U.S. patent application number 16/970797 was filed with the patent office on 2021-04-15 for air conditioner ventilation device and air conditioner ventilation method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Invention is credited to Masaru IMAIZUMI, Satoshi UEDA.
Application Number | 20210108805 16/970797 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005313483 |
Filed Date | 2021-04-15 |
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20210108805/US20210108805A1-20210415-D00009.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20210108805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IMAIZUMI; Masaru ; et
al. |
April 15, 2021 |
AIR CONDITIONER VENTILATION DEVICE AND AIR CONDITIONER VENTILATION
METHOD
Abstract
An outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer defines an
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel in which an outdoor heat
exchanger is located. The outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation
channel definer has a first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, an
outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet, and a second outdoor-heat-exchanger
inlet. The first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the
outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet each are connected to an exterior
space. The second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet is connected to a
target room. An outdoor fan creates an airflow in the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel. The airflow includes
outdoor air in the exterior space drawn through the first
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and indoor air in the target room
drawn through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, passing
through the outdoor heat exchanger, and discharged to the exterior
space through the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet.
Inventors: |
IMAIZUMI; Masaru; (Tokyo,
JP) ; UEDA; Satoshi; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation |
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005313483 |
Appl. No.: |
16/970797 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
March 28, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2019/013553 |
371 Date: |
August 18, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2110/20 20180101;
F24F 1/0041 20190201; F24F 13/20 20130101; F24F 1/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 1/0041 20060101
F24F001/0041; F24F 1/02 20060101 F24F001/02; F24F 13/20 20060101
F24F013/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 2, 2018 |
JP |
2018-070546 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner ventilation device, comprising: an outdoor
heat exchanger being operable as an evaporator to evaporate a
refrigerant, an indoor heat exchanger being operable as a condenser
to condense the refrigerant; a cooperative system to constitute,
together with the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat
exchanger, a refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant
circulates; an indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer
having an indoor-heat-exchanger inlet and an indoor-heat-exchanger
outlet each connected to a target room to be air-conditioned, the
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer defining an
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel connecting the
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet to the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet,
the indoor heat exchanger being located in the
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel; an indoor fan located in
the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel, the indoor fan being
configured to create an airflow in the indoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel, the airflow including indoor air in the target
room drawn through the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet, passing through
the indoor heat exchanger, and discharged to the target room
through the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet; an outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel definer having a first outdoor-heat-exchanger
inlet, an outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet, and a second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, the first outdoor-heat-exchanger
inlet and the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet each being connected to
an exterior space isolated from the target room, the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet being connected to the target room,
the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer defining an
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel connecting the first
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the second outdoor-heat-exchanger
inlet to the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet, the outdoor heat
exchanger being located in the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation
channel; an outdoor fan located in the outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel, the outdoor fan being configured to create an
airflow in the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel, the
airflow including outdoor air in the exterior space drawn through
the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the indoor air in the
target room drawn through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet,
the drawn outdoor air and the drawn indoor air passing through the
outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor air and the indoor air being
discharged to the exterior space through the outdoor-heat-exchanger
outlet; an outdoor temperature sensor to detect temperature of the
outdoor air; a damper to adjust an amount of the indoor air flowing
into the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel through the
second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet; and a controller to control
the damper to increase the amount of the indoor air flowing into
the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel through the second
outdoor-heat exchanger inlet when a detection result of the outdoor
temperature sensor decreases below a predetermined lowest threshold
that is a temperature at which there is a possibility that frosting
occurs.
2-3. (canceled)
4. The air conditioner ventilation device according to claim 1,
wherein the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet faces an interior
of the target room at a position farther from the
indoor-heat-exchanger outlet than the indoor-heat-exchanger
inlet.
5. (canceled)
6. The air conditioner ventilation device according to claim 1,
further comprising: an outside-air intake duct having an opening at
a first end facing the exterior space, and an opening at a second
end connected to the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, wherein
the outside-air intake duct has, in a portion facing the target
room between the first end and the second end, a through-hole
through which the indoor air is drawn in to allow the first
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet to serve as the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, and the damper adjusts the amount of
the indoor air flowing into the outside-air intake duct through the
through-hole.
7. (canceled)
8. The air conditioner ventilation device according to claim 1,
wherein the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer is
located in the exterior space, and the first outdoor-heat-exchanger
inlet and the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet face the exterior
space, the air conditioner ventilation device further comprises an
indoor-air intake duct having an opening at a first end facing an
interior of the target room, and an opening at a second end
connected to the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, and the
damper adjusts the amount of the indoor air flowing into the
indoor-air intake duct through the opening at the first end of the
indoor-air intake duct.
9. (canceled)
10. An air conditioner ventilation method, comprising: performing,
between indoor air and an indoor heat exchanger, indoor heat
exchange including creating an airflow including the indoor air
drawn in from a target room to be air-conditioned and causing the
indoor air to pass through the indoor heat exchanger and to return
to the target room while a refrigeration cycle in which a
refrigerant circulate is constituted using the indoor heat
exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger
being operable as an evaporator to evaporate the refrigerant, the
indoor heat exchanger being operable as a condenser to condense the
refrigerant; performing outdoor heat exchange and ventilation
including drawing in outdoor air from an exterior space isolated
from the target room and drawing in the indoor air from the target
room, and causing the outside air and the indoor air drawn in to
pass through the outdoor heat exchanger and to be discharged to the
exterior space; and controlling the amount of the indoor air
passing through the outdoor heat exchanger to increase the amount
of the indoor air passing therethrough when a detection result of
temperature of the outdoor air decreases below a predetermined
lowest threshold that is a temperature at which there is a
possibility that frosting occurs.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner
ventilation device and an air conditioner ventilation method.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A known air conditioner ventilation device ventilates a
target room that is a room to be air-conditioned and air-conditions
the target room using a refrigeration cycle, as described in Patent
Literature 1. The target room is ventilated using an outdoor fan
that both facilitates heat exchange by an outdoor heat exchanger
that is a component of a refrigeration cycle and discharges air out
of the target room.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2009-79783
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] The above air conditioner ventilation device cannot
air-condition a target room while concurrently ventilating the
target room. However, ventilating the target room may degrade the
temperature environment in the target room. Thus, the air
conditioner ventilation device may desirably air-condition a target
room while ventilating the target room.
[0005] To ventilate the target room with the air conditioner
ventilation device, the device is to switch from defining an
airflow channel through an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor
heat exchanger contained in a refrigeration cycle to defining an
airflow channel for discharging the air out of the target room. The
air conditioner ventilation device has a complex structure for this
switching.
[0006] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide an air
conditioner ventilation device and an air conditioner ventilation
method that concurrently perform air-conditioning and ventilation
of a target room to be air-conditioned without a complex
structure.
Solution to Problem
[0007] In an air conditioner ventilation device according to one or
more aspects of the present disclosure, one of an indoor heat
exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger is operable as an
evaporator to evaporate a refrigerant, and the other of the indoor
heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger is operable as a
condenser to condense the refrigerant. A cooperative system
constitutes, together with the indoor heat exchanger and the
outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigeration cycle in which the
refrigerant circulates.
[0008] The indoor heat exchanger is located in an
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel defined by an
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer. The
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer has an
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet and an indoor-heat-exchanger outlet
each connected to a target room to be air-conditioned. The
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel connects the
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet to the indoor-heat-exchanger
outlet.
[0009] An indoor fan is located in the indoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel. The indoor fan creates an airflow in the
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel. The airflow includes
indoor air in the target room drawn through the
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet, passing through the indoor heat
exchanger, and discharged to the target room through the
indoor-heat-exchanger outlet.
[0010] The outdoor heat exchanger is located in an
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel defined by an
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer. The
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer has a first
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, an outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet, and
a second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet. The first
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet
each are connected to an exterior space isolated from the target
room. The second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet is connected to the
target room. The outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel
connects the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet to the outdoor-heat-exchanger
outlet.
[0011] An outdoor fan is located in the outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel. The outdoor fan creates an airflow in the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel. The airflow includes
outdoor air in the exterior space drawn through the first
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the indoor air in the target room
drawn through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet. At least the
outdoor air, among the drawn outdoor air and the drawn indoor air,
passes through the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor air and the
indoor air are discharged to the exterior space through the
outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0012] In the above structure, the indoor air is discharged to the
exterior space through a second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet while
the indoor air is concurrently passing through the indoor heat
exchanger to adjust the temperature of the indoor air. This
structure can thus concurrently air-condition and ventilate a
target room to be air-conditioned.
[0013] The target room can be ventilated through the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet in the outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel definer without a complex structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 1 in a cooling
operation;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 1 in a heating
operation;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 2 in a cooling
operation;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 3 in a cooling
operation;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 4 in a cooling
operation;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 5 in a cooling
operation;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 6 in a cooling
operation;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 7 in a cooling
operation; and
[0022] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner
ventilation device according to Embodiment 8 in a cooling
operation.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0023] An air conditioner ventilation device according to each of
Embodiments 1 to 8 will now be described below with reference to
the drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same or corresponding
portions are given the same reference signs.
Embodiment 1
[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioner ventilation device
100 according to the present embodiment includes an air conditioner
80 that air-conditions a target room RA to be air-conditioned. The
air conditioner 80 includes an indoor heat exchanger 10, an outdoor
heat exchanger 20, and a cooperative system 30. Either the indoor
heat exchanger 10 or the outdoor heat exchanger 20 operates as an
evaporator that evaporates a refrigerant, and the other operates as
a condenser that condenses the refrigerant. Together with the
indoor heat exchanger 10 and the outdoor heat exchanger 20, the
cooperative system 30 constitutes a refrigeration cycle in which
the refrigerant circulates.
[0025] The cooperative system 30 includes a compressor 31 that
compresses the refrigerant, an expansion device 32 that expands the
refrigerant, and a refrigerant pipe 33 in which the refrigerant
flows and that forms a closed circuit connecting the indoor heat
exchanger 10, the outdoor heat exchanger 20, the compressor 31, and
the expansion device 32 described above. The expansion device 32
includes a capillary tube.
[0026] The cooperative system 30 also includes a four-way valve 34.
The four-way valve 34 switches the flow of the refrigerant in the
refrigeration cycle included in the air conditioner 80. The
four-way valve 34 switching the flow of the refrigerant enables
switching between a cooling operation performed by the air
conditioner 80 to cool the target room RA and a heating operation
performed by the air conditioner 80 to heat the target room RA.
FIG. 1 illustrates the air conditioner 80 in the cooling
operation.
[0027] The air conditioner 80 includes an indoor fan 40 that
facilitates heat exchange between the indoor heat exchanger 10 and
indoor air in the target room RA, and an outdoor fan 50 that
facilitates heat exchange between the outdoor heat exchanger 20 and
outdoor air in an exterior space RB. The exterior space RB is
isolated from the target room RA by a building wall WL.
[0028] The air conditioner 80 includes a power circuit 60 that
feeds power to the compressor 31, the indoor fan 40, and the
outdoor fan 50, and a controller 70 that controls power fed from
the power circuit 60 to the compressor 31, the indoor fan 40, and
the outdoor fan 50 and controls switching of the four-way valve 34.
The power circuit 60 and the controller 70 are mounted on a circuit
board.
[0029] The air conditioner ventilation device 100 according to the
present embodiment includes a housing 90 accommodating the air
conditioner 80 described above. The housing 90 includes an
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 91 defining an
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S1 in which the indoor
heat exchanger 10 and the indoor fan 40 are installed, and an
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 92 defining an
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 in which the outdoor
heat exchanger 20 and the outdoor fan 50 are installed.
[0030] The indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 91 has
an indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a and an indoor-heat-exchanger
outlet 91b, each connected to the target room RA. The
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S1 connects the
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a to the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet
91b. The indoor fan 40 forms, in the indoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel S1, an indoor airflow flowing from the
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a to the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet
91b.
[0031] The outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 92
has a first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a and an
outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b, each connected to the exterior
space RB. The first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a is connected
to the exterior space RB through an outside-air intake duct D1. The
outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b is connected to the exterior
space RB through a discharge duct D2.
[0032] The outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 92
also has a second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c, connected to
the target room RA. The second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c
faces the interior of the target room RA.
[0033] More specifically, the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet
92c is open in one of the outer surfaces of the housing 90 facing
the interior of the target room RA. The outer surface with the
second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c extends in a direction
crossing the outer surface in which the indoor-heat-exchanger
outlet 91b is open.
[0034] The outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 connects
the first and second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlets 92a and 92c to
the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b. The outdoor fan 50 forms, in
the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2, an outdoor
airflow flowing from the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a to
the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b.
[0035] This operation of forming the outdoor airflow performed by
the outdoor fan 50 reduces the atmospheric pressure of the area
inside the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 facing the
second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c to be lower than the
atmospheric pressure in the target room RA. Thus, the indoor air in
the target room RA is naturally drawn into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 through the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c, and discharged to the exterior
space RB through the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b together
with the outdoor air.
[0036] The second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c is located
upstream from the outdoor heat exchanger 20 in the direction of
airflow created by the outdoor fan 50. Thus, the indoor air passes
through the outdoor heat exchanger 20 together with outdoor air and
is discharged to the exterior space RB through the
outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b.
[0037] The housing 90 includes a machine storage definer 93 that
defines a machine storage S3 accommodating the compressor 31, the
expansion device 32, the refrigerant pipe 33, and the four-way
valve 34, and a circuit-board storage definer 94 that defines a
circuit board storage S4 accommodating the power circuit 60 and the
controller 70.
[0038] The machine storage S3 and the circuit board storage S4 are
located between the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S1
and the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2. In other
words, the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 91 and
the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 92 are
isolated by the machine storage definer 93 and the circuit-board
storage definer 94.
[0039] The operation of the air conditioner ventilation device 100
in cooling of the target room RA will now be described.
[0040] The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 31 is fed to
the outdoor heat exchanger 20, serving as a condenser, to cool the
target room RA. The refrigerant condensed by the outdoor heat
exchanger 20 is expanded by the expansion device 32, evaporated by
the indoor heat exchanger 10, serving as an evaporator, and then
returned to the compressor 31. Through this refrigeration cycle,
the indoor heat exchanger 10 is cooled, and the outdoor heat
exchanger 20 is heated.
[0041] In this refrigeration cycle, the indoor fan 40 creates, in
the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S1, an indoor airflow
that passes through the indoor heat exchanger 10. More
specifically, an airflow is created in the indoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel S1 when indoor air is drawn through the
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a, allowing the drawn indoor air to
pass through the indoor heat exchanger 10 and to be discharged to
the target room RA through the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet
91b.
[0042] The indoor air thus exchanges heat with the indoor heat
exchanger 10 to be cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 10. In other
words, the target room RA is cooled.
[0043] In the above refrigeration cycle, the outdoor fan 50
creates, in the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2, a
flow of outdoor air and indoor air passing through the outdoor heat
exchanger 20. More specifically, an airflow is created in the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 when the outdoor air
is drawn through the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a and the
indoor air in the target room RA is drawn through the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c, allowing both the drawn outdoor
air and the drawn indoor air to pass through the outdoor heat
exchanger 20 and to be discharged to the exterior space RB through
the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b.
[0044] The outdoor air and the indoor air thus exchange heat with
the outdoor heat exchanger 20 to discharge heat from the outdoor
heat exchanger 20. The indoor air has heat absorbed by the indoor
heat exchanger 10 and can thus be cooler than the outdoor air. In
addition to the outdoor air, the indoor air passes through the
outdoor heat exchanger 20 to more efficiently discharge heat than
when the outdoor air alone passes through the outdoor heat
exchanger 20.
[0045] The indoor air discharged from the target room RA to the
exterior space RB through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet
92c, the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2, and the
discharge duct D2 is followed by new air other than the indoor air
fed to the target room RA. The target room RA is thus ventilated.
The air newly fed to the target room RA in place of the discharged
indoor air may be fresh outdoor air or air in a living space other
than the target room RA.
[0046] The operation of the air conditioner ventilation device 100
in heating of the target room RA will now be described with
reference to FIG. 2.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerant compressed by the
compressor 31 is fed to the indoor heat exchanger 10, serving as a
condenser, to heat the target room RA. The refrigerant condensed by
the indoor heat exchanger 10 is expanded by the expansion device
32, evaporated by the outdoor heat exchanger 20, serving as an
evaporator, and then returned to the compressor 31. Through this
refrigeration cycle, the indoor heat exchanger 10 is heated, and
the outdoor heat exchanger 20 is cooled.
[0048] In this refrigeration cycle, the indoor fan 40 creates, in
the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S1, an indoor airflow
that passes through the indoor heat exchanger 10. The indoor air
thus exchanges heat with the indoor heat exchanger 10 to be heated
by the indoor heat exchanger 10. In other words, the target room RA
is heated.
[0049] In the above refrigeration cycle, the outdoor fan 50
creates, in the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2, a
flow of outdoor air and indoor air passing through the outdoor heat
exchanger 20. Thus, the target room RA is ventilated, and heat from
the outdoor air and the indoor air is absorbed by the outdoor heat
exchanger 20 after the outdoor heat exchanger 20 exchanges heat
with the outdoor air and the indoor air.
[0050] The indoor air heated by the indoor heat exchanger 10 may be
warmer than the outdoor air. In addition to the outdoor air, the
indoor air passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 20 to more
efficiently absorb heat than when the outdoor air alone passes
through the outdoor heat exchanger 20. More specifically, the heat
of indoor air can be recovered by the outdoor heat exchanger
20.
[0051] The indoor air heated by the indoor heat exchanger 10 and
passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 20 can also reduce
frosting on the outdoor heat exchanger 20. This will be described
in more detail. An outdoor heat exchanger 20 with a known structure
may greatly reduce the heat exchange efficiency when frosted due to
moisture in outdoor air with low temperature and high humidity.
[0052] In the present embodiment, in addition to the outdoor air,
the indoor air heated by the indoor heat exchanger 10 also passes
through the outdoor heat exchanger 20 to reduce frosting on the
outdoor heat exchanger 20. The outdoor heat exchanger 20, when
frosted, can be defrosted by the heated indoor air. This prevents
the heat exchange efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 from
decreasing although the outdoor air has low temperature and high
humidity.
[0053] In the present embodiment described above, while the indoor
air is passing through the indoor heat exchanger 10 to adjust the
temperature of the indoor air, the indoor air is also discharged
through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c to the exterior
space. This allows concurrent air-conditioning and ventilation of
the target room RA.
[0054] The target room RA is ventilated through the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c in the outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel definer 92, without using a complex structure
for ventilating the target room RA.
[0055] The second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c is located
upstream from the outdoor heat exchanger 20, and the indoor air
also passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 20, in addition to
the outdoor air. This structure increases the heat exchange
efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 more than when the
outdoor air alone passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 20.
This structure causes less energy loss than when the indoor air is
discharged without passing through the outdoor heat exchanger
20.
[0056] In particular, in the heating operation in which the outdoor
heat exchanger 20 operates as an evaporator and the indoor heat
exchanger 10 operates as a condenser, the heated indoor air reduces
frosting on the outdoor heat exchanger 20. Thus, the outdoor heat
exchanger 20 can maintain the heat exchange efficiency although the
outdoor air has relatively high humidity.
[0057] The indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 91 and
the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 92 are
isolated from each other by the machine storage definer 93 and the
circuit-board storage definer 94 located between the definers 91
and 92. Thus, the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c is spaced
more from the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b than the
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a. In other words, the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c faces the interior of the target
room RA at a position farther from the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet
91b than the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a.
[0058] Although the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel
definer 91 and the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel
definer 92 are a part of the common housing 90, this structure is
less likely to form a short circuit, in which indoor air
immediately after being discharged from the indoor-heat-exchanger
outlet 91b is taken in through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger
inlet 92c without being fully circulated in the target room RA.
[0059] The second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c is open in one
of the multiple outer surfaces of the housing 90 facing the
interior of the target room RA. The outer surface with the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c extends in the direction crossing
the outer surface in which the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b is
open. The location of the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c
also contributes to reducing the above short circuit.
Embodiment 2
[0060] The structure according to Embodiment 1 may also include
means for adjusting the amount of indoor air drawn into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 through the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c. A specific example will be
described below.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 3, an air conditioner ventilation device
200 according to the present embodiment also includes a damper 201
at the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c. The damper 201 can
adjust the amount of indoor air flowing into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 through the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c.
[0062] More specifically, the damper 201 can fully open or fully
close the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c and adjust the
degree of opening. The degree of opening herein refers to the ratio
of the area over which the indoor air is allowed to pass to the
area of the opening of the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet
92c.
[0063] The damper 201 is controlled by the controller 70. The
controller 70 controls the degree of opening of the damper 201 in
accordance with the operation of a user specifying the amount of
ventilation per unit time, and controls to fully close the damper
201 during a period immediately after the compressor 31 starts
operating. Fully closing the damper 201 and interrupting discharge
of indoor air to the exterior space RB can immediately increase the
comfort of the target room RA.
[0064] The air conditioner ventilation device 200 according to the
present embodiment includes an indoor temperature sensor 202 and an
outdoor temperature sensor 203. The indoor temperature sensor 202
detects the temperature of the indoor air. The outdoor temperature
sensor 203 detects the temperature of the outdoor air. The indoor
temperature sensor 202 is located to face the indoor-heat-exchanger
inlet 91a, and the outdoor temperature sensor 203 is located to
face the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a. The controller 70
also controls the damper 201 based on the detection results of the
indoor and outdoor temperature sensors 202 and 203.
[0065] More specifically, the controller 70 reduces the degree of
opening of the damper 201 when the change in the detection result
of the indoor temperature sensor 202, or more specifically, when
the difference between the indoor temperatures exceeds a difference
threshold predetermined as an allowable temperature change within
which the comfort is maintained. Thus, the discharge of indoor air
to the exterior space RB is restricted to avoid a rapid change in
the indoor temperature.
[0066] The controller 70 increases the degree of opening of the
damper 201 when the detected value of the outdoor temperature
sensor 203 decreases below a predetermined lowest threshold that is
a temperature at which frosting may occur, while the air
conditioner 80 is heating the target room RA. This increases the
amount of heated indoor air that passes through the outdoor heat
exchanger 20 and can prevent frosting on the outdoor heat exchanger
20. The other effects are the same as in Embodiment 1.
Embodiment 3
[0067] In Embodiment 1, the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a
and the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c are located at
different positions, but the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a
can also serve as the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c. A
specific example will be described below.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 4, an air conditioner ventilation device
300 according to the present embodiment is the same as in
Embodiment 1 in the outside-air intake duct D1, but differs from
Embodiment 1 in the outside-air intake duct D1 having a
through-hole 301.
[0069] An opening at a first end of the outside-air intake duct D1
faces the exterior space RB. An opening at a second end of the
outside-air intake duct D1 is connected to the first
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a. The through-hole 301 is formed in
a portion of the outside-air intake duct D1 facing the target room
RA between the first end and the second end.
[0070] During the operation of the outdoor fan 50, outdoor air is
drawn in through the opening at the first end of the outside-air
intake duct D1, and concurrently, indoor air is drawn in through
the through-hole 301. Thus, the outdoor air and the indoor air are
fed into the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 through
the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a. Thus, the first
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a also serves as the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c shown in FIG. 1.
[0071] In the present embodiment, the outside-air intake duct D1
has the through-hole 301 through which indoor air is taken in.
Thus, the through-hole 301 can be easily spaced more from the
indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b than the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c shown in FIG. 1. This structure
according to the present embodiment thus is further less likely to
form a short circuit of indoor air flowing from the
indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b to the outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel S2 than the structure according to Embodiment
1.
[0072] The through-hole 301 may be formed at any location of the
outside-air intake duct D1 facing the target room RA between the
first end and the second end. Thus, the through-hole 301 may be
formed at another location with an increased design freedom. The
other effects are the same as in Embodiment 1.
Embodiment 4
[0073] The structure according to Embodiment 3 may additionally
include means for adjusting the amount of indoor air drawn into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2. A specific example
will be described below.
[0074] As shown in FIG. 5, an air conditioner ventilation device
400 according to the present embodiment also includes a damper 401
at the through-hole 301 in the outside-air intake duct D1. The
damper 401 can adjust the amount of indoor air drawn into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 through the
through-hole 301.
[0075] In the present embodiment, the outdoor temperature sensor
203 is located around the opening at the first end of the
outside-air intake duct D1. The controller 70 operates based on the
detection results of the indoor and outdoor temperature sensors 202
and 203, as in Embodiment 2. The other effects are the same as in
Embodiment 3.
Embodiment 5
[0076] In Embodiment 1, the outside-air intake duct D1 is connected
to the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a, and the discharge
duct D2 is connected to the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b.
However, the outside-air intake duct D1 and the discharge duct D2
may be eliminated when the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a
and the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b face the exterior space
RB. A specific example will be described below.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the housing
90 extends through the building wall WL that separates the target
room RA from the exterior space RB. The present embodiment is the
same as Embodiment 1 in that the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation
channel definer 91 is installed in a target space RA to be
air-conditioned, and the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a and the
indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b face the target space RA.
[0078] The present embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 92 is installed
in the exterior space RB. The first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet
92a and the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet 92b face the exterior
space RB. This structure thus eliminates the outside-air intake
duct D1 and the discharge duct D2 shown in FIG. 1.
[0079] However, an air conditioner ventilation device 500 according
to the present embodiment includes an indoor-air intake duct D3 to
take indoor air into the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel
S2.
[0080] An opening at a first end of the indoor-air intake duct D3
faces the interior of the target room RA. An opening at a second
end of the indoor-air intake duct D3 is connected to the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c. The indoor-air intake duct D3
guides indoor air from the target room RA to the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 separated by the wall
WL to ventilate the target room RA.
[0081] The opening at the first end of the indoor-air intake duct
D3 faces the interior of the target room RA at a position farther
from the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b than the
indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a. This structure is less likely to
form a short circuit of indoor air flowing from the
indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b to the outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel S2. The other effects are the same as in
Embodiment 1.
Embodiment 6
[0082] The structure according to Embodiment 5 may also include
means for adjusting the amount of indoor air drawn into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2. A specific example
will be described below.
[0083] As shown in FIG. 7, an air conditioner ventilation device
600 according to the present embodiment also includes a damper 601
at the opening at the first end of the indoor-air intake duct D3.
The damper 601 can adjust the amount of indoor air drawn into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 from the target room
RA.
[0084] In the present embodiment, the outdoor temperature sensor
203 is located around the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a in
the outer surface of the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel
definer 92. The controller 70 operates based on the detection
results of the indoor and outdoor temperature sensors 202 and 203,
as in Embodiment 2. The other effects are the same as in Embodiment
5.
Embodiment 7
[0085] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in Embodiments 5 and 6, the
indoor-air intake duct D3 is installed outside the housing 90 but
may be installed inside the housing 90. A specific example will be
described below.
[0086] As shown in FIG. 8, an air conditioner ventilation device
700 according to the present embodiment has an indoor-air intake
duct D4 in the housing 90. The indoor-air intake duct D4 guides the
indoor air from the target room RA to the outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel S2 through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger
inlet 92c.
[0087] Inside the housing 90, the indoor-air intake duct D4 extends
from the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a to the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c through a portion facing the
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S1 and the machine
storage S3.
[0088] More specifically, an opening at a first end of the
indoor-air intake duct D4 faces the interior of the target room RA
at the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a, and an opening at a second
end of the indoor-air intake duct D4 is connected to the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c.
[0089] In the present embodiment, the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet
91a serves as a portion that takes in indoor air for
air-conditioning and also for ventilation. The portion of the air
conditioner ventilation device 700 exposed to the target room RA
has a simple external design to improve appearance.
[0090] To ventilate the target room RA, the indoor air may be
filtered to remove dust before being taken into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 to reduce
accumulation of dust in the target room RA to the inner surface of
the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2, the outdoor heat
exchanger 20, and the outdoor fan 50.
[0091] A filter installed in the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a
according to the present embodiment can remove dust from the indoor
air flowing into the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S1
and into the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2. A
single filter can thus be used.
Embodiment 8
[0092] Each of the structures according to Embodiments 1 to 7 may
also include means for adjusting the amount of outdoor air drawn
into the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 through the
first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a. A specific example will be
described below.
[0093] As shown in FIG. 9, an air conditioner ventilation device
800 according to the present embodiment also includes a damper 801
at the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92a. The damper 801 can
adjust the amount of outdoor air drawn into the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 from the exterior
space RB.
[0094] While the target room RA is being heated, the controller 70
reduces the degree of opening of the damper 801 when determining
that the outdoor heat exchanger 20 is likely to be frosted based on
the detection result of the outdoor temperature sensor 203. This
increases the ratio of indoor air in the indoor air and the outdoor
air flowing into the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2
accordingly to reduce frosting on the outdoor heat exchanger
20.
[0095] The controller 70 controls the air conditioner 80 to simply
ventilate the target room RA without air-conditioning the target
room RA. This control will be described using a bathroom as the
target room RA. In response to a user operation performed by a user
leaving the target room RA that is a bathroom, after using the
target room RA being air-conditioned, the controller 70 stops the
compressor 31 and the indoor fan 40 and fully closes the damper 801
with the outdoor fan 50 operating.
[0096] Thus, the controller 70 can stop air-conditioning the target
room RA that is a bathroom, and simply continues ventilating the
target room RA. When the damper 801 is fully closed, the outdoor
fan 50 can intensively circulate air simply for ventilating the
target room RA. Thus, the target room RA can be ventilated
immediately.
[0097] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been
described, the present disclosure is not limited to these
embodiments. The embodiments may be modified in the following
manner.
[0098] FIG. 1 shows the structure including the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c located upstream from the outdoor
heat exchanger 20. However, the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet
92c may be located downstream from the outdoor heat exchanger 20.
In this case, the target room RA can be ventilated although outdoor
air alone, instead of both outdoor air and indoor air, passes
through the outdoor heat exchanger 20.
[0099] FIG. 1 shows the structure in which the housing 90 is
installed in the target room RA, and the indoor-heat-exchanger
inlet 91a, the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b, and the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c are thus exposed to the target
room RA. However, the housing 90 may be installed at any position.
The housing 90 may be installed at a position different from the
target room RA when the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a, the
indoor-heat-exchanger outlet 91b, and the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c are connected to the target room
RA through ducts (not shown). In some embodiments, the
indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 91 may be
separate from the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel
definer 92.
[0100] FIG. 1 shows axial-flow fans used as examples of the indoor
fan 40 and the outdoor fan 50, but the indoor fan 40 and the
outdoor fan 50 may be of another type. Centrifugal fans, mixed flow
fans, or cross flow fans may be used as the indoor fan 40 and the
outdoor fan 50. The indoor fan 40 and the outdoor fan 50 may be
different types of fan. The indoor fan 40 may be located upstream
from the indoor heat exchanger 10, and the outdoor fan 50 may be
located upstream from the outdoor heat exchanger 20. The expansion
device 32 may be an electronic expansion valve.
[0101] FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example structure including the
outside-air intake duct D1 having one through-hole 301. However,
the outside-air intake duct D1 may have multiple through-holes 301.
The damper 401 may be located at each of the multiple through-holes
301. The controller 70 may control all the dampers 401 to have the
same degree of opening or may individually control the dampers 401
to have different degrees of opening.
[0102] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example structure including the
housing 90 that extends through the wall WL, serving as a partition
that separates the target room RA from the exterior space RB. The
partition may be a building ceiling. In other words, the housing 90
may be installed on a ceiling. In some embodiments, the housing 90
may be fixed to a window frame (not shown) that connects the target
room RA to the exterior space RB. The indoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel definer 91 may be installed in the target space
RA, and the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer 92
may be installed in the exterior space RB.
[0103] FIG. 7 shows an example structure including the damper 601
at the opening of the indoor-air intake duct D3 facing the exterior
space RA. However, the damper 601 may be installed either inside
the indoor-air intake duct D3 or at the second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet 92c.
[0104] FIG. 8 shows an example structure including the indoor-air
intake duct D4 open at the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet 91a.
However, the indoor-air intake duct D4 may be open in a portion
upstream from the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2
when, during the operation of the indoor fan 40 and the outdoor fan
50, the atmospheric pressure in a portion of the
outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel S2 upstream from the
outdoor heat exchanger 20 is lower than the atmospheric pressure in
a portion of the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel 51
upstream from the indoor heat exchanger 10.
[0105] The foregoing describes some example embodiments for
explanatory purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has
presented specific embodiments, persons skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in
an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. This detailed
description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and
the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims,
along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are
entitled.
[0106] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2018-070546, filed on Apr. 2, 2018, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0107] The air conditioner ventilation device and the air
conditioner ventilation method according to the present disclosure
are usable for air-conditioning and ventilating a target room to be
air-conditioned.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0108] 10 Indoor heat exchanger [0109] 20 Outdoor heat exchanger
[0110] 30 Cooperative system [0111] 31 Compressor [0112] 32
Expansion device [0113] 33 Refrigerant pipe [0114] 34 Four-way
valve [0115] 40 Indoor fan [0116] 50 Outdoor fan [0117] 60 Power
circuit [0118] 70 Controller [0119] 80 Air conditioner [0120] 90
Housing [0121] 91 Indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer
[0122] 91a Indoor-heat-exchanger inlet [0123] 91b
Indoor-heat-exchanger outlet [0124] 92 Outdoor-heat-exchanger
ventilation channel definer [0125] 92a First outdoor-heat-exchanger
inlet [0126] 92b Outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet [0127] 92c Second
outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet [0128] 93 Machine storage definer
[0129] 94 Circuit-board storage definer [0130] 100 Air conditioner
ventilation device [0131] 200 Air conditioner ventilation device
[0132] 201 Damper [0133] 202 Indoor temperature sensor [0134] 203
Outdoor temperature sensor [0135] 300 Air conditioner ventilation
device [0136] 301 Through-hole [0137] 400 Air conditioner
ventilation device [0138] 401 Damper [0139] 500 Air conditioner
ventilation device [0140] 600 Air conditioner ventilation device
[0141] 601 Damper [0142] 700 Air conditioner ventilation device
[0143] 800 Air conditioner ventilation device [0144] 801 Damper
[0145] D1 Outside-air intake duct [0146] D2 Exhaust duct [0147] D3
Indoor-air intake duct [0148] D4 Indoor-air intake duct [0149] S1
Indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel [0150] S2
Outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel [0151] S3 Machine
storage [0152] S4 Circuit board storage [0153] RA Target room to be
air-conditioned [0154] RB Exterior space [0155] WL Building
wall
* * * * *