AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME

Abstract

 There is provided an air conditioning apparatus that comprises: a humidity conditioning unit with an moisture absorbing material; a heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type with a thermoelectric element; an air conditioning passage including those respective one portions of the said humidity conditioning unit and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type which are connected with each other in series; and a regenerating passage including those respective other portions of the said humidity conditioning unit and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type which are connected with each other in series. Also provided is an air conditioning system that comprises: a hybrid solar panel constituted by a section for generating an electric power from a solar energy and a heat collecting section; and a hybrid air conditioning apparatus having an absorptive humidity conditioning unit and an electrical temperature conditioning unit disposed in an air conditioning passage, in which the said heat collecting section is connected to a regenerating passage section of the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit and a regenerating passage section of the said electrical temperature conditioning unit and in which the said power generating section is connected to a power receiving section of the said electrical temperature conditioning unit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus for conditioning the temperature and the humidity of an air by using a temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type with a thermoelectric element and a humidity conditioning unit with a moisture absorbing material, as well as an air conditioning system incorporating an air conditioning apparatus as described.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] An air conditioning apparatus that makes use of a thermoelectric element only for conditioning the temperature and the humidity of an air has presently been put into a practical utilization in the form of a dehumidifier and a refrigerator which are small sized. It has been recognized, however, that since in order for the air dehumidification to be achieved by simply conditioning the air temperature the moisture condensation needs to be attained by cooling the air to elevate the relative humidity in the air to 100 %, an operation is unavoidably required that is capable of creating a large temperature difference. Thus, in order for such an operation to be applicable to a dehumidifier and refrigerator which are medium or large sized, the problem has arisen that they are unsatisfactory in terms of its cost and efficiency.

[0003] On the other hand, an air conditioning apparatus has been known in which a thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material are utilized to achieve the air temperature conditioning with the thermoelectric element and to attain the air humidity conditioning with the moisture absorbing material, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model publication No. Sho 64-1374 and Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Hei 4-50386.

[0004] In the prior art utilizing a thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material as mentioned above, however, it has been found that not only are a heating and cooling unit (i. e., a temperature conditioning unit) with a thermoelectric element and a dehumidifying unit (i. e., a humidity conditioning unit) with a moisture absorbing material separately required in an apparatus but also there is no connection whatsoever between these units in terms of the temperature conditioning and humidity conditioning control functions and they are simply included and configured in the apparatus as totally independent of each other. As a result, not only has the problem been encountered that the thermoelectric element is poor in its efficiency in the entire apparatus but there arises the problem that in order for a predetermined amount of the air to be both temperature and humidity conditioned, only an equipment would ensue that is simply large sized and yet is poor in its controllability.

[0005] It may be noted in this connection that while no such problems as mentioned above would arise in an apparatus in which a compressor is used in conditioning both the temperature and the humidity of an air, it should be unavoidable that the use of a substitute Freon as the thermal medium would give rise to a serious environmental problem in the future.

[0006] Accordingly, in view of the problems mentioned above, it is a first object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning apparatus which makes use of a thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material, and which is made capable of reducing the load upon the thermoelectric element, enhancing its efficiency, controlling the air conditioning temperature and humidity with a high precision, and being reduced in its size and its manufacturing cost.

[0007] Also, there has been known another prior art air conditioning apparatus, especially an apparatus which makes use of a temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Hei 2-121117 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 5-10543.

[0008] And, the hybrid air conditioning apparatus as a prior art disclosed in the former Publication noted above is configured to make use of a solar cell as the power supply for a thermoelectric element and has a construction in which an air warmed by the solar heat is passed through a heat absorptive side of the said thermoelectric element and is supplied into a dwelling space to warm that space.

[0009] In the hybrid air conditioning apparatus as a prior art disclosed in the latter Publication as well, the temperature of an air is lowered by a thermoelectric element and the water content in the air is condensed. Accordingly, if an attempt is made to dehumidify a necessary amount of the air, the thermoelectric element will have to bear a large load. It has been found that a thermoelectric element currently technologically available cannot bear such a load in terms of thermoelectric efficiency and so forth. In the prior art hybrid air conditioning apparatus disclosed in the latter Publication, therefore, it will be seen that the water content in an air cannot be positively removed and the air conditioning including the humidity control cannot be accomplished efficiently.

[0010] Accordingly, in view of the problems mentioned above, it is a second object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning system of hybrid type which is made capable of accomplishing an air dehumidification without the resort on the cooling of the air by an electrical temperature conditioning unit, reducing the load upon the electrical temperature conditioning unit for its humidity conditioning function, also enhancing the efficiency of a solar cell and the efficiency of a humidity conditioning unit, and further operating at a high efficiency in the winter season.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In order to achieve the first object mentioned above, there is provided in accordance with the present invention in a first general form of embodiment thereof an air conditioning apparatus which comprises: a humidity conditioning unit with an moisture absorbing material; a heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type with a thermoelectric element; an air conditioning passage that is provided with those respective one portions of the said humidity conditioning unit and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type which are connected with each other in series; and a regenerating passage that is provided with those respective other portions of the said humidity conditioning unit and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type which are connected with each other in series.

[0012] In the construction mentioned above, the air conditioning apparatus may further comprise a heat exchanger unit, in which a portion of said heat exchanger unit may constitute a portion of the said air conditioning passage and in which another portion of the said heat exchanger unit constitutes a portion of the said regenerating passage.

[0013] Further, in the construction mentioned above of the air conditioning apparatus, there may be disposed a heating source that is disposed at a side upstream of the said humidity conditioning unit in the said regenerating passage.

[0014] According to the above mentioned construction of the air conditioning apparatus, it can be seen that an air that is absorbed from the interior or the exterior of a room into the said air conditioning passage will be dehumidified or humidified by being passed through a portion of the said humidity conditioning unit, then will be heated to have a final conditioned air humidity at the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type or will be heated or cooled to a temperature that approaches a final conditioned air temperature at the said heat exchanger and will subsequently cooled or heated to have a final air conditioned temperature at the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type.

[0015] On the other hand, by means of the air conditioning action of the conditioned air, the said humidity conditioning unit will be humidified or dehumidified, the said heat exchanger will be cooled or heated and further the said heating and cooling unit will be heated or cooled. They will each be regenerated by the regenerated air that flows through the said regenerating passage.

[0016] As set out in the foregoing description, it will be seen that according to the present invention, an air conditioning apparatus that makes use of a thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material, is made capable of reducing the load upon the said thermoelectric element to enhance its efficiency while accurately controlling the outlet temperature with a heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type having a thermoelectric element. Also, By virtue of the fact that an air conditioning passage and a regenerating passage are constructed integrally, the entire air conditioning equipment can be reduced in both its size and its manufacturing cost.

[0017] Further, in order to achieve the second object mentioned above, there is provided in accordance with the present invention in a second general form of embodiment thereof, an air conditioning system that comprises: a hybrid solar panel constituted by a section for generating an electric power from a solar energy and a heat collecting section; and a hybrid air conditioning apparatus having an absorptive humidity conditioning unit and an electrical temperature conditioning unit disposed in an air conditioning passage, in which the said heat collecting section is connected to a regenerating passage section of the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit and a regenerating passage section of the said electrical temperature conditioning unit and in which the said power generating section is connected to a power receiving section of the said electrical temperature conditioning unit.

[0018] In the construction just mentioned above, an air conditioning system according to the present invention may further comprise: a temperature measurement section for measuring a temperature of the said power generating section; and a control section for controlling the operation of an outside air absorbing fan of the said heat collecting section in accordance with a temperature measured in the said temperature measurement section.

[0019] Further in the construction just mentioned, the said electrical temperature conditioning unit may include a thermoelectric element.

[0020] According to the construction just mentioned above, in a hybrid air conditioner an air that is sucked into an air conditioning passage will be dehumidified at the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit, then will be temperature controlled at the said electrical temperature conditioning section and thereafter will be caused to flow into a room. On the other hand, at the said hybrid solar panel a power will be generated in the said power generating section so that the air which is heated at the said heat collecting section may be furnished. And, the heated air from the above mentioned heat collecting section will be used as a regenerated air for the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit while being functioning as a heat source for absorbing the heat at the said electrical temperature conditioning unit. Also, the above mentioned power generating section will serve to act as a heat source for heating (i. e. regenerating) the said electrical temperature conditioning unit.

[0021] Accordingly, in a hybrid air conditioning system according to the present invention in which a solar cell is utilized as the power supply for the said electrical temperature conditioning unit and further an air that is warmed by the solar heat, the dehumidification of the air can be carried out without the resort on the cooling of the air by the above mentioned electrical temperature conditioning unit, thus enabling the load upon the said electrical temperature conditioning unit for the humidity conditioning function to be reduced. Especially in this regard, where a thermoelectric element is utilized in the said electrical temperature conditioning unit, the resultant effect has been found to be remarkable. Also, by suitably controlling the supply of the heat quantity and the electric power from the said hybrid solar panel, a marked enhancement of both the efficiency of the solar cell and the efficiency of the humidity conditioner can be achieved, and further a highly efficient operation of the system in the winter season is made possible.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention will better be understood from the following detailed description and the drawings attached hereto showing certain illustrative embodiments of the present invention. In this connection, it should be noted that such embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings are intended in no way to limit the present invention, but to facilitate an explanation and understanding thereof.

[0023] In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a constructive explanatory view diagrammatically illustrating a certain embodiment of the air conditioning apparatus according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an explanatory view diagrammatically illustrating a certain example of the path of a regenerated air in the above mentioned embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an explanatory view diagrammatically illustrating another example of the path of a regenerated air in the above mentioned embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an explanatory view diagrammatically illustrating a further example of the path of a regenerated air in the above mentioned embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an explanatory view diagrammatically illustrating how the humidity of an air conditioned air varies with respect to the temperature thereof on a graph relating to a moist air;

Fig. 6 is a constructive explanatory view diagrammatically illustrating a first specific example of the above mentioned embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a constructive explanatory view diagrammatically illustrating a second specific example of the above mentioned embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a constructive explanatory view diagrammatically illustrating a third specific example of the above mentioned embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view diagrammatically illustrating a first applied example of the above mentioned first specific example according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view diagrammatically illustrating a second applied example of the above mentioned first specific example according to the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view diagrammatically illustrating a third applied example of the above mentioned first specific example according to the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view, partially cut away, diagrammatically illustrating another specific example of a humidity conditioning unit according to the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a constructive explanatory view schematically illustrating a certain embodiment of the air conditioning system according to the present invention; and

Fig. 14 is a constructive explanatory view schematically illustrating a certain example of the air conditioning apparatus, in which a compressor type temperature conditioning unit is employed as an electrical temperature conditioning unit.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, suitable embodiments of the present invention with respect to an air conditioning apparatus for will be set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings hereof.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic construction of an air conditioning apparatus according to the present invention. In Fig. 1 there are shown a humidity conditioning unit 1, a heat exchanger 2 and a heating and cooling unit 3 of thermoelectric type. There are also shown therein an air conditioning passage 4 and a regenerating passage 5.

[0026] The above mentioned humidity conditioning unit 1 has a construction in which it is provided therein with a multitude of honeycomb shaped partition walls which define air passages and each of which has a moisture absorbing material such as silica gel coated on a surface thereof. A portion of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 constitutes an air conditioning passage section 1a thereof that is a portion of an air conditioning passage 4 whereas another portion thereof constitutes a regenerating passage section 4 thereof that is a portion of a regenerating passage 5. And, the said humidity conditioning unit 1 is so constructed that if it is rotated the said two passage sections 1a and 1b may be exchanged.

[0027] As a specific example of the said humidity conditioning unit 1, there is available a rotary type dehumidifier that is sold in the market as a dehumidifying rotor.

[0028] The above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2 is so constructed that a portion thereof may constitute an air conditioning passage section 2a thereof that is a portion of the air conditioning passage 4 and another portion thereof may constitute a regenerating passage section 2b thereof that is a portion of the regenerating passage 5.

[0029] As a specific example of the said heat exchanger unit 2, there is available a rotary regenerative heat exchanger, a fixed plate type heat exchanger, a fixed heat pipe type heat exchanger or the like that belongs to the public domain.

[0030] The above mentioned heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 has a construction in which a multitude of thermoelectric elements are integrated and one of the electrodes of each of these thermoelectric elements is opposed to an air conditioning passage section 3a that is a portion of the above mentioned air conditioning passage 4 whereas the other electrode of each of the said thermoelectric elements is opposed to a regenerating passage section 3b that is a portion of the above mentioned regenerating passage 5.

[0031] The above mentioned air conditioning passage 4 has a construction in which the respective air conditioning passage sections 1a, 2a and 3a of the said humidity conditioning unit 1, the said heat exchanger unit 2 and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 are connected with each other in series and in which an inlet side thereof is open to the interior of a room or an outside thereof whereas an outlet thereof is open to a clean room, a dwelling room or a chamber to be air conditioned and requiring an air conditioned air.

[0032] The above mentioned regenerating passage 5 has a construction in which the respective regenerating passage sections 3b, 2b and 1b of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3, the said heat exchanger 2 and the said humidity conditioning unit 1 are connected in series and in which the direction of air flow therein is opposite to that of air flow in the above mentioned air conditioning passage 4. And, an inlet side thereof is open to the interior of a room or to an outside thereof whereas an outlet side thereof is open to the interior of a room or an outside thereof.

[0033] Also, the above mentioned regenerating passage 5 at a downstream side of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 has an air suction and exhaust line 6a connected thereto that communicates with another path lying inside or outside of a room. Also, the said regenerating passage 5 is provided with a heat exchanger by-pass line 7 that by-passes the said heat exchanger unit 2 and to which is connected an air suction and exhaust line 6b that communicates with another path lying inside or outside of a room.

[0034] The above mentioned regenerating passage 5 at an upstream side of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 has a heater 8 wound about it for heating the regenerated air that is entering into the said regenerating passage section 1b of this humidity conditioning unit 1.

[0035] Each of the junctions of the above mentioned suction and exhaust passages 6a and 6b with the by-passing passage 7 and the regenerating passage 5 is provided with a directional switching valve 9 so as to be surrounded thereby.

[0036] An explanation will now be given with respect to an operation of the above mentioned embodiment.

(1) Air conditioning for a high temperature and high humidity air:

[0037] A high temperature and a high humidity air that is sucked into the interior of a room or out to its exterior will first be dehumidified though the said air conditioning section 1a in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 to reduce its absolute humidity. The defumidifying action will then be effected with the moisture absorbing material such as silica gel. For this reason, a latent heat will then be emitted due to the condensation of a water content in the air and, as a result, the temperature of the air outgoing from the said air conditioning passage section 1a will be made higher than the temperature of the air at the time it was sucked.

[0038] Also, the above mentioned moisture absorbing material of the said air conditioning passage section 1a in the above mentioned humidity conditioning unit 1 will then be gradually degraded due to its moisture absorbing activity. If a rotary type dehumidifier is employed for this humidity conditioning unit 1, however, the said air conditioning passage section 1 that is opposed to the said air conditioning passage 1 will gradually be exchanged with the said regenerating passage section 1b that is opposed to the said regenerating passage 5, and then will thus be successively regenerated.

[0039] The air conditioned air that has raised in its temperature by being dehumidified through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 1a in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 will be cooled down to a temperature that approaches the temperature of the air conditioned air that is needed through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 2a in the said heat exchanger 2. In this conjunction, the relative humidity of the air conditioned air will at this time be elevated. It should be noted here that there will be no change in the absolute humidity at this time.

[0040] Next, the air will be temperature conditioned to a predetermined temperature through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 3a in the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3.

[0041] The air conditioning passage section 3a in the heating and cooling unit 3 of thermoelectric type will at this time reside at a cooling side. The air conditioned air will upon passing through this section have its sensible heat absorbed and then will thus be cooled. And, it should be noted here that this cooling temperature will be accurately controlled by controlling the amount of electric current that is carried into the said thermoelectric elements.

[0042] An explanation will now be given with respect the function at the side of the above mentioned regenerating passage 5 relative to the above mentioned air conditioning passage 4.

[0043] The above mentioned regenerating section 3b in the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 will be deprived of the heat by the regenerated air passing though the said regenerating passage 4. Then, the heat that has been absorbed through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 3a will be emitted.

[0044] Also, in a similar manner, the above mentioned regenerating passage section 2b in the said heat exchanger unit 2 will be deprived of the heat. Then, the heat that has been absorbed through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 2a will be emitted.

[0045] The regenerated air which, while it is passing through the above mentioned heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2, has been discharged therefrom to raise its temperature will further be elevated in temperature by the above mentioned heater 8 and, then passing through the above mentioned regenerating passage section 1b in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 and thereafter acting to dry the moisture absorbing material that has absorbed a moisture through the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 1a, will be regenerated.

[0046] The path in which the regenerated air should then pass will be generally a path in which the respective regenerating passage sections 3b, 2b and 1b of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3, the said heat exchanger unit 2 and the said humidity conditioning unit 1 are connected in series. But, depending on the relative temperature of the regenerated air to the temperatures in height of the respective regenerating passage sections 3b and 2b of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the said heat exchanger unit 2, it will be a path by-passing the regenerating passage section 2b of the said heat exchanger unit 2 as shown in Fig. 2, or alternatively may make use of the separate regenerated flows of the air passing through the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and a downstream side thereof as shown in Fig. 3 or the separate regenerated flows of the air passing through the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and a downstream side thereof while at the same time utilizing the regenerated air that is caused to flow into a downstream side of the said heat exchanger unit 2 from another path as shown in Fig. 4.

[0047] Also, while in the embodiment mentioned above an example is shown as using a said heat exchanger unit 2, it should be noted that in case the absolute temperature is relatively low, the use alone of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 and the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type may be sufficient.

[0048] An explanation will now be given with respect to changes in the temperature and the humidity of an air conditioned air in the above mentioned air conditioning passage 4 with reference to a graph relating a moist air as shown in Fig. 5.

[0049] For example, in case an attempt is made to obtain a finally air conditioned air of a temperature of 26 °C and a humidity of 55 % (in the relative humidity that will also be followed hereinafter), the air conditioned air will have an absolute humidity of 0.0115 kg/kg (meaning the humidity of a dry air).

[0050] Now assuming that an air to be air conditioned has an inlet temperature of 33 °C and an inlet humidity of 63 % (i. e. the point A), the air in the above mentioned air conditioning passage section 1a in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 will be dehumidified until the air conditioned has an absolute humidity of 0.0115 kg/kg (meaning the humidity of a dry air) as mentioned above. The temperature in this case will be elevated due to the emission of a latent heat that has arisen from the condensation of a water content generated as the dehumidifying action proceeds. And, the temperature and the humidity in this instance will vary along an isenthalpic line as shown until the above mentioned absolute humidity = 0.0115 kg/kg (meaning the humidity of a dry air) is reached at the point B where the temperature is 53 °C and the humidity is approximately 10 %.

[0051] Next, in the above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2, the air will be cooled, for example, to have a temperature of 38 °C such that the above mentioned temperature of 53 °C in the said dehumidified state may approach as much as possible to the temperature of 26 °C of a finally air conditioned air. The air humidity at this instant will thereby become 28 % (i. e. the point C).

[0052] The air conditioned in the preceding stage will further be cooled to reach the predetermined temperature of 26 °C in the above mentioned heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3. The humidity of the air will at this instant become 55 % (i. e. the point D).

[0053] According to the above mentioned operation, it can be seen that the difference in temperature between the outlet air in the said heat exchanger unit 2 and the above mentioned finally air conditioned air will be 12 °C . And, the above mentioned thermoelectric elements need not to change the absolute humidity but may only change the temperature from 38 °C to 26 °C . In the mean time, a moving quantity of enthalpy is only 1.6 + 1.3 = 2.0 kcal/kg as shown in Fig. 5.

[0054] For the purpose of a comparison with the above mentioned embodiment, it should be noted that if a cooling operation for the dehumidification purpose is carried out with the thermoelectric elements only as in the prior art, an explanation as follows will apply with reference to Fig. 5 noted above:

[0055] In order for an air having a temperature of 33 °C and a humidity of 63 % to be dehumidified, the air will have to be dehumidified to have a humidity of 100 % by following a change as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5 so that a condensation may then be made. Therefore, in order for a humidity of 55 % to be reached at first, the air will have to be cooled to reach a temperature of 16 °C .

[0056] In this manner, in order for an air to be changed in humidity from 65 % to 55 %, that is, in order for an air to be changed in temperature from 33 °C to 16 °C , a moving quantity of enthalpy of 9.5 kcal/kg will be required.

[0057] Since the air dehumidified by being further cooled to 16 °C should next be heated by a heater to reach the predetermined temperature of 26 °C , a further quantity of heat will separately be required.

(2) Air conditioning for a low temperature, low humidity air:

[0058] If the temperature and the humidity of an air conditioning air at its inlet side is lower than those of a finally air conditioned air, the air to be conditioned may be first humidified in the above mentioned humidity conditioning unit 1, and then heated in the above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2 to a temperature that approaches the temperature of the finally air conditioned air and finally heated in the above mentioned heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 to a predetermined temperature.

[0059] Figs. 6 to 8 show different specific examples of the air conditioning apparatus according to the present invention. Thus, Fig. 6 shows a first specific example in which a rotary type dehumidifier 10 is utilized for the above mentioned humidity conditioning unit 1 and a rotary type heat exchanger 11 is employed for the above mentioned heat exchanger unit 2.

[0060] Similarly to the above, Fig. 7 shows a second specific example in which a fixed plate type heat exchanger 12 is utilized for the said heat exchanger unit 2 whereas Fig. 8 shows a third specific example in which a fixed heat pipe type heat exchanger 13 is employed therefor.

[0061] Fig. 9 shows a first applied example in which an air conditioning apparatus 14 that represents the above mentioned first specific example is employed in a dwelling space and in which the air conditioning apparatus 14 is embedded in a wall 15 for achieving both cooling and warming purposes in the said dwelling space.

[0062] Figs. 10 and 11 show a second and a third applied examples, respectively, in which the above mentioned first example is employed for achieving the cooling and warming purposes in a dwelling space as mentioned above.

[0063] In the second applied example shown in Fig. 10, both the inlet side and the outlet side of a said air conditioning passage 4 are open to the interior of a room. And, it has a construction in which an outside air may be taken into the regenerating passage 3b of a said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3, and may be cooled in order to be emitted out of the room and returned to the exterior thereof, and in which a separate outside air may be taken from an upstream side of a said heat exchanger 2 into the respective regenerating passages sections 2b and 1b of the said rotary type heat exchanger 2 and the said rotary type humidity conditioner 1.

[0064] The third applied example shown in Fig, 11 represents an arrangement in which an air inlet is provided at an upstream side as well of the regenerating passage section 1b in the said humidity conditioning unit 1 in the arrangement shown in Fig. 10.

[0065] More specifically, at an upstream side of the respective regenerating passage sections 3b, 2b and 1b of the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3, the said heat exchanger unit 2 and the said humidity conditioning unit 1 there are provided respective outside air intakes 15a, 15b and 15c, each of which is connected via an opening and closing plate 16a, 16b, 16c to a duct 17 which is in turn connected to a solar heat collector. Also, the said outside air intakes 15a, 15b and 15c for both the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the said heat exchanger unit 2 have outside air inlets 18a and 18b connected thereto which are capable of alternately establishing and blocking a communication with the side of the above mentioned duct 17 at the above mentioned opening and closing plates 16a and 16b. It should be noted at this point that the above mentioned opening and closing plates 16a, 16b and 16c may each be made up from a shape memory alloy such that they may be opened and closed in response to an ambient temperature.

[0066] And, the third applied example shown in Fig. 11 is so constructed that each opening and closing plate 16a, 16b, 16c may change its position between the summer season in which the ambient air is hot and the winter season in which it is cold.

[0067] More specifically, in the summer season in which it is hot, the system is so operatively arranged that an outside air may be taken into both the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the said heat exchanger unit 2 whereas a warm air from the said solar heat collector may be taken through the said duct 17 into the said humidity conditioning unit 1.

[0068] Also, in the winter season in which it is cold, the system is so operatively arranged that a warm air may be taken from the said solar heat collector into both the said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type 3 and the said heat exchanger unit 2 whereas the inlet of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 may remain closed.

[0069] It should be noted at this point that while in each of the above mentioned examples the humidity conditioning unit 1 is made of rotary type and makes use of the moisture absorbing material such as silica gel, in an alternative example in which the said humidity conditioning unit 1 may employ a membrane modular construction.

[0070] Fig. 12 shows such a specific example of the said humidity conditioning unit 1 in which between an upper header 19a and a lower header 19b there are arranged a multitude of hollow thread membranes 20 and a moisture absorbing fluid or a regenerating fluid flows through each of these hollow thread membranes 20 whereas an air being conditioned is caused to flow outside of the said hollow thread membranes 20 so that the air flowing outside of the hollow thread membranes 20 may be either dehumidified or humidified through the hollow thread membranes 20 by the moisture absorbing fluid or the regenerated fluid flowing through these hollow thread membranes 20.

[0071] Fig. 13 shows a certain embodiment of the air conditioning system according to the present invention in which the above mentioned third applied example is assembled in a house actually.

[0072] In the Figure, there are shown a hybrid air conditioner 101 and a hybrid solar panel 102.

[0073] The hybrid air conditioner 101 comprises: a housing 106 having an air conditioning passage 104 and a regenerating passage (i. e. an outside air passage) 105 into which the housing is halved by a partition wall 103 in an axially perpendicular direction; and an absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, a heat exchanger unit 108 and a temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 which are successively arranged in an axial direction within the housing 106. And, the both ends of the above mentioned air conditioning passage 104 are arranged to be open to the inside of a room RM. Also, the both ends of the above mentioned regenerating passage 105 are led via an outside duct 100 to the outside of the room.

[0074] The above mentioned absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 has a multitude of partition walls of a honeycomb configuration which constitute air passages, and is constructed to have a moisture absorbing material such as silica gel on a surface of each of the said partition walls.

[0075] And, the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 and the said heat exchanger unit 108 are each configured to be in the form of a rotary cylinder journaled on the above mentioned partition wall 103 such that when rotated they may be exchanged successively so as to be opposed alternately to the said air conditioning passage 104 and the said regenerating passage 105.

[0076] The above mentioned temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 is constructed of a multitude of thermoelectric elements integrated so that one of the electrodes of each of these thermoelectric elements may be opposed to the said air conditioning passage 104 whereas the other electrode thereof may be opposed to the said regenerating passage 105.

[0077] The above mentioned housing 106 is provided at the inlet portion of the air conditioning passage 104 with an air conditioning fan 110 so that an air sucked at one side of the air conditioning passage 104 may flow through the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, the said heat exchanger unit 108 and the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and may then be exhausted through the other side of the air conditioning passage 104. And, at the outlet of the air conditioning passage 104 there is disposed a humidifier 111.

[0078] The above mentioned regenerating passage 105 comprises a first regenerating passage 105a through which the air passes via the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 and flows out to the outside of the room, a second regenerating passage 105b through which the air passes via the said heat exchanger unit 108 and the said absorptive humidity conditioning unit 107 and flows out to the outside of the room, and a third regenerating passage 105c through which the air passes via the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and flows out to the outside of the room.

[0079] And, the above mentioned first, second and third regenerating passages 105a, 105b and 105c are connected via a first, a second and a third opening and closing valve 112a, 112b and 112c, respectively, which are provided independently of each other, to an outside air introducing duct 113.

[0080] It should be noted here that the said second and third opening and closing valves 112b and 112c of the said second and third regenerating passages 105b and 105c are configured to be selectively openable to either of the above mentioned outside air introducing duct 113 and a first duct 114a leading to the outside of the room or to either of the said outside air introducing duct 113 and a second duct 114b leading to the outside of the room.

[0081] The above mentioned first and third regenerating passages 105a and 105c are provided at their respective outlets with a first and a second blow out fan 115a and 115b, respectively.

[0082] The above mentioned hybrid solar panel 102 comprises a solar cell 116 in the form of a planar configuration and a solar heat collector 17 provided at the rear side of the solar cell 116; and they are installed on an upper surface of a roof B.

[0083] The said solar heat collector 117 comprises a cavity 118 provided along the rear side of the said solar cell 116 and an outside air suction fan 119 for sucking an air into the said cavity 118 from an outside thereof. The said fan 119 has the rate of rotation controllable by a control unit 123. And, the said cavity 118 of the solar heat collector 117 is connected to the above mentioned outside air introducing duct 113 of the said hybrid air conditioner 101 via a duct 120 and a switching section 121. This switching section 121 is so configured that a part or all of heated air from the said solar heat collector 117 may be capable of flowing into the room A as a need arises.

[0084] The above mentioned solar cell 116 is connected to the thermoelectric elements of the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 of the above mentioned hybrid air conditioning unit 101. It should be noted here that these thermoelectric elements are also connected to a commercial power supply.

[0085] An explanation will now be given with respect to an operation of the system constructed as mentioned above.

[0086] A high temperature and high humidity air that has been sucked into the above mentioned air conditioning passage 104 from the room inside RM will first be absorption dehumidified by the above mentioned absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 to lower its absolute temperature. The dehumidification action at this time will be performed by the said moisture absorptive material such as silica gel. For this reason, a latent heat due to the condensation of a water content in the air will be emitted so that the air outgoing from the said air conditioning passage 104 section in the absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 may be made higher in temperature than the air at its suction inlet side.

[0087] Then, the capacity to absorb by the said moisture absorbing material in an area that is opposed to the said air conditioning passage 104 in the above mentioned absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 will gradually be degraded owing to its absorption of a water content in the air being conditioned. However, since the said absorptive dehumidifying unit 107 is gradually rotated, a portion that has been degraded will gradually be exchanged for a portion that is opposed to the side of the said outside air passage 105 and hence will successively be regenerated.

[0088] By being dehumidified in the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, the air conditioning air that is elevated in temperature will be heat exchanged for an outside air of a given temperature in the said heat exchanger unit 108 to lower its temperature. As the process proceeds, the relative humidity of the air conditioning air will then be raised. It should be noted, however, that no change will then occur in the absolute humidity.

[0089] Next, the air will be temperature conditioned in the temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 to have a predetermined temperature and will then be exhausted to exist again in the room inside RM.

[0090] The side of said air conditioning passage 104 of the temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 at this instant will represent a cooling side and, by passing therethrough, the air conditioning air will have its sensible heat absorbed and will thereby be cooled. It will be noted here that the cooling temperature will then be accurately controlled by controlling the quantity of electric current carried into the said thermoelectric elements. The electric power that will then be required will be served also from the said solar cell 116 of the above mentioned hybrid solar panel 102.

[0091] In an air conditioning operation as mentioned above, an air to the said outside air passage 105 will be introduced from the outside of the room by operating the said switch 112a, 112b, 112c, or from the said solar heat collector 117 of the above mentioned hybrid solar panel 102. It is by this introduced outside air that the absorbing portion in the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 will be dried and regenerated. To this end, as a need arises, an electric heater 122 may be provided at a side upstream of the the said outside air passage 105 of the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 to warm the said introduced outside air.

[0092] If an warmed air from the said hybrid solar panel 102 is used as the regenerating outside air for the above mentioned absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, it will be seen that a sufficient quantity of heat can be utilized without using the above mentioned electric heater 122.

[0093] Next, in the Tables 1 to 4 below, there are shown the operating modes of the system described both in the summer season and in the winter season. It should be noted here that each of Tables 1 and 2 represents an operating mode in the summer season whereas each of Tables 3 and 4 represents an operating mode in the winter season. In these Tables, the terms "the operation ON" and "the operation OFF" for the hybrid panel are intended to mean the case in which the hybrid solar panel 102 is operated, i. e. there is a sunshine, and the case in which it is not operated, i. e. there is no sunshine, respectively. Also, the intensiveness and weakness for the operation of the said solar heat collector are intended to mean the case in which a large quantity of solar heat is taken in and the case in which only a small quantity of solar heat is taken in, respectively, by controlling the operation of the said fan 19 for sucking the outside air.

[0094] Next, an explanation will be given with respect to a control operation for the said hybrid air conditioner having a construction and modes of operation as mentioned above.

[0095] Now let it be assumed that the outside air has a temperature T₁, the said solar cell 116 has a temperature T₂ at its rear side, the air that is introduced into the said hybrid air conditioner 101 and that is emitted from the said solar heat collector 117 has a temperature of T₃, the said room inside has a temperature of T₄ and a humidity of H₄ and is given a preset temperature T₅ and a preset humidity H₅, and the said solar cell 116 is given a preset temperature T₆ at its read side. And, in order to measure and ascertain these temperatures and humidities, there are provided the respective temperature and humidity measuring sections (not shown).

[0096] First, the temperature T₅ and the humidity H₅ of the said room inside, and the temperature T₄ and the humidity H4 are compared with each other, respectively. In so doing, it can be seen that four cases shown in Table 5 below will be considered, and that a particular method of control for a particular case of them needs to be adopted, respectively.

Table 5

Case	I	II
1	T4 > T5	H4 > H5
2	T4 > T5	H4 < H5
3	T4 < T5	H4 > H5
4	T4 < T5	H4 < H5

* The basic principles of control methods

[0097] The present air conditioning system involves a control method in which a temperature and a humidity are controlled independently of each other. More specifically, the group I of Table 5 listed above is related to the conditioning of a temperature and is subject to a control by the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 whereas the group II is related to the conditioning of a humidity and is subject to a control by the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, the said heat exchanger unit 108 and the said humidifier 111.

[0098] Where the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 is driven electrically, it should be noted that the output of the said solar cell 116 is preferentially utilized and it is only when the said output becomes deficient that an electric power from the commercial power supply is utilized. Also, where the regenerating operation for the moisture absorbing section of the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 is carried out thermally, it should be noted that the thermal output from the said solar heat collector 117 is preferentially utilized and it is only when the said output becomes deficient that the said electric heater 122 for heating by an electric power from the commercial power supply is utilized.

* Specific control methods

[0099] An explanation will now be given below of respective control methods where the said hybrid solar panel 102 are variously used in the individual cases.

(a) Case 1 (cooling and dehumidification)

[0100] In this case, both the electrical output of the said solar cell 116 and the thermal output of the said solar heat collector 117 are required. Then, a control is made to ensure that both the said solar cell 116 and the said solar heat collector 117 should provide their respective outputs as much as possible. More specifically, if the temperature T₂ becomes not less than the temperature [T₁+10] °C , the above mentioned fan 119 of the solar heat collector 117 will be turned ON and its rate of rotation will be controlled in a control unit 23 so that the temperature T₃ may reach a preset temperature established therefor, say, 60 °C . If the temperature is made not less than 60 °C , the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 is increased so that both the temperature T₂ and T₃ may be controlled at 60 °C . This will simultaneously allow a drop in efficiency arising from a temperature increase of the solar cell 116 to be avoided and the efficiency of the absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 owing to the thermal output of the solar heat collector 117 to be enhanced. It can be seen that the thermal output of the said solar heat collector 117 will enter into the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 and will be used for the dehumidification of the air inside of the room; it is the temperature level that is sustained at that time instant which is here important.

(b) Case 2 (cooling and humidification)

[0101] In the case, while an electric power into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 is required, a heat into the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 is unnecessary. The, a control is made in the said control unit 123 to increase the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 so that the output of the said solar cell 116 may reach a maximum and that the temperature T₂ may be made not greater than [T₁+5] °C .

(c) Case 3 (warming and dehumidification)

[0102] In this case, the electric power and the heat into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and the heat into the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107 are required, However, since the heat for both the warming and the dehumidification are then more needed, a control is here made to take out the heat as much as possible. More specifically, if the temperature T₂ is made not less than [T₁+5] °C , the the fan 119 of the said solar heat collector 117 will be turned ON. And, the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 will be controlled by the said control unit 123 so that the temperature T₃ may reach a preset temperature established therefor, say 60 °C . If, however, 60 °C is exceed, the temperature needs not to be controlled. While the thermal output of the said solar heat collector 117 is partially furnished into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and its remainder is supplied into the said heat exchanger unit 108 and the said absorptive type humidity conditioning unit 107, their proportion will be varied depending upon a temperature and a humidity level which are preset. It is both the temperature level and the quantity of heat which are here important.

(d) Case 4 (warming and humidification)

[0103] In this case, while both the electric power and the heat into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 becomes necessary, the thermal output will be more important in terms of the quantity of heat than in terms of the temperature level. Thus, the temperature level will then be reduced while taking as much a heat of quantity as possible. More specifically, if the temperature T₂ is made not less than [T₁+5] °C , the above mentioned fan 119 of the said solar heat collector 117 will be turned ON. And, the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 will be controlled by the said control unit 123 so that a temperature T₃ may be reached 40 °C . If T₃ is exceeded 40 °C , the rate of rotation of the said fan 119 will be increased so that the temperature T₃ may be controlled at 40 °C . While the thermal output of the said solar heat collector 117 is partially supplied into the said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 and its remainder is furnished into the said heat exchanger unit 108, their proportion will be varied depending upon a temperature and a humidity level which are preset. It is the quantity of heat which is here important.

[0104] While in the embodiment mentioned above, the electrical temperature conditioning unit is exemplified by a said temperature conditioning unit of thermoelectric type 109 with thermoelectric elements, it may be embodied as a compressor type temperature conditioning unit 124 as shown in Fig. 14.

[0105] This compressor type temperature conditioning unit 124 may make use of a heat pump in a typical configuration and includes an exterior air side section 125 located at the side of the above mentioned outside air passage 105c and a room interior side section 126 located at the side of the above mentioned air conditioning passage 104, the said sections 125 and 126 being here connected via a pipe line 127 for the coolant to a room exterior unit 131 that comprises three way valve 128, a compressor 129, an expansion valve 130 and so forth.

[0106] As set out in the foregoing description, it will be seen that according to the present invention, an air conditioning apparatus that makes use of a thermoelectric element and a moisture absorbing material, is made capable of reducing the load upon the said thermoelectric element to enhance its efficiency while accurately controlling the outlet temperature with a heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type having a thermoelectric element. Also, By virtue of the fact that an air conditioning passage and a regenerating passage are constructed integrally, the entire air conditioning equipment can be reduced in both its size and its manufacturing cost.

[0107] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it has been set out that an air conditioning system of hybrid type that makes use a solar cell as the power supply for an electrical temperature conditioning unit and utilizes an air that is warmed by a solar heat, is made capable of dehumidifying the air without the resort of cooling the air by the said electrical temperature conditioning unit and capable of reducing the load upon the said electrical temperature conditioning unit for its humidity conditioning function. Especially, in this regard, where the said electrical temperature conditioning unit is constituted by a thermoelectric element, the resultant effect is remarkable. Also, by suitably controlling the supply and the quantity of heat and the electric power from a hybrid solar panel, the system is made capable of enhancing the effeciency of the said solar cell and the efficiency of a humidity conditioning unit and further being operated with an increased efficiency even in the winter season.

[0108] While the present invention has hereinbefore been described with respect to certain illustrative embodiments thereof, it will readily be appreciated by a person skilled in the art to be obvious that many alterations thereof, omissions therefrom and additions thereto can be made without departing from the essence and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof set out above, but includes all possible embodiments thereof that can be made within the scope with respect to the features specifically set forth in the appended claims and encompasses all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An air conditioning apparatus comprising:

a humidity conditioning unit having an moisture absorbing material;

a heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type having a thermoelectric element;

an air conditioning passage including those respective one portions of said humidity conditioning unit and said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type which are connected with each other in series; and

a regenerating passage including those respective other portions of said humidity conditioning unit and said heating and cooling unit of thermoelectric type which are connected with each other in series.

2. An air conditioning apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger unit, in which a portion of said heat exchanger unit constitutes a portion of said air conditioning passage and in which another portion of said heat exchanger unit constitutes a portion of said regenerating passage.

3. An air conditioning apparatus, as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, in which there is disposed a heating source that is disposed at a side upstream of said humidity conditioning unit in said regenerating passage.

4. An air conditioning system comprising: a hybrid solar panel constituted by a section for generating an electric power from a solar energy and a heat collecting section; and a hybrid air conditioning apparatus having an absorptive humidity conditioning unit and an electrical temperature conditioning unit disposed in an air conditioning passage, in which said heat collecting section is connected to a regenerating passage section of said absorptive humidity conditioning unit and a regenerating passage section of said electrical temperature conditioning unit and in which said power generating section is connected to a power receiving section of said electrical temperature conditioning unit.

5. An air conditioning system, as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a temperature measurement section for measuring a temperature of said power generating section; and a control section for controlling the operation of an outside air suction fan of said heat collecting section in accordance with a temperature measured in said temperature measurement section.

6. An air conditioning system, as set forth in claim 4 or claim 5, in which said electrical temperature conditioning unit includes a thermoelectric element.

Drawing