Dehumidifier

Abstract

A dehumidifier is provided. The dehumidifier includes a main body having a suction part into which air is suctioned, the main body having a discharge part through which the air is discharged, a compressor disposed in the main body to compress a refrigerant, a second heat-exchange part receiving the compressed refrigerant from the compressor, and first and third heat-exchange parts disposed in the main body to receive the refrigerant condensed by the second heat-exchange part. The air suctioned through the suction part successively passes through the first, second, and third heat-exchange parts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dehumidifier comprising:
 a main body having an inlet part through which air enters the main body, and a discharge part through which air is discharged out of the main body;   a compressor located in the main body to compress a refrigerant;   a second heat-exchange part located in the main body and configured to receive compressed refrigerant from the compressor; and   a first heat-exchange part and a third heat-exchange part located in the main body and configured to receive refrigerant condensed by the second heat-exchange part,   wherein air entering the main body through the inlet part successively passes in order through the first heat-exchange part, the second heat-exchange part, and the third heat-exchange part.   
     
     
         2 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat-exchange part is connected to the third heat-exchange part in parallel. 
     
     
         3 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first expansion device to expand refrigerant to be supplied into the first heat-exchange part; and   a second expansion device to expand refrigerant to be supplied into the third heat-exchange part.   
     
     
         4 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 3 , further comprising a valve to control a flow of refrigerant condensed in the second heat-exchange part,
 wherein the valve is configured to selectively direct refrigerant discharged from the second heat-exchange part into both the first and second heat-exchange parts at the same time, or into only the first heat-exchange part.   
     
     
         5 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second expansion devices is configured to control an opening degree thereof to selectively direct refrigerant condensed in the second heat-exchange part into both the first and third heat-exchange parts at the same time, or into only the first heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         6 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second expansion devices are configured to be controlled independently in opening degree so that an evaporation temperature of the first heat-exchange part is different from an evaporation temperature of the third heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         7 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 6 , wherein the second expansion device has an opening degree less than an opening degree of the first expansion device. 
     
     
         8 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of the third heat-exchange part vertically overlaps the second heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         9 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one portion of the third heat-exchange part is located above a top side of the second heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         10 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one portion of the third heat-exchange part is located directly beside the first heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         11 . A dehumidifier comprising:
 an inlet part into which air is introduced;   a plurality of heat-exchange parts through which air introduced through the inlet part passes; and   a discharge part through which air passing through the plurality of heat-exchange parts is discharged,   wherein the plurality of heat-exchange parts comprise:
 a first heat-exchange part acting as an evaporator; 
 a second heat-exchange part acting as a condenser; and 
 a third heat-exchange part acting as an evaporator, 
 wherein the second heat-exchange part is disposed between the first heat-exchange part and the third heat-exchange part. 
   
     
     
         12 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 11 , wherein refrigerant discharged from the second heat-exchange part is divided to flow into the first heat-exchange part and the third heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         13 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first expansion device to expand refrigerant flowing into the first heat-exchange part; and   a second expansion device to expand refrigerant flowing into the third heat-exchange part.   
     
     
         14 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 13 , wherein the third heat-exchange part is disposed at a downstream side of the first heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         15 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second expansion devices are configured to be controlled independently in opening degree so that an evaporation temperature of the first heat-exchange part is different from an evaporation temperature of the third heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         16 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 15 , wherein the second expansion device has an opening degree less than an opening degree of the first expansion device. 
     
     
         17 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 11 , further comprising a compressor to compress a refrigerant for delivery to the second heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         18 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 11 , further comprising a fan configured to produce a flow of air that successively passes in order through the inlet part, the first heat-exchange part, the second heat-exchange part, the third heat-exchange part, and the discharge part. 
     
     
         19 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one portion of the third heat-exchange part vertically overlaps the second heat-exchange part. 
     
     
         20 . The dehumidifier according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one portion of the third heat-exchange part is located directly beside the first heat-exchange part and above a top side of the second heat-exchange part.