Patent Application
20240035701
The present invention relates to an air treatment device.
People have increasing demands for air quality in indoor living environments along with improvement in living standard. Weather with severe air quality indices such as PM 2.5 needs purification of indoor air with use of an air treatment device equipped with a PM 2.5 particle filter. Regarding this, CN 211503041 U discloses a ceiling-hung fresh air purifying ventilator accommodating a PM 2.5 filter to have functions of both ventilation and air purification, as well as succeeded in integration and downsizing of an air treatment device.
However, the ceiling-hung fresh air purifying ventilator according to Patent Literature 1 includes a heat exchanger that has a rectangular planar view and diagonal lines parallel to side walls of a case having a rectangular planar view. Addition of the PM 2.5 filter in such a case causes a large difference in resistance of an air duct (i.e. differential pressure) if gas supply volume and exhaust air volume are equal to each other. An excessively large resistance difference (differential pressure) of the air duct is likely to cause problems such as air leakage.
An air treatment device according to the present invention includes a case, a heat exchanger, a fresh air port, a supply air port, a return air port, an exhaust air port, a supply air path, and an exhaust air path. The case accommodates the heat exchanger, the supply air path, and the exhaust air path. The case has a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other. The heat exchanger is configured to cause heat exchange with an air flow in the heat exchanger. The supply air path extends in a first direction, and the supply air path allows an air flow to be sent indoors from the fresh air port via the heat exchanger and the supply air port. The exhaust air path extends in a second direction crossing the first direction, and the exhaust air path allows an air flow to be discharged outdoors from the return air port via the heat exchanger and the exhaust air port. The heat exchanger has a fresh air surface provided adjacent to the fresh air port and crossing the supply air path, and a return air surface provided adjacent to the return air port and crossing the fresh air surface and the exhaust air path. When viewed in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the fresh air surface and the return air surface have a length ratio of 1.02 to 1.50. When viewed in the third direction, a straight line perpendicular to the first side wall and the second side wall of the case is a first virtual line, a straight line connecting two ends apart from each other, of the fresh air surface and the return air surface of the heat exchanger is a second virtual line, and the first virtual line and the second virtual line forming an angle of 1° to 11°.
In the air treatment device according to the present invention, the length ratio between the fresh air surface and the return air surface of the heat exchanger is 1.02 to 1.50 when viewed in the third direction. Accordingly, appropriate increase in sectional area of the supply air path passing the fresh air surface and the supply air surface of the heat exchanger achieves decrease in airflow speed in the supply air path and extension of residence time of an air flow in the heat exchanger for improvement in heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, appropriate increase in length of the exhaust air path passing the return air surface and the exhaust air surface of the heat exchanger achieves increase in pressure loss of the exhaust air path and extension of residence time of an air flow in the heat exchanger. In comparison to a case where the heat exchanger has a diagonal line parallel to a side wall of the case, this configuration satisfies a demand for downsizing of the air treatment device and decreases differential pressure between the supply air path and the exhaust air path, for prevention of air leakage of the air treatment device and improvement in heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. Assuming that the straight line perpendicular to the first side wall and the second side wall of the case is the first virtual line, and the straight line connecting the two ends apart from each other, of the fresh air surface and the return air surface of the heat exchanger is the second virtual line, the first virtual line and the second virtual line form an angle from 1° to 11°. Accordingly, appropriate increase in sectional area of the supply air path passing the fresh air surface and the supply air surface of the heat exchanger achieves decrease in airflow speed in the supply air path and also extension of residence time of an air flow in the heat exchanger for improvement in heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, appropriate increase in length of the exhaust air path passing the return air surface and the exhaust air surface of the heat exchanger achieves increase in pressure loss of the exhaust air path and extension of residence time of an air flow in the heat exchanger. This achieves decrease in differential pressure between the supply air path and the exhaust air path, satisfies the demand for downsizing of the air treatment device, as well as achieves maximum increase in size of the heat exchanger, and further secures heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger.
The following detailed description refers to additional characteristics and advantages of the air treatment device described in the present description. The following description allows the additional characteristics and advantages to be apparent to those skilled in the art or to be recognized by those skilled in the art through implementation of the embodiments in the present description. Such description includes the following detailed description, claims, and drawings.
Note that the summary described above and the following detailed description refer to various embodiments, in order to provide an outline or a framework for comprehension of the properties and characteristics of the subject matter of the claims. These include the drawings provided for further comprehension of the various embodiments, and the drawings are combined with the present description to constitute part of the present description. The drawings depict the various embodiments according to the present description, and are used to interpret the principle and operation of the subject matters of the claims, along with the description.
With reference to the above object, the present invention has a constituent feature clearly described in the claims and having advantages obvious from detailed description of the following drawings to be referred hereinafter. The drawings exemplarily indicate preferred embodiments of the present invention, without limiting the scope of the idea of the present invention.
Description is made hereinafter to examples of embodiments of the present invention while depicting the examples of the embodiments with reference to the embodiments of the present invention in detail. The present invention will be described in combination with exemplary embodiments. It should be comprehended that the present description does not intend to limit the present invention to these exemplary embodiments. In contrast, it is an object of the present invention to cover these exemplary embodiments, as well as cover various selective modes, corrected modes, equivalent modes, and other embodiments, which can be included within the spirit and the scope of the present invention defined by the accompanying claims. For easier interpretation and accurate definition in the accompanying claims, terms “up”, “down”, “inner”, and “outer” are used to refer to positions of characteristics according to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings and describe these characteristics.
An air treatment device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to
For easier description, three directions perpendicular to one another will be referred to as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction. The X direction has a first side referred to as a side X1 and a second side referred to as a side X2, the Y direction has a first side referred to as a side Y1 and a second side referred to as a side Y2, and the Z direction has a first side referred to as a side Z1 and a second side referred to as a side Z2.
As depicted in
According to research, assuming that the air treatment device 100 has pressure loss P, a pressure loss coefficient C, airflow volume Q, airflow speed N, and a sectional area (a sectional area along a plane perpendicular to the air duct) M of the air duct, these values satisfy the following relational expressions.
P=C*Q{circumflex over ( )}2 (Expression 1);
Q=N*M (Expression 2).
That is, the pressure loss P is in direct proportion to a square of the airflow volume Q. When the airflow volume Q is constant, the airflow speed N is in inverse proportion to the sectional area M of the air duct.
As depicted in
P1=C1*Q{circumflex over ( )}2
P2=C2*Q{circumflex over ( )}2
C2=C1*(a+b)/a
P2=C1*(a+b)/a*Q{circumflex over ( )}2
P2=((a+b)/a)*P1 (Expression 3);
P1=C1*Q{circumflex over ( )}2
P3=C1*Q3{circumflex over ( )}2
Q3=Q*a/(a+b)
P3=C1*(Q*a/(a+b)){circumflex over ( )}2
P3=(a/(a+b)){circumflex over ( )}2*P1 (Expression 4).
As apparent from Expression 3, increase in length of the air duct leads to increase in pressure loss. As apparent from Expression 4, increase in sectional area of the air duct leads to decrease in pressure loss. Expression 3 and Expression 4 are combined to obtain the following.
P2/P3=((a+b)/a){circumflex over ( )}3 (Expression 5).
That is, when the cubic shape of the heat exchanger 2 is changed into the rectangular parallelepiped shape, the pressure loss increases in proportion to a cube of ((a+b)/a).
It is necessary to particularly describe herein that, in the present embodiment, in comparison to the exhaust air path PF (the exhaust air path PF is provided with a prefilter such as an exhaust air filter FW2 to be described later), the supply air path SF (the supply air path SF is provided with a medium efficiency filter such as a supply air filter FW1 or a PM 2.5 filter FW3 to be described later) is provided with more members such as a filter. Accordingly, the supply air path SF is larger in pressure loss than the exhaust air path PF. Accordingly, the present inventor appropriately increases the pressure loss of the exhaust air path PF b by an appropriate measure for decrease in differential pressure between the supply air path SF and the exhaust air path PF. This prevents air leakage of the air treatment device 100.
The present inventor has thus found the following facts in accordance with the theoretical calculation. When the angle α between the first virtual line A1 and the second virtual line A2 is set to 1° to 11° (e.g. 1.6° or 9.8°), appropriate increase in sectional area of the supply air path SF passing the fresh air surface 21 and the supply air surface 23 of the heat exchanger 2 achieves decrease in airflow speed in the supply air path SF and extension of residence time of an air flow in the heat exchanger 2 for improvement in heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 2. Furthermore, appropriate increase in length of the exhaust air path PF passing the return air surface 22 and an exhaust air surface 24 of the heat exchanger 2 achieves increase in pressure loss of the exhaust air path PF and extension of residence time of an air flow in the heat exchanger 2. In comparison to a case where the heat exchanger 2 has a diagonal line parallel to a third side wall 13 of the case 1, this configuration satisfies a demand for downsizing of the air treatment device 100, as well as achieves decrease in differential pressure between the supply air path and the exhaust air path, for prevention of air leakage of the air treatment device 100 and improvement in heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 2. Also when the ratio between the length L21 of the fresh air surface 21 of the heat exchanger 2 and the length L22 of the return air surface 22 of the heat exchanger 2 is set to 1.02 to 1.50 (e.g. 1.06 or 1.19), appropriate increase in sectional area of the supply air path SF passing the fresh air surface 21 and the supply air surface 23 of the heat exchanger 2 achieves decrease in airflow speed in the supply air path SF and extension of residence time of an air flow in the heat exchanger for improvement in heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, appropriate increase in length of the exhaust air path PF passing the return air surface 22 and the exhaust air surface 24 of the heat exchanger 2 achieves increase in pressure loss of the exhaust air path PF and extension of residence time of an air flow in the heat exchanger. This achieves decrease in differential pressure between the supply air path and the exhaust air path, satisfies the demand for downsizing of the air treatment device 100, as well as achieves maximum increase in size of the heat exchanger 2, and further secures heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 2.
Specifically as depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
As depicted in
In the air treatment device 100 according to the present embodiment, the case 1 and the heat exchanger 2 each have the rectangular parallelepiped shape. In comparison to any other shape such as a circular shape, the case 1 and the heat exchanger 2 each having the rectangular parallelepiped shape can be processed more easily, to achieve reduction in production cost for the air treatment device 100. The heat exchanger 2 having the rectangular parallelepiped shape can more accurately control a windward area and an air flow route, to accurately regulate pressure loss of an air flow in the heat exchanger 2 and regulate (decrease) differential pressure of the air duct for prevention of air leakage.
As depicted in
Described above is the embodiment in which the case 1 has the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, without limiting the shape of the case 1 according to present invention. For instance, according to a modification example, a case 1 may have a polyhedral shape such as a cubic shape or a prismatic shape, a columnar shape, or the like.
Described above is the embodiment in which the fresh air port 1a and the exhaust air port 1d are provided respectively on the side Y2 and the side Y1 of the first side wall 11 of the case 1, and the return air port 1c and the supply air port 1b are provided respectively on the side Y2 and the side Y1 of the second side wall 12 of the case 1, without limiting the present invention. For instance, according to a modification example, the blow-out ports 1a to 1d may be provided in each of the third side wall 13 and the fourth side wall 14 of the case 1, or the blow-out ports 1a to 1d may be provided in the side walls 11 to 14 of the case 1, respectively.
It is necessary to describe herein that, as indicated by arrows in
As depicted in
Specifically, as depicted in
More specifically, the fresh air damper 31 includes a fresh air motor 311 and the fresh air damper baffle 312. When the fresh air motor 311 is connected to the fresh air damper baffle 312 via a first pushrod 313, the fresh air damper baffle 312 is driven to switch the fresh air damper 31 between the first fresh air position P31a and the second fresh air position P31b. When the fresh air damper 31 is positioned at the first fresh air position P31a, the fresh air damper baffle 312 forms a fresh air channelizing surface guiding an air flow from the fresh air port 1a to the fresh air surface 21 of the heat exchanger 2, and the fresh air fixing structure 32 forms a fresh air diffusing surface diffusing the air flow from the fresh air port 1a toward the fresh air surface 21 of the heat exchanger 2.
The air treatment device 100 according to the present embodiment includes the fresh air channelizing structure 3 disposed adjacent to the fresh air port 1a in the case 1 and configured to diffuse an air flow toward the fresh air surface 21 of the heat exchanger 2. This achieves a more preferred fresh air diffusing effect through the fresh air channelizing structure 3 for further decrease in pressure loss of the supply air path SF. Furthermore, the fresh air damper 31 is switchable between the first fresh air position P31a for continuity of the supply air path SF and the second fresh air position P31b for blockage of the supply air path SF. The air treatment device 100 can thus adopt various modes such as a fresh air mode and an interior air circulation mode, for achievement of multiple functions of the air treatment device 100. When the fresh air damper 31 is positioned at the first fresh air position P31a, the fresh air damper baffle 312 forms the fresh air channelizing surface and the fresh air fixing structure 32 forms the fresh air diffusing surface. This achieves a more preferred fresh air channelizing and diffusing effect through the fresh air diffusing surface and the fresh air channelizing surface for further decrease in pressure loss of the supply air path SF.
As described above, the supply air path SF is provided with the PM 2.5 filter FW3, and the supply air filter FW1 is provided upstream of the heat exchanger 2 on the supply air path SF (see
It is necessary to describe herein that the embodiment described above refers to the case where the supply air filter FW1 is provided upstream of the heat exchanger 2 and the PM 2.5 filter FW3 is provided downstream of the heat exchanger 2. However, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiment. According to a modification example, the supply air filter and the PM 2.5 filter may be provided both upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger 2 on the supply air path SF. Still alternatively, the supply air filter may be provided downstream of the heat exchanger 2 and the PM 2.5 filter may be provided upstream of the heat exchanger 2.
As depicted in
As indicated by arrows in
As depicted in
Specifically, as depicted in
More specifically, the return air damper 41 includes a return air motor 411 and the return air damper baffle 412. When the return air motor 411 is connected to the return air damper baffle 412 via a second pushrod 413, the return air damper baffle 412 is driven to switch the return air damper 41 between the first return air position P41a and the second return air position P41b. When the return air damper 41 is positioned at the first return air position P41a, the return air damper baffle 412 forms a return air channelizing surface guiding an air flow from the return air port 1c to the return air surface 22 of the heat exchanger 2, and the return air fixing structure 42 forms a return air diffusing surface that diffuses the air flow from the return air port 1c toward the return air surface 22 of the heat exchanger 2.
The air treatment device 100 according to the present embodiment includes the return air channelizing structure 4 disposed adjacent to the return air port 1c in the case 1 and configured to diffuse an air flow toward the return air surface 22 of the heat exchanger 2. This achieves a more preferred return air diffusing effect through the return air channelizing structure 4 for further decrease in pressure loss of the exhaust air path PF. Furthermore, the return air damper 41 is switchable between the first return air position P41a for continuity of the exhaust air path PF and the second return air position P41b for blockage of the exhaust air path PF. The air treatment device 100 can thus adopt various modes such as the interior air circulation mode and the fresh air mode, for achievement of multiple functions of the air treatment device 100. When the return air damper 41 is positioned at the first return air position P41a, the return air damper baffle 412 forms the return air channelizing surface and the return air fixing structure 42 forms the return air diffusing surface. This achieves a more preferred return air channelizing and diffusing effect through the return air diffusing surface and the return air channelizing surface for further decrease in pressure loss of the exhaust air path PF.
As described above, the electric component box 5 is disposed in the case 1 of the air treatment device 100 according to the present embodiment. The electric component box 5 is positioned adjacent to the return air port 1c on the exhaust air path PF. Specifically, as depicted in
The electric component box 5 is disposed in the case 1 according to the present embodiment. The electric component box 5 is positioned adjacent to the return air port 1c on the exhaust air path PF. In comparison to a case where the electric component box 5 is disposed outside the case 1, this configuration leads to downsizing of the air treatment device 100 without need to increase an attachment space. Furthermore, in comparison to a case where the electric component box 5 is provided at a position with a large temperature difference from the interior of the case 1, such as a position adjacent to the fresh air port 1a, the electric component box 5 is provided adjacent to the return air port 1c and is thus less likely to generate condensate water due to an excessively large temperature difference from air flowing in the electric component box 5, so as to prevent trouble such as a short circuit of the electric component box 5 by the condensate water thus generated. In comparison to the case where the electric component box 5 is disposed outside the case 1, the electric component box 5 is provided on the exhaust air path PF in the case 1 to occupy certain part of the width of the exhaust air path PF and decrease the width of the exhaust air path PF, and thus increase pressure loss of the exhaust air path PF. Furthermore, the pressure loss of the exhaust air path PF approaches the pressure loss of the supply air path SF to decrease differential pressure in the air treatment device 100, for prevention of air leakage.
As depicted in
The terminal block 6 according to the present embodiment is provided on the second side wall 12 outside the case 1. In comparison to a case where the terminal block 6 is disposed in the case 1, this configuration saves an inner disposition space of the air treatment device 100. The terminal block 6 according to the present embodiment has thickness substantially equal in length to projection of each of the supply air port and the return air port provided outside the case 1. In addition, the second side wall 12 of the case 1 is disposed adjacent to the electric component box 5. Such disposition achieves further downsizing of the entire air treatment device 100 as well as contributes to (shortened) wiring between the electric component box 5 and the terminal block 6. Moreover, the terminal block 6 is provided on the second side wall 12 outside the case 1, that is, on an indoor side, for easier maintenance of the terminal block 6 from the indoor side.
As depicted in
The sensor assembly 7 according to the present embodiment is provided at the intermediate position in the third direction Z on the exhaust air path PF. This further inhibits streamlining of the exhaust air path PF, increases pressure loss of the exhaust air path PF to approach the pressure loss of the supply air path SF and further decrease differential pressure in the air treatment device 100, for prevention of air leakage.
As described above, the exhaust air filter FW2 is provided upstream of the heat exchanger 2 on the exhaust air path PF (see
It is necessary to describe herein that the embodiment described above refers to the case where the exhaust air filter FW2 is provided upstream of the heat exchanger 2. However, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiment. According to a modification example, the exhaust air filter FW2 may be provided downstream of the heat exchanger 2 on the exhaust air path PF. Still alternatively, the exhaust air filter may be provided both upstream and downstream of the heat exchanger 2.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the exhaust air fan 9b is further provided between the exhaust air surface 24 of the heat exchanger 2 and the exhaust air port 1d. The exhaust air fan 9b according to the present embodiment is a centrifugal fan, though not limited thereto. The exhaust air fan may alternatively be an axial fan.
As depicted in
As depicted in
The four corners 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d of the heat exchanger 2 according to the present embodiment are each provided with the heat exchanger clamping device 8 including the sealing member and the filter clamping member. The heat exchanger clamping devices 8 thus position the heat exchanger 2 to facilitate assembling work of the air treatment device 100. Furthermore, the sealing members seal the air duct passing the heat exchanger 2 to prevent air leakage. The filter clamping members fix the supply air filter FW1 and the exhaust air filter FW2, to prevent displacement of the filters FW1 and FW2 during air flow passage and influence on air filtering quality.
The embodiments of the present invention can be combined freely, can be modified where appropriate, and can be removed within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202110415456.4 | Apr 2021 | CN | national |
This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2022/017599 filed on Apr. 12, 2022, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202110415456.4, filed on Apr. 18, 2021. The entire disclosures of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2022/017599 | Apr 2022 | US |
| Child | 18380148 | US |
