Ducted air conditioning and ventilation system

Abstract

The objective is to provide a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system that does not require maintenance such as duct replacement or cleaning, as harmful substances such as dust, mold, and unpleasant odors do not adhere to or accumulate inside the air conditioning ducts, even when operated continuously for 24 hours over a long period of time. [Solution] Air outlets are provided in rooms and insulated spaces within a highly airtight and highly insulated building 2. An air conditioning unit 10 is connected to the air outlets by an air conditioning duct. The air conditioning duct is passed through the insulated space, and conditioned air is blown from the air conditioning unit 10 towards the air outlets, with the temperature of the surrounding air being within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating, thereby conditioned the rooms and insulated spaces. A filter is provided inside the air conditioning unit 10 to purify the air inside the building 2. An intake fan and filter are provided in the outdoor air intake path to purify the incoming outdoor air. An exhaust fan is provided in the indoor air exhaust path to discharge a portion of the air that has passed through the air conditioning duct and a portion of the air remaining inside the building 2 to the outside.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system that provides air conditioning and ventilation within a building using ducts. [Background technology]

[0002] Buildings are becoming increasingly airtight and well-insulated to achieve energy efficiency and comfortable living. In such residential and non-residential buildings, ducted air conditioning and ventilation systems are relatively common, which involve installing ducts throughout the building to distribute conditioned and ventilated air from air conditioners to rooms and spaces, ensuring thorough air conditioning and ventilation throughout the building. In ducted air conditioning and ventilation systems, conditioned and ventilated air is blown into rooms and other areas through ducts. Over time, dust from inside and outside the building, house dust, human and pet dander, mites, mite feces and carcasses, VOCs, mold, and other allergens accumulate inside the ducts. In particular, the inside of ducts has all the conditions for mold growth: "temperatures of around 5-40°C," "moisture due to high humidity of over 60%," and "nutrients such as accumulated dust and dirt." Due to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the duct, condensation forms on the accumulated dust and other materials inside the duct, as well as on the non-woven fabric and insulation of the duct, making it an ideal breeding ground for mold and mites. As conditioned air passes through this area, dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors can accumulate in the air. This can lead to health problems for those who inhale these contaminated air particles, such as respiratory illnesses, skin problems, and allergies, as well as discomfort due to the odors. Furthermore, if the ductwork has poor insulation and does not pass through an insulated space, condensation can form on the outer perimeter of the ductwork, wetting the wood or other materials beneath it, leading to mold growth, visible stains in living spaces, rot and structural damage, and even electrical short circuits if the condensation runs down to the power lines. The glass wool insulation inside the ductwork, due to its surface tension and capillary action, allows moisture to penetrate the gaps between its fibers. Even after drying, the fibers stick together, preventing them from retaining the large amount of air necessary for insulation. This reduces the insulation function, and once condensation occurs inside the ductwork, it becomes more prone to condensation, leading to poorer air conditioning performance and increased power consumption. Regarding condensation, for example, during cooling operation, when the air conditioner's compressor is running and the thermostat is ON, the cold blown air passes through the duct, cooling the inner surface of the duct to, for example, 10°C. When the thermostat is turned OFF, the compressor stops, and indoor air is drawn in. As the blown air, which has become high humidity due to the condensed water that has formed on the evaporator at the indoor air temperature, passes through the duct, condensation will form on the inner surface of the duct if the temperature and humidity of that air is 25°C and 80% (dew point temperature 21°C). Furthermore, if the duct does not pass through an insulated space within the house and the duct has poor insulation performance, in the summer, the temperature and humidity in that space will be close to the outside temperature. For example, if the outside temperature is 35°C, the space temperature is 30°C, and the relative humidity is 50% (dew point temperature 18.4°C), when the air conditioner is running, the cold blown air passes through the duct, and when the outer surface temperature of the duct falls below the dew point temperature, condensation will form on the outer surface of the duct. Furthermore, in winter, the temperature of the space is close to the outside temperature. For example, if the outside temperature is 0°C and the space temperature is 2°C, when the heating is running and the compressor is operating with the thermostat ON, the warm air blown out (temperature and humidity 50°C, 11% (dew point temperature 12°C)) passes through the duct, and when the temperature of the inner surface of the duct falls below the dew point temperature, condensation will form on the inner surface of the duct. Moreover, when the thermostat is turned OFF and the compressor stops, and indoor air is drawn in, the temperature and humidity of the indoor air passes through the duct, and when the temperature and humidity of that air is 20°C, 60% (dew point temperature 12°C) and the temperature of the inner surface of the duct falls below the dew point temperature, condensation will form on the inner surface of the duct. In winter, if the room is humidified with a humidifier to prevent excessive dryness, condensation will be even more likely to occur. Therefore, ducts need to be replaced or cleaned regularly, but typically the replacement and maintenance spaces are narrow, and it is necessary to remove the walls around the ducts, making it difficult even to confirm where the ducts run. Furthermore, cleaning is not possible due to the shape and structure of the ducts. For example, if there is non-woven fabric on the internal surface, dust, mites, mold, etc. will adhere to the non-woven fabric, and even specialized cleaning machines will not be able to remove them, and there is a risk of damaging the non-woven fabric. Consequently, even if cleaning or replacing the ducts is possible, it will be very time-consuming and costly. Moreover, if ducts are routed throughout the building to secure replacement space, the living space will be drastically reduced. Conventionally, air-conveying type air conditioning systems for each room are known to include a chamber structure in the ceiling space with added airtightness, multiple indoor discharge ports connecting the ceiling space to the room, a box-shaped main body having a ceiling space outlet and an indoor intake port communicating with the ceiling space, a blower installed inside the main body to draw air in from the indoor intake port and blow it out from the ceiling outlet, and a cooling heat exchanger and a heating heat exchanger installed in the air passage formed by the blower, with the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger arranged side by side on approximately the same plane so as to divide the air passage into two, and by directly drawing indoor air into the heating heat exchanger for reheating and flowing a small amount of air, the latent heat capacity is increased and the sensible heat capacity is reduced, and dry cold air and cold / hot air are blown into the ceiling space, so that air-conveying air conditioning can be reliably supplied to each room without condensation even if there are beams in the ceiling space or the ceiling space itself is narrow (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Furthermore, in a whole-house air conditioning system that delivers conditioned air to rooms via an air supply duct, it is known that condensation can be suppressed on the inner surface of the air supply duct during heating operation in winter by comprising: a temperature adjustment unit for adjusting the temperature of the air delivered to the rooms via the air supply duct; a humidity detection unit for measuring the humidity of the air flowing into the air supply duct; and a control unit that, when it detects a signal to turn off the temperature adjustment unit, keeps the temperature adjustment unit on if the humidity measured by the humidity detection unit is greater than a predetermined value, and turns off the temperature adjustment unit if the humidity measured by the humidity detection unit is less than the predetermined value (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In a duct air conditioning system, it includes a suction chamber having an air suction port opening to an external space of a living room to be air-conditioned, an indoor unit having a heat exchanger for cooling or heating the air sucked through the suction chamber, and a blower duct for transporting the air cooled or heated by the indoor unit to the outlet of the living room. It is disposed on the downstream side of the heat exchanger and includes a reheating coil for heating the dehumidified air cooled by the heat exchanger during cooling. As a result, the duct member of the blower duct is not covered with a heat insulating material or is covered with a thin heat insulating material (for example, see Patent Document 3). In a blower duct and a blower system for ventilation and air conditioning in a house, a coating film containing charcoal powder is formed on the inner surface of the duct. The inlet and outlet of air and the blower device are connected by this duct to form a blower system for the house, suppressing the generation of mold and bad odors in the duct by the charcoal powder, and removing the odors contained in the air so as to obtain a comfortable housing environment (for example, see Patent Document 4).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the air conveyance type air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, since it is impossible to flow air-conditioned air outside the ceiling space, there are many cases where it is impossible to cope with the building structure. Even if it is possible to cope, since air conditioning is performed with air having a reduced sensible heat capacity, there is a problem that when the air conditioning load increases due to the start-up of operation or the outside air temperature, etc., the sensible heat capacity is insufficient and the temperature and humidity do not stabilize or it takes time to stabilize. Also, in the all-building air conditioning system described in Patent Document 2, in order to prevent condensation in the supply air duct etc., it is necessary to use a dedicated controller and sensor and perform humidity control with a complex program, so the initial cost is high. There was a problem that when the cooling operation is stopped during the cooling operation in summer when the temperature is high and the humidity is high, etc., there is a possibility of condensation inside the duct. Also, in the duct air conditioning system described in Patent Document 3, since air conditioning is performed with air having a reduced sensible heat capacity, there is a problem that when the air conditioning load increases due to the start-up of operation or the outside air temperature, etc., the sensible heat capacity is insufficient and the temperature and humidity do not stabilize or it takes time to stabilize. Also, in the air duct for blowing and the blowing system described in Patent Document 4, there was a problem that dust, bacteria, etc. accumulate on the surface of the coating film containing charcoal powder inside the duct, and when condensation occurs, it is impossible to prevent the growth of mold etc.

[0005] The inventors have developed, through many years of research, a duct type air conditioning and ventilation system in which harmful substances such as dust, mold, and malodor are difficult to adhere to and accumulate inside the air conditioning duct, and even after long-term use, maintenance such as duct replacement and cleaning is unnecessary, and it is possible to always perform healthy and comfortable air conditioning and ventilation inside the building. The present invention solves such conventional problems, and is a system that uses highly versatile equipment corresponding to various floor plans, shapes, etc. of a building, prevents condensation inside the air conditioning duct, prevents the accumulation of dust etc. inside the duct, suppresses the growth of mold etc., and appropriately performs air conditioning and ventilation of rooms and spaces in response to load changes such as the outside air temperature, etc., and realizes a healthy space with energy saving, uniform temperature, good air quality, always comfortable, and always clean air. Furthermore, with a relatively simple equipment configuration, it suppresses condensation within the air conditioning ducts, preventing control delays. By utilizing controllers and sensors to adjust to the user-set temperature while simultaneously preventing condensation, the aim is to provide a duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system that stably realizes an energy-saving, comfortable, and healthy space. Furthermore, the aim is to provide a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system that does not require maintenance such as duct replacement or cleaning, as harmful substances such as dust, mold, and unpleasant odors are less likely to adhere to and accumulate inside the air conditioning ducts even after prolonged operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system of the present invention provides outlets in rooms and insulated spaces within a highly airtight and highly insulated building, connects an air conditioning unit installed in the building to the outlets with an air conditioning duct, passes the air conditioning duct through the insulated space, and blows conditioned air from the air conditioning unit toward the outlets, with the temperature of the surrounding air within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating, thereby air conditioning the rooms and insulated spaces, provides a filter in the air conditioning unit to purify the air inside the building, and blows the conditioned air from the air conditioning unit toward the outlets. The airflow path through which air flows and returns from the room and the insulated space to the air conditioning unit is defined as the circulation path, an outdoor air intake path is provided to introduce outdoor air from outside into the circulation path or the air conditioning unit, an intake fan and a filter are provided in the outdoor air intake path to purify the introduced outdoor air, an indoor air exhaust path is provided to discharge air from inside the building to the outside, and an exhaust fan is provided in the indoor air exhaust path to discharge at least one of the air in the circulation path or the air that remains inside the building to the outside. This method involves supplying conditioned air, produced by the air conditioning unit, to the duct at a temperature of 5K or less during cooling and 10K or less during heating, at a high volume. This conditioned air is then blown into the duct from outlets in rooms and insulated spaces, providing air conditioning to rooms and the insulated spaces above and below within a highly airtight and well-insulated building. As a result, the building tends to have a comfortable and uniform temperature and humidity, including insulated spaces with high air conditioning loads such as solar radiation. Furthermore, because the air conditioning ducts pass through insulated spaces, condensation inside and outside the ducts during cooling, and condensation inside the ducts during heating, are less likely to occur, resulting in a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system. Furthermore, by equipping the air conditioning unit that produces conditioned air with a filter to purify the air inside the building, and by equipping the outdoor air intake path with an intake fan and filter to purify the incoming outdoor air, and by exhausting some of the conditioned air from the rooms and insulated spaces, along with the air from the dirty zones, to the outside through an indoor air exhaust path that leads from so-called dirty zones (toilets, washrooms, etc.) without an air outlet, an exhaust fan expels the air from the dirty zones to the outside, thereby introducing purified outdoor air and purifying the air as it circulates within the building while expelling the air inside the building that is contaminated with dust and moisture. As this purified air flows through the ducts, a duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system is obtained in which dust and other contaminants are less likely to accumulate inside the ducts. Furthermore, by installing exhaust fans to expel moisture from areas such as bathrooms and kitchens—where moisture is generated not by human activity but also by bathing and cooking—in addition to the moisture generated by humans, this moisture does not accumulate inside the building and is not included in the conditioned air, thus preventing it from flowing into the ductwork. As a result, dust, moisture, and condensation do not accumulate or stagnate in the air conditioning ducts, making it difficult for mold to grow and for odors caused by bacteria to develop. This prevents dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors from entering the building, creating a healthy and comfortable space. Furthermore, even after long-term use, maintenance such as duct replacement and cleaning is unnecessary, resulting in a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system that can always provide healthy and comfortable air conditioning and ventilation within the building. Another method involves providing a highly airtight and highly insulated building with roof insulation and foundation insulation, making the insulated space an attic space and an underfloor space, and providing an air conditioning unit with an air conditioning section, a blower section, an intake section and a mixing section in the housing, providing the intake section with the filter section, the blower section drawing in air from the intake section and purifying it with the filter section, a portion of the purified air being drawn into the air conditioning section and conditioned, the blown air from the air conditioning section and a portion of the purified air being mixed in the mixing section to become conditioned air, and the conditioned air being blown out from the outlet through the air conditioning duct, with the airflow of the blower section being greater than the airflow of the air conditioning section. This method allows a highly airtight and well-insulated building to have both roof and foundation insulation. The attic space, which is at the top of the building and easily affected by sunlight and outside temperature, is insulated, and the underfloor space, which is at the bottom of the building and easily affected by ground temperature and prone to high humidity, is also insulated. By air-conditioning each of these spaces, and combining this with the air conditioning of the rooms, which are insulated spaces on the sides of the building, all spaces facing the building's envelope become insulated and air-conditioned. As a result, the temperature and humidity inside the building, including inside and outside the air conditioning ducts, become more uniform, and condensation inside and outside the ducts during cooling and inside the ducts during heating is less likely to occur in this ducted air conditioning and ventilation system. Furthermore, the air blower in the air conditioning unit directs a portion of the air drawn in from the intake to the air conditioning unit, where it is conditioned and then blown out. Some of the air drawn in from the intake is not drawn into the air conditioning unit, but instead merges with the air blown out from the air conditioning unit in the mixing unit, where they are mixed. By adjusting the airflow of the air conditioning unit, the set temperature, and the airflow of the blower, it is possible to create a large volume of conditioned air within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating, relative to the temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning duct, in an energy-efficient and stable manner. Since this conditioned air is passed through the air conditioning duct, a duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system is obtained that is less prone to condensation on the air conditioning duct. Furthermore, because the filter unit installed at the intake of the air conditioning unit purifies all the air drawn into the unit before it flows into the air conditioning duct, the risk of dust and other contaminants entering the air conditioning duct is further reduced. Also, because the filter unit is located at the intake, a duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system that is easy to maintain, such as cleaning, is obtained. Furthermore, the airflow from the fan unit is significantly greater than that from the air conditioning unit. This allows for the stable and energy-efficient production of large volumes of conditioned air, within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating, relative to the room and space temperature. As a result, the room and space temperatures do not fluctuate significantly, such as overshooting. The temperature of the intake air from the air conditioning unit remains stable for extended periods, close to the set temperature. Especially during cooling operation in summer, the air conditioning unit maintains a thermostat-ON state with a small temperature difference for extended periods, and the compressor operates continuously at a low frequency. This causes the surface temperature of the evaporator, the so-called evaporation temperature, to fall below the dew point temperature of the intake air. As a result, moisture from the intake air condenses on the evaporator, and the amount of dehumidification removed over extended periods increases. This leads to a continuous decrease in the absolute humidity of the discharged air, and consequently, a decrease in the absolute humidity of the conditioned air. This also reduces the relative humidity in the air conditioning ducts, rooms, and spaces through which the conditioned air flows, resulting in a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system that is less prone to condensation in the air conditioning ducts during cooling operation. Furthermore, by driving the compressor and other components of the air conditioning unit, the system is energy-efficient because it uses a larger airflow from the fan unit (which has significantly lower running costs per unit of airflow) than the airflow from the air conditioning unit (which has higher running costs per unit of airflow) to create conditioned air and pass it through the air conditioning ducts. Another method involves providing the air conditioning unit with a reheat dehumidification function. During reheat dehumidification operation, one heat exchanger functions as an evaporator through which a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows, while the other heat exchanger functions as a reheater through which a medium-temperature, medium-pressure refrigerant flows. As a result, the discharged air is at a temperature higher than the intake air and has low absolute humidity. When this air is discharged from the outlet, the reheat dehumidification thermostat remains ON for a long period, and the compressor operates continuously. This causes the evaporator surface temperature, or evaporation temperature, to fall below the dew point temperature of the intake air, causing moisture from the intake air to condense on the evaporator. Over time, a large amount of dehumidification is removed, and the absolute humidity of the discharged air decreases over a long period. Consequently, the absolute humidity of the conditioned air also decreases, and the relative humidity in the ducts, rooms, and spaces through which the conditioned air flows also decreases. This results in a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system that is even less prone to condensation in the ducts during periods of medium temperature and high humidity, such as the rainy season. Another method involves installing a HEPA filter type or electrostatic precipitator type air purifier in the circulation path or the air conditioning unit. By installing a HEPA filter type or electrostatic precipitator type air purifier in the circulation path or air conditioning unit, even mold spore-level particles contained in the conditioned air are removed. This makes it more difficult for mold to grow in the air conditioning ducts through which the conditioned air passes, and prevents dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors from entering the building, resulting in a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system that creates a healthy and comfortable space. Another means involves having at least one of polypropylene film, flexible polyvinyl chloride film, or PET film on the surface inside the air conditioning duct through which the conditioned air flows. As a result, the surface on which the conditioned air flows inside the air conditioning duct does not have a nonwoven fabric with good breathability and moisture permeability and large surface irregularities. Instead, it has at least one of polypropylene film, flexible polyvinyl chloride film, or PET film that is non-breathable, non-moisture permeable, and has a small surface roughness (surface irregularities). Therefore, dust, moisture, mold spores, etc. do not enter the glass wool from the surface, making it difficult for mold to grow there. Furthermore, dust and other particles do not easily accumulate on the surface, and it does not contain moisture, making it difficult for mold to grow. This prevents dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors from entering the building from inside the air conditioning duct, resulting in a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system that creates a healthy and comfortable space. Another means includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the room or the insulated space, a temperature setting unit for setting the temperature, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the mixing unit, and a control unit for controlling the air conditioning unit and the blower unit based on the detected values ​​of the two temperature sensors and the set temperature of the temperature setting unit. This automatically sets the average temperature of the room or space to the set temperature, and the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct is within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating, relative to the average temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning duct. As a result, condensation inside and outside the air conditioning duct can be suppressed while maintaining the room or space at the user's set temperature, and a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system is obtained that is reliably resistant to mold growth even in the event of external disturbances or changes in the air conditioning load. Another method involves providing a replaceable insulated duct between the air conditioning duct and the outlet, with aluminum fiber sound-absorbing material on the inner surface of the duct through which the conditioned air flows. As a result, a sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct with aluminum fiber sound-absorbing material that has high sound absorption and weather resistance is installed on the surface through which the conditioned air flows inside the duct, and it can be replaced between the air outlet and the conditioned duct through a mounting hole. This makes it possible to reduce noise from the air outlet in rooms where greater quietness is required, such as bedrooms. Furthermore, because dust and other particles adhere only to the surface of the sound-absorbing material, mold and other growths are less likely to occur compared to sound-absorbing materials such as glass wool, and the heat insulation performance does not deteriorate. In the event of periodic cleaning or duct replacement, the inside of the duct can be easily cleaned or replaced through the mounting hole, resulting in a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system is provided that provides a healthy and comfortable space with energy savings, uniform temperature and humidity, and good air quality by air conditioning a highly airtight and well-insulated building to maintain a uniform temperature and humidity, introducing fresh and clean outside air, exhausting polluted indoor air containing moisture, and purifying the air inside the building. Furthermore, condensation inside and outside the air conditioning ducts is less likely to occur, dust and other particles are less likely to accumulate inside the air conditioning ducts, mold is less likely to grow, and odors caused by bacteria are less likely to occur, thus preventing dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors from entering the building. Furthermore, even after long-term use, this duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system eliminates the need for maintenance such as replacing or cleaning air conditioning ducts, enabling it to provide consistently healthy and comfortable air conditioning and ventilation within the building. Furthermore, we can provide a ducted air conditioning and ventilation system that allows users to set the room or space temperature according to their preferences, and automatically adjusts to the set temperature while also preventing condensation inside and outside the air conditioning ducts. Furthermore, the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct reduces noise from the air conditioning outlets, while also preventing mold growth. In the event that the ducts need to be replaced, they can be replaced through the mounting holes at the outlets, providing a duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Configuration diagram of a duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Vertical cross-section of the air conditioning unit of the same system. [Figure 3] Vertical cross-sectional view of the air conditioning unit of the same system. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of the air conditioning ducts, etc., of the system. [Figure 5] Control block diagram of the system [Figure 6] Sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct construction diagram of the system in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct of the system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Embodiment 1) Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system 1 in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in the diagram, the ducted air conditioning and ventilation system 1 is installed in building 2, which is a highly airtight and highly insulated house. Ducts are laid throughout building 2, providing air conditioning and ventilation to all rooms and spaces within building 2. In this embodiment, "room" refers to a habitable room, and "space" refers to a non-habitable space. A habitable room is a room continuously used for purposes such as living, working, organizing, meeting, recreation, or other similar purposes, while a non-habitable room is any other room. However, rooms whose uses make it difficult to determine whether they are habitable should be judged according to their actual use. Building 2 is completely covered with insulation material (not shown) and airtight sheeting (not shown) to seal the exterior envelope, the roof 3 is roof insulated, the foundation 4 is foundation insulated, the windows are triple-glazed resin sashes 5, the doors are insulated doors (not shown), and the entire interior of Building 2, including the attic space (insulated space) 6 and the underfloor space (insulated space) 7, is an insulated space. There are two main types of insulation: external insulation and internal insulation. The choice of insulation method depends on the advantages and disadvantages of each. However, this study focuses on Building 2, which has no insulation defects in its building envelope and meets at least the ZEH (Zero Energy House) insulation performance standards. Regarding airtightness performance, although it depends on the specifications of the airtight sheet, the target buildings are those that maintain the continuity of the airtight layer by applying airtight tape or similar to the seams of the airtight sheet, and that meet at least a C value of 1.0.

[0010] In this ducted air conditioning and ventilation system 1, the highly airtight and insulated air conditioning unit 10, which is covered with walls and insulation and has been sealed, is installed on the landing 12 of the staircase in the entrance hall 11. Furthermore, the air conditioning unit 10 is equipped with a sealed door (not shown) that can be opened and closed to allow access to the interior from the stair landing 12 for maintenance purposes, and which provides high airtightness when closed. In this embodiment, the air conditioning unit 10 is installed on the stair landing 12, but it may also be installed in a non-habitable space such as the attic space 6, the underfloor space 7, under the stairs (not shown), or a machine room (not shown). The air conditioning unit 10 that generates conditioned air is equipped with multiple air blowers 13, and an air conditioning unit 16 connected to an outdoor air conditioning unit 14 installed outside by refrigerant piping and electrical wiring 15. The air conditioning unit 16 has a heat exchanger (not shown) and a blower (not shown), and the blower unit 13 has a fan (not shown) and a motor (not shown).

[0011] Rooms A20 and B21 within Building 2, and the entrance hall 11, each have air outlets in their floors or ceilings. 22, 23, and 24 are installed, and in the attic space 6 and the underfloor space 7, there are air outlets 25 and 26, respectively. A ventilation system is provided, and the air outlet is an air supply grille that blows out conditioned air, and the direction of the airflow can be changed. In this embodiment, air vents are provided in rooms A20 and B21, which are considered living spaces, but they may also be provided in the living room / dining room / kitchen, bedroom, children's room, study, washroom, toilet, bathroom, kitchen, etc. Air vents are provided in the entrance hall 11, attic space 6, and underfloor space 7, which are considered non-living spaces, but they may also be provided in the stair landing 12, under the stairs, machine room, corridor, storage room, closet, shoe cabinet, etc. Multiple air blowers 13 and outlets 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 are connected one-to-one to each other by air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34. Although not shown in detail in Figure 1, there are other rooms and spaces equipped with air outlets, and accordingly, air supply units 13 are installed and connected by air conditioning ducts to provide air conditioning and ventilation throughout the entire building 2.

[0012] The air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 are flexible ducts with an inner diameter of 150 mm, offering high thermal insulation and moisture resistance. One end of each air conditioning duct is connected to an adapter (not shown) of the air blower unit 13, and the ducts pass through a vertical shaft 35, an insulated space that runs vertically through the building 2, behind the air conditioning unit 10. As shown in Figure 1, the vertical shaft 35 is far from the building envelope of the building 2 and surrounded by rooms and spaces, so it is not affected by outside air or solar radiation and tends to become the same temperature as the rooms and spaces. Then, the air conditioning ducts 30, 32, and 34 are lowered and connected to the other end of each duct through the underfloor space 7, which is the lowest insulated space of building 2, and to the air outlets 22, 24, and 26. The air conditioning ducts 31 and 33 are raised and connected to the other end of each duct through the attic space 6, which is the highest insulated space of building 2, and to the air outlets 23 and 25. Generally, the inner diameter of a duct is selected to ensure that the air velocity inside the duct is 5-7 m / s or less, and that there is sufficient margin in airflow and static pressure at the point of use, based on the PQ (static pressure - airflow) characteristics of the blower or ventilation fan, so as not to increase power consumption and noise. However, in this embodiment, a duct with an inner diameter of 150 mm is used, with a maximum length of 300 m 3 When the airflow is at / h, the wind speed is approximately 4.7 m / s, which is less than 5-7 m / s. Furthermore, if the inner diameter is less than 100 mm, cleaning brushes and other equipment cannot be inserted, making maintenance difficult. In the event of dust accumulation, the amount of dust accumulated per unit surface area inside the duct is minimized, so the inner diameter is set to 150 mm, as large as the duct space allows. As a result, the conditioned air generated in the air conditioning unit 10 is blown by the air blower 13 through the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34, which are all routed through the insulated space, and is blown out from the outlets 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 to rooms A20, B21, the entrance hall 11, the attic space 6, and the underfloor space 7, forming an air conditioning air passage (thick arrow). In this embodiment, the air conditioning duct is connected to the air outlet via the vertical shaft 35, the underfloor space 7, and the attic space 6. However, any insulated space far from the building envelope 2 and surrounded by rooms or other spaces may be used, such as an inter-floor space (not shown) or a space created by excavating a part of a room or space and enclosing it with wood (not shown).

[0013] Exhaust vents 40 and 41, such as undercuts in the doors (not shown) of rooms A20 and B21, open between them and the entrance hall 11. Exhaust vents 42 and 43, such as exhaust grilles, are provided between the attic space 6, the underfloor space 7, and the entrance hall 11. An air return port 44 (intake section), such as an intake grille, is provided above the sealed door (not shown) on the stair landing 12 side of the air conditioning unit 10, and all the air drawn into the air conditioning unit 10 is drawn in through the air return port 44 (intake section). As a result, air from rooms A20 and B21, the attic space 6, and the underfloor space 7 enters the entrance hall 11 through their respective exhaust vents 40, 41, 42, and 43, and returns to the air conditioning unit 10 through the return vent 44, forming a return air passage (thin arrow). Then, the air conditioning duct and the return duct are connected to form a circulation path (not shown).

[0014] A heat exchange ventilation unit 50 is installed in the attic space 6 to introduce outside air into the room and, when expelling indoor air to the outside, recover all the heat from the indoor air into the outside air, thereby ventilating the entire building 2. In this embodiment, the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 has a 24-hour ventilation airflow of 125 m³. 3 / h, strong notch ventilation airflow 250m 3 At a rate of / h, the total heat exchange rate is approximately 70%. In the ceiling of the toilet 51 inside building 2, a ventilation exhaust vent 52, such as an exhaust grille, is provided to exhaust the air from inside the toilet 51, and is connected to a heat exchange ventilation unit 50 by an exhaust duct A53. An outdoor exhaust hood A54 is installed in a penetration hole in the exterior wall of building 2, and is connected to a heat exchange ventilation unit 50 by an exhaust duct B55.

[0015] The heat exchange ventilation unit 50 includes an introduction fan (not shown) for introducing outdoor air, an exhaust fan (not shown) for exhausting indoor air, a motor (not shown), a heat exchange element 63 for recovering the total heat from the indoor air into the outdoor air, and a pre-filter 64 for the element, which is positioned on the indoor air inlet side of the heat exchange element 63 to prevent dust and other particles from the indoor air from adhering to the element. The element pre-filter 64 is a 10mm-20mm thick nonwoven fabric made of polyester and modacrylic. It is used at a standard airflow speed of 2.5m / s, has an efficiency (gravimetric method) of 75%, and is regenerative by washing. Furthermore, by providing a maintenance-accessible space around the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 and an inspection hatch in the ceiling below, the heat exchange element 63 and the pre-filter 64 for the element can be easily maintained through periodic cleaning. As a result, indoor air passes through the ventilation exhaust port 52 and exhaust duct A53, recovers all the heat in the heat exchange unit 50, and is exhausted outside through exhaust duct B55 and outdoor exhaust hood A54. The indoor air exhaust passage is formed between the ventilation exhaust port 52 and the outdoor exhaust hood A54, and is comprised of an exhaust duct A53, a heat exchange ventilation unit 50, and an exhaust duct B55. The indoor air exhaust passage is provided with a pre-filter 64 for the elements of the heat exchange ventilation unit 50, but other filters may be provided in addition to or together with the pre-filter 64. The indoor air exhaust passage is also provided with an exhaust fan for the heat exchange ventilation unit 50, but other exhaust fans may be provided in addition to or together with the exhaust fan. An outdoor air supply hood 56 is installed in a penetration hole in the exterior wall of building 2, and is connected to a heat exchange ventilation unit 50 by an air supply duct A57. In the middle of the air supply duct A57, a filter box 59 containing an outside air purification filter 58 for purifying the incoming outside air is provided in the attic space 6, with an inspection opening in the lower ceiling to facilitate maintenance such as cleaning the filter. The 58 outdoor air purification filter is a 35mm thick particulate filter made of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and PP resin. It can capture particles larger than 0.5μm, such as mold spores, and captures particles larger than 2μm with an efficiency of approximately 95%. It is designed to be replaced approximately once every two years.

[0016] In the ceiling of the entrance hall 11, a ventilation supply vent 60 is provided in front of the return air vent 44 of the air conditioning unit 10, which blows outside air into the building 2, and is connected to the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 by an air supply duct B61. As a result, outdoor air is introduced from the outdoor air supply hood 56, passes through the air supply duct A57, is purified in the filter box 59, recovers total heat in the heat exchange unit 50, and is introduced into the room through the ventilation air inlet 60 via the air supply duct B61. The outdoor air intake passage is formed between the outdoor air supply hood 56 and the ventilation air inlet 60, and is comprised of an air supply duct A57, a filter box 59, a heat exchange air unit 50, and an air supply duct B61. The outdoor air intake passage is provided with an outside air purification filter 58 in the filter box 59, but other filters may be provided in addition to or together with the outside air purification filter 58. The outdoor air intake passage is also provided with an intake fan for the heat exchange air unit 50, but other intake fans may be provided in addition to or together with the intake fan.

[0017] Exhaust duct A53 is an exhaust duct installed in the attic space 6 between the ventilation exhaust port 52 and the heat exchange unit 50. Therefore, the possibility of condensation inside the duct is low, and to prevent dust and moisture from accumulating and absorbing inside the duct, it is a non-insulated duct with an inner diameter of 150 mm, made solely of polypropylene, without any insulation material or non-woven fabric on the inside of the duct. The exhaust duct B55 and the supply duct A57 are installed in the attic space 6 between the outdoor exhaust hood A54 or outdoor supply hood 56 and the heat exchange ventilation unit 50. As they are ducts that come into contact with the outside air, they have the same specifications as air conditioning ducts, with an inner diameter of 150 mm, high insulation, moisture resistance, and flexibility. The supply air duct B61 is located in the attic space 6 between the ventilation air inlet 60 and the heat exchange air unit 50, and therefore has the same specifications as the air conditioning duct, with an inner diameter of 150 mm, high insulation, moisture resistance, and flexibility. Since the heat exchange ventilation unit 50, exhaust duct B55, and supply air duct A57 are in contact with the outside air, there is a possibility of condensation and the intrusion of dust from outside. Therefore, an inspection opening should be provided nearby to allow for regular cleaning and replacement.

[0018] Toilet 51 does not have an air outlet for blowing out conditioned air. Instead, a louver 65 is provided between it and the entrance hall 11, allowing air to enter and exit. When the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 is in operation, some of the conditioned air from the room and insulated space that has returned to the entrance hall 11 flows into toilet 51 through the louver 65. When stable, the air quality inside toilet 51 becomes close to that of conditioned air (temperature, humidity, cleanliness, etc.). When the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 is operated, fresh outdoor air purified by the outdoor air purification filter 58 installed in the outdoor air intake passage is introduced by the introduction fan of the heat exchange ventilation unit 50. A portion of the air that has been air-conditioned in the room and insulated space, along with the air contaminated with moisture from so-called dirty zones such as the toilet 51, enters the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 through the ventilation exhaust port 52 and the indoor air exhaust passage, and is brought into the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 by the exhaust fan of the heat exchange ventilation unit 50. After exchanging total heat with the outdoor air in the heat exchange element 63, the air is discharged outside. As a result, dust and mold spores from outside are not allowed into the building 2, moisture and odors from toilets etc. are discharged outside, and heat exchange allows for energy-saving ventilation of the building 2 while reducing dust, moisture, mold spores, etc. inside the building. In this embodiment, a ventilation exhaust port 52 is provided in the toilet 51. However, ventilation exhaust ports and grilles may also be provided in other rooms or spaces that tend to generate and accumulate odors, moisture, harmful substances, etc., such as washrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens—so-called "dirty zones." In such cases, these can be directly discharged to the outside without passing through other rooms or spaces. However, if the heat exchange element 63 of the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 is not resistant to deterioration from moisture in bathrooms, oil in kitchens, etc., it will be necessary to provide another ventilation fan, as described later. Furthermore, the ventilation exhaust vent 52 may be installed in rooms or spaces downstream of the circulation path (return air path), such as the entrance hall 11 or the air conditioning unit 10. In this case, some of the indoor air from the room or space will be discharged outside along with dust and moisture generated in that room or space through normal daily life. However, to prevent moisture from the dirty zone from flowing into the room or space, it is necessary to either install a ventilation exhaust vent 52 in the dirty zone or another ventilation fan as described later.

[0019] In the ceiling of bathroom 66 in building 2, there is a high-notch airflow system with 80 m³ of air to exhaust the air from bathroom 66. 3 A ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 is installed, and is connected by an exhaust duct C68 to an outdoor exhaust hood C69 installed in a penetration hole in the exterior wall of building 2. Exhaust duct C68 is installed in the insulated space between the outdoor exhaust hood C69 and the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67. As it is a duct that comes into contact with the outside air, it has the same specifications as an air conditioning duct with an inner diameter of 100 mm, high insulation and moisture resistance, and flexibility. Since the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 and exhaust duct C68 are in contact with the outside air, there is a possibility of condensation and the intrusion of dust from outside. Therefore, an inspection opening should be provided nearby to allow for regular cleaning and replacement. Bathroom 66 does not have an air outlet for blowing out conditioned air. Instead, a louver 70 is provided between it and the entrance hall 11, allowing air to enter and exit. When the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 is in operation, some of the conditioned air that has returned to the entrance hall 11 flows into bathroom 66 through the louver 70. When stable, the air quality inside bathroom 66 is close to that of conditioned air (temperature, humidity, cleanliness, etc.).

[0020] In this embodiment, a ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 is provided in the bathroom 66. However, ventilation fans may also be installed in other rooms or spaces, such as washrooms, toilets, and kitchens, where strong odors, large amounts of moisture, and harmful substances tend to be temporarily generated and accumulate due to bathing, washing, laundry, defecation, cooking, etc., allowing these to be quickly and directly discharged to the outside. Furthermore, although a ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 is provided in this embodiment, any ventilation fan that can quickly exhaust air directly to the outside may be used, for example, a wall-mounted type or an intermediate duct type. In addition, a heat exchange ventilation unit in which the heat exchange element is less likely to deteriorate due to moisture in bathrooms, oil in kitchens, etc. may also be used.

[0021] The aforementioned air conditioning unit 10 is equipped with multiple filters (filter sections) to purify the air inside the building 2. As one of several filters, a return air port filter 75 (filter section) is provided at the return air port 44 (intake section) of the air conditioning unit 10, such as the intake grille, so that it can be removed from the stair landing 12 side for cleaning and other maintenance. Furthermore, the air conditioning unit 16 is equipped with an air conditioning unit filter 76 (filter section) upstream of the heat exchanger (not shown) to purify the intake air and prevent dust and other debris from adhering to the heat exchanger. Furthermore, the air blower unit 13 is equipped with an air blower filter 77 (filter unit) upstream of the fan (not shown) to purify the intake air and prevent dust and other debris from being blown into the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, rooms A20 and B21, the entrance hall 11, the attic space 6, and the underfloor space 7. Furthermore, both the air conditioning filter 76 and the blower filter 77 can be removed from the main unit and cleaned and maintained periodically.

[0022] The return air filter 75 is a nonwoven fabric made of polyester and modacrylic, with a thickness of 15mm to 30mm. It is used at a standard airflow speed of 1m / s, has an efficiency (gravimetric method) of 80% or more, and is regenerative through washing. The air conditioning filter 76 is made by molding a filter woven from polypropylene fibers in a honeycomb pattern onto a resin frame. Although it has low efficiency, it has low pressure loss, no water absorption or hygroscopic properties, and is easy to clean by washing. The air blower filter 77 is a 2mm thick nonwoven fabric made of polyester or other materials, used at a standard airflow speed of 2m / s, with an efficiency (gravimetric method) of 30%, low pressure loss, and reusability through washing. If the frequency of maintenance such as cleaning is to be reduced, a filter made of polypropylene fibers woven in a honeycomb pattern and molded into a resin frame may be used, similar to the air conditioning filter 76, although this will slightly reduce efficiency.

[0023] An electric dust collector type air purifier 80 is installed in the air conditioning unit 10, downstream of the return air port 44, between the air conditioning unit 16 and the blower unit 13. The air purifier 80 is equipped with a pre-filter and an electric dust collector. The pre-filter is a coarse mesh filter made of stainless steel with a mesh size of approximately 20-50 mesh, located upstream of the electrostatic dust collector. It primarily removes visible coarse particles, those with a particle size of 10-20 μm or larger, from the air drawn in from the return air port 44 and the air blown out from the air conditioning unit 16, before allowing the air to pass through the electrostatic dust collector. The pre-filter may be made of a resin such as polypropylene, depending on the application. An electrostatic dust collector located downstream of the pre-filter removes even finer particles, those with a diameter of 0.3 μm or larger, such as airborne mold spores, dust, pollen, yellow sand, and PM2.5. In this embodiment, an electric dust collector type air purifier 80 is provided, but a HEPA filter type that passes fine filter paper such as a HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) may also be used. The choice should depend on the type and degree of dust, bacteria, harmful substances to be removed, the shape of the machine, the shape of the air conditioning unit 10, the airflow velocity inside the air conditioning unit 10, the frequency of maintenance such as cleaning, etc. For example, if the target is viruses with a particle size of 0.1 μm or larger that can be captured by a HEPA filter, a HEPA filter type should be used. Furthermore, the pre-filter and electrostatic dust collector can be easily cleaned, replaced, and otherwise maintained by opening the sealed door of the air conditioning unit 10. In this embodiment, the air purifier 80 is installed inside the air conditioning unit 10, but it may also be installed in the middle of the return air path from the room 20 or the like back to the air conditioning unit 10.

[0024] In this embodiment, the air blower 13 within the air conditioning unit 10 is separated from the blower (not shown) of the air conditioning unit 16. However, any configuration of the air blower 13 and blower is acceptable as long as the air conditioning air blowing function for heat exchange in the heat exchanger (not shown) and the air transport function for blowing air to each room and each space work effectively. In this embodiment, the air conditioning unit 10 is an air-conditioned room that is sealed by walls and insulation, but it may also be a compact enclosure covered with sheet metal and insulation. As long as the relative positions of the air conditioning unit 16 and the blower unit 13 allow the air drawn in from the return air port 44 and the air blown out from the air conditioning unit 16 to mix well without shortcuts, it may also be possible to enclose a part of a space such as a stair landing 12, under the stairs, or in a corridor with walls, etc., to install the air conditioning unit 16, blower unit 13, etc., while leaving a part of the space open. However, it is desirable that the size be such that the air conditioning unit 16 and blower unit 13 can be easily maintained. Below the air purifier 80 inside the air conditioning unit 10, there is an air conditioning unit controller 110 which has a sensor and control unit that detects the temperature, humidity, and dust concentration of the air after it has passed through the air purifier 80. In the entrance hall 11 where the return air from the room and space and the outside air gather, there is a room temperature controller 120 which has a sensor that detects the temperature, humidity, and dust concentration of the air in the entrance hall 11 after these airs have been mixed and made uniform, as well as a temperature setting unit and control unit that sets the temperature of the entrance hall 11. The air conditioning unit controller 110 and the room temperature controller 120 are connected by signal lines that exchange signals with the control unit of the air conditioning unit 16 and the control unit of the blower unit 13.

[0025] Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air conditioning unit 10. The air conditioning unit 10, which is sealed by walls (including a sealed door) and insulation, is installed on the landing 12 of the staircase in the entrance hall 11. Above the sealed door (not shown) that is adjacent to the landing 12 of the staircase in the entrance hall 11, there is a return air vent 44 (intake section) that allows air from room A20 or the like to return to the air conditioning unit 10, and the return air vent is equipped with a return air vent filter 75 (filter section). The air conditioning unit 16 is located in front of the return air vent 44, at a distance from the back, and the multiple air blowers 13 are located in the lower part of the air conditioning unit 10, with their main bodies embedded in the vertical shaft 35 on the back side of the air conditioning unit 10. The air conditioning unit 16 uses a blower (not shown) to draw in a portion of the air (a mixture of air returned from rooms and spaces and introduced outside air in the entrance hall 11) from the return air inlet 44 by the blower unit 13, draws it in from the intake ports 86 on the top and front, cleans it with the air conditioning unit filter 76 (filter unit), and blows out the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger (not shown) downwards from the outlet 87. An air purifier 80 is installed between the air conditioning unit 16, the return air vent 44, and the blower unit 13, so as to partition the upper and lower parts of the air conditioning unit 10. Below the air purifier 80, in front of the air blower 13, is the mixing section 85, a space where some of the air drawn in from the return air inlet 44 (air mixed in the entrance hall 11 with the return air from rooms and spaces and the introduced outdoor air) and the blown-out air from the air conditioning unit 16 are mixed. The air blower unit 13 uses a fan (not shown) to purify the air blown out from the air conditioning unit 16 and a portion of the air that bypasses being drawn into the air conditioning unit 16 through the return air port 44 by passing them through the air purifier 80. The conditioned air mixed in the mixing unit 85 is then drawn in through the intake port 88, further purified by the air blower unit filter (filter unit) 77, and then flowed into the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34.

[0026] Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air conditioning unit 16. Air drawn in from the intake ports 86 on the top and front of the housing of the air conditioning unit 16 is purified by the air conditioning unit filter 76, heat is exchanged with the refrigerant in the heat exchangers 91 and 92, and then blown out by the blower 90 from the outlet 87 in the direction the louvers 94 are facing. The air conditioning unit 16 has three operating modes: cooling, heating, and reheat dehumidification. The heat exchangers 91 and 92 are structured so that the characteristics of the refrigerant flowing through them change depending on the operating mode, and their roles switch accordingly. In other words, during cooling operation, both heat exchangers 91 and 92 function as evaporators through which low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows, and during heating operation, both heat exchangers 91 and 92 function as condensers through which high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows. During reheat dehumidification operation, heat exchanger 91 functions as an evaporator through which a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows, and heat exchanger 92 functions as a reheater through which a medium-temperature, medium-pressure refrigerant flows. The surface temperature of heat exchanger 91 (evaporator) becomes the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant, which is below the dew point temperature of the intake air. As a result, the temperature and absolute humidity of the air that passes through decreases, and the condensed water (dehumidified water) that forms on the surface of heat exchanger 91 (evaporator) flows into the drain pan 93 below heat exchanger 91 (evaporator) and is drained outside via a drain hose (not shown). The surface temperature of heat exchanger 92 (reheater) becomes the condensation temperature of the refrigerant, which is above the temperature of the intake air. As a result, the temperature of the air that passes through increases. The air that has passed through these two heat exchangers 91 and 92 is combined and mixed by the blower 90 to become discharge air that is above the temperature of the intake air and has low absolute humidity, and is blown out from the outlet 87.

[0027] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, the supply air duct B61, the exhaust duct B55, and the supply air duct A57. Air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, supply air duct B61, exhaust duct B55, and supply air duct A57 are ducts with an inner diameter of 150 mm that have high thermal insulation, moisture resistance, and flexibility. The duct is constructed as follows, from the outside in: 100 of a flexible polyethylene sheet with a thickness of approximately 0.08 mm, followed by a 25 mm thick sheet with a density of 24 kg / m³. 3The insulation material 101, such as glass wool, and the internal covering material 102, such as a polypropylene film, flexible polyvinyl chloride film, or PET film, which is non-permeable, non-moisture-permeable, has a low surface roughness (surface irregularities), and is about 0.1 mm thick, serve as air passages 103 through which conditioned air passes. A molding core material (not shown) such as polypropylene resin is provided between the inside of the insulation material 101 and the internal covering material 102 so that even if the air conditioning ducts 30-34 are bent, they do not buckle and the cross-sectional area of ​​the internal air passages 103 is secured. In this embodiment, the thermal insulation material 101 has a thickness of 25 mm and a density of 24 kg / m³. 3 If a certain amount of glass wool is used, but the outer diameter of the duct becomes large and it is difficult to secure space for the duct within the insulated space of building 2, the density of the insulation material should be increased to 100 kg / m³. 3 Alternatively, the duct space may be secured by using glass wool or similar material with a thickness of 10 mm or less. In that case, the thermal insulation of the duct will be slightly reduced, so it is desirable to take measures such as strengthening the insulation of the space through which the duct passes, passing the duct through an insulated space away from the building envelope 2, or increasing the number of air outlets 25 and 26 in the insulated space to increase the air conditioning capacity.

[0028] Figure 5 is a control block diagram of the system. The air conditioning unit controller 110 has a temperature sensor 111 that detects the temperature of the conditioned air in the mixing section 85 after it has passed through the air purifier 80 and before it is drawn into the blower section 13 within the air conditioning unit 10, a humidity sensor 112 that detects the humidity of the same air, and a dust sensor 113 that detects the mass concentration of dust in the same air, and transmits data to the control unit 114. The room temperature controller 120 has a temperature sensor 121 that detects the temperature of the air drawn into the return air vent 44 (air mixed in the entrance hall 11 with return air from rooms and spaces and introduced outdoor air), a humidity sensor 122 that detects the humidity of the air, a dust sensor 123 that detects the mass concentration of dust in the air, and a temperature setting unit 125 that sets the temperature of the air, and transmits data to the control unit 124. The air conditioning unit 16 has an intake temperature sensor 133 that detects the temperature of the intake air that is heat-exchanged in the heat exchangers 91 and 92, and transmits data to the control unit 130. It also has a blower control unit 131 that controls the rotation speed of the blower 90 based on instructions from the control unit 130, and a louver control unit 132 that controls the angle of the louvers 94. The air conditioning outdoor unit 14 includes a compressor control unit 136 that controls the rotational speed of a compressor (not shown) based on instructions from the control unit 135, and an outdoor fan control unit 137 that controls the rotational speed of an outdoor fan (not shown). The blower unit 13 has a motor control unit 141 that controls the rotation speed of a motor (not shown) according to instructions from the control unit 140.

[0029] The control unit 114 of the air conditioning unit controller 110 and the control unit 124 of the room temperature controller 120 are connected by a signal line 150 and exchange signals. The control unit 114 of the air conditioning unit controller 110 and the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16 are connected by a signal line 151, and they exchange signals. The control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16 and the control unit 135 of the air conditioning outdoor unit 14 are connected by a signal line 152 and exchange signals. The control unit 114 of the air conditioning unit controller 110 and the control units 140 of the multiple air blowers 13 are connected by signal lines 153, and they exchange signals with each other.

[0030] The air purifier 80 has an electrostatic dust collector control unit 161 that controls the operation of the electrostatic dust collector according to instructions from the control unit 160. The control unit 114 of the air conditioning unit controller 110 and the control unit 160 of the air purifier 80 are connected by a signal line 154, and they exchange signals. The heat exchange ventilation unit 50 has a motor control unit 166 that controls the rotation speed of the motor according to instructions from the control unit 165. The control unit 114 of the air conditioning unit controller 110 and the control unit 165 of the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 are connected by a signal line 155 and exchange signals.

[0031] In the above configuration, the air conditioning unit controller 110 and the room temperature controller 120 are connected to the air conditioning unit 16, multiple blowers 13, air purifier 80, and heat exchange ventilation unit 50 by multiple signal lines, and communicate with each other to properly control the duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system 1. In this embodiment, communication is performed by a wired method using signal lines, but wireless communication may also be performed by providing wireless communication units for each and using wireless methods such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or infrared.

[0032] In the above configuration, when the temperature is set in the temperature setting unit 125 of the room temperature controller 120 and the duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system 1 is operated, the air conditioning unit 16, the multiple air blowers 13, the air purifier 80, and the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 are properly controlled and operated by the air conditioning unit controller 110. The air returned from each room, the attic space 6, the underfloor space 7, and other air-conditioned spaces is returned to the entrance hall 11 through the return air passage by multiple fans 13. Furthermore, the outdoor air, which has been purified by the filter box 59 and whose heat has been exchanged with the indoor air by the heat exchange ventilation unit 50, enters the entrance hall 11 through the ventilation air inlet 60. These airs are mixed in the entrance hall 11, purified by the return air filter 75 (filter section) of the return air outlet 44 of the air conditioning unit 10, and then flow into the air conditioning unit 10. The air conditioning unit 16 draws in a portion of the air sucked in from the return air port 44 through the intake port 86, cleans it with the air conditioning unit filter 76 (filter section), and then blows out the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger (not shown) downwards from the outlet port 87. In the multiple air blowers 13, any remaining air drawn in from the return air port 44 bypasses the air conditioning unit 16 and passes through the air purifier 80 together with the blown air from the air conditioning unit 16, where it is further purified to remove fine dust and bacteria, and then becomes well-mixed conditioned air in the mixing unit 85. Multiple air blowers 13 draw in conditioned air from the intake port 88, further purify it with an air blower filter (filter unit) 77, and then allow it to flow into the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34. In this embodiment, the airflow of the air conditioning unit 16 is approximately 600 m³.3 At / h, the temperature of the blown air is about 10 K lower than that of the suction air during cooling and about 20 K higher during heating. However, the total air volume of the plurality of blower units 13 is about 1500 m 3 / h. Therefore, among the air sucked in from the return air opening 44, when the remaining approximately 900 m 3 / h of air bypassing the air conditioner 16 is mixed in the mixing section 85, air-conditioned air within about 5 K during cooling and about 10 K during heating at / h is sucked into the plurality of blower units 13. 3 Here, the building 2 has high airtightness and high heat insulation, and there is almost no temperature gradient in the return air path. Therefore, the temperature of the suction air of the air conditioning unit 16 is almost the same as the temperature of the entrance hall 11, the average temperature of the return air from each room and each space, and the average temperature of each room and each space.

[0033] The air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 pass through the vertical shaft 35, which is a heat-insulated space. The air conditioning duct 33 is in the attic space 6 (heat-insulated space), blows out the air-conditioned air from the air outlet 25, is located at the top of the building 2, and air-conditioning and ventilates the attic space 6, which is susceptible to the radiant heat of the roof and the influence of the outdoors. The air conditioning duct 34 is in the underfloor space 7 (heat-insulated space), blows out the air-conditioned air from the air outlet 对26, is located at the bottom of the building 2, and air-conditioning and ventilates the underfloor space 7, which is susceptible to the influence of the ground and the outdoors. The air conditioning ducts 30, 32 pass through the underfloor space 7 (heat-insulated space) and blow out the air-conditioned air from the air outlets 22, 24 respectively to air-condition and ventilate the room A20 and the entrance hall 11. The air conditioning duct 31 passes through the attic space 6 (heat-insulated space) and blows out the air-conditioned air from the air outlet 23 to air-condition and ventilate the room B21. That is, approximately 1500 m generated within the air conditioning unit 10 / h 3For each room and space, the conditioned air, purified by multiple filters and an air purifier 80, is kept within approximately 5K during cooling and 10K during heating, relative to the temperature of each room and space at / h. This air is then blown out by the air blower 13 through the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34, which are all routed through the insulated space, to the outlets 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, into rooms A20, B21, the entrance hall 11, the attic space 6, and the underfloor space 7. As a result, even as the conditioned air passes through the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34, there is almost no temperature gradient. This allows a large volume of purified conditioned air, kept within approximately 5K during cooling and 10K during heating relative to the temperature of each room and space, to be blown out from the outlets 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26, resulting in a very comfortable and uniform temperature and excellent air quality throughout the building 2. Furthermore, as described above, a large volume of purified conditioned air passes through the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34, with a temperature of approximately 5K during cooling and approximately 10K during heating relative to the temperature of the insulated space through which the ducts pass. Therefore, condensation does not occur inside or outside the ducts, and in particular, moisture, dust, and bacteria are less likely to accumulate inside the ducts.

[0034] The conditioned air from each room and space returns to the entrance hall 11 through exhaust vents 40, 41, 42, and 43, and then returns to the air conditioning unit 10 through return vent 44. The air drawn in through the return air vent 44 (a mixture of return air from rooms and spaces and introduced outside air in the entrance hall 11) is reconditioned by the air conditioning unit 10 and supplied to each room and space. As a result, the heat and air quality of the return air are reused, leading to energy savings. Then, in the entrance hall 11, a portion of the air mixed with the return air from the room and space and the introduced outside air flows into the toilet 51 through the louver 65 via the heat exchange ventilation unit 50. The air in the toilet 51, which contains moisture, odors, harmful substances, etc., undergoes total heat exchange with the outside air that has been purified by the filter box 59 via the heat exchange ventilation unit 50, and is discharged outside through the outdoor exhaust hood A54. A portion of the air mixed with the return air from the room and space and the introduced outside air is then replaced as the air in the toilet 51. The purified, fresh outdoor air, after total heat exchange, is blown out from the ventilation air inlet 60 in the entrance hall 11, mixed with the return air from the rooms and spaces in the entrance hall 11, and flows into the air conditioning unit 10 from the return air inlet 44, where it is distributed to each room and space. When a large amount of moisture or strong odors temporarily occur in the bathroom 66, such as during bathing, the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 is operated at its highest setting to quickly expel the moisture directly to the outside. At the same time, some of the air mixed with the return air from the room and space and the introduced outside air is discharged through the louver 70 and replaced as the air in the bathroom 66. When the environment stabilizes, the air quality (temperature, humidity, cleanliness, etc.) inside the bathroom 66 becomes similar to that of conditioned air.

[0035] The airflow rate of each air blower 13 is determined by the volume of each room or space. The airflow rate required for air conditioning is 2.5 m³ for a room. 3 At least 8 meters 3 / h or more, ideally 20m 3 A value of at least / h is desirable, and the amount of air supplied is adjusted according to the size of the room and the air conditioning load such as solar radiation. The air supply unit 13 rotates a sirocco fan (not shown) with a highly efficient DC motor (not shown), so the rotation speed of the sirocco fan (not shown) is controlled by the control unit 140 and the motor control unit 141 according to the air conditioning load, etc. The number of air blowers 13 is basically one per air outlet, connected by one air conditioning duct. However, if there is surplus capacity in the air blowers 13 relative to the required airflow, it is possible to branch the air conditioning duct midway and increase the number of air outlets, depending on the shape of the room or space. However, this can create resistance at the branching point, causing changes in airflow velocity, which can lead to the accumulation and retention of moisture, dust, bacteria, etc., and also make cleaning and maintenance difficult. Therefore, it is preferable to have a 1:1:1 ratio of air blowers 13. If a branching point is unavoidable, an inspection opening should be provided nearby so that cleaning and replacement of the branching point can be performed later.

[0036] The capacity and number of units of the air conditioning unit 16 are selected based on the air conditioning load of building 2. When selecting the capacity, it is desirable to select an air conditioner, etc., with the capacity to continuously operate the compressor (not shown) at a low frequency (around 30 Hz) with a higher COP (appropriate rated capacity, at most 100%) relative to the building's air conditioning load. This allows for continuous operation at a low frequency when stable, resulting in greater energy savings and stable temperature and humidity without hunting. In the air conditioning unit 10, it is desirable to ensure that the air drawn in from the return air vent 44 (air mixed in the entrance hall 11 with the return air from rooms and spaces and the introduced outdoor air) is thoroughly mixed with the conditioned air blown out by the air conditioning unit 16, resulting in a uniform temperature with minimal temperature differences between rooms and spaces, that is, conditioned air with a temperature difference of no more than 5K during cooling and no more than 10K during heating relative to the target temperature of each room and space. To achieve this, the airflow of the air conditioning unit 16 should be set to 50% or less of the total airflow of the multiple air blowers 13. The conditioned air is then blown through multiple air supply units 13 and multiple air conditioning ducts to outlets installed in the ceilings and walls of each room and space, thereby providing uniform and comfortable temperature control and ventilation to each room and space. For example, if the floor area of ​​the building is approximately 100m 2 If the ceiling height is 2.5m, an air conditioning unit 16 with a cooling capacity equivalent to 4kW is installed, and in low-wind mode, the air conditioning airflow during cooling operation is 600m³. 3 The result is / h. Each air blower 13 that blows air into each room and space has an airflow rate of 100m³ per unit at low airflow. 3 Approximately 150 m / h at medium airflow. 3 Approximately / h, with strong winds, 200m 3 Set to / h, and the total airflow for 10 blowers 13 is 1000m 3 / h~2000m 3 The airflow rate will be approximately / h, which is greater than the air conditioning airflow rate of the air conditioning unit 16, and the airflow rate of the air conditioning unit 16 will be set to 30-60% of the total airflow rate (low airflow mode). The air conditioning airflow rate is the airflow rate passing through the heat exchanger (not shown) of the air conditioning unit 16. In the case of the air conditioning unit 16 having an air passage that bypasses the heat exchanger in order to avoid pressure loss due to passing through the heat exchanger, in order to blow conditioned air out to each room at a large airflow rate, the airflow rate of the bypass air passage shall be excluded from the air conditioning airflow rate.

[0037] The amount of outdoor air introduced and the amount of indoor air discharged by the heat exchange ventilation unit 50, in other words, the ventilation airflow, is for a floor area of ​​approximately 100m². 2 For a ceiling height of 2.5m and a ventilation rate of 0.5 times / hour, the 24-hour ventilation airflow is 125m³. 3 Set to / h In bathroom 66, when bathing, the exhaust airflow of the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 is 80 m³. 3 Because the exhaust volume increases by approximately / h, there will be a temporary over-exhaust, but this is only for a short time. The resulting negative pressure slightly increases the amount of outdoor air introduced into the heat exchange ventilation unit 50. As a result, the entire building 2 can introduce an appropriate amount of fresh, purified outdoor air while expelling moisture, carbon dioxide, odors, VOCs, dust, bacteria, etc., thus achieving energy-saving, healthy, and comfortable air conditioning and ventilation.

[0038] In summer, with a room temperature set to 25°C, the air outlet temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 during cooling operation is 15°C, which is about 10K lower than the temperature of the air drawn in from the return air vent 44 (26°C). However, after mixing with the 26°C air drawn in from the return air vent 44, the temperature becomes 21°C, which is about 5K lower than the temperature of the air drawn in from the return air vent 44. This air is then drawn into the blower unit 13 and passes through the air conditioning duct, resulting in no temperature gradient. The air is then blown out at 21°C into each room and space from the outlet. When stable, the air outlet is located almost entirely within the insulated space through which the air conditioning duct passes. Because the duct is passing through an air-conditioned insulated space, the inner surface temperature of the air conditioning duct is close to 21°C, at 22°C, while the outer surface temperature is close to the room temperature of the insulated space, at 24°C. In an insulated space at a room temperature of 25°C and relative humidity of 60%, the dew point temperature is 17°C, and condensation does not form on the outer surface of the air conditioning duct. Furthermore, when the outdoor temperature drops, the air conditioning load decreases, the air conditioning unit 16 turns off due to thermostat failure, and the compressor stops, the temperature and humidity of the air blown out by the air conditioning unit 16 will be the same as the room temperature at 25°C, and even if the relative humidity rises slightly to 80% due to the re-evaporation of condensed water that has formed on the evaporator of the air conditioning unit 16, the dew point temperature will be 21°C, and no condensation will form on the inner surface of the air conditioning duct. For comparison, in a conventional ducted air conditioning and ventilation system, the air blown out by the air conditioning unit flows directly into the duct. As a result, the blown air, which is about 10K or more lower than the intake air temperature of 26°C, flows through the duct at 15°C, cooling the inner surface of the duct to about 17°C. In this state, when the thermostat is turned off and the compressor stops, the blown air becomes 25°C with a relative humidity of 80% and a dew point of 21°C, and condensation forms on the inner surface of the duct as it passes through it.

[0039] In winter, with a room temperature set to 21°C, the outlet temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 during heating operation is 42°C, which is about 20K higher than the temperature of the air drawn in from the return air vent 44 (20°C). However, after mixing with the 19°C air drawn in from the return air vent 44, the temperature becomes 30°C, which is about 10K higher than the temperature of the air drawn in from the return air vent 44. Because the air passes through the air conditioning duct via the blower unit 13, there is no temperature gradient, and the air is blown out at 30°C into each room and space from the outlet. When stable, the outlet is located almost entirely within the insulated space through which the air conditioning duct passes, and because it passes through an air-conditioned insulated space, the inner surface temperature of the air conditioning duct is 28°C, close to 30°C, and the outer surface temperature is 23°C, close to the room temperature of the insulated space (21°C). The temperature and humidity of the air discharged from the air blower unit 13 are 30°C, 32% relative humidity, and a dew point of 12°C, so no condensation forms on the inner surface of the air conditioning duct. Even when the relative humidity rises to 50% due to humidification by a humidifier, the dew point remains at 18°C, so no condensation occurs. Furthermore, if the outdoor temperature rises, the air conditioning load decreases, the air conditioning unit 16 turns off due to thermostat failure, and the compressor stops, the temperature and humidity of the air blown out by the fan unit 13 will be the same as the room temperature at 21°C, the relative humidity will rise to 60%, and the dew point temperature will be 12°C, so no condensation will form on the inner surface of the air conditioning duct. Even if the relative humidity rises to 80% due to humidification by a humidifier, the dew point temperature will be 17°C, and no condensation will form. For comparison, in a conventional ducted air conditioning and ventilation system, if the ducts do not pass through the insulated space within the house, and that space is not air-conditioned, and the insulation performance of the ducts is poor, the temperature of that space will be close to the outside temperature. For example, if the outside temperature is 0°C and the space temperature is 2°C, the air blown out by the air conditioning unit flows directly into the ducts. As a result, the blown air flows at 40°C, which is about 20K or more higher than the intake air temperature of 20°C. With a relative humidity of 20%, the dew point temperature becomes 13°C, and if the inner surface temperature of the duct falls below 13°C, condensation will form on the inner surface of the duct. In this state, if the thermostat is turned off and the compressor stops, the blown air will be 21°C with a relative humidity of 60% and a dew point temperature of 13°C, and condensation will occur similarly. When a humidifier is used to increase the relative humidity, the amount of condensation increases even further.

[0040] Air volume of air conditioning unit 16: 600 m³ 3 From / h, the total airflow of the multiple air blowers 13 is 1500 m³. 3 The / h is significantly higher, approximately 1500m 3 For each room and space, conditioned air is blown into the room or space at a temperature of approximately 5K during cooling and approximately 10K during heating, ensuring that the room and space temperatures remain stable for extended periods. Furthermore, when determining the capacity of the air conditioning unit 16, an air conditioner with the capacity to continuously operate the compressor (not shown) at a lower frequency with a higher COP (appropriate rated capacity, at most 100%) is selected. Therefore, to save energy, the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 is set slightly lower (within approximately 5K during cooling) and slightly higher (within approximately 10K during heating) than the average temperature of the room or space, so that the compressor (not shown) operates at a low frequency for extended periods when the temperature is stable. Because it is a highly airtight and well-insulated house, the average temperature of the room and space, the temperature of the air drawn in from the return air vent 44 (intake), and the temperature of the intake air of the air conditioning unit 16 are almost equal. Therefore, for a long period of time, the temperature of the intake air of the air conditioning unit 16 is slightly higher (during cooling) or slightly lower (during heating) than the set temperature. As a result, the compressor operates at a low frequency with the thermostat ON, so there is no temperature and humidity hunting due to thermostat ON / OFF, and no low COP during compressor startup. This results in an energy-efficient, comfortable, and uniform temperature and humidity throughout the entire building 2.

[0041] Especially during cooling operation in the summer, the air conditioning unit 16 remains in a thermo-ON state with a small temperature difference for a long period of time, and the compressor (not shown) operates continuously. As a result, the surface temperature of the evaporator, the so-called evaporation temperature, falls below the dew point temperature of the intake air, causing moisture from the intake air to condense on the evaporator. Over time, the amount of dehumidification removed increases, the absolute humidity of the discharged air decreases over a long period of time, the absolute humidity of the conditioned air also decreases, and the relative humidity in the air conditioning ducts, rooms, and spaces through which the conditioned air flows also decreases. For example, during cooling operation in summer with an outdoor temperature of approximately 35°C and a relative humidity of approximately 40%, when the room temperature is stable at a set temperature of 25°C, the intake air temperature of the air conditioning unit 10 becomes approximately 26°C due to the temperature gradient in the return air path and the merging of the outdoor air, which is approximately 30°C and has undergone heat exchange with the indoor air, relative to the average room and space temperature of 25°C. If the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 is set to 22-24°C, which is approximately 2-4K lower than the intake air temperature of 26°C, the air conditioning unit 16 will remain in a thermostat-ON state with a small temperature difference for a long time, the compressor (not shown) will continue to operate at a low frequency, the amount of dehumidification removed will increase, and the relative humidity in the air conditioning duct, room, and space through which the conditioned air with low absolute humidity flows will also decrease to 40% or less. Normally, during air conditioner cooling operation, condensed water forms on the evaporator when the thermostat is ON. When the thermostat is OFF, the compressor stops and the evaporation temperature rises, causing the condensed water to re-evaporate due to the intake air, increasing the absolute humidity of the discharged air and resulting in air with extremely high absolute humidity. However, in this ducted air conditioning and ventilation system 1, the frequency of turning the thermostat OFF is reduced, making it less likely to produce such conditioned air.

[0042] Even if the capacity of the air conditioning unit 16 is determined as described above, changes in the air conditioning load due to the outside temperature, for example, during the rainy season when the temperature is not very high but the humidity is muggy (temperature 27°C, relative humidity 80% or higher), if the air conditioning unit 16 is operated in cooling mode, because general air conditioners have a high sensible heat capacity, the temperature drops relatively quickly and the thermostat turns off, resulting in a small amount of dehumidification being removed, the absolute humidity of the discharged air not decreasing, the absolute humidity of the conditioned air not decreasing, and the relative humidity in the air conditioning duct through which the conditioned air flows, the room, and the space not decreasing, so that only the temperature drops and the relative humidity actually increases. In such cases, the operating mode of the air conditioning unit 16 is set to reheat dehumidification operation, and the heat exchanger 91 functions as an evaporator through which a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows, while the heat exchanger 92 functions as a reheater through which a medium-temperature, medium-pressure refrigerant flows. As a result, the discharged air is at a temperature higher than the intake air temperature and has low absolute humidity, and is blown out from the outlet 87. The temperature does not decrease, but the absolute humidity does. As a result, the reheat dehumidification thermostat in the air conditioning unit 16 remains ON for a long period of time, and the compressor (not shown) operates continuously. This causes the surface temperature of the heat exchanger 91 (evaporator), the so-called evaporation temperature, to fall below the dew point temperature of the intake air. Consequently, moisture from the intake air condenses on the heat exchanger 91 (evaporator), and the amount of dehumidification removed increases with prolonged operation. This leads to a continuous decrease in the absolute humidity of the discharged air, a decrease in the absolute humidity of the conditioned air, and a decrease in the relative humidity of the air conditioning ducts, rooms, and spaces through which the conditioned air flows. In this embodiment, a heat pump type is used in which a refrigerant is circulated through the heat exchanger 92 (reheater), but a heat exchanger that circulates hot water generated using a fuel cell or the like as a heat source may also be used as the reheater.

[0043] As a result, the conditioned air passing through the air conditioning ducts contains less dust, bacteria, and moisture, and condensation is less likely to occur inside the air conditioning ducts. Therefore, even with long-term operation, moisture and mold spores are less likely to adhere to accumulated dust and mold, thus reducing the likelihood of mold growth. However, if there is a nonwoven fabric such as polypropylene on the inner surface of the air conditioning duct, this nonwoven fabric has breathability and moisture permeability, and dust, moisture, and mold spores may adhere to the insulation material inside the nonwoven fabric, leading to mold growth. Furthermore, if the insulation material is glass wool, moisture can seep into the gaps between the fibers due to its surface tension and capillary action. Even after drying, the fibers will stick together, preventing them from trapping the large amount of air necessary for insulation, thus reducing their insulating function. Therefore, once condensation occurs inside the duct, it becomes even more prone to further condensation. Furthermore, because nonwoven fabrics have a rough surface (unevenness), if the air passing through them contains a lot of dust or other particles for any reason, these particles tend to get caught in the nonwoven fabric and accumulate. Furthermore, when cleaning the inside of air conditioning ducts using a machine with rotating brushes or similar devices, the brushes may get caught on the uneven surface of the non-woven fabric, potentially damaging it. In such cases, by using an internal covering material 102 such as a polypropylene film, flexible polyvinyl chloride film, or PET film with a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm, which is non-permeable, non-moisture-permeable, and has a small surface roughness (surface irregularities) compared to polyester nonwoven fabric, on the inner surface of the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34, inside the insulation material 101 such as glass wool, and on the inner surface of the duct through which the conditioned air passes, dust, moisture, mold spores, etc. cannot enter the glass wool from the inner surface of the duct, making it difficult for mold to grow. Furthermore, dust and other particles do not easily accumulate on the surface, and since it does not contain moisture, it is difficult for mold to grow. As a result, dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors from inside the duct are less likely to enter the building 2, creating a healthy and comfortable space.

[0044] In this embodiment, the exhaust duct B55, supply duct A57, supply duct B61, and exhaust duct C68 also use ducts similar to the air conditioning ducts 30-34 described above. For the supply duct B61, the intrusion of dust and mold spores is suppressed by passing through the outside air purification filter 58, but the collection efficiency is not 100%. Although condensation is suppressed by total heat exchange with the indoor air in the heat exchange element 63, condensation is likely to occur during severe winter or extreme heat. Therefore, by using a duct similar to the air conditioning ducts 30-34, the risk of mold and other organisms growing inside the duct is reduced, and dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors from inside the duct are less likely to enter the building 2. Regarding the supply air duct A57, by using a duct similar to that of the air conditioning ducts 30-34, dust, mold spores, moisture, etc. are less likely to adhere to the inside of the supply air duct A57, slowing down the progression of dirt buildup, and reducing condensation caused by contact with the outside air at the outdoor supply air hood 56. Regarding the exhaust duct B55, by using a duct similar to that of the air conditioning ducts 30-34, dust, mold spores, moisture, etc. are less likely to adhere to the inside of the exhaust duct B55, slowing down the progression of dirt buildup, and allowing dust, mold spores, moisture, etc. to be easily discharged from the outdoor exhaust hood A54, and reducing condensation caused by contact with the outside air at the outdoor exhaust hood A54. Regarding the exhaust duct C68, by using the same type of duct as the air conditioning ducts 30-34, dust, mold spores, moisture, etc. are less likely to adhere to the inside of the exhaust duct C68, slowing down the progression of dirt buildup. In addition, dust, mold spores, moisture, etc. are more easily discharged from the outdoor exhaust hood C69, and condensation caused by contact with the outside air at the outdoor exhaust hood C69 is also reduced.

[0045] When the temperature is set in the temperature setting unit 125 of the room temperature controller 120 and the ducted air conditioning and ventilation system 1 is operated, the air conditioning unit 16, multiple air blowers 13, air purifier 80, and heat exchange ventilation unit 50 are properly controlled and operated by the air conditioning unit controller 110, as detailed below. The temperature, humidity, and dust concentration of the conditioned air in the mixing section 85 within the air conditioning unit 10 are detected by the temperature sensor 111 of the air conditioning unit controller 110, the humidity sensor 112 for detecting the humidity of the air, and the dust sensor 113 for detecting the mass concentration of dust in the air. The temperature of the air drawn in from the return air vent 44 (air mixed in the entrance hall 11 with return air from rooms and spaces and introduced outdoor air) is detected by the temperature sensor 121 of the room temperature controller 120, the humidity sensor 122 for detecting the humidity of the air, and the dust sensor 123 for detecting the mass concentration of dust in the air. Data is sent to the respective control units 114, 124, and data is sent from control unit 124 to control unit 114 via the signal line 150. Furthermore, the temperature data set by the temperature setting unit 125 of the room temperature controller 120 is sent to the control unit 124, and the data is sent from the control unit 124 to the control unit 114 via the signal line 150.

[0046] The control unit 114 compares the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 121 with the temperature set by the temperature setting unit 125 to determine the operating mode of the air conditioning unit 16 to either cooling or heating. If cooling operation is selected, the control unit compares the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 122 with a threshold value. If the humidity is lower than the threshold, cooling operation is selected; if the humidity is higher than the threshold, reheat dehumidification operation is selected. Furthermore, the control unit 114 estimates the average temperature of the room and space from the temperature of the air drawn in from the return air port 44 detected by the temperature sensor 121, and estimates the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct from the temperature of the conditioned air in the mixing unit 85 detected by the temperature sensor 111. The control unit 114 then determines the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 and the airflow rate of the air blower unit 13 so that the average temperature of the room and space becomes the set temperature, and the average temperature of the room and space becomes the average temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning duct, and the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct becomes within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating. The control unit 114 then sends the previously determined operating mode of the air conditioning unit 16 (cooling / heating / reheat dehumidification), the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 16, and the airflow rate of the air blower unit 13 as signals to the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16 via the signal line 151, and signals to the control units 140 of the multiple air blower units 13 via the signal line 153.

[0047] Regarding the airflow volume of the air blower unit 13, for example, if the floor area of ​​the building is approximately 100m² 2 The ceiling height is 2.5m, the cooling capacity is equivalent to 4kW, and the air conditioning volume during low-wind mode cooling is 600m³. 3 When an air conditioning unit 16 with a value of / h is installed, the air blowing unit 13 will have an airflow of 100m³ per unit at low airflow. 3 Approximately / h, 300m at maximum airflow 3 Ten units with a capacity of / h were installed, and the total airflow from the ten blowers 13 was 1000m³. 3 / h~2000m 3 Set to / h, and such that the airflow is greater than the air conditioning airflow of the air conditioning unit 16, and the total airflow is 30-60% of the airflow of the air conditioning unit 16 (low wind mode), 100m 3 / h to 300m 3 The setting is determined between / h, and during operation of this ducted air conditioning and ventilation system 1, the airflow rate is not set to 0, and the air velocity of the conditioned air in the 150mm inner diameter air conditioning ducts 30-34 is constantly controlled to 1.6-4.7 m / s. Generally, the evaporation rate of water due to the movement of air above the water surface Y (kg / m³) 2 s) is the saturated vapor pressure at the water surface Xw (kg / m³). 3 ), the amount of water vapor in the air above the water surface Xa (kg / m³ 3 ), and the rate of air movement above the water surface is V (m / s), so Y = K·V(Xw - Xa), and is proportional to the movement speed. When this is applied to air conditioning ducts 30-34, the amount of moisture condensed on the inner surface of the air conditioning duct evaporates increases in proportion to the airflow velocity of the conditioned air. Therefore, in this duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system 1, even if condensation occurs inside the air conditioning duct, the system is designed to keep the conditioned air flowing at all times, rather than setting the airflow rate to zero, in order to evaporate it as quickly as possible.

[0048] The control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16, having received signals for the operating mode and set temperature, determines the operating status of the compressor and other components of the air conditioning unit 16 in conjunction with the intake temperature data from the intake temperature sensor 133, and instructs the blower control unit 131 and the louver control unit 132, respectively, to set the rotation speed of the blower 90 and the angle of the louvers 94, and sends a signal to the control unit 135 of the air conditioning outdoor unit 14 via the signal line 152. Upon receiving a similar signal, the control unit 135 of the air conditioning outdoor unit 14 instructs the compressor control unit 136 and the outdoor fan control unit 137 to increase the rotational speed of the compressor and the rotational speed of the outdoor fan, respectively. Upon receiving the airflow signal, the control units 140 of the multiple air blowers 13 instruct the respective motor control units 141 to rotate at the respective motor speeds. Furthermore, the control unit 114 compares the dust concentration detected by the dust sensor 123 with a threshold value. If the concentration is lower than the threshold, it decides to stop the air purifier 80; if it is higher, it decides to operate the air purifier 80. The control unit 114 then sends a signal to the control unit 160 of the air purifier 80 via the signal line 154. Upon receiving the signal, the control unit 160 instructs the electrostatic dust collector control unit 161 to stop or operate the air purifier. Regarding the ventilation airflow of the heat exchange ventilation unit 50, the ventilation airflow setting means (not shown) of the air conditioning unit controller 110 sets a 24-hour ventilation airflow according to the size of the building 2. The control unit 114 sends a signal to the control unit 165 of the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 via the signal line 155, and the control unit 165 instructs the motor control unit 166 to rotate the fan according to that airflow. However, if the humidity and dust concentration detected by the humidity sensor 122 and dust sensor 123 are significantly higher than the threshold, the control unit 114 decides to temporarily increase the ventilation airflow beyond the 24-hour ventilation airflow and instructs the motor control unit 166 to rotate the fan accordingly.

[0049] Alternatively, for example, the control unit (not shown) of the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 and the control unit 114 may be connected by a signal line, and if the humidity and dust concentration detected by the humidity sensor 122 and dust sensor 123 are significantly greater than the threshold, the control unit 114 may decide to operate the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 and send a signal to the control unit (not shown) of the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67. Furthermore, in that case, since the exhaust from the ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 disrupts the supply and exhaust balance of the entire building 2, the control unit 114 may send a signal to the control unit 165 to increase the rotation speed of only the intake fan (not shown) that introduces outside air into the heat exchange ventilation unit 50 to restore the supply and exhaust balance.

[0050] For example, in summer, when the outdoor temperature is approximately 35°C and the relative humidity is approximately 40%, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 121 of the room temperature controller 120 is 28°C, and the temperature set by the temperature setting unit 125 is 25°C, the control unit 114 initially determines the operating mode of the air conditioning unit 16 to cooling. If the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 122 is 50%, which is lower than the threshold of 70%, it then decides to operate in cooling mode. Then, the control unit 114 estimates the average temperature of the room and space to be 27°C based on the temperature of 28°C detected by the temperature sensor 121, and estimates the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct to be 25°C based on the temperature of 25°C detected by the temperature sensor 111. To make the set temperature 25°C equal to the average room and space temperature of 27°C, and to make the average room and space temperature of 27°C equal to the average air temperature around the air conditioning duct of 27°C, the control unit 114 determines the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 to be 22°C, and to make the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct between 22°C and 27°C within 5K during cooling (the average temperature inside the air conditioning duct at this point is 25°C), and sets the airflow rate of the air blower unit 13 to 200 m³. 3 The value is determined as / h, and signals are sent to the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16 via signal line 151, and to the control units 140 of the multiple air blowers 13 via signal line 153. Upon receiving the operating mode "cooling" and the set temperature "22°C", the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16, along with the intake temperature data of "28°C" from the intake temperature sensor 133, instructs the air conditioning unit 16 to perform the following operations: for example, set the rotation speed of the blower 90 to 900 r / min, the angle of the louvers 94 from horizontal to 45 degrees downward, operate the compressor at a medium frequency of 52 Hz, and set the rotation speed of the outdoor blower to 600 r / min. Airflow volume: 200m 3 Upon receiving the signal " / h", the control units 140 of the multiple blower units 13 instruct their respective motor control units 141 to, for example, set the rotation speed of their respective motors to 1200 r / min.

[0051] For example, during the rainy season, if the outdoor temperature is approximately 27°C and the relative humidity is approximately 80%, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 121 of the room temperature controller 120 is 24°C, and the temperature set by the temperature setting unit 125 is 22°C, the control unit 114 will initially determine the operating mode of the air conditioning unit 16 to cooling. However, if the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 122 is 80%, which is higher than the threshold of 70%, it will then decide to perform reheat dehumidification operation. Then, the control unit 114 estimates the average temperature of the room and space to be 23°C based on the temperature of 24°C detected by the temperature sensor 121, and estimates the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct to be 20°C based on the temperature of 20°C detected by the temperature sensor 111. To make the set temperature 22°C equal to the average room and space temperature of 23°C, and to make the average air temperature around the air conditioning duct 23°C equal to the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct to be 18°C ​​to 23°C within 5K during cooling (the average temperature inside the air conditioning duct at this point is 20°C), the control unit 114 determines the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 to be 22°C, and sets the airflow rate of the air blower unit 13 to 150 m³. 3 The value is determined as / h, and signals are sent to the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16 via signal line 151, and to the control units 140 of the multiple air blowers 13 via signal line 153. Upon receiving the operating mode "reheat dehumidification" and the set temperature "22°C", the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16, along with the intake temperature data of "23°C" from the intake temperature sensor 133, instructs the air conditioning unit 16 to perform the following operations: for example, set the rotation speed of the blower 90 to 600 r / min, the angle of the louvers 94 from horizontal to 45 degrees downward, operate the compressor at a low frequency of 32 Hz, and set the rotation speed of the outdoor blower to 600 r / min. Airflow volume: 150m 3 Upon receiving the signal " / h", the control units 140 of the multiple blower units 13 instruct their respective motor control units 141 to, for example, set the rotation speed of their respective motors to 900 r / min.

[0052] For example, if the outdoor temperature in winter is approximately 7°C, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 121 of the room temperature controller 120 is 16°C, and the temperature set by the temperature setting unit 125 is 20°C, the control unit 114 will determine the operating mode of the air conditioning unit 16 to be heating. Then, the control unit 114 estimates the average temperature of the room and space to be 17°C based on the temperature of 16°C detected by the temperature sensor 121, and estimates the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct to be 25°C based on the temperature of 25°C detected by the temperature sensor 111. To make the average room and space temperature of 17°C equal to the set temperature of 20°C, and to make the average room and space temperature of 17°C equal to the average temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning duct of 17°C, the control unit 114 determines the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 to be 22°C, so that during heating the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct is between 17°C and 27°C within 10K (the average temperature inside the air conditioning duct at this point is 25°C), and sets the airflow rate of the air blower unit 13 to 200 m³. 3 The value is determined as / h, and signals are sent to the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16 via signal line 151, and to the control units 140 of the multiple air blowers 13 via signal line 153. Upon receiving the operating mode "heating" and the set temperature "22°C", the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16, along with the intake temperature data of "16°C" from the intake temperature sensor 133, instructs the air conditioning unit 16 to perform the following operations: for example, set the rotation speed of the blower 90 to 900 r / min, the angle of the louvers 94 downwards from horizontal to 60 degrees, operate the compressor at a medium frequency of 52 Hz, and set the rotation speed of the outdoor blower to 900 r / min. Airflow volume: 200m 3 Upon receiving the signal " / h", the control units 140 of the multiple blower units 13 instruct their respective motor control units 141 to, for example, set the rotation speed of their respective motors to 1200 r / min.

[0053] Thereafter, at a certain point, the control unit 114 determines the set temperature of the air conditioning unit 16 and the airflow rate of the air blower unit 13 so that the average temperature of the room or space reaches the set temperature, and the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct is within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating relative to the average temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning duct. It then sends signals to the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16 via the signal line 151 and to the control units 140 of the multiple air blower units 13 via the signal line 153. Upon receiving signals for the operating mode and set temperature, the control unit 130 of the air conditioning unit 16, along with the intake temperature data from the intake temperature sensor 133, instructs the operating status of the compressor and other components of the air conditioning unit 16, such as the rotation speed of the fan and the angle of the louvers, the operating frequency of the compressor, and the rotation speed of the outdoor fan. Upon receiving the airflow signal, the control units 140 of the multiple air blowers 13 instruct the respective motor control units 141 to rotate at the respective motor speeds. The above process is repeated until the air conditioning unit controller 110 stops the unit.

[0054] During operation, the air blower unit 13 continues to rotate its sirocco fan, although its rotation speed is controlled, and does not stop, continuously supplying air to the air conditioning ducts 30-34. This is because it keeps the air inside the air conditioning ducts 30-34 moving, sweeping out surface dust and other debris from the outlet, evaporating moisture, and effectively equalizing the temperature and humidity throughout the building 2, including both inside and outside the air conditioning ducts 30-34. Furthermore, it is desirable that the air conditioning unit controller 110 be operated continuously 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except for shutdowns due to maintenance or when the unit is unoccupied for extended periods. The blower unit 13 is rotated by a highly efficient DC motor (not shown), so it is inherently energy-efficient, and power consumption decreases further in proportion to the rotation speed. However, the compressor of the outdoor air conditioning unit 14 accounts for a large proportion of the power consumption of this system. Therefore, even with continuous operation, unless the air conditioning load is extremely high due to the outside temperature or sunlight, the compressor will operate at a low frequency or stop when the system is stable. As a result, even if the blower unit 13 continues to operate, the system's power consumption is very low, while it is very effective in preventing the adhesion and accumulation of dust, mold, and moisture in the air conditioning ducts 30-34. Furthermore, if it is not possible to reconcile the requirements of "setting the average temperature of the room or space to the set temperature" and "ensuring that the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct is within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating relative to the average temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning duct," the control is normally configured to prioritize "setting the average temperature of the room or space to the set temperature" from the user's perspective. However, when the air conditioning load is high at the start of operation, for example, it is possible to change to a mode that prioritizes "ensuring that the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct is within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating relative to the average temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning duct" by using a hidden operation provided in the air conditioning unit controller 110 (for example, setting the set temperature to the minimum or maximum temperature at the start of operation). However, in principle, the amount of moisture, dust, bacteria, etc. in the air passing through the air conditioning duct is significantly less than in a normal ducted air conditioning and ventilation system. By installing an air conditioning unit 16 with appropriate capacity in a highly airtight and well-insulated building 2, and setting the total airflow from the air blower unit 13 to be greater than the air conditioning airflow from the air conditioning unit 16, and setting 30-60% of the total airflow as the air conditioning airflow (low wind mode) of the air conditioning unit 16, when the system is running stably for a long period of time, the temperature of the air blown out by the air conditioning unit 16 becomes almost equal to the temperature of the intake air, and the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning duct becomes almost equal to the average temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning duct. As a result, dust and other particles are less likely to accumulate inside the air conditioning duct, and it is less likely to contain moisture, making it difficult for mold and other microorganisms to grow.

[0055] In this embodiment, the purpose of providing air outlets 25 and 26 in the insulated attic space 6 and underfloor space 7, and supplying conditioned air through multiple air blowers 13, is, of course, to conditioned the spaces through which the air conditioning ducts 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34 pass, thereby preventing condensation inside and outside the air conditioning ducts. To prepare for changes in the air conditioning load and the risk of deterioration of insulation materials over time, air outlets may be provided in all insulated spaces through which the air conditioning ducts 30 to 34 pass. For example, air outlets may be provided in the vertical shaft 35. Another reason for placing the air vents in spaces where people are rarely present is that air conditioning the entire building 2 with conditioned air results in a uniform temperature throughout the building with minimal temperature differences between rooms and spaces, reducing heat transfer and making it more energy-efficient in maintaining a comfortable environment. In particular, the attic space 6 and the underfloor space 7 are large spaces facing the exterior walls of building 2, which further enhances the insulation of building 2 and results in more energy-efficient air conditioning. In this embodiment, the air conditioning unit 16 is described as a so-called indoor air conditioning unit in which heat exchangers 91, 92 and a blower 90 are housed in an integrated casing, the blower unit 13 is described as a so-called blower, and the air conditioning unit 10 is described as a relatively compact room of about 1 tsubo (approximately 3.3 square meters) surrounded on all four sides by insulated walls, which is an air conditioning room. However, the air conditioning unit 10 may be described as a casing enclosed in sheet metal or the like, with only a heat exchanger provided as the air conditioning unit 16 and multiple blowers provided as the blower unit 13. The multiple blowers would then pass a portion of the air drawn into the air conditioning unit 10 through the heat exchanger to become blown air, and a portion of the air drawn into the air conditioning unit 10 would be bypassed air that does not pass through the heat exchanger. The bypass air and blown air would then be mixed within the casing to create conditioned air, which would then be blown into each room and each space. In this case as well, it is desirable that the air conditioning unit 16, the multiple blower units 13, and the air purifier 80 be of a size and structure that facilitates maintenance and work such as cleaning.

[0056] As an example of this embodiment, the floor area of ​​building 2 is approximately 100 m². 2 Assuming a ceiling height of 2.5m, in order to maintain a uniform temperature and energy-efficient air conditioning and ventilation in each room or space, the total airflow volume to each room or space is 1500m³. 3 If set to / h, the circulation rate will be 6 times / h, and the processing airflow of the air purifier 80 will also be 1500m³. 3 With a circulation rate of 6 times per hour, this rational system provides a large volume of airflow for the air conditioning and ventilation of the entire building 2, and also purifies the air throughout the entire building 2, including inside the air conditioning ducts. Generally, electric dust collectors have advantages over HEPA filter types, such as lower airflow resistance, lower power consumption and operating noise in the air blower unit 13, less clogging, and a longer lifespan. However, they also have disadvantages, such as lower transient dust collection efficiency and the generation of by-products like ozone. Conversely, HEPA filter systems generally have disadvantages such as high airflow resistance, high power consumption and operating noise in the air blower unit 13, a tendency to clog, and a short lifespan. On the other hand, they have advantages such as high transient dust collection efficiency, the ability to capture finer particles in a short time, and the absence of by-products such as ozone. In this embodiment, dust and mold spore-level particles to be removed can be removed by any method if the system is operated for a long period of time. Therefore, the method should be selected based on the type and extent of other harmful substances to be removed, the shape of the machine, the shape of the air conditioning unit 10, the airflow velocity inside the air conditioning unit 10, the frequency of maintenance, and the points that the user considers important. In particular, with a HEPA filter system, passing such a large volume of air through it would require a significant improvement in the performance (PQ, etc.) of the air blower 13, and would also increase noise. However, in this embodiment, multiple air blowers 13, for example, 10 air blowers 13, are used to circulate air within the building 2, thus mitigating the need to improve the performance of each individual air blower 13. Furthermore, increasing the airflow per unit is easily achieved by increasing the rotation speed of the DC motor in each air blower 13. The increase in power consumption is less compared to AC motors, allowing for a rational, energy-saving, and highly efficient way to increase the total airflow and purify the air inside the building 2. Furthermore, if the size of the return air vent 44 of the air conditioning unit 10 is set so that the airflow velocity through the HEPA filter is 1 m / s or less, the increase in noise can be suppressed. However, increasing the size of the air conditioning unit 10 is relatively easy if there is sufficient space within the building 2.

[0057] In this embodiment, the filter unit and air purifier 80 are arranged in the order of return air port filter 75 (efficiency of 80% or more) and air purifier 80 (capable of capturing particles as small as 0.3 μm) from the upstream of the air passage in the air conditioning unit 10 toward the air conditioning ducts 30 to 34, with a blower unit filter 77 (efficiency of 30%) placed immediately before the air conditioning ducts 30 to 34. However, the filter unit and air purifier 80 may be placed in the middle of the circulation path if they efficiently purify the air passing through the circulation path and are easy to maintain. Furthermore, regarding the order in which the filter unit and air purifier 80 are arranged in the circulation path and within the air conditioning unit 10, placing those capable of capturing larger particles or with lower capture efficiency upstream, and those capable of capturing smaller particles or with higher capture efficiency downstream, will prevent a sudden increase in pressure loss between the filter unit and air purifier, resulting in energy savings and reduced maintenance frequency such as cleaning. Furthermore, as with the blower filter 77 in this embodiment, providing a filter immediately before the air conditioning ducts 30-34 is effective in minimizing the intrusion of dust and other particles even if there is leakage in the air passage, other filter units, or air purifier 80 upstream. For example, it would be reasonable to leave the blower filter 77 in the same position even if its efficiency is reduced, and to add a pre-return air filter (efficiency 30%) upstream of the return air filter 75, so that the order is pre-return air filter (efficiency 30%), return air filter 75 (efficiency 80% or more), air purifier 80 (capable of capturing particles as small as 0.3 μm), and blower filter (low efficiency). Here, the filter mentioned above does not include the pre-filter for the air purifier 80, but it is desirable to include this as well, to create a rational filter configuration and order. Furthermore, the reason why the air conditioning filter 76 (which has low efficiency) is not placed in this order is that there is an airflow path in the circulation system that can bypass the air conditioning filter 76, and increasing the efficiency of the air conditioning filter 76 would only increase the amount of air that bypasses it. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an air conditioning unit 16 with a reheat dehumidification function and a mixing unit 85 are provided within the airtight and insulated air conditioning unit 10, almost directly in front of the air blower 13 at the inlet of the air conditioning ducts 30 to 34. This allows conditioned air with reduced absolute humidity and appropriate temperature and humidity to be directly supplied to the air conditioning ducts 30 to 34, preventing condensation inside the air conditioning ducts 30 to 34.

[0058] As described above, the air conditioning unit 10 produces conditioned air at a temperature of 5K or less during cooling and 10K or less during heating, which is then blown into the ducts at a high volume. This air is then blown out from outlets 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 in rooms A20, B21, the entrance hall 11, the attic space (insulated space) 6, and the underfloor space (insulated space) 7, providing air conditioning to the rooms and upper and lower insulated spaces within the highly airtight and well-insulated building 2. This ensures that the building 2, including insulated spaces with high air conditioning loads such as solar radiation, maintains a comfortable and uniform temperature and humidity. Furthermore, because the air conditioning ducts 30-34 pass through insulated spaces, condensation inside and outside the ducts during cooling, and condensation inside the ducts during heating, are less likely to occur. Furthermore, multiple filter sections (return air filter 75, air conditioning unit filter 76, blower unit filter 77) are provided in the circulation path (air conditioning unit 10) through which conditioned air flows and returns, purifying the air inside the building 2. A heat exchange ventilation unit 50 and an outside air purification filter 58 are provided in the outdoor air intake path to purify the incoming outdoor air. A portion of the air that has been conditioned in the rooms and insulated spaces is then discharged outside through so-called dirty zones (toilets 51, washrooms, etc.) via the air conditioning ducts 30-34, thereby introducing purified outdoor air and purifying the air inside the building 2 while discharging the dusty and moisture-contaminated air inside the building 2. As this purified air flows through the air conditioning ducts 30-34, dust and other contaminants are less likely to accumulate inside the ducts. Furthermore, within Building 2, a ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 67 is installed to expel air from areas such as the bathroom 66 and kitchen, which generate moisture from bathing and cooking, in addition to moisture generated by humans, to the outside. As a result, this moisture does not accumulate within Building 2 and is not included in the conditioned air, so it does not flow into the conditioned ducts 30-34. As a result, dust, moisture, and condensation do not accumulate or stagnate in the air conditioning ducts 30-34, making it difficult for mold to grow and for odors caused by bacteria to develop. This prevents dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors from entering building 2, creating a healthy and comfortable space. Furthermore, even after long-term use, maintenance such as replacement or cleaning of the air conditioning ducts 30-34 is unnecessary, ensuring that building 2 is always equipped with healthy and comfortable air conditioning and ventilation.

[0059] Building 2, which is highly airtight and well-insulated, is given roof insulation and foundation insulation. The attic space 6, which is at the top of the building and easily affected by solar radiation and outside temperature, is made into an insulated space. The underfloor space 7, which is at the bottom of Building 2 and is affected by the temperature of the ground and tends to be humid, is also made into an insulated space. Each of these spaces is air-conditioned, and together with the air conditioning of the rooms, which are insulated spaces on the sides of Building 2, all spaces facing the envelope of Building 2 are insulated spaces and are all air-conditioned. As a result, the temperature and humidity inside Building 2, including inside and outside the air conditioning ducts 30-34, become more uniform, and condensation inside and outside the ducts during cooling and inside the ducts during heating is less likely to occur. Furthermore, the air blower 13 of the air conditioning unit 10 draws a portion of the air drawn in from the return air inlet (intake) 44 into the air conditioning unit 16, where it is conditioned and then blown out. A portion of the air drawn in from the intake is not drawn into the air conditioning unit 16, but instead merges with the previously blown-out air in the mixing unit 85, where it is mixed. By adjusting the airflow of the air conditioning unit 16, the set temperature, the airflow of the air blower 13, etc., it is possible to stably produce a large volume of conditioned air within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating, relative to the temperature of the air surrounding the air conditioning ducts 30-34, in an energy-efficient manner. Since this conditioned air is passed through the air conditioning ducts 30-34, condensation on the air conditioning ducts is less likely to occur. Furthermore, because the airflow from the fan unit 13 is significantly greater than that from the air conditioning unit 16, the temperature of the intake air from the air conditioning unit 16 remains stable for a long time, being slightly higher (during cooling) or slightly lower (during heating) than the set temperature. Especially during cooling operation in summer, the air conditioning unit 16 remains in a thermo-ON state with a small temperature difference for a long time, and the compressor operates continuously at a low frequency. As a result, the surface temperature of the evaporator, the so-called evaporation temperature, falls below the dew point temperature of the intake air, causing moisture from the intake air to condense on the evaporator. Over time, a large amount of dehumidification is removed, the absolute humidity of the discharged air decreases continuously for a long time, and the absolute humidity of the conditioned air also decreases. Consequently, the relative humidity in the air conditioning ducts 30-34, the room, and the space through which the conditioned air flows also decreases, making condensation less likely in the air conditioning ducts 30-34 during cooling operation.

[0060] Furthermore, by driving the compressor and other components of the air conditioning unit 16, the system is energy-efficient because it increases the airflow of the blower unit 13, which has a significantly lower running cost per unit of airflow, compared to the airflow of the air conditioning unit 16, which has a higher running cost per unit of airflow, to produce conditioned air and pass it through the air conditioning ducts 30-34. As an example, an air conditioner (air conditioning unit) with a cooling capacity of 4kW and a COP of 4 can circulate 1200m³ of air throughout the entire house. 3 To produce conditioned air at a rate of / h, at least 600m 3 Two air conditioners are needed at a rate of / h, and if capacity is controlled and the thermostat is not turned off, it will cost approximately 30-40 yen / h. However, to produce conditioned air using an air conditioner (air conditioning unit) and a fan (air blower unit), one air conditioner and 200m 3 Six fans with a capacity of 1 / h are needed, and assuming capacity control and no thermostat shut-off, each fan uses a DC motor and consumes approximately 5W / h of power, so it is estimated that the cost would be roughly the same as one air conditioner, about 20 yen / h. Generally, air conditioner fans are through-flow fans, so they have low static pressure and cannot blow air through ducts. Depending on the layout of the house, it is difficult to circulate conditioned air throughout the entire house with just two air conditioners, and in reality, more air conditioners are needed, further increasing running costs. On the other hand, fans are axial-flow fans, so they have high static pressure and are suitable for circulating air through ducts. Therefore, one air conditioner can produce conditioned air, resulting in lower running costs.

[0061] Furthermore, during reheat dehumidification operation, one heat exchanger 91 functions as an evaporator through which a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant flows, and the other heat exchanger 92 functions as a reheater through which a medium-temperature, medium-pressure refrigerant flows. As a result, the discharged air is hotter than the intake air temperature and has low absolute humidity, and is blown out from the outlet 87. Consequently, the reheat dehumidification thermostat in the air conditioning unit 16 remains ON for a long time, and the compressor operates continuously. This causes the surface temperature of the evaporator, the so-called evaporation temperature, to fall below the dew point temperature of the intake air, causing moisture from the intake air to condense on the evaporator. With prolonged operation, the amount of dehumidification removed increases, the absolute humidity of the discharged air decreases over a long period, and the absolute humidity of the conditioned air also decreases. This reduces the relative humidity in the air conditioning ducts 30-34, rooms, and spaces through which the conditioned air flows, making condensation in the air conditioning ducts 30-34 less likely, especially during the rainy season or other periods of medium temperature and high humidity. Furthermore, a HEPA filter type or electrostatic precipitator type air purifier 80 is installed in the circulation path (air conditioning unit 10) to remove mold spore-level particles contained in the conditioned air, making it more difficult for mold to grow in the air conditioning ducts 30-34 through which the conditioned air passes.

[0062] Furthermore, the inner surface of the air conditioning ducts 30-34, through which the conditioned air flows, does not have a nonwoven fabric with good breathability and moisture permeability and large surface irregularities. Instead, it has a non-breathable, non-moisture permeable polypropylene film, soft polyvinyl chloride film, or PET film with a small surface roughness (surface irregularities). As a result, dust, moisture, and mold spores cannot enter the glass wool from the surface, making it difficult for mold to grow. Moreover, dust and other particles do not easily accumulate on the surface, and it does not contain moisture, making it difficult for mold to grow. This prevents dust, mold, bacteria, and unpleasant odors from inside the air conditioning ducts 30-34 from entering the building 2, thus creating a healthy and comfortable space. Furthermore, the average temperature of the room or space automatically becomes the set temperature, and the average temperature of the air inside the air conditioning ducts 30-34 is within 5K during cooling and within 10K during heating, relative to the average temperature of the surrounding air. This allows the room or space to be kept at the user's set temperature while suppressing condensation inside and outside the air conditioning ducts, and ensures that mold and other microorganisms are less likely to grow even in the event of external disturbances or changes in the air conditioning load.

[0063] (Embodiment 2) Figure 6 is a diagram showing the construction of a sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct for the system in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. For example, if room B21 is used as a bedroom and the noise from the air outlet 23 in room B21 (noise from the flow of conditioned air, and noise propagation from the air conditioning unit 10) is so loud that it interferes with daily life, such as making it difficult to sleep, the noise can be reduced by installing a sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 with high sound absorption and heat insulation properties between the air conditioning duct 31 and the air outlet 23. One flange of fitting 171 is connected to the air conditioning duct 31, and the other flange is connected to one end of a flexible sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 with an inner diameter of 150 mm and a length of 3 m. When making the connection, nails are driven in from all four sides around the duct to prevent leaks from occurring over the long term even when force is applied, and then airtight and heat-insulating tape is applied with sufficient overlap. The other end of the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 is connected to the flange 172 of the outlet 23 in the same manner as described above. The mounting flange 175 of the air outlet 23 is passed through the mounting hole 174 opened in the ceiling 173 of room B21, and then attached to the ceiling 173 with screws or the like. When cleaning or replacing the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170, the size of the mounting hole 174 should be 400mm or larger, and the size of the mounting hole 174 should be 450mm or larger to block the outlet 23. This allows for cleaning and replacement of the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 by removing the outlet 23 from the ceiling 173 and pulling the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 out of the mounting hole 174 towards room B21. Furthermore, the position of the mounting hole 174 should be determined so that the joint 171 can be worked on by inserting a hand through the mounting hole 174, and it is desirable that the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 be coiled around the mounting hole 174 on the back side of the ceiling 173.

[0064] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct. The 170 sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct is a flexible duct with an inner diameter of 150 mm, offering high sound absorption, heat insulation, and moisture resistance. The duct is constructed as follows, from the outside in: an external covering material 100 such as a flexible polyethylene sheet with a thickness of about 0.08 mm; an insulating material 101 such as glass wool with a thickness of about 25 mm and a density of about 24 kg / m3; an internal covering material 102 such as a polypropylene film, soft polyvinyl chloride film, or PET film with a thickness of about 0.1 mm that is non-permeable, non-moisture permeable, and has a small surface roughness (surface irregularities), as opposed to polyester nonwoven fabric; an air layer 180 with a thickness of 10 to 50 mm; a sound-absorbing material 181 made of aluminum fiber with a thickness of 1 to 2 mm that has high sound absorption and weather resistance; and an air passage 103 through which conditioned air passes. A molding core material (not shown) such as polypropylene resin is provided inside the internal covering material 102 and outside the sound-absorbing material 181 so that even if the sound-absorbing and insulating duct 170 is bent, the entire duct does not buckle and the cross-sectional area of ​​the internal air layer 180 and air passage 103 is secured. The sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 has an internal covering material 102, such as polypropylene film, flexible polyvinyl chloride film, or PET film, which is non-permeable, non-moisture-permeable, and has a smooth surface (surface irregularities), to prevent dust, moisture, mold spores, etc. from entering the glass wool insulation material 101. Therefore, mold and other microorganisms are less likely to grow in the glass wool. Inside, there is an air layer 180 and an aluminum fiber sound-absorbing material 181, which is in contact with the air passage 103. As a result, fluid noise from the conditioned air and noise generated by the air conditioning unit 10, etc., are absorbed by the air layer 180 and the porous sound-absorbing material 181. The sound-absorbing material 181 itself is made of aluminum fiber, so it has excellent weather resistance, does not absorb moisture even if condensation occurs, and even if it enters the inner air layer 180, the internal covering material 102 prevents it from entering further, and instead, gravity and evaporation cause it to return to the air passage 103. Dust and other particles are unlikely to enter the air layer 180 because the sound-absorbing material 181 acts as a filter, and only adhere to the surface. Therefore, the sound-absorbing material 181 of the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 should be cleaned periodically, about once a year, by removing dust and other particles attached to the surface of the sound-absorbing material 181 through the mounting hole 174. If it deteriorates over time, the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 should be removed and replaced. Regarding cleaning, the inner surface of the duct does not have non-woven fabric and is made of metal sound-absorbing material, so it is strong and unlikely to be damaged even when cleaned with a brush or similar tool.

[0065] In this embodiment, the insulation material 101 of the sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170 uses glass wool with a thickness of 25 mm and a density of approximately 24 kg / m³. However, if the outer diameter of the duct becomes large and it is difficult to secure space for the duct within the insulated space of the building 2, the density of the insulation material can be increased to 100 kg / m³. 3 Alternatively, the duct space may be secured by using glass wool or similar material with a thickness of 10 mm or less. In that case, the thermal insulation of the duct will be slightly reduced, so it is desirable to take measures such as strengthening the insulation of the space through which the duct passes, passing the duct through an insulated space away from the building envelope 2, or increasing the number of air outlets 25 and 26 in the insulated space to increase the air conditioning capacity. Furthermore, the thickness of the air layer 181, ranging from 10 to 50 mm, is determined by the frequency and magnitude of the noise to be absorbed. As a result, a sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 170, which has an aluminum fiber sound-absorbing material 181 with high sound absorption and weather resistance on the surface through which the conditioned air flows inside the duct, is installed between the outlet 23 and the conditioned duct 31, replaceable through a mounting hole 174. This makes it possible to reduce noise from the outlet 23 in rooms where greater quietness is required, such as bedrooms. Furthermore, since dust and other particles adhere only to the surface of the sound-absorbing material, mold and other particles are less likely to grow compared to sound-absorbing materials such as glass wool, and the heat insulation performance does not deteriorate. Regular cleaning and, in the event that duct replacement is necessary, the inside of the duct can be easily cleaned or replaced through the mounting hole 174. [Industrial applicability]

[0066] This system maintains cleanliness within the ducts even during long-term operation, enabling highly efficient air conditioning and ventilation throughout the entire building, thus maintaining a healthy and comfortable environment. It can be applied to air conditioning and ventilation in any building that uses ducts to transport conditioned and ventilated air, including not only residential homes but also hotels, offices, commercial facilities, hospitals, factories, and research facilities. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1. Ducted air conditioning and ventilation system 2 buildings 3. Roof 4 Basics 5. Insulated sashes 6. Attic space (insulated space) 7. Underfloor space (insulated space) 10 Air conditioning units 11 Entrance Hall 12. Stair landing 13. Air blower 14 Air conditioner outdoor unit 15 Electrical Wiring 16. Air Conditioning Department Room 20 A Room 21 B 22 Air outlet 23 Air outlet 24 Air outlet 25 Air outlet 26 Air outlet 30 Air conditioning ducts 31 Air conditioning ducts 32 Air conditioning ducts 33. Air conditioning ducts 34. Air conditioning ducts 35 Vertical shaft 40 Exhaust vents 41 Exhaust vent 42 Exhaust vents 43 Exhaust vent 44. Return air port (suction part) 50 Heat exchange ventilation unit 51 Toilet 52 Ventilation exhaust vents 53 Exhaust duct A 54 Outdoor exhaust hood A 55 Exhaust duct B 56 Outdoor air intake hood 57 Air supply duct A 58. Outdoor air purification filter 59 Filter Box 60 Ventilation air intake 61 Air supply duct B 63 Heat exchange element 64-element pre-filter 65 Galari 66 Bathroom 67 Ceiling-mounted ventilation fan 68 Exhaust duct C 69 Outdoor exhaust hood C 70 Galley 75. Return air vent filter (filter section) 76. Air conditioning filter (filter section) 77. Air blower filter (filter section) 80 Air purifier 85 Mixing section 86 Inlet 87 Air outlet 88 Inlet 90 Blower 91 Heat exchanger 92 Heat exchanger 93 Drain pan 94 Louvers 100 External cladding 101 Insulation 102 Internal coating material 103 Wind path 110 Air Conditioning Unit Controller 111 Temperature sensor 112 Humidity Sensor 113 Dust sensor 114 Control Unit 120 Room Temperature Controller 121 Temperature sensor 122 Humidity Sensor 123 Dust Sensor 124 Control Unit 125 Temperature setting section 130 Control Unit 131 Blower control unit 132 Louver control unit 133 Intake temperature sensor 135 Control Unit 136 Compressor Control Unit 137 Outdoor fan control unit 140 Control Unit 141 Motor Control Unit 150 signal line 151 signal line 152 signal line 153 Signal Line 154 signal line 155 signal line 160 Control Unit 161 Electrostatic dust collector control unit 165 Control Unit 166 Motor Control Unit 170 Sound-absorbing and heat-insulating duct 171 Fittings 172 Flange 173 Ceiling 174 mounting holes 175 Mounting flange 180 Air layer 181 Sound-absorbing material

Claims

1. By installing air vents in rooms and insulated spaces within a highly airtight and highly insulated building, The air conditioning unit installed in the building and the air outlet are connected by an air conditioning duct. The air conditioning duct is passed through the aforementioned insulated space. From the aforementioned air conditioning unit toward the aforementioned outlet, The room and the insulated space are air-conditioned by supplying conditioned air, with a temperature of 5K or less during cooling and 10K or less during heating, into the air conditioning duct, relative to the temperature of the surrounding air. The aforementioned air conditioning unit is equipped with a filter to purify the air inside the building. The airflow path from the air conditioning unit to the air outlet, and the airflow path returning from the room and the insulated space to the air conditioning unit, is defined as the circulation path. An outdoor air intake path is provided to introduce outdoor air from outside into the circulation path or the air conditioning unit. An intake fan and a filter are provided in the aforementioned outdoor air intake path to purify the introduced outdoor air. The circulation path, the room without the air outlet, or the insulated space without the air outlet are provided with at least one of these, and an indoor air exhaust path is provided to discharge the air from inside the building to the outside. A ducted air conditioning and ventilation system characterized by providing an exhaust fan in the indoor air discharge passage to discharge at least one of the air in the circulation passage or the air that remains in the building to the outside.

2. The aforementioned building, which is highly airtight and well-insulated, has both a roof insulation specification and a foundation insulation specification. The aforementioned insulated space consists of the attic space and the underfloor space. The aforementioned air conditioning unit includes an air conditioning section, a blower section, an intake section, and a mixing section in its housing. The suction section is provided with the filter section, The air blower unit cleans the air drawn in from the intake unit through the filter unit. A portion of the purified air is drawn into the air conditioning unit and conditioned. The air blown out from the air conditioning unit and a portion of the purified air are mixed in the mixing unit to form the conditioned air. The conditioned air is blown out from the outlet through the conditioned duct. The duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the airflow from the air supply unit is greater than the airflow from the air conditioning unit.

3. The duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system according to claim 2, characterized in that the air conditioning unit has a reheat dehumidification function.

4. The duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a HEPA filter type or electrostatic precipitator type air purifier is provided in the circulation path or the air conditioning unit.

5. On the surface inside the air conditioning duct through which the conditioned air flows, A duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one of a polypropylene film, a flexible polyvinyl chloride film, or a PET film.

6. It has a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the room or the insulated space, and a temperature setting unit that sets the temperature, The mixing section has a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the mixing section, The duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a control unit that controls the air conditioning unit and the air blowing unit based on the detected values ​​of the two temperature sensors and the set temperature of the temperature setting unit.

7. The duct-type air conditioning and ventilation system according to claim 6, characterized in that a replaceable insulated duct having an aluminum fiber sound-absorbing material is provided between the air conditioning duct and the outlet, on the inner surface of the duct through which the conditioned air flows.

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