Air conditioner

Abstract

This air conditioner has: a cooling unit which cools air passing therethrough by using the heat of vaporization of water; and a water supply body which is disposed above the cooling unit and through which water supplied to the cooling unit flows. The water supply body has a water injection part into which water is injected, a water passage which communicates with the water injection part, and an opening which is formed in the water passage and which drops water onto the cooling unit. The water passage includes a first water passage extending in the longitudinal direction from the water injection part, and a second water passage in which a larger number of openings than in the first water passage are formed. A confluence part which connects the first water passage and the second water passage is formed between the first water passage and the second water passage.

Description

air conditioner

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

[0002] Evaporative cooling air conditioners are known that draw in indoor air, use the heat of vaporization of water to lower the ambient temperature, and then blow the cooled air out into the room, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. In the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, air flowing through the second flow path passes through multiple tubes of a sensible heat exchanger, and air flowing through the first flow path passes around the multiple tubes. As a result, heat is exchanged between the air flowing through the second flow path and the air flowing through the first flow path.

[0003] JP 2014-092338 A

[0004] However, in the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to providing an air conditioner with higher usability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an air conditioner that is more useful.

[0006] An air conditioner according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a cooling unit that cools air passing through it using the latent heat of evaporation of water, and a water supply body arranged above the cooling unit and through which water supplied to the cooling unit flows, the water supply body having a water injection section into which water is injected, a water channel communicating with the water injection section, and an opening formed in the water channel through which water drips onto the cooling unit, the water channel including a first water channel extending longitudinally from the water injection section and a second water channel extending longitudinally from the water injection section and having more openings formed therein than the first water channel, and a confluence section connecting the first water channel and the second water channel is formed between the first water channel and the second water channel.

[0007] It is possible to provide a highly useful air conditioner.

[0008] 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing one configuration example of an air conditioner according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the air conditioner. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a water supply body. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the water supply body. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the water supply body. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing an opening. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a water injection section. FIG. 8 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the water injection section. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the outflow of water into an overflow channel. FIG. 10 is a schematic bottom perspective view showing an overflow opening formed in an overflow channel. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a baffle plate formed in an overflow channel. FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a water supply body in a form having multiple first channels. FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of a water supply body in a form having no opening in the first channel. FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of a water supply body in a form having a central water injection section. FIG. 15 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the path cross sections of the first and second channels in a form having different heights. FIG. 16 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the path cross sections of the first and second channels in a form having a curved bottom. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing the path cross sections of the first water channel and the second water channel in a configuration where the heights are different due to the lid body.

[0009] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to embodiment 1. The air conditioner 1 has a box-shaped main body 11, and is placed on the floor of a space to be air-conditioned, such as a factory, using casters provided on the bottom of the main body 11. The main body 11 includes a housing that forms the outer shell of the air conditioner 1, and various components, which will be described later, are housed within the main body 11. The placed state of the air conditioner 1 shown in FIG. 1 is shown from above, below, left, and right as a normal usage mode of the air conditioner 1. Note that FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cross section taken along line I-I in FIG. 2, viewed from the left side of FIG. 2.

[0010] The air conditioner 1 includes a tank 7 consisting of a first tank 71 and a second tank 72 for storing water, a cooling unit 2 including an evaporative filter 21 and a heat exchanger 22, and the evaporative filter 21 uses the heat of vaporization of water supplied from the second tank 72 to lower the ambient temperature and cool the space to be air-conditioned, for example, an evaporative cooling type air conditioner 1. Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 uses the sensible heat and heat of vaporization of the water supplied from the second tank 72 to lower the ambient temperature and cool the space to be air-conditioned, using the heat exchanger 22. In other words, the heat exchanger 22 functions as a sensible heat exchanger that exchanges sensible heat between a first heat exchange passage 221 through which exhaust air flows and a second heat exchange passage 222 through which supply air flows.

[0011] The main body 11 of the air conditioner 1 is provided with an intake port 3 that draws in air from the space to be conditioned, and an intake air outlet 51 that blows out, as supply air, air that has passed through a cooling unit 2 including a heat exchanger 22 and an evaporative filter 21 and been cooled by the cooling unit 2 into the space to be conditioned. The main body 11 of the air conditioner 1 is further provided with an exhaust air outlet 43 that blows out, as exhaust air, air that has passed through the heat exchanger 22 and exchanged sensible heat with the water and the supply air.

[0012] The supply air outlet 51 and the exhaust air outlet 43 are provided on the top surface 100 of the main body 11. The air conditioner 1 is equipped with fans for transporting supply air and exhaust air, and the fans include an exhaust fan 61 that transports exhaust air and a supply air fan 62 that transports supply air. A cylindrical duct may be arranged in the supply air outlet 51.

[0013] The intake fan 62 and the exhaust fan 61 may be, for example, centrifugal fans such as sirocco fans or propeller fans. The intake fan 62 is provided near the intake air outlet 51, and the exhaust fan 61 is provided near the exhaust air outlet 43. That is, if the air flow in the air conditioner 1 is such that the intake port 3 is the most upstream end and the intake air outlet 51 and the exhaust air outlet 43 are the most downstream ends, the intake fan 62 and the exhaust fan 61 are provided downstream in the air flow direction. By providing the intake air fan 62 and the exhaust fan 61 downstream, these fans function as so-called suction fans, and can maintain negative pressure within the air flow path in the air conditioner 1, i.e., the exhaust air flow path 4 and the intake air flow path 5. The exhaust air flow path 4 corresponds to the first flow path through which exhaust air flows. The intake air flow path 5 corresponds to the second flow path through which intake air flows.

[0014] The heat exchanger 22 includes a first heat exchange passage 221 through which air flows, and a second heat exchange passage 222 through which air flows that exchanges sensible heat with the air flowing through the first heat exchange passage 221, and functions as a sensible heat exchanger. The main body 11 of the air conditioner 1 has an exhaust passage 4 that communicates with the first heat exchange passage 221.

[0015] The supply air fan 62 and the exhaust air fan 61 share a single fan motor 6, and are connected to shafts provided at both ends of the fan motor 6. For example, a partition plate is provided between the supply air fan 62 and the exhaust air fan 61. This partition plate reliably prevents the supply air transported by the supply air fan 62 and the exhaust air transported by the exhaust fan 61 from mixing. The volumetric flow rate of air transported per unit time by the supply air fan 62 may be greater than the volumetric flow rate of air transported per unit time by the exhaust fan 61. By making the volumetric flow rate of the supply air fan 62 greater than the volumetric flow rate of the exhaust fan 61, the air conditioning capacity can be improved.

[0016] The fan motor 6 is located on the exhaust fan 61 side. Therefore, the partition plate is provided between the fan motor 6 and the supply fan 62. By providing the fan motor 6 on the exhaust fan 61 side in this way, the fan motor 6 can be cooled by the exhaust air transported by the exhaust fan 61. Therefore, the fan motor 6 can be efficiently cooled by utilizing the cold heat from the exhaust air without raising the temperature of the supply air transported by the supply fan 62.

[0017] The air conditioner 1 is provided with an intake passage 32, an air supply passage 5, and an exhaust passage 4 as air circulation paths. The intake passage 32 starts at the air intake port 3 and is connected to the heat exchanger 22 and a drain pan 91 located below the heat exchanger 22. That is, after the intake passage 32 passes through a dust collection filter 31 arranged to cover the air intake port 3, it branches into an exhaust passage 4 that communicates with the first heat exchange passage 221 of the heat exchanger 22, and an air supply passage 5 that communicates with the drain pan 91. The branching points correspond to the starting points of the exhaust passage 4 and the air supply passage 5.

[0018] The first heat exchange flow path 221 and the second heat exchange flow path 222 in the heat exchanger 22 are configured by stacking multiple membrane members and spacers alternately. Adjacent spacers in the stacking direction are arranged with their longitudinal directions rotated 90 degrees relative to each other, and adjacent spacers separated by the same membrane member intersect with each other, so that the first heat exchange flow path 221 and the second heat exchange flow path 222 are perpendicular to each other, and a cross flow is formed between the supply air flowing through the second heat exchange flow path 222 and the exhaust air flowing through the first heat exchange flow path 221.

[0019] Sensible heat exchange occurs between the supply air flowing through the air supply path and the exhaust air flowing through the exhaust path through each of the stacked membrane members. The stacking direction of these stacked membrane members is perpendicular to the respective path directions of the air supply path and the exhaust path. That is, in this embodiment, the path direction of the air supply path is from front to back, and the path direction of the exhaust path is from bottom to top, whereas the stacking direction is the front-to-back direction, which is perpendicular to both the left-right and up-down directions.

[0020] The first heat exchange passage 221 through which the exhaust air flows constitutes a part of the exhaust passage 4 that is connected to the exhaust air outlet 43. The second heat exchange passage 222 through which the supply air flows constitutes a part of the supply air passage 5 that is connected to the supply air outlet 51. The second heat exchange passage 222 through which the supply air flows connects the heat exchangers 22 in the front-to-rear direction, while the first heat exchange passage 221 through which the exhaust air flows connects the heat exchangers 22 in the up-down direction, i.e., the vertical direction. In this way, the second heat exchange passage 222 and the first heat exchange passage 221 are perpendicular to each other.

[0021] The intake air that has passed through the intake passage 32 flows into the second heat exchange passage 222 of the heat exchanger 22 and, after passing through the drain pan 91, into the first heat exchange passage 221 of the heat exchanger 22. As a result, the intake air that has passed through the intake passage 32 is divided into supply air that flows into the second heat exchange passage 222 and exhaust air that flows into the first heat exchange passage 221. In other words, the second heat exchange passage 222 and the first heat exchange passage 221 provided in the heat exchanger 22 form a flow dividing mechanism that divides the intake air.

[0022] A dust collection filter 31 is provided between the air inlet 3 and the inlets of the first heat exchange flow path 221 and the second heat exchange flow path 222. The dust collection filter 31 may be configured as one unit with a cover that is detachably attached to the main body 11. By providing the dust collection filter 31, dust in the intake air drawn in through the air inlet 3 can be captured, and adhesion of dust to the air flow path within the air conditioner 1 can be suppressed.

[0023] A drain pan 91 is provided below the inlet of the first heat exchange passage 221 in the heat exchanger 22. The exhaust gas that has passed through the drain pan 91 flows into the heat exchanger 22 from the inlet of the first heat exchange passage 221. Therefore, the exhaust passage 4 includes the space between the drain pan 91 and the inlet of the first heat exchange passage 221.

[0024] The exhaust air that flows into the heat exchanger 22 from the inlet of the first heat exchange flow path 221 flows out to the outside of the heat exchanger 22 from the outlet of the first heat exchange flow path 221. The outlet of the first heat exchange flow path 221 is formed in the upper part of the heat exchanger 22. An exhaust fan 61 for transporting the exhaust air is disposed above the outlet of the first heat exchange flow path 221 formed in the upper part of the heat exchanger 22. The exhaust air transported by the exhaust fan 61 is blown out from the exhaust outlet 43.

[0025] The second heat exchange passage 222 is provided linearly in a region where a cross flow with the first heat exchange passage 221 is formed. That is, the outlet at the end of the second heat exchange passage 222 is provided on the side surface of the heat exchanger 22 opposite to the side surface on which the inlet of the second heat exchange passage 222 is provided. In the illustrated example, the second heat exchange passage 222 is provided linearly from the front surface to the rear surface of the heat exchanger 22.

[0026] In the flow direction of the supply air, an evaporation filter 21 is provided at the end of the second heat exchange passage 222 of the heat exchanger 22, i.e., downstream of the outlet of the second heat exchange passage 222. The evaporation filter 21 is provided in the supply air passage 5, between the heat exchanger 22 and the supply air fan 62.

[0027] The vaporization filter 21 is provided with one surface of the rectangular filter element facing the side surface of the heat exchanger 22 on which the outlet of the second heat exchange flow path 222 is provided. The air intake flow path 5 from the vaporization filter 21 to the air intake outlet 51 extends upward from the vaporization filter 21. An air intake fan 62 for transporting the air is disposed downstream of the air intake flow path 5 from the vaporization filter 21 to the air intake outlet 51. The air intake fan 62 is provided above the vaporization filter 21. The air intake transported by the air intake fan 62 is blown out from the air intake outlet 51 into the space to be air-conditioned.

[0028] As described above, the air conditioner 1 includes the tank 7 that stores water to be supplied to the evaporative filter 21 and the heat exchanger 22, and the tank 7 includes a first tank 71 and a second tank 72. The first tank 71 is, for example, a rectangular box and is disposed below the evaporative filter 21 and the drain pan 91. Two first tanks 71 may be mounted on the main body 11 of the air conditioner 1.

[0029] The second tank 72 has, for example, a rectangular box shape and is disposed below the first tank 71. The capacity of the second tank 72 may be smaller than the capacity of the first tank 71. The first tank 71 functions as a main tank that stores water supplied from a water supply or the like. The second tank 72 functions as a sub-tank that stores water supplied from the first tank 71 when the first tank 71 and the second tank 72 are installed inside the main body 11 of the air conditioner 1. The water stored in the second tank 72 is supplied to the heat exchanger 22 and the evaporative filter 21 included in the cooling unit 2.

[0030] The second tank 72 stores the recovered water via a recovery water channel 9 for recovering water remaining in the cooling unit 2. The second tank 72 and a drain pan 91 are connected via the recovery water channel 9. The evaporation filter 21 and the heat exchanger 22 are disposed above the drain pan 91. The drain pan 91 recovers water that has been supplied from the second tank 72 to the evaporation filter 21 and the first heat exchange flow path 221 of the heat exchanger 22 and remains in a liquid state without being evaporated.

[0031] A second tank side shut-off valve is disposed in the second tank 72, and a main body side shut-off valve is disposed in the main body 11, and these second tank side shut-off valve and main body side shut-off valve are both opened when joined together. The second tank 72 and the pump are connected via a supply water passage 8, and the second tank side shut-off valve and the main body side shut-off valve are disposed in the supply water passage 8 between the second tank 72 and the pump. The pump may be disposed in the supply water passage 8 or at the lowest part. By driving the pump, water in the second tank 72 is transported via the supply water passage 8.

[0032] The pump is connected to a controller, such as a microcomputer, via a communication line, and is driven or stopped based on a control signal output from the controller. The controller may be disposed as a control board inside the exhaust flow path 4 located above the main body 11. Alternatively, the controller may be configured as a microcomputer mounted on a power supply board.

[0033] The pump is connected to the vaporization filter 21 and the heat exchanger 22 via a supply water channel 8. Therefore, the second tank 72 is connected to the vaporization filter 21 and the heat exchanger 22 via the pump and the supply water channel 8. The supply water channel 8 branches into multiple channels near the vaporization filter 21 and the heat exchanger 22. In this embodiment, the supply water channel 8 branches into four channels, and one of the channels is connected to the water supply body 23 of the vaporization filter 21. The water supply body 23 supplies water to the vaporization filter 21. The connection between the supply water channel 8 and the water supply body 23 functions as the water supply end 24. In other words, the tip of the supply water channel 8 on the water supply body 23 side corresponds to the water supply end 24.

[0034] Of the four branched supply water channels 8, three of them are connected to three sensible heat exchanger water supply sections 25 located above the outlet of first heat exchange flow path 221 of heat exchanger 22. Each of the three sensible heat exchanger water supply sections 25 supplies water to first heat exchange flow path 221 of heat exchanger 22. The connection between supply water channel 8 and sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 functions as water supply end 241. In other words, the tip of supply water channel 8 on the sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 side corresponds to water supply end 241.

[0035] The water supplied from the water supply passage 8 is temporarily held in the water supply body 23 provided above the vaporization filter 21, drips onto the vaporization filter 21 through holes provided in the water supply body 23, and permeates into the vaporization filter 21. In other words, the water supply body 23 arranged above the vaporization filter 21 corresponds to the vaporization filter water supply section through which the water supplied to the vaporization filter 21 flows. The water supplied from the water supply passage 8 drips into the inside of the first heat exchange flow path 221 of the heat exchanger 22 via the sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 provided above the heat exchanger 22.

[0036] A pump provided in the supply water passage 8 transports water from the second tank 72 to the evaporative filter 21 and the heat exchanger 22, and the water that does not evaporate in the evaporative filter 21 and the heat exchanger 22 and remains in liquid form is temporarily collected in the drain pan 91 by gravity, and is returned from the drain pan 91 to the second tank 72 via the recovery water passage 9. In other words, a water circulation passage is formed by the second tank 72, the supply water passage 8, the cooling unit 2, and the recovery water passage 9. When the amount of water stored in the second tank 72 falls below a predetermined value, water is supplied from the first tank 71 to the second tank 72.

[0037] The first tank 71 is disposed above the second tank 72 with the water supply tube portion provided on the bottom surface facing downward. The first tank 71 may be detachably attached to the main body 11, for example, and may be stored inside the main body 11 after being removed from the main body 11 and refilled with tap water or the like. The volume of the first tank 71 is larger than the volume of the second tank 72. In this embodiment, two first tanks 71 are provided, and the total volume of the two first tanks 71 is larger than the volume of the second tank 72. The number of first tanks 71 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

[0038] Water supplied from the second tank 72 drips into the first heat exchange flow path 221 through the sensible heat exchanger water supply unit 25 provided above the heat exchanger 22. That is, the first heat exchange flow path 221 is a mixture of exhaust gas flowing from bottom to top and water dripping from the sensible heat exchanger water supply unit 25 and flowing from top to bottom. The water stored in the second tank 72 is water recovered from the evaporative filter 21 and is cooled by the heat of vaporization. Therefore, the temperature of the water supplied from the second tank 72 is lower than the temperature of the exhaust gas immediately after it flows into the first heat exchange flow path 221. The exhaust gas exchanges sensible heat with the water dripping from the sensible heat exchanger water supply unit 25, i.e., is cooled by the water. Each exhaust path constituting the first heat exchange flow path 221 is composed of a plate member with a nonwoven fabric attached to its surface, functioning as a membrane member. The water dripping from sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 adheres to the nonwoven fabric, increasing the surface area of ​​the water in contact with the exhaust gas. As a result, some of the water dripping from sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 evaporates, and the heat of evaporation further cools the exhaust gas.

[0039] The exhaust air flowing through the first heat exchange flow path 221 of the heat exchanger 22 and the supply air flowing through the second heat exchange flow path 222 cross each other, and sensible heat is exchanged between the supply air and the exhaust air. As described above, the exhaust air flowing through the first heat exchange flow path 221 is cooled by water supplied from the second tank 72, and the supply air is cooled by the exhaust air cooled by water supplied from the second tank 72. Furthermore, the supply air may be cooled by the sensible heat or latent heat of vaporization of water attached to a membrane member that forms the exhaust path constituting the first heat exchange flow path 221, using the membrane member as a heat transfer member.

[0040] The supply air that has passed through the outlet of the second heat exchange flow path 222 of the heat exchanger 22 flows into the supply air flow path 5 that runs from the heat exchanger 22 to the supply air outlet 51. In the supply air flow path 5, a vaporization filter 21 is provided downstream of the heat exchanger 22, and the supply air passes through the vaporization filter 21.

[0041] Water supplied from the second tank 72 drips onto the evaporative filter 21 via the water supply body 23 provided above the evaporative filter 21. Because negative pressure is maintained within the air intake flow path 5, the water supplied from the second tank 72 is sucked into the interior of the evaporative filter 21 through holes provided in the bottom surface 2323 of the water supply body 23 and permeates into the evaporative filter 21. The water that permeates the evaporative filter 21 is promoted to evaporate as the supply air passes through the evaporative filter 21, and evaporates, i.e., evaporates into water vapor, which is then contained in the supply air. The heat of evaporation cools the supply air, lowering its temperature. The cooled supply air is blown out by the supply air fan 62 from the supply air outlet 51 into the space to be air-conditioned.

[0042] With this configuration, the supply air blown into the conditioned space can be cooled in two stages, including primary cooling by the heat exchanger 22 and secondary cooling by the evaporative filter 21. Therefore, the temperature of the supply air can be further reduced compared to, for example, a direct evaporation method that uses only the evaporative filter 21.

[0043] The exhaust air that flows into the first heat exchange flow path 221 of the heat exchanger 22 is mixed with water dripping from the sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 and transported toward the outlet of the first heat exchange flow path 221 located above the heat exchanger 22. Because the first heat exchange flow path 221 extends from below to above the heat exchanger 22, the exhaust air mixed with the water supplied from the sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 flows from below to above the heat exchanger 22. The sensible heat exchanger water supply sections 25 are elongated and arranged in parallel in the short direction. The exhaust air that passes through the outlet of the first heat exchange flow path 221 passes between the sensible heat exchanger water supply sections 25 arranged in parallel in this manner, reaches the exhaust fan 61, and is then blown out from the exhaust outlet 43.

[0044] 2 is a perspective view showing the exterior of the air conditioner 1. The main body 11 of the air conditioner 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has an upper surface 100, a lower surface 105, and side surfaces. The side surfaces include a first side surface 101, a second side surface 103, a third side surface 103, and a fourth side surface 104 located on the front, rear, left, and right sides. In this embodiment, the first side surface 101 corresponds to the front surface. The second side surface 102 corresponds to the right surface. The third side surface 103 corresponds to the rear surface. The fourth side surface 104 corresponds to the left surface.

[0045] The top surface 100 is formed with an intake air outlet 51 to which a duct is attached, and an exhaust air outlet 43. A removable opening is formed in a first side surface 101, which corresponds to the front surface, and a cover is detachably attached to cover the removable opening. A dust collection filter 31 is disposed integrally with the cover. A lever is disposed above the removable opening, which is operated when removing the heat exchanger case from the main body 11. A passage opening is formed below the removable opening on the first side surface 101, through which the first tank 71 and the second tank 72 are stored. A first tank housing section that houses the first tank 71 and a second tank housing section that houses the second tank 72 are formed at the back of the opening.

[0046] By removing the cover from the main body 11, the heat exchanger 22 housed in the heat exchange case is exposed through the detachable opening so as to be visible from the outside of the main body 11. A gripping portion 241 is formed on the heat exchange case, and the heat exchange case can be pulled out from the main body 11 by gripping the gripping portion 241.

[0047] The first tank 71 and the second tank 72 are configured to be able to be pulled out from the main body 11, just like the heat exchanger case. That is, the first side surface 101 of the main body 11 is formed with an attachment / detachment opening used when attaching / detaching the heat exchanger case, and a passage opening used when attaching / detaching the first tank 71 and the second tank 72. By forming both the attachment / detachment opening and the passage opening on the first side surface 101, which is the front surface of the main body 11, in this way, it is possible to improve the ease of operation by an operator.

[0048] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of water supply body 23. Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a main portion of water supply body 23. Figure 5 is a schematic side view of water supply body 23. Water supply body 23 is, for example, a box-like rectangular parallelepiped, and includes a main body 232 having a longitudinal shape and a rectangular opening at the top, and a lid 231 that covers the opening of main body 232 from above. Lid 231 is plate-shaped, and has a through-hole formed at a location located above water injection section 233 formed in main body 232. Water supply end 24, which is the end of supply water channel 8 communicating with tank 7, is inserted into this through-hole.

[0049] Water injected into the water inlet section 233 from the water supply end 24, which is the end of the water supply channel 8, flows into the water channel 234 formed in the main body 232 and drips from an opening 235 formed in the water channel 234 onto the vaporization filter 21 arranged below the water supply body 23. The upper end surface of the vaporization filter 21 facing the bottom surface 2323 of the water supply body 23 has the same rectangular shape as the bottom surface 2323. That is, the water supply body 23 is arranged above the vaporization filter 21 with the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232 aligned with the longitudinal direction of the upper end surface of the vaporization filter 21. In this way, the water supply body 23 arranged above the vaporization filter 21 corresponds to the water supply section for the vaporization filter 21 through which water supplied to the vaporization filter 21 flows.

[0050] The water supply body 23 includes a water injection section 233, a water channel 234 including a first water channel 2341 and a second water channel 2342, a confluence section 237 connecting the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342, and an overflow water channel 238. The water injection section 233 includes a cylindrical rib 2331 and an inclined section 2332. The cylindrical rib 2331 is formed to protrude from the bottom surface 2323 of the main body section 232. A inclined section 2332 composed of a flat plate is formed inside the cylindrical rib 2331. The water injection section 233 is formed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular main body section 232, which has a longitudinal shape. Details of the water injection section 233 will be described later. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the left-right direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing.

[0051] The cylindrical rib 2331 and the water channel 234 are in communication with each other, and water injected into the cylindrical rib 2331 flows into the water channel 234. That is, in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical rib 2331, a portion of the cylindrical rib 2331 is cut out on the side of the other end, which is opposite to one end in the longitudinal direction of the main body 232, and the water channel 234 is in communication with the cut-out portion.

[0052] The water channel 234 includes a first water channel 2341 and a second water channel 2342, which are separated by a partition wall 236. The water channel 234 extending from the tubular rib 2331 is divided into the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 by the partition wall 236 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the water channel 234. The outer peripheral surface of the tubular rib 2331 is continuous with an inner wall 2322 formed to protrude from the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232. That is, the inner walls 2322 are joined to two ends of a cutout portion in the outer peripheral surface of the tubular rib 2331, respectively, and the inner wall 2322 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the main body 232 from one end where the water injection section 233 is arranged to the other end.

[0053] That is, the main body 232 is formed with an inner wall 2322 arranged on the first water passage 2341 side and an inner wall 2322 arranged on the second water passage 2342 side in the longitudinal direction of the main body 232, and these inner walls 2322 are arranged parallel to each other in the short direction of the main body 232. On the other end side of the main body 232 in the longitudinal direction, the inner wall 2322 arranged on the first water passage 2341 side and the inner wall 2322 arranged on the second water passage 2342 side are connected by the inner wall 2322 extending in the short direction of the main body 232, i.e., the inner wall 2322 on the other end side.

[0054] The first water passage 2341 is formed by the inner surface of the inner wall 2322-1 arranged on the first water passage 2341 side, the inner surface of the partition wall 236 facing the inner surface of the inner wall 2322-1 on the first water passage 2341 side, and the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232 located between these inner surfaces. The second water passage 2342 is formed by the inner surface of the inner wall 2322-2 arranged on the second water passage 2342 side, the inner surface of the partition wall 236 facing the inner surface of the inner wall 2322-2 on the second water passage 2342 side, and the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232 located between these inner surfaces. The first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342, separated by the partition wall 236, are formed in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the main body 232.

[0055] The flow resistance of the first water passage 2341 is smaller than the flow resistance of the second water passage 2342. Therefore, in terms of the volumetric flow rate per unit time flowing in from the water injection section 233, the volumetric flow rate of the first water passage 2341 is greater than the volumetric flow rate of the second water passage 2342. In this case, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first water passage 2341 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow passage. This cross-sectional area indicates the flow passage cross-sectional area of ​​the first water passage 2341 and the second flow passage, and is the area of ​​a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23. When making the cross-sectional area of ​​the first water passage 2341 larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow passage, the length of the first water passage 2341 in the vertical direction and in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction may be larger than the length of the second water passage 2342 in the width direction. 4 , if the width of the first water channel 2341 is A and the width of the second water channel 2342 is B, then A, which is the width of the first water channel 2341, is greater than B, which is the width of the second water channel 2342 (A > B). Alternatively, the length of the first water channel 2341 in the vertical direction may be greater than the length of the second water channel 2342 in the vertical direction; that is, the height or depth of the first water channel 2341 may be greater than the height or depth of the second water channel 2342.

[0056] A plurality of partition walls 236 separating the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342 are arranged linearly along the longitudinal direction of the main body 232, and in this embodiment, as an example, five partition walls 236-1, 236-2, 236-3, 236-4, and 236-5 are arranged. Among the plurality of partition walls 236 arranged along the longitudinal direction, confluence portions 237-1, 237-2, 237-3, and 237-4 are formed between two adjacent partition walls 236, and water flows from the first water passage 2341 to the second water passage 2342 through the confluence portions 237. If, of two adjacent partition walls 236, the partition wall 236 located on the water injection section 233 side is designated as the first partition wall 236-1 and the other is designated as the second partition wall 236-2, the first partition wall 236-1 is located upstream of the second partition wall 236-2 in the direction of water flow from the water injection section 233. In this case, the confluence section 237 is formed between the first partition wall 236-1 and the second partition wall 236-2 in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23, and the gap or space where there is no partition wall 236 separating the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 functions as the confluence section 237.

[0057] When the first water passage 2341 has one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction, and the water injection section 233 is located at one end of the first water passage 2341, the confluence section 237 may be formed at the other end of the first water passage 2341. That is, the confluence section 237 may be formed between the end of the partition wall 236 arranged along the longitudinal direction that is located closest to the other end and the inner surface of the inner wall 2322 that is located closest to the other end. In this case, the confluence section 237 is located at the most downstream position in the first water passage 2341.

[0058] One or more openings 235 are formed in the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342. The openings 235 are configured as through holes formed in the bottom plate of the main body 232, and water flowing in the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342 drips onto the vaporization filter 21 via the openings 235, thereby supplying water to the vaporization filter 21. More openings 235 are formed in the second water passage 2342 than in the first water passage 2341. In other words, the sum of the opening areas of the openings 235 formed in the second water passage 2342 is greater than the sum of the opening areas of the openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341.

[0059] When the opening areas of the openings 235 of the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342 are equal, the number of openings 235 formed in the second water passage 2342 may be greater than the number of openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341. In this embodiment, as an example, 22 openings 235 are formed in the second water passage 2342 at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction. The number of openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341 is zero, i.e., no openings 235 are formed. By not forming openings 235 in the first water passage 2341 in this way, the sum of the opening areas of the openings 235 formed in the second water passage 2342 may be greater than the sum of the opening areas of the openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341.

[0060] In two partition walls 236 arranged adjacent to each other on the upstream and downstream sides of the confluence 237, i.e., the first partition wall 236-1 on the upstream side and the second partition wall 236-2 on the downstream side, the number of openings 235 formed in the second water channel 2342 in the first partition wall 236-1 may be greater than the number of openings 235 formed in the second water channel 2342 in the second partition wall 236-2. In other words, the number of openings 235 formed in the second water channel 2342 facing the first partition wall 236-1 is greater than the number of openings 235 formed in the second water channel 2342 facing the second partition wall 236-2, which is located farther from the water injection section 233 than the first partition wall 236-1. In this embodiment, six openings 235 are formed in the second water channel 2342 in the first partition 236-1, which is closest to the water injection section 233, and four openings 235 are formed in the second water channel 2342 in the second partition 236-2, which is adjacent to the first partition 236-1 and located downstream.

[0061] Of the multiple partition walls 236-1, 236-2, 236-3, 236-4, and 236-5 arranged along the longitudinal direction, at least one or more partition walls 236 have cutouts 2361-1, 2361-2, 2361-3, 2361-4, and 2361-5 formed by cutting out the upper portion. That is, at least one of the first partition wall 236-1 and the second partition wall 236-2 adjacent to each other across the confluence 237-1 has cutouts 2361-1 and 2361-2 formed by cutting out the upper portion. By forming the cutouts 2361 in this manner, the upper end of the partition wall 236 has a concave shape. The cutouts 2361 are formed at the center of two adjacent openings 235 in the multiple openings 235 formed in the second water channel 2342. In this embodiment, notches 2361-1, 2361-2, 2361-3, 2361-4, and 2361-5 are formed in all of the partition walls 236-1, 236-2, 236-3, 236-4, and 236-5.

[0062] In the first partition wall 236-1 and the second partition wall 236-2 that are arranged adjacent to each other, the length of the notch 2361-1 formed in the first partition wall 236-1 that is arranged closer to the water injection section 233 than the second partition wall 236-2 is shorter than the length of the notch 2361-2 formed in the second partition wall 236-2. In this case, if the notch 2361-1 formed in the first partition wall 236-1 located on the upstream side is defined as the first notch 2361-1 and the notch 2361-2 formed in the second partition wall 236-2 located on the downstream side is defined as the second notch 2361-2, the length of the first notch 2361-1 is shorter than the length of the second notch 2361-2. In other words, the length of the notch 2361 may increase as the partition wall 236 becomes farther away from the water injection section 233, i.e., as it is arranged downstream.

[0063] In this embodiment, cutouts 2361-1, 2361-2, 2361-3, 2361-4, and 2361-5 are formed in all of the partition walls 236-1, 236-2, 236-3, 236-4, and 236-5, and the length of the cutout 2361 increases stepwise as the partition wall 236 is disposed farther from the water injection portion 233. The shorter the length of the cutout 2361, the longer the length from the bottom surface 2323 to the upper end of the partition wall 236 at the location where the cutout 2361 is formed. Therefore, the further the partition wall 236 is from the water injection portion 233, the longer the length from the bottom surface 2323 to the upper end of the partition wall 236 at the location where the cutout 2361 is formed becomes stepwise smaller.

[0064] By providing the notches 2361-1, 2361-2, 2361-3, 2361-4, and 2361-5 in the partition walls 236-1, 236-2, 236-3, 236-4, and 236-5, respectively, when the water level of the water flowing in the first water channel 2341 exceeds the notch 2361, the water can be made to flow from the first water channel 2341 to the second water channel 2342 through the notch 2361. Therefore, by making the water flow from the first water channel 2341 into the second water channel 2342 through the notch 2361 depending on the water level of the water flowing in the first water channel 2341, the confluence 237 can be supplemented in terms of the distribution of water from the first water channel 2341 to the second water channel 2342. This allows the notch 2361 to function as a supplementary confluence 237. In this case, as the partition 236 moves away from the water injection section 233, i.e., toward the downstream side, the length from the bottom surface 2323 to the upper end of the partition 236 gradually decreases, and the effective height of the partition 236 decreases, so that the amount of water flowing from the first water channel 2341 to the second water channel 2342 through the cutout portion 2361 can be made relatively greater on the downstream side than on the upstream side.

[0065] 3, the overflow channel 238 is located outside the main channel 230, which is made up of the water injection section 233, the first channel 2341, the second channel 2342, and the confluence section 237, and is configured so that water overflowing from the main channel 230 flows into the overflow channel 238. The outer peripheral surface of the main channel 230 is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rib 2331 and the outer surface of the inner wall 2322. An outer wall 2321 is formed outside the cylindrical rib 2331 and the inner wall 2322.

[0066] The outer wall 2321 may be formed of a plate-like rib protruding from the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232, or may be a wall constituting the housing of the main body 232. The overflow channel 238 is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the main channel 230, the inner surface of the outer wall 2321, and the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232 located between these outer peripheral and inner surfaces. The overflow channel 238 is formed with an overflow opening 2381 and a baffle plate 239, the details of which will be described later.

[0067] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing the opening 235. The opening 235 is formed by a through-hole provided in the bottom plate of the main body 232, and the cross section of the opening 235 is rectangular, such as a square or rectangular shape. The length of the opening 235 in the width direction, which is perpendicular to the up-down direction and the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), is greater than the length of the second water channel 2342 in the width direction. The width direction corresponds to the front-rear direction. In this case, a portion of the opening 235 may be formed by cutting out a portion of the partition wall 236. Therefore, the thickness of the portion of the partition wall 236 where the opening 235 is formed is smaller than the thickness of the portion where the opening 235 is not formed.

[0068] The opening 235 penetrates the bottom plate of the main body 232, and a plate-like protrusion protruding downward may be formed on the underside of the bottom plate at the location where the opening 235 is formed. The protrusion formed on the bottom plate of the main body 232 may be configured in a flared shape with an opening area that widens as it approaches the tip. Furthermore, the tip of the protrusion may be U-shaped in cross section. By forming the protrusion in a U-shape in cross section perpendicular to the direction of water dripping, it is possible to prevent the formation of a meniscus, where water stagnates, at the tip of the protrusion.

[0069] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the water injection unit 233. FIG. 8 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the water injection unit 233. The cylindrical rib 2331 of the water injection unit 233 is formed to protrude from the bottom plate of the main body 232, and a flat inclined portion 2332 is disposed inside the cylindrical rib 2331. The main body 232, which has the cylindrical rib 2331 disposed therein, has a rectangular opening and is disposed above the vaporization filter 21 with the opening facing upward. The lid 231 is disposed to close the opening of the main body 232. When the lid 231 is placed over the main body 232, water is injected into the cylindrical rib 2331 of the water injection unit 233 from the end of the supply water channel 8 inserted into a through-hole formed in the lid 231, i.e., the water supply end 24.

[0070] The flat inclined portion 2332 arranged inside the cylindrical rib 2331 is inclined at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees, e.g., 45 degrees, with respect to the bottom surface 2323 of the main body portion 232. If the bottom surface 2323 of the main body portion 232 is formed as a curved surface, the inclined portion 2332 may have an inclination angle of 45 degrees, e.g., with respect to a line connecting the lowest part of the bottom surface 2323. In this case, the inclined portion 2332 is arranged so that the inter-face distance between the flat surface of the inclined portion 2332 and the bottom surface 2323 of the main body portion 232 increases with increasing distance from the connection point between the water injection portion 233 and the water channel 234. Therefore, the top of the inclined portion 2332 is located on the most upstream side in the direction of water flow from the water injection portion 233.

[0071] An inclined portion 2332 is disposed below the end of the supply water channel 8, i.e., the water supply end 24. In this case, the top of the inclined portion 2332 is located above the water injection portion 233, which is the end of the supply water channel 8, i.e., the water supply end 24. When the water injection portion 233 is disposed on the side of one longitudinal end of the main body 232, the distance from that end to the top of the inclined portion 2332 in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the distance from that end to the end of the supply water channel 8, and the top of the inclined portion 2332 is disposed closer to that end than to the end of the supply water channel 8. By disposing the end of the supply water channel 8, i.e., the water supply end 24, and the inclined portion 2332 in this manner, the area between the top and bottom of the inclined portion 2332 is located on an extension line in the water injection direction from the end of the supply water channel 8. As shown in Figure 8, the positional relationship between the water supply end 24 and the inclined portion 2332 will be explained using an imaginary line L extending perpendicularly from the water supply end 24, which is the end of the supply water channel 8, to the inclined portion 2332. The imaginary line L, shown as a dashed line, extends from the straight portion on the right side of the inner wall that forms the supply water channel 8. The imaginary line L extending downward intersects with the flat surface of the inclined portion 2332. Therefore, the point of intersection is lower than the top, which is the uppermost portion on the surface of the inclined portion 2332.

[0072] An overflow waterway 238 is formed on the outside of the cylindrical rib 2331. A baffle plate 239 is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical rib 2331, protruding radially from the outer circumferential surface. That is, the baffle plate 239 is disposed inside the overflow waterway 238. The baffle plate 239 may be located anywhere on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical rib 2331.

[0073] Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the outflow of water into the overflow channel 238. Figure 10 is a schematic bottom perspective view showing the overflow opening 2381 formed in the overflow channel 238. That is, Figure 10 is a perspective view of the water supply body 23 as seen from the bottom surface 2323. Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view showing the baffle plate 239 formed in the overflow channel 238. Inside the main body 232, there are formed a main channel 230 consisting of a water injection section 233, a first channel 2341, a second channel 2342, and a junction section 237, and an overflow channel 238 into which water overflowing from the main channel 230 flows.

[0074] The main water channel 230 and the overflow water channel 238 are separated by a cylindrical rib 2331 and an inner wall 2322 that is continuous with the cylindrical rib 2331. Therefore, when the water level in the first water channel 2341 or the second water channel 2342 exceeds the height of the inner wall 2322, the water flowing in the first water channel 2341 or the second water channel 2342 flows into the overflow water channel 238. Alternatively, when the water level of the water injected into the water injection section 233 exceeds the height of the cylindrical rib 2331, the water injected into the water injection section 233 flows into the overflow water channel 238.

[0075] An outer wall 2321 that forms a rectangular frame in a cross-sectional view from above is formed outside the inner wall 2322. Therefore, the overflow channel 238 is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the main channel 230, the inner surface of the outer wall 2321, and the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232 that is located between these outer and inner surfaces. The overflow channel 238 thus formed may be formed in a ring shape, such as a square or O shape, along the inner surface of the outer wall 2321 that forms a rectangular frame in a cross-sectional view from above.

[0076] The overflow channel 238 is formed with one or more overflow openings 2381. In this embodiment, six overflow openings 2381 are formed in the overflow channel 238. The overflow openings 2381 may be formed so as to be biased toward the downstream side in the direction of water flow from the water injection section 233. In addition, the overflow openings 2381 may be formed at both longitudinal ends of the main body section 232, i.e., at one end where the water injection section 233 is formed and at the other end opposite the one end.

[0077] The overflow opening 2381 may have a rectangular cross section, such as a square or rectangular shape, similar to the opening 235. The overflow opening 2381 penetrates the bottom plate of the main body 232, and a plate-like guide portion 2382 protruding downward is formed on the underside of the bottom plate at the location where the opening 235 is formed. The plate-like guide portion 2382 may be formed along one side of the overflow opening 2381 that has a rectangular cross section and that is located on the main water channel 230 side. For example, in the overflow opening 2381 that has a square hole shape, the plate-like guide portion 2382 may be formed along one of the sides that constitute the square and that is located on the main water channel 230 side. Furthermore, the guide portion 2382 may be formed with its base end at the underside of the bottom plate of the main body 232 and protruding downward, i.e., toward the vaporization filter 21, with its tip pointing toward the center of the short side of the main body 232. By forming the guide portion 2382 in this manner so as to be tilted toward the center of the short side of the main body portion 232, water from the overflow opening 2381 can be dripped toward the center of the short side of the main body portion 232, i.e., the center in the thickness direction of the evaporation filter 21.

[0078] The overflow opening 2381 formed at one end where the water injection section 233 is formed is disposed between two baffles 239 formed to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rib 2331. The tip of the baffle 239 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rib 2331 is joined to the inner surface of the outer wall 2321 that forms the overflow opening 2381. In this embodiment, the tip of the baffle 239 is joined to the inner surface of the outer wall 2321 located at one end of the rectangular main body 232. The baffle 239 is not limited to being formed in the main body 232, but may be formed on the back surface of the lid 231. Alternatively, the baffle 239 may be formed such that a lower side is formed in the main body 232 and an upper side is formed in the lid 231, and the lower side and the upper side come into contact with each other when the lid 231 is fitted to the main body 232.

[0079] The overflow opening 2381-1 formed at one end where the water injection section 233 is formed is located at the most upstream position in the overflow channel 238 in the direction of water flow from the water injection section 233. In contrast, the overflow opening 2381-1 located at the most upstream position is disposed between two baffles 239, and therefore water flows into the overflow opening 2381-1 located at the most upstream position only when the water level in the overflow channel 238 exceeds the height of the baffle 239. By disposing the overflow opening 2381-1 located at the most upstream position between the two baffles 239 in this way, it is possible to prevent water from the overflow channel 238 from leaking out of the water supply body 23 while suppressing the amount of water dripping from the overflow opening 2381-1 onto the evaporation filter 21.

[0080] (Embodiment 2) Figure 12 is a schematic plan view of a water supply body 23 having multiple first water channels 2341. In this embodiment, the water supply body 23 has, as an example, two first water channels 2341, i.e., the water supply body 23 includes multiple first water channels 2341. The flow path resistance of each of these multiple first water channels 2341 is smaller than the flow path resistance of the second water channel 2342, and therefore the cross-sectional area of ​​each first water channel 2341 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path.

[0081] Of the two first water channels 2341, one first water channel 2341-1 extends from the water injection section 233 to the midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the second water channel 2342. Of the two first water channels 2341, the other first water channel 2341-2 extends from the water injection section 233 to the end of the second water channel 2342 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the most downstream point of the second water channel 2342.

[0082] The junction 237-1 connecting the first waterway 2341-1 and the second waterway 2342-2 is formed at the end of the first waterway 2341-1, i.e., at the most downstream point of the first waterway 2341-1. The junction 237-2 connecting the other first waterway 2341-2 and the second waterway 2342 is formed at the end of the other first waterway 2341-2, i.e., at the most downstream point of the other first waterway 2341-2.

[0083] One first water channel 2341-1 has one opening 235-1 formed therein, and the opening 235-1 is located at the midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the one first water channel 2341-1. The other first water channel 2341-2 has one opening 235-2 formed therein, and the opening 235-2 is located closer to the other end of the other first water channel 2341 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., downstream, from the midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the other first water channel 2341.

[0084] By forming a plurality of first water channels 2341 with different lengths from the water injection section 233 in this manner, water can be made to flow into the second water channel 2342 from the confluence section 237 arranged at different positions. Also, by forming an opening 235 in the first water channel 2341, water can also be dripped onto the evaporation filter 21 from the opening 235 of the first water channel 2341. In this case, by arranging the opening 235 of the first water channel 2341 so that it is biased toward the downstream side, it is possible to promote a tendency for the amount of water dripping in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23 to be uniform.

[0085] (Embodiment 3) Figure 13 is a schematic plan view of the water supply body 23 in a form in which the first water passage 2341 does not have an opening 235. In this embodiment, the water supply body 23 has, as an example, two first water passages 2341, that is, the water supply body 23 includes a plurality of first water passages 2341. The flow path resistance in each of these plurality of first water passages 2341 is smaller than the flow path resistance of the second water passage 2342, and therefore the cross-sectional area of ​​each first water passage 2341 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second flow path.

[0086] The second water passage 2342 is disposed between two first water passages 2341 extending along the longitudinal direction, and therefore these two first water passages 2341 and the second water passage 2342 are disposed in parallel. That is, a partition wall 236 is disposed between one first water passage 2341 and the other first water passage 2341, with the second water passage 2342 at the center. Therefore, the partition wall 236 includes a plurality of partition walls 236 separating the second water passage 2342 from one first water passage 2341, and a plurality of partition walls 236 separating the second water passage 2342 from the other first water passage 2341.

[0087] Similar to the first embodiment, these multiple partition walls 236 are configured such that two partition walls 236, i.e., a first partition wall 236 and a second partition wall 236, are adjacent to each other with a junction 237 sandwiched between them. Three junctions 237 are formed between the second water channel 2342 and one of the first water channels 2341, i.e., three partition walls 236 separating the second water channel 2342 and one of the first water channels 2341. Three junctions 237 are formed between the second water channel 2342 and the other first water channel 2341, i.e., three partition walls 236 separating the second water channel 2342 and the other first water channel 2341. These three confluences 237 include a confluence 237 formed at the most downstream part of the second waterway 2342; that is, at the most downstream part of the second waterway 2342, a confluence 237 is formed that connects the most downstream part of one first waterway 2341 with the most downstream part of the other first waterway 2341.

[0088] In the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23, the two confluences 237 between the second water passage 2342 and one of the first water passages 2341 are formed at different positions from the two confluences 237 between the second water passage 2342 and the other first water passage 2341. That is, the two confluences 237 between the second water passage 2342 and one of the first water passages 2341 and the two confluences 237 between the second water passage 2342 and the other first water passage 2341 are formed at positions offset from each other so as to form a staggered or zigzag configuration in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23. By staggering the positions of the confluences 237 in each of the two first water passages 2341 relative to the second water passage 2342 in this manner, it is possible to prevent a sudden rise in water level in the portion of the second water passage 2342 to which the confluences 237 are connected.

[0089] In the second water passage 2342, a plurality of openings 235 are formed along the longitudinal direction, as in embodiment 1. In the plurality of first water passages 2341, openings 235 are not formed, and therefore, as in embodiment 1, the water passage 234 includes a first water passage 2341 extending longitudinally from the water injection section 233 and a second water passage 2342 having more openings 235 than the first water passage 2341. By having a plurality of first water passages 2341 in this way, the water supply body 23 can flow a larger amount of water into these plurality of first water passages 2341 than into the second water passage 2342, and also improves the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the confluence sections 237 connecting each of the first water passages 2341 with the second water passage 2342, thereby promoting a tendency for the amount of water dripping from the openings 235 of the second water passage 2342 to be uniform.

[0090] (Embodiment 4) Figure 14 is a schematic plan view of a water supply body 23 in which the water injection section 233 is central. In this embodiment, the water injection section 233 is positioned near the center or midpoint in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23. The first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 include the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 extending from the water supply body 23 located in the central portion toward one end side in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23, and the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 extending toward the other end side. The lengths of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 extending toward one end side and the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 extending toward the other end side may be the same or different.

[0091] The flow resistance of each of the first water passages 2341 is smaller than the flow resistance of the second water passages 2342, and therefore the cross-sectional area of ​​the first water passages 2341 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second water passages. No openings 235 are formed in the first water passages 2341, and therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the water passages 234 include the first water passages 2341 extending in the longitudinal direction from the water injection section 233 and the second water passages 2342 in which more openings 235 are formed than in the first water passages 2341.

[0092] Two confluences 237 are formed in the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342, which extend toward one end in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23. These two confluences 237 include a confluence 237 formed in the most downstream portion of the second water channel 2342; that is, a confluence 237 connecting the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342, which extend toward one end, is formed in the most downstream portion of the second water channel 2342. Three confluences 237 are formed in the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342, which extend toward the other end in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23. These three confluences 237 include a confluence 237 formed at the most downstream part of the second waterway 2342; that is, at the most downstream part of the second waterway 2342, a confluence 237 is formed that connects the first waterway 2341 and the second waterway 2342, which are extended toward the other end.

[0093] In this way, by arranging the water injection section 233 in the center in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in arranging the water injection section 233. In other words, when arranging each component such as the water supply channel 8 inside the main body 11, which is the housing of the air conditioner 1, the water injection section 233 can be arranged to match the position of the water supply end 24, which is the end of the water supply channel 8.

[0094] 15 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the path cross sections of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 in a configuration with different heights. In this embodiment, the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 are formed with different lengths in the vertical direction, i.e., different heights. The vertical length, i.e., height, of the first water channel 2341 is greater than the vertical length of the second water channel 2342. In addition, the bottom surface of the first water channel 2341 is positioned lower than the bottom surface of the second water channel 2342. Therefore, a step is formed between the bottom surfaces of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342.

[0095] When the water level in the first water channel 2341 exceeds the vertical length caused by the step, water flows out from the first water channel 2341 to the second water channel 2342. In this case, the inner wall 2322 of the first water channel 2341, which is the step, functions as the partition wall 236. The space above the step functions as the confluence 237 connecting the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342.

[0096] 16 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing the cross sections of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 in the form of a curved bottom surface 2323. In this embodiment, the cross sections of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 are arc-shaped. Therefore, the bottom surfaces of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 are formed as curved surfaces.

[0097] In this case, the partition wall 236 separating the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 forms a convex shape that widens from the top to the bottom. As in the first embodiment, the confluence portion 237 is formed by a gap or a space where the partition wall 236 separating the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 does not exist.

[0098] 17 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the path cross sections of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 in a configuration in which the heights are different due to the lid 231. In this embodiment, the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 are formed with different lengths in the vertical direction, i.e., different heights. The vertical length, i.e., height, of the first water channel 2341 is greater than the vertical length of the second water channel 2342. In this case, the bottom surfaces of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 are at the same height, i.e., there is no difference in height between the bottom surfaces of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342.

[0099] A step is formed on the inner surface of the lid 231, which closes the opening of the main body 232 from above. This step causes the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 to have different heights. A downwardly projecting portion is formed on the inner surface of the lid 231 above the second water channel 2342. No protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the lid 231 above the first water channel 2341. Therefore, a step is formed between the protrusion above the second water channel 2342 and the portion above the first water channel 2341. Using this step formed on the inner surface of the lid 231, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second water channel 2342 can be made smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the first water channel 2341. In this case, the step formed on the inner surface of the lid 231 may function as the partition wall 236, or the partition wall 236 may be formed separately from the step.

[0100] (Embodiment 9) In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the present invention is applied to water supply body 23 through which water supplied to evaporative filter 21 flows, but instead of application to water supply body 23, the present invention may also be applied to sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 through which water supplied to sensible heat exchanger 22, which is also part of cooling unit 2, flows. In this case, sensible heat exchanger water supply section 25 is disposed above sensible heat exchanger 22 (cooling unit 2) and corresponds to water supply body 23 through which water supplied to sensible heat exchanger 22 (cooling unit 2) flows.

[0101] In this embodiment, a water supply body 23 is disposed above a cooling unit 2 that uses the heat of vaporization of water to cool the air passing through it, and water dripping from the water supply body 23 is supplied to the cooling unit 2. The water supply body 23 has a longitudinal shape and may be, for example, a long cylindrical body or a U-shaped groove with an open top. For example, if the water supply body 23 is a box-shaped cylindrical body that is rectangular in cross section, the water supply body 23 may have a U-shaped cross section, a box-shaped main body 232 with an open top, and a lid 231 that closes the opening of the main body 232 from above. The water supply body 23 is formed with a water inlet 233 into which water is inlet from a tank 7 provided in the air conditioner 1, and a water channel 234 that communicates with the water inlet 233 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23. Therefore, water injected into the water supply body 23 from the tank 7 provided in the air conditioner 1 is received by the water injection section 233 and flows into the water channel 234 extending from the water injection section 233. The water channel 234 includes one or more first water channels 2341 and second water channels 2342, i.e., it branches into the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 at the water injection section 233. The second water channel 2342 has multiple openings 235 formed in the extension direction of the second water channel 2342, i.e., along the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23, and these multiple openings 235 may be arranged at equal intervals. The hole shape of the openings 235 is, for example, rectangular, and the water flowing into the second water channel 2342 is supplied to the cooling unit 2 by dripping from the rectangular holes in one or more openings 235. The second water passage 2342 has more openings 235 formed therein than the first water passage 2341, i.e., the number of openings 235 formed in the second water passage 2342 is greater than the number of openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341. In this case, no openings 235 may be formed in the first water passage 2341. The opening areas, i.e., inner diameters, of the openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342 may not only be the same, but also may be different.In this case, even if the number of openings 235 formed in the second water passage 2342 is equal to or less than the number of openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341, if the sum of the opening areas of the openings 235 formed in the second water passage 2342 is greater than the sum of the opening areas of the openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341, the second water passage 2342 will be considered to have more openings 235 formed therein than the first water passage 2341. By setting the size relationship between the openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342 in this manner, the amount of water dripping from the second water passage 2342 into the cooling unit 2 can be made greater than the amount of water dripping from the first water passage 2341 into the cooling unit 2. Furthermore, a junction 237 connecting the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 is formed between the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342, so that water flowing into the first water channel 2341 can be distributed to the second water channel 2342 via the junction 237. Therefore, in the water flow with the water injection section 233 as the most upstream, the second water channel 2342 is located downstream of the junction 237, and the water flowing in from the first water channel 2341 joins the second water channel 2342 by passing through the junction 237. In this case, the first water channel 2341 has fewer openings 235 than the second water channel 2342, so the amount of water reaching the junction 237 is greater in the first water channel 2341 than in the second water channel 2342. Therefore, by allowing water flowing from the confluence 237 into the first conduit 2341 to flow into the second conduit 2342, the amount of water flowing into the second conduit 2342 located downstream of the confluence 237 is increased, and the increased amount of water can be dripped into the cooling unit 2 from the openings 235 formed in the second conduit 2342 downstream. This reduces bias or differences in the amount of water dripping into the cooling unit 2 from each of the multiple openings 235 formed along the extension direction of the second conduit 2, i.e., the volumetric flow rate per unit time, and promotes a tendency for the amount of water dripping from each opening 235 to become more uniform. By achieving this uniformity in the amount of dripping, the distribution of the dripped water as it penetrates into the cooling unit 2 also tends to become more uniform, improving the evaporation efficiency of the cooling unit 2 and the cooling capacity of the air conditioner 1.

[0102] In this embodiment, the water channel 234 includes one or more first water channels 2341, i.e., the water supply body 23 has one or more first water channels 2341. In this case, the flow resistance of each first water channel 2341, i.e., the pipe friction coefficient when water flows through the first water channel 2341, is smaller than the flow resistance of the second water channel 2342. Reducing the flow resistance increases the flow rate, and therefore the amount of water flowing from the water injection section 233 to the first water channel 2341, i.e., the volumetric flow rate per unit time, can be made greater than the amount of water flowing from the water injection section 233 to the second water channel 2342. Furthermore, the water flowing through the first water channel 2341 can be distributed by flowing into the second water channel 2342 via the confluence section 237 connecting the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342. That is, the amount of water in the upstream second water channel 2342 close to the water injection section 233 can be made relatively small, and the amount of water dripping from the opening 235 of the upstream second water channel 2342, more specifically, from the opening 235 formed in the second water channel 2342 between the most upstream water injection section 233 and the first junction 237, can be suppressed. This can promote a tendency for the amount of water from the opening 235 formed on the upstream side and the amount of water from the opening 235 formed on the downstream side to be uniform.

[0103] In this embodiment, in each of the first water passages 2341, the width intersecting both the arrangement direction in which the cooling units 2 and the water supply bodies 23 are lined up, which corresponds to the up-down direction, and the extension direction, i.e., the width of the path cross-sectional area of ​​the first water passage 2341, is larger than the width of the second water passage 2342, i.e., the width of the path cross-sectional area of ​​the second water passage 2342. By setting the relationship in size between the path cross-sectional area widths in this manner, the flow path resistance in each of the first water passages 2341 can be made smaller than the flow path resistance of the second water passage 2342 with a relatively simple configuration.

[0104] In this embodiment, in each of the first water passages 2341, the length in the arrangement direction in which the cooling units 2 and the water supply bodies 23 are aligned, which corresponds to the vertical direction, i.e., the height of the path cross-sectional area of ​​the first water passage 2341, is greater than the height of the second water passage 2342, i.e., the height of the path cross-sectional area of ​​the second water passage 2342. By setting the relationship in the size of the path cross-sectional area height in this manner, the flow path resistance in each of the first water passages 2341 can be made smaller than the flow path resistance of the second water passage 2342 with a relatively simple configuration.

[0105] In this embodiment, when the water injection section 233, which is the most upstream point of the longitudinal water supply body 23, is formed at one end of the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23, the most downstream point of the water channel 234, i.e., the most downstream points of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342, is located at the other end of the longitudinal direction. In this case, the confluence 237 connecting the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 is formed at the most downstream point of the second water channel 2342. Therefore, even if the first water channel 2341 has relatively few openings 235 or no openings 235 are formed in the first water channel 2341, water can be made to flow from the first water channel 2341 into the second water channel 2342 via the confluence 237 formed at the most downstream point, and water can be supplied by dripping to the cooling unit 2 from one or more openings 235 near the most downstream point of the second water channel 2342.

[0106] In this embodiment, the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 branching off from the water injection section 233 are separated by a partition wall 236, i.e., the partition wall 236 separates the areas of the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342. The partition wall 236 is formed to protrude from the bottom surface 2323 of the main body section 232 in which the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342 are formed. The confluence section 237 is formed between two adjacent partition walls 236 with a gap provided in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23, i.e., the gap, which is a location where there is no partition wall 236 separating the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342, functions as the confluence section 237. In this way, by using the space between two adjacent partitions 236 in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23, i.e., in the direction of water flow, as the confluence 237, the confluence 237 can be formed with a relatively simple configuration.

[0107] In this embodiment, a notch 2361 is formed in the partition 236 located between the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342, with the upper portion cut out. Therefore, the height of the partition 236 where the notch 2361 is formed is lower than the height of the partition 236 where the notch 2361 is not formed. By forming one or more notches 2361 in the partition 236 extending in the longitudinal direction in this manner, when the water level flowing in the first water passage 2341 exceeds the height of the partition 236 where the notch 2361 is formed, water can flow from the first water passage 2341 into the second water passage 2342 through the notch 2361, i.e., the upper end of the notched partition 236. In this way, water flows from the first water passage 2341 into the second water passage 2342 via the notch 2361 depending on the water level flowing in the first water passage 2341. As a result, the notch 2361 can assist the confluence 237 from the viewpoint of distributing water from the first water channel 2341 to the second water channel 2342 , and can function as an auxiliary confluence 237 .

[0108] In this embodiment, a plurality of notches 2361 are formed in the partition wall 236 located between the first water channel 2341 and the second water channel 2342. These plurality of notches 2361 include a first notch 2361 and a second notch 2361 formed at a location farther from the water injection section 233 than the first notch 2361. In this case, the length of the first notch in the vertical direction of these notches 2361 is shorter than the length of the second notch 2361. In this way, in the water flow with the water injection section 233 as the most upstream point, the height of the partition wall 236 in which the notch 2361 located upstream is formed is greater than the height of the partition wall 236 in which the notch 2361 located downstream is formed. In other words, the notch lengths of these plurality of notches 2361 may be different. That is, the height of the partition wall 236 where the notch 2361 is formed may be gradually decreased from the upstream side to the downstream side by gradually increasing the length of the notch from the upstream side to the downstream side. In this manner, by making the notch length on the upstream side shorter than the notch length on the downstream side, the height of the partition wall 236 at the notch 2361 located upstream is relatively high, thereby reducing the amount of water that flows over the notch 2361 from the first water channel 2341 to the second water channel 2342 on the upstream side. Therefore, the amount of water dripping from the opening formed in the second water channel 2342 on the upstream side can be suppressed, and the amount of water dripping from the openings 235 on the upstream side and the downstream side can be made uniform.

[0109] In this embodiment, one or more openings 235 are formed in the first water passage 2341, and the sum of the opening areas of all the openings 235 formed in all the first water passages 2341 is smaller than the sum of the opening areas of all the openings 235 formed in the second water passage 2342. In this case, if the opening areas of all the openings 235 formed in the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342 are the same, the number of openings 235 formed in all the first water passages 2341 will be smaller than the number of openings 235 formed in the second water passage 2342. By setting the magnitude relationship between the sum of the opening areas of the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342 in this way, the amount of water flowing from the first water passage 2341 to the second water passage 2342 via the confluence 237 can be efficiently secured.

[0110] In this embodiment, the cross section of the opening 235 has a rectangular shape such as a square or a rectangle, and the width of the opening 235 in the short direction of the water supply body 23, i.e., the width of the rectangular cross section of the opening 235, is larger than the width of the second water passage 2342. By making the cross section of the opening 235 relatively large, the flow resistance when water drips through the opening 235 can be made relatively small, and further, the generation of a meniscus at the opening 235 can be suppressed.

[0111] In this embodiment, in two partition walls 236 arranged adjacently on the upstream and downstream sides of the confluence 237, the number of openings 235 formed in the second water channels 2342 in the upstream partition wall 236 is greater than the number of openings 235 formed in the second water channels 2342 in the downstream partition wall 236. Therefore, the water distribution ratio in each of the openings 235 in the second water channels 2342 upstream of the confluence 237 can be made smaller than the water distribution ratio in each of the openings 235 in the second water channels 2342 downstream of the confluence 237. This can promote a tendency for the amount of dripping from each of the openings 235 on the upstream and downstream sides to become uniform.

[0112] In this embodiment, the water injection section 233 is formed at the longitudinal end of the water supply body 23. Since the water supply body 23 is located at the most upstream position in the direction of water flow, by arranging the water supply body 23 at the longitudinal end, i.e., at one end, the most downstream position of the water passage 234 is located at the other end. This allows the distance between the longitudinal ends of the water supply body 23 to be secured as the flow path length of the water supply body 23.

[0113] In this embodiment, the water injection section 233 is formed in the center in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body 23. Since the water injection section 233 is located at the most upstream position in the direction of water flow, the water channels 234 can be extended from the water supply body 23 in which the water injection section 233 is formed in the center in the longitudinal direction toward both ends in the longitudinal direction, i.e., toward both one end and the other end, ensuring flexibility in the placement of the center section and the water channels 234.

[0114] In this embodiment, the water injection section 233 is formed with a cylindrical rib 2331 that opens upward, and the cylindrical rib 2331 is provided so as to protrude from the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232 of the water injection section 233. Water injected into the water supply body 23 from the tank 7 provided in the air conditioner 1 is received inside the cylindrical rib 2331. An inclined section 2332 that is inclined relative to the bottom surface 2323 of the water channel 234 is arranged inside the cylindrical rib 2331, and the surface of the inclined section 2332 is, for example, flat. The inclined section 2332 is provided so that the inter-surface distance between the flat surface of the inclined section 2332 and the bottom surface 2323 of the water channel 234, i.e., the bottom surface 2323 of the main body 232 of the water injection section 233, increases toward the upstream side in the direction of water flow in the water channel 234. In this case, the angle of inclination of the inclined portion 2332 with respect to the bottom surface 2323 of the water channel 234 is set to 40 to 50 degrees, that is, an angle of ±5 degrees from 45 degrees. By arranging such an inclined portion 2332 inside the cylindrical rib 2331, water poured from above into the inside of the cylindrical rib 2331 is received by the inclined portion 2332 and bounced off the inclined portion 2332, so that the direction of travel of the water can be aligned with the extension direction of the water channel 234.

[0115] In this embodiment, a water supply end 24 for injecting water into the water supply body 23 is disposed above the water injection section 233, and the water supply end 24 is connected to a tank 7 for storing water via a supply water channel 8. A sloped section 2332 is disposed below the water supply end 24, and the sloped section 2332 is located on an extension line of the water injection direction from the water supply end 24. In this case, the sloped section 2332, which is inclined at an angle of, for example, 45 degrees with respect to the bottom surface 2323 of the water channel 234, includes a portion that is the uppermost part based on the bottom surface 2323, and the uppermost part is located upstream of the water supply end 24 in the direction of water flow from the water injection section 233. In other words, an extension line of the water injection direction from the water supply end 24 intersects, at the sloped section 2332, the central region from the bottom to the top of the bottom surface 2323 of the water channel 234. By setting the positional relationship between the inclined portion 2332 and the water supply end 24 in this manner, even if the water injected from the water supply end 24 spreads and falls, the water can be received and bounced back by the surface of the inclined portion 2332, and the direction of water movement can be made to align with the extension direction of the water channel 234 depending on the angle of inclination.

[0116] In this embodiment, the water supply body 23 includes a water injection section 233, a first water passage 2341 and a second water passage 2342 branching off from the water injection section 233, and a confluence section 237 formed at the location where the partition wall 236 separating the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342 is missing, and these together form the main water passage 230. The water supply body 23 further has an overflow water passage 238 into which water overflowing from the main water passage 230 flows, and the overflow water passage 238 also has an overflow opening 2381 formed therein for dripping water onto the cooling unit 2. In this case, the main water passage 230 and the overflow water passage 238 may be separated by an inner wall 2322 formed on the main body 232 of the water supply body 23. When the main body 232 of the water supply body 23 is configured in a box shape with an open top, the overflow waterway 238 may be formed by the outer wall 2321 and the inner wall 2322 of the box-shaped main body 232. The water supply body 23 has not only the main waterway 230 that is directly connected or communicated with the main waterway 230, but also the overflow waterway 238 that receives water overflowing from the main waterway 230, thereby preventing water injected into the water supply body 23 from overflowing from the water supply body 23.

[0117] In this embodiment, the overflow channel 238 is disposed outside the main channel 230, and when the water level flowing in the main channel 230 exceeds the height of an inner wall 2322 separating the overflow channel 238 from the main channel 230, water flows from the main channel 230 into the overflow channel 238. The water flowing into the overflow channel 238 drips from an overflow opening 2381 formed in the overflow channel 238 into the cooling unit 2. At this time, a guide portion 2382 is disposed below the overflow opening 2381 to guide the water dripping from the overflow opening 2381 toward the main channel 230, i.e., inward. This allows the water dripping from the overflow opening 2381 to approach the dripping position of the water that would normally drip from the opening 235 formed in the main channel 230, i.e., the second channel 2342, etc. This allows the water dripping from the overflow opening 2381 to approach a suitable drip position in the cooling unit 2, thereby ensuring the evaporation efficiency in the cooling unit 2.

[0118] In this embodiment, the water injection section 233 constituting a part of the main channel 230 includes a cylindrical rib 2331 that opens upward, and a baffle 239 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rib 2331, i.e., on the portion of the inner wall 2322 that forms the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rib 2331, which separates the main channel 230 from the overflow channel 238. Therefore, the baffle 239 is disposed in the overflow channel 238. In this case, an overflow opening 2381 may be formed in the overflow channel 238 upstream of the baffle 239. The baffle 239 is configured to prevent the water flowing in the overflow channel 238 from being biased upstream of the flow direction of the water flowing in the main channel 230. It is assumed that water will flow out of the main water passage 230, including the first water passage 2341 and the second water passage 2342, into the overflow water passage 238 on the downstream side of the main water passage 230. By arranging the baffle 239 on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rib 2331, it is possible to prevent water from the overflow water passage 238 from dripping from the overflow opening 2381 upstream of the baffle 239. Furthermore, by forming the overflow opening 2381 upstream of the baffle 239, it is expected that even if the air conditioner 1 including the water supply body 23 is tilted toward the water injection section 233 more than expected for use, water will drip from the overflow opening 2381 into the cooling unit 2, thereby preventing water from overflowing from the water supply body 23.

[0119] Multiple claims may be combined with each other regardless of the form of reference. Multiple dependent claims may be included in the claims, depending on multiple claims. Multiple dependent claims may be included in a multiple dependent claim. If multiple dependent claims are not included in a multiple dependent claim, this does not limit the number of multiple dependent claims that are included in a multiple dependent claim.

[0120] The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above meaning, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0121] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 11 Main body (housing) 100 Top surface 101 First side surface (front surface) 102 Second side surface (right surface) 103 Third side surface (rear surface) 104 Fourth side surface (left surface) 105 Bottom surface 2 Cooling unit 21 Evaporative filter 22 Heat exchanger (sensible heat exchanger) 221 First heat exchange flow path 222 Second heat exchange flow path 23 Water supply body 230 Main water channel 231 Lid 232 Main body 2321 Outer wall 2322 Inner wall 2323 Bottom surface 233 Water injection section 2331 Cylindrical rib 2332 Inclined section 234 Water channel 2341 First water channel 2342 Second water channel 235 Opening 236 Partition wall 2361 Notch 237 Confluence section 238 Overflow water passage 2381 Overflow opening 2382 Guide portion 239 Baffle plate 24 Water supply end (end of supply water passage in evaporative filter) 241 Water supply end (end of supply water passage in heat exchanger) 25 Water supply portion for sensible heat exchanger 3 Intake port 31 Dust collection filter 32 Intake flow path 4 Exhaust flow path (first flow path) 43 Exhaust air outlet 5 Air intake flow path (second flow path) 51 Air intake outlet 6 Fan motor 61 Exhaust fan 62 Air intake fan 7 Tank 71 First tank 72 Second tank 8 Supply water passage 9 Recovery water passage 91 Drain pan

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising: a cooling unit that cools air passing through it using the latent heat of vaporization of water; and a water supply body arranged above the cooling unit and through which water supplied to the cooling unit flows, the water supply body having a water injection section into which water is injected, a water channel communicating with the water injection section, and openings formed in the water channel for dripping water onto the cooling unit, the water channels including a first water channel extending longitudinally from the water injection section and a second water channel extending longitudinally from the water injection section and having more openings formed therein than the first water channel, and a confluence formed between the first water channel and the second water channel connecting the first water channel and the second water channel.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the flow resistance of the first water passage is smaller than the flow resistance of the second water passage.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the first water channel perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second water channel perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

4. An air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the length of the first water channel in the vertical direction intersecting the longitudinal direction and in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is greater than the length of the second water channel in the width direction.

5. An air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the length of the first water channel in the vertical direction is greater than the length of the second water channel in the vertical direction.

6. An air conditioner as described in claim 1, wherein the first water channel has one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction, the water injection section is located at the one end of the first water channel, and the confluence section is located at the other end of the first water channel.

7. An air conditioner as described in claim 1, wherein a first partition wall and a second partition wall adjacent to the first partition wall with a gap in the longitudinal direction are arranged between the first water passage and the second water passage, and the confluence portion is formed between the first partition wall and the second partition wall in the longitudinal direction of the water supply body.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first partition wall and the second partition wall has a notch cut out at the top.

9. An air conditioner as described in claim 8, wherein the cutout includes a first cutout and a second cutout that is farther from the water injection section than the first cutout, and the length of the first cutout in the vertical direction is shorter than the length of the second cutout in the vertical direction.

10. An air conditioner as described in claim 1, wherein one or more openings are formed in the first water channel, and the sum of the opening areas of all the openings formed in the first water channel is smaller than the sum of the opening areas of all the openings formed in the second water channel.

11. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the length of the opening in the vertical direction intersecting the longitudinal direction and in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is greater than the length of the second water channel in the width direction.

12. An air conditioner as described in claim 1, wherein a first partition and a second partition adjacent to the first partition in the longitudinal direction are arranged between the first water passage and the second water passage, the confluence portion is formed between the first partition and the second partition in the longitudinal direction, the second partition is arranged farther from the water injection portion than the first partition, and the number of openings formed in the second water passage in the first partition is greater than the number of openings formed in the second water passage in the second partition.

13. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the water injection section is formed at an end of the water supply body in the longitudinal direction.

14. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the water injection section is formed in the center of the water supply body in the longitudinal direction.

15. An air conditioner as described in claim 1, wherein the water channel has a rectangular cross section, the water injection section includes a cylindrical rib that opens upward, and an inclined section that is disposed inside the cylindrical rib and is inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the water channel, and the inclination angle of the inclined section with respect to the bottom surface of the water channel is between 40 and 50 degrees.

16. An air conditioner as described in claim 15, wherein an end of a supply water channel through which water supplied to the water supply body flows is located above the water injection section, the inclined section is located below the end of the supply water channel, and the top of the inclined section is located above the water injection section rather than the end of the supply water channel.

17. An air conditioner as described in claim 1, wherein the water supply body has a main water channel consisting of the water injection section, the first water channel, the second water channel and the confluence section, and an overflow water channel into which water overflowing from the main water channel flows, and the overflow water channel has an overflow opening through which water supplied to the cooling unit flows.

18. An air conditioner as described in claim 17, wherein the overflow waterway is positioned outside the main waterway, and a guide section is positioned below the overflow opening formed in the overflow waterway to guide water dripping from the overflow opening in the direction of the main waterway.

19. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the water injection section includes a cylindrical rib that opens upward, and a baffle plate is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical rib.

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