provided between the heat absorber 10 and the front surface 22, and a heat radiator gap 19 is provided between the heat radiator 8 and the heat exchanger 11.

[0017] In the embodiment, the air inlet 2 is arranged on the side surface 21 of the main body case 1. The air inlet 2 is a rectangular opening in the side surface 21 of the main body case 1 that draws in air from a direction perpendicular to the side surface 21, 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.

[0018] Blower 6 includes motor 32 and fan 33 connected to the rotating shaft of motor 32 for drawing in and exhausting air. Blower 6 has air intake port 68, which is an opening provided on the surface facing radiator 8. Blower 6 draws in air that has passed through dehumidifier 5 through air intake port 68 and blows it out of blower 6. In this way, blower 6 draws in air outside main body case 1 through air intake port 2, passes it through dehumidifier 5, and then blows it out of main body case 1 through air outlet 4. The passage for this air is air passage 34.

[0019] If the air inlet 2 is located on the opposite side of the heat absorber 10 from the air inlet 68 of the blower 6, the air from the first portion 61 will be biased toward the center of the heat absorber 10, making it difficult for condensation to form around the heat absorber 10 and the radiator 8, and reducing dehumidification capacity. For this reason, the air inlet 2 is provided on each of the two side surface portions 21 on the left and right of the main body case 1. In this case, the bias in the air flowing into the heat absorber 10 is evened out, and by directing the air over the entire heat absorber 10, the condensation area is increased, thereby improving dehumidification capacity.

[0020] 2, an air passage 34, a blower 6, and a dehumidifying section 5 are arranged inside the main body case 1 of the dehumidifier 100. The air passage 34 communicates with the air inlet 2 and the air outlet 4, and by the action of the blower 6, intake air 60 is drawn into the main body case 1 from the air inlet 2, passes through the air passage 34, and is blown out from the air outlet 4.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the air passage 34 of the dehumidifier 100. Intake air 60 is divided into a first portion 61, a second portion 62, and a third portion 63, each of which is part of the intake air 60, within the main body case 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the flows of the first portion 61, the second portion 62, and the third portion 63 superimposed on a cross-sectional view.

[0022] In this embodiment, air passage 34 is made up of a plurality of dehumidification paths, namely, first dehumidification path 51, second dehumidification path 52, and third dehumidification path 53. The air flow path of first dehumidification path 51 is referred to as first air path 71, the air flow path of second dehumidification path 52 is referred to as second air path 72, and the air flow path of third dehumidification path 53 is referred to as third bypass air path 73. In other words, air passage 34 can be said to be made up of first air path 71, second air path 72, and third bypass air path 73.

[0023] The dehumidifying section 5 is configured with a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor 7, a radiator 8, an expander 9, and a heat absorber 10 are connected in this order in a ring shape. For example, an alternative refrigerant (HFC134a) is used as the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant pushed out from the compressor 7 flows from top to bottom inside the radiator 8 through the refrigerant pipe 80. Therefore, the temperature becomes higher the further up the radiator 8 goes. The refrigerant pushed out from the heater 8 is supplied to the heat absorber 10 via the expander 9. The refrigerant supplied to the heat absorber 10 flows from bottom to top inside the heat absorber 10 and flows into the compressor 7 through the refrigerant pipe 83. The refrigeration cycle is well known, so a detailed description will be omitted.

[0024] Within the main body case 1, a heat absorber 10 is provided on the air inlet 2 side, which is the upstream side of the air flow in the air passage 34, and a heat radiator 8 is provided on the air outlet 4 side, which is the downstream side of the air flow in the air passage 34. A sensible heat type heat exchanger 11 is disposed in the space provided between the heat absorber 10 and the heat radiator 8. In other words, the heat absorber 10, heat exchanger 11, and radiator 8 are disposed in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air flow in the air passage 34.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 11 has a horizontal first passage 17 through which a first portion 61 of the intake air 60 passes, and a vertical second passage 18 through which a second portion 62 of the intake air 60 passes. The first passage 17 and the second passage 18 are air passage spaces independent of each other. There are no limitations on the configuration or shape of the heat exchanger 11. As an example, the heat exchanger 11 is formed by stacking a plurality of resin plates (not shown) so that the first passage 17 and the second passage 18 are formed therebetween. The heat exchanger 11 is configured to be able to exchange heat between the first portion 61 passing through the first passage 17 and the second portion 62 passing through the second passage 18. As an example, the heat exchanger 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0026] A first portion 61 of the intake air 60 passes through the heat absorber 10, the first passage 17 of the heat exchanger 11, the radiator 8, and the blower 6, and is then blown out of the main body case 1 from the air outlet 4. The flow path of this first portion 61 is the above-mentioned first air passage 71. A second portion 62 of the intake air 60 passes through the second passage 18 of the heat exchanger 11, the radiator 8, and the blower 6, and is then blown out of the main body case 1 from the air outlet 4. The path of this second portion 62 is the above-mentioned second air passage 72.

[0027] The first portion 61 is first cooled by the heat absorber 10. At this time, condensation occurs on the first portion 61, generating condensed water. The condensed water drips downward and is collected in a funnel-shaped water collection section 12 located below the heat absorber 10 and the heat exchanger 11. In other words, the water collection section 12 temporarily receives the condensed water that has condensed on the heat absorber and the heat exchanger, and the condensed water collected in the water collection section 12 flows into a water collection tank 13 located below the water collection section 12. The water collection tank 13 can be easily attached and detached from the main body case 1.

[0028] Due to heat exchange, the cooled first portion 61 flowing through the first passage 18 lowers the temperature of the second portion 62 flowing through the second passage 18. As a result, condensation also occurs in the second portion 62 that has not passed through the heat absorber 10, generating condensed water. The condensed water drips downward from the second passage 18, is collected in the funnel-shaped water collecting portion 12, and flows into the water collecting tank 13.

[0029] In the embodiment, the heat exchanger 11 is configured such that the airflow resistance of the second passage 18 is greater than the airflow resistance of the first passage 17. As a result, the amount of the second portion 62 flowing through the second passage 18 is less than the amount of the first portion 61 flowing through the first passage.

[0030] The dried first portion 61 after condensation is blown out of the main body case 1 through the air outlet 4. The dried second portion 62 after condensation is blown out of the main body case 1 through the air outlet 4 from the heat exchanger 11 via the radiator 8 and the blower 6. In this way, the dehumidifier 100 reduces the humidity in the surrounding space.

[0031] The operation of the dehumidifier 100 configured as above will now be described. When the blower 6 is activated, intake air 60 is drawn into the main body case 1 through the air inlet 2 provided in the side surface portion 21. The intake air 60 is divided into a first portion 61, a second portion 62, and a third portion 63. The first portion 61 flows into the radiator 8 through the heat absorber 10 and the first passage 17 of the heat exchanger 11, and the heat is radiated. The second portion 62 flows into the radiator 8 through the second passage 18 of the heat exchanger 11 and cools the radiator 8.

[0032] The third portion 63 flows into the heat radiator 8 through a third bypass air passage 73 that bypasses the heat absorber 10 and the heat exchanger 11, and cools the heat radiator 8. After cooling the heat radiator 8, the first portion 61, the second portion 62, and the third portion 63 are blown out of the main body case 1 from the air outlet 4 via the blower 6.

[0033] The first portion 61 and the second portion 62 of the intake air 60 are cooled by the heat absorber 10 and the heat exchanger 11 of the refrigeration cycle, and condensation occurs, causing the air to dry. The dried first portion 61 and the second portion 62 are blown out from the air outlet 4, thereby reducing the humidity in the space around the dehumidifier 100.

[0034] Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the inside of the dehumidifier, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the dehumidifier as seen from the side.

[0035] 5 and 6, the main body case has an upper surface portion 41 extending a predetermined distance from above the heat absorber 10 toward the front surface portion 22 of the main body case 1 (the inner surface of the main body case 1 on the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction), and a plurality of side surface portions 42 extending a predetermined distance from the left and right side surfaces of the heat absorber 10 toward the front surface portion 22 of the main body case 1 (the inner surface of the main body case 1 on the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction). The upper surface portion 41 and the plurality of side surface portions 42 are integrally formed.

[0036] The water collecting portion 12 extends from below the heat absorber 10 toward the front portion 22 of the main body case 1 (the inner surface of the main body case 1 on the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction). There is a slight gap between the upper surface portion 41 and the water collecting portion 12 and the front portion 22 of the main body case 1 (the inner surface of the main body case 1 on the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction).

[0037] The front surface 22 of the main body case 1 (the inner surface of the main body case 1 on the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction) and the heat absorber 10 are arranged at a predetermined distance in the front-to-rear direction of the main body case 1. A heat absorber gap 15, which is a space, is provided between the front surface 22 of the main body case 1 (the inner surface of the main body case 1 on the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction) and the heat absorber 10.

[0038] The main body case 1 has a protrusion 43 that extends from the inner surface of the front surface 22 of the main body case 1 (the inner surface of the main body case 1 on the heat absorber 10 side in the first direction) toward the heat absorber 10 and the heat absorber gap 15. The protrusion 43 is in the shape of a horizontally long plate, with both short sides extending in the front-to-rear direction of the main body case 1, one long side being fixed to the front surface 22 of the main body case 1, and the other long side being provided on the heat absorber 10 side. The tip of the protrusion 43 is located between the top surface portion 41 and the water collecting portion 12, and the tip (one long side) of the protrusion 43 protrudes toward the heat absorber 10 beyond the tips of the top surface portion 41 and the water collecting portion 12.

[0039] As a result, condensation water that has condensed on the upper surface of upper surface portion 41 drips from between upper surface portion 41 and the inner surface of front surface portion 22 of main body case 1 onto protrusion 43 below. The condensation water that has dripped onto protrusion 43 drips from protrusion 43 into water collection portion 12. As a result, protrusion 43 guides the condensation water that has accumulated on upper surface portion 41 to water collection portion 12.

[0040] The top surface portion has a first top surface 44 and a second top surface 45 arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the main body case (a second direction that is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first direction). The first top surface 44 slopes downward toward the second top surface 45, and the second top surface 45 slopes downward toward the first top surface 44. In other words, when viewed from the front surface 22 side of the main body case 1, the first top surface 44 and the second top surface 45 form a V-shape.

[0041] As a result, condensation water that condenses on the upper surface of the upper surface portion 41 tends to accumulate between the first upper surface 44 and the second upper surface 45, and tends to drip from between the upper surface portion 41 and the inner surface of the front surface portion 22 of the main body case 1 onto the lower protrusion portion 43.

[0042] Moreover, the first upper surface 44 and the second upper surface 45 are inclined downward from above the heat absorber 10 toward the front surface 22. This makes it easier for condensation water accumulated between the first upper surface 44 and the second upper surface 45 to drip from between the upper surface portion 41 and the inner surface of the front surface 22 of the main body case 1 onto the protrusion 43 below.

[0043] An opening 46 is provided between the first top surface 44 and the second top surface 45. The opening 46 is provided at the end of the top surface portion 41 on the front surface 22 side of the main body case 1. This further makes it easier for condensation water that accumulates between the first top surface 44 and the second top surface 45 to drip from between the top surface portion 41 and the inner surface of the front surface 22 of the main body case 1 onto the protrusion 43 below. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] It is expected to be used as a dehumidifier to remove humidity from the air in homes, offices, and other spaces. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 Main unit case 2 Air intake 4 Air outlet 5 Dehumidification section 6. Blower 7 Compressor 8 Heat sink 9. Expander 10 Heat absorber 11 Heat exchanger 12 Water catchment area 13 Water collection tank 15 Heat sink gap 17 1st aisle 18 2nd aisle 19 Heat sink gap 21 Side part 22 Front part 23 Rear part 25 Control section 31 Louver 32 motor 33 Fans 34 Air passage 41 Top part 42 Side part 43 Protrusion 44 1st top surface 45 2nd top surface 46 Aperture 51 First dehumidification route 52 Second dehumidification route 53 Third dehumidification route 60 Intake air 61 Part 1 62 Part 2 63 Part 3 68 Air intake 71 1st wind path 72 2nd wind path 73 Third bypass air duct 80 Refrigerant piping 83 Refrigerant piping 100 Dehumidifier

Claims

1. a main body case having an air inlet and an air outlet, The main body case includes a heat absorber, a heat exchanger, a radiator, and a fan arranged in a first direction, which is a horizontal direction; a first dehumidifying path that blows a first portion of the intake air drawn into the main body case through the air intake port by the action of the blower, through the heat absorber, the first passage of the heat exchanger, and the radiator, to the outside of the main body case through the air outlet; a second dehumidifying path that blows a second portion of the intake air out of the main body case through the air outlet via a second passage of the heat exchanger and the radiator; a water collecting section below the heat exchanger and the heat absorber that temporarily receives condensed water formed on the heat exchanger and the heat absorber; a heat absorber gap provided between the heat absorber and an inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction; an upper surface portion extending a predetermined distance from above the heat absorber toward an inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction; a protrusion extending from an inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction to the heat absorber gap, the water collecting portion extends from below the heat absorber to an inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction, The tip of the protrusion is located between the upper surface portion and the water collecting portion, and guides condensation water dripping from the upper surface portion to the water collecting portion.

2. the upper surface portion has a first upper surface and a second upper surface arranged side by side in a second direction which is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first upper surface is inclined downward toward the second upper surface, The dehumidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the second upper surface is inclined downward toward the first upper surface.

3. The dehumidifier according to claim 2 , wherein the first upper surface and the second upper surface are inclined downward from above the heat absorber toward an inner surface of the main body case on the heat absorber side in the first direction.

4. an opening is provided between the first upper surface and the second upper surface; The dehumidifier according to claim 3 , wherein the opening is provided at an end of the top surface portion on an inner surface side of the main body case that is closer to the heat absorber in the first direction.

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