Portable air conditioner, method for evaluating performance of portable air conditioner, and protective clothing

Abstract

To exhibit excellent cooling capacity by using water and electricity for an energy source of cooling by a thermoelectric element, and to provide a cooling environment obtained by the thermoelectric element over a wide range, with a simple structure.SOLUTION: The portable air conditioner 1 of the present disclosure is a device that uses latent heat of evaporation of water in cooling by a Peltier device 2 that generates a temperature difference according to supplied power. The portable air conditioner 1 includes a heat transfer member 3 arranged in contact with the Peltier element 2, an air blowing means 4 for sending air to the heat transfer member 3, and a water supply means 5 for supplying water to the heat transfer member 3. The heat transfer member 3 can be configured to include a heat absorption heat sink 31 disposed in contact with a low-temperature side surface and a heat dissipation heat sink 32 disposed in contact with a high-temperature side surface with respect to a pair of surfaces of the Peltier device 2 between which a temperature difference occurs according to the supplied power.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable air conditioner that utilizes the latent heat of evaporation of water for cooling using a thermoelectric element that generates a temperature difference according to the supplied power, as well as to a protective suit equipped with the same and a method for evaluating the performance of the portable air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, wearable air conditioners have been attracting attention as air conditioning devices that can provide air conditioning tailored to each individual. It is known that wearable air conditioners use Peltier elements embedded in clothing, for example.

[0003] Furthermore, technology has been developed for wearable air conditioners that use Peltier elements to cool or warm the entire body or specific parts of the body with a gentle temperature gradient.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electronically cooled and heated garment equipped with a Peltier element and a heat medium containing bag. In this technology, a Peltier element is attached to a heat medium containing bag provided with a flow path for circulating the heat medium. The heat medium cooled or heated by the Peltier element circulates through the flow path by natural convection, and heat is transferred to the body via the heat medium containing bag. This reduces the temperature difference between the area where the Peltier element is located and the area where it is not, allowing the body to be cooled or heated with a gentle temperature gradient over a relatively wide area. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-025052 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Conventionally, wearable air conditioners have widely used blower devices that use a small, portable fan to blow air toward the user. However, because such blower devices take in ambient air and blow it toward the user, the air blown toward the user tends to be warm in the summer. This can result in a situation where users who desire cool air cannot obtain sufficient comfort.

[0007] On the other hand, using Peltier elements in wearable air conditioners can provide a cooling environment that corresponds to the supplied power. According to the technology described in Patent Document 1, in electronically cooled and heated clothing, heat is transferred to the body through a heat medium containing bag equipped with a Peltier element, which appears to reduce the temperature difference in contact with the body compared to localized heat transfer using a Peltier element embedded in the clothing fabric. However, because Peltier elements are thermoelectric elements that generate a temperature difference depending on the supplied power, sufficient cooling performance may not be achieved with power supplied only from a portable power source. Furthermore, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, the range of cooling that can be provided may be limited depending on the size of the heat medium containing bag. Furthermore, such skin-contact wearable air conditioners transfer heat by directly contacting the user's skin, which can cause discomfort to the user.

[0008] The object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can achieve excellent cooling capacity by using water and electricity as the energy source for cooling using a thermoelectric element, and can provide the cooling environment obtained by the thermoelectric element over a wide area with a simple structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The portable air conditioner disclosed herein utilizes the latent heat of vaporization of water for cooling using a thermoelectric element that generates a temperature difference in response to supplied power. The portable air conditioner includes a heat transfer member arranged in contact with the thermoelectric element, an air blower that sends air to the heat transfer member, and a water supplying means that supplies water to the heat transfer member. The heat transfer member may include a heat-absorbing heat sink arranged in contact with the lower-temperature side of a pair of surfaces of the thermoelectric element that generate a temperature difference in response to supplied power, and a heat-dissipating heat sink arranged in contact with the higher-temperature side. The air blower may include a cooling air pump that pressurizes air to the heat-absorbing heat sink and a heat-dissipating fan that sends air to the heat-dissipating heat sink.

[0010] In the portable air conditioner described above, supplying water from the water supply means to the heat dissipation heat sink enhances the heat dissipation capacity of the high-temperature side of the thermoelectric element, thereby significantly improving the cooling performance of the thermoelectric element. Furthermore, when a heat dissipation fan is used to send air to the heat dissipation heat sink, warm exhaust air is generated that passes through the heat dissipation heat sink, which can cause a loss of user comfort. In contrast, with the above configuration, supplying water from the water supply means to the heat dissipation heat sink cools the thermoelectric element as well as the exhaust air, significantly reducing the temperature of the exhaust air that passes through the heat dissipation heat sink, thereby preventing a loss of user comfort. The portable air conditioner may further include an air flow path extending from the discharge portion of the cooling air pump, and the air flow path may encompass the heat absorption heat sink, allowing the cooling air cooled by the heat absorption heat sink to be blown out from the outlet portion of the air flow path. In this case, the excellent cooling environment created by the enhanced heat dissipation capacity of the high-temperature side of the thermoelectric element is transmitted to the heat-absorbing heat sink, and by arranging the heat-absorbing heat sink in an air flow path with a closed path from the inlet to the outlet and circulating air pressurized by a cooling air pump through the air flow path, the above-mentioned excellent cooling environment can be provided to the user over a wide area by the cooling air blown from the outlet of the air flow path. Thus, according to the present disclosure, not only can a cooling environment be quickly created by the thermoelectric element, but also a cooling environment that cannot be achieved by power supply alone from a portable power source can be provided.

[0011] In the portable air conditioner disclosed herein, the water supply means may include a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the heat dissipation heat sink, and a water absorption section for sucking water from the water tank and directing it to the heat dissipation heat sink. In this case, the water absorption section may be made of capillary material. Furthermore, the water absorption section may be made of cotton thread, and the cotton thread may be arranged in contact with and sandwiched between multiple fins of the heat dissipation heat sink. This minimizes manufacturing costs while maintaining water absorption. Furthermore, despite the simple structure of cotton thread, it is possible to easily supply water sucked from the water tank to a wide area of ​​the heat dissipation surface of the heat dissipation heat sink. The water tank may also be made of a bag. This allows the water tank to be soft when in contact with the user's body when using the portable air conditioner, thereby not impairing the user's comfort.

[0012] Such a portable air conditioner may further include an air flow path extending from the discharge portion of the cooling air pump, and the water tank may include a first water tank arranged below the heat-dissipating heat sink and a second water tank arranged below the heat-absorbing heat sink, and the first water tank and the second water tank may be separated by a partition wall, and the partition wall may have a flow path connecting the first water tank and the second water tank, the flow path being formed with a through passage that is located at a position lower than the water level of the water stored in the first water tank and the second water tank, and the air flow path may encompass the heat-absorbing heat sink, so that cooling air cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink is blown out from the outlet portion of the air flow path, and the air flow path may be connected to the second water tank, so that condensation water generated by the heat-absorbing heat sink is collected in the second water tank and supplied to the first water tank via the through passage. According to this, moisture contained in the air pumped from the cooling air pump can be supplied to the first water tank, and the moisture can be used to promote heat dissipation from the heat dissipation heat sink.

[0013] The present disclosure also provides protective clothing equipped with a portable air conditioning device, the clothing comprising a wearable garment portion. The garment portion is configured to encase and seal a wearer's body to protect the wearer from the effects of the external environment, the air flow path being disposed in an enclosed space enclosed by the garment portion, and the heat dissipation heat sink being disposed outside the enclosed space. This allows cool, dry air to be supplied to the protective clothing, thereby improving the thermal environment inside the protective clothing. In this case, the water supply means may include a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the heat dissipation heat sink and a water absorption portion for suctioning water from the water tank and directing it to the heat dissipation heat sink. Condensation generated by the heat absorption heat sink included in the air flow path may be supplied to the water tank, and the condensation water may be evaporated in the heat dissipation heat sink, thereby dehumidifying the enclosed space enclosed by the garment portion. In this case, the condensation water generated when the moist air inside the protective suit is cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink can be circulated and evaporated in the heat-dissipating heat sink, which not only allows the protective suit to be dehumidified effectively, but also allows the portable air conditioner to operate without supplying water from outside.

[0014] The present disclosure also provides a method for evaluating the performance of a portable air conditioner, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring a first power, defined as the power required when the thermoelectric element of the portable air conditioner cools without using the latent heat of vaporization of water, and storing the low-temperature side temperature when the power supplied to the thermoelectric element is the first power, acquiring a second power, defined as the power required when the thermoelectric element of the portable air conditioner cools using the latent heat of vaporization of water and the low-temperature side temperature when the power supplied to the thermoelectric element is the first temperature, and dividing the first power by the second power to calculate a performance index of the portable air conditioner. This method allows the performance of a portable air conditioner that uses the latent heat of vaporization of water to be evaluated effectively. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve excellent cooling capacity by using water and electricity as the energy source for cooling by a thermoelectric element, and to provide the cooling environment obtained by the thermoelectric element over a wide area with a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a portable air conditioner according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining details of each component of the portable air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of a portable air conditioner performance evaluation method in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a comparison of the transition of the temperature on the low-temperature side of the Peltier element, which changes depending on the supplied power, between when the latent heat of vaporization of water is used and when it is not used. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a protective suit equipped with a portable air conditioner according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments.

[0018] First Embodiment An overview of a portable air conditioner in a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a portable air conditioner in this embodiment. Portable air conditioner 1 in this embodiment is a device that uses the latent heat of evaporation of water for cooling using a Peltier element 2 that generates a temperature difference according to the supplied power.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the portable air conditioner 1 includes a heat transfer member 3 arranged in contact with a Peltier element 2, an air blowing means 4 for blowing air to the heat transfer member 3, and a water supplying means 5 for supplying water to the heat transfer member 3.

[0020] The details of each component of the portable air conditioner 1 configured as above will now be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the details of each component of the portable air conditioner 1 in this embodiment.

[0021] The heat transfer member 3 is configured to include a heat absorbing heat sink 31 arranged in contact with the lower temperature side of a pair of surfaces of the Peltier element 2, where a temperature difference occurs depending on the power supplied, and a heat dissipating heat sink 32 arranged in contact with the higher temperature side. These heat sinks are formed with a large number of fins using a material such as Al (aluminum) or an Al alloy. Thermally conductive grease may be applied to the contact surfaces between these heat sinks and the Peltier element 2.

[0022] The air blowing means 4 includes a cooling air pump 41 that sends air under pressure to the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 , and a heat-dissipating fan 42 that sends air to the heat-dissipating heat sink 32 .

[0023] An air flow path 6 is formed at the discharge portion of the cooled air pump 41. This air flow path 6 is configured to send cooled air cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 to the user of the portable air conditioner 1, and as the air flow path 6 encompasses the heat-absorbing heat sink 31, the cooled air cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 is sent from the outlet portion 6a of the air flow path 6.

[0024] The water supply means 5 includes a water tank 50 that stores water to be supplied to the heat dissipation heat sink 32 , and a water absorption section 500 that sucks up water from the water tank 50 and guides it to the heat dissipation heat sink 32 .

[0025] The water absorption section 500 is made of a capillary material. Here, the capillary material is a material that generates capillary action, which draws up water from the water tank 50, and is, for example, a porous material or a nanomaterial. As a result, the water in the water tank 50 is supplied to the heat dissipation heat sink 32 via the capillary material. The water absorption section 500 may also be formed integrally with the heat dissipation heat sink 32. In this case, for example, by using metal nanopowder made by nanoparticleizing aluminum oxide and bonding the particles together by sintering, the heat dissipation heat sink 32 and the water absorption section 500 can be formed integrally as a heat sink that is capable of generating capillary action.

[0026] In the portable air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment, the water absorption part 500 is made of cotton thread. This makes it possible to minimize manufacturing costs while maintaining water absorption. The cotton thread that constitutes the water absorption part 500 is arranged in contact with and sandwiched between multiple fins of the heat dissipation heat sink 32. This makes it possible to easily supply water drawn up from the water tub 50 to a wide area of ​​the heat dissipation surface of the heat dissipation heat sink 32, despite the simple structure of cotton thread.

[0027] The water tub 50 includes a first water tub 51 disposed below the heat-radiating heat sink 32 and a second water tub 52 disposed below the heat-absorbing heat sink 31. The water tub 50 may be formed of a bag. The bag may be, for example, a soft bag made of a material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyester, or an aluminum pouch made of aluminum. In this case, when the user uses the portable air conditioner 1, the water tub 50 provides a soft contact with the user's body, and the user's comfort is not impaired.

[0028] In the water tank 50, the first water tank 51 and the second water tank 52 are separated by a partition wall 53. The partition wall 53 has a through passage 530 formed therein, which is a flow path connecting the first water tank 51 and the second water tank 52 and is located at a position lower than the water levels of the water stored in the first water tank 51 and the second water tank 52.

[0029] In the portable air conditioner 1 described above, as mentioned above, the cooling air cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 arranged in contact with the low-temperature side surface of the Peltier element 2 is blown out from the outlet portion 6a of the air flow path 6.

[0030] However, conventional wearable air conditioners using Peltier elements have not always been able to achieve sufficient cooling performance when powered solely by a portable power source. Peltier elements are thermoelectric elements that generate a temperature difference depending on the power supplied. For example, a voltage of 5V generates a temperature difference of approximately 20°C on both sides of the Peltier element. In this case, if the temperature on the high-temperature side of the Peltier element is 30°C, the temperature on the low-temperature side of the Peltier element will be 10°C. On the other hand, if the temperature on the high-temperature side of the Peltier element can be lowered to 25°C, the temperature on the low-temperature side of the Peltier element will be 5°C, making it possible to create an even better cooling environment using Peltier elements.

[0031] Therefore, in the portable air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment, the latent heat of evaporation of water is utilized for cooling by the Peltier element 2. Specifically, by supplying water from the water tank 50 to the heat-dissipating heat sink 32, the heat dissipation capacity of the high-temperature side of the Peltier element 2 is enhanced, thereby significantly improving the cooling performance of the Peltier element 2. The excellent cooling environment thus created is then transmitted to the heat-absorbing heat sink 31. The heat-absorbing heat sink 31 is disposed in the air flow path 6, which has a closed path from the inlet to the outlet, and air pumped by the cooling air pump 41 flows through the air flow path 6. This excellent cooling environment can be provided to the user over a wide area by the cooling air blown from the outlet 6a of the air flow path 6. In this way, the Peltier element 2 can not only rapidly create a cooling environment, but also provide a cooling environment that cannot be achieved by power supply alone from a portable power source.

[0032] Next, the flow of air and the flow of water in the portable air conditioner 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0033] 2, the discharge portion of the cooling air pump 41 is provided below the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 in the vertical direction, and the outlet portion 6a of the air flow path 6 is provided above the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 in the vertical direction, so that the air pumped by the cooling air pump 41 flows from below to above the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 in the air flow path 6. This makes it possible to cool the air over the entire area of ​​the heat-absorbing heat sink 31.

[0034] At this time, the air pumped from the cooling air pump 41 is cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink 31, causing moisture contained in the air to adhere to the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 as condensed water. As shown in FIG. 2, the air flow path 6 and the second water tank 52 are connected. This allows condensed water produced by the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 to be collected in the second water tank 52. More specifically, the condensed water adhering to the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 falls due to gravity, and the condensed water is collected in the second water tank 52 located below the heat-absorbing heat sink 31. This configuration in which the air and the condensed water flow in opposite directions makes it possible to blow dry cooling air from the outlet 6a of the air flow path 6.

[0035] Furthermore, as described above, the partition wall 53 separating the first water tank 51 and the second water tank 52 has a through-passage 530 formed at a position lower than the water level of the water stored in these tanks. The through-passage 530 may be formed, for example, at the bottom of the partition wall 53. As a result, the condensed water collected in the second water tank 52 as described above is supplied to the first water tank 51 through the through-passage 530. Specifically, the internal pressure of the air flow path 6 is increased by the air pumped by the cooling air pump 41, thereby pressing the water surface of the second water tank 52. At this time, the through-passage 530 is watertight. As a result, some of the water in the second water tank 52 moves to the first water tank 51 through the through-passage 530. This allows moisture contained in the air pumped by the cooling air pump 41 to be supplied to the first water tank 51, and the moisture can be used to promote heat dissipation from the heat-dissipating heat sink 32. Before using the portable air conditioner 1, water is poured into the first water tank 51 and the second water tank 52 using a syringe or the like.

[0036] In the heat dissipation heat sink 32, water sucked up from the first water tank 51 by the water absorption section 500 is quickly evaporated by the wind from the heat dissipation fan 42, thereby significantly improving the heat dissipation capacity of the heat dissipation heat sink 32. Furthermore, when air is sent to the heat dissipation heat sink using a heat dissipation fan, warm exhaust air is usually generated that passes through the heat dissipation heat sink, which can cause a situation where the user's comfort is impaired. In contrast, according to this embodiment, water sucked up from the first water tank 51 by the water absorption section 500 is supplied to the heat dissipation heat sink 32, thereby cooling the exhaust air as well as the Peltier element 2. This significantly reduces the temperature of the exhaust air that passes through the heat dissipation heat sink 32, thereby minimizing the situation where the user's comfort is impaired.

[0037] The portable air conditioner 1 described above may be provided with a mode switching function for switching between operation modes such as dehumidification mode, strong cooling mode, etc. Such a mode switching function can be realized by changing the power supplied to the cooling air pump 41 and controlling the flow rate of the air pumped from the cooling air pump 41.

[0038] Specifically, the dehumidification mode can be achieved by controlling the flow rate of air pumped from the cooling air pump 41 to be less than a predetermined low flow rate. Here, the predetermined low flow rate is, for example, 1.0 L / min, and the voltage supplied to the cooling air pump 41 is, for example, 0.2 to 0.3 V. In this dehumidification mode, the flow rate of the air passing through the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 is relatively slow. Therefore, most of the condensed water adhering to the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 due to condensation of moisture contained in the air pumped from the cooling air pump 41 remains liquid without evaporating, making it possible to reduce the relative humidity of the cooling air blown from the outlet 6a of the air flow path 6.

[0039] On the other hand, a strong cooling mode can be realized by controlling the flow rate of air pumped from cooling air pump 41 to be equal to or higher than a predetermined high flow rate. Here, the predetermined high flow rate is, for example, 4.0 L / min, and at this time, the voltage supplied to cooling air pump 41 is, for example, 3.7 V. In such a strong cooling mode, the flow rate of air passing through heat-absorbing heat sink 31 is relatively fast. Therefore, moisture contained in the air pumped from cooling air pump 41 does not condense, and as a result, it is possible to lower the temperature of the cooling air blown from outlet 6a of air flow path 6 without generating excess heat due to condensation.

[0040] Such a mode switching function can further enhance the feature of the portable air conditioner 1 that it can be easily personalized for each individual user.

[0041] Next, we will explain the performance evaluation of the portable air conditioner 1. Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the performance evaluation method for the portable air conditioner 1 in this embodiment, which can be executed by a predetermined computer.

[0042] 3, first, a step of acquiring a first power is executed (S101). Here, the first power is defined as the power required when the Peltier element 2 of the portable air conditioner 1 cools without using the latent heat of evaporation of water, and the low-temperature side temperature in the temperature difference that changes depending on the supplied power is the lowest temperature.

[0043] 4 is a diagram comparing the transition of the low-temperature side temperature of the Peltier element, which changes in response to the supplied power, between cases where the latent heat of vaporization of water is utilized and cases where it is not utilized. The case where the latent heat of vaporization of water is utilized refers to a case where water is supplied to the heat-dissipating heat sink 32 in the structure of the portable air conditioner 1 described above when the supply of water to the heat-dissipating heat sink 32 is saturated, that is, when the water absorption section 500 has absorbed water to a saturated state, and the case where the latent heat of vaporization of water is not utilized refers to a case where water is not supplied to the heat-dissipating heat sink 32. As shown in FIG. 4, when the latent heat of vaporization of water is utilized, the cooling performance is improved by about 5°C compared to when the latent heat of vaporization of water is not utilized.

[0044] 4 is approximately 5.8 W. The first temperature, which is defined as the temperature on the low-temperature side of the Peltier element 2 when the power supplied to the Peltier element 2 is the first power, is approximately 10°C.

[0045] 3, the step of acquiring the second power is then executed (S102). Here, the second power is defined as the power required when the Peltier element 2 of the portable air conditioner 1 uses the latent heat of evaporation of water for cooling, and the lower temperature in the temperature difference that changes depending on the supplied power becomes the first temperature.

[0046] In this case, the second power that can be obtained based on Fig. 4 is approximately 1.1 W. The first power and second power obtained in this manner may be input to a computer, or may be calculated based on the temperature transition shown in Fig. 4 above.

[0047] 3, a performance index calculation step is then executed (S103). In the process of S103, the performance index of the portable air conditioner 1 is calculated by dividing the first power by the second power. In this way, in the example shown in FIG. 4 above, the performance index of the portable air conditioner 1 is calculated to be approximately 5.3.

[0048] This performance index indicates that the higher the value, the less electricity is required to create a cooled environment, making it an ideal way to evaluate the performance of portable air conditioners that utilize the latent heat of evaporation of water.

[0049] The portable air conditioner 1 described above uses water and electricity as the energy source for cooling by the Peltier element 2, thereby achieving excellent cooling capacity, and providing the cooling environment obtained by the Peltier element 2 over a wide area, all with a simple structure.

[0050] Second Embodiment A protective suit equipped with a portable air conditioner in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining a protective suit 10 equipped with a portable air conditioner 1 in this embodiment.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the protective clothing 10 of this embodiment comprises a wearable clothing part 100, in which the portable air conditioner 1 described above in the first embodiment is placed.

[0052] 5(b), the air flow path 6 is arranged in the sealed space sealed by the garment part 100, and the heat dissipation heat sink 32 is arranged outside the sealed space. This allows cool, dry air to be supplied to the inside of the protective clothing 10, making it possible to improve the thermal environment inside the protective clothing 10.

[0053] At this time, condensation water generated by the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 included in the air flow path 6 is supplied to the water tank 50, and the condensation water is evaporated in the heat-dissipating heat sink 32, thereby effectively dehumidifying the enclosed space enclosed by the garment portion 100. In this case, the condensation water generated by the humid air inside the protective clothing 10 being cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink 31 can be circulated and evaporated in the heat-dissipating heat sink 32, which not only effectively dehumidifies the inside of the protective clothing 10 but also enables the portable air conditioner 1 to operate without an external water supply. More specifically, the humidity inside the protective clothing 10 is much higher than that of the air in a normal external environment due to significant sweating by the user and evaporation of that sweat. When the humid air inside the protective clothing 10 is cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink 31, a large amount of condensation water is generated, making it possible to operate the portable air conditioner 1 without an external water supply.

[0054] The protective clothing 10 described above can also achieve excellent cooling capacity by using water and electricity as the energy source for cooling by the Peltier element 2, and can provide the cooling environment obtained by the Peltier element 2 over a wide area with a simple structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1. Portable air conditioner 2. Peltier element 3. Heat transfer material 31. Heat-absorbing heat sink 32. Heat dissipation heat sink 4. Air blowing means 41 Cooling air pump 42 Heat dissipation fan 5...Water supply means 50...Aquarium 51····First Tank 52...Second tank 53...Bulkhead 530 Passage 500...Water absorption part 6. Air flow path

Claims

1. A portable air conditioner that utilizes the latent heat of evaporation of water for cooling using a thermoelectric element that generates a temperature difference according to the supplied power, a heat transfer member disposed in contact with the thermoelectric element; a blower for blowing air to the heat transfer member; a water supply means for supplying water to the heat transfer member; A portable air conditioning device comprising:

2. the heat transfer member is configured to include a heat absorbing heat sink arranged in contact with the low temperature side of a pair of surfaces of the thermoelectric element between which a temperature difference occurs in response to power supplied thereto, and a heat dissipating heat sink arranged in contact with the high temperature side of the pair of surfaces; The air blowing means includes a cooling air pump that pressurizes and sends air to the heat-absorbing heat sink, and a heat-dissipating fan that sends air to the heat-dissipating heat sink. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 .

3. an air flow path extending from the discharge portion of the cooling air pump; The air flow path includes the heat-absorbing heat sink, and the cooling air cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink is blown from the outlet of the air flow path.

3. The portable air conditioner of claim 2.

4. The water supply means includes a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the heat dissipation heat sink, and a water absorption section for sucking up water from the water tank and guiding it to the heat dissipation heat sink.

3. The portable air conditioner of claim 2.

5. The water absorption portion is made of a capillary material.

5. The portable air conditioner of claim 4.

6. The water absorption section is made of cotton thread, and the cotton thread is arranged in contact with and sandwiched between a plurality of fins of the heat dissipation heat sink.

6. The portable air conditioner of claim 5.

7. an air flow path extending from the discharge portion of the cooling air pump; the water tank includes a first water tank disposed below the heat dissipation heat sink and a second water tank disposed below the heat absorption heat sink, and the first water tank and the second water tank are separated by a partition wall; a passageway that connects the first water tank and the second water tank and is provided in the partition wall at a position lower than the water levels of the water stored in the first water tank and the second water tank; The air flow path includes the heat-absorbing heat sink, and the cooling air cooled by the heat-absorbing heat sink is blown out from the outlet of the air flow path. The air flow path is connected to the second water tank, and the condensed water generated by the heat-absorbing heat sink is collected in the second water tank and supplied to the first water tank through the through passage.

5. The portable air conditioner of claim 4.

8. The water tank is constituted by a bag body.

5. The portable air conditioner of claim 4.

9. A protective suit equipped with the portable air conditioning device according to claim 3, A wearable clothing portion is provided, The clothing part is configured to encase and seal the wearer's body to protect the wearer from the influence of the external environment, the air flow path is disposed in a sealed space sealed by the clothing part, and the heat dissipation heat sink is disposed outside the sealed space. Protective clothing equipped with portable air conditioning units.

10. the water supply means includes a water tank for storing water to be supplied to the heat dissipation heat sink, and a water absorption section for sucking up water from the water tank and guiding it to the heat dissipation heat sink; Condensation water generated by the heat-absorbing heat sink included in the air flow path is supplied to the water tank, and the condensation water is evaporated in the heat-dissipating heat sink, thereby dehumidifying the sealed space sealed by the clothing part. Protective clothing comprising the portable air conditioning device according to claim 9.

11. 2. A method for evaluating the performance of a portable air conditioner according to claim 1, comprising: The computer a step of acquiring a first power, which is defined as the power required when the low-temperature side temperature in the temperature difference that changes depending on the power supplied is the lowest temperature when cooling is performed without using the latent heat of evaporation of water in the thermoelectric element of the portable air conditioner, and storing the temperature of the low-temperature side when the power supplied to the thermoelectric element is the first power as a first temperature; acquiring a second power, which is defined as the power required when the low-temperature side temperature in a temperature difference that changes depending on the power supply becomes the first temperature, in the thermoelectric element of the portable air conditioner when cooling is performed using the latent heat of evaporation of water in a state where the supply of water to the heat transfer member is saturated; calculating a performance index for the portable air conditioner by dividing the first power by the second power; A method for evaluating the performance of a portable air conditioner.

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