JP2011196562A - Humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

Water is collected with high efficiency by a hygroscopic filter that is regenerated with hot air of 60 ° C. or less, and humidified air is supplied indoors.
In a humidifying device that absorbs moisture in the air with a moisture absorption filter, heats the moisture absorption filter that has absorbed moisture, and supplies moisture to the room, the moisture absorption air passing through the moisture absorption filter is cooled in advance. 17, the moisture absorption and desorption are efficiently obtained even when the moisture absorption filter is regenerated at a low regeneration temperature of 40 ° C. to 60 ° C. by cooling the moisture absorption air. It is possible to recover moisture from the moisture absorption filter with high efficiency. That is, a high humidification amount can be obtained.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a humidifier without water supply.

  Conventionally, as this type of humidifier without water supply, moisture in the air is absorbed by a moisture absorption filter, and the moisture absorption filter that has absorbed moisture is heated by a regeneration heater to collect the concentrated moisture and supply it to the room. What was made into is known (patent document 1). Hereinafter, the configuration of the humidifier will be described with reference to FIG.

  This humidifier includes a rotary moisture absorption filter 1 having a ventilation hole for absorbing moisture in the air, a first blower 3 for blowing indoor air 2 to the moisture absorption filter 1, and dry air that has passed through the moisture absorption filter 1. The outdoor air outlet 4 that discharges the air to the outside, the regeneration heater 5 that heats and regenerates the moisture absorption filter 1, and the ventilation air that blows indoor air 2 through both the regeneration heater 5 and the moisture absorption filter 1. It is comprised by the 2 air blower 6 and the indoor air outlet 7 which ventilates the air after humidification indoors.

  The humidifier 8 sucks indoor air with the first blower 3, and the air sucked in the air passage of the first blower 3 becomes moisture-absorbed air, and moisture in the air is absorbed by the moisture-absorbing filter 1. Further, the air that has absorbed moisture and has been dried is discharged from the blower opening 4 to the outside of the room. The moisture absorption filter 1 moves by rotating by a rotating means 9 such as a gear motor, and eventually enters the air path of the second blower 6. In the air passage of the second blower 6, it is heated by the regeneration heater 5 upstream of the moisture absorption filter 1 in the humidifier 8 to become regeneration air, and moisture absorbed by the moisture absorption filter 1 by the regeneration air is desorbed and blown. The air is returned to the room through the mouth 7, and as a result, the humid air is sent into the room.

  When the outdoor humidity is low, the air supplied to the room is dried by natural ventilation, so that the moist air in the room escapes to the outside, the moisture in the room is reduced, and the room is dried. On the other hand, the presence of a humidifier removes moisture from the air exhausted from the room and returns the moisture to the room. Therefore, even if dry air is supplied by natural ventilation, the room has no humidifier. Difficult to dry or humidified.

  Further, there is also a humidifier that performs ventilation to the hygroscopic agent disclosed in Patent Document 1 with a single fan, divides it, and uses one as hygroscopic air and passes the other through a regenerative heater to generate regenerated air. Known (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-47707 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-61977

However, the conventional humidifying device uses a heater such as a nichrome wire to heat air to 80 ° C. or higher, preferably 100 ° C. or higher to desorb moisture. Of course, there is a problem that a large amount of electric power is required to regenerate with a heater. Moreover, since it desorbs by heating at a high temperature of 100 ° C. or higher, the resulting high-humidity air has a high temperature, and must be supplied after being mixed with low-temperature air. Therefore, a humidifier capable of obtaining a humidification amount while regenerating at a low temperature has been demanded.

  In order to satisfy such demands, there are humidifiers that regenerate at low temperatures using heat sources such as exhaust heat from micro gas turbines and condensers of heat pumps. Even such humidifiers are regenerated at low temperatures. In addition, there was a limit to the recovery rate for recovering moisture in the hygroscopic air of the hygroscopic filter. This is because the relative humidity of the regenerated air during regeneration is higher than the relative humidity of the regenerated air when regenerating at a high temperature. Therefore, when the relative humidity of the hygroscopic air is low on the moisture absorption side, it is difficult to absorb or absorb moisture. This is because the relative humidity of air cannot be reduced.

  For example, when air at 20 ° C. and 40% is absorbed, exhausted to the outside, and regenerated with air at 40 ° C. and 12% (the absolute humidity on the moisture absorption side and that on the regeneration side are the same), moisture is absorbed. Air becomes 27-28 ° C. after moisture absorption due to heat of adsorption and heat of the moisture absorption filter warmed at the time of regeneration. However, since air is regenerated by air having a relative humidity of 12%, the moisture dependence of moisture is dependent on temperature. In the case of an adsorption filter that does not have any, the relative humidity of the air after moisture absorption is reduced to only 12%. Therefore, when comparing the absolute humidity of the hygroscopic upstream air and the absolute humidity of the hygroscopic downstream air, the hygroscopic downstream has about 50% of the upstream moisture. Conversely, the moisture absorbed by the filter is only about 50% of the total.

  Therefore, there is a demand for a mechanism that improves the recovery rate of moisture in the hygroscopic air.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention passes a moisture absorption filter in a humidifying device that absorbs moisture in the air with a moisture absorption filter, heats the moisture absorption filter that has absorbed moisture, and supplies moisture to the room. By cooling the hygroscopic air with the cooling means in advance and reducing the specific enthalpy of the hygroscopic air, even if the hygroscopic air has the same amount of moisture, the moisture recovery rate in the hygroscopic air is improved and a humidifier with high humidification efficiency is installed. It is to provide.

  In the humidifier without water supply of the present invention, moisture absorption and desorption can be efficiently obtained by cooling the moisture-absorbing air, even in a moisture absorption filter regenerated at a low regeneration temperature of 40 ° C. to 60 ° C. Thus, the moisture recovery of the moisture absorption filter can be performed with high efficiency. That is, a high humidification amount can be obtained.

  And, since the moisture absorption filter that absorbs moisture can desorb moisture even with a low-temperature heat source, for example, warm air of 60 ° C. or less, energy efficient heat pump heating, exhaust heat of a fuel cell, gas turbine A heat source such as exhaust heat can be used, and thus energy saving can be improved as compared with a non-water-supply humidifier regenerated by a heater. Moreover, since it desorbs at a low temperature of 60 ° C. or lower, the resulting air temperature is lowered, and it can be supplied as humidified air as it is outside the apparatus.

Schematic of the humidifier in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Schematic of a corrugated honeycomb-shaped moisture absorption filter in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Schematic of the humidifier in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Schematic of the humidifier in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Schematic diagram of conventional humidifier

The first aspect of the invention relates to a moisture absorption filter, a blowing means for discharging a part or all of the ventilation to a predetermined place after absorbing moisture from the air to the moisture absorption filter, and the moisture absorption filter indirectly or directly. A heating means for heating; and a blowing means for ventilating the moisture absorption filter heated by the heating means; and a moisture absorption air passage and the heating means for passing the air through the moisture absorption filter and discharging it to a predetermined place. The hygroscopic filter moves along the desorption air passage for passing the vented air through the hygroscopic filter, and a cooling unit is provided on the upstream side of the hygroscopic filter in the hygroscopic air channel, and the cooling unit is cooled. It is a humidifier that has a temperature equal to or higher than the dew point temperature of the air, and the moisture absorption filter alternately replaces the moisture absorption air passage and the desorption air passage so that the moisture in the exhausted air is reduced. The moisture filter absorbs moisture, regenerates it in the desorption air passage, and discharges water to supply humidified air. The humidified air is cooled by a cooling means, and is used for the humidification. Since the air is set to be above the dew point temperature, it can be efficiently desorbed even if the temperature of the air desorbing moisture from the moisture absorption filter is low, and the loss caused by condensation on the cooling device In addition, high-humidity air can be realized with high efficiency, that is, efficient humidification can be performed. In addition, when the liquid that has condensed and becomes liquid is to be humidified, that is, to evaporate, energy for evaporating the liquid is required, increasing the load on the heating device, and liquid water is present as it is. Therefore, mold is generated, which is not desirable. However, by keeping the humidification air at the dew point temperature or higher, high efficiency and clean humidification can be realized without such problems.

  The second invention is a humidifying device using an evaporator in a heat pump as the cooling means and a condenser in the heat pump as the heating means, performing regeneration at a low temperature and upstream of the hygroscopic air as a cooling means. Since the temperature can be lowered by passing through the evaporator, it is possible to improve the water recovery rate from the air even when the heat pump is regenerated at a low temperature. Excellent energy saving.

  A third invention is a humidifying device using a heat absorption side portion of a Peltier element as the cooling means and a heat dissipation portion of the Peltier element as the heating means, and can perform heat absorption and heat dissipation with one member, Efficiency is good. It is desirable to dissipate heat and absorb heat by arranging fins in the heat absorbing portion and the heat radiating portion.

  A fourth aspect of the invention is the humidifying device comprising a humidity sensor in the hygroscopic air passage and a control device that controls cooling by the cooling means based on an output of the humidity sensor, and the dew point temperature is reduced by the cooling by the cooling means. The air temperature can be prevented from lowering below, and moisture absorption air drops below the dew point, and water droplets adhere to the cooling means, thereby reducing the amount of moisture in the air and preventing the humidification effect from decreasing. it can. More specifically, it is desirable that the relative humidity downstream of the cooling means be 40% or more and 95% or less in order to improve moisture recovery while preventing condensation on the cooling means. Of course, because of the cooling means, the relative humidity downstream of the cooling means is higher than that upstream of the cooling means.

  Control of the input to the cooling means includes control of electric power that determines the surface temperature of the cooling means, control of the refrigerant pump temperature and flow rate, control of the applied voltage of the Peltier element, and the like.

  5th invention is the said humidification apparatus provided with the air purifying filter upstream of the cooling means of the said moisture absorption air path, and can prevent the fall of the cooling efficiency by the contamination of a cooling means. In addition, the moisture absorption filter absorbs odor simultaneously with moisture. Therefore, by adsorbing odors beforehand with hydrophobic materials such as activated carbon and ion exchange resins upstream, odor adsorption to the moisture absorption filter can be prevented, and moisture is desorbed during regeneration in the desorption air channel. Therefore, odorless and clean humidification can be performed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a humidifying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the humidifier 10 has a condenser (heat exchanger) of a heat pump 12 as a heating means 11 capable of producing hot air of 40 ° C. or higher, and the indoor air 13 is heated by a blowing means 14 such as a fan. And is supplied into the room through the indoor air blowing port 15. This air passage is referred to as a desorption air passage 16.

  Further, in the housing of the humidifier 10, a corrugated honeycomb-shaped moisture absorption filter 18 having a ventilation structure attached with a moisture absorption material as shown in FIG. 2 and an evaporator (heat exchanger) of the heat pump 12 as air cooling means 17 is provided. And has a ventilation exhaust means 19 such as a fan for exhausting the indoor air 13 through the cooling means 17 and the moisture absorption filter 18 and exhausting the air outside the room, and an exhaust port 20. Air 13 is supplied to absorb moisture. This air passage is the moisture absorption air passage 21.

  Further, a humidity sensor 25 such as a semiconductor hygrometer or a dry bulb wet bulb measuring means is provided downstream of the cooling means 17 and upstream of the moisture absorption filter 18. The control device 26 is configured to control the surface temperature of the cooling means 17 based on the above.

  The humidification mechanism is shown below. When all or part of the hygroscopic filter 18 is present on the hygroscopic air passage 21 and the air blowing / exhausting means 19 is operating, the sucked air is absorbed by the hygroscopic filter 18 and the dried air is discharged into the exhaust port. 20 is exhausted to the outside of the room. The moisture absorption filter 18 has a drive path 22 and slides on the drive path 22 by using a driving means 23 such as a gear motor. The moisture absorption filter 18 that has absorbed moisture in the moisture absorption air passage 21 moves along the drive path 22 and moves to the indoor air vent 15 on the desorption air path 16. At that time, warm air passes through the moisture absorption filter 18 by the air blowing means 14, whereby moisture is desorbed from the moisture absorption filter 18, and moisture is supplied into the room together with the warm air.

  When the outdoor humidity is low, the air supplied to the room is dried by natural ventilation, so that the moist air in the room escapes to the outside, the moisture in the room is reduced, and the room is dried. On the other hand, the presence of the humidifier 10 removes moisture from the air exhausted from the room and returns the moisture to the room. Therefore, even if dry air is supplied by natural ventilation or the like, the room has no humidifier. It is harder to dry than the case, or it is humidified.

  Here, since this humidifier 10 uses the heat exchanger of the heat pump 12 as the heating means 11, the air temperature at which moisture is desorbed from the moisture absorption filter 18 is lower than that of the conventional one, but in the moisture absorption air passage 21. Since moisture-absorbing air is cooled by the cooling means 17 at the time of moisture absorption, sufficient humidification is possible. That is, if the temperature difference between the moisture absorption air and the desorption air is small, sufficient moisture desorption cannot be performed at the time of desorption, but the temperature of the moisture absorption air is lowered by the cooling means 17 because the desorption air temperature is low. Therefore, the temperature difference between the two is sufficiently large, in other words, the indoor air 13 as the hygroscopic air passing through the hygroscopic filter 18 is cooled by the cooling means 17 in advance, and the specific enthalpy of the hygroscopic air is reduced. Even if the temperature of the desorption air is low, sufficient humidification is possible. In the humidifier 10, the temperature of the moisture absorption air cooled by the cooling means 17 is set to be equal to or higher than the dew point temperature, and moisture in the humidification air is condensed by the cooling means 17 to reduce moisture. In addition, more efficient moisture absorption can be achieved and the humidifying capacity can be secured.

The following is a further explanation of sufficient humidification even when the temperature of the desorption air is low.

  That is, since the saturated water vapor pressure is low when the regeneration temperature is relatively low, the relative humidity is relatively high even with the same amount of water. If the hygroscopic agent is a material that does not have temperature dependence and depends on relative humidity, the material does not reach a completely dry state when regenerated in a state where the relative humidity is high. Therefore, in the air after moisture absorption, it is not possible to obtain dry air below the relative humidity in the regeneration air.

  Therefore, assuming that the air temperature after moisture absorption decreases to the same relative humidity, the lower the air temperature after moisture absorption, the smaller the amount of moisture contained in the air after moisture absorption. That is, if air with the same amount of moisture flows from the upstream side of the moisture absorption filter, more moisture is collected by the moisture absorption filter as the air temperature after moisture absorption decreases to the lowest relative humidity that can be lowered.

  From the above, by cooling the air to be absorbed by the cooling means upstream of the moisture absorption filter, the specific enthalpy of the air to be absorbed is lowered, and the temperature rise due to the heat of adsorption during moisture absorption is suppressed. Therefore, even if the relative humidity does not decrease to a low humidity, the absolute humidity of the air is reduced by the amount of the air temperature increased by the heat of adsorption. That is, the moisture absorption amount to the moisture absorption filter increases. For this reason, the recovery rate of the moisture passing through the moisture absorption filter is improved, and the performance and efficiency of the humidifier are improved.

  In addition, in this embodiment, a humidity sensor 25 such as a semiconductor type hygrometer or a dry bulb wet bulb measuring means is provided downstream of the cooling means 17 and upstream of the moisture absorption filter 18. Since the control device 26 for controlling the surface temperature of the cooling means 17 based on the output from the humidity sensor 25 is provided, for example, the air humidity after passing through the cooling means 17 is controlled to be 100%. be able to. Therefore, problems such as generation of mold on the cooling unit 17 caused by condensation on the cooling unit 17 and a decrease in the humidification amount of the humidifier 10 due to a decrease in moisture contained in the air can be prevented.

  The humidity after passing through the cooling means 17 is 40% or more, and preferably 95% or less from the viewpoint of non-condensing. As a method for controlling the surface temperature of the cooling means 17, there is a method for controlling the flow rate of refrigerant and the temperature of the refrigerant in the heat pump 12.

  Further, by using a heat exchanger of the heat pump 12 as the heating means 11, only air having a temperature lower than that obtained when using a heater such as a nichrome wire can be obtained. However, energy efficiency is high and the humidifier 10 can save energy. There are advantages.

  Note that the air supplied to the humidifying device 10 is not necessarily indoor air, and part or all of the air may be supplied from outside the room.

  Further, the humidifier 10 is provided with an air purifying filter 24 such as a dust collecting filter or an electrostatic filter in which an activated carbon filter or a nonwoven fabric is folded in a pleat shape in the uppermost stream of the moisture absorption air passage 21. Contamination and adsorption and concentration of dust and odors on the moisture absorption filter 18 are less likely to occur, and only moisture is desorbed from the moisture absorption filter 18 in the desorption air passage 16 to increase the cleanliness of the humidified air.

  Note that the flow rate of the refrigerant in the heat pump 12 does not have to be the same between the condenser and the evaporator. It may be a structure having a flow valve to flow as used.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the evaporator and condenser of the heat pump 12 are used for the cooling means 17 and the heating means 11, respectively. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 27 is heated to the cooling means 28 and the heat dissipation side is heated. It may be used as the means 29, and cooled air and heated air can be obtained by providing heat dissipating portions such as fins having heat conductivity. Cooling and heat dissipation can be performed with a single device, and energy can be used effectively.

  In the present invention, a heat pump and a Peltier element are given as apparatuses for performing cooling and heating at the same time. However, any other means for simultaneously performing cooling and heating may be used.

(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the hygroscopic filter 18 is alternately replaced with the hygroscopic air passage 21 and the desorption air passage 16 to absorb moisture in the room and exhaust the dried air. The moisture is released into the room, and this may be a rotor type moisture absorption filter 30 as shown in FIG.

  The rotor-type moisture absorption filter 30 can be rotated using a rotating means 31 such as a gear motor, and the moisture absorption air passage 21 and the desorption air passage 16 can be alternately switched. Therefore, the drive path 22 shown in the first embodiment is not necessary, the number of parts can be reduced, and manufacturing can be performed at low cost.

  In each of the embodiments described above, mechanical cooling means such as a heat pump heat exchanger has been described as an example of the cooling means. However, for example, fins provided on or near the wall surface using radiation cooling of the wall surface, etc. The heat exchanger may be used as a cooling means to cool by radiant cooling of the wall surface, and this may be introduced into the hygroscopic air passage.

  A 70 mm square, 10 mm thick ceramic honeycomb is impregnated with a dispersion of mesoporous silica and colloidal silica, and the excess liquid is blown off and dried at 180 ° C. to prepare a mesoporous silica honeycomb. The ceramic honeycomb is obtained by processing glass fibers or ceramic fibers into a corrugated honeycomb shape.

  The dried mesoporous silica honeycomb was impregnated with an aqueous calcium chloride solution, and excess liquid was blown off, followed by drying at 180 ° C. to prepare a moisture absorption filter of a mesoporous silica-calcium chloride honeycomb.

In addition, a zeolite honeycomb in which zeolite was added to a ceramic honeycomb was prepared, and a similar experiment was conducted without adding a deliquescent material such as calcium chloride.
The sample thus obtained was evaluated by the following experimental method. The experimental method will be described below.

  (1) Air is supplied into an oven heated to 40 ° C. from a thermo-hygrostat (PL-3KP manufactured by ESPEC) adjusted to 20 ° C. and 40%, and the absolute humidity is the same as air of 20 ° C. and 40%. Create air at 40 ° C., dry the hygroscopic filter in the oven until the weight is stable, and record the weight.

  (2) Then, in the constant temperature and humidity chamber adjusted to 20 ° C. and 40%, the moisture absorption filter was blown for 120 seconds with an air volume of 33 L / min, moisture was absorbed, the weight was measured, and the weight of (1) The amount of moisture absorbed is calculated from the difference.

  (3) On the other hand, the total moisture contained in the air, that is, the total moisture passing through the sample is calculated from the absolute humidity of air at 20 ° C. and 40%.

  (4) Divide the moisture absorption amount of the moisture absorption filter of (2) by the total amount of moisture passed in (3), and evaluate as a moisture recovery rate.

  (5) Similarly, adjust the temperature and humidity chamber to 10 ° C. and 76% (same as the absolute humidity of 20 ° C. and 40%), and perform (1) to (4).

  The test results are shown in Table 1.

  Even if the mesoporous silica-calcium chloride honeycomb moisture absorption filter and the zeolite honeycomb have the same regeneration temperature and humidity and the same absolute humidity of the hygroscopic air, lowering the temperature improves the amount of water recovered and the water recovery rate. This proves that moisture can be recovered with high efficiency by cooling the moisture-absorbing air.

  As described above, the present invention can recover moisture with high efficiency while desorbing moisture from the hygroscopic filter at a relatively low temperature, thus enabling energy-saving and highly efficient humidification. For example, when supplying hot air It becomes possible to supply humidified air indoors by using a heat source for supplying hot air, etc., and improving the comfort of the room by adjusting the humidity, deteriorating the house due to drying, and the virus in the air It can suppress breeding. Moreover, it is excellent as humidification not only in a living room but also in a specific cabinet, particularly when it is desired to maintain a low temperature, and humidity control of a refrigerator, a drying cabinet, a selective dryer, a wine cellar, etc. can be realized.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hygroscopic filter 2 Indoor air 3 1st air blower 4 Outdoor air blower 5 Regeneration heater 6 2nd air blower 7 Indoor air blower 8 Humidifier 9 Rotating means 10 Humidifier 11 Heating means 12 Heat pump 13 Indoor air 14 Air blower 15 Indoor air blower DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 Desorption air path 17 Cooling means 18 Hygroscopic filter 19 Air supply / exhaust means 20 Exhaust port 21 Hygroscopic air path 22 Drive path 23 Drive means 24 Air purifying filter 25 Humidity sensor 26 Controller 27 Peltier element 28 Cooling means 29 Heating means 30 Rotor type Moisture absorption filter 31 Rotating means

Claims (5)

A moisture absorbing filter, a blowing means for discharging a part or all of the ventilation to a predetermined place after moisture is absorbed into the moisture absorbing filter from the air, and a heating means for indirectly or directly heating the moisture absorbing filter; A ventilation means for passing air through the moisture absorption filter heated by the heating means, and a moisture absorption air passage for passing the air through the moisture absorption filter and discharging it to a predetermined place; The hygroscopic filter moves along a desorption air passage that passes through the filter, and a cooling means is provided on the upstream side of the hygroscopic filter in the hygroscopic air passage, and a cooling temperature of the cooling means is a dew point of the air. Humidifier with temperature above. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling means is an evaporator in a heat pump, and the heating means is a condenser in the heat pump. The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling means is a heat absorption side portion of the Peltier element, and the heating means is a heat dissipation side portion of the Peltier element. The humidification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a control device that includes a humidity sensor in the moisture absorption air passage and controls cooling by a cooling unit based on an output of the moisture absorption sensor. The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an air cleaning filter upstream of the cooling means of the moisture absorption air passage.