U.S. patent application number 11/578987 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for air conditioning system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Daikin Industries, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Manabu Yoshimi.
Application Number | 20080000243 11/578987 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35241760 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000243 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yoshimi; Manabu |
January 3, 2008 |
Air Conditioning System
Abstract
An air conditioning system includes a heat source unit, an air
supply device, and a heating medium circuit. The heat source unit
heats a heating medium that is used for heating the room. The air
supply device supplies outdoor air to the room as ventilation air.
The heating medium circuit includes at least one room heating
device that releases the heat of the heating medium, and an outdoor
air heating device that heats the ventilation air with the heat of
the heating medium. The heating medium circuit circulates the
heating medium between among the room heating device, the outdoor
air heating device, and the heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchanger.
Inventors: |
Yoshimi; Manabu; (Osaka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GLOBAL IP COUNSELORS, LLP
1233 20TH STREET, NW, SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-2680
US
|
Assignee: |
Daikin Industries, Ltd.
Umeda Center Bldg., 4-12, Nakazaki-nishi 2-chome, Kita-ku,
Osaka-shi, Osaka
Osaka-shi
JP
530-8323
|
Family ID: |
35241760 |
Appl. No.: |
11/578987 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
April 28, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP05/08190 |
371 Date: |
October 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2003/1435 20130101;
F24F 2203/1068 20130101; F24F 2203/1084 20130101; F24F 3/1423
20130101; F25B 2309/061 20130101; F24F 3/001 20130101; F24F 3/1417
20130101; F25B 9/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/160 |
International
Class: |
F25B 13/00 20060101
F25B013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2004 |
JP |
2004-134352 |
Claims
1. An air conditioning system capable of heating a room,
comprising: a heat source unit having a vapor compression type
refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heat source side heat
exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a utilization side heat
exchanger, the heat source unit being configured to heat a heating
medium in the utilization side heat exchanger, the heating medium
being configured for heating the room; an air supply device
configured to supply an outdoor air to the room as a ventilation
air; and a heating medium circuit having at least one room heating
device configured to release heat from the heating medium into the
room, and an outdoor air heating device configured to heat the
ventilation air with the heat of the heating medium, the heating
medium circuit being configured to circulate the heating medium
among the room heating device, the outdoor air heating device, and
the utilization side heat exchanger.
2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
heating medium circuit is connected to the utilization side heat
exchanger such that the heating medium is sequentially supplied to
the room heating device and the outdoor air heating device.
3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the
heating medium circuit further includes at least one bypass heating
medium circuit configured to bypass the room heating device and the
outdoor air heating device.
4. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the
bypass heating medium circuit includes a heating medium flow
control mechanism.
5. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
heating medium circuit includes a plurality of divided heating
medium circuits configured to independently circulate the heating
medium among at least one of the room heating device, the outdoor
air heating device, and the utilization side heat exchanger.
6. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein the
utilization side heat exchanger includes a plurality of divided
utilization side heat exchangers divided so as to correspond to the
divided heating medium circuits.
7. The air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein the
heat source unit further includes at least one bypass refrigerant
circuit configured to bypass the divided utilization side heat
exchangers.
8. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein the
bypass refrigerant circuit includes a refrigerant flow control
mechanism.
9. The air conditioning system according to claim 5, wherein the
divided heating medium circuits are connected to the utilization
side heat exchanger such that a temperature of the heating medium
that is supplied to the outdoor air heating device is equal to or
lower than a temperature of the heating medium used in the room
heating device.
10. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
room heating device and the outdoor air heating device use the
refrigerant that flows through the vapor compression type
refrigerant circuit without flowing through the heating medium
circuit.
11. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
heating medium circuit includes a heating medium storage
container.
12. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further
comprising a humidifier configured to humidify the ventilation air
that is heated by the outdoor air heating device and supplied to
the room.
13. The air conditioning system according to claim 12, wherein the
humidifier includes a moisture permeable film that allows moisture
to permeate therethrough, and is configured to humidify the
ventilation air by causing water that is supplied to the moisture
permeable film to contact the ventilation air via the moisture
permeable film.
14. The air conditioning system according to claim 12, wherein the
humidifier includes a moisture absorbing liquid configured for both
absorbing moisture and desorbing the absorbed moisture through
heating, and the humidifier is configured to humidify the
ventilation air by heating the moisture absorbing liquid, in which
moisture is absorbed, by using the ventilation air so as to desorb
moisture back into the ventilation air.
15. The air conditioning system according to claim 14, wherein the
humidifier causes moisture in exhaust air that is exhausted from
the room to the outside to be absorbed into the moisture absorbing
liquid in order to humidify the ventilation air.
16. The air conditioning system according to claim 14, wherein the
humidifier causes moisture in an outdoor air different from the
ventilation air to be absorbed into the moisture absorbing liquid
in order to humidify the ventilation air.
17. The air conditioning system according to claim 14, wherein the
humidifier causes moisture in mixed air between exhaust air that is
exhausted from the room to the outside and an outdoor air different
from the ventilation air to be absorbed into the moisture absorbing
liquid in order to humidify the ventilation air.
18. The air conditioning system according to claim 12, wherein the
humidifier includes an adsorbent configured for both adsorbing
moisture and desorbing the adsorbed moisture through heating, and
the humidifier is configured to humidify the ventilation air by
heating the adsorbent, in which moisture is adsorbed, by using the
ventilation air so as to desorb moisture back to the ventilation
air.
19. The air conditioning system according to claim 18, wherein the
humidifier causes moisture in exhaust air that is exhausted from
the room to the outside to be adsorbed onto the adsorbent in order
to humidify the ventilation air.
20. The air conditioning system according to claim 18, wherein the
humidifier causes moisture in an outdoor air different from the
ventilation air to be adsorbed onto the adsorbent in order to
humidify the ventilation air.
21. The air conditioning system according to claim 18, wherein the
humidifier causes moisture in mixed air between exhaust air that is
exhausted from the room to the outside and an outdoor air different
from the ventilation air to be adsorbed onto the adsorbent in order
to humidify the ventilation air.
22. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
heating medium includes water.
23. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the
heating medium includes brine that does not freeze below 0 degrees
C.
24. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a
refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant circuit includes
CO.sub.2.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an air
conditioning system capable of heating the room.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As an air conditioning system capable of heating the room,
conventionally known is a system configured by connecting room
heating devices such as a radiator and a fan convector to a heat
source unit having a vapor compression type refrigerant circuit
(for example, see patent documents 1, 2, and 3). Such an air
conditioning system heats the room by heating a floor and indoor
air.
[0003] In addition, as a heat source unit of such an air
conditioning system, a unit having a refrigerant circuit that uses
CO.sub.2 as the refrigerant is used in some cases. In such a heat
source unit that uses CO.sub.2 as the refrigerant, the refrigerant
temperature on a discharge side of a compressor can be increased,
and therefore, for example, when an air conditioning system is
configured such that the heat of a heating medium heated in a
utilization side heat exchanger in the heat source unit is released
into the room by the room heating devices, the temperature level
that can be used for heating the room in the room heating devices
can be increased. This will achieve comfortable room heating.
[0004] <Patent Document 1>
[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-50050
[0006] <Patent Document 2>
[0007] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-172523
[0008] <Patent Document 3>
[0009] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-50035
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0010] When an air conditioning system as described above is used
for air conditioning in a house with high airtightness, the
minimally necessary ventilation in the room needs to be performed
in order to maintain indoor air quality (hereinafter referred to as
IAQ). However, when the temperature of outdoor air is low such as
during the winter season (hereinafter referred to as a low outdoor
air temperature period), outdoor air whose temperature is lower
than that of indoor air will be supplied to the room as the
ventilation air, so that a heat load due to ventilation in the room
(hereinafter referred to as a ventilation heat load) will be
generated. This ventilation heat load will be treated by the room
heating devices after the ventilation air is supplied to the room
and mixed with indoor air, which consequently causes the room
occupant to feel discomfort due to the supply of low temperature
ventilation air (hereinafter referred to as a cold draft). In
particular, in recent years, there are more houses having high
airtightness and high heat insulation properties, in which high
heat insulation properties are added besides high airtightness. In
such houses having high airtightness and high heat insulation
properties, improved heat insulation properties can reduce the
total amount of heat load; however, the ventilation heat load
necessary for maintenance of IAQ cannot be reduced. Therefore, the
proportion of the ventilation heat load to the total amount of heat
load to be treated in the air conditioning system is relatively
large. Accordingly, it is desired to prevent a cold draft while
treating the ventilation heat load in an air conditioning system
capable of heating the room.
[0011] In addition, when the above described type of a heat source
unit that uses CO.sub.2 as the refrigerant is used, the temperature
level that can be used in the room heating devices can be
increased, however, the temperature difference between an inlet and
an outlet of the utilization side heat exchanger will be reduced,
resulting in a reduced coefficient of performance (hereinafter
referred to as COP) of the heat source unit. Accordingly, it is
desired to improve the COP in an air conditioning system capable of
heating the room, which uses a heat source unit that uses CO.sub.2
as the refrigerant.
[0012] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent,
in an air conditioning system capable of heating the room, a cold
draft due to the ventilation air that is supplied to the room for
ventilation in the room.
[0013] An air conditioning system according to a first aspect of
the present invention is an air conditioning system capable of
heating a room, comprising a heat source unit, an air supply
device, and a heating medium circuit. The heat source unit includes
a vapor compression type refrigerant circuit having a compressor, a
heat source side heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and a
utilization side heat exchanger, and is capable of heating, in the
utilization side heat exchanger, a heating medium that is used for
heating the room. The air supply device supplies an outdoor air to
the room as a ventilation air. The heating medium circuit includes
at least one room heating device that releases the heat of the
heating medium heated in the utilization side heat exchanger into
the room, and an outdoor air heating device that heats the
ventilation air with the heat of the heating medium heated in the
utilization side heat exchanger, and circulates the heating medium
between the room heating device and the outdoor air heating device,
and the utilization side heat exchanger.
[0014] In this air conditioning system, the high temperature and
high pressure refrigerant compressed in and discharged from the
compressor heats the heating medium in the utilization side heat
exchanger. The heating medium heated in this utilization side heat
exchanger is sent to at least one room heating device, and used to
heat the room by releasing the heat of the heating medium into the
room. Also, this heating medium is sent to the outdoor air heating
device, and used for heating the outdoor air that is supplied to
the room as the ventilation air by the air supply device. Then, the
heating medium used in the room heating device and by the outdoor
air heating device respectively for heating the room and for
heating the ventilation air is again returned to the utilization
side heat exchanger. On the other hand, the refrigerant cooled in
the utilization side heat exchanger by heating the heating medium
is decompressed by the expansion mechanism, heated in the heat
source side heat exchanger, converted into a low pressure
refrigerant, and then again, sucked into the compressor. Note that
the room heating device includes, for example, a radiator, a fan
convector, and a floor heating device. In this way, since this air
conditioning system is provided with the outdoor air heating
device, the ventilation air can be first heated and then supplied
to the room, when heating the room. This will enable prevention of
a cold draft due to the ventilation air that is supplied to the
room to ventilate the room, therefore improving the comfort of the
room.
[0015] An air conditioning system according to a second aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
the first aspect of the present invention, in which the heating
medium circuit is connected to the utilization side heat exchanger
such that the heating medium heated in the utilization side heat
exchanger is sequentially supplied to the room heating devices and
the outdoor air heating device.
[0016] In this air conditioning system, the heating medium circuit
is connected to the utilization side heat exchanger such that the
heating medium heated in the utilization side heat exchanger is
sequentially supplied to the room heating devices and the outdoor
air heating device. Consequently, the room heating devices can use
the heat of a high temperature heating medium that just has been
heated in the utilization side heat exchanger, and the outdoor air
heating device can use the heat of the heating medium cooled by
releasing its heat into the room in the room heating device. Here,
the ventilation air that is supplied to the room by the air supply
device has a lower temperature than the indoor air, and it is
possible to heat the ventilation air by using the heating medium
cooled by releasing its heat into the room by the room heating
devices. Then, the heating medium used for heating the ventilation
air that is supplied to the room by the outdoor air heating device
is further cooled by heating the ventilation air, and then returned
to the utilization side heat exchanger. In this way, in this air
conditioning system, the heating medium cooled by releasing its
heat in the room heating devices is supplied to the outdoor air
heating device, and used to heat the ventilation air that is
supplied to the room. Consequently, the temperature difference
between the inlet and the outlet of the utilization side heat
exchanger can be increased, therefore improving the COP of the heat
source unit.
[0017] An air conditioning system according to a third aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
the second aspect of the present invention, in which the heating
medium circuit further includes at least one bypass heating medium
circuit that bypasses the room heating devices and the outdoor air
heating device.
[0018] In this air conditioning system, the heating medium circuit
includes the bypass heating medium circuit that bypasses at least
one of the room heating devices and the outdoor air heating device,
so that the heating medium can be supplied to only some of the room
heating devices and the outdoor air heating device, according to
need. Note that, since "at least one" bypass heating medium circuit
is included, the bypass heating medium circuit may be provided to
each of the room heating devices and the outdoor air heating
device, or to only some of these devices. Alternatively, some of
the room heating devices and the outdoor air heating device may be
collected together such that these devices are bypassed
together.
[0019] An air conditioning system according to a fourth aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
the third aspect of the present invention, in which the bypass
heating medium circuit includes a heating medium flow control
mechanism.
[0020] In this air conditioning system, the bypass heating medium
circuit includes the heating medium flow control mechanism, so that
it is possible to control the flow of the heating medium that is
supplied to at least some of the room heating devices and the
outdoor air heating device to which the bypass heating medium
circuit is provided. Note that the heating medium flow control
mechanism herein refers to a solenoid valve that blocks a heating
medium that flows through the bypass heating medium circuit
according to need, a motor operated valve that controls the flow of
a heating medium that flows through the bypass heating medium
circuit, and the like.
[0021] An air conditioning system according to a fifth aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
the first aspect of the present invention, in which the heating
medium circuit is constituted by a plurality of divided heating
medium circuits that independently circulate the heating medium
between at least one of the room heating devices and the outdoor
air heating device, and the utilization side heat exchanger.
[0022] In this air conditioning system, the heating medium circuit
is constituted by a plurality of divided heating medium circuits
that independently circulate the heating medium between at least
one of the room heating devices and the outdoor air heating device,
and the utilization side heat exchanger, so that it is possible to
supply the heating medium to only some of the room heating devices
and the outdoor air heating device, according to need. Note that
the divided heating medium circuits "independently circulate the
heating medium between at least one of the room heating devices and
the outdoor air heating device, and the utilization side heat
exchanger," so that the divided heating medium circuits may be
provided so as to circulate the heating medium through each of the
room heating devices and the outdoor air heating device, or so as
to circulate the heating medium through some of the room heating
devices and the outdoor air heating device together.
[0023] An air conditioning system according to a sixth aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
the fifth aspect of the present invention, in which the utilization
side heat exchanger is constituted by a plurality of divided
utilization side heat exchangers divided to correspond to the
plurality of divided heating medium circuits.
[0024] An air conditioning system according to a seventh aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system of the sixth
aspect of the present invention, in which the heat source unit
further includes at least one bypass refrigerant circuit that
bypasses the plurality of divided utilization side heat
exchangers.
[0025] In this air conditioning system, the heat source unit
further includes at least one bypass refrigerant circuit that
bypasses the plurality of divided utilization side heat exchangers,
so that it is possible to supply the refrigerant to only some of
the plurality of divided utilization side heat exchangers,
according to need. Note that since "at least one" bypass
refrigerant circuit is included, the bypass refrigerant circuit may
be provided to each of the plurality of divided utilization side
heat exchangers, or to some of the circuits. Alternatively, some of
the plurality of divided utilization side heat exchangers can be
collected together such that these heat exchangers are bypassed
together.
[0026] An air conditioning system according to an eighth aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
the seventh aspect of the present invention, in which the bypass
refrigerant circuit includes a refrigerant flow control
mechanism.
[0027] In this air conditioning system, the bypass refrigerant
circuit includes the refrigerant flow control mechanism, so that it
is possible to control the flow of the refrigerant that is supplied
to at least some of the plurality of divided utilization side heat
exchangers to which the bypass refrigerant circuit is provided.
Note that the refrigerant flow control mechanism herein refers to a
solenoid valve that blocks the refrigerant that flows through the
bypass refrigerant circuit according to need, a motor operated
valve that controls the flow of the refrigerant that flows through
the bypass refrigerant circuit, and the like.
[0028] An air conditioning system according to a ninth aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
any one of the fifth to eighth aspects of the present invention, in
which the plurality of divided heating medium circuits are
connected to the utilization side heat exchanger such that the
temperature of the heating medium that is supplied to the outdoor
air heating device is equal to or lower than the temperature of the
heating medium used in the room heating devices.
[0029] In this air conditioning system, the plurality of divided
heating medium circuits are connected to the utilization side heat
exchanger such that the temperature of the heating medium that is
supplied to the outdoor air heating device is equal to or lower
than the temperature of the heating medium used in the room heating
devices. Accordingly, the room heating devices can use the heat of
a high temperature heating medium that just has been heated in the
utilization side heat exchanger, and the outdoor air heating device
can use the heat of the heating medium whose temperature is equal
to or lower than the temperature of the heating medium used in the
room heating devices. Here, the ventilation air that is supplied to
the room by the air supply device has a lower temperature than the
indoor air, so that it is possible to heat the ventilation air by
using the heating medium whose temperature is lower than the
temperature of the heating medium cooled by releasing its heat into
the room in the room heating devices. Then, the heating medium used
by the outdoor air heating device for heating the ventilation air
that is supplied to the room is further cooled by heating the
ventilation air, and then returned to the utilization side heat
exchanger. In this way, in this air conditioning system, the
heating medium cooled by releasing its heat in the room heating
devices is supplied to the outdoor air heating device, and used to
heat the ventilation air to be supplied to the room, so that it
will be possible to increase the temperature difference between the
inlet and the outlet of the utilization side heat exchanger,
therefore improving the COP of the heat source unit.
[0030] An air conditioning system according to a tenth aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
any one of the first to ninth aspects of the present invention, in
which some of the room heating devices and the outdoor air heating
device use refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant circuit
without flowing through the heating medium circuit.
[0031] In this air conditioning system, not only that the heat of
the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant that flows
through the refrigerant circuit in the heat source unit is supplied
to the room heating devices and the outdoor air heating device via
the heating medium that circulates in the heating medium circuit,
but also the heat of the refrigerant that flows through the
refrigerant circuit can be directly released into the room, and the
ventilation air that is supplied to the room by the air supply
device can be directly heated. As a result, simplification of the
heating medium circuit can be achieved.
[0032] An air conditioning system according to an eleventh aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to any one of the first to tenth aspects of the present invention,
in which the heating medium circuit includes a heating medium
storage container.
[0033] In this air conditioning system, since the heating medium
circuit includes the heating medium storage container, it is
possible to prevent problems such as breakage of devices that
constitute the heating medium circuit, which may occur when the
heating medium circulating in the heating medium circuit expands in
volume along with its change in temperature. In addition, an
increase in the amount of the heating medium in the heating medium
circuit will increase the heat capacity in the entire heating
medium circuit, and the temperature of the heating medium that is
supplied to the room heating devices and the outdoor air heating
device, and the temperature of the heating medium that is returned
to the utilization side heat exchanger will become stable. As a
result, it will be possible to improve controllability of the
refrigerant circuit in the heat source unit and the heating medium
circuit.
[0034] An air conditioning system according to a twelfth aspect of
the present invention is the air conditioning system according to
any one of the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention,
further comprising a humidifier that humidifies the ventilation air
that is heated by the outdoor air heating device and supplied to
the room.
[0035] In this air conditioning system, the ventilation air that is
heated by the outdoor air heating device and supplied to the room
can be humidified. Therefore, even when the absolute humidity of
the ventilation air is lower than the absolute humidity of the room
air, it is possible to prevent the room from becoming dry due to
the supply of ventilation air to the room.
[0036] An air conditioning system according to a thirteenth aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, in which the
humidifier includes a moisture permeable film that allows moisture
to permeate therethrough, and water that is supplied to the
moisture permeable film is caused to contact with the ventilation
air via the moisture permeable film, thereby enabing to humidify
the ventilation air.
[0037] Since this air conditioning system is provided with the
humidifier that uses the moisture permeable film, it is possible to
humidify the ventilation air by causing water that is supplied to
the moisture permeable film to contact with the ventilation air via
the moisture permeable film.
[0038] An air conditioning system according to a fourteenth aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, in which the
humidifier includes moisture absorbing liquid capable of both
absorbing moisture and desorbing the absorbed moisture through
heating. Accordingly, it is possible to humidify the ventilation
air by using the ventilation air to heat the moisture absorbing
liquid in which moisture is absorbed and by desorbing moisture back
into the ventilation air.
[0039] Since this air conditioning system is provided with the
humidifier that uses the moisture absorbing liquid, it is possible
to humidify the ventilation air by using the ventilation air to
heat the moisture absorbing liquid in which moisture is absorbed
and by desorbing moisture back into the ventilation air.
[0040] An air conditioning system according to a fifteenth aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in which the
humidifier is used to humidify the ventilation air by absorbing,
into the moisture absorbing liquid, moisture in the exhaust air
that is exhausted from the room to the outside.
[0041] In this air conditioning system, moisture in the exhaust air
that is exhausted from the room to the outside is used as moisture
to be absorbed into the moisture absorbing liquid, so that it is
possible to humidify the ventilation air without the need to supply
water to the humidifier.
[0042] An air conditioning system according to a sixteenth aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in which the
humidifier is used to humidify the ventilation air by absorbing
moisture in an outdoor air different from the ventilation air into
the moisture absorbing liquid.
[0043] In this air conditioning system, moisture in the outdoor air
different from the ventilation air is used as moisture to be
absorbed into the moisture absorbing liquid, so that it is possible
to humidify the ventilation air without the need to supply water to
the humidifier.
[0044] An air conditioning system according to a seventeenth aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in which the
humidifier is used to humidify the ventilation air by absorbing,
into the moisture absorbing liquid, moisture in mixed air between
the exhaust air that is exhausted from the room to the outside and
the outdoor air different from the ventilation air.
[0045] In this air conditioning system, moisture in the mixed air
between the exhaust air that is exhausted from the room to the
outside and an outdoor air different from the ventilation air is
used as moisture to be absorbed into the moisture absorbing liquid,
so that it is possible to humidify the ventilation air without the
need to supply water to the humidifier.
[0046] An air conditioning system according to an eighteenth aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, in which the
humidifier includes an adsorbent capable of both adsorbing moisture
and desorbing the adsorbed moisture. Accordingly, it is possible to
humidify the ventilation air by using the ventilation air to heat
the adsorbent in which moisture is adsorbed and by desorbing
moisture back into the ventilation air.
[0047] Since this air conditioning system is provided with the
humidifier that uses the adsorbent, it is possible to humidify the
ventilation air by using the ventilation air to heat the adsorbent
in which moisture is adsorbed and by desorbing moisture back into
the ventilation air.
[0048] An air conditioning system according to a nineteenth aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in which the
humidifier is used to humidify the ventilation air by adsorbing,
into the adsorbent, moisture in the exhaust air that is exhausted
from the room to the outside.
[0049] In this air conditioning system, moisture in the exhaust air
that is exhausted from the room to the outside is used as moisture
to be adsorbed into the adsorbent, so that it is possible to
humidify the ventilation air without the need to supply water to
the humidifier.
[0050] An air conditioning system according to a twentieth aspect
of the present invention is the air conditioning system according
to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in which the
humidifier is used to humidify the ventilation air by adsorbing,
into the adsorbent, moisture in the outdoor air different from the
ventilation air.
[0051] In this air conditioning system, moisture in the outdoor air
different from the ventilation air is used as moisture to be
adsorbed into the adsorbent, so that it is possible to humidify the
ventilation air without the need to supply water to the
humidifier.
[0052] An air conditioning system according to a twenty-first
aspect of the present invention is the air conditioning system
according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in
which the humidifier is used to humidify the ventilation air by
adsorbing, into the adsorbent, moisture in the mixed air between
the exhaust air that is exhausted from the room to the outside and
an outdoor air different from the ventilation air.
[0053] In this air conditioning system, as moisture to be adsorbed
into the adsorbent, moisture in the mixed air between the exhaust
air that is exhausted from the room to the outside and an outdoor
air different from the ventilation air is used, so that it is
possible to humidify the ventilation air without the need to supply
water to the humidifier.
[0054] An air conditioning system according to a twenty-second
aspect of the present invention is the air conditioning system
according to any one of the first to twenty-first aspects of the
present invention, in which the heating medium that flows through
the heating medium circuit is water.
[0055] Since this air conditioning system uses water as the heating
medium that flows through the heating medium circuit, the heating
medium circuit can be configured at low cost.
[0056] An air conditioning system according to a twenty-third
aspect of the present invention is the air conditioning system
according to any one of the first to twenty-first aspects of the
present invention, in which the heating medium flowing through the
heating medium circuit is brine that does not freeze below 0
degrees C.
[0057] In this air conditioning system, brine that does not freeze
below 0 degrees C. is used as the heating medium that flows through
the heating medium circuit, so that the heating medium is prevented
from freezing in the outdoor air heating device even during the low
outdoor air temperature period, and the ventilation air that is
supplied to the room by the air supply device will be more reliably
heated by using the outdoor air heating device.
[0058] An air conditioning system according to a twenty-fourth
aspect of the present invention is the air conditioning system
according to any one of the first to twenty-third aspects of the
present invention, in which the refrigerant that flows through the
refrigerant circuit is CO.sub.2.
[0059] In this air conditioning system, CO.sub.2 is used as the
refrigerant that flows through the vapor compression type
refrigerant circuit in the heat source unit, so that the
refrigerant temperature on the discharge side of the compressor can
be increased, and the temperature level that can be used in the
room heating devices can be increased. This will achieve
comfortable room heating.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0060] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 2 is a temperature-entropy diagram of the operation of
the air conditioning system.
[0062] FIG. 3 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram of the operation of
the air conditioning system.
[0063] FIG. 4 is a psychrometric chart of the operation of the air
conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0064] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional air
conditioning system.
[0065] FIG. 6 is a psychrometric chart of the operation of a
conventional air conditioning system.
[0066] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 1 of the present
invention.
[0067] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 2 of the present
invention.
[0068] FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 3 of the present
invention.
[0069] FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 4 of the present
invention.
[0070] FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 5 of the present
invention.
[0071] FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 6 of the present
invention.
[0072] FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 7 of the present
invention.
[0073] FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 8 of the present
invention.
[0074] FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 9 of the present
invention.
[0075] FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 10 of the present
invention.
[0076] FIG. 17 is a psychrometric chart of the operation of the air
conditioning system according to the modified example 10 of the
present invention.
[0077] FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 11 of the present
invention.
[0078] FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 12 of the present
invention.
[0079] FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to the modified example 12 of the present
invention.
[0080] FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to a modified example 13 of the present
invention.
[0081] FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system according to the modified example 13 of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0082] 101 air conditioning system [0083] 102 heat source unit
[0084] 103 air supply device [0085] 104 heating medium circuit
[0086] 120 refrigerant circuit [0087] 121 compressor [0088] 122
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger (utilization side heat
exchanger) [0089] 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d divided heating
medium--refrigerants heat exchanger (divided utilization side heat
exchangers) [0090] 123 expansion mechanism [0091] 124 heat source
side heat exchanger [0092] 141 radiator (room heating device)
[0093] 142 fan convector (room heating device) [0094] 143 floor
heating device (room heating device) [0095] 144 outdoor air heating
device [0096] 151, 153, 154 bypass heating medium circuit [0097]
151a, 153a, 154a solenoid valve, motor operated valve (heating
medium flow control mechanism) [0098] 161, 161a, 161b, 161c heating
medium storage tank (heating medium storage container) [0099] 171
bypass refrigerant circuit [0100] 171a solenoid valve, motor
operated valve (refrigerant flow control mechanism) [0101] 182,
183, 184, 185 humidifier [0102] 183a, 184a, 184b moisture permeable
film module (moisture permeable film) [0103] 185a adsorbent
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0104] Selected embodiments of an air conditioning system according
to the present invention will be now described hereinafter with
reference to the drawings.
(1) CONFIGURATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
[0105] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioning
system 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
air conditioning system 101 is a system capable of heating the room
by operating a vapor compression type refrigerating cycle.
[0106] The air conditioning system 101 mainly comprises a heat
source unit 102, an air supply device 103, and a heating medium
circuit 104.
<Heat Source Unit>
[0107] The heat source unit 102 is installed outside, for example,
is provided with a vapor compression type refrigerant circuit 120
that mainly includes a compressor 121, a heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 as a utilization side heat
exchanger, an expansion mechanism 123, and a heat source side heat
exchanger 124; and is capable of heating, in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122, a heating medium that is
used to heat the room in a building U.
[0108] The compressor 121 is a compressor that is rotatably driven
by a drive mechanism such as an electric motor so as to compress a
low pressure refrigerant and discharge the refrigerant as the high
temperature and high pressure refrigerant.
[0109] The expansion mechanism 123 is an electric expansion valve
that decompresses the refrigerant that flows out from the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122.
[0110] The heat source side heat exchanger 124 is a heat exchanger
that evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion
mechanism 123, by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and water
or outdoor air as a heat source.
[0111] The heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 is a heat
exchanger that heats the heating medium by exchanging heat between
the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant compressed by
and discharged from the compressor 121 and the heating medium that
circulates in the heating medium circuit 104. In addition, in the
present embodiment, the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger
122 has passages through which the heating medium flow and the
refrigerant flow such that the heating medium and the refrigerant
are in counter current flow.
[0112] Here, as an operating refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit
120 in the heat source unit 102, it is possible to use HCFC
refrigerant, HFC refrigerant, HC refrigerant, and CO.sub.2.
However, in the present embodiment, CO.sub.2 having a low critical
temperature is used, and it is possible to provide a supercritical
refrigerating cycle in which the pressure of the refrigerant on the
discharge side of the compressor 121 is equal to or higher than the
critical pressure of the refrigerant. In such a supercritical
refrigerating cycle that uses CO.sub.2 as the refrigerant, it is
possible to increase the refrigerant temperature on the discharge
side of the compressor 121, that is, the refrigerant temperature at
a refrigerant inlet of the heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchanger 122, due to an increase in the pressure of the
refrigerant on the discharge side of the compressor 121. In
addition, refrigerant that flows into the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 is compressed above its
critical pressure by the compressor 121, so that the refrigerant in
the supercritical state heats the heating medium in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122.
<Air Supply Device>
[0113] The air supply device 103 is a device that supplies the
outdoor air (shown as OA in FIG. 1) to a room in the building U,
and in the present embodiment, mainly includes a supply air outlet
(not shown) that supplies the outdoor air from the outside to the
room as the ventilation air, an exhaust air outlet (now shown) that
exhausts the room air (shown as RA in FIG. 1) from the room to the
outside, and an exhaust fan 131 which is provided to the exhaust
air outlet and which exhausts a portion of the room air as the
exhaust air (shown as EA in FIG. 1) from the room to the outside.
The room can be ventilated by the operation of the exhaust fan 131.
Note that, in the present embodiment, the exhaust fan 131 is used
to ventilate the room, however, the room may be ventilated by, for
example, providing a supply air fan to the supply air outlet, or by
providing both the exhaust fan and the supply air fan to the supply
air outlet.
<Heating Medium Circuit>
[0114] The heating medium circuit 104 includes a radiator 141, a
fan convector 142, and a floor heating device 143 as room heating
devices that release the heat of the heating medium heated in the
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 into the room, and
an outdoor air heating device 144 that heats the ventilation air
that is supplied to the room by the air supply device 103 with the
heat of the heating medium heated in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122. The heating medium circuit
104 is a circuit that circulates the heating medium between the
radiator 141, the fan convector 142, the floor heating device 143
and the outdoor air heating device 144, and the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122.
[0115] The radiator 141 is placed in the room for example, and is a
device that mainly releases the heat of the heating medium into the
room by radiation heat transfer. In the present embodiment, the
radiator 141 includes a radiator heat exchanger 141a through which
the heating medium passes and exchanges its heat with surrounding
room air (here, the room air that just has been heat-exchanged in
the radiator heat exchanger 141a is referred to as SA1 shown in
FIG. 1).
[0116] The fan convector 142 is placed in the room for example, and
is a device that mainly releases the heat of the heating medium
into the room by forced convection heat transfer. In the present
embodiment, the fan convector 142 includes a convector heat
exchanger 142a through which the heating medium passes and
exchanges its heat with surrounding air, and a convector fan 142b
which supplies the room air to the convector heat exchanger 142a
and supplies the indoor air having been heat-exchanged in the
convector heat exchanger 142a to the room as the supply air (shown
as SA1' in FIG. 1).
[0117] The floor heating device 143 is placed under the floor of
the building U for example, and is a device that mainly includes a
floor heating pipe 143a that releases the heat of the heating
medium into the room via a heat transfer panel provided on a floor
surface.
[0118] The outdoor air heating device 144 is placed outside for
example, and is a device that mainly includes an outdoor air heat
exchanger 144a that heats the ventilation air that is supplied to
the room by the air supply device 103 with the heat of the heating
medium (here, the supply air that is supplied to the room after
being heat-exchanged in the outdoor air heat exchanger 144a is
referred to as SA3 shown in FIG. 1).
[0119] In the present embodiment, the heating medium circuit 104 is
connected to the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122
such that the heating medium heated in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 is sequentially supplied to
the radiator heat exchanger 141 a in the radiator 141, the
convector heat exchanger 142a of the fan convector 142, the floor
heating pipe 143a of the floor heating device 143, and the outdoor
air heat exchanger 144a of the outdoor air heating device 144. More
specifically, the heating medium circuit 104 constitutes a single
heating medium circuit connected in series such that the heating
medium heated in the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122
by exchanging its heat with the refrigerant passes from a heating
medium outlet of the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122
sequentially through the radiator heat exchanger 141a, the
convector heat exchanger 142a, the floor heating pipe 143a, and
then the outdoor air heat exchanger 144a, and returns to a heating
medium inlet of the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122
by a heating medium circulating pump 145 connected to the heating
medium outlet of the outdoor air heat exchanger 144a. In other
words, the heating medium circuit 104 will be connected in order
from the radiator heat exchanger 141a that requires the highest
temperature heating medium to the outdoor air heat exchanger 144a
that can use even the lowest temperature heating medium.
[0120] The heating medium circulating pump 145 is connected between
the heating medium outlet of the outdoor air heat exchanger 144a
and the heating medium inlet of the heating medium--refrigerant
heat exchanger 122, and is a pump that is rotatably driven by a
drive mechanism such as an electric motor so as to circulate the
heating medium between the radiator heat exchanger 141a, the
convector heat exchanger 142a, the floor heating pipe 143a and the
outdoor air heat exchanger 144a, and the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122.
[0121] Here, as the heating medium that flows through the heating
medium circuit 104, water and brine may be used. When water is used
as the heating medium, it will be advantageous in that inexpensive
devices and pipes can be used to constitute the heating medium
circuit 104. In addition, when brine is used as the heating medium,
it is preferable to use brine that does not freeze below 0 degrees
C. even during the low outdoor air temperature period, in order to
prevent the heating medium from freezing in the outdoor air heating
device 144 (specifically, in the outdoor air heat exchanger 144a).
This type of brine includes, for example, calcium chloride aqueous
solution, sodium chloride aqueous solution, magnesium chloride
aqueous solution, etc.
(2) OPERATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
[0122] Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 101 of
this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
Here, FIG. 2 is a temperature-entropy diagram of the operation of
the air conditioning system 101. FIG. 3 is a pressure-enthalpy
diagram of the operation of the air conditioning system 101. FIG. 4
is a psychrometric chart of the operation of the air conditioning
system 101.
[0123] First, the heating medium circulating pump 145 is started to
circulate the heating medium in the heating medium circuit 104.
Then, the compressor 121 of the heat source unit 102 will be
started. Then, the low pressure refrigerant sucked into the
compressor 121 (see dot Rc shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) will be
compressed by the compressor 121 and discharged therefrom as the
high temperature and high pressure refrigerant (see dot Ri shown in
FIGS. 1 to 3). This high temperature and high pressure refrigerant
will flow into the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122
and heat the heating medium, and the refrigerant itself will be
cooled and become a low temperature and high pressure refrigerant
(see dot Ro3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3). The refrigerant cooled in the
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 by heating the
heating medium will be decompressed by the expansion mechanism 123
and become a low temperature and low pressure refrigerant in a
vapor-liquid two-phase state (see dot Re3 in FIGS. 1 to 3). This
refrigerant in a vapor-liquid two-phase state will be heated in the
heat source side heat exchanger 124 by a heat source such as water
or outdoor air, and will evaporate into a low temperature and low
pressure gas refrigerant (see dot Rc in FIGS. 1 to 3). Then, this
low temperature and low pressure gas refrigerant will be again
sucked into the compressor 121.
[0124] Here, the heating medium that circulates in the heating
medium circuit 104 flows into the heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchanger 122 from the heating medium inlet (see dot Wi3 in FIGS.
1, 2, and 4), and will be heated in the heating medium--refrigerant
heat exchanger 122 by exchanging its heat with the high temperature
and high pressure refrigerant compressed in and discharged from the
compressor 121 (see dot Wo shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). Then, a
high temperature heating medium heated in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 will flow into the radiator
heat exchanger 141a of the radiator 141, release the heat of the
heating medium into the room (specifically, the room air
surrounding the radiator heat exchanger 141a will be heated), and
the heating medium itself will be cooled and the temperature
thereof will decrease (for example, the temperature will decrease
from about 70 degrees C. to about 65 degrees C. as shown in FIG.
2). At this time, the room air (see RA shown in FIG. 4) will be
heated in the radiator heat exchanger 141 a to a state of dot SA1
shown in FIG. 4.
[0125] Next, the heating medium that flowed out from the radiator
heat exchanger 141a will flow into the convector heat exchanger
142a of the fan convector 142, and release the heat of the heating
medium into the room (specifically, the room air that is supplied
by the convector fan 142b will be heated), and the heating medium
itself will be cooled and the temperature thereof will decrease
(for example, the temperature will decrease from about 65 degrees
C. to about 55 degrees C. as shown in FIG. 2). At this time, the
room air (see the arrow RA shown in FIG. 1) becomes a supply air
SA1' by the convector heat exchanger 142a (see FIG. 1) and will be
supplied to the room.
[0126] Next, the heating medium that flowed out from the convector
heat exchanger 142a will flow into the floor heating pipe 143a of
the floor heating device 143, and release the heat of the heating
medium into the room (specifically, a floor surface will be heated
by the floor heating pipe 143a), and the heating medium itself will
be cooled and the temperature thereof will decrease (for example,
the temperature will decrease from about 55 degrees C. to about 40
degrees C. as shown in FIG. 2).
[0127] Next, the heating medium that flowed out from the floor
heating pipe 143a will flow into the outdoor air heat exchanger
144a of the outdoor air heating device 144, and will heat the
ventilation air that is supplied to the room by the air supply
device 103 with the heat of the heating medium, and the heating
medium itself will be cooled and the temperature thereof will
decrease (for example, the temperature will decrease from about 40
degrees C. to about 5 degrees C. as shown in FIG. 2). At this time,
the ventilation air (see dot OA shown in FIG. 4, about -10 degrees
C.) will be heated to a state of dot SA3 shown in FIG. 4 (about 20
degrees C. in FIG. 4) by the outdoor air heat exchanger 144a. On
the other hand, the temperature of the room air RA is heated to
about 20 degrees C. (see dot RA shown in FIG. 4) by the heating
operation using the radiator 141, the fan convector 142, and the
floor heating device 143. Accordingly, even when the ventilation
air heated by the outdoor air heat exchanger 144a is supplied to
the room and mixed with the room air RA, the temperature of the
room air will hardly change.
[0128] Then, the heating medium that flowed out from the outdoor
air heat exchanger 144a again will flow into the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 through the heating medium
circulating pump 145 (see dot Wi3 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4).
(3) CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
[0129] The air conditioning system 101 of this embodiment has the
following characteristics.
(A)
[0130] As shown in FIG. 5, there is an air conditioning system 901
that comprises the heat source unit 102 same as those in the air
conditioning system 101 of the this embodiment, the air supply
device 103, and a heating medium circuit 904 including the radiator
141, the fan convector 142, and the heating medium circulating pump
145. In this type of air conditioning system 901, the heating
medium circuit 904 does not have the outdoor air heating device
144, so that when heating the room, the ventilation air (shown as
OA in FIG. 5) will be supplied to the room as is by the air supply
device 103. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the room air (see dot RA
shown in FIG. 6) will be mixed (see dot MA shown in FIG. 6) with
the ventilation air (see dot OA in FIG. 6), and consequently the
temperature of this room air will be lower (about 12 degrees C. in
FIG. 6) than the temperature of the room air heated by the heating
operation using the radiator 141 and the fan convector 142.
Consequently, the ventilation air that is supplied to the room for
ventilating the room will cause a cold draft.
[0131] However, since the air conditioning system 101 of this
embodiment comprises the outdoor air heating device 144, when
heating the room, as shown in FIG. 4, the outdoor air OA as the
ventilation air that is supplied to the room by the air supply
device 103 can be heated and then supplied to the room as the
supply air SA3. Consequently, a cold draft due to the ventilation
air that is supplied to the room for ventilating the room will be
prevented, therefore improving the comfort of the room.
(B)
[0132] In the conventional air conditioning system 901, the heating
medium circuit 904 does not have either the floor heating device
143 or the outdoor air heating device 144. Therefore, as shown in
FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the heating medium heated by exchanging its heat
with the refrigerant in the heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchanger 122 will circulate in the heating medium circuit 904 such
that the heating medium will change from a state of dot Wo to a
state of dot Wi1 and again returned to the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122. Along with this, as shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerant will circulate in the refrigerant
circuit 120 such that the refrigerant changes in order from a state
of dot Rc on a suction side of the compressor 121 to a state of dot
Ri that corresponds to dot Wo, to a state of dot Ro1 that
corresponds to dot Wi1, and then to a state of dot Re1, and again
is sucked into the compressor 121. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the
COP (based on the evaporation side) of the heat source unit 102 of
the conventional air conditioning system 901 is a value obtained by
dividing the enthalpy difference .DELTA.hl on the evaporation side
in the refrigerating cycle of dot Rc.fwdarw.dot Ri.fwdarw.dot
Ro1.fwdarw.dot Re1.fwdarw.dot Rc by the enthalpy difference
.DELTA.hc that corresponds to the power consumption of the
compressor 121 (=.DELTA.hl/.DELTA.hc).
[0133] On the other hand, in the air conditioning system 101 of
this embodiment, the heating medium circuit 104 includes the floor
heating device 143 and the outdoor air heating device 144, and is
further connected to the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger
122 such that the heating medium heated in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 is sequentially supplied to
the radiator 141, the fan convector 142, the floor heating device
143, and the outdoor air heating device 144, so that the heating
medium heated by exchanging heat with refrigerant in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 will circulate in the
heating medium circuit 104 such that the heating medium changes
from a state of dot Wo to a state of dot Wi3 and again is returned
to the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122, as shown in
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Along with this, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the
refrigerant will circulate in the refrigerant circuit 120 such that
the refrigerant changes in order from a state of dot Rc on the
suction side of the compressor 121 to a state of dot Ri that
corresponds to dot Wo, to a state of dot Ro3 that corresponds to
dot Wi3, and then to a state of Re3, and again is sucked into the
compressor 121. Accordingly, the radiator 141, the fan convector
142, and the floor heating device 143 can use the heat of a high
temperature heating medium that just has been heated in heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122, and the outdoor air heating
device 144 can use the heat of the heating medium cooled by
releasing its heat into the room in the radiator 141, the fan
convector 142, and the floor heating device 143 (see dot Wi2 in
FIGS. 1 and 2). Here, the ventilation air (shown as OA in FIG. 1)
that is supplied to the room by the air supply device 103 has a
lower temperature than the indoor air (shown as RA in FIG. 1), so
that the heating medium cooled by releasing its heat into the room
in the radiator 141, the fan convector 142, and the floor heating
device 143 can be used to heat the ventilation air. Then, the
heating medium used for heating the ventilation air that is
supplied to the room by the outdoor air heating device 144 is
further cooled by heating the ventilation air (see dot Wi3 shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2), and then returned to the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122. In this way, in the air
conditioning system 101, the heating medium cooled by releasing its
heat in the radiator 141, the fan convector 142, and the floor
heating device 143 is supplied to the outdoor air heating device
144 in order to heat the ventilation air that is supplied to the
room. Therefore, compared to the air conditioning system 901, the
temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 (in other words, the
temperature difference between the temperature of the heating
medium in a state of dot Wo and the temperature of the heating
medium in a state of dot Wi3) can be increased. Accordingly, as
shown in FIG. 3, the COP (based on the evaporation side) of the
heat source unit 102 in the air conditioning system 101 of this
embodiment is a value obtained by dividing the enthalpy difference
.DELTA.h3 on the evaporation side in the refrigerating cycle of dot
Rc.fwdarw.dot Ri.fwdarw.dot Ro3.fwdarw.dot Re3.fwdarw.dot Rc by the
enthalpy difference .DELTA.hc that corresponds to the power
consumption of the compressor 121 (=.DELTA.h3/.DELTA.hc).
Accordingly, the COP is improved compared to the conventional air
conditioning system 901 that does not comprise the outdoor air
heating device 144. In particular, the air conditioning system 101
of this embodiment includes the floor heating device 143 in
addition to the outdoor air heating device 144, so that the
temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 and the COP are
further increased, compared to the conventional air conditioning
system 901.
(C)
[0134] In the air conditioning system 101 of this embodiment, when
water is used as a heating medium that flows through the heating
medium circuit 104, it is possible to configure the heating medium
circuit 104 at low cost. In addition, when brine that does not
freeze below 0 degrees C. is used as a heating medium that flows
through the heating medium circuit 104, the heating medium is
prevented from freezing in the outdoor air heating device 144 even
during the low outdoor air temperature period, and the ventilation
air that is supplied to the room by the air supply device 103 will
be more reliably heated by using the outdoor air heating device
144.
(D)
[0135] The air conditioning system 101 of this embodiment uses
CO.sub.2 as the refrigerant that flows through the vapor
compression type refrigerant circuit 120 of the heat source unit
102. Accordingly, the refrigerant temperature on the discharge side
of the compressor 121 can be increased, and the temperature level
that can be used in the radiator 141, the fan convector 142, the
floor heating device 143, and the outdoor air heating device 144
can be increased. This will achieve comfortable room heating.
(4) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 1
[0136] In the above described air conditioning system 101, the
heating medium circuit 104 may further include a bypass heating
medium circuit that bypasses at least one of the radiator 141, the
fan convector 142, the floor heating device 143, and the outdoor
air heating device 144. For example, the heating medium circuit 104
that does not include the fan convector 142 as shown in FIG. 7 may
be provided with bypass heating medium circuits 151, 153, 154
respectively for the radiator 141, the floor heating device 143,
and the outdoor air heating device 144. This will enable to supply
the heating medium to only some of the radiator 141, the floor
heating device 143, and the outdoor air heating device 144
according to need.
[0137] Also, these bypass heating medium circuits 151, 153, 154 are
respectively provided with a solenoid valve 151a, a motor operated
valve 153a, and a solenoid valve 154a as a heating medium flow
control mechanism. Consequently, the bypass heating medium circuits
151, 154 will be able to block the heating medium that flows
through each of the bypass heating medium circuits 151, 154
according to need, and thereby enabling to control the flow of the
heating medium that is supplied to the radiator 141 and the outdoor
air heating device 144. In addition, the bypass heating medium
circuit 153 will be able to control the flow of the heating medium
that flows through the bypass heating medium circuit 153, and
thereby enabling highly precise control of the flow of the heating
medium that is supplied to the floor heating device 143.
[0138] Note that, as described above, the bypass heating medium
circuit may be provided to each of the radiator 141, the floor
heating device 143, and the outdoor air heating device 144, or to
only some of the radiator 141, the floor heating device 143, and
the outdoor air heating device 144. Alternatively, some of the
radiator 141, the floor heating device 143, and the outdoor air
heating device 144 may be collected together such that these
devices are bypassed together. In addition, as for the type of a
valve to be provided to the bypass heating medium circuit, it is
possible to select a valve according to the precision of flow
control of the heating medium required in each bypass heating
medium circuit.
(5) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 2
[0139] In the above-described air conditioning system 101, some of
the radiator 141, the fan convector 142, the floor heating device
143, and the outdoor air heating device 144 may use refrigerant
that flows through the refrigerant circuit 120 without flowing
through the heating medium circuit 104. For example, in the air
conditioning system 101 that does not include the fan convector 142
as shown in FIG. 8, the floor heating device 143 and the outdoor
air heating device 144 use the heat of the refrigerant that flows
through the refrigerant circuit 120 in the heat source unit 102 via
the heating medium that circulates in the heating medium circuit
104. However, as for the radiator 141, the high temperature and
high pressure refrigerant compressed in and discharged from the
compressor 121 may be caused to flow into the radiator heat
exchanger 141a of the radiator 141 so as to directly release the
heat of the refrigerant into the room. This will enable
simplification of the heating medium circuit 104.
[0140] Note that also for the floor heating device 143 and the
outdoor air heating device 144 besides the radiator 141,
refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant circuit 120 may be
caused to flow into the floor heating pipe 143a and the outdoor air
heat exchanger 144a so as to use the heat of the refrigerant. In
addition, the air conditioning system 101 of this modified example
may be provided with the bypass heating medium circuit of the
modified example 1.
(6) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 3
[0141] In the above-described air conditioning system 101, the
heating medium circuit 104 may be provided with a heating medium
storage tank. For example, in the air conditioning system 101, as
shown in FIG. 9, which has the bypass heating medium circuits 151,
153, 154 same as those in the modified example 1, the heating
medium circulating pump 145 may be provided with a heating medium
storage tank 161 on the suction side thereof. This will enable to
prevent problems such as breakage of devices constituting the
heating medium circuit 104, which may occur when the heating medium
circulating in the heating medium circuit 104 expands in volume
along with its change in temperature. In addition, an increase in
the amount of heating medium in the heating medium circuit 104 will
increase the heat capacity in the entire heating medium circuit
104, and the temperature of the heating medium that is supplied to
the radiator 141, the floor heating device 143, and the outdoor air
heating device 144, and the temperature of the heating medium that
is returned to the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122
will become stable. As a result, controllability of the heat source
unit 102 and the heating medium circuit 104 will improve.
(7) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 4
[0142] In the above-described air conditioning system 101, the
heating medium circuit 104 may be constituted by a plurality of
divided heating medium circuits that independently circulate the
heating medium between at least one of the radiator 141, the fan
convector 142, the floor heating device 143 and the outdoor air
heating device 144, and the heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchanger 122.
[0143] For example, in the air conditioning system 101 that does
not include the fan convector 142 as shown in FIG. 10, the heating
medium circuit 104 may be constituted by a first divided heating
medium circuit 104a that independently circulates the heating
medium between the radiator 141 and the heating medium--refrigerant
heat exchanger 122; by a second divided heating medium circuit 104b
that independently circulates the heating medium between the floor
heating device 143 and the heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchanger 122; and by a third divided heating medium circuit 104c
that independently circulates the heating medium between the
outdoor air heating device 144 and the heating medium--refrigerant
heat exchanger 122. Here, the divided heating medium circuits 104a,
104b, 104c respectively include heating medium circulating pumps
145a, 145b, and 145c. This will enable to supply the heating medium
to only some of the radiator 141, the floor heating device 143, and
the outdoor air heating device 144 according to need.
[0144] Further, the second divided heating medium circuit 104b is
connected to the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122
such that the temperature of the heating medium that is supplied to
the floor heating device 143 is equal to or lower than the
temperature of the heating medium used in the radiator 141, and the
third divided heating medium circuit 104c is connected to the
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 such that the
temperature of the heating medium that is supplied to the outdoor
air heating device 144 is equal to or lower than temperature of the
heating medium used by the floor heating device 143. Accordingly,
the radiator 141 can use the heat of the heating medium (see dots
Wo and Wi1 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 10) that just has been heated
by the refrigerant (see dot Ri shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 10)
compressed in and discharged from the compressor 121 in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122; the floor heating device
143 can use the heat of the heating medium whose temperature is
lower than the temperature of the heating medium (see dots Wi1 and
Wi2 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 10) used in the radiator 141 heated by the
refrigerant (see dot Ro1 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 10) that
heat-exchanged with the heating medium that flows through the first
divided heating medium circuit 104a in the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122; and the outdoor air heating
device 144 can use the heat of the heating medium (see dots Wi2 and
Wi3 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10) whose temperature is equal to or
lower than the temperature of the heating medium used by the floor
heating device 143 heated by the refrigerant (see dot Ro2 shown in
FIGS. 2, 3, and 10) that heat-exchanged with the heating medium
flowing through the second divided heating medium circuit 104b in
the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122. Along with
this, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerant will circulate in
the refrigerant circuit 120 such that the refrigerant changes in
order from a state of dot Rc on the suction side of the compressor
121 to a state of dot Ri that corresponds to dot Wo, to a state of
dot Ro3 that corresponds to dot Wi3, and then to a state of Re3,
and again is sucked into the compressor 121.
[0145] In this way, in the air conditioning system 101 of this
modified example, the heating medium whose temperature is equal to
or lower than the temperature of the heating medium cooled by
releasing its heat in the radiator 141 and the floor heating device
143 is supplied to the outdoor air heating device 144 and used to
heat the ventilation air that is supplied to the room. As a result,
as with the air conditioning system of the above described
embodiment and the modified example, it will be possible to
increase the temperature difference between the inlet and the
outlet of the heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122,
therefore improving the COP of the heat source unit 102.
(8) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 5
[0146] In the air conditioning system 101 same as the one in the
above described modified example 4, as shown in FIG. 11, the
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 may be constituted
by three divided heating medium--refrigerant heat exchangers 122a,
122b, and 122c serving as divided utilization side heat exchangers,
which are divided so as to correspond to the divided heating medium
circuits 104a, 104b, 104c.
[0147] In this case, the radiator 141 can use the heat of the
heating medium (see dots Wo and Wi1 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 11)
that just has been heated by the refrigerant (see dot Ri shown in
FIGS. 2, 3, and 11) compressed in and discharged from the
compressor 121 in the first divided heating medium--refrigerant
heat exchanger 122a; the floor heating device 143 can use the heat
of the heating medium (see dots Wi1 and Wi2 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 11)
whose temperature is lower than the temperature of the heating
medium used in the radiator 141 heated by the refrigerant (see dot
Ro1 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 11) that heat-exchanged with the
heating medium that flows through the first divided heating medium
circuit 104a in the first divided heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchanger 122a; and the outdoor air heating device 144 can use the
heat of the heating medium (see dots Wi2 and Wi3 shown in FIGS. 2,
3 and 11) whose temperature is equal to or lower than the
temperature of the heating medium used by the floor heating device
143 heated by the refrigerant (see dot Ro2 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and
11) that heat-exchanged with the heating medium that flows through
the second divided heating medium circuit 104b in the second
divided heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122b. Along with
this, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerant will circulate in
the refrigerant circuit 120 such that the refrigerant changes in
order from a state of dot Rc on the suction side of the compressor
121 to a state of dot Ri that corresponds to dot Wo, to a state of
dot Ro1 that corresponds to dot Wi1, to a state of dot Ro2 that
corresponds to dot Wi2, to a state of Ro3 that corresponds to dot
Wi3, and then to a state of dot Re3, and again is sucked into the
compressor 121.
(9) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 6
[0148] In the air conditioning system 101 of the above described
modified example 5, the heating medium circuit 104 is divided into
the divided heating medium circuits 104a, 104b, 104c which
respectively correspond to the radiator 141, the floor heating
device 143, and the outdoor air heating device 144; and the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 is also divided into the
divided heating medium--refrigerant heat exchangers 122a, 122b,
122c which respectively correspond to the divided heating medium
circuits 104a, 104b, 104c. However, it is not limited to this
configuration. For example, in the air conditioning system 101 that
does not include the fan convector 142 as shown in FIG. 12, the
heating medium circuit 104 may be divided into the first divided
heating medium circuit 104a including a first heating medium
circulating pump 145a dedicated to the radiator 141, and the second
divided heating medium circuit 104d including a second heating
medium circulating pump 145d shared by the floor heating device 143
and the outdoor air heating device 144, and also, the heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122 may be divided into the
first divided heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122a
dedicated to the radiator 141 and a second divided heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122d shared by the floor heating
device 143 and the outdoor air heating device 144.
(10) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 7
[0149] In the air conditioning system 101 of the above described
modified examples 5, 6, the refrigerant circuit 120 may further
include at least one bypass refrigerant circuit that bypasses the
divided heating medium--refrigerant heat exchangers. For example,
in the refrigerant circuit 120 including the divided heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchangers 122a, 122b, 122c same as those
in the modified example 5 as shown in FIG. 13, the first divided
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122a may be provided
with a bypass refrigerant circuit 171. This will enable to supply
the refrigerant to only the divided heating medium--refrigerant
heat exchangers 122b, 122c according to need.
[0150] The bypass refrigerant circuit 171 is provided with a
solenoid valve 171a as a heating medium flow control mechanism.
Consequently, it will be possible to block the heating medium that
flows through the bypass heating medium circuit 171 according to
need, and thereby enabling to control the flow of refrigerant that
is supplied to the divided heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchanger 122a.
[0151] Note that, as described above, the bypass refrigerant
circuit may be provided to only the first divided heating
medium--refrigerant heat exchanger 122a, or to each of the divided
heating medium--refrigerant heat exchangers 122a, 122b, 122c.
Alternatively, some of the divided heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchangers 122a, 122b, 122c may be collected together such that
these devices are bypassed together. In addition, as for the type
of a valve to be provided to the bypass refrigerant circuit, it is
possible to select a valve according to the precision of flow
control of the heating medium required in each bypass heating
medium circuit. For example, use of a motor operated valve instead
of a solenoid valve will enable highly precise control of the flow
of refrigerant that is supplied to the bypass refrigerant
circuit.
(11) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 8
[0152] In the above-described air conditioning system 101 of the
above described modified examples 5 to 7, some of the radiator 141,
the fan convector 142, the floor heating device 143, and the
outdoor air heating device 144 may use refrigerant that flows
through the refrigerant circuit 120 without flowing through the
heating medium circuit 104. For example, in the air conditioning
system 101 that does not include the fan convector 142 same as the
one in the modified example 5 as shown in FIG. 14, the floor
heating device 143 and the outdoor air heating device 144 use the
heat of the refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant circuit
120 in the heat source unit 102 via the heating medium that
circulates in the divided heating medium circuits 104b, 104c.
However, as for the radiator 141, the high temperature and high
pressure refrigerant compressed in and discharged from the
compressor 121 may be caused to flow into the radiator heat
exchanger 141a of the radiator 141 so as to directly release the
heat of the refrigerant into the room. This will enable
simplification of the heating medium circuit 104.
[0153] Note that also for the floor heating device 143 and the
outdoor air heating device 144 besides the radiator 141,
refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant circuit 120 may be
caused to flow into the floor heating pipe 143a and the outdoor air
heat exchanger 144a so as to use the heat of the refrigerant.
(12) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 9
[0154] In the above-described air conditioning system 101 of the
above described modified examples 5 to 7, the heating medium
circuit 104 may be provided with a heating medium storage tank. For
example, in the air conditioning system 101 having the divided
heating medium circuits 104a, 104b, 104c same as those in the
modified example 5 as shown in FIG. 15, the heating medium
circulating pumps 145a, 145b, 145c may be provided with heating
medium storage tanks 161a, 161b, 161c on the suction side each
thereof. Consequently, it will be possible to prevent problems such
as breakage of devices constituting the divided heating medium
circuits 104a, 104b, and 104c, which may occur when the heating
medium circulating in the heating medium circuit 104 expands in
volume along with its change in temperature. In addition, an
increase in the amount of heating medium in the divided heating
medium circuits 104a, 104b, 104c will increase the heat capacity of
each of the divided heating medium circuits 104a, 104b, 104c, and
the temperature of the heating medium that is supplied to the
radiator 141, the floor heating device 143, and the outdoor air
heating device 144, and the temperature of the heating medium that
is returned to the divided heating medium--refrigerant heat
exchangers 122a, 122b, 122c will become stable. As a result,
controllability of the heat source unit 102 and the divided heating
medium circuits 104a, 104b, 104c will improve.
(13) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 10
[0155] The air conditioning system 101 of the above described
embodiments and modified examples comprises the outdoor air heating
device 144. Consequently, a cold draft due to the ventilation air
that is supplied to the room for ventilation in the room is
prevented and the comfort of the room is improved. However, when
the absolute humidity of the ventilation air is lower than the
absolute humidity of the room air, the supply of ventilation air
may dry the room. Therefore, according to this modified example,
the air conditioning system 101 of the above described embodiments
and modified examples is further provided with a humidifier that
humidifies the ventilation air that is heated by the outdoor air
heating device 144 and supplied to the room.
[0156] For example, the air conditioning system 101 the same as the
one in FIG. 1 as shown in FIG. 16 can be provided with a humidifier
182 having a spray nozzle 182a that sprays water to the ventilation
air that is heated by the outdoor air heating device 144 and
supplied to the room, and a water supply pipe 181 that supplies
water to a spray nozzle 182a of the humidifier 182.
[0157] In this case, when the ventilation air (shown as SA3 in FIG.
16) heated by exchanging heat with the heating medium in the
outdoor air heating device 144 is to be supplied to the room, the
ventilation air is introduced into the humidifier 182, humidified
with water sprayed from the spray nozzle 182a of the humidifier
182, and then supplied to the room (shown as SA3' in FIG. 16).
Consequently, the air conditioning system 101 of this modified
example can humidify the ventilation air, so that even when the
absolute humidity of the ventilation air is lower than the absolute
humidity of the room air, it is possible to prevent the room from
becoming dry due to the supply of ventilation air to the room.
[0158] Incidentally, due to evaporation of water sprayed from the
spray nozzle 182a, the temperature of the ventilation air
humidified by the humidifier 182 will be lower than the temperature
of the ventilation air heated by the outdoor air heating device
144. However, in the air conditioning system 101 of this modified
example, the amount of heating the ventilation air in the outdoor
air heating device 144 is increased with consideration of
evaporation of water in the humidifier 182. For example, as shown
in FIG. 17, the ventilation air (shown as SA3 in FIG. 17) is heated
by the outdoor air heating device 144 so as to increase its
temperature (to about 30 degrees C. in FIG. 17) higher than the
temperature (about 20 degrees C. in FIG. 4) of the ventilation air
(shown as SA 3 in FIG. 4) in the air conditioning system that does
not include the humidifier 182 shown in FIG. 1. In this way, even
when the temperature of the ventilation air decreases due to
evaporation of water in the humidifier 182, the temperature of the
ventilation air (shown as SA 3+ in FIG. 17) that is supplied to the
room will be close to the temperature (about 20 degrees C. in FIG.
17) of the room air (shown as RA in FIG. 17). Further, the absolute
humidity of the ventilation air SA 3' is also almost equal to the
absolute humidity of the room air RA (in FIG. 17, it is equivalent
to relative humidity 50%). Accordingly, in the air conditioning
system 101 of this modified example, the ventilation air having a
low temperature and a low humidity compared to the room air is
heated and humidified respectively by the outdoor air heating
device 144 and the humidifier 182 so that the ventilation air and
the room air will have the same temperature and humidity
conditions, and then is supplied to the room. As a result, it is
possible to further enhance the comfort of the room.
[0159] Note that, as a humidifier, an air washer may be used
instead of a spray nozzle.
(14) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 11
[0160] In the air conditioning system 101 of the above described
modified example 10, a spray nozzle or an air washer is used as a
humidifier for humidifying the ventilation air that is heated by
the outdoor air heating device 144 and supplied to the room.
However, it is not limited thereto, and a moisture permeable film
having a moisture permeability may be used. For example, the air
conditioning system 101 that does not include the fan convector 142
as shown in FIG. 18 may be provided with a humidifier 183
comprising a moisture permeable film module 183a having a plurality
of tube shaped moisture permeable films, and a water supply pipe
181 for supplying water to the moisture permeable film module 183a
of the humidifier 183. Here, the moisture permeable film module
183a is provided with a passage such that the ventilation air that
is heated by the outdoor air heating device 144 and supplied to the
room passes over the outside of the moisture permeable film. In
addition, the inside of the moisture permeable film is configured
such that water supplied to the moisture permeable film module 183a
is introduced therein, and is capable of humidifying the
ventilation air by causing water that is supplied to the moisture
permeable film to contact with the ventilation air via the moisture
permeable film. As the moisture permeable film,
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the like may be used.
[0161] Also in this case, the ventilation air can be humidified by
causing water that is supplied to the moisture permeable film of
the moisture permeable film module 183a of the humidifier 183 to
contact with the ventilation air via the moisture permeable film.
Therefore, as in the modified example 10, even when the absolute
humidity of the ventilation air is lower than the absolute humidity
of the room air, it is possible to prevent the room from becoming
dry due to the supply of ventilation air to the room.
[0162] Further, in the air conditioning system 101 of this modified
example, the amount of heating the ventilation air in the outdoor
air heating device 144 is increased with consideration of
evaporation of water in the humidifier 183. Consequently, as in the
modified example 10, the ventilation air having a low temperature
and a low humidity compared to the room air is heated and
humidified so that the ventilation air and the room air will have
the same temperature and humidity conditions, and then supplied to
the room. As a result, it is possible to further improve the
comfort of the room.
(15) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 12
[0163] In the air conditioning system 101 of the above described
modified examples 10, 11, so-called a water supply type humidifier
in which water is supplied to the humidifier via the water supply
pipe 181 is used. However, it is not limited thereto, and it is
possible to use a humidifier that uses moisture absorbing liquid
capable of both absorbing moisture and desorbing the absorbed
moisture.
[0164] For example, the air conditioning system 101 that does not
include the fan convector 142 as shown in FIG. 19 may be provided
with a humidifier 184 comprising first and second moisture
permeable film modules 184a, 184b having a plurality of tube shaped
moisture permeable films, and a moisture absorbing liquid
circulating pump 184c that circulates the moisture absorbing liquid
between the first and second moisture permeable film modules 184a,
184b.
[0165] More specifically, the first moisture permeable film module
184a is provided with a passage such that the ventilation air that
is heated by the outdoor air heating device 144 and supplied to the
room passes over the outside of the moisture permeable film. In
addition, the inside of the moisture permeable film of the first
moisture permeable film module 184a is configured such that
moisture absorbing liquid that is circulated by the moisture
absorbing liquid circulating pump 184c is introduced therein, and
is capable of humidifying the ventilation air, by causing moisture
absorbing liquid that is supplied to the moisture permeable film to
contact with the ventilation air via the moisture permeable film
and by using the ventilation air to heat the moisture absorbing
liquid in which moisture is absorbed to desorb moisture back into
the ventilation air. The second moisture permeable film module 184b
is provided with a passage such that the exhaust air that is
exhausted from the room to the outside passes over the outside of
the moisture permeable film. In addition, the inside of the
moisture permeable film of the second moisture permeable film
module 184b is configured such that moisture absorbing liquid that
is circulated by the moisture absorbing liquid circulating pump
184c is introduced therein, and the moisture absorbing liquid that
is supplied to the moisture permeable film is caused to contact
with the exhaust air via the moisture permeable film so that
moisture in the exhaust air can be absorbed into the moisture
absorbing liquid. As the moisture permeable film,
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the like may be used. In
addition, as a moisture absorbing liquid, lithium chloride aqueous
solution and the like may be used.
[0166] This humidifier 184 operates to circulate the moisture
absorbing liquid by the moisture absorbing liquid circulating pump
184c in order from the second moisture permeable film module 184b
to the first moisture permeable film module 184a. In this
condition, when the exhaust air is passed through the second
moisture permeable film module 184b, moisture in the exhaust air
will be absorbed into the moisture absorbing liquid via the
moisture permeable film of the second moisture permeable film
module 184b. The moisture absorbing liquid that absorbed this
moisture will be sent to the first moisture permeable film module
184a. Next, when the ventilation air heated by the outdoor air
heating device 144 is passed through the first moisture permeable
film module 184a, the moisture absorbing liquid sent from the
second moisture permeable film module 184b to the first moisture
permeable film module 184a will be heated via the moisture
permeable film. Then, moisture is desorbed from this heated
moisture absorbing liquid back to the ventilation air via the
moisture permeable film, and the ventilation air is humidified and
supplied to the room.
[0167] In this way, the air conditioning system 101 of this
modified example is provided with the humidifier 184 that uses the
moisture absorbing liquid, so that it is possible to humidify the
ventilation air by using the ventilation air to heat the moisture
absorbing liquid in which moisture is absorbed and by desorbing
moisture back into the ventilation air. In this air conditioning
system 101, moisture included in the exhaust air that is exhausted
from the room to the outside is used as moisture to be absorbed
into the moisture absorbing liquid, so that it is possible to
humidify the ventilation air without the need to supply water to
the humidifier 184.
[0168] In addition, as shown in FIG. 20, in order to enlarge the
range of humidity control by the humidifier 184, the exhaust air
that is exhausted from the room to the outside (shown as RA on the
left side of the second moisture permeable film module 184b in FIG.
20) is mixed with the outdoor air (shown as OA on the left side of
the second moisture permeable film module 184b in FIG. 20)
different from the ventilation air, and this mixed air may be
passed through the second moisture permeable film module 184b so
that moisture will be absorbed into the moisture absorbing liquid
via the moisture permeable film of the second moisture permeable
film module 184b, and this absorbed moisture may be caused to be
desorbed back to the ventilation air via the moisture permeable
film of the first moisture permeable film module 184a.
[0169] Note that in this modified example, the humidifier 184 that
uses the moisture absorbing liquid is configured so as to exchange
moisture between the moisture absorbing liquid and the air via the
moisture permeable film modules 184a, 184b having the moisture
permeable film. However, it is not limited thereto and it may be
configured such that the moisture absorbing liquid and the air are
in direct contact with each other. In addition, with the humidifier
184 shown in FIG. 20, both the exhaust air that is exhausted from
the room to the outside and the outdoor air different from the
ventilation air are caused to pass through the second moisture
permeable film module 184b, however, only the outdoor air different
from the ventilation air may be caused to pass therethrough.
(16) MODIFIED EXAMPLE 13
[0170] As a humidifier capable of humidifying the air without the
supply of water, the air conditioning system 101 of the above
described modified example 12 uses a humidifier that uses the
moisture absorbing liquid capable of both absorbing moisture and
desorbing the absorbed moisture through heating. However, a
humidifier that uses an adsorbent capable of both adsorbing
moisture and desorbing the adsorbed moisture through heating may be
used.
[0171] For example, the air conditioning system 101 that does not
include the fan convector 142 as shown in FIG. 21 may be provided
with a humidifier 185 having a desiccant rotor 185a in which an
adsorbent is carried.
[0172] More specifically, the humidifier 185 is provided with a
passage such that the ventilation air that is heated by the outdoor
air heating device 144 and supplied to the room passes through a
portion of the desiccant rotor 185a. In addition, on a different
portion of the desiccant rotor 185a, there is provided a passage in
which the exhaust air that is exhausted from the room to the
outside passes therethrough. The desiccant rotor 185a is configured
to be capable of being rotatably driven by a drive mechanism such
as an electric motor, and is capable of flowing the ventilation air
and the exhaust air through each portion of the desiccant rotor
185a. As an adsorbent, zeolite, silica gel, activated alumina, and
the like may be used.
[0173] With this humidifier 185, when the exhaust air is passed
through a portion of the desiccant rotor 185a other than a portion
through which the ventilation air is passed, moisture in the
exhaust air will be adsorbed onto the adsorbent of the desiccant
rotor 185a. Then, the desiccant rotor 185a is rotated, and a
portion in which moisture is adsorbed is moved to a portion
corresponding to the passage through which the ventilation air is
passed. Consequently, the ventilation air will pass through a
portion of the desiccant rotor 185a in which moisture in the
exhaust air is adsorbed, and the ventilation air heated by the
outdoor air heating device 144 will heat the portion of the
desiccant rotor 185a in which moisture is adsorbed. Consequently,
it will be possible to desorb moisture from this heated adsorbent
back to the ventilation air, humidify the ventilation air, and
supply the humidified ventilation air to the room. At this time,
due to the rotation of the desiccant rotor 185a, a portion of the
desiccant rotor 185a, which was located at a position corresponding
to a passage of the desiccant rotor 185a through which the
ventilation air is passed, is moved to a position corresponding to
a passage of the desiccant rotor 185a through which the exhaust air
is passed, and therefore moisture in the exhaust air will be
adsorbed. Repetition of this action enables continuous
humidification of the ventilation air.
[0174] In this way, the air conditioning system 101 of this
modified example is provided with the humidifier 185 that uses an
adsorbent, so that the adsorbent onto which moisture is adsorbed
can be heated by using the ventilation air to desorb the moisture
back to the ventilation air, thereby humidifying the ventilation
air. In addition, as moisture to be adsorbed onto the adsorbent,
the air conditioning system 101 uses moisture in the exhaust air
that is exhausted from the room to the outside, so that the
ventilation air can be humidified without the need to supply water
to the humidifier 185.
[0175] In addition, as shown in FIG. 22, in order to enlarge the
range of humidity control by the humidifier 185, the exhaust air
that is exhausted from the room to the outside (shown as RA on the
left side of the desiccant rotor 185a in FIG. 21) is mixed with the
outdoor air (shown as OA on the left side of the desiccant rotor
185a in FIG. 21) different from the ventilation air, and this mixed
air may be passed through the desiccant rotor 185a so as to adsorb
moisture onto the adsorbent of the desiccant rotor 185a and desorb
the moisture back to the ventilation air.
[0176] Note that with the humidifier 185 shown in FIG. 22, both the
exhaust air that is exhausted from the room to the outside and the
outdoor air different from the ventilation air are caused to pass
through the desiccant rotor 185a, however, only the outdoor air
different from the ventilation air may be caused to pass
therethrough.
(17) OTHER EMBODIMENTS
[0177] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described with reference to the figures, the scope of the
present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the
various changes and modifications may be made without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
[0178] For example, the air conditioning system of the above
described embodiment uses, as a heat source unit, a heat source
unit that has a refrigerant circuit dedicated to heating. However,
a heat source unit capable of switchably performing cooling and
heating operations may be used.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0179] Application of the present invention will enable, in the air
conditioning system capable of heating the room, the prevention of
a cold draft due to the ventilation air that is supplied to the
room to ventilate the room.
* * * * *