Humidifier and air conditioning system equipped therewith

Abstract

To provide a humidifier which can reduce erroneous detection of a water level detection part, and an air conditioning system including the humidifier.SOLUTION: A humidifier 10 includes a water storage part 5, a pumping pipe 17 which rotates to pump water from a water storage part 5 and discharge it in a centrifugal direction, a float 40 which turns around a turning axis Lb according to a water level of the water storage part 5, and a water supply control part 65 which controls water supply to the water storage part 5 on the basis of a turning position of the float 40. The turning axis Lb extends in a direction approximately orthogonal to a concentric circle around a rotation axis La of the pumping pipe 17 and on a horizontal plane.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a humidifying device applicable to air conditioning systems, and an air conditioning system including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Air conditioning systems including a humidifying device that humidifies air using water from a water storage tank are known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an air conditioner having a cooling and heating function that performs humidification using water from a water storage tank. This device has a water level detection unit to keep the water in the water storage tank constant. This water level detection unit supplies water from a water supply pump to the water storage tank in response to changes in the resistance values of a water temperature thermistor and an air temperature thermistor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, the number of highly airtight houses has increased, and the relative humidity has decreased due to heating by air conditioners. As a result, dissatisfaction with dryness has risen, and the need for humidification is increasing. As a humidifying device, it is conceivable to humidify air using water from a water storage section. In the water storage section, in order to prevent malfunction due to water shortage, it is conceivable to provide a water level detection unit that detects the water level, so as to control water supply to keep the water level within a certain range. The water level detection unit of Patent Document 1 uses a thermistor to detect the water level. In a water level sensor using a thermistor, scale deposits on the thermistor, which causes the capacitance to fluctuate, possibly resulting in erroneous detection. It cannot be said that Patent Document 1 provides sufficient disclosure from the viewpoint of reducing erroneous detection by the water level detection unit.

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a humidifier capable of reducing false detections in the water level detection unit and an air conditioning system using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, a humidifier according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a water storage section, a water pumping pipe that rotates to lift water from the water storage section and discharge it centrifugally, a float that rotates about a pivot axis according to the water level in the water storage section, and a water supply control unit that controls the supply of water to the water storage section based on the rotation position of the float. The pivot axis extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to concentric circles on a horizontal plane centered on the rotation axis of the water pumping pipe.

[0007] Furthermore, any conversion of the expressions in this disclosure between methods, apparatus, systems, recording media, computer programs, etc., is also valid as a form of this disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a humidifier that can reduce false detections in the water level detection unit and an air conditioning system using the same. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a ventilation system equipped with a humidifier according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a humidifier according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a schematic plan view showing the water storage section of the humidifier. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a plan view showing the water level detection unit of the humidifier. [Figure 5] Figure 2 is a side view showing the water level detection unit of the humidifier. [Figure 6] This is another side view showing the water level detection unit of the humidifier shown in Figure 2. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the effect of water surface waves on the water level detection unit. [Figure 8]This diagram shows the airflow of the humidifier in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In the embodiments and modifications, the same or equivalent components and members will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted as appropriate. In addition, the dimensions of the members in each drawing will be enlarged or reduced as appropriate for ease of understanding. Furthermore, some members that are not important for explaining the embodiments will be omitted from the drawings.

[0011] Furthermore, while terms including ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used to describe various components, these terms are used solely to distinguish one component from others, and do not limit the components themselves.

[0012] [Examples] A humidifier 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the air conditioning system 100 will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an air conditioning system 100 equipped with a humidifier 10 according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning system 100 comprises a humidifier 10, a heat exchange unit 90, an air supply passage 71, an exhaust passage 72, and an air conditioner 98. The air conditioner is also called an air conditioner. The heat exchange unit 90 is also called a heat exchange ventilation device and, in combination with the humidifier 10, constitutes a ventilation system.

[0013] The humidifier 10 may be provided in a system that supplies air to a predetermined space. For example, the humidifier 10 may be provided in an air conditioning system 100 that air-conditions a predetermined space. The air conditioning system 100 can be suitably installed in the space between floors or in the ceiling of a building 80. In this embodiment, the air conditioning system 100 is shown as being installed in the ceiling space 82 of the building 80 and supplying air to a living room 81. The air conditioning system 100 has an air supply passage 71 that transports outdoor air to the living room 81 and an exhaust passage 72 that transports the air from the living room 81 to the outside, and includes a heat exchange unit 90 that performs heat exchange between the air passing through the air supply passage 71 and the air passing through the exhaust passage 72. The humidifier 10 humidifies the air from the air supply passage 71 of the air conditioning system 100 and blows it into the living room 81 through the air supply passage 73.

[0014] The air conditioner 98 is installed in the living room 81 and can adjust the temperature of the air in the living room 81. The air conditioner 98 can be configured using air conditioning technology based on known technology.

[0015] The air supply passage 71 is an air passage for transporting air drawn in from outside through ducts, etc., to the air supply section 84 of the living room 81. The exhaust passage 72 is an air passage for transporting indoor air drawn in from the exhaust section 85 of the living room 81 through ducts, etc., to the outside through ducts, etc.

[0016] The heat exchange unit 90 includes a heat exchange element 95 that exchanges thermal energy between the air passing through the supply air passage 71 (hereinafter referred to as "supply airflow") and the air passing through the exhaust air passage 72 (hereinafter referred to as "exhaust airflow"). The supply airflow from outdoors is delivered to the humidifier 10 by flowing through the heat exchange element 95 due to the action of the supply air blowing unit 96. The exhaust airflow from indoors is discharged outdoors through the exhaust air passage 72 by flowing through the heat exchange element 95 due to the action of the exhaust air blowing unit 97. The supply air blowing unit 96 and the exhaust air blowing unit 97 are composed of a sirocco fan, etc.

[0017] Tap water W is introduced into the humidifying device 10 from the outside through the water supply port 61, and is stored inside. The water supply pipe 62 for the tap water W communicating with the water supply port 61 is provided with a solenoid valve 64 whose opening and closing is controlled so that the water storage amount of the humidifying device 10 is maintained within a predetermined range. The humidifying device 10 atomizes the stored water by centrifugal crushing, and incorporates the atomized water into the air passing therethrough.

[0018] The humidifying device 10 has a suction port 11 and a blowout port 12. The humidifying device 10 is provided on the downstream side of the supply air air passage 71 of the heat exchange unit 90. The air that has flowed through the heat exchange element 95 from the suction port 11 is introduced into the humidifying device 10. The air introduced into the humidifying device 10 is humidified by the humidifying device 10 and sent out from the blowout port 12. The air sent out from the blowout port 12 is conveyed through the air supply air passage 73, and is supplied to the living room 81 from the air supply unit 84.

[0019] Next, the configuration of the humidifying device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-section of an example of the humidifying device 10. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the water storage unit 5 of the humidifying device 10.

[0020] For convenience of description, as illustrated, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is defined in which a certain horizontal direction is defined as the X direction, a horizontal direction orthogonal to the X direction is defined as the Y direction, and a direction orthogonal to both is defined as the Z direction. The X direction may be referred to as the "front-rear direction", the Y direction as the "left-right direction", and the Z direction as the "up-down direction". The tip side of the arrow in the X direction may be referred to as the "rear side" or "rear", and the opposite side may be referred to as the "front side" or "front". The tip side of the arrow in the Y direction may be referred to as the "right side" or "right", and the opposite side may be referred to as the "left side" or "left". In addition, "lateral" includes not only "right" and "left" but also "front" and "rear". Such directional notations do not limit the configuration of the humidifying device 10, and the humidifying device 10 can be used in any configuration according to the application.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the humidifier 10 includes an intake port 11 for drawing in air to be humidified, an outlet port 12 for blowing out humidified air toward the living room 81, an air passage provided between the intake port 11 and the outlet port 12, a liquid atomization chamber 30 provided in this air passage, and a housing 29 that constitutes the outer shell of the humidifier 10.

[0022] The intake port 11 is located on the top surface of the housing 29, and the outlet port 12 is located on the side of the housing. The liquid atomization chamber 30 is the main part of the humidifier 10 and is a space in which water is atomized by a centrifugal water fracturing method.

[0023] The humidifier 10 is a centrifugal crushing type humidifier comprising an electric motor 14, a cylindrical water lifting pipe 17, a first eliminator 21, a second eliminator 22, a water level detection unit 4, a water storage unit 5, and a water supply unit 6. The electric motor 14, the cylindrical water lifting pipe 17, the first eliminator 21, the second eliminator 22, the water level detection unit 4, and the water storage unit 5 are housed inside the casing 29. The electric motor 14 has a rotating shaft 15 that is rotated by the electric motor 14. The water level detection unit 4 and the water supply unit 6 will be described later.

[0024] The water pumping pipe 17 is fixed to the rotating shaft 15 inside the liquid atomization chamber 30. The water pumping pipe 17 has an inverted conical hollow structure and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotating shaft 15, pumping water up from an opening at its lower end. The rotating shaft 15 is fixed above the water pumping pipe 17, at the center of the inverted conical top surface, and is positioned vertically. The rotating shaft 15 is connected to an electric motor 14 located above the liquid atomization chamber 30, so that the rotational motion of the electric motor 14 is transmitted to the water pumping pipe 17 through the rotating shaft 15, causing the water pumping pipe 17 to rotate. In other words, the water pumping pipe 17 rotates integrally with the electric motor 14.

[0025] The water pumping pipe 17 is equipped with a plurality of rotating plates 18 formed on the top surface of the inverted cone so as to protrude outward from the outer surface of the water pumping pipe 17. The plurality of rotating plates 18 are formed so as to protrude outward from the outer surface of the water pumping pipe 17, with a predetermined spacing between adjacent rotating plates 18 in the direction of the rotation axis 15. Since the rotating plates 18 rotate together with the water pumping pipe 17, a horizontal disc shape coaxial with the rotation axis 15 is preferred. The number of rotating plates 18 is set appropriately according to the target performance or the dimensions of the water pumping pipe 17.

[0026] Multiple through-holes 19 are provided in the wall surface of the water pumping pipe 17, penetrating the wall surface of the water pumping pipe 17. The multiple through-holes 19 are positioned to communicate the inside of the water pumping pipe 17 with the upper surface of the rotating plate 18.

[0027] Multiple rotating plates 18 are connected to the water pumping pipe 17 at predetermined intervals so as to protrude outward from the outer surface of the water pumping pipe 17. The rotating plates 18 are positioned superimposed below the electric motor 14. The water pumping pipe 17 and the rotating plates 18 rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft 15, thereby rotating together with the electric motor 14.

[0028] The water storage section 5 is located below the water pumping pipe 17 and stores the tap water W supplied from the water inlet 61. The water W stored in the water storage section 5 is the water pumped up by the water pumping pipe 17. The depth of the water storage section 5 is designed to immerse a portion of the lower part of the water pumping pipe 17, for example, a length of about one-third to one-hundredth of the conical height of the water pumping pipe 17. This depth can be set according to the required water pumping volume.

[0029] In the example shown in Figure 3, the water reservoir 5, in plan view, includes a roughly circular first region 51 surrounding the water pumping pipe 17, and a roughly rectangular second region 52 projecting laterally (towards the rear in this embodiment) from the first region 51, on which the float 40 is positioned. In this figure, the water surface 50 of the water reservoir 5 is shown by hatching. A partition wall 48 is provided at the boundary between the first region 51 and the second region 52. The bottom surface of the first region 51 is formed in a mortar shape toward the bottom of the water pumping pipe 17. The bottom surface of the second region 52 extends roughly horizontally at a position slightly higher than the bottom surface of the first region 51.

[0030] The partition wall 48 is a plate-like member that extends vertically and horizontally, with its upper edge protruding upward from the water surface 50. A gap S is formed between the lower edge of the partition wall 48 and the bottom surface 54 of the second region 52. Water W supplied to the second region 52 can flow to the first region 51 through the gap S below the partition wall 48. Therefore, the water level of the water surface 50 in the water reservoir 5 is approximately the same in the first region 51 and the second region 52, excluding vertical movement due to water surface waves.

[0031] The partition wall 48 is positioned between the water pumping pipe 17 and the float 40 and protrudes upward from the water surface 50, functioning as a damping member 47 that reduces the amount of water surface waves 53 generated in the reservoir 5 when the water pumping pipe 17 rotates that are transmitted to the float 40. In other words, even if the water surface 50 pulsates up and down in the first region 51 due to water surface waves 53, the partition wall 48 functions as a breakwater, reducing the vertical movement of the water surface 50 in the second region 52. The amount of protrusion of the partition wall 48 from the water surface 50 can be set experimentally to obtain the desired vertical movement reduction effect. By reducing vertical movement, the vertical fluctuation of the float 40 due to the vertical movement of the water surface 50 is reduced, and consequently, false detections by the water level detection unit 4 can be reduced.

[0032] According to the inventor's research, it was found that when the pumping pipe 17 rotates, concentric water surface waves 53 are generated on the water surface 50, centered on the rotation axis La of the pumping pipe 17. The water surface waves 53 are accompanied by vertical movement, in which the water surface 50 alternately fluctuates up and down. These water surface waves 53 spread outwards in a generally concentric manner. In other words, the water surface waves 53 travel on the water surface 50 in a direction along a horizontal straight line passing through the rotation axis La of the pumping pipe 17 (hereinafter referred to as the "direction of travel"). It is desirable that the partition wall 48 extends so as to be generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the water surface waves 53.

[0033] The first eliminator 21 is a porous body through which air can flow. The first eliminator 21 is located to the side of the liquid atomization chamber 30 (outer peripheral area in the centrifugal direction). In this embodiment, the first eliminator 21 has a cylindrical shape that surrounds the rotating plate 18 of the liquid atomization chamber 30. Air introduced from the intake port 11 flows in from the inner circumferential surface 25 of the first eliminator 21, flows through the first eliminator 21 in the centrifugal direction, and flows out from the outer circumferential surface 26.

[0034] Water droplets released from the through-holes 19 of the water pumping pipe 17 collide with the first eliminator 21. As a result, the first eliminator 21 atomizes the colliding water droplets and also collects water droplets from the moisture contained in the air passing through the liquid atomization chamber 30. Consequently, the air that has passed through the first eliminator 21 contains only vaporized moisture.

[0035] The second eliminator 22 causes the air that has flowed through the first eliminator 21 in a centrifugal direction to flow upward. The second eliminator 22 in this embodiment has a cylindrical shape that surrounds a part of the upper side of the first eliminator 21.

[0036] The second eliminator 22 is located downstream of the first eliminator 21 and is positioned so that air flows vertically from the lower surface 28 to the upper surface 27. The second eliminator 22 is also a porous material through which air can flow, and by colliding with the air that has passed through the first eliminator 21, it captures water droplets from the moisture contained in the air passing through the second eliminator 22. In this way, by capturing the finely divided water droplets in a double manner with two eliminators, larger water droplets can be captured with greater precision.

[0037] The water supply unit 6 will now be described. The water supply unit 6 supplies tap water W from the outside into the humidifier 10, and the supplied tap water W is stored in the water storage unit 5. In this embodiment, the tap water W is supplied to the second region 52. In this embodiment, the water supply unit 6 has a water inlet 61, a water supply pipe 62, a solenoid valve 64, and a water supply control unit 65, and supplies tap water W from the outside through the water inlet 61 via the water supply pipe 62. The solenoid valve 64 opens and closes the water flow through the water supply pipe 62 based on the control of the water supply control unit 65.

[0038] The water level detection unit 4 will be explained with reference to Figures 4 to 6. Figure 4 is a plan view showing the water level detection unit 4. Figure 5 is a side view showing the water level detection unit 4. Figure 6 is another side view showing the water level detection unit 4. The water level detection unit 4 detects the water level of the water W stored in the water storage unit 5 and transmits the detection result to the water supply control unit 65. The water level detection unit 4 in this embodiment includes a float 40, a magnet 43, a magnetic sensor 44, and a substrate 45.

[0039] The float 40 rotates around the rotation axis Lb in accordance with the water level in the water reservoir 5. It is desirable that the float 40 be positioned in a location that is less affected by the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating plate 18. Therefore, in this embodiment, the float 40 is positioned lower than the rotating plate 18 (see also Figure 2). It is desirable that the vertical dimension of the first eliminator 21 be large in order to ensure sufficient humidification capacity. Therefore, in this embodiment, the float 40 is positioned so as not to overlap with the first eliminator 21 when viewed from above (see also Figure 2).

[0040] The float 40 is a prismatic member with a polygonal cross-section and has a density such that about half of its volume floats on the water surface. In this embodiment, the polygonal cross-section has a shape in which a triangle with one vertex pointing downwards is connected to the bottom of a quadrilateral. Both sides of the float 40 are parallel to the polygonal cross-section. The rotation axis Lb extends in a direction perpendicular to the concentric circles on the horizontal plane centered on the rotation axis La of the water pumping pipe 17 (a direction perpendicular to the tangent to the concentric circles) from the viewpoint of reducing the influence of water surface waves, which will be described later. This direction will be described later.

[0041] In this embodiment, the pivot axis Lb passes through the center of a shaft 41 that extends in the front-rear direction. The shaft 41 penetrates the float 40 so as to be perpendicular to both sides of the float 40 and its cross-section. The shaft 41 penetrates the float 40 at a position offset to the left from the center of gravity of the cross-section. Both ends of the shaft 41 protrude from both sides of the float 40 and are rotatably supported by bearings 42. The bearings 42 are supported by predetermined support members fixed to the housing 29. As a result, the float 40 can rotate around the pivot axis Lb as its central axis.

[0042] The magnet 43 is embedded near the end of the float 40 that is farther from the rotation axis Lb in the Y direction (hereinafter referred to as the "far end 46"), and near the center of the float 40 in the X direction. The magnet 43 has a substantially cubic shape and provides a magnetic field in the vertical direction. The magnet 43 rotates integrally with the float 40.

[0043] As an example, the magnetic sensor 44 is a reed switch. The magnetic sensor 44 is fixed to the substrate 45 such that the longitudinal direction of the sensor faces up and down. The magnetic sensor 44 in this embodiment has a normally closed type contact that turns off when it receives a magnetic field of a predetermined strength in the up and down direction, and turns on otherwise. The magnetic sensor 44 may be configured as a normally open reed switch, or it may be configured using other sensors capable of detecting magnetism based on known principles.

[0044] Figure 5 shows the state where the water level in the reservoir 5 is at its upper limit (hereinafter referred to as "full"), and Figure 6 shows the state where the water level in the reservoir 5 is at its lower limit (hereinafter referred to as "low"). When the reservoir is full, the float 40 is approximately horizontal, and the magnet 43 faces the magnetic sensor 44. In this state, the magnet 43 provides a magnetic field strong enough to turn off the magnetic sensor 44. When the reservoir is low, the float 40 rotates clockwise as the water level drops, and the magnet 43 is positioned below the magnetic sensor 44. In this state, the magnetic field reaching the magnetic sensor 44 weakens, and the magnetic sensor 44 turns on. In other words, the magnetic sensor 44 is off when the reservoir is full and on when the reservoir is low.

[0045] The water supply control unit 65 controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 64 according to the detection result of the magnetic sensor 44. The water supply control unit 65 can be configured to include, for example, a CPU. In this embodiment, the water supply control unit 65 is mounted on the circuit board 45. The water supply control unit 65 closes the solenoid valve 64 when the magnetic sensor 44 is off, and opens the solenoid valve 64 when the magnetic sensor 44 is on. With this configuration, the water supply unit 6 opens the solenoid valve 64 when the water level is low to supply tap water W to the water storage unit 5, and closes the solenoid valve 64 when the water level is high to stop the water supply. As a result, the water level in the water storage unit 5 is controlled between full and low, and is kept in a state that is generally close to full.

[0046] The effect of the water surface waves 53 on the water level detection unit 4 will be explained with reference to Figure 7. Figure 7(A) is a schematic plan view diagram illustrating the effect of the water surface waves 53 in the comparative example. Figure 7(B) is a schematic plan view diagram illustrating the effect of the water surface waves 53 in the embodiment. In Figure 7, the solid lines indicating the water surface waves 53 represent high water level areas where the water level is higher, and the areas between the solid lines represent low water level areas where the water level is lower than the high water level areas. The high water level areas and low water level areas are concentric and continuous in the circumferential direction, and these concentric circles expand outward over time. The concentric high water level areas and low water level areas that expand outward over time are called water surface waves 53, and the direction in which the concentric circles expand is called the direction of propagation of the water surface waves 53. Therefore, at any given point, when water surface waves 53 pass through, high water level areas and low water level areas pass through alternately, and the water surface moves up and down alternately. The concentric circles of the high-water level and low-water level areas do not need to be perfectly concentric; they may be discontinuous in some parts, and their centers may be offset to some extent.

[0047] As described above, when the pumping pipe 17 rotates in the direction of the arrow, concentric water surface waves 53 are generated on the water surface 50, centered on the rotation axis La of the pumping pipe 17. The direction of propagation of the water surface waves 53 is the radial direction of the concentric circles of the water surface waves 53 on the water surface 50.

[0048] In the comparative example shown in Figure 7(A), the rotation axis Lb extends in a direction parallel to the tangent to the concentric circle centered on the rotation axis La. In this case, the far end 46 of the float 40 is affected by the water surface waves 53 at the same timing as a whole. When the water level moves up and down due to the water surface waves 53, the far end 46 of the float 40 moves up and down at the same timing as a whole in response. As a result, the magnet 43 moves up and down significantly, causing a change in its positional relationship with the magnetic sensor 44, which in turn causes the magnetic sensor 44 to turn on and off incorrectly, resulting in a false detection by the water level detection unit 4.

[0049] From the study of comparative examples, the inventor conceived the idea that by shifting the timing of the water surface waves 53 received by the far end 46 of the float 40 in sections, the vertical movement of the far end 46 can be reduced, thereby reducing false detections. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7(B), the rotation axis Lb extends in a direction perpendicular to the concentric circles centered on the rotation axis La. Specifically, for example, if the coordinates of the rotation axis La in the xy-plane are (x,y)=(0,0) and the coordinates of point A in the concentric circles centered on the rotation axis La are (x,y)=(a,0), then the tangent line Ld of the concentric circles centered on the rotation axis La, which is perpendicular to the line Lc connecting the rotation axis La and point A, is x=a. In other words, the rotation axis Lb extends in a direction parallel to the line Lc. To put it another way, the rotation axis Lb extends in a direction perpendicular to the tangent line Ld. In this case, the far end 46 of the float 40 receives water surface waves 53 at different timings as a whole. That is, the far end 46 is formed with a portion in contact with the high water level surface and a portion in contact with the low water level surface, and the vertical movement in these portions cancels each other out, reducing the overall vertical movement. As a result, the vertical movement of the magnet 43 is reduced, and false detections by the water level detection unit 4 are reduced.

[0050] Here, "direction perpendicular to the concentric circles" does not need to be strictly perpendicular to the tangent line Ld of the concentric circles; it is sufficient if it is approximately perpendicular. Specifically, it is sufficient if it intersects the tangent line Ld of the concentric circles at an intersection angle θ that is relatively close to 90° (for example, in the range of 30° to 150°). From the viewpoint of reducing the vertical movement of the float 40, this intersection angle θ is more preferably in the range of 45° to 135°, and even more preferably in the range of 60° to 120°. In the embodiment, the intersection angle θ is 75°.

[0051] Referring to Figure 8, an example of the operation of the humidifier 10 will be explained. Figure 8 is a diagram showing the airflow in the humidifier 10. White arrows indicate airflow, and black arrows indicate waterflow. In Figure 8, the airflow is not in contact with the waterflow, but the air and water intersect and mix before and after the first eliminator 21.

[0052] When a predetermined operation is input and the humidifier 10 starts operating, the electric motor 14 rotates the rotating shaft 15 at a predetermined rotational speed. The air to be humidified is introduced into the humidifier 10 from the air supply passage 71 of the heat exchange unit 90. In addition, the rotation of the rotating shaft 15 causes the water pumping pipe 17 to rotate, and the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the water pumping pipe 17 pumps the water W stored in the water storage unit 5 up along the inner wall of the water pumping pipe 17. The rotational speed of the rotating shaft 15 can be set according to the desired amount of air to be supplied and the amount of humidification to the air. For example, the rotational speed of the rotating shaft 15 may be set between 1000 rpm and 4000 rpm.

[0053] The pumped water travels along the inner wall of the water pumping pipe 17 to the top, and then travels through the through-hole 19 of the water pumping pipe 17 along the rotating plate 18, from which it is scattered as water droplets in a centrifugal direction. The water droplets scattered from the rotating plate 18 fly through the space of the liquid atomization chamber 30 surrounded by the first eliminator 21, collide with the first eliminator 21, and are atomized.

[0054] The air introduced from the intake port 11 passes through the liquid atomization chamber 30 and flows into the first eliminator 21 from the inner circumferential surface 25. This air moves to the outer circumferential surface 26 within the first eliminator 21, picking up moisture scattered from the rotating plate 18.

[0055] The air flowing out from the outer surface 26 of the first eliminator 21 creates vortices in the air passage from the first eliminator 21 to the second eliminator 22 and mixes with moisture. The moisture-containing air flows into the second eliminator 22 from the bottom surface 28, circulates vertically, and flows out from the top surface 27. As a result, the humidifier 10 can humidify the air drawn in from the intake port 11 and blow out the humidified air from the outlet port 12. The water used to humidify the air may be tap water W, water containing hypochlorous acid water with bactericidal or deodorizing properties, or other liquids with other functions.

[0056] An outline of one aspect of the present disclosure is as follows: The humidifier (10) of the present disclosure comprises a water reservoir (5), a water pumping pipe (17) that rotates to pump water from the water reservoir (5) and discharge it centrifugally, a float (40) that rotates around a rotation axis (Lb) according to the water level in the water reservoir (5), and a water supply control unit (65) that controls the supply of water to the water reservoir (5) based on the rotation position of the float (40). The rotation axis (Lb) extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to concentric circles on a horizontal plane centered on the rotation axis of the water pumping pipe (17).

[0057] With this configuration, since the water level is detected using a float, it is hardly affected by scale buildup, reducing false detections due to scale. In addition, since the axis of rotation extends in a direction perpendicular to the concentric circles, false detections due to the effects of water surface waves are reduced.

[0058] As an example, the humidifier (10) further includes a damping member (46) that reduces the amount of surface waves in the water reservoir (5) that are transmitted to the float (40) when the water pump pipe (17) rotates. In this case, the vertical movement of the surface waves that the float experiences can be reduced, so the vertical movement of the float becomes smaller, and false detections can be further reduced.

[0059] For example, the damping member (46) is a partition wall (48) positioned between the water pumping pipe (17) and the float (40), and the partition wall (48) protrudes upward from the water surface (50). In this case, the water surface waves reaching the float can be reduced with a simple configuration, further reducing false detections.

[0060] As an example, the water storage section (5) includes, in plan view, a first region (51) surrounding the water pumping pipe (17) and a second region (52) where the float (40) is positioned, projecting laterally from the first region (51). A partition wall (48) is provided at the boundary between the first region (51) and the second region (52). In this case, the partition wall can reduce the vertical movement of water surface waves in the second region, and can also reduce the vertical movement of the float positioned in the second region.

[0061] As an example, the humidifier (10) includes a magnet (43) that rotates integrally with a float (40), and a magnetic sensor (44) that detects the magnetic field of the magnet (43). The water supply control unit (65) controls the water supply to the water storage unit (5) based on the detection result of the magnetic sensor (44). In this case, the rotational position of the float can be detected non-contactually by the magnet and the magnetic sensor, thus reducing deterioration over time.

[0062] As an example, the water pumping pipe (17) is provided with a rotating plate (18) that protrudes centrifugally from the outer surface of the water pumping pipe (17), and the float (40) is positioned lower than the rotating plate (18). In this case, the influence of the airflow generated by the rotation of the rotating plate 18 on the float can be reduced.

[0063] For example, the humidifier (10) has an eliminator (21) that water discharged from the water pump pipe (17) collides with, and the float (40) is positioned so as not to overlap with the eliminator (21) when viewed from above. In this case, since the float and the eliminator do not overlap vertically, the vertical dimension of the eliminator can be increased, making it easier to ensure sufficient humidification capacity.

[0064] The present disclosure has been described in detail above based on the examples. The examples described above are merely examples illustrating how to implement the present disclosure. The content of the examples can be modified in many ways, such as by changing, adding, or deleting components, as long as it does not deviate from the concept defined in the claims. In the above description, such modifications are indicated with phrases like "in the examples" or "in the examples," but modifications are also permitted for content without such indications. Furthermore, the hatching applied to the cross-sections in the drawings does not limit the material to which the hatching is applied.

[0065] In the embodiment, an example was shown in which full and low water levels are detected using one water level detection unit 4, but the system is not limited to this. For example, if the difference in water levels between full and low water levels is large, multiple water level detection units 4 may be provided, with at least one used for full water level detection and at least one for low water level detection. Alternatively, the water level detection unit 4 may be used to detect full water levels, and the amount of humidification may be calculated from the temperature and humidity data of the air inside the humidifier 10 to determine the amount of water lost based on the amount of humidification, and the control system may determine that there is a low water level and decide when to start supplying water. Conversely, the water level detection unit 4 may be used to detect low water levels, and the full water level may be estimated based on the water flow rate and water supply time from the water supply unit 6. [Industrial applicability]

[0066] The humidifier of this disclosure can be used in a device for humidifying air. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 4 Water level detection unit, 5 Water storage unit, 6 Water supply unit, 10 Humidifier, 11 Intake port, 12 Outlet port, 17 Water lifting pipe, 18 Rotating plate, 21 First eliminator, 22 Second eliminator, 30 Liquid atomization chamber, 31 Centrifugal fan, 40 Float, 41 Shaft, 43 Magnet, 44 Magnetic sensor, 47 Damping member, 48 Partition wall, 50 Water surface, 51 First region, 52 Second region, 53 Water surface wave, 61 Water inlet.

Claims

1. The water storage section, A pumping pipe that rotates to lift water from the water reservoir and discharge it in a centrifugal direction, A float that rotates around a pivot axis in accordance with the water level in the reservoir, A water supply control unit that controls the supply of water to the water storage unit based on the rotational position of the float, Equipped with, The rotation axis of the humidifier extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the concentric circles on a horizontal plane centered on the rotation axis of the water pump pipe.

2. The humidifier according to claim 1, further comprising a damping member that reduces the amount of water surface waves in the water storage section, which are generated when the water pump pipe rotates, propagated to the float.

3. The damping member is a partition wall positioned between the water pumping pipe and the float. The humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall protrudes upward from the water surface.

4. The water storage section includes, in plan view, a first region surrounding the water pumping pipe and a second region projecting laterally from the first region and on which the float is positioned. The humidifier according to claim 3, wherein the partition wall is provided at the boundary between the first region and the second region.

5. The system includes a magnet that rotates integrally with the float, and a magnetic sensor that detects the magnetic field of the magnet. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the water supply control unit controls the supply of water to the water storage unit based on the detection result of the magnetic sensor.

6. The aforementioned water pumping pipe is provided with a rotating plate that protrudes centrifugally from the outer surface of the water pumping pipe. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the float is positioned lower than the rotating plate.

7. It has an eliminator to which the water released from the pumping pipe collides, The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the float is arranged so as not to overlap with the eliminator when viewed from above.

8. An air conditioning system comprising a humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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