Dehumidifier

Abstract

A dehumidifier includes a body having an inlet and an outlet; an evaporator, disposed at the body, for exchanging heat with air suctioned through the inlet; a condenser spaced from the evaporator; a first airflow path for flowing air suctioned through the inlet into the evaporator; and a second airflow path for flowing air suctioned through the inlet into a gap between the condenser and the evaporator without passing through the evaporator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dehumidifier, comprising:
 a body having an inlet and an outlet;   an evaporator disposed at the body, the evaporator being configured to exchange heat with air passing through the inlet;   a condenser spaced apart from the evaporator by a gap, the condenser being configured to exchange heat with the air passing through the inlet;   a first airflow path configured to permit a flow of air from the inlet and into the evaporator; and   a second airflow path configured to permit a flow of air from the inlet and into the gap between the condenser and the evaporator without passing through the evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , wherein the condenser is disposed downstream of the evaporator according to the flow of air. 
     
     
         3 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , wherein the second airflow path is provided at a lateral side of the evaporator. 
     
     
         4 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first supporting bracket to support the condenser; and   a second supporting bracket connected to the first supporting bracket to support the evaporator,   wherein at least one of the first supporting bracket and the second supporting bracket is provided with at least one hole for forming a portion of the second airflow path.   
     
     
         5 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 4 , wherein a flow of air through the at least one hole is in a direction crossing the direction of air flowing along the first airflow path. 
     
     
         6 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 4 , wherein a plurality of holes are formed in at least one of the first supporting bracket or the second supporting bracket, and wherein a flow of air through the plurality of holes is in a direction crossing the flow direction of air flowing along the first airflow path. 
     
     
         7 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supporting bracket to support the condenser and the evaporator so that the condenser and the evaporator are spaced from each other,   wherein the supporting bracket is provided with at least one hole for forming a portion of the second airflow path.   
     
     
         8 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 7 , wherein a flow of air through the at least one hole is in a direction crossing the flow direction of air flowing along the first airflow path. 
     
     
         9 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of holes are formed in the supporting bracket, and wherein a flow of air through the plurality of holes is in a direction crossing the flow direction of air flowing along the first airflow path. 
     
     
         10 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first supporting bracket to support the condenser; and   a second supporting bracket to support the evaporator,   wherein a gap between the first supporting bracket and the second supporting bracket forms a portion of the second airflow path.   
     
     
         11 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accommodating portion in which the condenser and the evaporator are accommodated; and   a third airflow path, formed between the accommodating portion and the evaporator, and configured to permit a flow of air from the inlet and into the condenser without passing through the evaporator.   
     
     
         12 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 11 , wherein a top end of the evaporator is disposed at a location lower than a top end of the condenser such that a portion of the third airflow path is formed between the top end of the evaporator and the accommodating portion. 
     
     
         13 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 12 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the first airflow path is larger than a sum of cross-sectional areas of the second airflow path and the third airflow path. 
     
     
         14 . A dehumidifier, comprising:
 a body having an inlet and an outlet;   an evaporator disposed at the body, the evaporator being configured to exchange heat with air passing through the inlet; and   a condenser spaced apart from the evaporator, the condenser being configured to exchange heat with the air passing through the inlet,   wherein a first portion of the air passing through the inlet flows through the evaporator and then flows through the condenser, and   wherein a second portion of the air passing through the inlet bypasses the evaporator and then flows through the condenser.   
     
     
         15 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 14 , wherein the second portion of the air passing through the inlet flows through the condenser after flowing past a lateral side or a top end of the evaporator. 
     
     
         16 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 14 , wherein the second portion of the air passing through the inlet flows through the condenser after combining with air passing through the evaporator. 
     
     
         17 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 14 , wherein a top end of the evaporator is disposed at a location lower than a top end of the condenser. 
     
     
         18 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an accommodating portion in which the evaporator and the condenser are accommodated,   wherein the second portion of the air passing through the inlet flows between the evaporator and a wall of the accommodating portion.   
     
     
         19 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 14 , wherein an air flow amount passing through the evaporator is larger than an air flow amount that bypasses the evaporator. 
     
     
         20 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a supporting bracket to support at least one of the condenser and the evaporator,   wherein the supporting bracket is provided with at least one hole, and   wherein the second portion of the air passing through the inlet flows through the hole.