Air conditioner

Abstract

This air conditioner has: a vaporization filter that uses the vaporization heat of water to cool passing air; a water supply body that is positioned above the vaporization filter and supplies water to the vaporization filter; and a water supply guide that is disposed between the vaporization filter and the water supply body. The water supply guide has: a guide wall that guides water received from the water supply body toward the vaporization filter; and a rib that guides the water guided by the guide wall into the vaporization filter. The rib is inserted into the vaporization filter from above the vaporization filter.

Description

Air conditioner

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

[0002] There is known a vaporization cooling type air conditioner that sucks indoor air, utilizes the heat of vaporization of water to lower the ambient temperature, and blows out the cooled air into the room, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. In the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, the air flowing through the second flow path passes through a plurality of tubes of the sensible heat exchanger, and the air flowing through the first flow path passes around the plurality of tubes. As a result, the air flowing through the second flow path and the air flowing through the first flow path are heat-exchanged.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-092338

[0004] However, in the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to providing a more useful air conditioner.

[0005] The invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a more useful air conditioner.

[0006] The air conditioner according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a vaporization filter that cools the air passing therethrough using the heat of vaporization of water, a water supply body located above the vaporization filter for supplying water to the vaporization filter, and a water supply guide disposed between the vaporization filter and the water supply body. The water supply guide has a guide wall that guides the water received from the water supply body toward the vaporization filter, and ribs that guide the water guided by the guide wall into the interior of the vaporization filter. The ribs are inserted into the vaporization filter from above the vaporization filter.

[0007] A highly useful air conditioner can be provided.

[0008] This is a schematic cross-sectional view from above illustrating one configuration of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1. This is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of the air conditioner. This is a schematic bottom view illustrating the arrangement of the sensible heat exchanger. This is an explanatory diagram (top view) illustrating the internal structure of the water supply body. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view illustrating the water supply guide, etc. This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the arrangement of the water supply guide, etc. This is a schematic perspective view from above illustrating the water supply guide. This is a schematic perspective view from below illustrating the water supply guide. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the water supply guide. This is a schematic plan view of the water supply guide. This is a schematic front view of the water supply guide. This is a schematic bottom view of the water supply guide. This is a schematic side view of the water supply guide. This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the flow of water from the water supply guide.

[0009] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiments will be described based on the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view from above illustrating one configuration of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of the air conditioner 1. Note that Figure 1 is a schematic view from above of a cross-section obtained by cutting Figure 2 in the horizontal direction. The air conditioner 1 comprises a box-shaped housing 11 and a tank 12 which is configured separately from the housing 11. For example, it is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle and cools the space around the operator of the moving body as the space to be air-conditioned. Alternatively, the air conditioner 1 may be mounted indoors, such as in a factory. The mounting state of the air conditioner 1 shown in Figure 1 is shown in front, behind, left, and right as a normal usage mode of the air conditioner 1. The mounting state of the air conditioner 1 shown in Figure 2 is shown in up, down, front, behind, left, and right as a normal usage mode of the air conditioner 1.

[0010] The air conditioner 1 comprises a water storage tank 12, a cooling unit 3 including a first vaporization filter 31 and a second vaporization filter 32. The air conditioner 1 uses the heat of vaporization of water supplied from the tank 12 by the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 to lower the ambient temperature and cool the space to be air-conditioned.

[0011] The cooling unit 3 includes a first vaporization filter 31 and a second vaporization filter 32, a unit body 300, a water supply unit 33, and a drain pan 34. The first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 are detachably mounted on the unit body 300. The water supply unit 33 is provided above the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 and supplies water to the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32. The water supply unit 33 includes a first water supply unit 33A positioned above the first vaporization filter 31 and a second water supply unit 33B positioned above the second vaporization filter 32. Water supply guides 2 are interposed between the first water supply unit 33A and the first vaporization filter 31, and between the second water supply unit 33B and the second vaporization filter 32. The drain pan 34 is located below the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, and receives water that has not vaporized in the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32.

[0012] The air conditioner 1 is further equipped with a sensible heat exchanger 4. The sensible heat exchanger 4 cools the first air by exchanging heat between the second air that has passed through the second vaporization filter 32 and the first air before it passes through the first vaporization filter 31. The air conditioner 1 cools the first air in two stages by passing the first air cooled by the sensible heat exchanger 4 through the first vaporization filter 31. That is, the first air is cooled in two stages by being cooled by sensible heat exchange without increasing humidity, and then by vaporization cooling. The first air cooled in two stages is blown into the air-conditioned space as supply air (SA). The second air is discharged to the outside of the housing 11 as exhaust air (EA).

[0013] The housing 11 of the air conditioner 1 is provided with two intake ports 5 for drawing in air from the space to be conditioned, a first outlet 71 for blowing out first air, which has been cooled in two stages, as supply air to the space to be conditioned, and a second outlet 72 for blowing out second air as exhaust air. The first outlet 71 and the second outlet 72 are located on the same side of the housing 11. In this embodiment, the first outlet 71 and the second outlet 72 are located on the left side of the housing 11.

[0014] The air conditioner 1 includes a first fan 81 for transporting first air and a second fan 82 for transporting second air. The shapes of the first fan 81 and the second fan 82 in Figure 1 represent an example of the outer shell shape. The first fan 81 and the second fan 82 may be centrifugal fans such as sirocco fans or propeller fans. The first fan 81 is provided near the first outlet 71, and the second fan 82 is provided near the second outlet 72. That is, if the airflow of the air conditioner 1 is considered to have the two intake ports 5 as the upstream ends and the first outlet 71 and the second outlet 72 as the downstream ends, the first fan 81 and the second fan 82 are provided downstream of the sensible heat exchanger 4 and the cooling unit 3 in the direction of the airflow. As a result, the first fan 81 and the second fan 82 function as so-called intake fans, maintaining negative pressure in the airflow path of the air conditioner 1. The configuration employs a negative pressure within the air passage to promote the penetration of water from the water supply body 33 to the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32. In this embodiment, a configuration is employed to promote the dripping of water from the water supply body 33 to the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, as described later.

[0015] The first fan 81 and the second fan 82 share a single fan motor 8, and are fastened to shafts provided at each end of the fan motor 8. A partition plate 83 is provided between the second fan 82 and the first fan 81, separating the space in which the second fan 82 is located from the space in which the first fan 81 is located. This partition plate 83 prevents the first air conveyed by the first fan 81 from mixing with the second air conveyed by the second fan 82.

[0016] The fan motor 8, the first fan 81, and the second fan 82 are arranged in a fan chamber partitioned by a fan casing 84. This fan chamber is partitioned by a fan casing 84, which is partly made of a heat-insulating material such as expanded polystyrene. A partition plate 83 provided between the second fan 82 and the first fan 81 constitutes part of the fan casing 84.

[0017] The air conditioner 1 is provided with an intake passage 51, a branch passage 52, a first passage 61, and a second passage 62 as air circulation paths. The branch passage 52 branches the intake passage 51 into the first passage 61 and the second passage 62. The intake passage 51 starts from two intake ports 5 located at the rear and right of the housing 11 and communicates with the sensible heat exchanger 4 via the branch passage 52. The first passage 61 is the space communicated along the arrow representing supply air (SA) in Figure 1. The second passage 62 is the space communicated along the arrow representing exhaust air (EA) in Figure 1. Furthermore, the intake passage 51 and the branch passage 52 are common areas before air is distributed to the first passage 61 and the second passage 62. In other words, the air inside the intake passage 51 and the branch passage 52 is both the first air and the second air.

[0018] The branched flow path 52 communicates with the two inlets of the sensible heat exchanger 4. The two inlets of the sensible heat exchanger 4 include the inlet of the first path 41 into which the first air flows, and the inlet of the second path 42 into which the second air flows. The inlet of the first path 41 is formed on the first inlet-side opening surface 431. The inlet of the second path 42 is formed on the second inlet-side opening surface 432. The first path 41 constitutes a part of the first flow path 61. The second path 42 constitutes a part of the second flow path 62. That is, in the direction of the flow of suction air flowing into the suction flow path 51, the branched flow path 52 and the sensible heat exchanger 4 are provided downstream of the suction flow path 51 in this order.

[0019] The intake air flows into either the first path 41 or the second path 42 of the sensible heat exchanger 4 through the branched flow path 52. In other words, the intake air is divided in the branched flow path 52 into first air that flows into the first path 41 and second air that flows into the second path 42.

[0020] A dust collection filter 53 is interposed between the two intake ports 5 and the inlets of the first path 41 and the second path 42 of the sensible heat exchanger 4. The dust collection filter 53 is made of polyester or olefin fibers and includes a filter portion that captures dust and a grid-like frame that fixes the filter portion. The dust collection filter 53 may be formed by insert molding, in which the filter portion is placed inside a resin mold and then resin, which will be the material for the frame, is poured in. The dust collection filter 53, which is made of a resin frame, is flexible and is provided in a curved shape so as to cover the inlets of the first path 41 and the second path 42 of the sensible heat exchanger 4. When providing the dust collection filter 53 in a curved shape, a guide portion, which is made of a groove or the like, is provided on the inner surface of the housing 11, into which the longitudinal edge of the dust collection filter 53 fits.

[0021] Since the dust collection filter 53 is curved, it can cover both the first inlet side opening surface 431 and the second inlet side opening surface 432 with a single filter. By using a single dust collection filter 53, the effort required to attach and detach the filter 53 is reduced, thereby reducing the man-hours required for maintenance work.

[0022] Each end of the dust collection filter 53 is provided with a sealing member 531. The ends of the dust collection filter 53 include the end on the first path 41 side and the end on the second path 42 side. The end on the first path 41 side is located at the contact point between the first inlet side opening surface 431 and the inner surface of the housing 11 facing the first inlet side opening surface 431. The end on the second path 42 side is located between the drain pan 34 (described later) and the inner surface of the housing 11 adjacent to the drain pan 34. The sealing member 531 fills the gap between the inner surface of the housing 11 and the dust collection filter 53.

[0023] The space between the inlets of the first path 41 and the second path 42 of the sensible heat exchanger 4 and the suction port 5 is divided by the dust collection filter 53 into an upstream space and a downstream space in the flow direction of the first and second air. In other words, the dust collection filter 53 divides the space into an upstream space, which is the space surrounded by the housing 11 having the suction port 5 and the dust collection filter 53, and a downstream space, which is the space surrounded by the dust collection filter 53, the first inlet side opening surface 431, and the second inlet side opening surface 432. The upstream space corresponds to the suction flow path 51. The downstream space corresponds to the branch flow path 52. The suction flow path 51 is shared by the first path 41 and the second path 42 upstream of the branch flow path 52. Therefore, the two suction ports 5 can also be shared by the first path 41 and the second path 42, and the opening area of ​​the two suction ports 5 can be increased to reduce flow resistance in the intake air. In addition, a configuration in which the two suction ports 5 are connected may be adopted to reduce flow resistance. Specifically, similar to the dust collection filter 53, the side of the housing 11 may be curved, and a single intake port 5 may be formed on the curved side to widen the opening area. In this case, the volume of the upstream space can be minimized, and the effects of turbulence and other factors that may occur in the upstream space can be minimized.

[0024] As described above, the sensible heat exchanger 4 is provided with a first path 41 through which first air flows and a second path 42 through which second air flows. The first path 41 constitutes a part of the first flow path 61 which communicates with the first outlet 71. The second path 42 constitutes a part of the second flow path 62 which communicates with the second outlet 72. The first path 41 and the second path 42 in the sensible heat exchanger 4 are made up of a plurality of resin plates having a hollow structure, and these resin plates are arranged in parallel. By making the thickness of the resin plates thinner, the heat transfer performance can be improved and the weight of the sensible heat exchanger 4 can be reduced. The hollow structure may also be made up of metal plates.

[0025] The resin plates constituting the first path 41 and the resin plates constituting the second path 42 are stacked and arranged perpendicular to the flow directions of the first and second air, and sensible heat exchange takes place between the first and second air through these resin plates. The first path 41 and the second path 42 are perpendicular to each other, so that a direct alternating current is formed by the first air flowing through the first path 41 and the second air flowing through the second path 42.

[0026] Each side of the sensible heat exchanger 4 is provided with an inlet for the first path 41, an inlet for the second path 42, an outlet for the first path 41, and an outlet for the second path 42. The side on which the inlet for the first path 41 is provided corresponds to the first inlet-side opening surface 431. The side on which the inlet for the second path 42 is provided corresponds to the second inlet-side opening surface 432. The side on which the outlet for the first path 41 is provided corresponds to the first outlet-side opening surface 441. The side on which the outlet for the second path 42 is provided corresponds to the second outlet-side opening surface 442. In other words, the first path 41 is formed by stacking multiple spaces that communicate from the first inlet-side opening surface 431 toward the first outlet-side opening surface 441. Similarly, the second path 42 is formed by stacking multiple spaces that communicate from the second inlet-side opening surface 432 toward the second outlet-side opening surface 442.

[0027] In the second airflow direction, a second vaporization filter 32 is provided on the upstream side of the second inlet-side opening surface 432. The second vaporization filter 32 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above, and one side is positioned opposite the second inlet-side opening surface 432. In the first airflow direction, a first vaporization filter 31 is provided on the downstream side of the first outlet-side opening surface 441. The first vaporization filter 31 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above, and one side is positioned opposite the first outlet-side opening surface 441.

[0028] The second air, which is diverted in the branched channel 52, passes through the second vaporization filter 32, is cooled by the second vaporization filter 32, and then flows into the second path 42 of the sensible heat exchanger 4 from the inlet of the second path 42 provided on the second inlet side opening surface 432. The first air, which is diverted in the branched channel 52, flows into the first path 41 of the sensible heat exchanger 4 from the inlet of the first path 41 provided on the first inlet side opening surface 431.

[0029] The first air flowing through the first path 41 and the second air flowing through the second path 42 exchange heat via the sensible heat exchanger 4. The second air flowing through the second path 42 is cooled by the second vaporization filter 32, and the temperature of the second air is lower than the temperature of the intake air immediately after it is drawn in at the intake port 5. The temperature of the first air immediately after it flows into the inlet of the first path 41 is the same as the temperature of the intake air immediately after it is drawn in at the intake port 5, but it is cooled by the second air flowing through the second path 42 via the sensible heat exchanger 4. Specifically, since the temperature of the first air is higher than that of the second air, heat is absorbed by the second air. As a result, the temperature of the first air and the second air becomes lower than that of the intake air and the air outside the housing 11.

[0030] The first air flowing out from the outlet of the first path 41 is further cooled by the first vaporization filter 31. As a result, the first air is cooled in two stages. That is, the first air is cooled by two cooling sources: the first air is used as an indirect cooling source via the second air from the second vaporization filter 32, and the first vaporization filter 31 is used as a direct cooling source. In other words, only sensible heat is exchanged in the first stage, and total heat exchange occurs in the second stage. This results in a lower wet-bulb temperature than cooling by vaporization or sensible heat exchange alone, or cooling by sensible heat exchange after vaporization cooling. In addition, the amount of water vaporized during total heat exchange is reduced, which prevents an unpleasant increase in humidity.

[0031] The first air, which flows out from the outlet of the first path 41 of the sensible heat exchanger 4 and passes through the first vaporization filter 31, is transported by the first fan 81 located downstream of the first vaporization filter 31 and blown out as supply air (SA) from the first outlet 71 into the air-conditioned space. The first outlet 71 may be provided with a discharge duct 711, for example, which is made of a bellows structure, and the first air may be blown out as supply air (SA) in a direction adjusted by the discharge duct 711. This makes it possible to cool the space around the operator of the mobile unit as the air-conditioned space. The first fan 81 is located downstream of the first vaporization filter 31, but is not limited to this, and the first fan 81 may be located upstream of the first vaporization filter 31.

[0032] The second air that flows out from the outlet of the second path 42 of the sensible heat exchanger 4 is transported by the second fan 82, which is located downstream of the outlet of the second path 42 of the sensible heat exchanger 4, and is blown out as exhaust (EA) from the second outlet 72 to the outside of the housing 11.

[0033] The first air outlet 71 and the second air outlet 72 are provided on the left side of the housing 11. The second air outlet 72 is oriented toward the first air outlet 71, and the exhaust air (EA) blown out from the second air outlet 72 may be blown out near the vicinity of the discharge duct 711 attached to the first air outlet 71. More specifically, the second air outlet 72 is provided in front of the second fan 82, so that the second air supplied by the second fan 82 is blown out in the left-front direction. In addition, if there is a discharge duct 711, the rise in the external surface temperature of the discharge duct 711 due to direct sunlight or lighting can be suppressed.

[0034] As shown in the illustration of this embodiment, a door portion 111 is provided on one of the sides of the housing 11 that does not have the two intake ports 5, the first outlet port 71, and the second outlet port 72, and is configured to be openable and closable. The side on which the door portion 111 is provided corresponds to the point where the end of the first vaporization filter 31 and the end of the second vaporization filter 32 are adjacent, and is the side closest to the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32. By opening the door portion 111, the inside of the housing 11 can be accessed from the outside, and maintenance work such as replacing the first vaporization filter 31 or the second vaporization filter 32 can be performed. Preferably, the door portion 111 is connected to the housing 11 by a hinge at one end other than the upper end and fixed to the housing 11 so that it can be opened and closed. This prevents the door portion 111 from falling off when open and makes it easy to maintain the door portion 111 in an open state during maintenance. When the door 111 is closed, a fixing member 38 is provided to secure the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32. The fixing member 38 is provided at a location where the end of the first vaporization filter 31 and the end of the second vaporization filter 32 are adjacent, and when the door 111 is closed, it abuts against the end of the first vaporization filter 31 and the end of the second vaporization filter 32. The arrangement of the door 111, the fixing member 38, the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, including maintenance work such as replacement of the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, will be described later.

[0035] When performing the maintenance work, after opening the door 111, the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 can be slid horizontally to be attached to and detached from the housing 11, thereby reducing the height of the housing 11, and thus the height of the product. This improves maintainability. The first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 are integrally molded with a plate member 36 (see Figure 5) made of resin or the like on only one side. This improves maintainability for the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, while suppressing air leakage from the element portions of the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, that is, preventing air from flowing without passing through the element portions. The plate member 36 is provided with a handle or grip portion 361. When performing maintenance work, the worker can easily attach and detach the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 by holding the handle portion, thereby improving maintainability. The first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 may be designed to be pulled out in an intersecting manner. This configuration allows for the commonality of parts, which can lead to cost reductions through reduced part costs. Furthermore, the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 can be removed from a limited inspection opening space depending on the size of the housing 11, thereby enabling miniaturization of the housing 11 and, consequently, the product size. A retaining part is provided to fix the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, and this retaining part contacts and presses against a part of the door portion 111, thereby pressing the door portion 111 against it. This configuration suppresses leakage between the first air and the second air, i.e., the mixing of the first air and the second air. Furthermore, it can suppress displacement of the vaporization filters due to vibration, etc. Furthermore, it can prevent the vaporization filters from being improperly installed when removing or installing them during maintenance work, etc.

[0036] The inner surface of the door portion 111 may be provided with a suppression member to prevent air from entering the first flow path 61 without passing through the first vaporization filter 31. The suppression member is formed, for example, from a sealing material and, when the door portion 111 is closed, is sandwiched between the inner surface of the door portion 111 and the edge of the first vaporization filter 31 or the end face of the fixing member 38, thereby performing a sealing function. This prevents air from entering the first flow path 61 without passing through the first vaporization filter 31.

[0037] The air conditioner 1 includes a tank 12 for storing water supplied to the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32. The tank 12 is constructed separately from the housing 11 that houses the first vaporization filter 31, the second vaporization filter 32, etc. The housing 11, which is the main body of the air conditioner 1, and the tank 12, which is constructed separately, are connected by a supply water channel 91 and a recovery water channel 92. Water supplied from the tank 12 to the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 housed in the housing 11 flows through the supply water channel 91. Water that does not vaporize in the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 flows through the recovery water channel 92 and is recovered in the tank 12. The supply water channel 91 and the recovery water channel 92 are constructed by hoses made of flexible resin or pipes made of rigid resin. When the air conditioner 1 is installed on a mobile device as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the tank 12 be installed behind or at the feet of the operator for easy water supply and replacement. Furthermore, it is preferable to tie the supply channel 91 and the recovery channel 92 to the pillars of the head guard or the like to ensure visibility for the operator and to prevent water leakage due to snagging during operation.

[0038] The water supply channel 91 is equipped with a water supply pump 913 and a water supply sensor. When the housing 11 and the tank 12 are placed in different locations and there is a height difference between the housing 11 and the tank 12, the water supply pump 913, which has a water supply capacity corresponding to the height difference, can send water from the tank 12 below to the housing 11 above. The water supply sensor is installed, for example, inside the water supply channel 91 and outputs a sensor value corresponding to the amount of water flowing through the water supply channel 91.

[0039] A portion of the supply water channel 91 extending from the tank 12 is housed inside the housing 11 and communicates with a water supply body 33 mounted above the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32. A portion of the supply water channel 91 housed inside the housing 11 is provided in the intake channel 51. When the air conditioner 1 is placed on a mobile body and used outdoors, the temperature of the water in the tank 12 may be heated by direct sunlight, etc., and may become higher than the ambient temperature. Even in such cases, the water flowing in the supply water channel 91 located in the intake channel 51 exchanges heat with the intake air flowing in the intake channel 51, cooling the water with the intake air and improving the cooling efficiency of the air conditioner 1. The outer surface of the supply water channel 91 located in the intake channel 51 may be provided with fins, for example, to increase the heat transfer area when exchanging heat with the intake air, thereby improving the heat transfer efficiency. Alternatively, to cool the water in the supply channel 91, the supply channel 91 may be arranged so that it passes downstream of the sensible heat exchanger 4 in the second flow path 62.

[0040] The water flowing into the water supply body 33 is divided into a first supply channel 911 on the side of the first vaporization filter 31 and a second supply channel 912 on the side of the second vaporization filter 32. The water flowing into the first supply channel 911 passes through the first water supply hole 331 provided in the water supply body 33 and drips onto the first vaporization filter 31. The water flowing into the second supply channel 912 passes through the second water supply hole 332 and drips onto the second vaporization filter 32. The water that drips onto the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 permeates into the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, respectively. At this time, the water drips sequentially from the first water supply hole 331 and the second water supply hole 332 due to the water pressure from the water supply pump 913, the weight of the water, and the negative pressure inside the first flow path 61 and the second flow path 62.

[0041] The water that permeates the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 is vaporized as the first air and the second air pass through. However, depending on the amount of water supplied and the relative humidity of the environment in which the air conditioner 1 is used, some of the supplied water flows in liquid form into the drain pan 34 located below the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32.

[0042] The feed water pump 913 and the recovery pump 923 are provided side by side above the sensible heat exchanger 4. The feed water pump 913 is provided in the supply water passage 91. In the supply water passage 91, the housing 11 and the tank 12 communicate with each other via, for example, a shut-off valve.

[0043] The recovery pump 923 and the feed water pump 913 may be placed side by side above the sensible heat exchanger 4, and the top plate of the housing 11 may be opened so as to enable access to these pumps. Thereby, the working efficiency of inspection, replacement, etc. of the recovery pump 923 and the feed water pump 913 during maintenance of the air conditioner 1 or the like can be improved. By placing the feed water pump 913 and the recovery pump 923 side by side, it is not necessary to provide mounting spaces above and below respectively, and the height of the housing 11 can be reduced to miniaturize the product.

[0044] The water pumped up from the tank 12 by the feed water pump 913 is supplied to the first water supply body 33A and the second water supply body 33B via the supply water passage 91. A branch passage that branches into the first supply water passage 911 and the second supply water passage 912 is provided in the supply water passage 91 between the feed water pump 913 and the first water supply body 33A and the second water supply body 33B. The branch passage may be located above the sensible heat exchanger 4. The branched first supply water passage 911 and second supply water passage 912 are connected to the first water supply body 33A and the second water supply body 33B by the branch passage formed in the supply water passage 91. That is, the first supply water passage 911 communicates with the first water supply body 33A, and the second supply water passage 912 communicates with the second water supply body 33B.

[0045] The water flowing into the first water supply body 33A via the first supply water passage 911 is dripped onto the first vaporization filter 31 via the first water supply hole 331. The water flowing into the second water supply body 33B via the second supply water passage 912 is dripped onto the second vaporization filter 32 via the second water supply hole 332.

[0046] The drain pan 34 and the tank 12 are connected by a recovery water passage 92. The recovery pump 923 is provided in the recovery water passage 92. In the recovery water passage 92, the housing 11 and the tank 12 are connected, for example, via a shut-off valve. The water that has flowed down into the drain pan 34 is recovered into the tank 12 via the recovery water passage 92.

[0047] The water that has flowed down from the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 may be collected at one location in the drain pan 34, merged as the recovery water passage 92, and connected to the recovery pump 923. That is, in the drain pan 34, the first recovery water passage 921 after adding the first vaporization filter 31 and the second recovery water passage 922 after adding the second vaporization filter 32 may be collected at one location. By adopting such a configuration, for example, even when the air conditioner 1 is placed on a moving body and the housing 11 is tilted due to the behavior of the moving body, the water that has flowed down from the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 is collected at one location in the drain pan 34, that is, at the communication hole communicating with the recovery water passage 92, and the water can be reliably conveyed by the recovery pump 923. That is, for example, when a plurality of communication holes are provided in the drain pan 34, there is a concern that when the housing 11 is tilted, air is drawn by the recovery pump 923 from one of the communication holes and water cannot be drawn from the other communication hole. However, by collecting the water that has flowed down from the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 at one location in the drain pan 34 and conveying it by the recovery pump 923 via the recovery water passage 92, the water can be reliably recovered into the tank 12.

[0048] The tank 12, the first vaporization filter 31, and the second vaporization filter 32 are connected by a supply water passage 91 and a recovery water passage 92. Therefore, a circulation circuit is formed in which water is recovered into the tank 12 via the tank 12, the supply water passage 91, the water supply body 33, the first vaporization filter 31, the second vaporization filter 32, the drain pan 34, and the recovery water passage 92. By means of this circulation circuit, the water that has not been vaporized by the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 can be efficiently recovered into the tank 12, the amount of water remaining inside the housing 11 can be reduced, and the hygiene level inside the housing 11 can be improved.

[0049] Figure 3 is a schematic bottom view illustrating the arrangement of the sensible heat exchanger 4. In Figure 3, the positional relationship between the water supply body 33 and the water supply guide 2 with respect to the sensible heat exchanger 4 is explained using a schematic bottom view shown from below the housing 11 of the air conditioner 1, and only the outer frames 21 of the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 are schematically shown. Water supply guides 2 are attached below the first water supply body 33A and the second water supply body 33B, respectively. The water supply guide 2 attached to the first water supply body 33A and the water supply guide 2 attached to the second water supply body 33B are of the same shape.

[0050] A first water supply body 33A and a water supply guide 2 are positioned above the first vaporization filter 31. The first water supply body 33A and the water supply guide 2 are positioned offset to the upstream side in the first airflow direction of the first vaporization filter 31. In this configuration, the nozzle 330 of the first water supply body 33A is located inside the through-hole 26 of the water supply guide 2 attached to the first water supply body 33A. Between any two adjacent nozzles 330 of the first water supply body 33A, the rib 25 of the water supply guide 2 attached to the first water supply body 33A is located.

[0051] Above the second vaporization filter 32, the second water supply body 33B and the water supply guide 2 are positioned. The second water supply body 33B and the water supply guide 2 are positioned offset to the upstream side in the second airflow direction of the second vaporization filter 32. In this case, the nozzle 330 of the second water supply body 33B is located inside the through hole 26 of the water supply guide 2 to which the second water supply body 33B is attached. Between any two adjacent nozzles 330 of the second water supply body 33B, the rib 25 of the water supply guide 2 to which the second water supply body 33B is attached is located.

[0052] Figure 4 is a top view diagram illustrating the internal structure of the water supply body. In this embodiment, the water supply body 33 is viewed from above, and the structure of the first water supply body 33A, which constitutes the water supply body 33, will be explained based on the first water supply body 33A. The structure of the second water supply body 33B is the same as the structure of the first water supply body 33A.

[0053] The first water supply body 33A is a box-shaped body with a hollow interior, and includes a horizontally elongated container section 333 into which water flows, and a rectangular top section 334 that seals the container section 333 from above. The opening located at the top of the container section 333 is closed by the top section 334, thereby sealing the container section 333 and forming the first water supply body 33A with a hollow interior.

[0054] The area of ​​the top surface 334, as viewed from above, is larger than the opening area of ​​the opening located at the top of the container portion 333, and the periphery of the top surface 334 is located outside the opening edge of the container portion 333. Therefore, the lower surface of the top surface 334 is formed with a region where the container portion 333 is provided and a peripheral region surrounding the region where the container portion 333 is provided.

[0055] A cylindrical pipe section 335 is provided in the central part of the side surface of the container section 333, and the first water supply channel 911 communicates with this pipe section 335. Water flowing through the first water supply channel 911 flows into the container section 333 via the pipe section 335. In other words, the pipe section 335 of the first water supply body 33A and the internal space of the container section 333 constitute a part of the first water supply channel 911. The container section 333 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the first vaporization filter 31 on which the first water supply body 33A is placed, and a T-shaped water channel is formed by the container section 333 and the pipe section 335 protruding from the side surface of the container section 333. This T-shaped water channel forms a part of the first water supply channel 911.

[0056] Multiple first water supply holes 331 are provided on the bottom surface of the container portion 333 along the longitudinal direction of the container portion 333. That is, the first water supply holes 331 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the first vaporization filter 31 on which the first water supply body 33A is placed. As an example, the first water supply holes 331 are arranged longitudinally in a point-symmetric manner with respect to the first water supply hole 331 provided in the center of the container portion 333. The container portion 333 may be positioned upstream of the first air passing through the first vaporization filter 31, thereby biasing the first water supply holes 331 provided in the container portion 333 toward the upstream side of the first air. These multiple first water supply holes 331 are formed inside the nozzle 330. The nozzle 330 is a cylindrical body that protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the container portion 333, and the first water supply holes 331 are formed inside this cylindrical body.

[0057] Figure 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view illustrating the water supply guide 2, etc. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the arrangement of the water supply guide 2, etc. The arrangement of the water supply guide 2 and the first water supply body 33A in the first vaporization filter 31 will be described below. The same arrangement applies to the water supply guide 2 and the second water supply body 33B in the second vaporization filter 32.

[0058] A first water supply body 33A is positioned above the first vaporization filter 31, and the water supply guide 2 is positioned between the first vaporization filter 31 and the first water supply body 33A. Therefore, from top to bottom, that is, in the direction of water flow, the first water supply body 33A, the water supply guide 2, and the first vaporization filter 31 are arranged in this order. The first water supply body 33A is positioned above the water supply guide 2, and in this case, the multiple nozzles 330 protruding downward from the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A are located inside the outer frame 21 formed above the water supply guide 2. In other words, the lower part of the first water supply body 33A is located inside the water supply guide 2.

[0059] Furthermore, the lower surface of the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A makes surface contact with the upper surface of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2. At this time, the upper surface of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2 is pressed by the lower surface of the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A. The first water supply body 33A is formed of a hard resin such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or polypropylene, and the water supply guide 2 is formed of a softer material than the first water supply body 33A, such as silicone. Therefore, when the lower surface of the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A and the upper surface of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2 come into contact, the upper surface of the water supply guide 2, which is softer than the first water supply body 33A, deforms to match the shape of the lower surface of the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A, thereby improving the adhesion between the lower surface of the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A and the upper surface of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2. By improving the airtightness between the lower surface of the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A and the upper surface of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2, it is possible to suppress or prevent gaps from forming between these surfaces, thereby preventing water from leaking from between them.

[0060] Multiple nozzles 330 are formed protruding from the lower surface of the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A. In this embodiment, thirteen nozzles 330 are formed. Each nozzle 330 is a cylindrical body that protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the container portion 333, and a first water supply hole 331 is formed inside the cylindrical body. The multiple nozzles 330 may be arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the container portion 333 of the first water supply body 33A.

[0061] When the water supply guide 2 is positioned below the first water supply body 33A, a partition portion 23 of the water supply guide 2 is positioned between any two adjacent nozzles 330 in the group of nozzles 330. In this embodiment, the partition portions 23 of the water supply guide 2 are positioned between the second and third nozzles 330, the fifth and sixth nozzles 330, the eighth and ninth nozzles 330, and the eleventh and twelfth nozzles 330, respectively, from the left end of the first water supply body 33A.

[0062] A rectangular outer frame 21 is formed above the water supply guide 2, and a plurality of partitions 23 are formed inside the outer frame 21. The partitions 23 are plate-shaped and, in this embodiment, four are formed along the longitudinal direction of the outer frame 21. In this case, the plate-shaped partitions 23 are formed by spanning across the short direction of the outer frame 21. As a result, openings 22 are formed above the water supply guide 2 by the inner surface of the outer frame 21 and the sides of the partitions 23, and in this embodiment, five openings 22 are formed.

[0063] The multiple nozzles 330 of the first water supply body 33A are inserted into the water supply guide 2 through the openings 22. Of the multiple nozzles 330 of the first water supply body 33A, two nozzles 330 at each of the left and right ends are inserted into the water supply guide 2 through the openings 22 at the left and right ends, respectively. The other nozzles 330 are inserted into the water supply guide 2 through the central opening 22 of the water supply guide 2, or through the openings 22 located to the left and right of the central opening 22.

[0064] The water supply guide 2 has guide walls 24, and the outer frame 21 and guide walls 24 constitute the outer casing of the water supply guide 2. The guide walls 24 are formed projecting downward from the lower part of the outer frame 21. The guide walls 24 include long-side guide walls 242 located on the long side of the rectangular outer frame 21 and short-side guide walls 241 located on the short side of the outer frame 21. That is, the guide walls 24 include two opposing long-side guide walls 242 and two opposing short-side guide walls 241.

[0065] The two opposing short-side guide walls 241 constitute the longitudinal ends of the water supply guide 2 and are inclined downwards as they move toward the central part of the water supply guide 2, that is, toward the inside of the water supply guide 2. In other words, in the two short-side guide walls 241 that constitute the longitudinal ends of the water supply guide 2, the distance between the inner surfaces of these short-side guide walls 241 decreases as they move from top to bottom, that is, in the direction of water flow.

[0066] Similarly, in the two opposing long-side guide walls 242, the distance between the inner surfaces of these long-side guide walls 242 decreases as you move from top to bottom, that is, in the direction of water flow. With the guide walls 24 configured in this way, the water supply guide 2 is configured to taper from top to bottom, that is, in the direction of water flow.

[0067] Multiple ribs 25 projecting downwards are formed on the lower part of the water supply guide 2. These multiple ribs 25 include two end ribs 251 positioned at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the water supply guide 2, and a middle rib 252 formed between these two end ribs 251. In this embodiment, four middle ribs 252 are formed between these two end ribs 251. By forming the middle ribs 252 between the end ribs 251 in this way, the rigidity of the water supply guide 2 can be ensured. That is, even if the water supply guide 2 is made of a relatively soft material such as silicone, the rigidity of the water supply guide 2 can be ensured or secured by arranging the middle ribs 252, and deformation of the water supply guide 2 due to its own weight can be suppressed.

[0068] The water supply guide 2 is not limited to being attached to the first water supply body 33A during the production and shipping stages of the air conditioner 1, but may also be retrofitted to the bottom of the first water supply body 33A after it has been shipped to the market. In this case, the central rib 252 formed on the water supply guide 2 can suppress deformation of the water supply guide 2 due to its own weight, thereby improving the workability when attaching the water supply guide 2 to the first water supply body 33A. Alternatively, the water supply guide 2 and the first water supply body 33A may be manufactured as a single unit and consist of a single component.

[0069] The end ribs 251 are formed downward from the lower part of the short-side guide wall 241. Therefore, the short-side guide wall 241 and the end ribs 251 are continuous. The middle ribs 252 are formed downward from the lower part of the partition 23. Therefore, the partition 23 and the middle ribs 252 are continuous. These end ribs 251 and middle ribs 252 may be formed in a triangular, V-shaped, or U-shaped form that tapers towards the direction of protrusion.

[0070] Multiple through holes 26 are formed on the lower surface of the water supply guide 2; in this embodiment, five through holes 26 are formed. The through holes 26 are separated by a rib 25 formed below the water supply guide 2 and the lower part of the guide wall 24.

[0071] Each of the through holes 26 located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the water supply guide 2 is demarcated by an end rib 251, two opposing long-side guide walls 242, and a middle rib 252 adjacent to the end rib 251. Each of the through holes 26 located in the center of the water supply guide 2, and the through holes 26 adjacent to the left and right of the central through hole 26, is demarcated by two adjacent middle ribs 252 and two opposing long-side guide walls 242.

[0072] As a result, each of the through-holes 26 communicates with each of the openings 22 through which the nozzle 330 of the first vaporization filter 31 is inserted. Therefore, water dripping from the first water supply hole 331 of the nozzle 330 inserted into the opening 22 passes through the through-hole 26 corresponding to the opening 22 and is supplied to the inside of the first vaporization filter 31 located below the water supply guide 2. At this time, the sum of the opening areas of all the through-holes 26 in the water supply guide 2, i.e., the path cross-sectional area of ​​the through-holes 26, is greater than the sum of the opening areas of all the first water supply holes 331 in the first water supply body 33A, i.e., the path cross-sectional area of ​​the first water supply holes 331. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the amount of water flowing in from the first water supply body 33A from exceeding the amount of water flowing out from the water supply guide 2 to the first vaporization filter 31, and to prevent water from overflowing from the water supply guide 2.

[0073] When the water supply guide 2 is positioned above the first vaporization filter 31, the two end ribs 251 and four middle ribs 252 protruding from the bottom of the water supply guide 2 are inserted into the interior of the first vaporization filter 31. The end ribs 251 and middle ribs 252 are V or U-shaped with tapered tips, and at least a portion of them, including the tips, is inserted into the gap formed between the folds 350 of the filter element 35 that constitutes the first vaporization filter 31, thereby inserting them into the interior of the first vaporization filter 31.

[0074] The first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 each include a rectangular filter element 35, which is formed from, for example, a nonwoven fabric. The first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 are absorbent, and water supplied from the tank 12 permeates the entire surface of the filter element 35, thereby promoting the vaporization of water.

[0075] The first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, which are attached to the unit body 300 of the cooling unit 3, include a rectangular filter element 35 and a rectangular plate member 36 provided on the side surface of the filter element 35, and may be the same part having the same configuration and shape.

[0076] The filter element 35 is made of a flexible material that allows deformation due to external forces, such as rayon, polyester, or nonwoven fabric. The filter element 35 is absorbent, and water supplied from the tank 12 permeates the entire surface of the filter element 35, promoting the evaporation of water. The filter element 35 has a rectangular or square shape when viewed from the side, and forms a rectangular parallelepiped depending on the thickness of the filter element 35.

[0077] The filter element 35 is folded multiple times along the vertical folds 350, thereby giving the first vaporization filter 31 a bellows-like folding structure. The end ribs 251 and middle ribs 252 of the water supply guide 2 are inserted into the gap formed between two adjacent folds 350 in the filter element 35, that is, between two opposing surfaces when the filter element 35 is folded.

[0078] The filter element 35 of the first vaporization filter 31 is formed from a nonwoven fabric or the like, and is made of a softer material than the water supply guide 2 which is made of silicone. Therefore, when inserting the rib 25 of the water supply guide 2 into the first vaporization filter 31, deformation of the rib 25 can be suppressed, and insertion can be done efficiently.

[0079] The first vaporization filter 31 is detachably attached to the unit body 300. The ribs 25 of the water supply guide 2 are harder than the filter element 35 of the first vaporization filter 31 and softer and more flexible than the first water supply body 33A. Therefore, damage to the ribs 25 can be prevented when attaching or detaching the first vaporization filter 31. In other words, when removing or attaching the first vaporization filter 31 to the unit body 300, the first vaporization filter 31 moves relative to the unit body 300 in the lateral direction (indicated by arrow X in Figure 5). The lateral direction corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the ribs 25. Therefore, when attaching or detaching the first vaporization filter 31 to the unit body 300, stress is applied perpendicular to the side surface of the rib 25, i.e., perpendicular to the side surface. However, the flexible rib 25 elastically deforms in the direction perpendicular to the side surface, and can return to its original shape after the first vaporization filter 31 is attached or detached. Since the filter element 35 of the first vaporization filter 31 is even softer than the rib 25 of the water supply guide 2, it can tolerate deformation during attachment and detachment of the first vaporization filter 31 and prevent damage.

[0080] Multiple core members 37 are provided through the filter element 35, and the ends of the core members 37 are joined to the rear surface of the plate member 36. The core members 37 are made of the same resin or the like as the plate member 36, and penetrate the filter element 35 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of water dripping (up and down direction) (left and right direction).

[0081] The first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 may be formed by insert molding, which involves placing a filter element 35 inside a resin mold and then pouring in a plate member 36 and the resin that will be the material for the plate member 36.

[0082] The short-side guide wall 241 is formed below the end rib 251 and slopes downward towards the center. Therefore, the end rib 251 is located on the central side, which is inward from the longitudinal end of the water supply guide 2, i.e., the longitudinal end of the rectangular outer frame 21.

[0083] The water supply guide 2 is positioned above the first vaporization filter 31 such that, in a plan view, the longitudinal ends of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2 and the left and right ends of the filter element 35, i.e., the ends perpendicular to the vertical direction, roughly coincide. In this way, in a plan view, the water supply guide 2 and the filter element 35 of the first vaporization filter 31 form a rectangular shape, and their longitudinal lengths are roughly the same.

[0084] The short-side guide wall 241, which is formed to protrude downward from the short side of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2, is inclined toward the central part of the water supply guide 2 as it extends in the direction of protrusion, and the lower tip of the short-side guide wall 241 is located on the central part of the water supply guide 2, i.e., inward, than the longitudinal end of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2. In this case, the longitudinal end of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2 and the end of the filter element 35 are located approximately the same in a plan view, so the short-side guide wall 241 is located inward from the end of the filter element 35.

[0085] In this embodiment, each of the short-side guide walls 241 is positioned on the central side, which is inward from each of the nozzles 330 at both ends of the first water supply body 33A. Therefore, water dripped from each of the nozzles 330 at both ends of the first water supply body 33A is guided along the inwardly sloping short-side guide walls 241 to the end ribs 251, and flows along the inner side surface of the end ribs 251 into the gap between the folds 350 in the filter element 35 that constitutes the first vaporization filter 31. Since the end ribs 251 are inserted into the gap between the folds 350 in the filter element 35, water can flow into the inside of the filter element 35, and water from the water supply guide 2 can be prevented from flowing out of the first vaporization filter 31 by flowing along the top of the filter element 35.

[0086] Furthermore, since the end rib 251 is inserted on the central side, i.e., inward, of the filter element 35 rather than the end, a separation distance can be ensured between the end rib 251 and the end of the filter element 35. This separation distance may be set, for example, to 10% to 15% of the end-to-end distance, which is the distance between the two ends of the filter element 35. By ensuring this separation distance, even if the air conditioner 1 is tilted in the horizontal direction, it is possible to prevent water flowing out from the end rib 251 from flowing over the top of the filter element 35 and out of the first vaporization filter 31.

[0087] In the water supply guide 2, water dripped from the first water supply body 33A is similarly supplied to the first vaporization filter 31 through the through-hole 26, which is partitioned by adjacent central ribs 252. At this time, each of the two central ribs 252 that partition the through-hole 26 is inserted into the gap formed between the folds 350 of the filter element 35, and is inserted into the interior of the first vaporization filter 31, so that water can be efficiently supplied into the interior of the first vaporization filter 31. In the case of the central ribs 252, as with the end ribs 251, when the air conditioner 1 is tilted horizontally, the water that flows out along the central ribs 252 is prevented from flowing out of the first vaporization filter 31 by flowing over the top of the filter element 35.

[0088] Figure 7 is a schematic top perspective view illustrating the water supply guide 2. Figure 8 is a schematic bottom perspective view illustrating the water supply guide 2. Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the water supply guide 2. Figure 10 is a schematic top view of the water supply guide 2. Figure 11 is a schematic front view of the water supply guide 2. Figure 12 is a schematic bottom view of the water supply guide 2. Figure 13 is a schematic side view of the water supply guide 2. The water supply guide 2 is installed below the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32, respectively. The water supply guides 2 installed below the first vaporization filter 31 and the second vaporization filter 32 may be of the same shape, i.e., made of parts with the same part number.

[0089] The water supply guide 2 includes an outer frame 21, a guide wall 24, and ribs 25. Multiple openings 22 are formed in the upper part of the water supply guide 2, and multiple through holes 26 are formed in the lower part of the water supply guide 2. It is molded from a soft material such as water-repellent silicone.

[0090] Each of the openings 22 and through holes 26 formed along the longitudinal direction of the water supply guide 2 are in communication with each other, and in the case of corresponding openings 22 and through holes 26 in the longitudinal direction, the opening 22 corresponds to the entrance of the through hole 26. A nozzle 330 is inserted through the opening 22, and water dripped from the nozzle 330 passes through the through hole 26 and is supplied to the first vaporization filter 31 or the second vaporization filter 32.

[0091] The outer frame 21 is composed of a rectangular frame and is located at the top of the water supply guide 2. The guide wall 24 is located below the outer frame 21 and includes two short-side guide walls 241 and two long-side guide walls 242. The short-side guide walls 241 are located at the bottom of the short sides of the outer frame 21, and the short-side guide walls 241 are continuous with the short sides of the outer frame 21. The long-side guide walls 242 are located at the bottom of the long sides of the outer frame 21, and the short-side guide walls 241 are continuous with the long sides of the outer frame 21.

[0092] The two short-side guide walls 241 are positioned with their inner sides facing each other in the longitudinal direction of the outer frame 21. In this case, the distance between the faces of the two opposing short-side guide walls 241 decreases as they move away from the outer frame 21. That is, the two short-side guide walls 241 are formed to taper downwards. The two long-side guide walls 242 are positioned with their inner sides facing each other in the short-side direction of the outer frame 21. In this case, the distance between the faces of the two opposing long-side guide walls 242 decreases as they move away from the outer frame 21. That is, the two long-side guide walls 242 are formed to taper downwards. Thus, the water supply guide 2 includes the outer frame 21 located above and the guide walls 24 located below, and since the guide walls 24 are formed to taper downwards, the overall shape is that of a mortar.

[0093] Multiple partitions 23 are arranged inside the outer frame 21. The partitions 23 are plate-shaped and are arranged to span the long sides of the outer frame 21. Multiple openings 22 are formed by the outer frame 21 and the multiple partitions 23 arranged inside the outer frame 21. In this case, the number of openings 22 is the number of partitions 23 plus 1, and in this embodiment, 5 openings 22 are formed by 4 partitions 23.

[0094] The opening area of ​​the opening 22 is determined according to the position of the partition portion 23 in the longitudinal direction of the outer frame 21. In this embodiment, the opening areas of the openings 22 located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the outer frame 21 are smaller than the opening areas of the other openings 22. Therefore, the number of nozzles 330 inserted into the openings 22 located at both ends is less than the number of nozzles 330 inserted into the other openings 22.

[0095] The rib 25 includes an end rib 251 and a middle rib 252. The end rib 251 is formed projecting downward from the lower part of the short-side guide wall 241. Therefore, the water supply guide 2 has two end ribs 251, each formed at the short-side guide wall 241 located at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The middle rib 252 is formed projecting downward from the lower part of the partition 23. Therefore, the water supply guide 2 has four middle ribs 252, each formed at the four partition 23. Because the end rib 251 is formed at the lower part of the short-side guide wall 241 which slopes downward towards the center of the water supply guide 2, it is located on the side of the central part of the water supply guide 2, i.e., inward, than the longitudinal ends of the outer frame 21 of the water supply guide 2.

[0096] The tip of the rib 25, including the end rib 251 and the middle rib 252, is formed in a V or U shape, and the rib 25 tapers toward the direction of protrusion. Therefore, the rib 25 can be efficiently inserted into the gap between two adjacent folds 350 in the filter element 35. When the rib 25 is inserted into the filter element 35, it comes into contact with the inner surface of the filter element 35.

[0097] The end ribs 251 and the middle ribs 252 are formed so that the protruding length and thickness of the ribs 25 are the same. By making the protruding length and thickness of the ribs 25 uniform in this way, the moldability of the water supply guide 2 can be improved.

[0098] The through-holes 26 are formed in the lower part of the water supply guide 2 by being partitioned by guide walls 24 and ribs 25. The number of through-holes 26 is the number of ribs 25 minus 1, and in this embodiment, 4 through-holes 26 are formed by 5 ribs 25. The through-holes 26 located at both ends in the longitudinal direction are partitioned by the end rib 251, the middle rib 252 facing the end rib 251, and the long-side guide wall 242 located between these end ribs 251 and middle rib 252. The through-holes 26 located other than the ends in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the three through-holes 26 located in the center and to the left and right of the center, are partitioned by the opposing middle ribs 252 and the long-side guide wall 242 located between these middle ribs 252. The through-holes 26 formed by being partitioned in this way have a rectangular shape.

[0099] Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the flow of water from the water supply guide 2. In this embodiment, for reference, the case in which the air conditioner 1 is placed at an angle of approximately 5 degrees to the horizontal is shown. Even when the air conditioner 1 is tilted in this way, the water from the first water supply body 33A or the second water supply body 33B drips in the vertical direction, which is the direction of gravity. The water dripping from the nozzle 330 of the first water supply body 33A, etc., is received by the inner surface of the short-side guide wall 241 and guided to the end rib 251.

[0100] At least a portion of the end rib 251, including its tip, is inserted into the interior of the first vaporization filter 31, i.e., into the gap between the folds 350 in the filter element 35. Therefore, the end rib 251 can reliably supply water guided from the short-side guide wall 241 to the end rib 251 into the interior of the first vaporization filter 31, etc. The water supply guide 2, having the rib 25 and the guide wall 24, is molded from silicone and is water-repellent, so it can efficiently guide water to the filter element 35.

[0101] Furthermore, in the filter element 35, the position where the end rib 251 is inserted is spaced apart from the end of the filter element 35. Therefore, a separation distance, as shown by the arrows at both ends in Figure 14, can be secured between the end of the filter element 35 and the end rib 251. As a result, even if the air conditioner 1 is tilted, water dripping from the water supply body 33 can be prevented from flowing out of the first vaporization filter 31 or the second vaporization filter 32 by running along the top of the filter element 35, without penetrating the first vaporization filter 31 or the second vaporization filter 32.

[0102] In this embodiment, a water supply guide 2 having a guide wall 24 and ribs 25 is arranged between the vaporization filter and the water supply body 33 that supplies water to the vaporization filter. The guide wall 24 of the water supply guide 2 guides the water received from the water supply body 33 toward the vaporization filter, thereby preventing the water flowing from the water supply body 33 into the water supply guide 2 from going beyond the guide wall 24 and toward a location other than the vaporization filter. Furthermore, since the ribs 25 of the water supply guide 2 are inserted into the vaporization filter, the water guided toward the guide wall 24 can be guided into the interior of the vaporization filter. This ensures that the water supplied from the water supply body 33 flows reliably into the vaporization filter.

[0103] In this embodiment, the vaporization filter includes, for example, a rectangular filter element 35, which is formed from, for example, rayon, polyester, nonwoven fabric, etc. The filter element 35 is folded multiple times with folds 350 in the vertical direction to form a bellows-like folding structure. At this time, the ribs 25 of the water supply body 33 are inserted from above the vaporization filter into the gaps formed vertically in the folding structure, that is, the gaps formed between two adjacent folds 350. As a result, at least a part of the ribs 25, including the tip of the rib 25, is positioned inside the vaporization filter. In a vaporization filter having such a bellows-like folding structure, by inserting the ribs 25 inside the vaporization filter between the bellows, water guided toward the guide wall 24 can be guided along the ribs 25 into the inside of the vaporization filter, and when water from the water supply guide 2 flows into the vaporization filter, it is possible to prevent water from leaking to places other than the vaporization filter.

[0104] In this embodiment, the number of ribs 25 is less than the number of folds 350 formed in the vaporization filter, i.e., the number of bellows. If the number of ribs 25 is greater than the number of bellows folds 350, for example, if there are too many ribs 25, they will not fit into the bellows, and there is a concern that the vaporization filter may be damaged when attaching or detaching it. However, by making the number of ribs 25 less than the number of bellows, the vaporization filter can be attached and detached smoothly.

[0105] In this embodiment, the water supply guide 2 has a through hole 26 that penetrates vertically, and water flows into the vaporization filter through the through hole 26. In this case, the through hole 26 is partitioned by the guide wall 24 and the rib 25, so that the water supplied from the water supply body 33 can be reliably supplied to the vaporization filter through the through hole 26.

[0106] In this embodiment, the water supply body 33 has a plurality of nozzles 330 that protrude from the bottom surface of the water supply body 33 toward the vaporization filter, and the water that passes through the nozzles 330 is dripped onto the water supply guide 2 located below the water supply body 33. At this time, each rib 25 of the water supply guide 2 is positioned between two adjacent nozzles 330, so even if, for example, the air conditioner 1 is tilted with respect to the horizontal direction, and the water dripping vertically from each of these two adjacent nozzles 330 flows in the direction in which the two nozzles 330 are positioned, the rib 25 between these two nozzles 330 can reliably guide the water into the vaporization filter.

[0107] In this embodiment, the water supply body 33 has a plurality of nozzles 330 formed thereon, and the water that passes through the nozzles 330 is dripped onto the water supply guide 2. The water supply guide 2 has a plurality of through holes 26 that are partitioned by a guide wall 24 and ribs 25, and the water that passes through the through holes 26 is dripped onto the vaporization filter. In this case, the total opening area of ​​all the through holes 26 formed in the water supply guide 2 is greater than the opening area of ​​the nozzles 330 of the water supply body 33, that is, the total path cross-sectional area of ​​the holes in the nozzles 330. In other words, in the path of the water flow, the path cross-sectional area of ​​the water supply guide 2 is greater than the path cross-sectional area of ​​the water supply body 33, so that the water that flows from the water supply body 33 into the water supply guide 2 does not overflow from the water supply guide 2.

[0108] In this embodiment, when viewed from above, both the vaporization filter and the water supply guide 2 are rectangular in shape, and their longitudinal lengths are substantially the same. In this case, the ribs 25 formed at each of the longitudinal ends of the water supply guide 2 are positioned inward from each of the longitudinal ends of the vaporization filter, thereby preventing water from flowing out of the vaporization filter from its longitudinal ends.

[0109] In this embodiment, the longitudinal end of the water supply guide 2 is inclined inward, thereby forming the water supply guide 2 in a mortar-like shape. In this case, the longitudinal end may be composed of a guide wall 24 located at the longitudinal end. Therefore, even if the air conditioner 1 is tilted, the longitudinal end of the water supply guide 2 is inclined inward, which prevents water flowing from the water supply body 33 into the water supply guide 2 from leaking to the outside of the water supply guide 2. This allows for a larger allowable tilt angle when installing the air conditioner 1, thereby improving the usability of the air conditioner 1.

[0110] In this embodiment, the water supply guide 2 is formed of a flexible material such as silicone, meaning that the amount of elastic deformation of the rib 25 in the thickness direction of the water supply guide 2 can be made relatively large. When the vaporization filter is configured to be detachable from the air conditioner 1, the rib 25 inserted into the interior from above the vaporization filter elastically deforms and returns to its original shape when the vaporization filter is attached or detached, thereby reliably preventing damage to the rib 25 and facilitating the attachment and detachment of the vaporization filter.

[0111] In this embodiment, in a configuration in which the vaporization filter is attached and detached by moving it in a direction that intersects the vertical direction, when attempting to insert the rib 25 into the vaporization filter from above, the rib 25 and the upper surface of the vaporization filter interfere with each other during movement. In this case, if the rib 25 is flexible, the rib 25 will bend when the vaporization filter is moved, thereby preventing damage.

[0112] In this embodiment, the water supply guide 2, for example, which is made of silicone, is made of a harder material than the vaporization filter, which consists of a folded structure of a filter element 35 molded from, for example, rayon, polyester, or nonwoven fabric. Furthermore, the water supply body 33 is made of a hard resin such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or polypropylene, and therefore the water supply guide 2 is made of a softer material than the water supply body 33. In this way, the water supply body 33, the water supply guide 2, and the vaporization filter are formed in such an order that their hardness decreases. Therefore, when arranging the water supply body 33 and the water supply guide 2 in the vertical direction, the upper surface of the water supply guide 2 can be brought into close contact with the bottom surface of the water supply body 33, preventing a gap from forming between the water supply body 33 and the water supply guide 2, and preventing water from leaking from between the water supply body 33 and the water supply guide 2.

[0113] With respect to the multiple claims described in the claims, they can be combined with each other regardless of the form of reference. Multiple dependent claims that depend on multiple claims may be described in the claims. Multiple dependent claims that depend on multiple dependent claims may also be described. Even if multiple dependent claims that depend on multiple dependent claims are not described, this does not limit the description of multiple dependent claims that depend on multiple dependent claims.

[0114] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not in the sense described above, and all modifications within the sense and scope equivalent to the claims are intended.

[0115] 1 Air conditioner 11 Housing (main body) 111 Door section 12 Tank (separate) 13 Electrical unit 2 Water supply guide 21 Outer frame 22 Opening 23 Partition section 24 Guide wall 241 Short side guide wall 242 Long side guide wall 25 Rib 251 End rib 252 Middle rib 26 Through hole 3 Cooling unit 300 Unit body 31 First vaporization filter 32 Second vaporization filter 33 Water supply body 33A First water supply body 33B Second water supply body 330 Nozzle 331 First water supply hole 332 Second water supply hole 333 Container section 334 Top section 335 Pipe section 34 Drain pan 35 Filter element 350 Fold 36 Plate member 361 Grip section 37 Core member 38 Fixing member 4 Sensible heat exchanger 41 First path 42 Second path 431 First inlet side opening surface 432 Second inlet side opening surface 441 First outlet side opening surface 442 Second outlet side opening surface 5 Suction port 51 Suction flow path 52 Branch flow path 53 Dust collection filter 531 Seal member 61 First flow path 62 Second flow path 71 First outlet 711 Discharge duct 72 Second outlet 8 Fan motor 81 First fan 82 Second fan 83 Partition plate 84 Fan casing 91 Supply water channel 911 First supply water channel 912 Second supply water channel 913 Water supply pump 92 Recovery water channel 921 First recovery water channel 922 Second recovery water channel 923 Recovery pump

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising: an evaporative filter that cools the air passing through it using the heat of vaporization of water; a water supply body located above the evaporative filter for supplying water to the evaporative filter; and a water supply guide disposed between the evaporative filter and the water supply body, wherein the water supply guide has a guide wall that guides the water received from the water supply body toward the evaporative filter, and ribs that guide the water guided by the guide wall into the interior of the evaporative filter, and the ribs are inserted into the evaporative filter from above.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the vaporization filter is folded multiple times with folds in the vertical direction, and the ribs are inserted from above the vaporization filter into the gaps formed in the vertical direction in the folded structure.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the number of ribs is less than the number of folds.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the water supply guide has a through hole that penetrates in the vertical direction, and the through hole is partitioned by the guide wall and the rib.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the water supply body has a plurality of nozzles protruding from the bottom surface of the water supply body toward the vaporization filter, and the ribs are arranged between two adjacent nozzles.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the total opening area of ​​the plurality of through holes in the water supply guide is greater than the total opening area of ​​the plurality of nozzles in the water supply body.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the vaporization filter and the water supply guide are rectangular in shape when viewed from above, and the rib located at the longitudinal end of the water supply guide is positioned inward from the longitudinal end of the vaporization filter.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal end of the water supply guide is inclined downwards as it approaches the center.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the water supply guide is formed of a flexible member.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the vaporization filter is configured to be detachable by moving in a direction that intersects the vertical direction.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the water supply guide is harder than the vaporization filter and softer than the water supply body.

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