JPH02136631A - Air conditioner with air composition varying function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable creation of a comfortable space matching the healthy state of a man by a method wherein an air separator to vary a composition of air is mounted to an air conditioner, and control of air quality is performed simultaneously with control of air conditioning. CONSTITUTION:In an air conditioner body 1, the side A is an air conditioning control part to control indoor temperature and humidity, and the side B is an oxygen concentration control part which varies oxygen concentration in air and has suction ports 101 and 103 and discharge ports 102 and 104. When indoor oxygen concentration is detected and is below a specified level, with a blast tan 3 of an oxygen concentration control part run, sir is sucked through the suction port 103, a nitrogen component in inflow air is removed by a nitrogen absorbent 2, and air having high oxygen concentration is discharged through the discharge port 104. When oxygen concentration is increased to a value higher than a specified level, running of the blast fan 3 is stopped. By varying oxygen concentration in a room simultaneously with control of air conditioning, oxygen concentration is set to a value responding to the state of a man's body to create a comfortable space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an air conditioner mK having a function of varying the composition ratio (particularly oxygen) of the air in the entire room.

Conventional technology Traditionally, this kind of air conditioner eliminates dust in the air.

There are some devices that have an air purifying function that removes smoke, odors, etc., but none that have a function that changes the air composition such as controlling oxygen concentration.

The most common method was the adsorption method.

The problem that the invention aims to solve is that although the conventional air purifying function described above can remove K odor, dust, etc. from the air, it is possible to change the composition of the air when the oxygen concentration is low to create a state that is most comfortable for humans. could not be created.

In addition, the adsorption method has problems such as an increase in the size of the device.

In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to control the composition of air to a comfortable composition for humans in addition to controlling air conditioning such as temperature and humidity.

Further, the present invention aims at downsizing the device.

Furthermore, the present invention aims to improve the quietness of the device.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an air conditioner with an oxygen concentration control means using a separation means for separating oxygen and nitrogen in the air.

Further, in the present invention, as the separation means, a separator using a functional membrane that facilitates permeation of oxygen in the air is provided on the indoor side.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the separator is provided in an outdoor unit.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the separator is provided in a wind circuit of an air conditioning means.

For production The effects of the above means are as follows.

By providing an air conditioner with an oxygen concentration control function, the present invention can not only control air conditioning such as temperature and humidity, but also change the air composition.

Furthermore, the present invention allows the device to be more compact than the conventional air separator using a functional membrane as a separation means.

Furthermore, in the present invention, by providing the separator on the outdoor side, it is possible to reduce the noise on the indoor side.

Furthermore, by providing the separation means in the wind circuit of the air conditioning means, the blower of the oxygen concentration control means can be blown off.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described using an adsorption method with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 1, 1 is the main body of the air-magnetic conditioner, side A is an air conditioning control unit for controlling indoor temperature, humidity, etc., and side B is an oxygen concentration control unit that changes the oxygen concentration in the air. 101 and 103, and an outlet 102, respectively.
104. The air conditioning section on the A side includes a heat exchanger, a blower fan, and the like (not shown).

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the oxygen concentration control section.

In the figure, 1 is the main body, and inside is a nitrogen adsorbent 2.
A blower fan is provided.

The operation of the air conditioner configured as above will be described below.

The oxygen concentration in the room is detected, and if it is below a certain level, the blower fan 3 of the oxygen concentration control unit is operated, and air is sucked in from the suction port 103, and the nitrogen components in the incoming air are absorbed by the nitrogen adsorbent. 2, and air with a high oxygen concentration is blown out from the air outlet 104.

When the oxygen concentration rises above a certain level, the blower fan 3
Stop operation.

Therefore, by varying the oxygen concentration in the room together with air conditioning control, it is possible to set the oxygen concentration according to the condition of the human body and create a comfortable space.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described using a functional film with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, the principle of air separation using a functional membrane will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the figure, 4 indicates an air separator, and the air separator main body 401 is partitioned into a high pressure side space a and a low pressure side space by a mesh-like holder 403, and oxygen can easily permeate to the high pressure side of the holder 403. A functional membrane 402 is attached. The air separator main body 401 also includes an inlet 4o4. Unpermeated outlet 4o5.
A permeate outlet 406 is provided, and the permeate outlet 406 is connected to the blowing nozzle /I/7 via the bonder 6. On the other hand, the blower fan 6 is connected to the unpermeated outlet 406 .

The operation of the air separator configured as above will be described below.

First, air flows in from the inlet 404 by the blower fan 6, and oxygen, which easily permeates through the functional membrane 402, is transferred to the functional membrane 402 due to the pressure difference between the high-pressure side chamber a and the low-pressure side space by the pump 6.
passes through the permeation outlet 4o6° and the blowout nozzle l through the bonder 6.
Guided to v7. On the other hand, nitrogen, which is difficult to permeate through the functional membrane 402, flows out from the non-permeable outlet 406 by the blower fan 6.

Next, an embodiment in which an air separator using the functional membrane is provided in an indoor unit of an air conditioner will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

In the figure, 1 is the main body of the air conditioner, which is equipped with a heat exchanger and a blower fan (not shown) for air conditioning.

An oxygen supply device using an air separator 4 using the functional membrane is provided on one side of the air conditioner. Here, 404 is an inlet, 406 is an unpermeated outlet, 406 is a permeated outlet, 6 is a bonder, 6 is a blower fan, 8 is an exhaust port, and 1o4 is an air outlet.

The operation of the oxygen supply machine configured as described above will be explained below.

First, air flows into the inlet 404 by the blower fan 6, and oxygen, which easily permeates the functional membrane 402, permeates the functional membrane 402 due to the pressure difference caused by the pump 6, and then passes through the functional membrane 406 through the permeation outlet 406. It is blown out from the blow-off port 104 via the pump 6. On the other hand, nitrogen that is difficult to permeate through the functional membrane 402 is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port 8 via the unpermeated outlet 405 by the blower fan 6.

Now, at this point, reduce the rotation speed of the air blower 71 and 6 sufficiently,
When the amount of air flowing through the inlet 404 is reduced, the oxygen concentration decreases from the inlet 404 toward the unpermeated outlet 40g. That is, the nitrogen concentration at the unpermeated outlet 40B can be increased from the inlet 404, and by discharging the concentrated air with a high nitrogen concentration to the outside, the indoor oxygen concentration increases.

Therefore, the oxygen concentration throughout the room can be varied. Further, by providing the oxygen supply device indoors, the structure of the air blowing circuit between the separator 4 and the bonder 6 can be simplified.

Furthermore, since the separator can be made smaller compared to adsorption systems, etc., the device can be made more compact.

Further, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, the same parts as in the previous embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, 1 is an indoor unit of an air conditioner, 9 is an outdoor unit, and the air separator 4 of the outdoor unit 9 is provided with the same configuration as the second embodiment.

Further, the outlet of the pump 6 and the outlet 104 of the indoor unit 1 are connected by a hose 1o.

The operation of the oxygen supply machine configured as described above will be explained below.

First, air flows in from the inlet 404 by the blower fan 6, and oxygen, which easily permeates the functional membrane 402, permeates the functional membrane 402 due to the pressure difference caused by the pump 6, and passes through the functional membrane 402 through the permeation outlet 4o6. The air is blown out from the air outlet 104 of the indoor unit 1 via the bonder 6 and the hose 1o. On the other hand, nitrogen that is difficult to permeate through the functional membrane 402 is passed through an unpermeated outlet 405 by a blower fan 6 to an exhaust port 8.
It will be exhausted.

Therefore, by sending air with high oxygen concentration into the room, the oxygen concentration in the room can be varied.

In addition, by installing the oxygen supply machine outdoors, the pump 6
Since the noise of the blower fan 6 is not transmitted indoors, the noise level can be reduced compared to installing it indoors.

Furthermore, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, the same parts as in the previous embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, 11 is an outdoor heat exchanger, 12 is a compressor, 1
3 is a blower fan of the outdoor unit 9, and the air separator 4 is installed in the air circuit of the outdoor unit 9.

The operation of the oxygen supply machine configured as described above will be described below.

First, the air separator 40 is
Air flows in from the inlet 404, and oxygen, which easily permeates the functional membrane 402, permeates the functional membrane 402 due to the pressure difference caused by the pump 6, and passes through the permeation outlet 406 to the pump 6. It is sent to the indoor side through the hose 10. On the other hand, nitrogen, which is difficult to permeate through the functional membrane 402, is removed by a blower fan at an unpermeable outlet 406. Exhaust port 8
More exhaust.

Therefore, similarly to the third embodiment, the oxygen concentration on the indoor side can be varied.

Further, by using the air blowing circuit of the outdoor unit 9, the device can be made smaller and simpler.

In addition, in the first embodiment, an adsorption separation method was used, but a functional membrane or other separation method may be used.

Also, the second. In the third and fourth embodiments, the pump 6 is used, but a fan that can obtain high static pressure may also be used.

Although the above embodiment describes the oxygen concentration, the indoor carbon dioxide concentration may be varied by separating carbon dioxide and the like.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, the present invention provides an air conditioner with an air separator for varying the composition of the air, thereby making it possible to perform air conditioning control as well as air purchase control. You can create a comfortable space that suits your health condition.

Further, by providing an air separator using a functional membrane on the indoor side, there is no need to use an air transport hose, etc., and the device can be made more compact.

Furthermore, if the air separator is installed outside the room, the noise of the pump or blower fan will not be transmitted into the room, and the noise inside the room will be reduced.

Furthermore, by providing the air separator in the wind circuit of the air conditioner and sharing the blower fan, effects such as the ability to further downsize and simplify the device can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a front view and a side view of an air conditioner showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the air conditioner, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the air conditioner.
The figure is a detailed view of the air separator used in the second, third and fourth embodiments, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the indoor air conditioner showing the second embodiment, and Figure 6 is the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an outdoor air conditioner showing a fourth embodiment. 4... Air separator, 401... Air separator body, 402... Functional membrane, 403...
... Holder, 404 ... Inlet of air separator 4,
406... Unpermeated outlet, 406... Permeated outlet. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An air conditioner equipped with air conditioning means for heating and cooling, and air separation means for separating oxygen, nitrogen, etc. from the air. (2) The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air separation means is provided on the indoor side of the air conditioner which is composed of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. (3) The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air separation means is provided on the outdoor side of the air conditioner which is composed of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. (4) The air conditioner according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the air separation means is provided in a wind circuit of an air conditioning means having a blowing means.