U.S. patent application number 11/341619 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for air conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Sim Won Chin, Ki Su Hong, Jung Woo Lee, Kyung Hwa Park.
Application Number | 20060191279 11/341619 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36481325 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060191279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hong; Ki Su ; et
al. |
August 31, 2006 |
Air conditioner
Abstract
An air conditioner is disclosed which uses a single blowing fan
having one inlet and a pair of outlets to suck air from a room or
from the outdoors and to blow a fraction of the sucked air to a
dehumidification flow path while blowing the remaining fraction of
the sucked air to a regeneration flow path. Accordingly, it is
possible to reduce the number of elements constituting the air
conditioner, and thus, to reduce the installation costs. Also, it
is possible to design a compact structure of the air
conditioner.
Inventors: |
Hong; Ki Su; (Anyang-si,
KR) ; Lee; Jung Woo; (Seoul, KR) ; Park; Kyung
Hwa; (Seoul, KR) ; Chin; Sim Won; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
36481325 |
Appl. No.: |
11/341619 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/271 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2203/1024 20130101;
F24F 2203/1016 20130101; F24F 2203/1068 20130101; F24F 3/1423
20130101; F24F 2203/1084 20130101; F24F 2203/1056 20130101; F24F
6/00 20130101; F24F 2203/1032 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/271 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 25, 2005 |
KR |
2005-0015934 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner comprising: a dehumidifying rotor divided
into an absorption portion adapted to absorb moisture from air and
a regeneration portion adapted to release moisture to air; a
dehumidification flow path defined to extend through the absorption
portion and adapted to guide air, to be dehumidified by the
absorption portion, to pass through the absorption portion; a
regeneration flow path defined to extend through the regeneration
portion and adapted to guide air, to be humidified by the
regeneration portion, to pass through the regeneration portion; and
a blowing fan which sucks air from a room or from the outdoors, and
forces a fraction of the sucked air to flow along the
dehumidification flow path while forcing the remaining fraction of
the sucked air to flow along the regeneration flow path.
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the blowing
fan is arranged in the dehumidification flow path.
3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the blowing
fan includes an inlet, through which the air is sucked into blowing
fan, and a plurality of outlets, through each of which the air
sucked through the inlet is discharged into an associated one of
the dehumidification flow path and the regeneration flow path.
4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the plurality
of the outlets comprise a first outlet, through which a fraction of
the air sucked through the inlet is discharged into the
dehumidification flow path, and a second outlet, through which the
remaining fraction of the sucked air is discharged into the
regeneration flow path.
5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the inlet and
the first outlet communicate with the dehumidification flow path,
and the second outlet communicates with the regeneration flow
path.
6. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the blowing
fan comprises a centrifugal fan including a scroll housing provided
with the inlet, the first outlet, and the second outlet, and an
impeller rotatably mounted in the scroll housing.
7. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the first
outlet and the second outlet are arranged perpendicular to each
other.
8. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the first
outlet and the second outlet are divided from each other by a flow
guide mounted to the scroll housing.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 6, further comprising: a
heater arranged in the regeneration flow path, and adapted to heat
the air which will pass through the regeneration portion.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 6, further comprising: a
condenser arranged in the regeneration flow path, and adapted to
condense the air which has passed through the regeneration
portion.
11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein the blowing
fan is arranged in the regeneration flow path between the condenser
and the dehumidifying rotor.
12. An air conditioner comprising: a dehumidifying rotor divided
into an absorption portion adapted to absorb moisture from air and
a regeneration portion adapted to release moisture to air; a
dehumidification flow path defined to extend through the absorption
portion and adapted to guide air, to be dehumidified by the
absorption portion, to pass through the absorption portion; a
regeneration flow path defined to extend through the regeneration
portion and adapted to guide air, to be humidified by the
regeneration portion, to pass through the regeneration portion; a
heater arranged in the regeneration flow path, and adapted to heat
the air which will pass through the regeneration portion; a
condenser arranged in the regeneration flow path, and adapted to
condense the air which has passed through the regeneration portion;
and a blowing fan which sucks air from a room or from the outdoors,
and forces a fraction of the sucked air to flow along the
dehumidification flow path while forcing the remaining fraction of
the sucked air to flow along the regeneration flow path.
13. The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the blowing
fan includes an inlet, through which the air is sucked into blowing
fan, and a plurality of outlets, through each of which the air
sucked through the inlet is discharged into an associated one of
the dehumidification flow path and the regeneration flow path.
14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the
plurality of the outlets comprise a first outlet, through which a
fraction of the air sucked through the inlet is discharged into the
dehumidification flow path, and a second outlet, through which the
remaining fraction of the sucked air is discharged into the
regeneration flow path.
15. The air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein the inlet
and the first outlet communicate with the dehumidification flow
path, and the second outlet communicates with the regeneration flow
path.
16. The air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein the first
outlet and the second outlet are arranged perpendicular to each
other.
17. The air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein the first
outlet and the second outlet are divided from each other by a flow
guide mounted to the scroll housing.
18. An air conditioner comprising: a dehumidifying rotor divided
into an absorption portion adapted to absorb moisture from air and
a regeneration portion adapted to release moisture to air; a
dehumidification flow path defined to extend through the absorption
portion and adapted to guide air, to be dehumidified by the
absorption portion, to pass through the absorption portion; a
regeneration flow path defined to extend through the regeneration
portion and adapted to guide air, to be humidified by the
regeneration portion, to pass through the regeneration portion; a
heater arranged in the regeneration flow path, and adapted to heat
the air which will pass through the regeneration portion; a
condenser arranged in the regeneration flow path, and adapted to
condense the air which has passed through the regeneration portion;
and a blowing fan which sucks air from a room or from the outdoors,
and forces a fraction of the sucked air to flow along the
dehumidification flow path while forcing the remaining fraction of
the sucked air to flow along the regeneration flow path, wherein
the blowing fan comprises a scroll housing including an inlet,
through which the air is sucked into blowing fan, and a plurality
of outlets, through each of which the air sucked through the inlet
is discharged into an associated one of the dehumidification flow
path and the regeneration flow path, and an impeller rotatably
mounted in the scroll housing.
19. The air conditioner according to claim 18, wherein the
plurality of the outlets comprise a first outlet communicating with
the dehumidification flow path, and a second outlet communicating
with the regeneration flow path.
20. The air conditioner according to claim 19, wherein the first
outlet and the second outlet are divided from each other by a flow
guide mounted to the scroll housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and,
more particularly, to an air conditioner wherein it is possible to
blow air to both a regeneration flow path and a dehumidification
flow path using only one blowing fan, thereby achieving a reduction
in the number of constituent elements, and thus, reducing the
installation costs.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, air conditioners are used to form more
comfortable indoor environments for users. Such an air conditioner
includes a dehumidifier for dehumidifying a confined space, for
example, a room, a humidifier for humidifying the room, and a
ventilator for ventilating the room. The dehumidifier removes
moisture from indoor air using moisture absorbing and releasing
functions of a dehumidifying rotor made of a desiccant.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a
conventional dehumidifier.
[0006] As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional dehumidifier includes a
dehumidifier body 2, a dehumidifying rotor 5 arranged in the
interior of the dehumidifier body 2 and adapted to absorb moisture
from ambient air or to release the absorbed moisture to the ambient
air, a dehumidification flow path 4 defined in the interior of the
dehumidifier body 2 such that the dehumidification flow path 4
extends through the dehumidifying rotor 5 at one side of the
dehumidifying rotor 5, to guide indoor air to be dehumidified by
the dehumidifying rotor 5, and a first blowing fan 8 arranged in
the dehumidification flow path 4, to force the indoor air to flow
along the dehumidification flow path 4. The dehumidifier also
includes a regeneration flow path 10 defined in the interior of the
dehumidifier body 2 such that the regeneration flow path 10 extends
through the dehumidifying rotor 5 at the other side of the
dehumidifying rotor 5, to guide circulating air to dry the
dehumidifying rotor 5, and a second blowing fan 12 arranged in the
regeneration flow path 10, to force the circulating air to flow
along the regeneration flow path 10. The dehumidifier further
includes a heater 14 arranged in the regeneration flow path 10, to
heat the circulating air, a condenser 16 arranged in the
regeneration flow path 10, to condense moisture absorbed from the
circulating air by the dehumidifying rotor 5, and a motor which
rotates the dehumidifying rotor 5.
[0007] The dehumidifying rotor 5 is divided into an absorption
portion 6 corresponding to the side of the dehumidifying rotor 5,
through which the dehumidification flow path 4 extends, and a
regeneration portion 7 corresponding to the side of the
dehumidifying rotor 5, through which the regeneration flow path 10
extends. The absorption portion 6 absorbs moisture contained in the
indoor air passing through the dehumidification flow path 4,
whereas the regeneration portion 7 releases the moisture absorbed
by the absorption portion 6 to the circulating air.
[0008] After being used for a predetermined time, the dehumidifying
rotor 5 is rotated by the motor 18 such that the positions of the
absorption portion 6 and regeneration portion 7 are reversed.
[0009] A drain pan 20 is arranged beneath the condenser 16, to
collect condensed water produced in the condenser 16.
[0010] Hereinafter, operation of the conventional dehumidifier
having the above-mentioned configuration will be described.
[0011] When the first blowing fan 8 operates, indoor air enters the
interior of the dehumidifier body 2, and then flows along the
dehumidification flow path 4 to sequentially pass through the
condenser 16 and the absorption portion 6 of the dehumidifying
rotor 5. Accordingly, the absorption 6 of the dehumidifying rotor 5
absorbs moisture from the indoor air, so that the indoor air is
dehumidified. The dehumidified air is then discharged to the
room.
[0012] Meanwhile, when the second blowing fan 12 operates, air
present in the regeneration flow path 10, namely, circulating air,
is forced to circulate the regeneration flow path 10. Accordingly,
the circulating air is heated by the heater 14, and is then forced
to pass through the regeneration portion 7 of the dehumidifying
rotor 5. As a result, the regeneration portion 7 of the
dehumidifying rotor 5 is dried by the circulating air. That is, the
regeneration portion 7 of the dehumidifying rotor 5 releases
moisture to the circulating air, so that the circulating air is
humidified. The humidified air is then introduced into the
condenser 16.
[0013] The circulating air introduced into the condenser 16
heat-exchanges with the indoor air passing around the condenser 16.
As a result, the circulating air, which is hot and humid, is
condensed in the condenser 16. Condensed water produced in the
condenser 16 is discharged to the drain pan 20.
[0014] However, the above-mentioned conventional dehumidifier has
problems of high installation costs and a limitation in reducing
the size of the dehumidifier because the dehumidifier uses separate
blowing fans to blow indoor air and circulating air, respectively,
namely, the first and second blowing fans 8 and 12.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention has been made in view of the problems
incurred in the related art, and it is an object of the invention
to provide an air conditioner which can perform both a
dehumidifying function a humidifying function, thereby being
capable of achieving a reduction in installation costs and
size.
[0016] In accordance with the present invention, this object is
accomplished by providing an air conditioner comprising: a
dehumidifying rotor divided into an absorption portion adapted to
absorb moisture from air and a regeneration portion adapted to
release moisture to air; a dehumidification flow path defined to
extend through the absorption portion and adapted to guide air, to
be dehumidified by the absorption portion, to pass through the
absorption portion; a regeneration flow path defined to extend
through the regeneration portion and adapted to guide air, to be
humidified by the regeneration portion, to pass through the
regeneration portion; and a blowing fan which sucks air from a room
or from the outdoors, and forces a fraction of the sucked air to
flow along the dehumidification flow path while forcing the
remaining fraction of the sucked air to flow along the regeneration
flow path.
[0017] The blowing fan may include an inlet, through which the air
is sucked into blowing fan, and a plurality of outlets, through
each of which the air sucked through the inlet is discharged into
an associated one of the dehumidification flow path and the
regeneration flow path.
[0018] The blowing fan may be arranged in the dehumidification flow
path.
[0019] The inlet and the first outlet may communicate with the
dehumidification flow path, and the second outlet may communicate
with the regeneration flow path.
[0020] The blowing fan may comprise a centrifugal fan including a
scroll housing provided with the inlet, the first outlet, and the
second outlet, and an impeller rotatably mounted in the scroll
housing.
[0021] The first outlet and the second outlet may be arranged
perpendicular to each other.
[0022] The first outlet and the second outlet may be divided from
each other by a flow guide mounted to the scroll housing.
[0023] The air conditioner may further comprise a heater arranged
in the regeneration flow path, and adapted to heat the air which
will pass through the regeneration portion.
[0024] The air conditioner may further comprise a condenser
arranged in the regeneration flow path, and adapted to condense the
air which has passed through the regeneration portion.
[0025] The blowing fan may be arranged in the regeneration flow
path between the condenser and the dehumidifying rotor.
[0026] Since the air conditioner according to the present invention
uses a single blowing fan which has one inlet and a pair of outlets
to suck air from a room or from the outdoors and to blow a fraction
of the sucked air into a dehumidification flow path while blowing
the remaining fraction of the sucked air into a regeneration flow
path, it is possible to reduce the number of elements constituting
the air conditioner, and thus, to reduce the installation costs.
Also, it is possible to design a compact structure of the air
conditioner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The above objects, and other features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent after reading the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
drawings, in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a
conventional dehumidifier;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of
an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a blowing fan
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the blowing fan according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an air conditioner
according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and
[0033] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an air conditioner
according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the annexed drawings.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of
an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a blowing fan
according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4
is a side view illustrating the blowing fan according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner according to the
first embodiment of the present invention includes a dehumidifying
rotor 50 divided into an absorption portion 51 adapted to absorb
moisture from air present around the absorption portion 51 and a
regeneration portion 52 adapted to release the moisture absorbed in
the dehumidifying rotor 50 in accordance with the moisture
absorption of the absorption portion 51 to air present around the
regeneration potion 52, a dehumidification flow path 53 defined to
extend through the absorption portion 51 and adapted to guide air
to be dehumidified by the absorption portion 51, and a regeneration
flow path 54 defined to extend through the regeneration portion 52
and adapted to guide air to be humidified by the regeneration
portion 52. The air conditioner also includes a blowing fan 60
which sucks air from a room to be air-conditioned by the air
conditioner or from the outdoors, and forces a fraction of the
sucked air to flow along the dehumidification flow path 53 while
forcing the remaining fraction of the sucked air to flow along the
regeneration flow path 54.
[0037] The air conditioner further includes a heater arranged in
the regeneration flow path 54, to heat the air to be introduced
into the regeneration portion 52, and a condenser 58 arranged in
the regeneration flow path 54, to condense air emerging from the
regeneration portion 52.
[0038] In order to enable the blowing fan 60 to force the air
emerging from the dehumidifying rotor 50 to flow along both the
regeneration flow path 54 and the dehumidification flow path 53,
the condenser 58, dehumidifying rotor 50, and blowing fan 60 are
arranged, in this order, in the dehumidification flow path 53.
[0039] The dehumidification flow path 53 has opposite ends
communicating with the room such that indoor air is sucked into the
dehumidification flow path 53, and is then discharged into the room
after being dehumidified.
[0040] A motor (not shown) is connected to the dehumidifying rotor
50, to turn the dehumidifying rotor 50 after the use of the
dehumidifying rotor 50 for a predetermined time such that the
positions of the absorption portion 51 and regeneration portion 52
are reversed.
[0041] A drain pan 59 is arranged beneath the condenser 58, to
collect condensed water produced in the condenser 58.
[0042] For the blowing fan 60, a centrifugal fan may be used. In
this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the blowing fan 60 includes a scroll
housing 64 having an inlet 63, through which air is sucked into the
scroll housing 64, and outlets 61 and 62, through which the sucked
air is discharged from the scroll housing 64, and an impeller 65
rotatably mounted in the scroll housing 64. A motor (not shown) is
connected to a central portion of the impeller 65, to rotate the
impeller 65.
[0043] The blowing fan 60 is arranged in the dehumidification flow
path 53. The inlet 63 of the blowing fan 60 communicates with the
dehumidification flow path 53, so as to suck the air emerging from
the absorption portion 51 into the interior of the blowing fan 60.
The outlet 61 of the blowing fan 60 discharges a fraction of the
air, sucked into the interior of the blowing fan 60 through the
inlet 63, into the dehumidification flow path 63, whereas the
outlet 62 of the blowing fan 60 discharges the remaining fraction
of the sucked air into the regeneration flow path 53.
[0044] That is, the inlet 63 and first outlet 61 communicate with
the dehumidification flow path 53, and the second outlet 62
communicates with the regeneration flow path 54. In particular, the
second outlet 62 is arranged perpendicular to the first outlet
61.
[0045] In order to efficiently carry out the air discharge into the
regeneration flow path 54, it is preferred that the second outlet
62 have a cross section A corresponding to 5 to 30% of the scroll
area B of the scroll housing 64.
[0046] The scroll area B of the scroll housing 64 can be expressed
as follows: Scroll Area(B)=Scroll Length(I).times.Scroll
Height(h)
[0047] The scroll length I represents the length from a cut-off
point c of the scroll housing 64 to an ending point d of a scroll
extension angle in the scroll housing 64, as shown in FIG. 4. The
scroll height h is shown in FIG. 3.
[0048] Operation of the air conditioner having the above-described
configuration according to the illustrated embodiment of the
present invention will now be described.
[0049] When the air conditioner operates, air present in the room,
namely, indoor air, is first introduced into the dehumidification
flow path 53, and then sequentially passes through the condenser 58
and the absorption portion 51 of the dehumidifying rotor 50.
[0050] The absorption portion 51 of the dehumidifying rotor 50
absorbs moisture from the indoor air, so that the indoor air is
dehumidified. The dehumidified air is then introduced into the
interior of the blowing fan 60 through the inlet 63 of the blowing
fan 60.
[0051] The air introduced into the interior of the blowing fan 60
is then radially outwardly discharged in accordance with rotation
of the impeller 65. As a result, a fraction of the air introduced
into the interior of the blowing fan 60 is discharged into the
dehumidification flow path 53 through the first outlet 61, and the
remaining fraction of the introduced air is discharged into the
regeneration flow path 54 through the second outlet 62.
[0052] The air discharged into the dehumidification flow path 53
through the first outlet 61 is again discharged into the room.
[0053] On the other hand, the air discharged into the regeneration
flow path 54 through the second outlet 62 is heated while passing
through the heater 56. The air heated by the heater 56 then dries
the regeneration portion 52 of the dehumidifying rotor 50 while
passing through the regeneration portion 52. As a result, the
regeneration portion 52 of the dehumidifying rotor 50 releases
moisture therefrom. Simultaneously, the heated air absorbs the
moisture released from the dehumidifying rotor 50, so that the
heated air is humidified. The humidified air is then introduced
into the condenser 58.
[0054] The air introduced into the condenser 58 heat-exchanges with
the indoor air passing around the condenser 58, so that the air in
the condenser 58 is condensed. The air is then outwardly discharged
from the condenser 58.
[0055] Thus, it is possible to blow air into both the regeneration
flow path 54 and the dehumidification flow path 53, using only one
blowing fan, namely, the blowing fan 60. Accordingly, it is
possible to reduce the number of the elements constituting the air
conditioner, and thus, to reduce the costs.
[0056] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an air conditioner
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 5, the air conditioner according to the
second embodiment of the present invention has the same
configuration and functions as those of the first embodiment,
except that a blowing fan 70 is arranged between the condenser 58
and the dehumidifying rotor 50, to blow a fraction of air emerging
from the condenser 58 to the absorption portion 51 of the
dehumidifying rotor 50 and to blow the remaining fraction of the
air to the heater 56. Accordingly, the constituent elements of the
second embodiment respectively corresponding to those of the first
embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and no
detailed description thereof will be given.
[0058] FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an air conditioner
according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, the air conditioner according to the
third embodiment of the present invention has the same
configuration and functions as those of the first embodiment,
except that the air conditioner includes a blowing fan 80 including
a scroll housing 83 provided with an inlet (not shown) and outlets
81 and 82, and an impeller 84 rotatably mounted in the scroll
housing 83, and the outlets 81 and 82 are divided from each other
by a flow guide 86 mounted to the scroll housing 83. Accordingly,
the constituent elements of the third embodiment respectively
corresponding to those of the first embodiment are designated by
the same reference numerals, and no detailed description thereof
will be given.
[0060] As apparent from the above description, the air conditioner
according to the present invention has various effects.
[0061] That is, the air conditioner according to the present
invention uses a single blowing fan which has one inlet and a pair
of outlets to suck air from a room or from the outdoors and to blow
a fraction of the sucked air into a dehumidification flow path
while blowing the remaining fraction of the sucked air into a
regeneration flow path. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the
number of elements constituting the air conditioner, and thus, to
reduce the installation costs. Also, it is possible to design a
compact structure of the air conditioner.
[0062] Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have
been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *