Air conditioner

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. The air conditioner, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a case having inlets and outlets; a heat exchanger installed inside the case and exchanging heat with air; and a dehumidification filter provided on one side of the heat exchanger and capable of dehumidifying air, the filter being capable of enhancing the dehumidification performance of the air conditioner. The dehumidification filter is disposed on an outlet side of the heat exchanger such that the air primarily dehumidified in the heat exchanger can simply pass through the dehumidification filter to be secondarily dehumidified.

Description

air conditioner

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

[0002] An air conditioner is a device designed to maintain the air in a designated space in the most suitable condition according to its use and purpose. Generally, the air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, and a refrigeration cycle that performs the compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes of a refrigerant is driven to cool or heat the designated space.

[0003] The aforementioned predetermined space can be proposed in various ways depending on the location where the air conditioner is used. For example, when the air conditioner is placed in a home or office, the aforementioned predetermined space may be an indoor space of a house or building.

[0004] When the air conditioner performs cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger equipped in the outdoor unit functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger equipped in the indoor unit functions as an evaporator. On the other hand, when the air conditioner performs heating operation, the indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator.

[0005] The air conditioner can perform dehumidification operation. When performing the dehumidification operation, a refrigeration cycle for cooling operation is driven, and when the refrigeration cycle is driven, dehumidification can be achieved through a control method that lowers the dew point based on the relative humidity of the indoor air (humid air).

[0006] However, in the case of conventional air conditioners, when performing dehumidification operation, the dew point must be lowered to a low temperature (evaporation temperature drop) until the target humidity is reached, which caused the indoor temperature to drop excessively, resulting in discomfort for occupants. Additionally, there was a problem where power consumption increased as the compressor's input work increased to lower the dew point.

[0007] Meanwhile, when operating air conditioning during the rainy season, there was a problem where occupants could not feel comfortable due to high relative humidity even if the indoor air temperature reached the target temperature.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner that can reduce power consumption by lowering the load of the compressor by removing the latent heat of the indoor air by equipping the indoor unit with a dehumidifying filter, thereby eliminating the need to excessively lower the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner capable of forming a relatively high evaporation temperature of a refrigeration cycle and reducing the amount of condensate generated by performing dehumidification operation using a dehumidification filter.

[0010] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner equipped with a dehumidifying filter in the indoor unit to remove internal moisture from the indoor unit even when the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, thereby reducing the occurrence of mold.

[0011] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner capable of maintaining good performance of a dehumidification filter without a separate heater by regenerating the dehumidification filter through the operation of the heating cycle of the air conditioner.

[0012] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner capable of discharging moisture removed from a dehumidification filter to the outside through an exhaust duct connected to an outdoor space, so that humid air is not discharged into an indoor space during the regeneration operation of the air conditioner.

[0013] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner capable of secondarily dehumidifying air that has been first dehumidified while passing through the heat exchanger during dehumidification operation by installing a dehumidification filter on the downstream side (rear end) of the heat exchanger.

[0014] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner capable of improving dehumidification performance by installing a dehumidification filter in contact with a heat exchanger, thereby allowing air to flow without leakage into the space between the heat exchanger and the dehumidification filter.

[0015] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner that may include dehumidifying elements in the form of beads to reduce the flow resistance of air passing through a dehumidifying filter.

[0016] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner that may include a dehumidifying element made of a Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) material that is easily regenerated at low temperatures.

[0017] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner capable of increasing the regeneration efficiency of a dehumidifying element by including a dehumidifying frame with high thermal conductivity to facilitate heat transfer to the dehumidifying element.

[0018] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner that may include a dehumidification frame having a honeycomb shape to increase the contact area with the dehumidification member.

[0019] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner equipped with an openable damper, wherein the damper is closed during dehumidification operation to allow dehumidified air to be discharged into the indoor space, and the damper is opened during regeneration operation to discharge moisture removed from the dehumidification filter to the outside of the indoor space.

[0020] The present invention aims to provide an air conditioner capable of preventing humid air from being discharged into an indoor space by including an exhaust duct connected to a case to guide the detached moisture to the outside.

[0021] An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a case forming an intake port and a discharge port, a heat exchanger installed inside the case and exchanging heat with air, and a dehumidification filter provided on one side of the heat exchanger and capable of dehumidifying air, thereby improving dehumidification performance.

[0022] The above dehumidification filter is placed at the outlet side of the heat exchanger so that air dehumidified in the heat exchanger can be easily dehumidified in the second stage as it passes through the dehumidification filter.

[0023] The above dehumidification filter is fixed to the heat exchanger, so that the dehumidification filter can be stably installed.

[0024] The above dehumidification filter is installed to be in contact with the heat exchanger without a gap, so that air passing through the heat exchanger can be prevented from bypassing the dehumidification filter.

[0025] The above dehumidifying filter includes a filter frame forming a receiving space and a dehumidifying member located in the receiving space, and the dehumidification of air can be easily achieved.

[0026] The above dehumidifying element may be provided to have a bead shape so as to reduce the flow resistance of air passing through the dehumidifying filter.

[0027] The filter frame may have a honeycomb shape to increase the contact area with the dehumidifying member.

[0028] The filter frame above may include a plurality of frame cells to form a plurality of receiving spaces.

[0029] The above dehumidifying element may be composed of a metal-organic framework (MOF) to enable low-temperature regeneration by the condensation heat of a heat exchanger. For example, the above dehumidifying element may include a material having metal ions that are harmless to the human body, such as zirconium (Zr), iron (Fe), or aluminum (Al).

[0030] The filter frame may be composed of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper, to facilitate heat transfer to the dehumidifying element during regeneration operation.

[0031] The above air conditioner may include an exhaust duct connected to the case that can guide moisture detached from the dehumidifying element to the outside of the indoor space.

[0032] The air conditioner includes a damper capable of opening or closing the path of the exhaust duct, thereby restricting the discharge of dehumidified air into the exhaust duct during dehumidification operation and allowing moisture removed from the dehumidification filter to be easily discharged into the external space through the exhaust duct during regeneration operation.

[0033] In one aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner may include: a case forming an intake port and a discharge port for drawing in air from an indoor space; a fan provided inside the case and generating air flow; a heat exchanger provided inside the case through which air drawn in from the intake port passes and exchanges heat; and a dehumidifying filter provided on one side of the heat exchanger and comprising a dehumidifying member for dehumidifying air.

[0034] The air conditioner may include a through hole formed in the case and discharging air that has been regenerated from the dehumidifying member; and a damper installed in the through hole and operating to open or close the through hole.

[0035] The above air conditioner may further include an exhaust duct connected to the damper and configured to discharge air expelled through the open damper into an external space when the damper is opened.

[0036] The above dehumidification filter may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger so that air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger can pass through the dehumidification filter.

[0037] The dehumidifying filter may be positioned to be in contact with the heat exchanger so as to prevent the air passing through the heat exchanger from bypassing the dehumidifying filter.

[0038] The above dehumidification filter can be connected to the above heat exchanger.

[0039] The above heat exchanger includes a refrigerant pipe and a heat exchange fin, and further includes a cover member that shields the refrigerant pipe, and the dehumidification filter can be fastened to the cover member.

[0040] The apparatus further includes a discharge vane that operates to close the discharge port when the damper operates to open the through hole, and the discharge vane can operate to open the discharge port when the damper operates to close the through hole.

[0041] The above dehumidifying filter includes a filter frame that forms a receiving space, and the dehumidifying member may have a bead shape and be placed in the receiving space.

[0042] The filter frame may include a plurality of frame shells forming a plurality of receiving spaces to have a honeycomb shape.

[0043] The filter frame may be composed of a thermally conductive metal material to enable heat transfer to the dehumidifying member.

[0044] The above dehumidifying element may be composed of a metal-organic framework (MOF) material so that it can be easily regenerated by heat transferred from the filter frame.

[0045] The above dehumidification filter may include a support member made of mesh material attached to or fastened to the filter frame to prevent the dehumidification member placed in the receiving space from detaching.

[0046] The discharge port may be formed on the first surface of the case, and the through hole may be formed on the second surface of the case.

[0047] It may include a damper motor that provides driving force to the damper and a damper bracket that supports the damper motor.

[0048] The damper bracket may include a bracket body forming a bracket channel in which the damper is installed, and a case fixing part connected to the bracket body and fastened to the case.

[0049] In another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner may include: a case forming an intake port and a discharge port for drawing in air from an indoor space; a fan provided inside the case and generating air flow; an indoor heat exchanger provided inside the case through which air drawn in from the intake port passes and exchanges heat; and a dehumidifying filter provided downstream of the indoor heat exchanger, comprising a filter frame forming a receiving space and a dehumidifying member disposed in the receiving space.

[0050] In the above air conditioner, when the indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator during dehumidification operation, the air that has been dehumidified first in the indoor heat exchanger can be dehumidified secondarily as it passes through the dehumidification filter.

[0051] The above air conditioner is characterized by the fact that when the indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser during regeneration operation, moisture from the dehumidifying element is desorbed using the condensation heat of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0052] The above air conditioner includes an outdoor unit comprising a compressor, a four-way valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger, and during the dehumidification operation, the four-way valve guides the refrigerant compressed by the compressor to the outdoor heat exchanger so that the indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, and during the regeneration operation, the four-way valve guides the refrigerant compressed by the compressor to the indoor heat exchanger so that the indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser.

[0053] During the above regeneration operation, it may include an exhaust duct that discharges air containing the detached moisture to the outside of the case.

[0054] The above case has a through hole formed therein and further includes a damper that operates to open or close the through hole, and the damper can be connected to the exhaust duct.

[0055] The above dehumidifying member may be composed of zirconium (Zr), iron (Fe), or aluminum (Al) material having a bead shape.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing a dehumidifying filter in the indoor unit to remove the latent heat of the indoor air, there is no need to excessively lower the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle, and accordingly, the load of the compressor can be lowered to reduce power consumption.

[0057] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by performing dehumidification operation using a dehumidification filter, the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle can be formed relatively high and the amount of condensate generated can be reduced.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing a dehumidifying filter in the indoor unit, internal moisture of the indoor unit can be removed even when the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, thereby reducing the occurrence of mold.

[0059] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by driving the heating operation cycle of an air conditioner to regenerate the dehumidification filter, the performance of the dehumidification filter can be maintained well without providing a separate heater.

[0060] According to an embodiment of the present invention, moisture removed from a dehumidification filter can be discharged to the outside through an exhaust duct connected to an outdoor space so that humid air is not discharged into the indoor space during the regeneration operation of the air conditioner.

[0061] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a dehumidification filter is installed on the downstream side (rear end) of a heat exchanger so that air that has been dehumidified first while passing through the heat exchanger during dehumidification operation can be dehumidified secondly while passing through the dehumidification filter.

[0062] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by installing a dehumidification filter in contact with a heat exchanger, air flows without leaking into the space between the heat exchanger and the dehumidification filter, thereby improving dehumidification performance.

[0063] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the airflow resistance of air passing through a dehumidification filter can be reduced by including a dehumidifying member in the form of beads.

[0064] According to an embodiment of the present invention, by including a dehumidifying member made of a metal-organic framework (MOF) material, the dehumidifying filter can be easily regenerated at a low temperature.

[0065] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the regeneration efficiency of a dehumidifying member can be increased by including a dehumidifying frame with high thermal conductivity to facilitate heat transfer to the dehumidifying member.

[0066] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the contact area with the dehumidifying member can be increased by including a dehumidifying frame having a honeycomb shape.

[0067] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a damper that can be opened and closed is provided, so that when operating in a dehumidification mode, the damper is closed to allow dehumidified air to be discharged into the indoor space, and when operating in a regeneration mode, the damper is opened to easily discharge moisture removed from the dehumidification filter to the outside of the indoor space.

[0068] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an exhaust duct connected to a case and guiding the detached moisture to the outside can be included to prevent humid air from being discharged into an indoor space.

[0069] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 5 is a front view showing a part of the indoor unit configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a combination of a heat exchanger and a dehumidification filter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a dehumidification filter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along 8-8 of Figure 6.

[0077] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a damper installed on the side of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view showing the configuration of a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing the configuration of a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0080] FIG. 12 is an internal perspective view showing a part of the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0081] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing air flow when an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention performs dehumidification operation.

[0082] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing air flow when an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention performs regenerative operation.

[0083] FIG. 15 is a psychrometric chart showing the changes in air temperature and humidity during dehumidification operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, compared with the prior art.

[0084] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that in assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions would hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0085] In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used when describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention. These terms are intended only to distinguish the components from other components, and the essence, order, or sequence of the components is not limited by the terms. Where it is stated that a component is "connected," "combined," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but that another component may also be "connected," "combined," or "connected" between each component.

[0086] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 1, an air conditioner (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a component for a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates.

[0088] The above air conditioner (1) may include an indoor unit (10) placed in an indoor space and an outdoor unit (20) placed in an outdoor space.

[0089] The above outdoor unit (20) may include a compressor (21) for compressing the refrigerant to a high pressure. An accumulator may be installed on the suction side of the compressor (21) to separate the gaseous refrigerant from the low-pressure refrigerant and guide it to the compressor (210).

[0090] The above outdoor unit (20) is installed at the outlet side of the compressor (21) and may include a four-way valve (22) that controls the flow direction of the refrigerant, into which the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor (21) flows.

[0091] The above outdoor unit (20) is connected to the above four-way valve (22) and may include an outdoor heat exchanger (23) that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the compressor (21) during cooling or dehumidification operation of the air conditioner (1).

[0092] When the air conditioner (1) is in cooling or dehumidifying operation, the four-way valve (22) guides the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (21) to the outdoor heat exchanger (23). That is, when the air conditioner (1) is in cooling or dehumidifying operation, the outdoor heat exchanger (230) can function as a condenser.

[0093] The above outdoor unit (20) may include an outdoor fan (25) provided on one side of the outdoor heat exchanger (23) to blow air into the outdoor heat exchanger (23).

[0094] The outdoor unit (20) may include an expansion valve (24) capable of reducing the pressure of the condensed refrigerant. For example, the expansion valve (24) may be configured as an electronic expansion valve (EEV) capable of controlling the opening degree to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant.

[0095] When the heating operation (or regeneration operation) of the air conditioner (1) is performed, the reverse cycle of the cooling operation (or dehumidification operation) is driven, and the refrigerant evaporates in the outdoor heat exchanger (23), and the refrigerant evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger (23) can be sucked into the compressor (21) through the four-way valve (22).

[0096] In detail, the refrigerant flowing from the indoor unit (10) to the outdoor unit (20) is depressurized at the expansion valve (24) and then flows into the outdoor heat exchanger (230), and can evaporate while passing through the outdoor heat exchanger (23). That is, the outdoor heat exchanger (230) can function as an evaporator.

[0097] The above indoor unit (10) may include an indoor heat exchanger (300) that exchanges heat with the air of the indoor space and an indoor fan (150) provided on one side of the indoor heat exchanger (300) and blowing air into the indoor heat exchanger (300).

[0098] When the cooling operation or dehumidification operation of the air conditioner (1) is performed, the indoor heat exchanger (23) functions as an evaporator and can cool or dehumidify the air flowing into the indoor unit (10).

[0099] In the case of the above cooling and dehumidification operations, the operation of the refrigeration cycle is identical, but there may be a difference in the setting of the target temperature or pressure of the refrigeration cycle.

[0100] On the other hand, when the heating operation or regeneration operation of the air conditioner (1) is performed, the indoor heat exchanger (300) functions as a condenser, and the air introduced into the indoor unit (10) can be heated by the indoor heat exchanger (300). Also, the dehumidifying filter (400) provided on one side of the indoor heat exchanger (300) can be regenerated by the condensation heat of the indoor heat exchanger (300).

[0101] In the case of the above heating and regeneration operations, the operation of the refrigeration cycle is identical, but there may be a difference in the setting of the target temperature or pressure of the refrigeration cycle.

[0102] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0103] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, an indoor unit (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a case (100) that forms an exterior. The case (100) may, for example, have the shape of a cuboid.

[0104] In detail, the case (100) may include a bottom portion (101) placed on the ground, a top portion (102) forming the top, and two side portions (103) connecting both sides of the bottom portion (101) and the top portion (102).

[0105] The above case (100) may further include a rear portion (104) that provides a rear exterior of the above case (100) and connects the two side portions (103).

[0106] A flow space through which inhaled indoor air flows can be formed inside the above case (100).

[0107] The front of the case (100) may be formed to be open. The indoor unit (10) may include a panel (110, 120) that covers the front of the open case (100). In a broad sense, the panel (110, 120) can be understood as a component of the case (100).

[0108] The above panels (110, 120) may include a first panel (110) that forms an intake port (112) for inhaling indoor air. For example, the first panel (110) may be configured to cover the lower front portion of the case (110).

[0109] For example, the above suction port (112) may be formed in multiple numbers, and the multiple suction ports (112) may have a slit shape and be arranged in an up-and-down direction.

[0110] The above panels (110, 120) may include a second panel (120) forming a discharge port (122) for discharging heat-exchanged and dehumidified air from inside the case (100) into an indoor space. For instance, the second panel (120) may be configured to cover the upper front portion of the case (110).

[0111] The second panel (120) may include a discharge vane (123) for controlling the amount or direction of discharge of air discharged from the discharge port (122). The discharge vane (123) may be provided to be movable so as to open or close the discharge port (122).

[0112] For example, the discharge vane (123) can be hinged to both sides of the discharge port (122) and rotated. A plurality of discharge vanes (123) are provided, and the plurality of discharge vanes (123) can be arranged in an up-and-down direction.

[0113] The second panel (120) may include a display unit (125) that outputs operation information of the indoor unit (10). The display unit (125) may be positioned, for example, below the discharge vane (123).

[0114] The indoor unit (10) may include an exhaust duct (200) connected to the case (100). At least a portion of the air flowing through the internal space of the case (100) may be discharged into the indoor space through the exhaust duct (200).

[0115] The exhaust duct (200) may be optionally opened or closed. The indoor unit (10) may further include a damper (250) for optionally opening or closing the flow path of the exhaust duct (200).

[0116] The exhaust duct (200) is connected to the through hole (103a) of the case (100), and the damper (250) may be located in the inner space of the exhaust duct (200) to open and close the through hole (103a).

[0117] The above through hole (103a) can be formed through the side portion (103).

[0118] The above case (100) may include a partition wall (140) that divides the internal space of the above case (100) into a first space (131) and a second space (135). The first space (131) forms the lower space of the above case (100), and the second space (135) may form the upper space of the above case (100).

[0119] The first space (131) can be closed by the first panel (110).

[0120] A fan (150) for generating airflow may be installed in the first space (131). When the fan (150) is driven, indoor air may flow into the first space (131) through the intake port (112) and be sucked into the intake part of the fan (150).

[0121] A wall penetration hole (145) may be formed in the above partition (140). The wall penetration hole (145) is connected to the discharge part of the fan (150), and air discharged from the fan (150) may flow into the second space (135) through the wall penetration hole (145).

[0122] The second space (135) can be closed by the second panel (120).

[0123] A heat exchanger (300, indoor heat exchanger) that exchanges heat with air may be installed in the second space (135). The heat exchanger (300) may be supported by the partition wall (140). Specifically, the partition wall (140) may be provided with a support bracket (142) that supports the heat exchanger (300).

[0124] The lower portion of the heat exchanger (300) is supported by the support bracket (142), and the heat exchanger (300) may be configured to extend upward from the support bracket (142) toward the second space (135).

[0125] The heat exchanger (300) may be positioned at an angle to facilitate contact (heat exchange) with air. For example, the heat exchanger (300) may be supported by the support bracket (142) and extended at an angle toward the rear and upward.

[0126] Air introduced into the second space (135) through the wall penetration hole (145) can flow from the rear of the heat exchanger (300) toward the front of the heat exchanger (300). In this process, the air and the heat exchanger (300) can exchange heat with each other.

[0127] The heat exchanger (300) may include a refrigerant pipe (301) through which a refrigerant flows and a heat exchange fin (303) coupled to the refrigerant pipe (301) to increase the contact area with air.

[0128] The indoor unit (10) may further include a dehumidifying filter (400) for removing moisture from the air flowing inside the case (100). The dehumidifying filter (400) may be placed on one side of the heat exchanger (300).

[0129] For example, the dehumidification filter (400) may be positioned downstream of the heat exchanger (300). That is, the dehumidification filter (400) may be positioned in front of the heat exchanger (300) so that air passing through the heat exchanger (300) can pass through it.

[0130] The dehumidifying filter (400) may be positioned at an angle to facilitate contact with air (dehumidification). For example, the dehumidifying filter (400) may be supported by the support bracket (142) and extended at an angle toward the rear and upward. The direction of extension of the dehumidifying filter (400) may correspond to the direction of extension of the heat exchanger (300).

[0131] FIG. 5 is a front view showing a part of the indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a combination of a heat exchanger and a dehumidification filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a dehumidification filter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

[0132] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, an indoor unit (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an inlet pipe (312) for guiding the inflow of refrigerant into the heat exchanger (300).

[0133] The indoor unit (10) may include a distributor (310) connected to the inlet pipe (312) for branching the refrigerant into multiple paths, and a plurality of capillary tubes (315) connected to the outlet side of the distributor (310) and guiding the refrigerant pipe (301) of the heat exchanger (300).

[0134] The above plurality of capillary tubes (315) can be connected to a plurality of outlet ports of the distributor (310).

[0135] The dehumidifying filter (400) is in contact with the front of the heat exchanger (300), and the inlet pipe (312), distributor (310), and capillary tube (315) may be located in front of the dehumidifying filter (400).

[0136] The heat exchanger (300) may include a cover member (350) that protects the refrigerant pipe (301). The cover member (350) may be provided on both sides of the heat exchanger (300) and configured to shield the refrigerant pipe (301) exposed to the side of the heat exchanger (300).

[0137] The above cover member (350) may include a first cover member (351) provided at one end of the heat exchanger (300) and a second cover member (352) provided at the other end. The first and second cover members (351, 352) may be supported or fixed to both side portions (103) of the case (100).

[0138] The above dehumidification filter (400) can be fixed to the heat exchanger (300).

[0139] The above dehumidifying filter (400) may include a filter frame (410) that forms the framework of the filter and forms a receiving space (410a) for a dehumidifying member (420).

[0140] The filter frame (410) may include a frame body (411) having a fastening part (415) that is coupled to the heat exchanger (300). For example, the frame body (411) may be configured as a frame with a roughly square shape.

[0141] The above fastening part (415) is provided in multiple numbers, and the multiple fastening parts (415) protrude from the frame body (411) and can be arranged on both sides of the frame body (411).

[0142] The above multiple fastening parts (415) can be coupled to the first and second cover members (351, 352). Specifically, a predetermined fastening member, such as a screw, can be inserted into the fastening part (415) and fastened to the first and second cover members (351, 352).

[0143] The filter frame (410) may have a honeycomb shape to include a plurality of receiving spaces (410a). By having the filter frame (410) have a honeycomb shape, the contact area between the dehumidifying member (420) and the filter frame (410) may be large.

[0144] In detail, the filter frame (410) may include a plurality of frame shells (412) that are connected to the frame body (411) and partitioned from one another. The plurality of frame shells (412) may be placed in the inner space of the square-shaped frame body (411).

[0145] The above frame shell (412) forms a receiving space (410a) of the dehumidifying filter (400) and may have a polyhedral shape to accommodate the dehumidifying member (420).

[0146] The above dehumidifying member (420) may be disposed in each of the plurality of receiving spaces (410a). A plurality of dehumidifying members (420) may be disposed in each receiving space (410a).

[0147] The above dehumidifying element (420) may be composed of small beads to reduce the resistance of the airflow path passing through the dehumidifying filter (400).

[0148] The above dehumidifying member (420) may be composed of a metal-organic framework (MOF) material that is easy to regenerate at low temperatures.

[0149] The filter frame (410) may be composed of a material with high thermal conductivity to facilitate heat transfer to the dehumidifying member (420). For example, the dehumidifying member (420) may include a material having metal ions that are harmless to the human body, such as zirconium (Zr), iron (Fe), or aluminum (Al).

[0150] During the regeneration operation of the indoor unit (10), the heat exchanger (300) acts as a condenser and heat is dissipated, and the heat dissipated by the heat exchanger (300) can be transferred to the dehumidifying member (420) through the filter frame (410). By making the filter frame (410) of a material with high thermal conductivity, the regeneration efficiency of the dehumidifying member (420) can be increased.

[0151] The above dehumidification filter (400) may include a support member (421, 423) coupled to the filter frame (410) to prevent the dehumidification member (420) disposed in the receiving space (410a) from escaping to the outside of the dehumidification filter (400).

[0152] The support members (421, 423) may be made of a mesh material. The holes formed in the mesh material are formed to be smaller than the diameter of the dehumidifying member (420) so as to prevent the dehumidifying member (420) from escaping from the receiving space (410a).

[0153] The support members (421, 423) may be provided on both sides of the dehumidification filter (400), for example, at the front and rear. The front and rear of the frame shell (412) may be open, and the support members (421, 423) may cover both ends of the open frame shell (412).

[0154] The support members (421, 423) may include a first support member (421) disposed at the front end of the filter frame (410) and a second support member (423) disposed at the rear end of the frame (410). The first and second support members (421, 423) may be attached to or coupled to the frame body (411).

[0155] The dehumidifying filter (400) can be installed so as to be in contact with the heat exchanger (300) so that no gap is formed between the dehumidifying filter (400) and the heat exchanger (300).

[0156] In detail, the rear end of the dehumidification filter (400) may be positioned to be in contact with the front end of the heat exchanger (300). The rear end of the dehumidification filter (400) may include a contact surface (430) that contacts the heat exchanger (300).

[0157] The above contact surface (430) may be formed on at least one of the filter frame (410) and the first and second support parts (421, 423). The above contact surface (430) may, for example, contact the heat exchange fin (303) of the heat exchanger (300).

[0158] By arranging the dehumidifying filter (400) and the heat exchanger (300) so as to be in contact, the air that has been heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger (300) can pass through the dehumidifying filter (400) without leaking (bypassing) to the outside of the dehumidifying filter (400).

[0159] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention installed on the side of an indoor unit, FIG. 10 is a front perspective view showing the configuration of a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing the configuration of a damper according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is an internal perspective view showing a part of the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0160] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 12, an indoor unit (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a damper (250) provided to be on / off so as to selectively discharge air flowing in the internal space of the case (100) to the outside of the case (100).

[0161] For example, when the damper (250) is turned on, the damper (250) operates to open the through hole (103a, see FIG. 4) of the case (100), and when the damper (250) is turned off, the damper (250) can operate to close the through hole (103a) of the case (100).

[0162] The damper (250) can be mounted on the case (100). For example, the through hole (103a) is formed in the side portion (103) of the case (100), and the damper (250) can be mounted on the side portion (103).

[0163] The indoor unit (10) may further include a damper bracket (220) for supporting the damper (250) on the case (100). The damper bracket (220) may be coupled to the side portion (103).

[0164] The damper bracket (220) may include a case fixing part (225) that is fixed to the side part (103). The case fixing part (225) forms a fastening hole (226) into which a predetermined fastening member is inserted, and the fastening member may be coupled to the side part (103) through the fastening hole (226).

[0165] The damper bracket (220) may include a bracket body (221) connected to an exhaust duct (200). The bracket body (221) may protrude outward from the case fixing part (225) toward the outside of the case (100).

[0166] A bracket channel (222) through which air discharged from the case (100) flows may be formed inside the bracket body (221).

[0167] The damper (250) is located in the bracket channel (222), and the bracket body (221) may have a cylindrical shape so as to surround the damper (250). Correspondingly, the damper (250) may have a disc shape.

[0168] An exhaust duct (200) may be connected to the end of the bracket body (221). When the damper (250) is opened, air inside the case (100) may flow through the bracket body (221) to the exhaust duct (200).

[0169] The exhaust duct (200) can guide air from the case (100) to an outdoor space. For example, the exhaust duct (200) can be connected to a wall or ceiling of an indoor space to communicate with an outdoor space.

[0170] The indoor unit (10) may include a damper motor (210) that provides driving force for operating the damper (250). The damper motor (210) may be supported on one side of the damper bracket (220). Specifically, the damper motor (210) may be supported on the damper bracket (220) by a motor bracket (215).

[0171] The motor bracket (215) is coupled to the outside of the bracket body (221), and the damper motor (210) can be coupled to one side of the motor bracket (215).

[0172] The motor shaft of the damper motor (210) can be connected to the damper (250) by passing through the bracket body (221). The damper (250) includes a shaft connecting part (255), and the shaft connecting part (255) can be coupled to the motor shaft.

[0173] The shaft connecting part (255) forms the center of the damper (250) and can be hinge-connected to both sides of the bracket body (221). Accordingly, when the damper motor (210) is driven, the motor shaft of the damper motor (210) rotates the shaft connecting part (255), and the damper (250) can rotate with respect to the shaft connecting part (255).

[0174] The damper bracket (220) may include a flange (227) that protrudes from the case fixing part (225) and is coupled to the case (100). The first direction in which the flange (227) protrudes from the case fixing part (225) may be the opposite direction to the second direction in which the bracket body (221) protrudes from the case fixing part (225).

[0175] The above flange (227) can be coupled or inserted into the through hole (103a) of the side portion (103).

[0176] Referring to FIG. 12, when the damper (250) is operated to open the through hole (103a) of the side portion (103), the air inside the case (100) is discharged to the outside of the case (100) through the through hole (103a).

[0177] The air discharged from the above fan (150) flows into the second space (135) and can exchange heat with the heat exchanger (300) while flowing from the rear to the front of the heat exchanger (300).

[0178] The air that has been heat exchanged with the heat exchanger (300) can be dehumidified by passing through a dehumidification filter (400) located in front of the heat exchanger (300).

[0179] The dehumidified air flows into the front space of the dehumidification filter (400) and flows toward the side portion (103) and can be discharged to the outside of the case (100) through the open through hole (103a).

[0180] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing air flow when an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention performs dehumidification operation, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing air flow when an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention performs regeneration operation.

[0181] First, referring to FIG. 13, when an air conditioner (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention performs dehumidification operation, a cooling cycle can be driven.

[0182] In detail, when the fan (150) is driven, the air in the indoor space is drawn into the interior of the indoor unit (10) and can be cooled as it passes through the heat exchanger (300). At this time, the heat exchanger (300) can function as an evaporator.

[0183] When air passes through the heat exchanger (300), the dew point of the humid air is lowered, the temperature of the air decreases, and some of the moisture contained in the air condenses, thereby removing the moisture. That is, as the air passes through the heat exchanger (300), sensible heat and latent heat can be removed (cooling of air and primary dehumidification).

[0184] The air passing through the heat exchanger (300) passes through the dehumidification filter (400) to perform dehumidification and remove additional latent heat (secondary dehumidification of air).

[0185] In this way, the dehumidification filter (400) is provided downstream of the heat exchanger (300) to perform additional dehumidification, thereby allowing the dehumidification filter (400) to process a portion of the latent heat that the heat exchanger (300) needs to process.

[0186] Ultimately, compared to the conventional case where the dehumidification filter (400) is not provided, there is no need to lower the evaporation temperature of the heat exchanger (300), so the input work of the compressor is reduced and the power consumption can be reduced accordingly.

[0187] In addition, since the evaporation temperature is formed relatively high, the amount of condensate generated in the heat exchanger (300) is reduced, and since the internal moisture of the indoor unit (10) can be removed by the dehumidification filter (400) even when the indoor unit (10) is stopped from operating, mold growth can be prevented.

[0188] The air that has passed through the dehumidification filter (400) can be discharged into the indoor space through the discharge port (122). At this time, the discharge vane (123) can be operated to open the discharge port (122).

[0189] Meanwhile, the damper (250) can be operated to close the through hole (103a) of the side portion (103). Therefore, the dehumidified air cannot pass through the through hole (103a) and can be completely discharged from the discharge port (122).

[0190] Next, referring to FIG. 14, when the air conditioner (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention performs regeneration operation, a heating cycle can be driven.

[0191] In detail, when the fan (150) is driven, air in the indoor space is drawn into the interior of the indoor unit (10) and can be heated while passing through the heat exchanger (300). At this time, the heat exchanger (300) can function as a condenser.

[0192] The condensation heat of the heat exchanger (300) is transferred to the air, and the heated air passes through the dehumidification filter (400), thereby regenerating the dehumidification filter (400). That is, heat is applied to the dehumidification filter (400), and moisture accumulated in the dehumidification filter (400) can be removed from the dehumidification filter (400) (regeneration of the filter).

[0193] The air containing the above-detached moisture can be discharged into the exhaust duct (200) through the through hole (103a) of the side portion (103). In order for high temperature and high humidity air to be discharged through the through hole (103a), the damper (250) can be operated to open the through hole (103a).

[0194] Meanwhile, the discharge vane (123) can operate to block the discharge port (122) so that the discharge of air through the discharge port (122) is restricted. If the high-temperature, high-humidity air is discharged into the indoor space, a problem may occur in which the indoor space becomes humidified.

[0195] Accordingly, the discharge vane (123) operates to shield the discharge port (122), thereby guiding the air containing the removed moisture to be discharged into the exhaust duct (200).

[0196] FIG. 15 is a psychrometric chart showing the changes in air temperature and humidity during dehumidification operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, compared with the prior art.

[0197] Referring to Fig. 15, the horizontal axis represents dry-bulb temperature and the vertical axis represents absolute humidity, and the solid line (ℓ) sloping upward to the right represents the saturation curve. Additionally, the dotted line sloping upward to the right from the lower side of the saturation curve (ℓ) represents relative humidity (ℓ), and the dotted line sloping downward to the right from the upper side of the saturation curve (ℓ) represents enthalpy (ℓ).

[0198] In the prior art, that is, in the configuration of an indoor unit in which a dehumidification filter (400) is not provided, air (state A1) sucked into the indoor unit is cooled as it passes through a heat exchanger (evaporator) and dehumidification is achieved through the condensation of moisture, and can be discharged into the indoor space (state B3) through a discharge port.

[0199] For example, the air in state A1 has a dry-bulb temperature of 28°C and a relative humidity of 80%, and the air in state B3 has a dry-bulb temperature of 20°C and a relative humidity of 60%. Meanwhile, the input work of the compressor due to the change from state A1 to B3 may correspond to W1 as the difference in enthalpy.

[0200] In other words, to reach the set target relative humidity, the evaporation temperature must be lowered significantly; consequently, the temperature of the air discharged from the indoor unit decreases, which may cause discomfort to the user. Additionally, the amount of condensation in the heat exchanger increases, which may reduce the cleanliness of the indoor unit's interior.

[0201] In addition, there may be a problem where power consumption increases because the input work (W1) of the compressor is relatively large.

[0202] On the other hand, in the configuration of an indoor unit (10) in which a dehumidification filter (400) is provided downstream of a heat exchanger (300) according to an embodiment of the present invention, air (state A1) sucked into the indoor unit is cooled while passing through a heat exchanger (evaporator) (state A2), and then the latent heat is removed while passing through the dehumidification filter (400), so that the relative humidity can be reduced while maintaining the enthalpy (state A3). Accordingly, the air in state A3 can be discharged into the indoor space through the discharge port (122).

[0203] For example, the air in state A3 may have a dry-bulb temperature of 23°C and a relative humidity of 60%. Meanwhile, the input work of the compressor due to the change from state A1 to A3 may correspond to W2 as the difference in enthalpy. The above W2 may have a value smaller than W1.

[0204] In other words, to reach the set target relative humidity, it is not necessary to lower the evaporation temperature significantly; consequently, the temperature of the air discharged from the indoor unit is not too low, which can prevent discomfort to the user. Additionally, the amount of condensation in the heat exchanger is reduced, which can improve the cleanliness of the indoor unit's interior.

[0205] In addition, there is an advantage in that power consumption can be reduced because the input work (W2) of the compressor is relatively small.

[0206] The present invention relates to an air conditioner, wherein a dehumidifying filter is provided in the indoor unit to remove the latent heat of the indoor air, thereby eliminating the need to excessively lower the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle, and consequently, the load on the compressor can be lowered to reduce power consumption. Therefore, industrial applicability is significant.

Claims

1. A case forming an intake port and an exhaust port for inhaling air; A fan provided inside the above case and generating airflow; A heat exchanger provided inside the above case and exchanging heat with the air sucked in from the above intake port; A dehumidifying filter provided on one side of the above heat exchanger and comprising a dehumidifying member for dehumidifying air; A through hole formed in the above case and discharging air that has regenerated the dehumidifying member; and An air conditioner comprising a damper installed in the through hole and operating to open or close the through hole.

2. In Paragraph 1, An air conditioner comprising an exhaust duct connected to the above damper and configured to discharge air discharged from the case into an external space through the open damper.

3. In Paragraph 1, The above dehumidification filter is, An air conditioner positioned downstream of the heat exchanger so that air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger can pass through the dehumidification filter.

4. In Paragraph 3, An air conditioner in which the dehumidifying filter is positioned in contact with the heat exchanger to prevent air passing through the heat exchanger from bypassing the dehumidifying filter.

5. In Paragraph 3, The above dehumidification filter is an air conditioner connected to the above heat exchanger.

6. In Paragraph 5, The above heat exchanger includes a refrigerant tube, a heat exchange fin, and a cover member that shields the refrigerant tube, and the dehumidification filter is connected to the cover member.

7. In Paragraph 1, It further includes a discharge vane that operates to close the discharge port when the damper operates to open the through hole, The above discharge vane is an air conditioner that operates to open the discharge port when the above damper operates to close the through hole.

8. In Paragraph 1, The above dehumidifying filter includes a filter frame forming a receiving space, and the dehumidifying element has a bead shape and is disposed in the receiving space.

9. In Paragraph 8, The above filter frame is an air conditioner comprising a plurality of frame shells that form a plurality of receiving spaces to have a honeycomb shape.

10. In Paragraph 8, An air conditioner in which the filter frame is composed of a thermally conductive metal material to allow heat transfer to the dehumidifying element.

11. In Paragraph 8, The above dehumidification element is an air conditioner composed of a metal-organic framework (MOF) material so as to be easily regenerated by heat transferred from the filter frame.

12. In Paragraph 8, The above dehumidification filter is an air conditioner comprising a support member made of mesh material that is attached to or fastened to the filter frame to prevent the dehumidification member disposed in the receiving space from detaching.

13. In Paragraph 1, An air conditioner in which the discharge port is formed on the first surface of the case and the through hole is formed on the second surface of the case, and the first surface and the second surface form different surfaces of the case.

14. In Paragraph 1, An air conditioner comprising a damper motor that provides driving force to the damper and a damper bracket that supports the damper motor.

15. In Paragraph 14, The above damper bracket is an air conditioner comprising a bracket body forming a bracket passage where the damper is installed, and a case fixing part connected to the bracket body and fastened to the case.

16. A case forming an intake port and an exhaust port for drawing in air; A fan provided inside the above case and generating airflow; An indoor heat exchanger provided inside the above case and exchanging heat with the air sucked in from the above intake port; and A dehumidifying filter is provided on the downstream side of the indoor heat exchanger and includes a filter frame forming a receiving space and a dehumidifying member disposed in the receiving space. When the indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator during dehumidification operation, the air dehumidified primarily in the indoor heat exchanger passes through the dehumidification filter and is dehumidified secondarily, and An air conditioner characterized by the fact that when the indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser during regeneration operation, moisture from the dehumidifying member is desorbed using the condensation heat of the indoor heat exchanger.

17. In Paragraph 16, It includes an outdoor unit comprising a compressor, a four-way valve, and an outdoor heat exchanger, and During the above dehumidification operation, the four-way valve guides the refrigerant compressed by the compressor to the outdoor heat exchanger so that the indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, and An air conditioner in which, during the above regeneration operation, the above four-way valve guides the refrigerant compressed in the compressor to the above indoor heat exchanger so that the above indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser.

18. In Paragraph 16, An air conditioner comprising an exhaust duct that discharges air containing the detached moisture to the outside of the case during the above regeneration operation.

19. In Paragraph 18, The above case has a through hole formed therein and further includes a damper that operates to open or close the through hole, and the damper is connected to the exhaust duct.

20. In Paragraph 16, The above dehumidifying element is an air conditioner composed of zirconium (Zr), iron (Fe), or aluminum (Al) material having a bead shape.

Images