Heat-Exchanger Humidification Control for Indoor Air Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning systems face challenges in promptly increasing indoor humidity while avoiding unnecessary temperature increases, particularly when a heating unit is located upstream of the humidifier, leading to inefficient heating and humidity control.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, a humidifying device downstream of the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a communication passage between the air exhaust and supply passages, controlled by a unit that adjusts refrigerant temperature and opening/closing device operation based on indoor humidity and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heating unit is provided upstream of the humidifier to heat air before humidification, then humidification performance is improved and indoor humidity is promptly raised, but the temperature of air supplied into the indoor space is increased and indoor temperature is unnecessarily increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating function into two separate pathways: a first heating unit in the exhaust air passage that heats exhaust air without affecting supply air temperature, and a second heating unit (humidifier) that adds moisture to the supply air. This segmentation allows independent control of heating and humidification, resolving the contradiction by enabling humidification without unnecessary temperature increase in the indoor space.
2Productivity
If part of indoor air is introduced into the supply air passage to increase humidity, then indoor humidity can be raised, but the temperature control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service principles by using the exhaust air itself as the heat source for heating exhaust air, and by utilizing the moisture already present in indoor air that is recirculated through the communication passage. The system automatically balances temperature and humidity control through the coordinated operation of the first and second heating units, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms while maintaining effective humidity increase.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for effective and prompt humidity increase in indoor spaces while preventing unnecessary temperature rises, optimizing energy use and humidification performance.
Implementation Method 1
an air-to-air heat exchanger provided in the housing to transfer at least sensible heat between the outdoor air and the indoor air
Implementation Method 2
an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger provided in an air supply passage and forming part of a refrigerant circuit that circulates refrigerant, the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger being provided to transfer heat between the outdoor air and the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
a humidifying device provided in part of the air supply passage that is located downstream of the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, the humidifying device being provided to humidify the outdoor air
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes an air-to-air heat exchanger that transfers at least sensible heat between outdoor air and indoor air, an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger provided in an air supply passage to transfer heat between the outdoor air and refrigerant, and a humidifier provided in part of the air supply passage that is located downstream of the air-to-refrigerant heat exchange. The humidifier humidifies the outdoor air. A communication passage causes part of the air exhaust passage that is located upstream of the air-to-air heat exchanger and part of the air supply passage that is located downstream of the air-to-air heat exchanger to communicate with each other. An opening/closing damper opens and closes the communication passage. A controller controls a refrigerant temperature in the air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger based on an indoor temperature, and controls operation of the opening/closing damper based on an indoor humidity.