U.S. patent application number 13/322991 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-22 for humidifying unit and ventilating apparatus comprising same.
Invention is credited to Jeong Hun Kim, Hyung Ho Park, Tae Man Yang.
Application Number | 20120071078 13/322991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43223239 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120071078 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Tae Man ; et
al. |
March 22, 2012 |
HUMIDIFYING UNIT AND VENTILATING APPARATUS COMPRISING SAME
Abstract
The present invention may relate to a humidifying unit. More
particularly, the present invention may relate to a humidifying
unit with improved humidifying efficiency and increased durability,
and to a ventilating apparatus comprising the same.
Inventors: |
Yang; Tae Man;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; Kim; Jeong Hun;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; Park; Hyung Ho;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) |
Family ID: |
43223239 |
Appl. No.: |
13/322991 |
Filed: |
May 26, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
May 26, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2010/003326 |
371 Date: |
November 29, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/237 ;
261/72.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 30/56 20130101;
F24F 12/006 20130101; F24F 2006/046 20130101; F24F 6/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/237 ;
261/72.1 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/00 20060101
F24F007/00; F24F 6/00 20060101 F24F006/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0047443 |
Claims
1. A ventilating apparatus comprising: a ventilating unit
comprising a heat exchanger to heat-exchange air (room air)
exhausted from a room with air sucked from the outside (outside
air); a humidifying unit comprising a water supply tank to store
water configured to humidify the sucked-air (the outside air)
sucked by the ventilating unit and a humidification member to
humidify the air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger of the
ventilating unit, while having the air to pass there through; and a
collecting unit comprising a water collecting tank to collect water
failing to be absorbed into the humidification member out of the
water supplied from the water supply tank and a collecting pipe to
guide the water collected in the water collecting tank toward the
water supply tank, wherein the water supply tank is provided beyond
the humidification member and the water collecting tank is provided
below the humidification member.
2. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
humidifying unit comprises a water level sensor provided in the
water supply tank and a water supply pipe comprising a water supply
valve.
3. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
water supply valve is closed when a water level inside the water
supply tank that is detected by the water level sensor reaches a
preset maximum level, and the water supply valve is open when a
water level inside the water supply tank lowered than a preset
minimum level.
4. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
humidifying unit comprises a water supply pump to pump the water
collected in the water collecting tank and a collecting pipe to
guide the water pumped by the water supply pump toward the water
supply tank.
5. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
plurality of water supply holes are formed in a bottom of the water
supply tank along a width direction of the humidification member,
spaced apart a predetermined distance from the humidification
member, or at least one water supply slit is formed in the bottom
of the water supply tank along the width direction of the
humidification member, to supply the water stored in the water
supply tank.
6. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
humidification member of the humidifying unit comprises a plurality
of bending sheets spaced apart a preset distance from each other,
with a corrugation shape, and a plurality of flat sheets provided
between two of the bending sheets, respectively.
7. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
humidification member of the humidifying unit is a flat panel type
along a transmitting direction of the air heat-exchanged in the
heat exchanger of the ventilating unit.
8. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a guide
rail is provided along a side of each of the humidification member
and the water supply tank, and a guide groove is provided along the
other side, to selectively slide-insert or slide-withdraw the
humidification member.
9. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
sealing material is provided between the water supply tank and the
humidification member.
10. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a guide
rail is provided along a side of each of the humidification member
and the water supply tank, and a guide groove is provided along the
other side, to selectively slide-insert or slide-withdraw the
humidification member, and the sealing material is provided in
parallel to the guide rail or the guide groove.
11. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, the
sealing material is a band surrounding the guide rail and the guide
groove.
12. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
water collecting tank of the collecting unit collects water falling
outside the humidification member, failing to be absorbed into the
top of the humidification member, out of the water supplied to the
humidification member from the water supply tank.
13. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
water collecting tank comprises a ring-shaped accommodation space
and an opening to open the accommodation space.
14. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
collecting unit comprises a collecting pump to pump the water
collected in the accommodation space of the water collecting tank
toward the water supply tank via a collecting pipe.
15. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 13, further
comprising: a drainage unit comprising a drainage pipe to drain the
water introduced into the opening out of the water supplied to the
humidification member; and a drain pan.
16. The ventilating apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a heating/cooling unit to heat or cool the outside air
supplied to the humidifying unit, wherein the heating/cooling unit
comprises a heating/cooling coil including a plurality of fins and
a refrigerant pipe passing through the plurality of the fins; and
an expansion valve.
17. A humidifying unit comprising: a water supply tank to store
water therein; a humidification member to absorb the water supplied
from the water supply tank and to humidify air passing there
through; a water collecting tank to collect water falling outside
the humidification member, failing to be absorbed, out of the water
supplied to the humidification member; a collecting pipe to provide
a passage to re-supply the water collected in the water collecting
tank toward the water supply tank; and a drain pan to drain the
water discharged after absorbed into the humidification member out
of the water supplied to the humidification member.
18. The humidifying unit according to claim 17, wherein the
humidification member comprises a plurality of bending sheets
spaced apart a preset distance from each other, with a corrugation
shape, and a plurality of flat sheets provided between two of the
bending sheets, respectively, and the humidification member is a
flat panel type along a transmitting direction of the air
heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger of the ventilating unit.
19. The humidifying unit according to claim 18, wherein a guide
rail is provided along a side of each of the humidification member
and the water supply tank, and a guide groove is provided along the
other side, to selectively slide-insert or slide-withdraw the
humidification member, and a sealing material is provided between
the water supply tank and the humidification member.
20. The humidifying unit according to claim 17, wherein the water
collecting tank comprises a ring-shaped accommodation space and an
opening to open the accommodation space, and the drain pan drains
the water discharged from the humidification member via an opening
of the water collecting tank.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention may relate to a humidifying unit. More
particularly, the present invention may relate to a humidifying
unit with improved humidifying efficiency and increased durability,
and to a ventilating apparatus comprising the same.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention may relate to a ventilating apparatus,
more particularly, to a humidifying unit with improved
humidification efficiency and durability and a ventilating
apparatus having the humidifying unit.
[0003] Generally, a ventilating apparatus may refer to an electric
device capable of exhausting contaminated air inside a room and
sucking and supplying external clean and fresh air to the room. An
air conditioner with no ventilation function may cool or heat
internal air while circulating it, to cool or heat a room. Even if
a filter and the like are provided in the air conditioner, a
contamination level inside the room may increase gradually and
there is limitation of air cleaning performed via the filter.
Because of that, a ventilation process for the internal air is
necessary.
[0004] As a result, even an air conditioner installed to cool or
heat a room while circulating internal air may have a supplementary
ventilating apparatus.
[0005] Moreover, such an air conditioner may have a heat exchanger
capable of heat-exchanging between air sucked from the outside and
air exhausted from a room to minimize heat loss which might occur
during the ventilating process between cooled or heated internal
air and external air.
[0006] Also, a humidifying unit capable of performing a
humidification function may be provided in the ventilating
apparatus to humidify the sucked air which will be supplied to the
room.
[0007] Such a humidifying unit includes a humidification member
used to absorb water along a preset direction. The humidifying unit
transmits the air sucked from the outside between humidification
members having water to flow along a preset direction, to supply
water elements together with the sucked air to the room.
[0008] A conventional humidifying unit may enable an end of the
humidification member to absorb water stored in a water supply tank
to flow the absorbed water downward, to humidify the sucked air.
However, in case of adapting that method enabling the water to flow
to the humidification member only along the preset direction, the
water wasted during the humidification process may increase.
[0009] In other words, the amount of the water elements vaporized
and supplied to the room together with the sucked air is much more
than the amount of the water elements wasted after not
vaporized.
[0010] If the amount of the water flowing along the humidification
member after absorbed into the humidification member is increased,
foreign matters might accumulate on a surface of the humidification
member and a life span of the humidification member might be
reduced.
[0011] Especially, the humidification members provided in the
conventional humidifying unit mentioned above may have different
water-absorbing and water-flowing directions.
[0012] In other words, an upper end of the humidification member
includes a bent part along a down direction and an end of the bent
part is extended into the water supply tank, to absorb the water
stored in the water supply tank and to flow the water along a
gravity of the earth, which is the humidification process. The
shape of the bent part formed in the humidification member may
differentiate the water-absorbing direction from the water-flowing
direction. Because of that, there is an advantage of controlling
the amount of the absorbed water and a disadvantage of a shortened
usage life generated by the accumulating foreign matters such
scales on the bent part.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0013] An object of the present invention may be to provide a
humidifying unit with improved humidification efficiency and
durability and a ventilating apparatus having the humidifying
unit.
Technical Solution
[0014] To realize the object of the present invention, a
ventilating apparatus includes a ventilating unit comprising a heat
exchanger to heat-exchange air (room air) exhausted from a room
with air sucked from the outside (outside air); a humidifying unit
comprising a water supply tank to store water configured to
humidify the sucked-air (the outside air) sucked by the ventilating
unit and a humidification member to humidify the air heat-exchanged
in the heat exchanger of the ventilating unit, while having the air
to pass there through; and a collecting unit comprising a water
collecting tank to collect water failing to be absorbed into the
humidification member out of the water supplied from the water
supply tank and a collecting pipe to guide the water collected in
the water collecting tank toward the water supply tank, wherein the
water supply tank is provided beyond the humidification member and
the water collecting tank is provided below the humidification
member.
[0015] Also, the humidifying unit may include a water level sensor
provided in the water supply tank and a water supply pipe
comprising a water supply valve.
[0016] In this case, the water supply valve may be closed when a
water level inside the water supply tank that is detected by the
water level sensor reaches a preset maximum level and the water
supply valve may be open when a water level inside the water supply
tank lowered than a preset minimum level.
[0017] Here, the humidifying unit may include a water supply pump
to pump the water collected in the water collecting tank and a
collecting pipe to guide the water pumped by the water supply pump
toward the water supply tank.
[0018] A plurality of water supply holes may be formed in a bottom
of the water supply tank along a width direction of the
humidification member, spaced apart a predetermined distance from
the humidification member, or at least one water supply slit may be
formed in the bottom of the water supply tank along the width
direction of the humidification member, to supply the water stored
in the water supply tank.
[0019] Also, the humidification member of the humidifying unit may
include a plurality of bending sheets spaced apart a preset
distance from each other, with a corrugation shape, and a plurality
of flat sheets provided between two of the bending sheets,
respectively.
[0020] Also, the humidification member of the humidifying unit may
be a flat panel type along a transmitting direction of the air
heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger of the ventilating unit.
[0021] In this case, a guide rail may be provided along a side of
each of the humidification member and the water supply tank, and a
guide groove may be provided along the other side, to selectively
slide-insert or slide-withdraw the humidification member.
[0022] Here, a sealing material may be provided between the water
supply tank and the humidification member.
[0023] A guide rail may be provided along a side of each of the
humidification member and the water supply tank, and a guide groove
may be provided along the other side, to selectively slide-insert
or slide-withdraw the humidification member, and the sealing
material may be provided in parallel to the guide rail or the guide
groove.
[0024] Also, the sealing material may be a band surrounding the
guide rail and the guide groove.
[0025] In this case, the water collecting tank of the collecting
unit may collect water falling outside the humidification member,
failing to be absorbed into the top of the humidification member,
out of the water supplied to the humidification member from the
water supply tank.
[0026] Here, the water collecting tank may include a ring-shaped
accommodation space and an opening to open the accommodation
space.
[0027] The collecting unit may include a collecting pump to pump
the water collected in the accommodation space of the water
collecting tank toward the water supply tank via a collecting
pipe.
[0028] Also, the ventilating apparatus may further include a
drainage unit comprising a drainage pipe to drain the water
introduced into the opening out of the water supplied to the
humidification member; and a drain pan.
[0029] In this case, the ventilating apparatus may further include
a heating/cooling unit to heat or cool the outside air supplied to
the humidifying unit, wherein the heating/cooling unit may include
a heating/cooling coil including a plurality of fins and a
refrigerant pipe passing through the plurality of the fins; and an
expansion valve.
[0030] In another aspect of the present invention to realize the
object of the present invention, a humidifying unit includes a
water supply tank to store water therein; a humidification member
to absorb the water supplied from the water supply tank and to
humidify air passing there through; a water collecting tank to
collect water falling outside the humidification member, failing to
be absorbed, out of the water supplied to the humidification
member; a collecting pipe to provide a passage to re-supply the
water collected in the water collecting tank toward the water
supply tank; and a drain pan to drain the water discharged after
absorbed into the humidification member out of the water supplied
to the humidification member.
[0031] Here, the humidification member may include a plurality of
bending sheets spaced apart a preset distance from each other, with
a corrugation shape, and a plurality of flat sheets provided
between two of the bending sheets, respectively, and the
humidification member may be a flat panel type along a transmitting
direction of the air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger of the
ventilating unit.
[0032] A guide rail may be provided along a side of each of the
humidification member and the water supply tank, and a guide groove
may be provided along the other side, to selectively slide-insert
or slide-withdraw the humidification member, and a sealing material
may be provided between the water supply tank and the
humidification member.
[0033] Also, the water collecting tank may include a ring-shaped
accommodation space and an opening to open the accommodation space,
and the drain pan drains the water discharged from the
humidification member via an opening of the water collecting
tank.
Advantageous Effects
[0034] According to the ventilating apparatus according to the
present invention, the internal air (the room air) may be
ventilated and the moisture may be supplied to the dry air supplied
to the room simultaneously. Because of that, the room air may be
comfortable.
[0035] Furthermore, according to the ventilating apparatus of the
present invention, durability of the humidification member provided
in the humidifying unit of the ventilating apparatus may be
enhanced.
[0036] Still further, according to the ventilating apparatus of the
present invention, water consumption of the humidification member
provided in the humidifying unit may be reduced.
[0037] Still further, according to the ventilating apparatus of the
present invention, the area and thickness of the humidification
member provided in the humidifying unit may be reduced. Because of
that, the dimension of the ventilating apparatus may be
reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a ventilating
apparatus according to the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the ventilating
apparatus shown in FIG. 1, seen from a different angle;
[0040] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a heat exchanger of a
ventilating unit and a heating/cooling coil of a heating/cooling
unit
[0041] provided in the ventilating apparatus;
[0042] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
humidification member provided in the ventilating apparatus
according to the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment of
the humidifying unit provided in the ventilating apparatus
according to the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another
embodiment of the humidifying unit provided in the ventilating
apparatus according to the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a humidification
member shown in FIG. 6;
[0046] FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a further
embodiment of the humidifying unit provided in the ventilating
apparatus according to the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a sealing
member;
[0048] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating conceptual
diagram illustrating a still further embodiment of the humidifying
unit provided in the ventilating apparatus according to the present
invention; and
[0049] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a water supply
tank and a drain pan.
BEST MODE
[0050] As follows, exemplary embodiments will be described in
reference to the accompanying drawings. Although embodiments have
been described with reference to a number of illustrative
embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other
modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in
the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the
principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Reference may now be made in detail to
specific embodiments, examples of which may be illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same reference numbers
may be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like
parts.
[0051] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a ventilating
apparatus 1000 according to the present invention.
[0052] The ventilating apparatus according to the present invention
may includes a ventilating unit 100 having a heat exchanger to
heat-exchange air exhausted from a room and air sucked from an
outside with each other, a humidifying unit 300 having a water
supply tank to store water used for humidifying the sucked into the
ventilating unit, a humidification member to humidify the air
passing therein after heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger of the
ventilating unit 100, and a collecting unit (not shown) having a
water collecting tank to collect water failing to be absorbed into
the humidification member 310 out of the water supplied from the
water supply tank and a collecting pipe to guide the water
collected in the water collecting tank toward the water supply
tank. The water supply tank may be provided beyond the
humidification member and the water collecting tank may be provided
below the humidification member.
[0053] The ventilating apparatus 1000 may include the ventilating
unit to ventilate internal air with external air. In addition, the
ventilating apparatus may include at least one of a heating/cooling
unit to heat or cool the sucked-air sucked by the ventilating unit
and a humidifying unit to humidify the sucked air of the
ventilating unit. The heating/cooling unit and the humidifying unit
may improve a comfort level of the sucked air supplied to the room,
and users' satisfaction may be improved accordingly.
[0054] The ventilating apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described
in detail as follows. It is assumed that the ventilating apparatus
which will be described includes both of the ventilating unit, the
heating/cooling unit and the humidifying unit.
[0055] The ventilating unit configured to perform a ventilating
function of the ventilating apparatus may include at least one
ventilation fan. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the
ventilating unit 100 provided in the ventilating apparatus may
include an inlet fan 130 and an outlet fan 120. The inlet fan 130
and the outlet fan 120 may suck external air and exhaust internal
air, respectively. The inlet fan 130 and the outlet fan 120 may be
disposed at both ends of the ventilating unit 100, respectively.
The inlet fan 130 may be provided at one of the ends of the
ventilating unit 100 toward the room and the outlet fan 120 may be
disposed at the other end toward the outside.
[0056] A heat exchanger 110 may be provided between the inlet fan
130 and the outlet fan 120, to heat exchange the sucked-air and the
exhausted-air with each other. The heat exchanger 110 may stop
drastic temperature change of the internal air and lower
air-conditioning load of the room by the heat exchange between the
sucked-air and the exhausted-air.
[0057] For example, when a ventilation process is performed in a
cooling process for the room, cooled air inside the room may be
exhausted and hot external air may be sucked. Because of that, the
cooling load (in other words, air-conditioning load) of the air
conditioner may be increased.
[0058] As a result, the heat exchanger 110 may heat-exchange the
sucked-air and the exhausted-air with each other, only to reduce
the cooling load or the heating load. Because of that, temperature
anomalies sensed by the user may be reduced as much as possible.
The detailed structure of the heat exchanger 110 will be described
later.
[0059] Each of the inlet fan 130 and the outlet fan 120 may be a
cross flow fan. The heat exchanger 110 may be arranged between the
inlet fan 130 and the outlet fan 120.
[0060] The inlet fan 130 may blow the outside air (the sucked-air)
having passed the heat exchanger 110 toward the heating/cooling
unit 200 which will be described later. The outlet fan 120 may
exhaust the room air (the exhausted-air) having passed the heat
exchanger 110 toward the outside.
[0061] The outside air sucked by the inlet fan 130 may be blown
toward the heating/cooling unit 200. The heating/cooling unit 200
may include a heating/cooling coil 210 to heat or cool the
sucked-air having refrigerant transmit there through after the
refrigerant is evaporated or condensed, and an expansion valve (not
shown) to block or expand the refrigerant selectively.
[0062] The refrigerant supplied to the heating/cooling coil may be
provided by an outdoor unit independently provided in the air
conditioner from the ventilating apparatus.
[0063] Here, it is possible to provide a compression and a heat
exchanger in the ventilating apparatus. However, to reduce the
volume of the ventilating apparatus, to minimize noise generation
and to increase heating/cooling efficiency, the refrigerant may be
provided to the ventilating apparatus from the outdoor unit of the
air conditioner installed outdoor. The heating/cooling coil 210
composing the heating/cooling unit 200 will be described in detail
later.
[0064] The ventilating apparatus may further include the
humidifying unit 300 provided behind the heating/cooling unit 200.
The humidifying unit 300 may include the humidification member to
humidify the air transmitting there through after absorbing water
and it may enable the water to flow downward there along. The
humidification member will be described in detail later.
[0065] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the ventilating
apparatus shown in FIG. 1, seen from a different angle. The
ventilating apparatus may suck external air into the room via a
suction hole (not shown) and exhaust internal air outside via an
outlet hole (not shown).
[0066] The process of exhausting the sucked room air via the
ventilating apparatus may be performed by first and second outlet
ducts 430 and 440 connected with the ventilating apparatus. The
process of sucking the outside air via the ventilating apparatus
may be performed by first and second inlet ducts 410 and 420
connected with the ventilating apparatus.
[0067] The sucked-air (in other words, the outside air (OA)) sucked
via the first inlet duct 410 may be cooled or heated in the
heating/cooling coil 210 provided in the heating/cooling unit 200,
after heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger 110 provided in the
ventilating unit 100. The cooled or heated air may be humidified in
the humidifying unit 300 and the humidified air may be supplied to
the room (in other words, the supplied-air (SA)).
[0068] When the sucked-air heated in the heating/cooling unit 200
is transmitted through the humidifying unit 300 especially in
winter, the temperature may be lowered and the humidity may be
increased. As a result, the room may be comfortably refreshed. In
other words, the air heated in the heating/cooling unit 200 may be
easily humidified in the humidifying unit. As a result, the
humidifying unit 300 may be useable in lowering the temperature of
the dry and heated air and increasing the humidity in the heating
mode.
[0069] In contrast, the internal air (in other words, room air
(RA)) sucked from the room may be bypassed without passing the
humidifying unit 300 or the heating/cooling unit 200, to be
heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger 110 of the ventilating unit
100. The heat-exchanged air may be exhausted outside (in other
words, the exhausted air).
[0070] FIG. 3 illustrates the heat exchanger 110 of the ventilating
unit 100 and the heating/cooling coil 210 of the heating/cooling
unit 200. FIG. 3(a) illustrates the heat exchanger 110 of the
ventilating unit 100 and FIG. 3(b) illustrates the heating/cooling
coil 210 of the heating/cooling unit 200.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the heat exchanger 110 may be formed
of flat type sheets 113 and bending sheets 114 with corrugation
which are multi-layered alternatively. The bending sheets 114
having the flat sheet 113 disposed there between may be
perpendicularly alternated with each other. The heat exchanger 110
may be formed of a square bar shape.
[0072] A first passage 115 and a second passage 116 may be formed
in the heat exchanger 110 by the multi-layering of the flat sheets
113 and the bending sheets 114. The first and second passages 115
and 116 may be at right angles to each other.
[0073] An absorbent may be coated on a surface of the flat sheet
113 or the bending sheet 114 composing the heat exchanger 110, to
absorb vapors. Such an absorbent may be silica gel, zeolite and ion
exchange resin, for example.
[0074] Also, a thin film together with the absorbent may be may be
coated on the surface of the flat sheet 113 or the bending sheet
114. Because of that, the moisture as well as the heat of the air
having passed the first passage 115 and the second passage 116 may
exchanged.
[0075] In other words, the exhausted-air exhausted from the room
(the room air (RA)) may pass the first passage 115 and the
sucked-air sucked from the outside (the outside air (OA)) may pass
the second passage 116. In this case, the moisture of the
exhausted-air may be absorbed by the absorbent in the first passage
115 and the moisture may be supplied to the sucked-air (the room
air (OA)) in the second passage 116, only to increase the humidity
of the room air (OA). When the humidifying unit 300 is provided in
the ventilating apparatus, the humidification process may be
performed by the humidifying unit 300. Even without the humidifying
unit, the humidity difference between the outside air (OA) and the
room air (RA) may be reduced primarily.
[0076] FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view illustrating the
heating/cooling coil 210 composing the heater/cooer unit 200. The
heating/cooling coil 210 may be a fin-tube type heat exchanger, in
other words, a cross-fin type heat exchanger. The heating/cooling
coil 210 may include a plurality of metal fins 213 formed of metal
such as aluminum, with a rectangular plate shape, and a refrigerant
pipe 215 passing through the fins 213. Although not shown in FIG.
3, the heating/cooling coil 210 may further include an expansion
valve (not shown) to supply refrigerant to the heating/cooling coil
210 selectively. The expansion valve may be an electric expansion
valve (EEV). The expansion valve may selectively block or supply
the refrigerant or it may expand the refrigerant supplied to the
heating/cooling coil 210.
[0077] As a result, when cooling the room, the heating/cooling coil
210 may be operated as an evaporator. When heating the room, the
heating/cooling coil 210 may be operated as a condenser.
[0078] It may be difficult for only the ventilation to provide the
sufficient heating and cooling function. Because of that, the
ventilating apparatus may be operated in communication with an
auxiliary air conditioner. Unless it includes a compressor and the
like, the ventilating apparatus may be supplied refrigerant by an
outdoor unit of the air conditioner.
[0079] FIG. 4 illustrating an embodiment of the humidification
member provided in the ventilating apparatus according to the
present invention. Specifically, FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view
illustrating a rectangular humidification member 310 and FIG. 4(b)
is an enlarged view partially illustrating (A) of FIG. 4(a).
[0080] The humidification member shown in FIG. 4 may perform the
humidification process of passing the sucked-air there between
after absorbing water. The humidification member 310 of the
humidifying unit 300 may have a flat panel shape along a direction
of the air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger 110 of the
ventilating unit.
[0081] The humidification member 310 may be configured of a
plurality of moisture absorbents 315a and 315b that are laid over.
The moisture absorbents 315a and 315b may be formed of non-woven
fabric, to flow the water absorbed therein along a surface thereof
or to move the water absorbed therein downwardly.
[0082] The humidification member 310 may constantly absorb the
water and flow the absorbed water. Simultaneously, the
humidification member 310 may transmit air through the moisture
absorbents 315a and 315b and it may humidify the sucked-air.
[0083] Different from the humidification member shown in FIG. 4(b),
the humidification member 310 may include the moisture absorbent
configured of a flat moisture absorbent 315a and a bending moisture
absorbent 315b alternated with each other. The flat moisture
absorbents 315a and the bending absorbents 315b may be disposed
alternatively and constantly, with being spaced apart a
predetermined distance from each other. This is because the
absorbed water has to flow downwardly along a surface of the
humidification member 310 smoothly.
[0084] The bending absorbent 315b may have an effect of extending
the passage of the water flowing along the surface thereof. Because
of that, an effect of enlarging the height of the humidification
member may be achieved and another effect of increasing the
evaporability of the water absorbed into the humidification member
310 may be achieved.
[0085] Also, the bending absorbent 315b may bend the passage of the
water flowing along a surface thereof. Because of that, the time
for the absorbed water to stay in the humidification member 310 may
be lengthened and humidification efficiency may be enhanced.
[0086] The distance between the flat absorbents 315a may be
approximately 5mm and the distance of the bending formed in the
bending absorbent 315b may be approximately 9mm.
[0087] FIG. 5 illustrates a conceptual diagram of an embodiment of
the humidifying unit provided in the ventilating apparatus
according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the
humidification member 310 may have a structure of absorbing the
water from the water supply tank 320 provided above. The water
supply tank 320 may include a plurality of water supply holes (not
shown) formed at a bottom thereof to supply the water stored
therein or at least one water supply slit (not shown). The
plurality of the water supply holes may be formed distant along a
width direction of the humidification member 310 or the at least
one water supply slit (not shown) may be formed along the width
direction of the humidification member.
[0088] The plurality of the water supply holes may be formed at the
bottom of the water supply tank 320, distance from the
humidification member along the width direction, or the water
supply slit may be formed at the bottom along the width direction
of the humidification member.
[0089] The area of the water supply hole or the water supply slit
and a level of the water stored in the water supply tank 320 may be
variables for determining the amount of the water supplied to the
humidification member 310 from the water supply tank 320 per hour.
The amount of the hourly supplied water or the hourly used water
may be determined by adjusting the water level inside the water
supply tank 320 and each area of the water supply hole and the
water supply slit.
[0090] The humidifying unit 300 may include a water level sensor
322 provided in the water supply tank 320 and a water supply pipe
360 having a water supply valve 362.
[0091] Unless it is a top closed type, the water supply tank 320
may include the water level sensor 322 to prevent overflow. The
water level sensor may be float switch.
[0092] The water supply valve 362 may be provided to selectively
block the water supplied to the water supply pipe 360 supplying the
water to the water supply tank 320.
[0093] When the water level of the water supply tank detected by
the water level sensor 322 reaches a preset highest level, the
water supply valve 362 may be closed. When the water level is
lowered than a preset lowest level, the water supply valve 362 may
be open.
[0094] Also, when the water level of the water stored in the water
supply tank is increased to be the preset minimum level or more,
the ventilating apparatus may be operated. However, when only the
humidification function is stopped to operate or the ventilating
apparatus is stopped to operate, the water supply may be
blocked.
[0095] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the humidifying
unit 300 may further include a drain pan 340 provided below a
second water supply tank 330.
[0096] If the water supply fails to be controlled by a malfunction
of the water supply valve 362, the drain fan 340 may prevent
overflowing water from flowing outside. Also, a drainage pipe 350
may be further provided to drain the water collected in the drain
pan 340. The drainage pipe 350 may be connected with a sewerage
system. Of course, the drain fan itself may be a detachable
type.
[0097] The water consumption amount may be adjusted by an area of a
slit (not shown) or an area of a water supply hole (not shown)
formed in a bottom of the water supply tank 320. The adjustment of
the water supply amount may be enabled by adjusting an opening
level of the water supply valve 362.
[0098] As mentioned above, the humidification member may have the
flat water absorbents 315a and the bending water absorbents 315b
that are alternated with each other. Because of that, the effect of
extending the passage of the water flowing along the surface of the
humidification member may be achieved and the effect of enlarging
the height of the humidification member may be achieved
accordingly. As a result, the humidification efficiency of the
humidification member 310 may be enhanced.
[0099] The corrugation shape of the humidification member may
reduce the amount of the water drained to the drainage pipe 360 via
the drain pan 340. In addition, the humidification member 310 may
be rectangular-shaped and the accumulation scales contained in the
supplied water may be reduced as much as possible.
[0100] If the scale accumulation is reduced as much as possible,
there may be an effect of enhanced durability of the humidification
member 310.
[0101] However, the humidification member 310 may be replaceable
periodically even if the durability thereof is enhanced. Because of
that, a structure enabling the humidification member to be
replaceable efficiently has to be put into operation.
[0102] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the humidifying
unit provided in the ventilating apparatus according to the present
invention. Here, repeated description with respect the description
in reference to FIG. 5 will be omitted. According to the embodiment
shown in FIG. 6, a guide rail may be provided along a side of the
humidification member 310 and a side of the water supply tank 320,
and a guide groove may be provided along the other opposite sides.
Because of that, the humidification member may be selectively
inserted or withdrawn along a perpendicular direction to the water
transmission direction and the water supply direction.
[0103] The humidification member 310 sown in FIG. 6 may be
configured to be withdrawn in a state of coupled to a coupling
material 370, to improve service convenience.
[0104] In detail, a guide rail 374 may be provided in a coupling
material 370 coupled to a top of the humidification member 310 and
a guide groove 324 may be provided in a bottom of the water supply
tank 320. However, the position of the guide rail may be exchanged
with the position of the guide groove. As a result, the guide rail
and the guide groove may enable the humidification member 310 to be
withdrawn along a perpendicular direction (a perpendicular
direction to the ground) to the transmission direction of the
sucked-air (along a right direction from a left direction) and the
water supply direction (along a lower direction from an upper
direction), to be replaced or repaired. Because of that, user
convenience may be improved and productivity may be improved.
[0105] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the humidification member
310 shown in FIG. 6. The humidification member 310 may have the
coupling material 370 coupled to the top thereof and the guide rail
374 integrally formed therewith.
[0106] The water supplied via the water supply hole or the water
supply slit formed in the bottom of the water supply tank 320 may
be absorbed by the humidification member 310 via an opening 376
formed in the coupling material.
[0107] FIG. 8 illustrates a conceptual diagram illustrating a
further embodiment of the humidifying unit provided in the
ventilating apparatus according to the present invention. Repeated
description with respect to the description in reference to FIGS. 5
and 6 will be omitted.
[0108] The water supply tank 320 may be placed on the top of the
humidifying unit 310. Because of that, the water supplied from the
water supply tank 320 might be discharged surroundings, with
failing to be absorbed into the humidification member 310, even if
the areas of the water supply slit and the water supply hole are
adjusted.
[0109] A sealing material may be provided between the water supply
tank 320 and the humidification member 310. According to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the sealing material 500 may be
provided between the water supply tank 320 and the coupling
material 370 composing the humidification member 310. The sealing
material 500 may be in parallel to the guide rail 374 or the guide
groove 324.
[0110] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the sealing material
500.
[0111] The sealing material 500 may be formed of rubber or silicon
and it may be a band type having an opening 506 provided
corresponding to the opening 376 of the coupling material 370.
[0112] As a result, the sealing material 500 may be employed to
reduce a predetermined amount of water discharged by the
humidification member 310 while supplied from the water supply tank
320, failing to be absorbed into the humidification member 310.
[0113] However, even when the sealing material 500 is provided, a
predetermined amount of water fails to be absorbed into the
humidification member and the water falls into the drain pan 340
and to be drained. In this case, the water falling from the
humidification material 310 failing to be evaporated after absorbed
into the humidification member 310 may be drained via the drain pan
340. The water falling from the humidification material 310,
failing to be evaporated after absorbed into the humidification
member 310 may be contaminated by water contaminants (scales)
remaining in the moisture absorbents 315a and 315b provided in the
humidification member 310 while flowing between the moisture
absorbents 315a and 315b. Because of that, the water may be
drained.
[0114] If the contaminated water is used for the humidification
after re-absorbed into the humidification member 310, a life span
of the humidification member may be reduced.
[0115] However, the water falling outside the humidification member
310, failing to be absorbed into the humidification member 310 out
of the water supplied from the water supply tank 320 may not be
contaminated. If that water is not used but drained, water
consumption might be increased. A structure enabling that water to
be re-used may be necessary.
[0116] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a still further
embodiment of the humidifying unit provided in the ventilating
apparatus according to the present invention. Repeated description
with respect to the description in reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8
will be omitted.
[0117] The humidifying unit according to the embodiment of present
invention may include the water supply tank 320 to store water
therein, the humidification member 310 to absorb the water supplied
from the water supply tank 320 and to humidify air passing therein
by using the absorbed water, a water collecting tank 390 to collect
water falling outside the humidification member 310, failing to be
absorbed into the humidification member 310 out of the water
supplied to the humidification member 310, a collecting pipe 460 to
provide a passage used for collecting the water collected in the
water collecting tank 390, and a drain pan 340 to drain the water
discharged after absorbed into the humidification member 310 out of
the water supplied to the humidification member 310.
[0118] The humidifying unit 300 shown in FIG. 10 may include the
water collecting tank 390 around a lower portion of the
humidification member 310. The water collecting tank 390 may
collect the water falling outside the humidification member 310,
failing to be absorbed into the humidification member 310, out of
the water supplied from the water supply tank 320. Out of the water
supplied from the water supply tank 320, the water falling outside
the humidification member 310, with failing to be absorbed into the
humidification member 310, may have a low contaminant level and it
may be collected for re-usage. As a result, the water collected in
the water collecting tank 390 may be re-supplied to the water
supply tank 320, to be supplied to the humidification member
310.
[0119] The humidifying unit 300 may include a collecting pump 462
to pump the water collected in the water collecting tank 390 and a
collecting pipe 460 to guide the water pumped by the collecting
pump 462 toward the water supply tank 320.
[0120] The water collected in the water collecting tank 390 may be
re-supplied to the water supply tank 320 by the collecting pipe 460
configured to connect the water collecting tank 390 and the water
supply tank 320 with each other. The collecting pump 462 may be
provided in the collecting pipe 460, to pump the water collected in
the water collecting tank 390 toward the water supply tank 320.
[0121] The water collecting tank 390 and the water collecting
structure thereof may realize the humidification function and
minimize the amount of the wasted water.
[0122] There may be provided the drainage unit including the
drainage pipe 360 and the drain pan 340 may be provided to drain
the water introduced into the opening 394 out of the water supplied
to the humidification member 310.
[0123] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the water
collecting tank 390 and the drain pan 340. The water collecting
tank 390 may include an accommodation space 392 formed in a ring
shape, to have the structure of re-supplying the water collected
therein to the water supply tank 320 by a single collecting pipe.
The area of the opening 394 formed in the humidification member 310
may be larger than the area of the bottom surface of the
humidification member 310.
[0124] This is because the water falling to the drain pan 340,
failing to be evaporated after absorbed into the humidification
member 310, has to be prevented from mixed with the water falling
to the water collecting tank, failing to be absorbed into the
humidification member 310. As a result, the water falling to the
drain pan 340, failing to be evaporated after absorbed into the
humidification member 310, may be drained toward the drain pan 340
via the opening 394. The water falling to the water collecting tank
390, failing to be absorbed into the humidification member 310, may
be collected in the accommodation space 392 of the water collecting
tank 390. After that, the collected water may be re-supplied to the
water supply tank 320.
[0125] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *