[DESCRIPTION]

[invention Title]

AIR-CONDITIONER USING HEAT OF CONDENSATION

[Technical Field] The present invention relates, in general, to energy- saving air conditioners using heat of condensation and, more particularly, to an energy-saving air conditioner using heat of condensation which is constructed such that a condenser for a cooling means provided for reducing the temperature of a room exchanges heat with a vaporizing humidifier provided for humidifying the room, thus enhancing both the humidifying performance and the cooling efficiency, and which has a simple structure, thus simplifying the manufacturing process thereof and reducing the manufacturing costs thereof.

[Background Art]

Generally, in large structures, factories, and so on, air conditioners, each of which includes a duct, a blower fan, a cooling coil and a heating coil, are installed to clean and set the temperature and humidity of indoor air. In particular, recently, to more efficiently humidify indoor air, the number of air conditioners provided with vaporizing humidifiers that serve as humidifying means has

increased.

The reason for this is that, when indoor air is too dry, there are many problems. For example, in the case where indoor air is much drier than normal, the health of residents and the pleasantness of the indoor environment are deteriorated, the properties of articles stored in the room may be changed, and a problem of the excessive occurrence of static electricity is caused.

In detail, if the humidity of indoor air is excessively low, it becomes easy to for viruses to attack the human body. Furthermore, because the amount of water that evaporates from the skin of occupants is increased, the effective temperature is reduced. Thus, the energy consumption that is required to maintain the effective temperature is increased. In addition, various skin diseases, attributable to dryness of the scalp and skin, may be induced.

As well, in the case of products manufactured using substances, such as paper or fiber, having a hygroscopic property, quality control becomes difficult. In the case of vegetables or fruit, there is a likelihood that the value of the goods will be reduced. Furthermore, extreme dryness makes it difficult to store pieces of artwork, such as rare old art objects, rare old books and wooden objects. Moreover, in the case where indoor air is too dry, because static electricity is excessively generated, there

is a higher probability of malfunction of precision machines or electrical devices. In the case of a precision laboratory or a constant temperature and humidity room used to manufacture particular products, constant temperature and humidity must always be maintained. If the temperature and humidity in the room are not effectively maintained, there are many problems in that accurate measurement values may not be obtained, or in that the quality of products may be deteriorated. To overcome the above problems, a humidifying means for setting the humidity of air supplied into the room is required in the air conditioner.

Typically, in the air conditioner, a vaporizing humidifier, which is one kind of humidifier, is provided in a duct. The construction of the vaporizing humidifier will be described in brief with reference to Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawing, in the vaporizing humidifier 100, a humidifying element 104 having a honeycomb shape is vertically provided on a water tub 102 containing humidification water therein. A humidification water supply pipe 106, which is connected to the water tub 102, is provided above the humidifying element 104 at a position spaced apart from the humidifying element 104 by a predetermined distance. Furthermore, several nozzles 108 are provided in the humidification water supply pipe 106 to spray

humidification water to the humidifying element 104. A pump 110, which supplies humidification water to the nozzles 108, is provided at a predetermined position on the humidification water supply pipe 106. In addition, a water feed pipe 112, through which supplementary water is supplied into the water tub 102, is coupled at a predetermined position to the water tub 102. An adjustment valve 114, which is opened or closed depending on the humidification water level in the water tub 102, is provided on the water feed pipe 112, so that, when the humidification water level in the water tub 102 is lower than a reference level, the adjustment valve 114 is opened, and, when the humidification water level is sufficient, the adjustment valve 114 is closed, thus adjusting the supply of humidification water.

In the vaporizing humidifier 100 having the above- mentioned construction, humidification water is pumped and compressed to a position above the humidifying element 104, and is sprayed through the nozzles 108 to the humidifying element 104, so that the humidification water flows downwards from the upper portion to the lower portion of the humidifying element 104. During this process, dry air horizontally passes through the humidifying element 104 and is thus humidified. The air, which has been humidified by passing through the humidifying element 104, is thereafter blown into the room.

Compared to other types of humidifiers, because the vaporizing humidifier 100 has several advantages of a simple structure, high efficiency, low energy consumption, prevention of noise, and primary purification of contaminated air, the use thereof has increased.

However, the vaporizing humidifier provided in the conventional air conditioner is problematic in that, because the temperature of the supplied humidification water is relatively low, humidifying performance is reduced as the time during which it is used increases.

In other words, because the temperature of humidification water supplied to the humidifying element of the vaporizing humidifier is relatively low, even though air is humidified to a desired degree, dew may be easily formed on the duct, the wall and the surface of equipment. Due to this dewing phenomenon, the equipment malfunctions, and germs propagate, with the result that the cleanliness of indoor air is reduced.

To solve the problem of the dewing phenomenon, a method, in which a separate heating means is provided to increase the temperature of humidification water before the humidification water is sprayed to the humidifying element, thus increasing the humidifying performance of the humidifier, has been proposed. If the temperature of humidification water is increased by the separate heating means in this way, the humidifying performance of the

humidifier can be temporarily increased. However, in the case where the heating means and the vaporizing humidifier are used during a long period, scaling occurs. Thus, the humidifying performance of the humidifier may be further reduced, and there is also a problem in that additional energy must be supplied.

Meanwhile, the cooling coil, which cools air supplied into the room, serves as an evaporator in a refrigerating cycle. The cooling coil reduces the temperature of air, supplied into the room, using the evaporation heat of refrigerant .

That is, in a cooling means including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, the evaporator serves to exchange heat with indoor air and decrease the temperature of the indoor air, and the condenser serves to exchange heat with outside air and decrease the temperature of refrigerant.

Furthermore, the evaporator and the condenser are constructed such that air is blown thereto using blower fans to increase heat exchange efficiency. Here, because the evaporator is provided in the duct, the loss of energy due to heat exchange is avoided, and additional power is not required. However, because the condenser exchanges heat with outside air, separate power for operating the blower fan is required. In addition, because heat generated in the condenser is dispersed to the atmosphere, energy loss

results .

In an effort to overcome the several problems mentioned above, the applicant of the present invention proposed an air conditioner that reuses heat of condensation in Korean Patent Registration No. 530387. In this air conditioner, the temperature of humidification water supplied to a vaporizing humidifier is increased by the heat of condensation, thus preventing a dewing phenomenon, thereby increasing the humidifying efficiency of the air conditioner and the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser.

In detail, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the conventional air conditioner reusing heat of condensation includes a main duct 11, which defines a space having a predetermined volume. A supply air duct 12, through which conditioned air is supplied into a room by an air supply fan 15, is coupled to a first end of the main duct 11. A return air duct 13 , through which air is drawn from the room into the main duct, is coupled to a second end of the main duct 11. The air conditioner further includes a cooling means, which has a compressor 21, a plurality of condensers 22 and 22-1 that are coupled to the compressor 21, an expansion valve 25 that is coupled to the condensers 22 and 22-1, and a cooling coil 20 that is provided in the main duct 11. A refrigerant circulates in the cooling means. The air conditioner further includes a vaporizing

humidifier 100, which is provided in the main duct 11 and is constructed such that humidification water is sprayed to a humidifying element 104 and one of the condensers 22 and 22-1 is provided through the humidifying element 104. The air conditioner further includes a heating means 40, which is provided in the main duct 11 to heat air passing through the main duct 11. In the cooling means, the first condenser 22 is provided outside the main duct 11, and the second condenser 22-1 is provided in the vaporizing humidifier 100. The first and second condensers 22 and 22-1 are connected to respective branch pipes 26, which are coupled to the compressor 21. Furthermore, the cooling means is constructed such that refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 is supplied into at least one of the first and second condensers 22 and 22-1 through the branch pipes 26.

In addition, control valves 27a and 27b for controlling the flow of refrigerant are provided on the respective branch pipes 26. Check valves 28a and 28b are provided on respective outlets of the first and second condensers 22 and 22-1.

The vaporizing humidifier 100 includes a water tub 102, which is sealed at a lower end thereof and stores humidification water therein, the honeycomb-shaped humidifying element 104, which, is vertically provided in the water tub 100 and has through holes 102 therein, and

condensing pipes, which are connected to an end of a refrigerant circulation pipe coupled to the compressor 21 and are inserted into the respective through holes 102a of the humidifying element 104. The vaporizing humidifier 100 further includes spray nozzles 108, which are provided above the humidifying element 104 and are coupled to the water tub 102 through a humidification water supply pipe to spray humidification water to the humidifying element 104.

Furthermore, in the vaporizing humidifier 100, a distributor 26 is coupled to the end of the refrigerant circulation pipe to distribute refrigerant . First ends of the condensing pipes are coupled to the distributor 26. A refrigerant collecting head, which collects distributed refrigerant, is coupled to second ends of the condensing pipes. The condensing pipes are provided in the humidifying element 104 and have a multilayered structure.

In addition, a humidification water control valve 114 is provided at a position adjacent to the water tub 102 on a water feed pipe 112, through which humidification water is supplied into the water tub 102. A float, which has a hollow structure and thus floats on humidification water in the water tub 102, is coupled to the humidification water control valve 114, so that the humidification water control valve 114 is controlled depending on the humidification water level.

Furthermore, the vaporizing humidifier 100 further

includes a sterilization lamp 116, which is provided in the water tub 102.

The air conditioner having the above-mentioned construction can increase the temperature of humidification water that is supplied into the vaporizing humidifier using heat of condensation, without the supply of separate energy, thus preventing dew attributable to humidification water from being formed, thereby enhancing the humidifying performance of the air conditioner. Furthermore, when increasing the temperature of the humidification water, because the heat of the refrigerant passing through the condenser is used, there is an advantage in that the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser is increased.

However, the conventional air conditioner reusing heat of condensation, a patent application for which was filed by the applicant of the present invention and was approved, has several problems, outlined below.

In the conventional air conditioner, the first condenser and the second condenser are connected in parallel to each other, the branch pipes are provided between the first and second condensers to distribute the flow of the refrigerant, the control valve is provided between the first and second condensers to control the flow of the refrigerant, another control valve is also provided between the second condenser and the branch pipes, and the check valves for preventing the refrigerant from flowing

backwards are provided both between the first condenser and a liquid receiver and between the second condenser and the liquid receiver. As such, because the construction of the air conditioner is very complex, there are disadvantages in that manufacturing costs are increased and the probability of malfunction is increased.

Furthermore, the conventional air conditioner has several condensers and is constructed such that one of the condensers is inserted into the vaporizing humidifier. Therefore, it is difficult to design and manufacture the air conditioner, and, in addition, there is a problem in that manufacturing costs are high.

[Disclosure] [Technical Problem] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the ^v air conditioner reusing heat of condensation' a patent application for which was filed by the applicant of the present invention and was approved, and an object of the present invention is to provide an energy-saving air conditioner using heat of condensation having a simplified design and manufacturing process and incurring lower manufacturing costs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an energy-saving air conditioner using heat of condensation

which includes a plurality of condensers, one of which is installed in a vaporizing humidifier in a simple structure, thus simplifying the design and manufacturing process thereof, and reducing the manufacturing costs thereof.

[Technical Solution]

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an air conditioner using heat of condensation, including: a main duct defining a space having a predetermined volume and drawing indoor air and outside air and supplying the indoor air and the outside air into a room; a cooling means, having a compressor, a first condenser connected to the compressor, a second condenser connected to the first condenser, an expansion valve selectively connected to the first condenser or the second condenser, and an evaporator (a cooling coil) ; a vaporizing humidifier provided in the main duct to spray humidification water depending on operation of a pump, the vaporizing humidifier being provided with either the first or second condenser; and a heating means provided in the main duct to increase a temperature of air passing through the main duct, wherein, in the cooling means, the first condenser and the second condenser are connected to each other in series, the second condenser and the expansion valve are connected to each other in series, and a connection portion connecting the second condenser to the

expansion valve is connected to the first condenser, wherein a three-way valve is provided at a junction between the first condenser and the connection portion between the second condenser and the expansion valve. Preferably, the air conditioner may further include a check valve provided on the connection portion between the second condenser and the expansion valve.

Furthermore, the three-way valve may be opened such that, when a cooling operation is conducted, a refrigerant flows directly from the first condenser to the expansion valve, and, when a cooling and humidifying operation or a cooling and reheating operation is conducted, the refrigerant flows from the first condenser to the expansion valve via the second condenser. In addition, the vaporizing humidifier may include: a water tub storing the humidification water therein; a humidifying element having a honeycomb shape; a pump to pump the humidification water from the water tub; and a plurality of nozzles to spray the humidification water, which is pumped by the pump, to the humidifying element.

Here, the second condenser may be disposed between two parts of the humidifying element of the vaporizing humidifier. Alternatively, the second condenser and the humidifying element of the vaporizing humidifier may form a double-layered structure. As a further alternative, the second condenser may be stacked on the humidifying element

of the vaporizing humidifier.

[Advantageous Effects]

As described above, an air conditioner according to the present invention has a simple construction, so that there are advantages in that the manufacturing process thereof is simplified, manufacturing costs are reduced, and repair and maintenance are convenient.

Furthermore, the construction of a vaporizing humidifier used in the air conditioner of the present invention is also simplified. Thus, also, the process of manufacturing the vaporizing humidifier is simplified, manufacturing costs thereof are reduced, and repair and maintenance thereof are convenient.

[Description of Drawings] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional vaporizing humidifier;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the construction of a conventional air conditioner, a patent application for which was filed by the applicant of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the construction of the vaporizing humidifier of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the construction of an air conditioner, according to the present invention; and

Figs . 5 through 7 are perspective views showing

several embodiments of a vaporizing humidifier used in the air conditioner according to the present invention, description of the elements in the drawings> 11: main duct 20: cooling coil (evaporator) 21: compressor 22: first condenser 25: expansion valve 50: three-way valve 60: check valve 100: vaporizing humidifier 104: humidifying element 200: second condenser

[Best Mode] Fig. 4 is a view showing the construction of an air conditioner, according to the present invention. Figs. 5 through 7 are perspective views showing several embodiments of a vaporizing humidifier used in the air conditioner according to the present invention. In the description of the present invention, reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same components as those of the conventional arts, and further explanation will be skipped. As shown in the drawing, various devices for conditioning air in a room are provided in a main duct 11.

The main duct 11 defines therein space having a predetermined volume. A supply air duct 12 and a return air duct 13, which communicate with, the interior of the room, are coupled to respective opposite ends of the main duct

11. Air, the temperature and humidity of which are conditioned, is supplied into the room through the supply air duct 12, and air in the room is returned into the main duct 11 through the return air duct 13. Furthermore, a blast fan is coupled to each end of the supply air duct 12 and the return air duct 13, which are adjacent to the main duct 11. Preferably, a supply air fan 15 and a return air fan 16 are respectively coupled to the supply air duct 12 and the return air duct 13. One end of each of the supply air duct 12 and the return air duct 13, which are disposed in the room, branches into several parts . Discharge holes and suction holes are formed at several positions in the branched parts, such that conditioned air can be efficiently supplied into the room, and indoor air can be efficiently returned into the main duct.

In addition, a supply air port 18, which draws air for air-conditioning from outside the room, is provided at a predetermined position in the main duct 11. A discharge air port 17 is provided at a predetermined position in the main duct 11, so that some of the air, which includes contaminants and circulates between the main duct 11 and the room, is discharged out of the room through the discharge air port 17. Meanwhile, a cooling coil 20 for a cooling means, a vaporizing humidifier 100, and a heating coil 40 are

provided in the main duct 11 in order to adjust the temperature and humidity of air to be supplied into the room.

In detail, the cooling coil 20, which serves as an evaporator for the cooling means, is installed in the main duct 11. An expansion valve 25, a liquid receiver 24, a first condenser 22 and a compressor 21 are provided outside the main duct 11. The above components are connected to each other through a pipeline, through which refrigerant flows.

The refrigerant undergoes heat exchange and phase change processes while circulating in the compressor 21, the first condenser 22, the liquid receiver 24, the expansion valve 25 and the cooling coil 20. At the cooling coil 20, the refrigerant exchanges heat with air passing through the main duct 11, thus decreasing the temperature of the air.

Furthermore, to increase the efficiency of heat exchange between the refrigerant and outside air in the first condenser 22, a cooling fan 23 is provided adjacent to the first condenser 22.

Here, the first condenser 22 and a second condenser 200, which is provided in the vaporizing humidifier 100, are connected to each other in series. A pipe, which passes through the second condenser 200, is connected to the liquid receiver 24.

Furthermore, the pipe, which passes through the second condenser 200, and a pipe, which connects the first condenser 22 to the second condenser 200 in series, are connected to each other. A three-way valve 50 is provided at the junction between the pipes to control the flow of the refrigerant.

In addition, a check valve 60 for preventing the refrigerant from flowing backwards is provided on the end of the pipe that passes through the second condenser 200 and is connected to the liquid receiver 24.

Thus, the amount of refrigerant supplied into the first condenser 22 or the second condenser 200 is adjusted by controlling the direction in which the three-way valve

50 is opened, so that the first condenser 22 or the second condenser 200 can be selectively operated.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, as well as having the cooling means, the heating coil 40, which serves as a heating means and is connected to a heat source, is provided at a predetermined position in the main duct 11 to increase the temperature of air to be supplied into the room.

In detail, the heating coil 40 is heated using electricity or by a separate boiler, and air passes through the heating coil 40 in the main duct 11, so that the air is heated to a desired temperature before being supplied into the room.

The operation of the present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be explained herein below.

First, the supply air fan 15 and the return air fan 16 are operated to supply air from the main duct 11 into the room and to return indoor air into the main duct 11.

Simultaneously, some of the air that circulates between the main duct 11 and the room is discharged outside the room through the discharge air port 17, and outside air is supplied into the main duct 11 through the supply air port

18, such that some of the air in the main duct 11 is replaced with outside air.

At this time, to maintain the room at a desired pressure slightly higher than that of the outside air, the amount of air supplied into the room through the supply air port 18 is controlled such that it is greater than the amount of air discharged outside the room.

In this state, when it is desired to conduct a heating operation, incremental to the basic step of merely blowing air into the room, the heating coil 40 is heated to increase the temperature of air passing through the heating coil 40.

In other words, the heating coil 40 is heated by an electrical method or a separate device such as a boiler, while air passes through the heating coil 40. Then, the temperature in the room can be increased as desired.

Meanwhile, an operation of cooling the room is conducted by passing the refrigerant through the cooling coil (evaporator) . At this time, the three-way valve 50 is manipulated such that the first condenser 22 communicates with the liquid receiver 24.

In detail, when the compressor 21 is operated, the refrigerant passes through the liquid receiver 24 via the first condenser 22, and thereafter, is returned into the compressor 21 via the expansion valve 25 and the evaporator (cooling coil) 20.

In this process, air that passes through the main duct 11 exchanges heat with the refrigerant that passes through the evaporator (cooling coil) 20, and thus the temperature thereof decreases. Thereafter, the air, the temperature of which is decreased, is blown into the room, thereby cooling the room.

Here, if the air conditioner continuously conducts the cooling operation in the state in which the heating load in the room is relatively large and the humidity of the room is relatively low, the air in the room may be excessively dry. In this case, humidification is required.

For this, a pump 110 of the vaporizing humidifier 100 is operated to spray humidification water to a humidifying element 104 through nozzles and, simultaneously, the opening of the three-way valve 50 is adjusted such that high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, which has

passed through the first condenser 22, undergoes a heat exchange process in the second condenser 200.

In detail, when refrigerant supplied from the compressor 21 passes through the first condenser 22, the fan 23 of the first condenser 22 is not operated. In addition, the three-way valve 50 is manipulated such that the refrigerant, which has passed through the first condenser 22, is not directly supplied into the liquid receiver 24, that is, flows into the liquid receiver 24 after passing through the second condenser 200.

As such, high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant passes through the second condenser 200 and, simultaneously, humidification water is sprayed to the humidifying element 104, to which the second condenser 200 is mounted. Therefore, air, which has passed through the evaporator (cooling coil) 20 and thus is reduced in temperature before passing through the humidifying element 104, absorbs a relatively large amount of humidification water, which is heated and evaporated by exchanging heat with the refrigerant that passes through the second condenser 200. As a result, the air can be supplied into the room after being sufficiently humidified.

That is, because the temperature of the refrigerant in the second condenser 200 is higher than that of the air that passes through the main duct 11, the refrigerant radiates heat of condensation. As such, when the heat of

condensation is radiated, the heat is transferred to air passing through the main duct 11, and is also transferred to humidification water that flows downwards through the humidifying element 104. When heat of condensation is transferred to humidification water, the humidification water is increased in temperature and is thus evaporated, thus increasing the efficiency of humidifying air.

Meanwhile, in the case where the room is in a state of high temperature and high humidity, for example, during the rainy season of the summer, and, in the case where the sensible heat factor (SHF) of the room is relatively low, if only the operation of cooling the room and reducing the humidity thereof is conducted, because the temperature of the discharge air is excessively reduced, the room may be supercooled.

Therefore, in this case, discharge air must be appropriately heated using the heating coil to maintain the desired temperature and humidity of the room.

That is, when a mixture of outside air and indoor air passes through the cooling coil, so that the temperature thereof is close to the dew-point temperature, reheating is required.

Here, additional energy is necessary to operate the heating coil. However, in the present invention, the above- mentioned purpose can be achieved merely by stopping the pump 110, so that humidification water is not sprayed to

the humidifying element 104, while the cooling and dehumidifying operation described above is conducted.

Then, low temperature air, which has passed through the evaporator (cooling coil) 20, exchanges heat with high- temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, which passes through the second condenser 200, so that the air can be discharged into the room in the state of having been appropriately heated, thus maintaining the desired temperature and humidity in the room. Meanwhile, in the conventional technique, the 'air conditioner reusing heat of condensation' , a patent application for which was filed by the applicant of the present invention and was approved, the problem, in which, because the vaporizing humidifier 100 is constructed such that the second condenser is provided through the humidifying element 104, the construction thereof is very complex so that the manufacturing process is complicated, has been note above.

To solve this problem, in the present invention, the vaporizing humidifier 100 having the second condenser 200 is improved to have an efficient and simple structure.

In detail, as shown in Fig. 5, the vaporizing humidifier 100 is constructed such that two humidifying elements 104 are disposed on opposite sides of the second condenser 200, thus the construction and the manufacturing process thereof are simplified. When humidification is

necessary, the present invention is manipulated such that refrigerant passes through the second condenser 200, and, simultaneously, the pump 100 is operated to spray humidification water. Furthermore, the reheating operation can be conducted merely by stopping the pump 100 such that humidification water is not sprayed.

[Mode for Invention]

Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 6, the present invention may be constructed such that a second condenser 200 is disposed at a front position and a humidifying element 104 is disposed behind the second condenser 200. Alternatively, as shown Fig. 7, the present invention may be constructed such that a second condenser 200 is disposed at an upper position and a humidifying element 104 is disposed under the second condenser 200.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. These modifications, additions and substitutions must be regarded as falling within the bounds of the accompanying claims.

[industrial Applicability]

As described above, the present invention provides an air conditioner, which has a simple construction, so that there are advantages in that the manufacturing process thereof is simplified, manufacturing costs are reduced, and repair and maintenance are convenient.

Furthermore, the construction of a vaporizing humidifier used in the air conditioner of the present invention is also simplified. Thus, additionally, the process of manufacturing the vaporizing humidifier is simplified, manufacturing costs thereof are reduced, and repair and maintenance thereof are convenient. Therefore, the vaporizing humidifier of the present invention can be widely used in various kinds of air conditioners installed in structures.