U.S. patent application number 12/774905 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for dehumidification system for vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI. Invention is credited to Naoto Morisaku, Noritaka Nishimori, Junya Suzuki, Naoya YOKOMACHI.
Application Number | 20100281904 12/774905 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42555582 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100281904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOKOMACHI; Naoya ; et
al. |
November 11, 2010 |
DEHUMIDIFICATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A dehumidification system for a vehicle includes a duct and a
desiccant dehumidifier. The duct includes inside and outside air
inlets, an air passage, a flap, an air outlet communicating with
the vehicle interior, a heat source and an outside air heat
exchanger. The desiccant dehumidifier includes a desiccant rotor, a
humidity conditioning air passage, a dehumidified air passage, a
regeneration passage, a humidified air passage and a regeneration
heater. The air from the heat source is introduced into the
desiccant rotor through the humidity conditioning air passage and
introduced to the air outlet through the dehumidified air passage.
The air from the heat source is introduced into the desiccant rotor
through the regeneration passage and flowed through the humidified
air passage. The outside air heat exchanger includes a heat
exchanger, an outside air passage, a heated outside air passage and
a cooled humidified air passage.
Inventors: |
YOKOMACHI; Naoya;
(Aichi-ken, JP) ; Suzuki; Junya; (Aichi-ken,
JP) ; Nishimori; Noritaka; (Aichi-ken, JP) ;
Morisaku; Naoto; (Aichi-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA
JIDOSHOKKI
Kariya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
42555582 |
Appl. No.: |
12/774905 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/271 ; 165/10;
165/104.34; 392/465 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 3/1423 20130101;
B60H 3/024 20130101; B60H 2003/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/271 ; 392/465;
165/10; 165/104.34 |
International
Class: |
F25B 15/00 20060101
F25B015/00; F24H 3/04 20060101 F24H003/04; F28D 19/00 20060101
F28D019/00; F28F 13/12 20060101 F28F013/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 8, 2009 |
JP |
2009-113609 |
Claims
1. A dehumidification system for a vehicle comprising: a duct
including: an inside air inlet communicating with the vehicle
interior and through which air from the vehicle interior is
introduced into the duct; an outside air inlet communicating with
the outside of the vehicle and through which air from the outside
of the vehicle is introduced into the duct; an air passage
positioned downstream of the inside air inlet and the outside air
inlet; a flap operable to provide air communication between the
inside air inlet and the air passage and/or the outside air inlet
and the air passage; and an air outlet communicating with the
vehicle interior and the air passage at a position downstream of
the flap; and a heat source disposed in the air passage for heating
the air from the inside air inlet and/or the outside air inlet, a
desiccant dehumidifier disposed downstream of the heat source in
the air passage and including: a desiccant rotor dehumidifying the
air; a humidity conditioning air passage through which the air from
the heat source is introduced into the desiccant rotor; a
dehumidified air passage through which the air from the humidity
conditioning air passage via the desiccant rotor is introduced to
the air outlet, a regeneration passage through which the air from
the heat source is introduced into the desiccant rotor; a
regeneration heater disposed in the regeneration passage for
heating the air from the heat source; and a humidified air passage
through which the air from the regeneration passage via the
desiccant rotor is flowed, and an outside air heat exchanger
including: a heat exchanger communicating with the humidified air
passage; an outside air passage communicating the outside of the
vehicle to the heat exchanger for introducing air from the outside
of the vehicle; a heated outside air passage through which the air
from the outside air passage via the heat exchanger is introduced
to the air outlet; and a cooled humidified air passage through
which the air from the humidified air passage via the heat
exchanger is introduced to the outside of the vehicle.
2. The dehumidification system according to claim 1, wherein the
heat source is a heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger of the heat
source including: a heat exchange medium whose heat is transferred
to the air from the inside and/or outside of the vehicle by heat
exchange; a first inlet through which the heat exchange medium is
introduced; and a first outlet through which the heat exchange
medium is discharged, the dehumidification system further
comprising a heat accumulator accumulating heat, the heat
accumulator including: a second inlet through which the heat
exchange medium is introduced; and a second outlet through which
the heat exchange medium is discharged, and pipes connecting the
first air outlet to the second air inlet and the first air inlet to
the second air outlet.
3. The dehumidification system according to claim 2, wherein the
heat accumulator further includes a heat storage medium whose heat
is transferred to the heat exchange medium by heat exchange, and in
that the heat storage medium is thermally insulated from
outside.
4. The dehumidification system according to claim 3, characterized
in that the heat accumulator accumulating heat generated while the
vehicle is parked.
5. The dehumidification system according to claim 2, wherein the
heat exchanger of the heat source includes a first heat exchanger
and a second heat exchanger, and in that the heat accumulator of
the first heat exchanger is a heat collector collecting exhaust
heat generated in the vehicle, and the heat accumulator of the
second heat exchanger includes the heat storage medium.
6. The dehumidification system according to claim 5, wherein the
pipes have first pipes connecting the heat collector to the first
heat exchanger and second pipes connecting the heat accumulator to
the second heat exchanger, and valves are disposed in the second
pipes, wherein the valves are opened to supply the heat exchange
medium to the second heat exchanger when the amount of the exhaust
heat generated in the vehicle is relatively small, and the valves
are closed to stop supplying the heat exchange medium to the second
heat exchanger when the amount of the exhaust heat generated in the
vehicle is relatively large.
7. The dehumidification system according to claim 1, wherein the
regeneration heater is an electric heater.
8. The dehumidification system according to claim 1, wherein an
upstream blower is disposed upstream of the heat source and a
downstream blower is disposed upstream of the air outlet in the air
passage.
9. The dehumidification system according to claim 1, wherein the
heat source is an electric heater.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a dehumidification system
for a vehicle.
[0002] A conventional dehumidification system is disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-146220, which
includes a duct, a heat source and a desiccant dehumidifier.
[0003] The duct has first and second air inlets, an air passage and
first and second air outlets formed therein. The first and second
air inlets are located upstream of the air passage for
communication therewith respect to the direction of air flowing in
the air passage, and the first and second air outlets are located
downstream of the air passage for communication therewith. Air
inside and outside the vehicle can be flowed into the air passage
through the first and second air inlets. The first air outlet can
communicate with the vehicle interior, and the second air outlet
can communicate with the outside of the vehicle. The air passage is
partitioned by a partition wall into first and second spaces
providing air communication between the first air inlet and outlet
and between the second air inlet and outlet, respectively.
[0004] The heat source is provided by a Peltier module having a
radiator for heating ambient air and a heat sink for absorbing heat
from ambient air. The heat source is disposed upstream of the air
outlets in the air passage of the duct. The heat sink of the heat
source is located in the first space of the air passage which
communicates with the first air inlet, and the radiator is located
in the second space of the air passage which communicates with the
second air inlet.
[0005] The desiccant dehumidifier includes a desiccant rotor, a
humidity conditioning air passage, a dehumidified air passage, a
regeneration passage and a humidified air passage. Humidity
conditioning air is flowed through the humidity conditioning air
passage and introduced into the desiccant rotor to be dehumidified,
and the air dehumidified by the desiccant rotor is flowed through
the dehumidified air passage. Air for regenerating the desiccant
rotor is flowed through the regeneration passage and introduced
into the desiccant rotor to be humidified, and the air humidified
by the desiccant rotor is flowed through the humidified air
passage. The desiccant rotor is located just downstream of the heat
source in the duct. A part of the air passage communicating with
the first air inlet forms the humidity conditioning air passage.
Another part of the air passage communicating with the first air
outlet forms the dehumidified air passage. Yet another part of the
air passage communicating with the second air inlet forms the
regeneration passage. Still another part of the air passage
communicating with the second air outlet forms the humidified air
passage.
[0006] In the above-described dehumidification system, air is
introduced through the first air inlet and flowed through the
humidity conditioning air passage and into the heat source. The
humidity conditioning air in the heat source is cooled by the heat
sink of the heat source and introduced into the desiccant rotor to
be dehumidified. The air dehumidified by the desiccant rotor is
flowed through the dehumidified air passage and the first air
outlet and supplied to the vehicle interior.
[0007] Meanwhile, air introduced through the second air inlet is
flowed through the regeneration passage and into the heat source.
The air in the heat source is heated by the radiator of the heat
source. The heated air or the regenerating air is introduced into
the desiccant rotor for regenerating the desiccant rotor by
dehumidification. The air humidified in the desiccant rotor by
dehumidification is flowed through the humidified air passage and
the second air outlet and discharged to the outside of the vehicle.
Thus, the dehumidification performance of the desiccant rotor can
be recovered.
[0008] The above-described dehumidification system is advantageous
in terms of the reduction of energy consumption over its
conventional dehumidification system for a vehicle which
accomplished air conditioning of the vehicle interior by
refrigeration cycle and exhaust heat developed by the vehicle
engine.
[0009] The regenerating performance of a dehumidification system
using a desiccant dehumidifier is increased with an increase of the
temperature of the regenerating air. In the above-described
dehumidification system, air to be introduced into the
dehumidification system is not limited to inside or outside air. In
such a case, during winter, when outside air having a relatively
low temperature is used for regenerating the desiccant rotor, a
large amount of energy is consumed by the heat source for heating
the outside air used for regenerating the desiccant rotor.
[0010] The present invention is directed to providing a
dehumidification system for a vehicle whose energy consumption is
reduced effectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, a dehumidification
system for a vehicle includes a duct, a desiccant dehumidifier and
an outside air heat exchanger. The duct includes an inside air
inlet, an outside air inlet, an air passage, a flap, an air outlet
and a heat source. The inside air inlet communicates with the
vehicle interior. Air from the vehicle interior is introduced into
the duct through the inside air inlet. The outside air inlet
communicates with the outside of the vehicle. Air from the outside
of the vehicle is introduced into the duct through the outside air
inlet. The air passage is positioned downstream of the inside air
inlet and the outside air inlet. The flap is operable to provide
air communication between the inside air inlet and the air passage
and/or the outside air inlet and the air passage. The air outlet
communicates with the vehicle interior and the air passage at a
position downstream of the flap. The heat source is disposed in the
air passage for heating the air from the inside air inlet and/or
the outside air inlet. The desiccant dehumidifier is disposed
downstream of the heat source in the air passage. The desiccant
dehumidifier includes a desiccant rotor, a humidity conditioning
air passage, a dehumidified air passage, a regeneration passage, a
regeneration heater and a humidified air passage. The desiccant
rotor dehumidifies the air. The air from the heat source is
introduced into the desiccant rotor through the humidity
conditioning air passage. The air from the humidity conditioning
air passage via the desiccant rotor is introduced to the air outlet
through the dehumidified air passage. The air from the heat source
is introduced into the desiccant rotor through the regeneration
passage. The regeneration heater is disposed in the regeneration
passage for heating the air from the heat source. The air from the
regeneration passage via the desiccant rotor is flowed through the
humidified air passage. The outside air heat exchanger includes a
heat exchanger, an outside air passage, a heated outside air
passage and a cooled humidified air passage. The heat exchanger
communicates with the humidified air passage. The outside air
passage communicates the outside of the vehicle to the heat
exchanger for introducing air from the outside of the vehicle. The
air from the outside air passage via heat exchanger is introduced
to the air outlet through the heated outside air passage. The air
from the humidified air passage via heat exchanger is introduced to
the outside of the vehicle through the cooled humidified air
passage.
[0012] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the
principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention together with objects and advantages thereof,
may best be understood by reference to the following description of
the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a dehumidification system
for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the dehumidification system of
FIG. 1, showing a state wherein only the inside air is introduced
into a duct of the dehumidification system; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustrative view showing the state of
the dehumidification system of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] The following will describe a dehumidification system for a
vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.
[0018] The dehumidification system according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention is used for a hybrid vehicle or
an electric vehicle. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the
dehumidification system includes a duct 1, a first heat exchanger
3, a second heat exchanger 5, an electric heater 34A, a desiccant
dehumidifier 7 and an outside air heat exchanger 9.
[0019] The duct 1 includes a cylindrical main body 11 and pipes 12,
13. An air passage 15 is formed in the main body 11. Each of the
pipes 12, 13 is branched from the upstream end of the main body 11
with respect to the direction of air flowing in the air passage 15.
The pipe 12 has at the upstream end thereof an outside air inlet
12A opened to the outside of the vehicle. The pipe 13 has at the
upstream end thereof an inside air inlet 13A opened to the vehicle
interior. A flap 14 is disposed at the bifurcation between the
pipes 12 and 13.
[0020] The air passage 15 is positioned downstream of the outside
air inlet 12A and the inside air inlet 13A. The flap 14 is operable
to provide air communication between the outside air inlet 12A and
the air passage 15, the inside air inlet 13A and the air passage
15, or the both of the outside air inlet 12A and the inside air
inlet 13A and the air passage 15. A blower 16 is disposed
downstream of the flap 14 in the air passage 15 and upstream of the
first and second heat exchangers 3, 5 and serves as an upstream
blower. The air passage 15 has at the downstream end thereof an air
outlet 11A opened to the vehicle interior. Thus, the air outlet 11A
communicates with the vehicle interior and the air passage 15 at a
position downstream of the flap 14. Another blower 17 is disposed
just upstream of the air outlet 11A in the air passage 15 and
serves as a downstream blower.
[0021] The first and second heat exchangers 3, 5 serve as a heat
source in the dehumidification system. A heat collector 19 is
connected to the first heat exchanger 3 through pipes 18. The pipes
18 serve as a first pipe. The heat collector 19 serves as a heat
accumulator and collects exhaust heat generated in the vehicle, or
heat around an inverter or a motor of the vehicle by heat exchange
with water which serves as a heat exchange medium. The first heat
exchanger 3 has a first inlet 3A and a first outlet 3B connected to
the pipes 18, respectively. The heat collector 19 has a second
inlet 3C and a second outlet 3D connected to the pipes 18,
respectively.
[0022] Heat accumulators 22, 23 are connected to the second heat
exchanger 5 through pipes 20, 21 serving as a second pipe. The
second heat exchanger 5 has a first inlet 5A and a first outlet 5B
connected to the pipes 20, respectively. The heat accumulators 22,
23 have a heat storage medium. The heat accumulators 22, 23 are
thermally insulated from outside. Heat of the heat storage medium
may be transferred by heat exchange to the water serving as a heat
exchange medium.
[0023] The second heat exchanger 5 is connected to the heat
accumulator 22 through the pipes 20. The heat accumulator 23 is
connected to the pipes 20 through the pipes 21. Valves 22A, 22B are
connected in the pipes 20 at positions adjacent to the heat
accumulator 22, respectively. Valves 23A, 23B are disposed in the
pipes 21 at positions adjacent to the heat accumulator 23,
respectively. The heat accumulator 22 has a second inlet 22C and a
second outlet 22D connected to the pipes 20, respectively. The heat
accumulator 23 has a second inlet 23C and a second outlet 23D
connected to the pipes 21, respectively.
[0024] The main body 11 of the duct 1 has therein the desiccant
dehumidifier 7 and the outside air heat exchanger 9. The desiccant
dehumidifier 7 includes a known desiccant rotor 31 dehumidifying
air, a humidity conditioning air passage 36 and a dehumidified air
passage 33. The desiccant rotor 31 dehumidifies air. Humidity
conditioning air from the first and second heat exchangers 3, 5 is
flowed through the humidity conditioning air passage 36 and into
the desiccant rotor 31 to be dehumidified. The air from the
humidity conditioning air passage 36 via the desiccant rotor 31 is
introduced to the air outlet 11A through the dehumidified air
passage 33. Humidity conditioning air is the air that is to be
introduced into the desiccant rotor 31 and used for air
conditioning in the vehicle interior. Referring to FIG. 3, the
desiccant rotor 31 includes a dehumidification zone 31A and a
regeneration zone 31B. The dehumidification zone 31A and the
regeneration zone 31B are replacable with each other by rotation of
the desiccant rotor 31.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the desiccant dehumidifier 7
further includes a regeneration passage 34 and a humidified air
passage 35. Humidity conditioning air from the first and second
heat exchangers 3, 5 is introduced into the desiccant rotor 31
through the regeneration passage 34. The air from the regeneration
passage 34 via the desiccant rotor 31 is flowed through the
humidified air passage 35. An electric heater 34A is disposed in
the regeneration passage 34 for heating the air from the first and
second heat exchanger 3, 5 and serves as a regeneration heater.
[0026] The humidity conditioning air passage 36 and the
regeneration passage 34 are located upstream of the desiccant rotor
31 in the desiccant dehumidifier 7. The dehumidified air passage 33
and the humidified air passage 35 are located downstream of the
desiccant rotor 31 in the desiccant dehumidifier 7.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, heat exchange is performed between the
humidified air and the outside air in the outside air heat
exchanger 9. The outside air heat exchanger 9 includes a third heat
exchanger 9A, an outside air passage 32, a heated outside air
passage 38 and a cooled humidified air passage 39. The outside air
passage 32 is communicating the outside of the vehicle to the third
heat exchanger 9A for introducing therethrough outside air. The
third heat exchanger 9A serving as a heat exchanger communicates
with the humidified air passage 35. In the third heat exchanger 9A,
the heat of the humidified air flowed through the humidified air
passage 35 is transferred to the outside air flowed through the
outside air passage 32. Thus, the air from the outside of the
vehicle is heated in the third heat exchanger 9A and discharged
through the heated outside air passage 38, and the humidified air
is cooled in the third heat exchanger 9A and discharged through the
cooled humidified air passage 39. In other word, the air from the
outside air passage 32 via the third heat exchanger 9A is
introduced to the air outlet 11A through the heated outside air
passage 38, and the air from the humidified air passage 35 via the
third heat exchanger 9A is introduced to the outside of the vehicle
through the cooled humidified air passage 39.
[0028] The dehumidified air passage 33 and the heated outside air
passage 38 communicate with the vehicle interior through the air
outlet 11A. The regeneration passage 34 communicates at a position
downstream of the first and second heat exchangers 3, 5 with the
air passage 15. The cooled humidified air passage 39 communicates
with the outside of the vehicle.
[0029] The following will describe the operation of the
above-described dehumidification system for heating the inside of
the vehicle during winter, with reference to FIG. 1 through 3.
Arrows indicated by solid lines in the drawings show flowing
direction of warm air, and arrows indicated by dashed lines in the
drawings show flowing direction of cool air.
[0030] While a vehicle is parked, for example, in a parking lot,
the heat storage media of the heat accumulators 22, 23 accumulates
heat. When the vehicle is driven to run, the amount of exhaust heat
from the vehicle is relatively small during the initial period of
running, and the valves 22A, 22B or 23A, 23B of the heat
accumulators 22, 23 are opened, so that hot water in the heat
accumulators 22, 23 is supplied to the second heat exchanger 5
through the pipes 20, 21. Specifically, water is introduced through
the first inlet 5A and discharged through the first outlet 5B, and
heat of the water is transferred to the air from the inside and/or
outside of the vehicle by heat exchange. The heat accumulators 22,
23 which are thermally insulated is prevented from discharging heat
uselessly. Therefore, the heat accumulators 22, 23 may heat the
vehicle interior for a relatively long period of time.
[0031] Meanwhile, when the vehicle generates a relatively large
amount of exhaust heat, the valves 22A, 22B or 23A, 23B are closed
and heated water in the heat collector 19 is supplied to the first
heat exchanger 3. Specifically, water is introduced through the
first inlet 3A and discharged through the first outlet 3B, and heat
of the water is transferred to the air from the inside and/or
outside of the vehicle by heat exchange. Thus, heating of the
vehicle interior is achieved effectively by the exhaust heat
generated in the vehicle.
[0032] The following will describes the dehumidification system
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention more
in detail. When the blower 16 is actuated with the flap 14 is
placed at the middle position as shown in FIG. 1, air is introduced
from the inside and outside of the vehicle into the air passage 15
through the inside air inlet 13A and the outside air inlet 12A,
respectively. The air thus introduced from the inside and outside
of the vehicle is heated in the first and second heat exchangers 3,
5 disposed in the air passage 15.
[0033] The heated air is flowed through the humidity conditioning
air passage 36 and into the dehumidification zone 31A of the
desiccant rotor 31 to be dehumidified. The air thus dehumidified or
dried in the dehumidification zone 31A is then flowed through the
dehumidified air passage 33 and the air outlet 11A, and supplied to
the vehicle interior. In addition, the inside air flowed into the
humidity conditioning air passage 36 is flowed from the first and
second heat exchangers 3, 5 as shown in FIG. 1, which is not shown
in FIG. 3.
[0034] A part of the inside and outside air heated by the first and
second heat exchangers 3, 5 is flowed through the regeneration
passage 34 and heated by the electric heater 34A. The heated air in
the regeneration passage 34 is introduced into the regeneration
zone 31B of the desiccant rotor 31 for regenerating the desiccant
rotor 31 while maintaining a high regenerating performance without
allowing the heat to be discharged around uselessly. The air
introduced into the desiccant rotor 31 is humidified therein and
the humidified air is flowed through the humidified air passage 35
and into the outside air heat exchanger 9.
[0035] Outside air having a relatively low temperature is
introduced directly into the outside air heat exchanger 9 through
the outside air passage 32, and the humidified air having a
relatively high temperature is introduced into the outside air heat
exchanger 9 through the humidified air passage 35. Heat exchange is
performed between the air from the outside of the vehicle having a
relatively low temperature and the humidified air having a
relatively high temperature, and the heat of the humidified air is
transferred to the air from the outside, thereby cooling the
humidified air and heating the air from the outside. The cooled
humidified air is discharged to the outside of the vehicle through
the cooled humidified air passage 39. The air flowed from the
outside and heated is flowed into the air passage 15 through the
heated outside air passage 38, and the heated air in the air
passage 15 is merged with the dehumidified air in the air passage
15 and flowed into the vehicle interior through the air outlet 11A
by the blower 17.
[0036] Therefore, in the dehumidification system of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the air dehumidified by the
desiccant rotor 31 and the heated air from the outside heat the
vehicle interior, and the dehumidification performance of the
desiccant rotor 31 may be effectively recovered by the air for
regenerating the desiccant rotor 31.
[0037] When the flap 14 is positioned to block the communication
between the outside air inlet 12A and the air passage 15, as shown
in FIG. 2, only inside air is introduced into the air passage 15.
The inside air is used for heating the vehicle interior, and the
amount of the heat of the inside air is relatively large. The
inside air is heated by the first and second heat exchangers 3, 5
and the electric heater 34A for regenerating the desiccant rotor
31. In other words, outside air having a relatively low temperature
is not used for regenerating the desiccant rotor 31. In this case,
though the energy consumption for heating is reduced, air having
relatively high regenerating performance may be obtained.
[0038] Thus, according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the energy consumption of the dehumidification system
may be reduced effectively. In the dehumidification system
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
first heat exchanger 3 connected to the heat collector 19 and the
second heat exchanger 5 connected to the heat accumulators 22, 23
serve as a heat source, so that the energy consumption of the
dehumidification system may be reduced remarkably.
[0039] The present embodiment is to be considered as illustrative
and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the
details given herein but may be modified within the scope of the
appended claims.
[0040] In the preferred embodiment, each of the first and second
heat exchangers 3, 5 is used as a heat source. Alternatively, an
electric heater may be used.
[0041] In the preferred embodiment, both of the first heat
exchanger 3 connected to the heat collector 19 and the second heat
exchanger 5 connected to the heat accumulators 22, 23 are used.
Alternatively, the first heat exchanger 3 may be omitted, and the
heat collector 19 may be connected directly to the second heat
exchanger 5 or connected to the second heat exchanger 5 through the
pipe 18 and the pipe 20.
* * * * *