U.S. patent application number 10/943134 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-24 for air conditioning system with humidity adjusting apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Bae, Seong Won, Chin, Sim Won, Jung, In Hwa, Lee, Jung Woo.
Application Number | 20050257535 10/943134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34939312 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050257535 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jung, In Hwa ; et
al. |
November 24, 2005 |
Air conditioning system with humidity adjusting apparatus
Abstract
An air conditioning system includes an indoor unit disposed in
an interior side, an outdoor unit disposed in an exterior side to
direct a refrigerant to the indoor unit, the outdoor unit
comprising a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a heat
exchanger for condensing the refrigerant compressed in the
compressor, a fan for forcedly generating air current, and a motor
for driving the fan, and a humidity adjusting apparatus formed on
one of both sides of the outdoor unit to direct humidity adjusted
air to the interior side.
Inventors: |
Jung, In Hwa; (Seoul,
KR) ; Lee, Jung Woo; (Seoul, KR) ; Bae, Seong
Won; (Seoul, KR) ; Chin, Sim Won;
(Gwangmyeong-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
34939312 |
Appl. No.: |
10/943134 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/94 ;
62/271 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 3/1423 20130101;
F24F 1/32 20130101; F24F 6/00 20130101; F24F 1/34 20130101; F24F
1/0003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/094 ;
062/271 |
International
Class: |
F25D 017/06; F25D
023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2004 |
KR |
36428/2004 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An air conditioning system comprising: an indoor unit disposed
in an interior side; an outdoor unit disposed in an exterior side
to direct a refrigerant to the indoor unit, the outdoor unit
comprising a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a heat
exchanger for condensing the refrigerant compressed in the
compressor, a fan for forcedly generating air current, and a motor
for driving the fan; and a humidity adjusting apparatus formed on
one of both sides of the outdoor unit to direct humidity adjusted
air to the interior side.
2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
humidity adjusting apparatus is formed on a side of the outdoor
unit, which is close to the compressor.
3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a part
of the humidity adjusting apparatus is disposed in an empty space
defined above the compressor.
4. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a
blower unit of the humidity adjusting apparatus is disposed in an
empty space defined above the compressor.
5. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a
humidity adjusting tube unit of the humidity adjusting apparatus is
disposed covering a refrigerant tube unit of the outdoor unit.
6. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
humidity adjusting apparatus is disposed covering a service valve
formed on a side of the outdoor unit.
7. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a
humidity adjusting tube unit of the humidity adjusting apparatus is
integrally formed with a refrigerant tube unit of the outdoor
unit.
8. An air conditioning system comprising: an indoor unit disposed
in an interior side; an outdoor unit comprising a heat exchanger
for condensing a refrigerant, a fan for forcedly directing air
toward the heat exchanger, and a fan driving motor for driving the
fan; a refrigerant tube unit connecting the outdoor unit to the
indoor unit; a desiccant disposed on one of both sides of the
outdoor unit to selectively collect moisture; a desiccant driving
motor for rotating the desiccant; a blower unit for forcedly
directing air to the desiccant; a heater for heating a portion of
the desiccant; and a humidity adjusting tube unit for directing
humidity-adjusted air to the interior side.
9. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein an
angle between a rotational shaft of the fan driving motor and a
rotating shaft of the desiccant driving motor is in a range of
about 70-110.degree..
10. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, further
comprising an oxygen generator connected to the humidity adjusting
tube unit.
11. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, further
comprising an oxygen generator formed on a portion of the humidity
adjusting tube unit to supply oxygen into the humidity adjusting
tube unit.
12. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein the
humidity adjusting tube unit is disposed covering an upper-half of
a refrigerant tube unit.
13. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein the
humidity adjusting tube unit is integrally formed with the
refrigerant tube unit.
14. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein the
heater is disposed between the desiccant and the blower unit.
15. An air conditioning system comprising: an outdoor unit
comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger that are disposed
facing each other; an mounting unit formed on one of both sides of
the outdoor unit; and a humidity adjusting unit selectively mounted
on the mounting unit.
16. The air conditioning system according to claim 15, wherein a
part of the humidity adjusting unit is located above the
compressor.
17. The air conditioning system according to claim 15, wherein the
humidity adjusting unit comprises a desiccant.
18. The air conditioning system according to claim 15, wherein the
humidity adjusting unit comprises a desiccant, a heater and a
blower unit.
19. The air conditioning system according to claim 15, wherein the
mounting unit comprises a rotating unit.
20. The air conditioning system according to claim 15, wherein the
mounting unit formed on a side of the outdoor unit, which is close
to the compressor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system
with a humidity adjusting apparatus, and more particularly, to an
air conditioning system with which a humidity adjusting apparatus
is associated to provide a more improved convenience to a user.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, an air conditioner is for controlling, especially
lowering, the temperature of an enclosed space. A separation type
air conditioner is separated into an outdoor unit and an indoor
unit. The outdoor unit includes a compressor, a condenser and a
fan. When the air conditioner is turned on, the condenser condenses
a refrigerant. The indoor unit includes a vaporizer and a fan. In a
cooling mode, indoor air is introduced in the indoor unit and
heat-exchanged with the refrigerant that passes through the
vaporizer after being condensed in the outdoor unit. The
heat-exchanged indoor air is exhausted to the interior side to
lower the temperature of the interior side.
[0005] Such a prior air conditioner has only a temperature
controlling function. That is, the prior air conditioner cannot
perform perfect air conditioning for both the temperature and
humidity of the enclosed space.
[0006] To solve the problem, a humidity control apparatus for
increasing/decreasing humidity of the enclosed space may be
associated with the air conditioner. When the humidity control
apparatus is associated with the air conditioner, since
humidity-controlled air is supplied to the enclosed space through a
predetermined passage, the more agreeable interior environment can
be realized. That is, the humidity control apparatus functions to
increase or decrease humidity in the enclosed space.
[0007] However, the humidity control apparatus is formed as an
independent device from the air conditioner and used by being
simply disposed around, especially on the outdoor unit of the air
conditioner. That is, distributing lines of the humidity control
apparatus and the outdoor unit are independently connected to the
interior side, making it inconvenient for a user to properly
manipulate the both of them. Therefore, there is a need for a
scheme that can improve the user's convenience by properly
associating the humidity control apparatus with the outdoor unit of
the air conditioner.
[0008] Particularly, when the humidity control apparatus is simply
disposed on and integrated with the outdoor unit as a single unit,
the height of the integrated unit is increased, thereby enlarging
the installing space and deteriorating the outer appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an air
conditioning system with a humidity adjusting apparatus that is
systemically associated with an outdoor unit of the air
conditioning system so that a user can conveniently use the same
and the installing space can be saved.
[0010] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, there is provided an air conditioning
system comprising: an indoor unit disposed in an interior side; an
outdoor unit disposed in an exterior side to direct a refrigerant
to the indoor unit, the outdoor unit comprising a compressor for
compressing the refrigerant, a heat exchanger for condensing the
refrigerant compressed in the compressor, a fan for forcedly
generating air current, and a motor for driving the fan; and a
humidity adjusting apparatus formed on one of both sides of the
outdoor unit to direct humidity adjusted air to the interior
side.
[0011] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an air conditioning system comprising: an indoor unit
disposed in an interior side; an outdoor unit comprising a heat
exchanger for condensing a refrigerant, a fan for forcedly
directing air toward the heat exchanger, and a fan driving motor
for driving the fan; a refrigerant tube unit connecting the outdoor
unit to the indoor unit; a desiccant disposed on one of both sides
of the outdoor unit to selectively collect moisture; a desiccant
driving motor for rotating the desiccant; a blower unit for
forcedly directing air to the desiccant; a heater for heating a
portion of the desiccant; and a humidity adjusting tube unit for
directing humidity-adjusted air to the interior side.
[0012] In still another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an air conditioning system comprising: an outdoor unit
comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger that are disposed
facing each other; a mounting unit formed on one of both sides of
the outdoor unit; and a humidity adjusting unit selectively mounted
on the mounting unit.
[0013] According to the present invention, since the humidity
adjusting unit is disposed on a side of the outdoor unit such that
the humidity adjusting tubes covers the connecting tubes of the
outdoor and indoor tubes, the deterioration of the outer appearance
and the corrosion of the connecting tubes can be prevented.
[0014] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air
conditioning system, which is associated with a humidity adjusting
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a partly broken perspective view of an outdoor
unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I' of FIG.
2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mounting unit according to
an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0020] FIGS. 5 and 6 are exploded perspective views illustrating an
operation of a humidity adjusting apparatus associated with an
outdoor unit of an air conditioning system according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air
conditioning system, which is associated with a humidity adjusting
apparatus, according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a humidity adjusting apparatus 10 is
mounted one of left and right sides of an outdoor unit 24 to adjust
humidity of an interior side. Preferably, to improve the space
efficiency, the humidity adjusting apparatus 10 is disposed on a
side of the outdoor unit 24, which is closed to a compressor.
[0024] That is, an air conditioning system includes an outdoor unit
24 for performing a heat-exchange, a humidity adjusting apparatus
10 formed on a side of the outdoor unit 24, first and second
humidity adjusting tubes 25 extending from a lower side of the
humidity adjusting apparatus 10 to the interior side, the humidity
adjusting tube to function as an air passage communicating the
humidity adjusting apparatus 10 with the interior side, and first
and second refrigerant tubes 26 connecting the outdoor unit 24 to
an indoor unit (not shown) to function as a refrigerant flow
passage.
[0025] The first refrigerant tube 26 is an intake tube for
directing the refrigerant to the outdoor unit 24 and the second
refrigerant tube 26 is an exhaust tube for directing the
refrigerant to the indoor unit. The first humidity adjusting tube
25 is an intake tube for directing air into the humidity adjusting
apparatus and the second humidity adjusting tube 25 is an exhaust
tube for directing humidity-controlled air to the interior
side.
[0026] The humidity adjusting tubes 25 are designed covering the
refrigerant tubes 26 so that the refrigerant tubes 26 are not
exposed to avoid deteriorating the overall outer appearance.
Furthermore, a service valve 36 of the outdoor unit 24 can be
hidden by an outer housing of the humidity adjusting apparatus 10,
thereby further avoiding deteriorating the overall outer
appearance.
[0027] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an outdoor unit according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, as described above, the humidity
adjusting apparatus 10 is disposed on a side of the outdoor unit
24, preferably on a side where the compressor 27 of the outdoor
unit 24 is located. That is, a portion above the compressor 27 is
generally in an empty space. Therefore, when the humidity adjusting
apparatus 10 is disposed on the side where the compressor 27 is
located, some elements of the humidity adjusting apparatus can be
disposed in the empty space, improving the space efficiency.
[0029] Describing in more detail, the outdoor unit 24 includes a
heat exchanger 30 for performing the heat-exchange using the
refrigerant flowing therein, a fan and fan motor 40 and 35 for
forcedly generating air current toward the heat exchanger 30, and a
compressor 27 for compressing the refrigerant. The humidity
adjusting apparatus 10 includes an outdoor fan 20 for forcedly
generating outdoor air current and an indoor fan 21 for forcedly
generating indoor air current. The humidity adjusting apparatus 10
further includes a humidity adjusting unit 11, a rotating unit 22
for rotating the humidity adjusting unit 11, a heater 18 for
heating a portion of the humidity adjusting unit 11, and a mounting
unit 12 for mounting the humidity adjusting unit 11.
[0030] The humidity adjusting unit 11 includes a desiccant unit,
being detachably mounted on the mounting unit 12. The rotating unit
22 may be integrally formed with the humidity adjusting unit 11.
Alternatively, the rotating unit 22 may be connected to the
humidity adjusting unit 11 by a connecting member such as a belt.
In this embodiment, the rotating unit 22 is integrally mounted on
the mounting unit 12. A motor may be used as the rotating member so
that the desiccant of the humidity adjusting unit 11 can rotate by
a rotating shaft of the motor.
[0031] The outdoor and indoor fans 20 and 21 are disposed on a
space above the compressor 27. That is, the outdoor unit 24 shares
its installing space with the humidity adjusting apparatus 10,
improving the space efficiency. In the outdoor unit 24, a rotating
shaft connecting a fan driving motor 35 and a blower fan 40 may be
inclined at a predetermined angle .alpha. with respect to a
rotational shaft connecting the humidity adjusting unit 11 to the
rotating unit 22. It is preferable that the predetermined angle
.alpha. is in a rage of 70-110.degree.. As described above, by
disposing the rotational shaft of the outdoor unit at the
predetermined angle with respect to the rotational shaft of the
humidity adjusting apparatus, the installing space for the humidity
adjusting apparatus may be formed to be perpendicular to the space
above the compressor 27, thereby making it possible to more
effectively install the humidity adjusting apparatus 10. That is,
by disposing the rotational shaft of the outdoor unit at the
predetermined angle to the rotational shaft of the humidity
adjusting apparatus, the humidity adjusting apparatus 10 can be
installed in a minimized space defined on a side of the outdoor
unit 24.
[0032] The humidity adjusting tubes 25 are disposed covering the
upper-half of the refrigerant tubes 26 to prevent the refrigerant
tubes 26 from being corroded and improve the outer appearance.
Therefore, it is preferable that the humidity adjusting tubes 25
are integrally formed with the refrigerant tubes 26.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows the mounting unit according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0034] As shown in the drawing, the humidity adjusting unit 11 is
disposed inside the mounting unit 12. The mounting unit 12 may be
provided with four air passages. That is, the mounting unit 12 is
provided with an indoor side intake passage 251 through which
indoor air is introduced into the mounting unit 12, an indoor side
supply passage 252 through which air is introduced from the
mounting unit 12 to the interior side, an outdoor side intake
passage 253 through which outdoor air is introduced, and an outdoor
side supply passage 254 through which interior air is introduced
from the mounting unit 12 to the exterior side.
[0035] The indoor side intake passage 251 is connected to the
interior side to direct the air from the interior side to the
mounting unit 11. The air directed into the mounting unit 11 is
humidity-controlled by the humidity adjusting unit 11 and then
exhausted to the interior side through the indoor side supply
passage 252. Outdoor air is introduced into the humidity adjusting
unit 11 through the outdoor side intake passage 253,
humidity-controlled by the humidity adjusting unit 11 and exhausted
to the exterior side through the outdoor side supply passage
254.
[0036] In addition, the indoor side intake passage 251 and the
indoor side supply passage 252 are integrally formed and connected
to the interior side, thereby defining the humidity adjusting tubes
25. The humidity adjusting tubes 25 are also integrally formed with
the refrigerant tubes 26, thereby improving the convenience in
use.
[0037] An oxygen generator 50 is formed on the indoor side supply
passage 252 to supply oxygen into the air being supplied to the
interior side, thereby further improving the interior environment.
The oxygen generator 50 may be formed on an inner side of the
indoor side supply passage 252. Alternatively, as shown in the
drawing, the oxygen generator 50 may be formed on an outer side of
the indoor side supply passage 252 and connected to the indoor side
supply passage 252 by a tube. In this case, the oxygen generated by
the oxygen generator 50 is first introduced into the indoor side
supply passage 252 and then supplied to the interior side.
[0038] The rotating unit 22 may be formed of a motor connected to
the humidity adjusting unit 11 by a belt structure or a gear
structure.
[0039] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrates an operation of a humidity
adjusting apparatus associated with an outdoor unit of an air
conditioning system according to the present invention.
[0040] The humidity adjusting unit 11 is comprised of the
disk-shaped desiccant 13 for performing a humidifying/dehumidifying
operation and the heater 18 disposed beside the desiccant 13 to
heat the air. The humidity adjusting unit 11 may further include a
filter 23 for removing dusts contained in the indoor/outdoor air.
The filter 23 may be formed on only one side of the desiccant 13
where the indoor air flows to remove the dusts contained in the
indoor air.
[0041] To effectively heat the air, it is preferable that the
heater 18 is mounted between the desiccant 13 and the outdoor air
blower fan 20. The humidity adjusting unit 11 is divided into a
humidifying section and a dehumidifying section. The humidifying
section 15 is for supplying moisture to the air by heating the
desiccant 13 and the dehumidifying section 17 is for absorbing the
moisture from the air passing through the desiccant 13 to lower the
humidity of the air.
[0042] The humidifying section 15 is defined on a part close to the
heater 18 and the dehumidifying section 17 is defined on a part
remote from the heater 18. The desiccant 13 is divided into a
dehumidifying portion 16 formed in the dehumidifying section 17 to
remove the moisture from the air passing therethrough and a
humidifying portion 14 for supplying the moisture to the introduced
air. Therefore, as the desiccant 13 rotates, a portion of the
desiccant 13, which is located in the dehumidifying section 17
functions as the dehumidifying portion and another portion of the
desiccant 13, which is located in the humidifying section 17,
functions as the humidifying portion 14. In this case, since the
desiccant 13 rotates by the rotating unit 22, the dehumidifying
portion 16 and the humidifying portion 14 alternate their functions
repeatedly.
[0043] There are further provided a cavity 19 defined above the
mounting unit 12 to fixedly receive the humidity adjusting unit 11.
The outdoor and indoor fans 20 and 21 are provided on a side
opposite to the cavity 19 to forcedly direct air to the cavity
19.
[0044] The operation of the above-described humidity adjusting
apparatus will be described hereinafter.
[0045] When the humidity adjusting apparatus is intended to be used
as a dehumidifier, the fans 20 and 21 are operated to direct the
indoor and outdoor airs into the humidity adjusting unit 11, in the
course of which the dusts contained in the indoor air may be
removed as the indoor air passes through filter 23.
[0046] The indoor air directed into the humidity adjusting unit 11
passes through the dehumidifying portion 16 located in the
dehumidifying section 17, in the course of which the moisture
contained in the indoor air can be absorbed into the dehumidifying
portion 16 to be converted into dehumidified air and directed to
the interior space. While the dehumidified air directed to the
interior space absorbs moisture contained in the indoor air to
lower the humidity of the interior space.
[0047] At this point, the desiccant 13 rotates by the rotating unit
22 at a predetermined time interval. Accordingly, the position of
the desiccant 13 is displaced as shown in FIG. 6. When the
desiccant 13 rotates by a predetermined angle, the positions of the
dehumidifying and humidifying portions 16 and 14 alter.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 6, after the dehumidifying portion 16
absorbs the moisture at the dehumidifying section 17, it is
displaced to the humidifying section 15. Therefore, it can be noted
that the dehumidifying portion 16 located in the humidifying
section 15 is fully filled with the moisture. The dehumidifying
portion 16 is applied with heated air by the outdoor fan 20. The
air supplied by the outdoor fan 20 becomes high temperature air
heated by the heater 18.
[0049] The high temperature air passes through the dehumidifying
portion 16 located on the humidifying section 15, in the course of
which the moisture contained in the dehumidifying portion 16 is
vaporized by the high temperature air. Therefore, the dehumidifying
portion 16 is returned to the dried state and the vaporized
moisture is mixed with the outdoor air and exhausted to an exterior
side. This process is repeated continuously to perform the
dehumidifying function of the humidity adjusting apparatus 10.
[0050] When the humidity adjusting apparatus 10 is intended to be
used as a humidifier, the heater is located on the dehumidifying
section 17. That is, to increase the humidify of the interior side,
the moisture is absorbed in the desiccant 12 at the humidifying
section 15 and is discharged from the desiccant 13 at the
dehumidifying section 17, thereby realizing the humidifying
function. The humidifying mode can be conveniently applied when it
is required that a humidity of the interior side is increased in,
for example, a winter season. In addition, it can be easily noted
that the heater 18 is located on the dehumidifying section 17 to
discharge the moisture from the desiccant 13 to the interior
side.
[0051] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the mounting unit 12 can be applied both the indoor and outdoor
sides, on one of which the humidity adjusting unit 11 is mounted.
That is, the mounting unit 12 and the humidity adjusting unit 11
can be designed as an independent unit. For example, the desiccant,
heater and filter 13, 18 and 23 of the humidity adjusting unit 11
can be integrated into a single unit so that it is convenient for
the user to easily move the humidity adjusting unit 11. In
addition, a variety of elements such as sensors, sockets, wires and
the like are formed on the mounting portion so that the humidity
adjusting unit 11 can be detachably mounted on the mounting unit
12. Accordingly, when the user intends to selectively mount the
humidity adjusting unit 11 on one of the indoor and outdoor
mounting unit 12 according to a seasonal variation, the user can
easily move and mount the humidity adjusting unit 11 to the desired
mounting unit 12.
[0052] According to the present invention, since the humidity
adjusting unit is disposed on a side of the outdoor unit such that
the humidity adjusting tubes covers the connecting tubes of the
outdoor and indoor tubes, the deterioration of the outer appearance
and the corrosion of the connecting tubes can be prevented.
[0053] In addition, some elements of the humidity adjusting
apparatus are arranged on an empty space defined above the
compressor of the outdoor unit, thereby improving the space
efficiency. Furthermore, since the air conditioning part and the
humidity adjusting part are effectively associated with each other
as a single unit, the user can conveniently use the air
conditioning part and the humidity adjusting part.
[0054] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *