US 11,859,835 B2
Humidity control apparatus with dual heat exchangers and bypass passage
Kousuke Hirai, Osaka (JP); and Gakuto Sakai, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 16/304,822
Filed by DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed May 31, 2017, PCT No. PCT/JP2017/020295
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 27, 2018,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/003388, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 4, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 2016-126668 (JP), filed on Jun. 27, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0232665 A1, Jul. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. F24F 11/00 (2018.01); F24F 11/72 (2018.01); F24F 13/20 (2006.01); F24F 13/22 (2006.01); F24F 13/30 (2006.01)
CPC F24F 11/0008 (2013.01) [F24F 11/72 (2018.01); F24F 13/20 (2013.01); F24F 13/22 (2013.01); F24F 13/30 (2013.01); F24F 2013/202 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A humidity control device, comprising:
a casing provided with a first humidity control chamber, a second humidity control chamber, and a bypass passage;
a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, and a first adsorption heat exchanger and a second adsorption heat exchanger which are respectively provided in the first and second humidity control chambers, the refrigerant circuit being capable of switching each of the first and second adsorption heat exchangers to a condenser or an evaporator;
a flow path switching mechanism comprising a plurality of dampers which switches an air flow passage in the casing; and
a controller which controls the refrigerant circuit and the plurality of dampers of the flow path switching mechanism so as to perform a first humidity control operation or a second humidity control operation, wherein
in the first humidity control operation, the bypass passage is closed, the compressor is set to be driven, and outside air taken into the casing is supplied into a room through one of the first and second adsorption heat exchangers, and room air taken into the casing is exhausted to outside through the other of the first and second adsorption heat exchangers;
in the second humidity control operation, the bypass passage is opened, the compressor is set to be driven, and the outside air taken into the casing is supplied into the room through the bypass passage and only one of the first and second adsorption heat exchangers, and the room air taken into the casing is exhausted to the outside through the other of the first and second adsorption heat exchangers; and
if a target operating capacity of the compressor falls below a predetermined lower limit operating capacity while the first humidity control operation is performed, the controller controls the refrigerant circuit and the plurality of dampers of the flow path switching mechanism to switch from the first humidity control operation to the second humidity control operation,
the refrigerant circuit performs a first refrigeration cycle operation in which the first adsorption heat exchanger functions as the condenser and the second adsorption heat exchanger functions as the evaporator, and a second refrigeration cycle operation in which the first adsorption heat exchanger functions as the evaporator and the second adsorption heat exchanger functions as the condenser,
the plurality of dampers of the flow path switching mechanism set the air flow passage in the casing to any one of a first path, a second path, a third path, or a fourth path,
in the first path, outdoor air taken into the casing is supplied into the room through the first adsorption heat exchanger, and room air taken into the casing is exhausted to the outside through the second adsorption heat exchanger,
in the second path, outdoor air taken into the casing is supplied into the room through the second adsorption heat exchanger, and room air taken into the casing is exhausted to the outside through the first adsorption heat exchanger,
in the third path, outdoor air taken into the casing is supplied into the room through the first adsorption heat exchanger and the bypass passage, and room air taken into the casing is exhausted to the outside through the second adsorption heat exchanger,
in the fourth path, outdoor air taken into the casing is supplied into the room through the second adsorption heat exchanger and the bypass passage, and room air taken into the casing is exhausted to the outside through the first adsorption heat exchanger,
in the first humidity control operation, a first operation and a second operation are alternately performed,
in the second humidity control operation, a third operation and a fourth operation are alternately performed,
in the first operation, the air flow passage in the casing is set to the first path, and one of the first refrigeration cycle operation and the second refrigeration cycle operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit,
in the second operation, the air flow passage in the casing is set to the second path, and the other of the first refrigeration cycle operation and the second refrigeration cycle operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit,
in the third operation, the air flow passage in the casing is set to the third path, and one of the first refrigeration cycle operation and the second refrigeration cycle is performed in the refrigerant circuit, and
in the fourth operation, the air flow passage in the casing is set to the fourth path, and the other of the first refrigeration cycle operation and the second refrigeration cycle operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit.