Refrigeration – Air compressor – cooler and expander type
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-01
2004-09-21
Doerrier, William C. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Air compressor, cooler and expander type
C062S086000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06792771
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an air cycle air-conditioning apparatus employing air as a refrigerant and, more particularly, to an efficiency improving scheme.
BACKGROUND ART
Cooling apparatus of the air cycle type in which air serves as a refrigerant have been conventionally known in the art. For example, there is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Gazette No. S62-102061 one type of air cycle cooling apparatus. This type of cooling apparatus includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, and an expansion device. That is, air is drawn into the compressor where the air is compressed. The compressed air is cooled in the heat exchanger and thereafter expanded in the expansion device, for obtaining low-temperature air of low temperature. In the cooling apparatus of the aforesaid Patent Gazette, the cooling air thus obtained is used for achieving cooling of the inside of a room. Further, in the cooling apparatus, the low-temperature air expanded in the expansion device is sprayed with water so that the temperature of the low-temperature air is lowered to a further extent by evaporation of the water for enhancing cooling capacity.
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
However, in the aforesaid conventional cooling apparatus, cooling of air compressed in the compressor is carried out by heat exchange with outside air. If outside air temperature rises to as high as 35 degrees centigrade in summer, it is impossible for the cooling apparatus to lower the temperature of the compressed air beyond about 40 degrees centigrade. Accordingly, in order to ensure cooling capacity even when outside air temperature is high, the compression ratio of the compressor must be increased. As a result, compressor driving power should be increased, giving rise to the problem of poor cooling efficiency, i.e., low COP (coefficient of performance).
Bearing in mind the above drawbacks with the prior art, the present invention was made. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved COP while at the same time maintaining the cooling capacity of an air cycle air-conditioning apparatus.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, the temperature of cooled, compressed air is lowered and compressor driving power can be reduced while maintaining cooling capacity.
More specifically, the present invention discloses a first solution means which is directed to an air-conditioning apparatus for cooling room air by an air cycle employing air as a refrigerant, thereby performing air-cooling. The air-conditioning apparatus of the first solution means comprises a compressor (
21
) which draws in at least air in a room for compressing the drawn room air, a cooling means (
30
) which subjects the compressed air compressed in the compressor (
21
) to heat exchange with exhaust air expelled from the room for cooling the compressed air, and an expansion device (
23
) which provides expansion of the compressed air cooled by the cooling means (
30
), wherein low-temperature air, cooled by the expansion in the expansion device (
23
), is delivered to the room.
Further, the present invention discloses a second solution means according to the first solution means in which a moisturizing means (
41
) is disposed which supplies moisture to the exhaust air that is delivered to the cooling means (
30
) for pre-cooling the exhaust air.
Further, the present invention discloses a third solution means according to the first solution means in which a moisturizing means (
42
) is disposed which supplies moisture to the exhaust air so that cooling of the compressed air is performed making utilization of a latent heat of vaporization of water in the cooling means (
30
).
Further, the present invention discloses a fourth solution means according to the second or third solution means in which, when the exhaust air is expelled from the cooling means (
30
), each moisturizing means (
41
,
42
) supplies a specified amount of moisture to the exhaust air so that the exhaust air has a relative humidity in a range from not less than 80% to less than 100%.
Further, the present invention discloses a fifth solution means according to the second or third solution means in which each moisturizing means (
41
,
42
) supplies moisture to the exhaust air through a moisture permeable membrane transmittable to moisture.
Further, the present invention discloses a sixth solution means according to the first solution means in which a demoisturizing means (
22
) is disposed which has a separation membrane and the separation membrane is formed such that water vapor in the air is allowed to pass therethrough from a high partial pressure of water-vapor side to a low partial pressure of water-vapor side thereof, for separation of water vapor contained in the compressed air without causing the water vapor to undergo condensation.
Further, the present invention discloses a seventh solution means according to the sixth solution means in which a depressurizing means (
36
) is disposed which provides depressurization of one of the sides of the separation membrane in the demoisturizing means (
22
) so as to ensure a difference in partial pressure of water-vapor between both the separation membrane sides.
Further, the present invention discloses an eighth solution means according to any one of the second to fifth solution means in which a demoisturizing means (
22
) is disposed which has a separation membrane and the separation membrane is formed such that water vapor in the air is allowed to pass therethrough from a high partial pressure of water-vapor side to a low partial pressure of water-vapor side thereof, for separation of water vapor contained in the compressed air without causing the water vapor to undergo condensation.
Further, the present invention discloses a ninth solution means according to the eighth solution means in which a depressurizing means (
36
) is disposed which provides depressurization of one of the sides of the separation membrane in the demoisturizing means (
22
) so as to ensure a difference in partial pressure of water-vapor between both the separation membrane sides.
Further, the present invention discloses a tenth solution means according to the sixth or eighth solution means in which the demoisturizing means (
22
) is formed so that one of surfaces of the separation membrane is brought into contact with the compressed air whereas the other of the surfaces is brought into contact with the exhaust air, whereby water vapor contained in the compressed air will travel to the exhaust air.
Further, the present invention discloses an eleventh solution means according to any one of the sixth to ninth solution means in which a part or all of moisture separated from the compressed air by the demoisturizing means (
22
) is supplied, together with low-temperature air from the expansion device (
23
), into the room.
Further, the present invention discloses a twelfth solution means according to the ninth solution means in which a part or all of moisture separated from the compressed air by the demoisturizing means (
22
) is supplied to the exhaust air by the moisturizing means (
41
,
42
).
Further, the present invention discloses a thirteenth solution means according to any one of the sixth to twelfth solution means in which the separation membrane is composed of a polymeric membrane and formed so as to allow water vapor to pass therethrough by water-molecule diffusion in the membrane.
Further, the present invention discloses a fourteenth solution means according to any one of the sixth to twelfth solution means in which the separation membrane has a large number of pores having a size equal to a molecule free path and is formed so as to allow water vapor to pass therethrough by water-molecule capillary condensation and diffusion.
Further, the present invention discloses a fifteenth solution means according to any one of the first to fourteenth solution means in which the compressor (
21
) is so formed as to draw in room air and supply air that is supplied from the outside to the inside of the room.
Finally, the present
Kamino Akira
Mishina Shotaro
Piao Chun-cheng
Sakamoto Ryuichi
Yonemoto Kazuo
Daikin Industries Ltd.
Doerrier William C.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Studebaker Donald
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