U.S. patent application number 12/739771 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for device for ventilating and air-conditioning bathroom.
This patent application is currently assigned to PANASONIC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Yoshimasa Katsumi, Mitunori Matubara, Yoshihiro Nishizuru, Kazuhiro Saitou, Yuuji Sugata, Kei Takeshita, Masafumi Tsubouchi.
Application Number | 20100248612 12/739771 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40667275 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100248612 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsubouchi; Masafumi ; et
al. |
September 30, 2010 |
DEVICE FOR VENTILATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING BATHROOM
Abstract
In a bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system including a
first air inlet open to a bathroom; a main body conditioning air
drawn in from the first air inlet; and a first air outlet open to
the bathroom, where the air is circulated in the bathroom and the
main body to air-condition the bathroom, the main body is placed in
an indoor space other than on the ceiling surface of the bathroom;
the first air inlet is connected to the main body through a first
air inlet duct; and the main body is connected to the first air
outlet through a first circulating duct.
Inventors: |
Tsubouchi; Masafumi; (Aichi,
JP) ; Matubara; Mitunori; (Aichi, JP) ;
Sugata; Yuuji; (Aichi, JP) ; Takeshita; Kei;
(Aichi, JP) ; Katsumi; Yoshimasa; (Aichi, JP)
; Nishizuru; Yoshihiro; (Aichi, JP) ; Saitou;
Kazuhiro; (Aichi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANASONIC PATENT CENTER
1130 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW, SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
PANASONIC CORPORATION
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
40667275 |
Appl. No.: |
12/739771 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
November 18, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2008/003357 |
371 Date: |
April 26, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/290 ;
454/338; 62/498 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 30/56 20130101;
F24F 12/003 20130101; F24F 7/08 20130101; Y02B 30/52 20130101; Y02B
30/563 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/290 ;
454/338; 62/498 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/08 20060101
F24F013/08; F24F 7/007 20060101 F24F007/007; F25B 1/00 20060101
F25B001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 19, 2007 |
JP |
2007-299018 |
Claims
1. A bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system comprising: a
first air inlet open to a bathroom; a main body conditioning air
drawn in from the first air inlet; and a first air outlet open to
the bathroom, wherein the bathroom ventilating air-conditioning
system air-conditions the bathroom by circulating and sending the
air to the bathroom and the main body, wherein the main body is
placed in an indoor space other than on a ceiling surface of the
bathroom, wherein the first air inlet is connected to the main body
through a first air inlet duct, and wherein the main body is
connected to the first air outlet through a first circulating
duct.
2. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 1,
wherein the space is an under-roof space of a room other than the
bathroom.
3. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 1,
wherein the space is an underfloor space of a room other than the
bathroom.
4. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 3,
wherein a top panel of the main body has a power supply
connector.
5. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 3,
wherein a top panel of the main body has a service port.
6. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 1,
further comprising: a circulating fan drawing in the air from the
first air inlet and blowing out the air from the first air outlet;
a ventilating fan drawing in the air from an air inlet open to a
space other than the bathroom and discharging the air outdoors for
ventilation; a compressor compressing a refrigerant; a first heat
exchanger heat-exchanging between the air sent by the circulating
fan and the refrigerant; an expansion mechanism expanding the
refrigerant; a second heat exchanger heat-exchanging the air sent
by the ventilating fan and the refrigerant; and a refrigerant
circuit piped so that the refrigerant circulates in order of the
compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion mechanism, and
the second heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant absorbs heat
from the air discharged outdoors at the second heat exchanger, and
discharges heat to the air circulating in the bathroom at the first
heat exchanger to heat the bathroom.
7. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 6,
further comprising a flow path changing valve changing a flow
direction of the refrigerant in order of the compressor, the second
heat exchanger, the expansion mechanism, and the first heat
exchanger, wherein the refrigerant discharges heat to the air
discharged outdoors at the second heat exchanger and absorbs heat
from the air circulating in the bathroom at the first heat
exchanger to cool the bathroom.
8. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 6,
further comprising a first damper introducing the air drawn in from
the first air inlet to the second heat exchanger and passing the
air through the second heat exchanger, and then introducing the air
to the first heat exchanger, wherein the air drawn in from the
first air inlet by the circulating fan with the first damper being
opened is passed through the second heat exchanger, and then the
air is introduced to the first heat exchanger and is passed through
the first heat exchanger to reheat-dehumidify the air in the
bathroom and to supply dry air to the bathroom.
9. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 7,
further comprising an other-room fan discharging the air to a space
different from the bathroom after the air drawing in from the first
air inlet has undergone heating, cooling, or reheat-dehumidifying,
wherein the air is distributed to the bathroom and the space
different from the bathroom.
10. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 9,
further comprising a plurality of dampers changing a path of the
air drawn in from the first air inlet after the air have undergone
heating, cooling, or reheat-dehumidifying.
11. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 10,
wherein the air is drawn in from a second air inlet open to an
undressing room and a third air inlet open to a toilet.
12. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 11,
further comprising a second damper and a third damper changing an
air path to an air path drawing in the air respectively from the
second air inlet and the third air inlet to the main body.
13. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 9,
wherein a space different from the bathroom is one of an underfloor
space and an under-roof space.
14. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 4,
wherein a top panel of the main body has a service port.
15. The bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system of claim 8,
further comprising an other-room fan discharging the air to a space
different from the bathroom after the air drawing in from the first
air inlet has undergone heating, cooling, or reheat-dehumidifying,
wherein the air is distributed to the bathroom and the space
different from the bathroom.
16. A bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system comprising: a
first air inlet open to a bathroom; a main body conditioning air
drawn in from the first air inlet; and a first air outlet open to
the bathroom, wherein the bathroom ventilating air-conditioning
system air-conditions the bathroom by circulating and sending the
air between the bathroom and the main body, wherein a top panel of
the main body has a service port so that the main body can be
placed in an indoor space other than on a ceiling surface of the
bathroom, wherein the first air inlet is connected to the main body
through a first air inlet duct, and wherein the main body is
connected to the first air outlet through a first circulating duct.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a bathroom ventilating
air-conditioning system ventilating and air-conditioning such as a
bathroom using a heat pump.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, various types of arrangement structures are
devised of a ventilating air-conditioning system and
air-conditioner for such as a bathroom using a heat pump.
[0003] With such a system, a heat pump part including a compressor
and a heat exchanger is placed integrally in the main body, which
is disposed on the ceiling surface of a bathroom, and an air inlet
and an air outlet are formed in the bathroom. The ceiling surface
of the bathroom has a grill provided thereon for covering the air
inlet and air outlet. A heat exchanger placed in the main body
discharges and absorbs heat to and from air in the bathroom to
air-condition the bathroom, and a ventilating blower placed in the
main body ventilates the bathroom. With this type of system, being
integrated to the heat pump, refrigerant piping does not need to be
connected in construction, and the main body is installed on the
ceiling surface of the bathroom (refer to patent literature 1 for
instance).
[0004] On the other hand, there is a bathroom ventilating
air-conditioning system in which the heat pump is separated into an
outdoor unit and an indoor unit; a heat exchanger provided in the
outdoor unit discharges and absorbs heat to and from outside air;
and a heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit discharges and
absorbs heat to and from air in the bathroom to air-condition the
bathroom. The system ventilates the bathroom by means of a
ventilating blower provided in the outdoor unit without recovering
heat from air in the bathroom. With this type of system, the heat
pump is placed separately in the bathroom and outdoors, and thus
the units need to be piped between the bathroom and the outdoors
(refer to patent literature 2 for instance).
[0005] To dispose an air-conditioner in an underfloor space, an
opening communicating with the outdoors is provided in an external
wall, and the outdoor unit of the air-conditioner is placed facing
the outdoors through the opening in the underfloor space. In this
way, an air-conditioner is disposed efficiently while maintaining
the efficiency of intake and exhaust of the air-conditioner.
Further, with an outdoor unit not placed outdoors, the appearance
of the house looks neat (refer to patent literature 3 for
instance).
[0006] In this way, with a conventional bathroom ventilating
air-conditioning system, its main body is installed in a bathroom
or on the ceiling surface of the bathroom, which means the main
body cannot be installed if the bathroom has no installation space,
and if installed, vibration and/or noise of the system tend to
travel into the bathroom.
[Patent literature 1] Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No.
H05-231675 [Patent literature 2] Japanese Patent Unexamined
Publication No. 2002-349930 [Patent literature 3] Japanese Patent
Unexamined Publication No. 2006-22988
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a bathroom ventilating
air-conditioning system including a first air inlet open to a
bathroom; a main body for conditioning air drawn in through the
first air inlet; and a first air outlet open to the bathroom. The
system air-conditions the bathroom by circulating air between the
bathroom and the main body. The main body is installed in an indoor
space other than on the ceiling surface of the bathroom. The first
air inlet is connected to the main body through the first air inlet
duct, and the main body is connected to the first air outlet
through the first circulating duct.
[0008] With such a system, its main body can be installed even if
there is no installation space near the bathroom. Further, the main
body installed remotely from the bathroom operates without
transmitting vibration and/or noise of the main body to the
bathroom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a sketch of a living space where a bathroom
ventilating air-conditioning system according to the first
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a configuration for installing the main body of
a bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system according to the
second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an air path block diagram and refrigerant circuit
diagram of a bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system according
to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows an installation pattern of a bathroom
ventilating air-conditioning system according to the fourth
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
[0013] 1 Living space [0014] 2 Living room [0015] 3 Bathroom [0016]
4 Undressing room [0017] 5 Toilet [0018] 6 Main body [0019] 6a Top
panel [0020] 6b Service port [0021] 7 Exhaust duct [0022] 8 First
air inlet [0023] 9 First air inlet duct [0024] 10 First air outlet
[0025] 11 First circulating duct [0026] 12 Second air inlet [0027]
13 Second air inlet duct [0028] 14 Second air outlet [0029] 15
Second circulating duct [0030] 16 Third air inlet [0031] 17 Third
air inlet duct [0032] 18 Third air outlet [0033] 19 Third
circulating duct [0034] 20 Circulating fan [0035] 21 Ventilating
fan [0036] 22 Air supply inlet [0037] 23 Air-conditioner [0038] 24,
25 Door [0039] 26 Other-room fan [0040] 27 Floor surface [0041] 28
Installation/inspection opening [0042] 29 Power supply connector
[0043] 30 Service part [0044] 31 Refrigerant circuit [0045] 32
Compressor [0046] 33 First heat exchanger [0047] 34 Expansion
mechanism [0048] 35 Second heat exchanger [0049] 36 Flow path
changing valve [0050] 37 Other-room supply duct [0051] 38 First
damper [0052] 39 Second damper [0053] 40 Third damper [0054] 41
Fourth damper [0055] 42 Fifth damper [0056] 43 Sixth damper [0057]
44 Seventh damper [0058] 45 Eighth damper [0059] 46 Ninth
damper
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0060] Hereinafter, a description is made of some embodiments of
the present invention with reference to the related drawings.
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0061] FIG. 1 is a sketch of a living space where a bathroom
ventilating air-conditioning system according to the first
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed. Indoor
living space 1 is partitioned such as into living room 2, bathroom
3, undressing room 4, and toilet 5. An under-roof space or
underfloor space of other than bathroom 3 has main body 6 of the
system installed therein. Main body 6 has exhaust duct 7, first air
inlet duct 9, first circulating duct 11, second air inlet duct 13,
second circulating duct 15, third air inlet duct 17, and third
circulating duct 19, all connected thereto.
[0062] Here, exhaust duct 7 makes main body 6 communicate with the
outdoors; first air inlet duct 9 makes first air inlet 8 open to
bathroom 3 communicate with main body 6; and first circulating duct
11 makes first air outlet 10 open to bathroom 3 communicate with
main body 6. Second air inlet duct 13 makes second air inlet 12
open to undressing room 4 communicate with main body 6; and second
circulating duct 15 makes second air outlet 14 open to undressing
room 4 communicate with main body 6. Further, third air inlet duct
17 makes third air inlet 16 open to toilet 5 communicate with main
body 6; third circulating duct 19 makes third air outlet 18 open to
toilet 5 communicate with main body 6. Main body 6 conditions air
drawn in from first air inlet 8. Then, the system circulates the
air to bathroom 3 and main body 6 to air-condition bathroom 3.
[0063] The inside of main body 6 has circulating fan 20 disposed
therein. First air inlet duct 9 making bathroom 3 communicate with
main body 6 is connected to the inlet side of circulating fan 20;
and first circulating duct 11, to the air outlet side of
circulating fan 20. Hence, operating circulating fan 20 causes air
in bathroom 3 to be drawn in from first air inlet 8 to circulating
fan 20 through first air inlet duct 9, and to be blown out from
first air outlet 10 to bathroom 3 through first circulating duct
11.
[0064] The inside of main body 6 has ventilating fan 21 disposed
therein. Exhaust duct 7 making the outdoors communicate with main
body 6 is connected to the air outlet side of ventilating fan 21;
second air inlet duct 13 making undressing room 4 communicate with
main body 6 and third air inlet duct 17 making toilet 5 communicate
with main body 6 are connected to the inlet side of ventilating fan
21. Hence, operating ventilating fan 21 causes the air in
undressing room 4 and toilet 5 to be drawn in from second air inlet
12 and third air inlet 16 to ventilating fan 21 respectively
through second air inlet duct 13 and third air inlet duct 17, and
to be discharged outdoors through exhaust duct 7.
[0065] Continuously running ventilating fan 21 develops a negative
pressure in living space 1, and thus fresh outside air is supplied
through air supply inlet 22 open in the wall of living room 2 (an
indoor space) facing the outdoors, thereby ventilating living space
1 (ventilating operation). This ventilating operation needs to be
performed continuously for a building with high hermeticity
(24-hour ventilation), and thus ventilating fan 21 is continuously
operated so that a predetermined amount (e.g. approximately a half
volume of living space 1 per hour) of air ventilation is
secured.
[0066] Living room 2 has air-conditioner 23 placed therein for
controlling the room temperature, which appropriately maintains the
room temperature through cooling operation in summer and heating
operation in winter. Hence as described above, with year-round
continuous ventilating operation, living room 2 is maintained
within a given temperature range through cooling in summer and
heating in winter by air-conditioner 23. For instance, air
conditioned between 20.degree. C. and 30.degree. C. is drawn in to
second air inlet 12 and third air inlet 16 to through louvers
and/or undercut parts of door 24 to undressing room 4 and of door
25 to toilet 5, and then discharged outdoors through main body 6 of
the system.
[0067] The inside of main body 6 has other-room fan 26 disposed
therein, and second circulating duct 15 making undressing room 4
communicate with main body 6 and third circulating duct 19 making
toilet 5 communicate with main body 6 are connected to the air
outlet side of other-room fan 26. Hence, running other-room fan 26
causes air conditioned by main body 6 to be discharged from second
air outlet 14 to undressing room 4 through second circulating duct
15. The air conditioned by main body 6 is to be discharged from
third air outlet 18 to toilet 5 through third circulating duct
19.
[0068] In this way, with a bathroom ventilating air-conditioning
system according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
constraints on a location for installing main body 6 is eliminated,
and thus main body 6 can be installed somewhere to air-condition
bathroom 3 even if there is no installation space near bathroom
3.
[0069] Main body 6 installed remotely from bathroom 3 operates
without transmitting vibration and/or noise of main body 6 to
bathroom 3.
[0070] A decrease of constraints on the outside dimension and shape
of main body 6 increases flexibility in designing the main
body.
[0071] Bathroom 3 needs to be provided only with first air inlet 8
and first air outlet 10, and thus designing the inside of bathroom
3 is simplified.
[0072] Main body 6 can be installed under floor, which facilitates
its construction and maintenance to improve workability.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0073] In the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
a component same as that of the first one is given the same
reference mark to omit its description, and only different points
are described. FIG. 2 shows a configuration for installing the main
body of a bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system according to
the second embodiment of the present invention, in a state where
main body 6 of the system is installed under floor. Main body 6 is
installed underneath installation/inspection opening 28 provided in
floor surface 27.
[0074] Top panel 6a of main body 6 is provided with power supply
connector 29 and service port 6b. Hence, opening
installation/inspection opening 28 when installing or servicing
main body 6 allows the power supply to be connected or removed
easily.
[0075] Service part 30 such as a filter is disposed where it is
detachable from top panel 6a of main body 6 through service port
6b. Hence, opening installation/inspection opening 28 when
servicing main body 6 allows service part 30 to be easily
maintained through service port 6b provided in top panel 6a of main
body 6.
[0076] In this way, with a bathroom ventilating air-conditioning
system according to the second embodiment of the present invention,
main body 6 can be placed by bringing main body 6 down in the
gravitational direction through installation/inspection opening 28
in installation construction, allowing main body 6 to be installed
easily.
[0077] As a result that power supply connector 29 and service part
30 are provided on top panel 6a of main body 6, the power supply is
connected or removed, and a filters is maintained (e.g. cleaning)
from floor surface 27 easily, improving workability.
Third Exemplary Embodiment
[0078] In the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
a component same as that of the first one is given the same
reference mark to omit its description, and only different points
are described. FIG. 3 is an air path block diagram and refrigerant
circuit diagram of a bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system
according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The
inside of main body 6 of the system has circulating fan 20,
ventilating fan 21, and other-room fan 26 disposed therein.
[0079] Here, circulating fan 20 draws in air through first air
inlet duct 9 communicating with bathroom 3 and blows out the air to
bathroom 3 through first circulating duct 11. Ventilating fan 21
draws in air through second air inlet duct 13 communicating with a
space (e.g. undressing room 4) other than bathroom 3; and third air
inlet duct 17 communicating with toilet 5, and then discharges the
air outdoors through exhaust duct 7. Other-room fan 26 sends air to
such as an underfloor space through other-room supply duct 37.
[0080] The inside of main body 6 has refrigerant circuit 31 built
therein, where circuit 31 is filled with a refrigerant such as any
one of an HCFC refrigerant (contains atoms of chlorine, hydrogen,
fluorine, and carbon in its molecules); an HFC refrigerant
(contains atoms of hydrogen, carbon, and fluorine in its
molecules); and a natural refrigerant (e.g. hydrocarbon, carbon
dioxide), and is piped so that the refrigerant circulates.
Refrigerant circuit 31 has compressor 32 compressing a refrigerant;
first heat exchanger 33 exchanging heat between air sent by
circulating fan 20 and a refrigerant; expansion mechanism 34
composed of an electronic expansion valve expanding a refrigerant;
and second heat exchanger 35 exchanging heat between air sent by
ventilating fan 21 and a refrigerant, all disposed therein.
[0081] Refrigerant circuit 31 has flow path changing valve 36
disposed therein changing between two types of paths. One is a path
(heating cycle, hereinafter) through which a refrigerant compressed
by compressor 32 passes in order of first heat exchanger 33,
expansion mechanism 34, and second heat exchanger 35, and then
returns to compressor 32. The other is a path (cooling cycle,
hereinafter) through which a refrigerant compressed by compressor
32 passes in order of second heat exchanger 35, expansion mechanism
34, first heat exchanger 33, and then returns to compressor 32.
[0082] In first heat exchanger 33, a refrigerant discharges and
absorbs heat to and from air in bathroom 3 circulated by
circulating fan 20. In second heat exchanger 35, a refrigerant
discharges and absorbs heat to and from air discharged outdoors by
ventilating fan 21.
[0083] The air conditioned after passing through first heat
exchanger 33 is supplied to a space (e.g. undressing room 4, toilet
5) other than bathroom 3, or to an underfloor space. Here, the air
is supplied to undressing room 4 through second circulating duct
15; to toilet 5 through third circulating duct 19; and to an
underfloor space through other-room supply duct 37.
[0084] First air inlet duct 9, second air inlet duct 13, and third
air inlet duct 17 are respectively provided with first damper 38,
second damper 39, and third damper 40, each changing an air path.
The dampers allow changing the destination of air drawn in from
bathroom 3, undressing room 4, and toilet 5, selectively to second
heat exchanger 35 or first heat exchanger 33.
[0085] Exhaust duct 7 is provided with fourth damper 41 for
changing an air path, which allows changing whether or not air is
discharged outdoors.
[0086] First circulating duct 11, second circulating duct 15, third
circulating duct 19, and other-room supply duct 37 are respectively
provided with fifth damper 42, sixth damper 43, seventh damper 44,
and eighth damper 45, each changing an air path. Operating the
dampers allows air conditioned by first heat exchanger 33 to be
supplied selectively to bathroom 3, undressing room 4, toilet 5,
and an underfloor space.
[0087] In this way, fifth damper 42, sixth damper 43, seventh
damper 44, and eighth damper 45 are provided for changing a path of
air drawn in from first air inlet 8 after the air has undergone
heating, cooling, or reheat-dehumidifying to supply the air
selectively to bathroom 3 or another space.
[0088] Air is drawn in to main body 6 through first air inlet 8,
second air inlet 12, and third air inlet 16; undergoes heating,
cooling, or reheat-dehumidifying; and is supplied to bathroom 3 and
another space.
[0089] First damper 38, second damper 39, and third damper 40 are
provided for changing an air path to that through which air is
drawn in from first air inlet 8, second air inlet 12, and third air
inlet 16 to main body 6; the air undergoes heating, cooling, or
reheat-dehumidifying; and the air is supplied to bathroom 3 and
another space.
[0090] Main body 6 is provided with ninth damper 46 enabling the
air path separating between second heat exchanger 35 and first heat
exchanger 33 to open. Opening ninth damper 46 allows air having
passed through second heat exchanger 35 to be supplied to first
heat exchanger 33 for reheating dehumidification.
[0091] First damper 38 is thus provided for introducing air drawn
in from first air inlet 8 to first heat exchanger 33 after the air
is introduced to second heat exchanger 35 and is passed through it.
Dry air produced by reheat-dehumidifying air in bathroom 3 may be
supplied to bathroom 3 through the process in which first damper 38
is opened; circulating fan 20 makes air drawn in through first air
inlet 8 pass through second heat exchanger 35; and then the air is
introduced to first heat exchanger 33 and is passed through it.
[0092] Other-room fan 26 may blow out air drawn in from first air
inlet 8 to a space other than bathroom 3 after the air has
undergone heating, cooling, or reheat-dehumidifying, and the air
may be distributed to bathroom 3 and another space.
[0093] The air having undergone heating, cooling, or
reheat-dehumidifying may be supplied to an underfloor space and
under-roof space of other than bathroom 3.
[0094] With the bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system
according to the third embodiment of the present invention, a
refrigerant absorbs heat from air in a space other than bathroom 3
discharged outdoors by ventilating fan 21 at second heat exchanger
35. Then, at first heat exchanger 33, the refrigerant discharges
heat to air circulated in bathroom 3 by circulating fan 20 to
operate a heat pump to heat bathroom 3.
[0095] Running other-room fan 26 enables heating undressing room 4,
toilet 5, and an underfloor space as well.
[0096] Changing first damper 38, second damper 39, third damper 40,
fifth damper 42, sixth damper 43, seventh damper 44, and eighth
damper 45 allows drawing in and discharging from and to only
desired spaces, and heating only desired spaces.
[0097] At second heat exchanger 35, a refrigerant discharges heat
to air in a space other than bathroom 3 discharged outdoors by
ventilating fan 21; and at first heat exchanger 33, the refrigerant
absorbs heat from air circulated by circulating fan 20 to operate a
heat pump to allow cooling bathroom 3. Running other-room fan 26
allows cooling undressing room 4, toilet 5, and an underfloor
space.
[0098] Changing first damper 38, second damper 39, third damper 40,
fifth damper 42, sixth damper 43, seventh damper 44, and eighth
damper 45 allows drawing in and discharging from and to only
desired spaces, and cooling only desired spaces.
[0099] Air heat-exchanged by second heat exchanger 35 is supplied
to first heat exchanger 33 to undergo reheating dehumidification,
and supplied to bathroom 3 by circulating fan 20, allowing bathroom
3 to be dehumidified. Running other-room fan 26 allows
reheat-dehumidifying undressing room 4, toilet 5, and an underfloor
space.
[0100] Changing first damper 38, second damper 39, third damper 40,
fifth damper 42, sixth damper 43, seventh damper 44, and eighth
damper 45 allows drawing in and discharging from and to only
desired spaces, and dehumidifying only desired spaces.
Fourth Exemplary Embodiment
[0101] In the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
a component same as that of the first one is given the same
reference mark to omit its description, and only different points
are described. FIG. 4 shows an installation pattern of a bathroom
ventilating air-conditioning system according to the fourth
embodiment of the present invention. Main body 6 of the system is
installed under the floor of undressing room 4. Floor surface 27 of
undressing room 4, provided therein with installation/inspection
opening 28, allows main body 6 to be installed while being brought
down in the gravitational direction from floor surface 27 to
installation/inspection opening 28.
[0102] FIG. 4 shows a case where main body 6 is installed in the
underfloor space of undressing room 4. The installation location is
not limited to this space, but may be any place as long as it is an
underfloor space where installation/inspection opening 28 can be
provided. Main body 6 is connected to the outdoors through exhaust
duct 7, and thus does not need to be disposed in an underfloor
space facing an opening making an underfloor space communicate with
the outdoors.
[0103] Top panel 6a main body 6 is provided thereon with power
supply connector 29, which allows a power supply to be easily
connected through installation/inspection opening 28 in
construction. The power supply can be easily removed when needed in
servicing.
[0104] Service port 6b, provided in top panel 6a of main body 6,
allows easy work (e.g. care of a filter) through
installation/inspection opening 28 in servicing.
[0105] Exhaust duct 7, first air inlet duct 9, first circulating
duct 11, second air inlet duct 13, second circulating duct 15,
third air inlet duct 17, third circulating duct 19 are all disposed
between an underfloor space or bathroom 3 and the external wall of
living space 1; and in a under-roof space. Then, main body 6 is
made communicate with bathroom 3, undressing room 4, and toilet 5
to allow air to be drawn in from the rooms to main body 6, and thus
conditioned air having undergone heating, cooling, or
reheat-dehumidifying by main body 6 can be supplied to the
rooms.
[0106] Other-room supply duct 37 allows supplying conditioned air
having undergone heating, cooling, or reheat-dehumidifying by main
body 6 to an underfloor space. Particularly, as a result that
conditioned air having undergone reheat-dehumidifying is supplied
to an underfloor space near a water-using device, a space near
water that is particularly subject to moisture to cause
condensation in the underfloor space, thereby preventing
condensation and mold from occurring under floor.
[0107] A bathroom ventilating air-conditioning system according to
the fourth embodiment of the present invention can thus
air-condition bathroom 3, undressing room 4, toilet 5, and an
underfloor space. Supplying reheat-dehumidified air to an
underfloor space prevents condensation from occurring near a
water-using device to suppress mold.
[0108] The above description is made of only one pattern for
implementing the present invention, which is not limited to the
above embodiments.
[0109] In the embodiments of the present invention, the description
is made of a bathroom, undressing room, and toilet, for instance,
as a space to be mainly ventilated and air-conditioned, but an
indoor space corresponding to any of them may be chosen with no
difference in the effect.
[0110] In the embodiments of the present invention, the description
is made of a heat source based on a refrigeration cycle for
increasing temperature in heating; however, it does not need to be
based on a refrigeration cycle for a bathroom ventilating
air-conditioning system only for heating. For instance, hot-water
method (circulates hot water to increase the air temperature) or a
heating element (e.g. electric heater) provides the same effect. As
exemplified in the embodiments of the present invention, however, a
refrigeration cycle is desirably used as a heat source. This
enables efficient heating and implements all the functions
presented in the embodiments of the present invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0111] As described above, a bathroom ventilating air-conditioning
system of the present invention is applicable to ventilating and
air-conditioning not only of a bathroom but of a living room,
bedroom, kitchen, washroom, and the like.
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