Refrigeration – Reversible – i.e. – heat pump – With cooling apparatus other than gas compressor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-15
2002-11-26
Doerrler, William C. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Reversible, i.e., heat pump
With cooling apparatus other than gas compressor
C062S402000, C062S324500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484528
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an air cycle air-conditioning apparatus employing air as a refrigerant for effecting heating and, more particularly, to a heating capacity improving scheme.
BACKGROUND ART
There has been conventionally known a refrigerating apparatus of the air cycle type employing air as a refrigerant. One example of such an air cycle refrigerator is shown in “JAR HANDBOOK, FUNDAMENTALS, Fourth Edition”, published by Japanese Association of Refrigeration, pp. 45-48. Further, there is disclosed in “June Issue of the AIRAH JOURNAL (1997)”, pp. 16-21, published by The Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating a heating apparatus capable of performing heating by using an air cycle refrigerator as a heat source. Hereinafter, a description of this heating apparatus will be given below.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the heating apparatus has a heat source-side system (a) and an exhaust heat-side system (f). The heat source-side system (a) is formed by sequential connection of a compressor (b), a first heat exchanger (c), a second heat exchanger (d), and an expansion device (e), for performing an air refrigerating cycle. On the other hand, the exhaust heat-side system (f) is formed by sequential connection of the second heat exchanger (d), a humidifier (g), and the first heat exchanger (c).
In such an arrangement, when the compressor (b) is driven in the heat source-side system (a), exhaust air for ventilation is compressed in the compressor (b). The compressed air flows through the first heat exchanger (c) and then through the second heat exchanger (d), undergoes expansion in the expansion device (e), and is expelled to outside the room. On the other hand, in the exhaust heat-side system (f), supply air for ventilation from the outside of the room flows through the second heat exchanger (d), the humidifier (g), and the first heat exchanger (c) in that order, during which the supply air is heated by heat exchange with the compressed air in the heat source-side system (a) in both the heat exchangers (d, c) and humidified in the humidifier (g). Then, the heated, humidified supply air is supplied into the room for effecting heating.
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
However, the heating apparatus stated above suffers problems such as insufficient heating capacity and therefore fails to properly provide room heating. This problem will be described. In the heating apparatus, only the exhaust air for ventilation is let to flow to the heat source-side system (a). The amount of such ventilation is determined by, for example, the number of people present in the room (for example, 4 m
3
/hr for every 1 m
2
of floor space), independent of the heating load. And, in most cases, only a flow of exhaust air for ventilation is insufficient for the purpose of achieving a heating capacity in proportional to the heating load. However, it is impossible for the heating apparatus to provide a flow of air at increased flow rates to the heat source-side system (a), therefore giving rise to lack of heating capacity.
Bearing in mind such drawbacks, the present invention was made. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to ensure that an air-conditioning apparatus which performs heating by making utilization of an air cycle provides sufficient heating capacity.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to an arrangement of the present invention, together with exhaust air for ventilation, air from the outside of a room (outdoor air) is let to flow to a heat source-side system which generates heat by making utilization of an air cycle, for achieving an increased air flow rate in the heat source-side system.
More specifically, the present invention provides a first solution means that is directed to an air-conditioning apparatus which heats room air by an air cycle employing air as a refrigerant for performing air-heating. The air-conditioning apparatus of the first solution means comprises a compressor (
21
) which draws in air from the outside and the inside of a room for compressing the drawn air, a heating means (
30
) which heats air for conditioning formed of at least air from the room by heat exchange with the compressed air compressed by the compressor (
21
), and an expansion device (
23
) which provides expansion of the compressed air which has undergone the heat exchange in the heating means (
30
), wherein low-temperature air, expanded and lowered in temperature in the expansion device (
23
), is expelled to the outside of the room, whereas the conditioning air heated by the heating means (
30
) is supplied into the room.
Further, the present invention provides a second solution means according to the first solution means, wherein the air that is drawn into the compressor (
21
) from the inside of the room is exhaust air that is expelled from the inside of the room for ventilation.
Further, the present invention provides a third solution means according to the first solution means or the second solution means, wherein the conditioning air is formed of air from the room and supply air that is supplied from the outside to the inside of the room.
Further, the present invention provides a fourth solution means according to any one of the first to third solution means, the fourth solution means including a demoisturizing means (
22
) which has a separation membrane, the separation membrane being 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 provides a fifth solution means according to the fourth solution means, wherein 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 provides a sixth solution means according to the fourth solution means, wherein 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 provides a seventh solution means according to any one of the fourth to sixth solution means, the seventh solution means including a depressurizing means (
36
) 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 provides an eighth solution means according to the seventh solution means, wherein a part or all of moisture separated from the compressed air by the demoisturizing means (
22
) is supplied to the low-temperature air from the expansion device (
23
).
Further, the present invention provides a ninth solution means according to the seventh solution means, the ninth solution means including a moisturizing means (
42
) which supplies moisture separated from the compressed air by the demoisturizing mans (
22
) to the conditioning air in the heating means (
30
).
Further, the present invention provides a tenth solution means according to any one of the fourth to seventh solution means, wherein a part or all of moisture separated from the compressed air by the demoisturizing means (
22
) is supplied, together with the conditioning air, into the room.
Further, the present invention provides an eleventh solution means according to any one of the fourth to sixth solution means, wherein 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 conditioning air, whereby water vapor contained in the compressed air will travel to the conditioning air.
Further, the present invention provides a twelfth solution means according
Kamino Akira
Mishina Shotaro
Piao Chun-cheng
Sakamoto Ryuichi
Yonemoto Kazuo
Daikin Industries Ltd.
Doerrler William C.
Massie, IV Jerome W.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Studebaker Donald R.
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