NZ613995B2 - Air-conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an air-conditioning apparatus (100). The apparatus includes dehumidifying means (5), blowing means (2), wind direction changing means (1d), an infrared sensor (6), humidity detection means (4) and control means (7). The dehumidifying means (5) removes moisture from air. The blowing means (2) suctions air from a room, causes the air to pass through the dehumidifying means (5) so as to obtain dry air, and blows the obtained dry air into the room. The wind direction changing means (1d) changes a wind direction of the dry air. The infrared sensor (6) is attached to the wind direction changing means (1d) to detect a surface temperature of an object to be dried in an area to which the wind direction changing means (1d) blow air. The humidity detection means (4) detects a room humidity. The temperature detection means detects a room temperature. The control means (7) controls the dehumidifying means (5) and the blowing means (2) on the basis of detection results of the temperature detection means and the humidity detection means (4). The control means (7) operates only the blowing means (2) for a predetermined time period so as to perform a blowing operation, before operating the dehumidifying means (5) so as to perform a dehumidifying operation. The control means (7) also directs the wind direction changing means (1d) toward the object to be dried so the air blown from the blowing means (2) hits the object to be dried whose arrangement area is identified on the basis of a detection result of the infrared sensor (6) s (2) suctions air from a room, causes the air to pass through the dehumidifying means (5) so as to obtain dry air, and blows the obtained dry air into the room. The wind direction changing means (1d) changes a wind direction of the dry air. The infrared sensor (6) is attached to the wind direction changing means (1d) to detect a surface temperature of an object to be dried in an area to which the wind direction changing means (1d) blow air. The humidity detection means (4) detects a room humidity. The temperature detection means detects a room temperature. The control means (7) controls the dehumidifying means (5) and the blowing means (2) on the basis of detection results of the temperature detection means and the humidity detection means (4). The control means (7) operates only the blowing means (2) for a predetermined time period so as to perform a blowing operation, before operating the dehumidifying means (5) so as to perform a dehumidifying operation. The control means (7) also directs the wind direction changing means (1d) toward the object to be dried so the air blown from the blowing means (2) hits the object to be dried whose arrangement area is identified on the basis of a detection result of the infrared sensor (6)

Description

DESCRIPTION Title of Invention AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus that removes moisture from the room, and particularly relates to an air-conditioning apparatus having a function of drying laundry as an object to be dried that is hung in the room.

Background Art

[0002] An air-conditioning apparatus has been disclosed in which control means compares the temperature detection result of infrared detection means with the indoor atmosphere temperature detection result of temperature detection means so as to recognize a reduction in sensible heat due to evaporation of moisture from an object to be dried, and thus to determine the location of distribution of temperature lower than the room temperature due to the reduction in sensible heat as an arrangement area of the object to be dried (see Patent Literature 1, for example).

Citation List Patent Literature

[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-240100 (Figs. 3 through 5) Summary of Invention Technical Problem

[0004] However, the above-described conventional air-conditioning apparatus has a problem in that, since a dehumidifying operation is controlled on the basis of the detected temperature, even under the environmental conditions where the humidity is lower and clothes dry easily, a dehumidifying action is performed, and thus unnecessary dehumidifying operation is carried out.

At least preferred embodiments of the present invention have been made to overcome the above problem, and aim to provide an air-conditioning apparatus that controls operations in accordance with the environmental conditions and thus provides improved energy saving performance.

Solution to Problem In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air- conditioning apparatus comprising dehumidifying means that removes moisture from air, blowing means that suctions air from a room, causes the air to pass through the dehumidifying means so as to obtain dry air, and blows the obtained dry air into the room, wind direction changing means that changes a wind direction of the dry air, an infrared sensor that is attached to the wind direction changing means to detect a surface temperature of an object to be dried in an area to which the wind direction changing means blow air, humidity detection means that detects a room humidity, temperature detection means that detects a room temperature, and control means that controls the dehumidifying means, the blowing means, and the wind direction changing means on the basis of a detection result of the temperature detection means, the humidity detection means, or the infrared sensor, wherein the control means operates only the blowing means for a predetermined time period so as to perform a blowing operation, before operating the dehumidifying means so as to perform a dehumidifying operation, and directs the wind direction changing means toward the object to be dried so that the air blown from the blowing means hits the object to be dried whose arrangement area is identified on the basis of a detection result of the infrared sensor.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include the term "comprising", other features besides the features prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in a similar manner.

Advantageous Effects of Invention According to at least preferred embodiments of the present invention, in the case where the conditions are determined to be those under which an object to be dried can be dried by blowing air on the basis of the detection result of the environmental conditions, a blowing operation is performed in the first half of a clothes drying operation, and a dehumidifying operation is performed for finishing in the second half. Therefore, it is possible to reduce energy consumption compared with a clothes drying operation that performs a standard dehumidifying operation.

On the other hand, in the case where the conditions are determined to be those under which an object to be dried cannot be fully dried by blowing air, a control operation is performed such that a blowing operation is stopped and switched to a dehumidifying operation. Therefore, regardless of the environmental conditions, it is possible to dry the object to be dried by the time the operation ends, while preventing the object to be dried from not being dried.

Brief Description of Drawings [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the inside of the air-conditioning apparatus of Embodiment.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic perspective view illustrating wind direction changing means of Fig. 1.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the detection range of an infrared sensor of the air-conditioning apparatus of Embodiment.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating actions of the air-conditioning apparatus of Embodiment in a clothes drying mode.

Description of Embodiments An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the inside of the air-conditioning apparatus of Embodiment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic perspective view illustrating wind direction changing means of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the detection range of an infrared sensor of the air-conditioning apparatus of Embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 1, the air-conditioning apparatus of Embodiment includes an air-conditioning apparatus casing 100 configured to be self-standing, an air inlet 101 for introducing room air A into the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100, a water storage tank 102 that stores water removed from the air introduced through the air inlet 101, and an air outlet 103 for discharging moisture-removed dry air B from the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100 into the room.

Wind direction changing means 1 capable of changing the wind direction of the dry air B is provided in the air outlet 103. This wind direction changing means 1 includes a longitudinal louver 1a that changes the vertical wind direction, and lateral louvers 1b that change the horizontal wind direction.

The water storage tank 102 is detachably attached to the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100.

[0013] Referring next to Fig. 2, inside the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100, there are provided a blower fan 2 that generates a series of air currents by introducing room air A through the air inlet 101 and discharging dry air B through the air outlet 103, a fan motor 2a that rotates the blower fan 2, a temperature sensor 3 (temperature detection means) that detects the temperature of the room air A suctioned through the air inlet 101, a humidity sensor 4 (humidity detection means) that detects the humidity of the room air A, dehumidifying means 5 that generates the dry air B by removing the moisture from the room air A, a longitudinal direction changing motor 1c that vertically rotates the longitudinal louver 1a, a lateral direction changing motor 1d that horizontally rotates the lateral louvers 1b, an infrared sensor 6 serving as surface temperature detection means, a display unit (not illustrated) that displays various types of information, and a control circuit 7 (control means).

These sensors are connected to the control circuit 7 so as to input detection signals to the control circuit 7. Also, the dehumidifying means 5, the display unit, and the motors are connected to the control circuit 7 so as to be controlled by the control means on the basis of operation inputs by the user and input values of the sensors.

The dehumidifying means 5 may remove moisture from the air and thus condenses the moisture. The most common examples of the dehumidifying means may include those using a method that condenses moisture in the air, by use of an evaporator in a heat pump circuit, and a desiccant method that condenses the moisture removed from the air by an adsorbent, by use of a heat exchanger.

Then, the moisture removed from the room air A by the dehumidifying means 5 is stored as condensed water C in the water storage tank 102.

Referring next to Fig. 3, the longitudinal louver 1a has a rectangular opening extending in the width direction of the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100 and is configured to be vertically rotatable substantially about a rotating shaft of the above- described longitudinal direction changing motor 1c.

The lateral louvers 1b are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal louver 1a, are horizontally rotatably supported at the end of the opposite side of the opening of the longitudinal louver 1a, and are configured to be driven by the above-described lateral direction changing motor 1d.

The infrared sensor 6 is attached to one side of the lateral louver 1b arranged substantially at the center in the longitudinal louver 1a.

Thus, the range of detection by the infrared sensor 6 of the surface temperature of an object to be dried substantially matches the direction of the dry air B which is changed by the wind direction changing means 1. That is, the infrared sensor 6 can detect the surface temperature of the entire area to which the wind direction changing means 1 can blow air.

The infrared sensor 6 is one that utilizes the thermal electromotive force effect, and includes an infrared absorbing film 6a that receives heat radiation (infrared rays) emitted from the surface of a predetermined region, and a thermistor 6b that detects the temperature of the infrared absorbing film 6a (see Figs. 2 and 3).

This infrared sensor 6 converts the difference between the temperature (hot junction) of a thermosensitive portion of the infrared absorbing film 6a, which rises due to absorption of heat radiation, and the temperature (cold junction) of the infrared absorbing film 6a, which is detected by the thermistor 6b, into an electrical signal such as voltage, and inputs the electrical signal to the control circuit 7 described below. The surface temperature of the predetermined region can be determined on the basis of the magnitude of the electrical signal.

The method of detecting the surface temperature of the predetermined region will be described with reference to Fig. 4.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, in the case where the entire detectable area of the infrared sensor 6 is an entire scanning range 200, the entire scanning range 200 is a range with a plane shape extending in the lateral direction (the horizontal direction) and the longitudinal direction (the vertical direction).

The infrared sensor 6 is controlled so as to detect the surface temperature of each of a plurality of divided areas 201 which are obtained by dividing the entire scanning range 200 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Thus, it is possible to create a detailed temperature map for a wide region.

When the above-described control circuit 7 detects that a dehumidification mode is selected by a switch operation on an operation unit (not illustrated), the control circuit 7 drives the wind direction changing means 1 so as to allow the air to blow from the air outlet 103, drives the fan motor 2a so as to rotate the blower fan 2, and drives the dehumidifying means 5, such that the room humidity reaches an optimal humidity.

Further, the control circuit 7 drives the longitudinal direction changing motor 1c and the lateral direction changing motor 1d of the wind direction changing means 1 so as to blow air in the direction toward a desired region in the room. Thus, the room air A is introduced through the air inlet 101 into the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100. After detection of the temperature and humidity in the room by the temperature sensor 3 and the humidity sensor 4, respectively, the room air A is dehumidified by the dehumidifying means 5 and thus becomes dry air B. The dry air B is blown into the room through the air outlet 103.

When the control circuit 7 detects that the a drying mode for drying laundry as an object to be dried is started, the control circuit 7 drives the wind direction changing means 1 so as to allow the air to blow from the air outlet 103, drives the fan motor 2a so as to rotate the blower fan 2, and drives the dehumidifying means 5, in the same manner described above.

Subsequently, the control circuit 7 reads from the humidity sensor 4 a room humidity detected from the room air A introduced into the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100, and determines whether the room humidity is higher than a predetermined humidity.

If the room humidity is higher than the predetermined humidity, the control circuit 7 controls the fan motor 2a and the wind direction changing means 1 such that the dehumidifying capacity of the dehumidifying means 5 is maintained at the maximum level until the room humidity reaches the predetermined humidity.

Then, when the room humidity decreases to the predetermined humidity due to the control operation, the control circuit 7 identifies an arrangement area of the laundry using the infrared sensor 6. Then, The control circuit 7 controls the longitudinal direction changing motor 1c and the lateral direction changing motor 1d so as to direct the respective louvers 1a and 1b toward the laundry such that the dry air B hits the arrangement area. The predetermined humidity is a humidity that is preset in accordance with the room temperature, and is set as data in the control circuit 7.

Next, actions of the control circuit 7 and other units that are performed when a so-called "economy clothes-drying mode" is selected will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The "economy clothes-drying mode" is a mode for drying an object to be dried by a combination of a dehumidifying operation and a blowing operation that only blows air.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating actions of the air-conditioning apparatus of Embodiment in the drying mode. It is to be noted that the actions of the "standard dehumidifying operation" have been described above, and therefore will not be described herein.

When the control circuit 7 of the air-conditioning apparatus detects that the economy clothes-drying mode is selected and thus starts an operation, the control circuit 7 starts measurement of total operation time T1 from the start of operation (S0).

Also, the control circuit 7 drives the wind direction changing means 1 so as to allow the air to blow from the air outlet 103, drives the fan motor 2a so as to rotate the blower fan 2, and thereby starts a blowing operation (S1). It is to be noted that a dehumidifying operation is not performed at this point.

When moisture evaporates from the wet clothes due to the air blowing therethrough, the temperature of the clothes becomes lower than the ambient temperature. Then, the infrared sensor 6 detects this low temperature position, and the control circuit 7 detects the area where the clothes as an object to be dried are located (S2).

Then, the process proceeds to measurement of a temperature RT and a humidity RH1 of the room air A.

First, the control circuit 7 starts a timer that measures a predetermined time period A (time limit) for detecting the temperature RT and the humidity RH1 (S3).

Then, the temperature sensor 3 and the humidity sensor 4 detect the temperature RT and the humidity RH1, respectively, of the room air A suctioned by the blower fan 2 through the air inlet 101 into the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100 (S4).

The predetermined time period A is a reference time period to be used for determining the length of blowing time Ts, which is obtained by a calculation for determining the length of blowing time Ts on the basis of the humidity conditions and temperature conditions, for example.

Subsequently, the control circuit 7 reads the detected humidity RH1 of the room air A, and compares the humidity RH1 with a predetermined humidity. Detecting a predetermined humidity is detecting a high humidity state in which the humidity is 80% or higher, for example.

If the humidity RH1 is lower than the predetermined humidity, the process proceeds to S6. If the humidity RH1 is higher than the predetermined humidity, the process proceeds to S11, in which a dehumidifying operation is started (S5).

Subsequently, the control circuit 7 reads the detected temperature RT of the room air A, and compares the temperature RT with a predetermined temperature.

Detecting a predetermined temperature is detecting a state in which temperature is 15 degrees C or lower, for example.

If the temperature RT is higher than the predetermined temperature, the process proceeds to S7. If the temperature RT is lower than the predetermined temperature, the process proceeds to S11, in which a dehumidifying operation is started (S6).

The state of the room air A in the case where the process proceeds from S6 to S7 is a relatively low-humidity and high-temperature state in which wet clothes dry easily.

On the other hand, under the conditions when the process proceeds from S5 and S6 to S11, wet clothes cannot be fully dried by blowing air. That is, a determination is made to directly proceed to a dehumidifying operation, without performing an blowing operation, so as to prevent the object to be dried from not being dried.

Subsequently, if the humidity RH1 is lower than the predetermined humidity and the temperature RT is higher than the predetermined temperature, the control circuit 7 executes a control operation for detecting a maximum humidity value RHM in the predetermined time period A, and then the process proceeds to S8 (S7). Then, if the maximum humidity value RHM in the predetermined time period A is detected, the control circuit 7 proceeds to S9. If the maximum humidity value RHM is not detected, the control circuit 7 proceeds to S3 (S8).

As for the method of detecting the maximum humidity value RHM, the highest value of the humidity RH1 detected in the predetermined time period A may be determined as the maximum humidity value RHM. Alternatively, the humidity RHM at the point when the humidity RH1 that had been increasing turned downward may be determined as the maximum humidity value RHM.

[0029] Subsequently, the control circuit 7 calculates remaining blowing time Ts on the basis of the detected maximum humidity value RHM, and then the process proceeds to S10 (S9). It is to be noted that the greater the maximum humidity value RHM is, the longer the blowing time Ts is set to be. Accordingly, even if the humidity is high, the time of the dehumidifying operation can be reduced, so that a greater energy- saving effect can be achieved.

The control circuit 7 continues the blowing operation for the remaining blowing time Ts that is set as described above, and then the process proceeds to S11, in which the operation that only blows air ends (S10).

Subsequently, the control circuit 7 starts a dehumidifying operation, and then the process proceeds to S12. The control circuit 7 operates the blower fan 2 and the dehumidifying means 5, and starts measurement of dehumidifying operation time T2 from the start of the dehumidifying operation, and then the process proceeds to S13 (S12).

Thus, the room air A is introduced into the air-conditioning apparatus casing 100 through the air inlet 101 due to rotation of the blower fan 2, so that dry air B is continued to be blown out through the air outlet 103. At this point, the control circuit 7 continues to read the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor 3, and continues to read the room humidity detected by the humidity sensor 4.

Subsequently, the control circuit 7 determines whether the dehumidifying operation time T2 from the start of the dehumidifying operation has reached 30 minutes and, if the dehumidifying operation time T2 has exceeded 30 minutes, the process proceeds to S14 (S13).

Subsequently, the control circuit 7 determines whether the humidity RH1 of the room air A is 50% or lower (S14). If the humidity RH1 of the room air A is 50% or lower, the process proceeds to S15. If the humidity RH1 of the room air A is higher than 50%, the process proceeds to S19.

Then in S19, the control circuit 7 determines whether the total operation time T1 from the start of operation has exceeded 12 hours, which is a predetermined time limit (limit time) of operation. If the total operation time T1 has not exceeded 12 hours, the process proceeds to S14. If the total operation time T1 has exceeded 12 hours, the process proceeds to S21, in which forced termination is performed.

Subsequently, the control circuit 7 calculates remaining time TL of the dehumidifying operation on the basis of the dehumidifying operation time T2 from the start of the dehumidifying operation and the room temperature RT (S15). Then the process proceeds to S16, in which the remaining time TL is displayed on the display unit. Then, the process proceeds to S17.

Subsequently, the control circuit 7 determines whether the humidity RH1 of the room air A is 50% or less (S17). If the humidity RH1 of the room air A is 50% or less, the process proceeds to S18, in which an additional dehumidifying operation is performed. Then, the operation ends. If the humidity RH1 of the room air A is higher than 50%, the process proceeds to S20.

Then in S20, the control circuit 7 determines whether the total operation time T1 from the start of operation has exceeded 12 hours, which is a predetermined operation time limit (limit time). If the total operation time T1 has not exceeded 12 hours, the process proceeds to S16. If the total operation time T1 has exceeded 12 hours, the process proceeds to S21, in which forced termination is performed.

As described above, the control circuit 7 operates each of the units as described above so as to perform in combination with a blowing operation that only blows air, before performing a dehumidifying operation. Therefore, it is possible to perform an operation of drying clothes as an object to be dried with reduced energy consumption.

Especially, in the case where the conditions are determined to be those under which an object to be dried can be dried by blowing air on the basis of the detection result of the environmental conditions, a blowing operation is performed in the first half of a clothes drying operation, and a dehumidifying operation is performed for finishing in the second half. Therefore, it is possible to reduce energy consumption compared with a clothes drying operation that performs a standard dehumidifying operation.

Further, in the case where the conditions are determined to be those under which an object to be dried cannot be fully dried by blowing air on the basis of the detected temperature and humidity of the room air (S5 and S6), a control operation is performed such that the operation that only blows air is stopped and switched to a dehumidifying operation. Therefore, regardless of the environmental conditions, it is possible to dry the object to be dried by the time when the operation ends, while preventing the object to be dried from not being dried.

Further, since the length of time of the blowing operation is determined on the basis of the humidity of the room air, it is possible to perform an efficient blowing control operation that is suitable for the humidity condition of the room air.

The numeric values as criteria for control in the above Embodiment are presented by way of example, and the present invention is not limited to these numeric values. Further, the settings of these numeric values as criteria may be appropriately changed in accordance with the environments where the air- conditioning apparatus is used and the preferences of the user.

Reference Signs List 1 wind direction changing means; 1a longitudinal louver; 1b lateral louver; 1c longitudinal direction changing motor; 1d lateral direction changing motor; 2 blower fan; 2a fan motor; 3 temperature sensor; 4 humidity sensor; 5 dehumidifying means; 6 infrared sensor; 6a infrared absorbing film; 6b thermistor; 7 control circuit; 100 air-conditioning apparatus casing; 101 air inlet; 102 water storage tank; 103 air outlet; 200 entire scanning range; 201 divided area; A room air; and B dry air.

Claims (6)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An air-conditioning apparatus comprising: dehumidifying means that removes moisture from air; blowing means that suctions air from a room, causes the air to pass through 5 the dehumidifying means so as to obtain dry air, and blows the obtained dry air into the room; wind direction changing means that changes a wind direction of the dry air; an infrared sensor that is attached to the wind direction changing means to detect a surface temperature of an object to be dried in an area to which the wind 10 direction changing means blow air; humidity detection means that detects a room humidity; temperature detection means that detects a room temperature; and control means that controls the dehumidifying means, the blowing means, and the wind direction changing means on the basis of a detection result of the 15 temperature detection means, the humidity detection means, or the infrared sensor; wherein the control means operates only the blowing means for a predetermined time period so as to perform a blowing operation, before operating the dehumidifying means so as to perform a dehumidifying operation, and directs the wind direction changing means toward the object to be dried so that 20 the air blown from the blowing means hits the object to be dried whose arrangement area is identified on the basis of a detection result of the infrared sensor.

2. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein in addition to performing the blowing operation, the control means determines whether a detection humidity of room air detected by the humidity detection means is lower than a predetermined 25 humidity, and immediately starts the dehumidifying operation if the humidity of the room air is higher than the predetermined humidity.

3. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein in addition to performing the blowing operation, the control means determines whether a detection temperature of room air detected by the temperature detection means is lower than a predetermined temperature, and immediately starts the dehumidifying operation if the temperature of the room air is lower than the predetermined temperature.

4. The air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the control means determines an operation time of the blowing operation on the basis of 5 the humidity of the room air.

5. An air-conditioning apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed.