Humidity controller

Abstract

In the casing ( 11 ) of a humidity controller ( 10 ), a first bypass passage ( 81 ) is provided along one of side plates facing each other, and a second bypass passage ( 82 ) is provided along the other side plate. In the casing ( 11 ), a first heat exchanger chamber ( 37 ) and a second heat exchanger chamber ( 38 ) are arranged next to each other in the left-to-right direction in a space between the two bypass passages ( 81, 82 ). A first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) is accommodated in the first heat exchanger chamber ( 37 ), and a second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) is accommodated in the second heat exchanger chamber ( 38 ). Adsorbents are carried on the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51, 52 ). During the operation in which humidity of the air is not controlled, a first bypass damper ( 83 ) and a second bypass damper ( 84 ) are opened, and the air flows through the bypass passages ( 81, 82 ) to be drawn into a supply fan ( 26 ) or a exhaust fan ( 25 ). Thus, accumulation of odor substances in the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51, 52 ) during the operation in which humidity of the air is not controlled, can be reduced.

1 . A humidity controller comprising:
 a heat transfer circuit ( 50 ) to which adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ) each carrying an adsorbent are connected and through which a heat transfer fluid flows; and   a casing ( 11 ) in which the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ) are accommodated, wherein   the heat transfer fluid is supplied to the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ), thereby heating or cooling the adsorbents of the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ), and air taken in the casing ( 11 ) is brought into contact with the adsorbents of the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ) to control humidity of the air,   in the casing ( 11 ), main air passages ( 37 ,  38 ) in which the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ) are located, and auxiliary air passages ( 81 ,  82 ) through which the air flows by bypassing the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ) are provided, and   the humidity controller includes switching mechanisms ( 83 ,  84 , . . . ) by which a flow path of the air in the casing ( 11 ) is switched between a state in which the air flows through the main air passages ( 37 ,  38 ) and does not flow through the auxiliary air passages ( 81 ,  82 ), and a state in which the air flows through the auxiliary air passages ( 81 ,  82 ) and does not flow through the main air passages ( 37 ,  38 ).   
   
   
       2 . The humidity controller of  claim 1 , wherein
 the heat transfer circuit ( 50 ) alternately performs an operation in which the adsorbent of the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) is cooled and the adsorbent of the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) is heated, and an operation in which the adsorbent of the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) is cooled and the adsorbent of the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) is heated,   the first main air passage ( 37 ) in which the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) is located, the second main air passage ( 38 ) in which the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) is located, the first auxiliary air passage ( 81 ) for allowing outdoor air to flow toward a room, and the second auxiliary air passage ( 82 ) for allowing room air to flow toward the outside, are provided in the casing ( 11 ), and   in the state in which the air flows through the first and second main air passages ( 37 ,  38 ), one of an air current which has passed through the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) and an air current which has passed through the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) is supplied into the room, and the other air current is exhausted to the outside.   
   
   
       3 . The humidity controller of  claim 2 , wherein
 the casing ( 11 ) is formed in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape, and   in the casing ( 11 ), the first auxiliary air passage ( 81 ) is provided along one of side plate portions ( 14 ,  15 ) that face each other, and the second auxiliary air passage ( 82 ) is provided along the other side plate portion, and the first main air passage ( 37 ) and the second main air passage ( 38 ) are arranged next to each other in a space between the first auxiliary air passage ( 81 ) and the second auxiliary air passage ( 82 ).   
   
   
       4 . The humidity controller of  claim 3 , wherein
 in the casing ( 11 ), part of the side plate portion ( 14 ) that is along the first auxiliary air passage ( 81 ) is detachable, and   a lead wire for electrically connecting structural components ( 41 - 44 ,  96 ,  97 ) accommodated in the casing ( 11 ) and electrical boards ( 91 ,  92 ) arranged opposite to the structural components ( 41 - 44 ,  96 ,  97 ) with respect to the first main air passage ( 37 ), is provided in the first auxiliary air passage ( 81 ).