Humidity control apparatus

Abstract

A first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) and a second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) are provided in a refrigerant circuit ( 50 ) of a humidity control apparatus ( 10 ). In the refrigerant circuit ( 50 ), a refrigerant circulation direction can be reversed. In a purge operation of the humidity control apparatus ( 10 ), each of actions is performed, which are a purge action in which the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) serves as an evaporator, and a purge action in which the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) serves as the evaporator. During the purge operation, outdoor air is sent to the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51, 52 ) serving as the evaporator, and moisture in the outdoor air adsorbs to the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51, 52 ). A moisture content of the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51, 52 ) during the purge operation is greater than that during a normal operation, and odor material adsorbed to the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51, 52 ) is removed by moisture adsorbed to the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51, 52 ) during the purge operation.

1 . A humidity control apparatus including adsorption members ( 51 ,  52 ) with adsorbent, and controlling air humidity by exposing taken air to the adsorbent of the adsorption members ( 51 ,  52 ), wherein
 operations are selectively executed, which are normal operations in which air, humidity of which is controlled when passing through the adsorption member ( 51 ,  52 ), is supplied to a room; and a purge operation in which, in order to desorb odor material from the adsorption member ( 51 ,  52 ), moisture in taken air adsorbs to the adsorption member ( 51 ,  52 ) to obtain a moisture content of the adsorption member ( 51 ,  52 ) equal to or greater than a maximum value of a moisture content of the adsorption member ( 51 ,  52 ) during the normal operation.   
     
     
         2 . The humidity control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ) with adsorbent deposited on surfaces thereof are provided as the adsorption members;   the adsorption heat exchangers ( 51 ,  52 ) are connected to each other to form a heat-transfer medium circuit ( 50 ) in which heat-transfer medium circulates; and   the heat-transfer medium circuit ( 50 ) performs an action in which heat-transfer medium for cooling is supplied to the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ,  52 ) in order to adsorb moisture in air to the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ,  52 ), and an action in which heat-transfer medium for heating is supplied to the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ,  52 ) in order to desorb moisture from the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ,  52 ).   
     
     
         3 . The humidity control apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein
 a refrigerant circuit ( 50 ) performing a refrigeration cycle by circulating refrigerant is provided as the heat-transfer medium circuit; and,   during the purge operation, in the refrigerant circuit ( 50 ), refrigerant circulates so that the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ,  52 ) to which moisture in air adsorbs serves as an evaporator, and a capacity of a compressor ( 53 ) is controlled so that a refrigerant evaporation temperature in the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ,  52 ) is equal to a dew-point temperature of air passing through the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ,  52 ).   
     
     
         4 . The humidity control apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein,
 during the purge operation, in the refrigerant circuit ( 50 ), a degree of opening of an expansion valve ( 55 ) is controlled so that a degree of superheat of refrigerant at an outlet of the adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ,  52 ) serving as the evaporator is constant.   
     
     
         5 . The humidity control apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein
 a refrigerant circuit ( 50 ) performing a refrigeration cycle by circulating refrigerant is provided as the heat-transfer medium circuit;   the refrigerant circuit ( 50 ) includes a first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) and a second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) as adsorption members, and is switchable between a state in which the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) serves as a heat radiator, and the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) serves as the evaporator; and a state in which the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) serves as the heat radiator, and the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) serves as the evaporator;   during the normal operation, actions are alternately repeated, which are a first normal action in which second air is supplied to the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) serving as the heat radiator, and first air is supplied to the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) serving as the evaporator, and a second normal action in which second air is supplied to the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) serving as the heat radiator, and first air is supplied to the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) serving as the evaporator; and one of the first dehumidified air and the second humidified air is supplied to the room, and the other is discharged to outside; and   during the purge operation, each of actions is performed, which are a first purge action in which outdoor air is supplied to the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) serving as the heat radiator, and to the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) serving as the evaporator, and a second purge action in which outdoor air is supplied to the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) serving as the heat radiator, and to the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) serving as the evaporator; and the outdoor air passing through the first adsorption heat exchanger ( 51 ) and the second adsorption heat exchanger ( 52 ) is discharged to the outside.   
     
     
         6 . The humidity control apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein
 the first and second normal actions are alternately performed at predetermined time intervals during the normal operation;   the first and second purge actions are performed for a predetermined period of time during the purge operation; and   a duration time of each purge action during the purge operation is longer than a duration time of each normal action during the normal operation.   
     
     
         7 . The humidity control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 a duration time of the purge operation is controlled so as to increase as an absolute humidity of air supplied to the adsorption member ( 51 ,  52 ) during the purge operation becomes lower.   
     
     
         8 . The humidity control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the purge operation is performed every time a summation of time for which the normal operations are performed reaches a predetermined reference value.