Air-conditioning heat exchanger and air conditioner having the same

Abstract

The air-conditioning heat exchanger includes a plurality of Peltier devices, a plurality of first heat transfer members, a plurality of second heat transfer members, an air-conditioning passage and a heat exchange medium passage. The air-conditioning passage has therein the Peltier devices and the first heat transfer members. The air-conditioning passage allows air to be air-conditioned to flow therethrough. The air-conditioning passage has a plurality of divided passages at least at positions that are downstream of upstream ends of the first heat transfer members with respect to an air flowing direction in which the air flows through the air-conditioning passage. The Peltier device in each divided passage is controlled separately from the Peltier device in other divided passage. The heat exchange medium passage has therein the second heat transfer members and allows fluid to flow through the heat exchange medium passage.

1 . An air-conditioning heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of Peltier devices each having a first surface and a second surface one of which serves as a heat absorbing surface and the other of which serves as a heat radiating surface;   a plurality of first heat transfer members thermally connected to the first surfaces of the Peltier devices, respectively;   a plurality of second heat transfer members thermally connected to the second surfaces of the Peltier devices, respectively;   an air-conditioning passage having therein the Peltier devices and the first heat transfer members, the air-conditioning passage allowing air to be air-conditioned to flow therethrough, wherein the air-conditioning passage has a plurality of divided passages at least at positions that are downstream of upstream ends of the first heat transfer members with respect to an air flowing direction in which the air flows through the air-conditioning passage, wherein the Peltier device in each divided passage is controlled separately from the Peltier device in other divided passage; and   a heat exchange medium passage having therein the second heat transfer members and allowing fluid to flow through the heat exchange medium passage.   
     
     
         2 . The air-conditioning heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each divided passage has therein a first Peltier device and a second Peltier device that is located downstream of the first Peltier device with respect to the air flowing direction, wherein the first Peltier device and the second Peltier device are controlled so as to differ in directions of electric currents supplied to the first and second Peltier devices. 
     
     
         3 . The air-conditioning heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the divided passages are provided by a heating passage and a dehumidification passage, wherein the Peltier device in the heating passage and the Peltier device in the dehumidification passage are controlled so as to differ in directions of electric currents supplied to the Peltier devices. 
     
     
         4 . The air-conditioning heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the Peltier device in the heating passage is located upstream of the Peltier device in the dehumidification passage with respect to a fluid flowing direction in which the fluid flows through the heat exchange medium passage. 
     
     
         5 . The air-conditioning heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the Peltier device in the heating passage is located downstream of the Peltier device in the dehumidification passage with respect to a fluid flowing direction in which the fluid flows through the heat exchange medium passage. 
     
     
         6 . An air conditioner comprising:
 an air-conditioning heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of Peltier devices each having a first surface and a second surface one of which serves as a heat absorbing surface and the other of which serves as a heat radiating surface; 
 a plurality of first heat transfer members thermally connected to the first surfaces of the Peltier devices, respectively; 
 a plurality of second heat transfer members thermally connected to the second surfaces of the Peltier devices, respectively; 
 an air-conditioning passage having therein the Peltier devices and the first heat transfer members, the air-conditioning passage allowing air to be air-conditioned to flow therethrough, wherein the air-conditioning passage has a heating passage and a dehumidification passage at least at positions that are downstream of upstream ends of the first heat transfer members with respect to an air flowing direction in which the air flows through the air-conditioning passage, wherein the Peltier device in the heating passage is controlled separately from the Peltier device in the dehumidification passage, wherein the Peltier device in the heating passage and the Peltier device in the dehumidification passage are controlled so as to differ in directions of electric currents supplied to the Peltier devices; and 
 a heat exchange medium passage having therein the second heat transfer members and allowing fluid to flow through the heat exchange medium passage, and 
   a duct having therein the air-conditioning heat exchanger, the duct comprising:
 a heating guide passage for guiding the air heated by the first heat transfer member in the heating passage toward a heating outlet; and 
 a dehumidification guide passage for guiding the air cooled by the first heat transfer member in the dehumidification passage toward a dehumidification outlet. 
   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner according to  claim 6 , wherein the Peltier device in the heating passage is located upstream of the Peltier device in the dehumidification passage with respect to a fluid flowing direction in which the fluid flows through the heat exchange medium passage. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner according to  claim 7 , wherein the Peltier device in the heating passage is located downstream of the Peltier device in the dehumidification passage with respect to a fluid flowing direction in which the fluid flows through the heat exchange medium passage.