JP2003042510A - Dehumidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiency operate a dehumidifier for the prevention of dew formation. SOLUTION: In the dehumidifier, an air supply route is formed by arranging an evaporator, a condenser, and a supply fan between the air inlet and air outlet of an enclosure, and a refrigerating circuit is formed by connecting a compressor to the evaporator, condenser, etc., through refrigerant pipelines. A heater is provided in the air supply route, and the air sucked through the air inlet by operating the supply fan is heated by means of the condenser or the condenser and heater after the air is caused to make dew formation by cooling the air by means of the evaporator and discharged from the air outlet as dry air. In addition, a humidity sensor and a heat exchanger sensor which detects the temperature of the evaporator are provided between the air inlet and evaporator. The dehumidifier is provided with an operation mode in which the compressor is ON-OFF operated at a prestored first set humidity for a prescribed period of time after the dehumidifier is started to operate. When the prescribed period of time has elapsed, the compressor is ON-OFF operated at a second set humidity higher than the first set humidity, and the temperature detected by means of the heat exchanger sensor is compared with a preset temperature. When the heat exchanger temperature detected by means of the sensor is lower than the preset temperature, the heater is operated.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a household dehumidifier having a refrigeration cycle in a housing, for dehumidifying suction air and blowing dry air. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of dehumidifier removes moisture in the air sucked from a suction port by a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and the like provided in a housing. The dew was formed by cooling in an evaporator and then dehumidifying by heating in the condenser and discharging dry air into the room from an outlet. By providing a humidity sensor, a dehumidifier that detects indoor humidity and adjusts humidity,
A heater is provided in the air flow path near the outlet, and the heater is continuously operated by operating a heater switch provided in the operation unit.
While lowering the relative humidity by raising the room temperature,
Dehumidification of indoors and drying of laundry were performed. [0003] However, this conventional dehumidifier, when operated without using a heater during the winter period when the room temperature is lowered in order to prevent the occurrence of mold and condensation on the walls and windows, The occurrence of frost on the evaporator caused clogging of the evaporator, resulting in a problem that the air volume was reduced, the dehumidification efficiency was reduced, and a sufficient dehumidification operation could not be performed by the defrost operation. In addition, operating for a long time at low humidity consumes more power than necessary, and the power consumption when the heater is not used is about 200 to 300 W, whereas the power consumption of the heater is about 200 to 300 W. Had a problem of large power consumption during heater operation. In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention focuses on this point, and in particular, the structure of the present invention is that an evaporator and a condenser are provided between an inlet and an outlet provided in a housing. A refrigeration circuit is formed by connecting a compressor, the evaporator, a condenser, and the like by a refrigerant pipe, and a heater is provided in the blast path, and a heater is provided in the blast fan. After cooling and dew condensation of the air taken in from the suction port by the evaporator by operation, the condenser or the condenser and the heater are heated by the heater and the dry air is discharged from the outlet,
A humidity sensor is provided between the suction port and the evaporator, a heat exchange sensor for detecting the temperature of the evaporator is provided, and the compressor is turned on / off by a first set humidity stored in advance for a predetermined time from the start of operation. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the compressor is turned on and off at a second set humidity higher than the first set humidity.
The apparatus has an operation mode in which the F operation is performed, the detected temperature of the heat exchange sensor is compared with a predetermined set temperature, and the heater is operated when the heat exchange temperature is lower than the set temperature. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a mold dew prevention operation, the set humidity is set lower than that of a normal automatic operation until 3 hours from the start of the operation, and the growth of the mold hyphae is stopped by continuing the low humidity for 3 hours. After 3 hours from the start of operation, when the indoor drying is advanced, the set humidity is increased by 10% to reduce the ON time of the compressor 24 and reduce the operation power, and in winter. The period heater 32 is turned on according to the heat exchange temperature.
The N-OFF operation prevents the lowering of the room temperature, prevents the evaporator 9 from freezing and causes clogging, and does not interrupt the dehumidification temporarily for the defrosting operation. It suppresses the generation of dew and condensation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a frame of a dehumidifier provided with a front front case 3 and a rear rear case 4 on a bottom plate 2. To form the outer shell of the main body. Reference numeral 5 denotes a suction port formed in the upper portion of the back of the frame 1,
The rear case 4 is provided with an opening having a number of horizontally long slits. Reference numeral 6 denotes an air outlet provided on the upper surface of the frame 1, which can freely change the blowing direction of the dry air from a front obliquely upward direction to a rear obliquely upward direction by an openable and closable lid 7 which also functions as a wind direction plate when opened. Can be done. A filter 8 made of a resin net or a non-woven fabric is provided inside the suction port 5 for removing dust mixed into the intake air. An evaporator 9 composed of a fin tube type heat exchanger is provided inside the filter 8, and cools the intake air to condense moisture in the air to perform dehumidification. Further downstream of the evaporator 9, a condenser 10 comprising a fin tube type heat exchanger is provided similarly to the evaporator 9, and the air cooled by the evaporator 9 is heated. Downstream of the condenser 10, a blower fan 11 and this fan 11
And a fan motor 12 for driving the air blower, and blows air through an air blow path 13 formed between the suction port 5 and the air outlet 6. The fan motor 12 is provided inside the front case 3.
A casing 14 is provided between the air outlet and the air outlet to guide air to the outlet 6 side. Between the condenser 10 and the fan 11, there is provided a partition plate 15 having a vent hole in the center for efficiently guiding the air to the fan 11, and a drain plate 16 below the evaporator 9 for receiving dew water. Is provided. 17 connects one to the bottom of the drain plate 16 and the other to the drain tank 1.
The dew water collected in the drain plate 16 is guided to the drain tank 18 by a drain passage located at the upper part of the drain 8. A numeral 19 is provided below the drain pan 16,
The tank storage chamber in which the drain tank 18 is stored, which is provided with an opening 20 below the front case 3 on the front surface, wherein the drain tank 18 is attached and detached by inserting and removing the drain tank 18 in the horizontal direction from the front. When the tank 18 is mounted, the opening 20 is closed by the front surface of the tank 18 and is formed substantially flat with the front case 3. On the other hand, a water level check window 21 made of a transparent resin material is provided at the center of the tank 18 so that the water level in the tank 18 can be clearly checked when the tank 18 is mounted. The center of the lower end on the front side of the drain tank 18 is depressed inward to form a handle 22 for attaching and detaching the tank.
It has. Reference numeral 24 denotes a compressor provided in the machine room 25 below the air passage 13 and below the frame 1, and the condenser 10, the pressure reducing device (not shown), and the evaporator 9 are sequentially communicated with the refrigerant pipe. A refrigeration cycle is formed. Reference numeral 26 denotes a water level detecting means such as a micro switch, which is a partition plate 2 between the machine room 25 and the tank storage room 19.
7, when the empty tank 18 is mounted, the operation arm 28 extending from the float 23 presses the button 29 protruding from the upper surface to form an operation standby state.
After the operation of the dehumidifier, the water level rises as the dew condensation water gradually accumulates in the drain tank 18, and when the water is full, the buoyancy of the float 23 causes the operating arm 28 to pivot about the pivot axis 30 as a fulcrum,
When the pressing of the button 29 is released, the fullness is detected and a fullness signal is sent to the control device 31. 32 is a ventilation path 13 inside the air outlet 6.
The heater is provided to prevent the room temperature from being lowered during the drying of clothes and during the winter period, thereby reducing the efficiency of dehumidification. The power consumption is about 400 to 500 W. Reference numeral 33 denotes a room temperature sensor provided between the filter 8 and the evaporator 9, which detects the temperature of room air sucked from the suction port 5 and sends a signal to the control device 31. Reference numeral 34 denotes a humidity sensor provided between the filter 8 and the evaporator 9 similarly to the room temperature sensor 33, which detects the humidity of the intake air and sends a signal to the control device 31. Reference numeral 35 denotes a heat exchange sensor attached to the surface of the evaporator 9, which detects the temperature of the evaporator 9 and
1 to send a signal. Reference numeral 36 denotes an operation unit provided on the upper part of the front case 3, which is a push button switch such as an operation switch 37, a timer switch 38, an operation changeover switch 39, a clothes drying heater switch 40, an auto louver switch 41, and a horizontally long one. Operation unit substrate 43 provided with liquid crystal display unit 42
Fixed to. The operation switch 37 is a push-type switch, and the dehumidifier starts operating by one pressing, and stops operating by pressing again. When the timer switch 38 is depressed once, an on-timer which starts the operation after one hour by pressing once is operated, and the on-timer time is sequentially increased to 2, 3,... The on-timer after 9 hours at the maximum is set, the timer is cleared by the tenth press, the one-hour on-timer is set again by the eleventh press, and the timer set is sequentially repeated. When the timer switch 38 is pressed during the operation of the dehumidifier, a turn-off timer for stopping the operation after one hour with one press is set. When the switch is pressed twice, three times in the same manner as the on-timer. The timer time goes up sequentially, and the cut-off timer after 9 hours at the maximum is set.
The 0th press clears the timer, and the 11th press again sets the one hour timer.
The timer set is sequentially repeated. The operation changeover switch 39 is a switch for sequentially switching the four operation modes of strong dehumidification operation, weak dehumidification operation, automatic operation, and mold dew condensation prevention operation when pressed. In the strong dehumidifying operation, the fan motor 12 is rotated at a high speed,
The compressor 24 is operated continuously, and the weak dehumidifying operation is to operate the compressor 24 continuously with the fan motor 12 rotating at a low speed, and the automatic operation is performed at a humidity of 47 to 62%.
Between the fan motors 12
The compressor 24 repeats ON-OFF operation,
The mold dew-prevention operation, which will be described later in detail, operates the fan motor 12, the compressor 24, and the heater 32 in order to effectively suppress generation of mold and dew. The liquid crystal display section 42 has a "two-digit number" for displaying the current humidity, an "automatic" for indicating that the automatic operation is being performed, and a "for prevention of mildew condensation" for indicating that the anti-mold operation is being performed. Or a character or picture such as "full water" indicating that the drain tank 18 is full and the water level detecting means 26 has been activated, or "single digit" indicating the operating time or remaining time of the timer operation. Are displayed in response to a command from the control device 31. Reference numeral 44 denotes the operation unit 36 and the drain tank 18
A lens 45 formed of a transparent resin is projected through a hole of the front case 3 through a hole of the front case 3, and a red LED (not shown) and a blue LED (Not shown). During operation at low humidity where the humidity is lower than 60%, the display is illuminated with a backward blue color having a visually backward action,
Visually expresses stable operation at low humidity and 60% humidity
During the operation at the above-mentioned high humidity, the dehumidifier is operating at full power by being visually illuminated in red, which is an advance color having an advance action, and when the drain tank 18 is full, the red color is displayed. Blinks to prompt the user to drain the water in the tank 18. The configuration related to control will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 3. The room temperature sensor 33, the humidity sensor 34, the heat exchange sensor 35, and the water level detecting means 26 are provided on the input side of the control device 31 composed of a microcomputer or the like. , Operation unit 3
6, the compressor 24, the fan motor 12, the louver motor 46, the heater 32, and the color display 44 are connected to the output side. Driving, display, etc. are performed. The louver motor 46 is a motor that is attached to the rotation shaft of the lid 7 and is capable of rotating forward and backward. When the lid 7 is opened, the wind direction is adjusted from diagonally rearward to right above and diagonally forward. The lid 7 is automatically closed.
The operation unit 36 includes an operation switch 37, a timer switch 38, an operation changeover switch 39, a clothes drying heater switch 40, a push-type button switch of an auto louver switch 41, and a liquid crystal display unit 42. The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the operation switch 37 is pressed (S1), the operation course at the end of the previous operation is read, and the operation is started in this operation course, or a new operation course is selected by pressing the operation changeover switch 39. (S2) Next, when the selected operation course is the strong dehumidification operation, the operation is started in S3, and in S4, the compressor 24 starts the continuous operation and the fan motor 12 starts the continuous operation with the strong air flow. . When the selected operation course is the weak dehumidification operation, the operation is started in S5, and in S6, the compressor 24 starts the continuous operation and the fan motor 12 starts the continuous operation with the weak air flow. When the automatic operation is selected, the automatic operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is started (S7). When the dew condensation prevention operation is selected, the dew condensation prevention operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is started. After the operation is started, it is determined in S9 whether the auto louver switch 41 is pressed and the auto louver is in operation. If the auto louver is in operation, the louver motor 46 is rotated in S10 and the lid 7 is moved to a predetermined position. It rotates back and forth between the oblique front and the oblique rear at the blowing angle. Next, in S11, it is determined whether or not the clothes drying heater is operated.
Then, the process proceeds to the clothes drying heater operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. In S13, it is determined whether or not the timer switch 38 has been operated and the timer is in operation.
At 4 the start timer is started.
Proceed to 16. In S15, it is determined whether or not the cutting time has elapsed. If it has elapsed, the operation is completely stopped in S17. If not, it is determined in S16 whether or not the operation of the operation switch 37 has been performed to stop the operation. The operation is completely stopped in S17, and if No, the operation returns to S2 to continue the operation. If the timer switch 38 is pressed while the operation is stopped (S18), the on-time timer starts (S19), and the operation proceeds to S2 after the elapse of the on-time in S20, and the operation is started. The automatic operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5. After reading the humidity sensor 34 in S21, it is determined in S22 whether the humidity is currently decreasing. Is less than 47%. S2
If Yes in 3, the control is set to the humidity rising side in S24, then the compressor 24 is stopped in S25 and the fan motor 12 is operated at a small airflow. In S23, if the humidity is greater than 47%,
If so, the compressor 24 is operated in S26, and the fan motor 12 is operated at a strong air flow. If the humidity is increasing in S22, the process proceeds to S27, where it is determined whether the humidity is 52% or more.
If it is lower than 2%, the process proceeds to S25, in which the compressor 24 is stopped and the fan motor 12 is operated at a small airflow. If the humidity is equal to or higher than 52% in S27,
After setting the control on the falling side of humidity at 28, S29
After the compressor 24 is operated and the fan motor 12 is operated at a high air flow, the operation returns to the flowchart B in FIG. 4 to continue the operation, and the compressor 2 is operated to maintain the humidity at 42 to 52%.
4 is repeated, and the operation of the fan motor 12 is repeated. The operation of the mold dew prevention operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6. In S30, the humidity sensor 34 is read, and the mold prevention timer KT is started.
At 31 it is determined whether three hours have elapsed since the start of the mold prevention operation. In S32, it is determined whether the humidity is falling. If it is, it is determined in S33 whether the humidity is 37% or less.
If the humidity is 37% or less, the control is set to the humidity rising side in S34, and then the compressor 24 is stopped in S35 and the fan motor 12 is operated with a small air flow. If the humidity is larger than 37% in S33, the compressor 24 is operated in S38,
The fan motor 12 is operated at a strong air flow. If it is determined in S32 that the humidity rise control is being performed, it is determined in S36 whether the humidity is 52% or more.
Then, in S37, the control is set to the humidity falling side, and in S38, the compressor 24 is operated, and the fan motor 12
At high winds. Thus, after the start of the mold prevention operation, 3
Within the time, the humidity is set to the first set humidity of 37-52.
The ON / OFF of the compressor 24 and the strong and weak operation of the fan motor 12 are repeated in order to maintain the percentage, and the growth of the mold mycelium is stopped by continuing the low humidity for 3 hours. Next, at S31, after the start of the operation for preventing the formation of mold and dew
If the time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S39, and S32 to S
By following the steps from S39 to S45 in the same way as 48,
ON-O of the compressor 24 to keep the humidity at 47-62%, which is the second set humidity which is about 10% higher than the first set humidity.
By repeating the strong and weak operation of the FF and the fan motor 12, the ON time of the compressor 24 is reduced and the operating power is reduced. In step S46, the heat exchange sensor 35 is read.
In S47, it is determined whether the heat exchange temperature is falling. If Yes, it is determined in S48 whether the heat exchange temperature is 0 ° C. or less, and if it is 0 ° C. or less, the control on the heat exchange rising side is set in S49, S5
At 0, the heater 32 is energized. If the heat exchange temperature is higher than 0 ° C. in S48, the energization of the heater 32 is stopped in S53. If the heat exchange start-up control is being performed in S47, it is determined in S52 whether the heat exchange temperature is 2 ° C. or more.
If s, set the control on the heat exchange falling side in S52,
In S53, the energization of the heater 32 is stopped. Also S51
If the heat exchange temperature is lower than 2 ° C., the heater 32 is set at S50.
In order to prevent frost on the evaporator 9 during the winter period, the temperature of the blown air is raised, and the dehumidifying capacity is improved. As described above, in the mold dew-prevention operation, the set humidity is set lower than the normal automatic operation until 3 hours from the start of the operation, and the growth of the mold hyphae is stopped by continuing the low humidity for 3 hours. Start of operation with indoor drying progressed 3
After the time, the operation is performed by increasing the set humidity by 10% to reduce the ON time of the compressor 24 and reduce the operation power. In addition, the heater 32 is turned on and off in accordance with the heat exchange temperature during the winter period. The operation prevents the lowering of the room temperature, and the evaporator 9 freezes and causes clogging, so that there is no need to temporarily suspend dehumidification for the defrosting operation. It is to suppress dew condensation. The operation of the clothes drying heater will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. If the clothes drying heater switch is pressed during the operation of the dehumidifier, the heater timer is started and the rotation of the fan motor 12 is increased by one rank in step S54. In addition, when the vehicle is operated at a strong wind volume, a large wind is applied to the garment to change the rotation speed to a large wind volume higher than the strong wind volume so as to speed up drying. Next, in S55, it is determined whether or not one hour has elapsed since the start of the operation of the clothes drying heater. If it is within one hour, the heater 32 is continuously operated in S65. Is read, and in S57, it is determined whether or not the humidity is on the falling side.
Proceed to 58, and if NO, proceed to S62. In S58, it is determined whether or not the humidity is 60% or less. If Yes, the control is set to the humidity rising side in S59, and the heater 32 is stopped in S60. Also S5
If the humidity is greater than 60% at 8, the heater 3 is set at S61.
The energization of No. 2 is continued. When the process proceeds to S62, the humidity is 65%
If NO, the heater 32 is stopped in S60, and if Yes, the control is set to the humidity falling side in S63, and energization of the heater 32 is continued in S64. As described above, in the clothes drying heater operation, the air volume is increased and the heater 32 is operated for one hour from the start of the operation.
By continuously energizing the cloth, the clothes can be dried positively, and the humidity is 60 to 65 hours more than one hour after the clothes are dried.
%, The power consumption of the heater 32 is reduced by operating the heater 32 ON-OFF, and the clothes are efficiently dried. The time gradually decreases to prevent wasteful power consumption. Although not shown in the flow chart, the operation for preventing mold dew condensation has priority over the operation for drying the clothes drying heater.
The operation of 0 is not accepted. As described above, according to the present invention, the set humidity is set lower than the normal automatic operation until a predetermined time for starting the operation, and the low humidity is maintained for a predetermined time to grow the mold hyphae. The operation is performed by increasing the set humidity after a predetermined time from the start of operation when indoor drying is advanced, thereby reducing the ON time of the compressor and reducing the operation power, and during the winter period. Heater ON-O according to heat exchange temperature
By performing the FF operation, it is possible to prevent a decrease in room temperature, efficiently dehumidify the room, and suppress the generation of mold and dew.

[Brief description of the drawings] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a simplified structure of the same. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control system. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the same. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the automatic operation. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the mold condensation prevention operation. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the clothes drying heater operation. [Explanation of symbols] 6 outlet 9 Evaporator 10 Condenser 11 blower fan 12 Fan motor 34 Humidity sensor 35 Heat Exchange Sensor

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Claims (1)

Claims 1. An evaporator, a condenser, and a blower fan are arranged between a suction port and a blowout port provided in a housing to form a blower path.
A compressor and the evaporator, a condenser, and the like are connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigeration circuit, a heater is provided in the blowing path, and air sucked from the suction port by the operation of the blowing fan is sent to the evaporator. After cooling and dew condensation, the condenser or the condenser and the heater are heated and the drying air is discharged from the outlet, and a humidity sensor is provided between the suction port and the evaporator. A heat exchange sensor for detecting a temperature is provided. The compressor is turned on / off by a first set humidity stored in advance for a predetermined time from the start of operation, and a second setting higher than the first set humidity is performed after a lapse of a predetermined time. An operation mode in which the compressor is turned on and off with humidity, the temperature detected by the heat exchange sensor is compared with a predetermined set temperature, and the heater is operated when the heat exchange temperature is lower than the set temperature. With a Dehumidifier and said.