JP6049936B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an air conditioner that can control air to be temperature-controlled in a stable state and quickly to a desired temperature even when the environmental temperature fluctuates significantly. An air conditioner (1) includes an intake port (31), an air passage (30) having a discharge port (32) for discharging air taken in from the intake port (31), and the intake port (31) toward the discharge port (32). A blower 60 that allows air to flow, a cooling unit 2 that cools the air that is received in the air flow path 30 and is taken in from the intake port 31 with variable refrigeration capacity, and the air that is received in the air flow path 30. The heating unit 4 that heats the air taken in from the inlet 31 with variable heating capacity, and the downstream side of the cooling unit 2 and the downstream side of the heating unit 4 from the upstream side of the cooling unit 2 and the heating unit 4 And a return channel 100 extending to a position on the upstream side. In the air conditioner 1, the air returning through the return flow channel 100 is merged with the external air before being taken into the intake port 31. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

  The room temperature of a clean room in a semiconductor manufacturing facility is usually strictly controlled by an air conditioner. For example, in a clean room where an apparatus for coating and developing photoresist (coater, etc.) is installed, the room temperature is required to be controlled within an error range of + 0.05 ° C. to −0.05 ° C. of the target temperature. There is a case. Conventionally, various devices have been proposed as an air conditioner capable of handling such a clean room (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-108652 A

  By the way, in this type of air conditioner, a use temperature range and a temperature control range are usually defined, and if the taken-in air is a temperature within the use temperature range, the air is moved to a desired range within the temperature control range. It can be supplied at a predetermined air volume while being controlled to a set temperature. However, in recent years, there have been frequent frequent fluctuations in environmental temperature due to the occurrence of large cold waves, large heat waves, etc., and this has led to many problems that control of the air conditioner becomes unstable. It has been reported.

  Such significant fluctuations in the environmental temperature may cause the air taken in by the air conditioner to fluctuate significantly, which may cause the necessity of drastically changing the refrigeration capacity or heating capacity of the air conditioner. Such a rapid change in the refrigerating capacity or the heating capacity can be one of the factors that cause the above-described problems. In addition, when it becomes necessary to drastically change the refrigeration capacity or the heating capacity, the air conditioner cannot sufficiently follow the desired refrigeration capacity or the heating capacity, and the operation must be stopped. There may be situations where it is impossible to obtain. In addition, when the air taken in by the air conditioner deviates from the operating temperature range due to significant fluctuations in the environmental temperature, basically, the taken-in air cannot be controlled to a desired temperature.

  Here, as a countermeasure against the significant fluctuation of the environmental temperature as described above, for example, the range of the refrigerating capacity and the heating capacity of the air conditioner is widened and the responsiveness when the refrigerating capacity and the heating capacity are changed is improved. Conceivable. However, such measures are not always good because there is a risk that the apparatus will undesirably increase in size or the energy required for operation will undesirably increase as the refrigeration capacity or heating capacity expands or improves performance. I can't say that.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and even when the environmental temperature fluctuates significantly, the air to be temperature-controlled can be quickly controlled to a desired temperature in a stable state. In addition, an air conditioner that can suppress the undesirably large size of the entire apparatus or an undesirably increased energy for operation while ensuring such suitable control performance. The purpose is to provide.

  The present invention includes an air passage having an intake port for taking in external air and an outlet port for discharging air taken in from the intake port, and air flow from the intake port toward the discharge port. An air blower, a cooling unit that is accommodated in the air flow path and cools the air taken in from the intake port with a variable refrigeration capacity, and is accommodated in the air flow path, from the intake port A heating unit that heats the taken-in air with variable heating capacity; and a position downstream of the cooling unit and downstream of the heating unit to a position upstream of the cooling unit and upstream of the heating unit. A return flow path extending through the return flow path, and air supplied to a position upstream of the cooling unit and upstream of the heating unit via the return flow channel before being taken into the intake port. Merge with air or external air after being taken into the intake Has manner as the air conditioning apparatus, characterized in that a.

  According to the present invention, the return flow channel supplies a part of the air that has passed through the cooling unit and the heating unit to the upstream side of the cooling unit and the upstream side of the heating unit, and takes in the air flow channel. The air before being taken into the mouth or the air after being taken into the intake can be merged. As a result, even if the temperature of the external air taken into the intake port varies greatly in response to significant fluctuations in the environmental temperature, this external air merges with the air from the temperature-controlled return flow path. By doing so, the temperature approaches the temperature to be temperature controlled. For this reason, it is easy to control the external air joined with the air from the return flow path to a desired temperature without drastically changing the refrigeration capacity or the heating capacity in response to large fluctuations in the temperature of the external air. Therefore, even when the environmental temperature fluctuates significantly, the air to be temperature controlled can be controlled to a desired temperature promptly in a stable state, and such suitable control performance can be ensured. In addition, it is possible to suppress an undesirably large size of the entire apparatus or an undesirably increased energy for operation.

  Further, according to the present invention, by adjusting the air volume of the air returned to the upstream side by the return flow path, the air volume of the blower is set to a certain value, and the temperature control target is set from the discharge port without returning by the return flow path. It becomes possible to change the air volume of the air discharged into the space. Therefore, if reliability of temperature control when the air flow rate of the blower is set to a certain value is ensured in the air conditioner, the air flow rate of air discharged from the discharge port to the temperature control target space can be varied according to demand. Even in the case of changing to this pattern, the reliability of temperature control can be secured in each pattern. As a result, the air conditioner can be quickly set to a state where suitable control performance can be ensured according to the required air volume, so that the air conditioner can be effectively used both before and after shipment. It is also possible.

  Moreover, the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on this invention WHEREIN: The damper for air volume adjustments which adjusts the air volume of the air which flows through the said return flow path may be provided in the said return flow path.

In this case, by adjusting the air volume adjustment damper, it is possible to flexibly set a suitable return amount of air from the return flow path according to the assumed fluctuation of the environmental temperature, and to control the fluctuation of the environmental temperature. The balance between stability and efficient operation can be achieved.
For example, when the temperature of the external air taken into the intake port changes greatly, the larger the return amount of air from the return flow path, the closer the external air taken in will be closer to the temperature to be temperature controlled. become. Therefore, when it is assumed that the temperature of the external air changes greatly, the air flow adjustment damper is adjusted to increase the return amount of the air from the return flow path, thereby controlling the fluctuation of the environmental temperature. Settings can be made to improve stability. If the temperature of the external air is not expected to change significantly, the air flow adjustment damper is adjusted to reduce the return amount of the air from the return flow path, so that the discharge port can move to the temperature control target space. Setting for efficiently supplying air can be performed.

  The air volume adjusting damper may be capable of adjusting the air volume of the air flowing through the return channel manually and automatically.

  Moreover, the said air blower may be capable of changing the air volume.

  In this case, the air volume of the blower can be changed and the air volume of the air flowing through the return flow path can be adjusted by the air volume adjusting damper, so that the air from the discharge port required by the user to the temperature control target space can be adjusted. The return amount of air from the return flow path can be set flexibly while securing the air volume. Thereby, the application range of an air conditioning apparatus can be expanded and usability can be improved extremely.

  In addition, an intake passage for allowing external air to flow through is connected to the intake port, and a filter device is provided in the intake passage, and the intake passage is downstream of the filter device. The return flow path may communicate with the position on the side.

  In this case, since the air from the return flow path is supplied into the intake flow path without receiving a pressure loss that occurs when passing through the filter device, it smoothly merges with the external air that has passed through the filter device, By suppressing fluctuations in the output of the blower, the stability of temperature control can be improved. Further, since the air from the return flow path is air that has already passed through the filter device, the problem of contamination does not occur.

  In addition, a partition member that bisects a part of the air flow channel is provided in the air flow channel, and the partition member causes a part of the air flow channel to be the first flow channel and the second flow channel. The cooling section is provided in the first flow path, a flow rate adjusting damper for adjusting the opening degree of the first flow path and the second flow path is provided, and from the return flow path The temperature of the air before being taken into the intake port merged with the air or the air after being taken into the intake port is detected by an upstream temperature sensor, and the flow control damper is The opening degree of the first flow path and the second flow path may be adjusted by being controlled according to the temperature detected by the upstream temperature sensor.

  In this case, the refrigeration capacity to be given to the combined air can be adjusted according to the temperature of the air before being taken into the intake port joined with the air from the return flow path or the air after being taken into the intake port. Thus, the air can be efficiently controlled to a desired temperature.

  According to the present invention, even when the environmental temperature fluctuates significantly, the air to be temperature-controlled can be quickly controlled to a desired temperature in a stable state, and such suitable control performance can be obtained. It is possible to prevent the entire apparatus from being undesirably increased in size and the energy for operation from being increased undesirably while securing the above.

It is the schematic of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the graph which shows an example of the environmental variation condition used in order to demonstrate the influence mitigation effect with respect to the influence of the environmental variation of the air conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the graph for demonstrating the influence relaxation effect with respect to the influence of the environmental fluctuation | variation of the air conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the graph for demonstrating the influence relaxation effect with respect to the influence of the environmental fluctuation | variation of the air conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the graph for demonstrating the influence relaxation effect with respect to the influence of the environmental fluctuation | variation of the air conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the graph for demonstrating the influence relaxation effect with respect to the influence of the environmental fluctuation | variation of the air conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. It is the schematic of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioning apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is used, for example, to supply temperature-controlled air to an apparatus that applies and develops a photoresist to maintain a constant apparatus temperature.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes an intake port 31 that takes in air outside the device, and an air passage 30 that has a discharge port 32 that discharges air taken in from the intake port 31. A blower 60 that allows air to flow from the intake port 31 toward the discharge port 32, and a cooling unit 2 that is housed in the air flow path 30 and cools the air taken in from the intake port 31 with variable refrigeration capacity. A heating unit 4 that is accommodated in the air flow path 30 and that heats the air taken in from the intake port 31 with variable heating capacity, and a position downstream of the cooling unit 2 and downstream of the heating unit 4 And a control unit 50 that controls the refrigeration capacity of the cooling section 2 and the heating capacity of the heating section 4. The return flow path 100 extends to the upstream side of the cooling section 2 and upstream of the heating section 4. Yes.

  In the air passage 30, the cooling unit 2 is disposed on the upstream side of the heating unit 4, and a humidifier 70 is further provided on the downstream side of the heating unit 4. The humidifier 70 is electrically connected to the control unit 50, and the air taken in from the intake port 31 can be humidified with a variable amount of humidification under the control of the control unit 50. In the present embodiment, the blower 60 is provided on the downstream side of the humidifying device 70 in the air passage 30. The blower 60 is configured to be able to change the air volume. However, when the air conditioner 1 is driven, the blower 60 is basically driven to output a constant air volume. In the present embodiment, the cooling unit 2 is disposed on the upstream side of the heating unit 4, but the cooling unit 2 may be disposed on the downstream side of the heating unit 4. Also, the position of the blower 60 may be different from the illustrated example.

  An intake passage 312 for allowing external air to flow toward the intake port 31 is connected to the intake port 31 of the air passage 30. A filter device 313 is provided in the intake passage 312. It has been. In the present embodiment, by driving the blower 60, external air flows from the filter device 313 through the intake passage 312 and flows into the air passage 30 from the intake port 31. The above-described filter device 313 is a chemical filter as an example, but may be a HEPA filter or a ULPA filter, and may include a chemical filter and a HEPA filter or a ULPA filter.

  The discharge port 32 is connected to a supply flow path 322 for allowing temperature-controlled air to flow toward the use area U. The use area U is, for example, a device for applying and developing a photoresist ( This means the internal space of the coater. In the illustrated example, a temperature sensor 41 and a humidity sensor 42 are provided in the discharge port 32, and the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42 are used for the air that has passed through the cooling unit 2, the heating unit 4, and the humidifier 70. It is designed to detect temperature or humidity. The temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42 output the detected temperature or humidity to the control unit 50, and in response to this, the control unit 50 controls the cooling unit 2 and the heating unit 4 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 41. While controlling, the humidification apparatus 70 is controlled based on the humidity which the humidity sensor 42 detected. In FIG. 1, for convenience of illustration, the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42 are shown apart from the discharge port 32, but the temperature sensor 41 and the humidity sensor 42 are the temperatures of the air passing through the discharge port 32. Or it is arrange | positioned in the arbitrary aspects which can detect humidity.

  In this embodiment, the return flow channel 100 is provided so as to straddle the intake flow channel 312 and the supply flow channel 322, and the downstream end of the return flow channel 100 has an intake flow channel. 312 communicates with a position on the downstream side of the filter device 313. In the return flow path 100, an air volume adjustment damper 101 that adjusts the air volume of the air flowing through the return flow path 100 is provided. The air volume adjustment damper 101 in this embodiment is manually and automatically returned. The air volume of the air flowing through the flow path 100 can be adjusted.

  In the present embodiment, the air blower 60 is driven in a state where the above-described air volume adjusting damper 101 is opened, so that in the present embodiment, the position upstream of the cooling unit 2 and upstream of the heating unit 4 via the return flow channel 100. The air supplied to is joined to the external air before being taken into the intake port 31. Here, the air conditioner 1 adjusts the air volume adjustment damper 101 and the like to adjust the air volume of 0% to 90% of the air volume output from the blower 60 to the upstream side of the cooling unit 2 and the upstream side of the heating unit 4. It is preferable to be configured so that it can be returned to the position, and it is more preferable to be configured so that air with an air volume of 0% to 100% can be returned. In order to return air with 100% air volume, in addition to the air volume adjusting damper 101, a mechanism for adjusting the flow channel area of the supply flow channel 322 is required.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the downstream end of the return flow channel 100 communicates with the downstream position of the filter device 313 in the intake flow channel 312, but the downstream of the return flow channel 100 The end on the side may communicate with a position on the upstream side of the filter device 313 in the intake channel 312. Further, the downstream end of the return flow channel 100 may communicate with a position on the downstream side of the intake port 31. In this case, the air supplied to the upstream side of the cooling unit 2 and the upstream side of the heating unit 4 via the return flow path 100 joins the external air after being taken into the intake port 31. Will come to be.

  Next, the cooling unit 2 and the heating unit 4 will be described. First, the cooling unit 2 will be described. The cooling unit 2 according to the present embodiment includes a cooling coil 14 of the first cooling unit 10 and a cooling coil 24 of the second cooling unit 20 as shown in FIG. ing. In the present embodiment, the first cooling unit 10 including the cooling coil 14 is operated at a variable operating frequency, and the compressor 11, the condenser 12, the expansion valve 13, and the cooling coil 14 that can adjust the rotation speed serve as a heat medium. The second cooling unit 20 including the cooling coil 24 is configured to be circulated so as to be circulated, and the second cooling unit 20 including the cooling coil 24 is operated at a variable operating frequency and can adjust the rotation speed. 22, the expansion valve 23, and the cooling coil 24 are connected by a pipe 25 in this order so as to circulate the heat medium.

  In the first and second cooling units 10 and 20, the compressors 11 and 21 compress the low-temperature and low-pressure gas heat medium flowing out from the cooling coils 14 and 24 to form a high-temperature and high-pressure gas state. The condensers 12 and 22 are supplied. The compressors 11 and 21 are inverter compressors that are operated at a variable operating frequency and whose rotation speed can be adjusted according to the operating frequency. In the compressors 11 and 21, more heat medium is supplied to the condensers 12 and 22 as the operating frequency is higher. As the compressor 11, it is preferable to employ a scroll compressor that integrally includes an inverter and a motor. However, the types of the compressors 11 and 21 are not particularly limited as long as the number of rotations can be adjusted by adjusting the operation frequency by the inverter to adjust the supply amount (flow rate) of the heat medium.

  The condensers 12 and 22 cool the heat medium compressed by the compressors 11 and 21 with cooling water and condense them, and supply them to the expansion valves 13 and 23 as a high-pressure liquid at a predetermined cooling temperature. It is like that. Water may be used for the cooling water of the condensers 12 and 22, or other refrigerants may be used. The expansion valves 13 and 23 are decompressed by expanding the heat medium supplied from the condensers 12 and 22, and are supplied to the cooling coils 14 and 24 in a low-temperature and low-pressure gas-liquid mixed state. ing. The cooling coils 14 and 24 are configured to heat-exchange the supplied heat medium with air to be temperature controlled and cool the air. The heat medium exchanged with air becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure gas state, flows out of the cooling coils 14 and 24, and is compressed again by the compressors 11 and 21.

  In each of the cooling units 10 and 20 as described above, the supply amount of the heat medium supplied to the condensers 12 and 22 can be adjusted by changing the operating frequency of the compressors 11 and 21 and adjusting the rotation speed. At the same time, the opening amount of the expansion valves 13 and 23 can be adjusted, so that the supply amount of the heat medium supplied to the cooling coils 14 and 24 can be adjusted. The refrigeration capacity is variable by such adjustment. In the present embodiment, the compressor 11 of the first cooling unit 10 is operated at a constant frequency for the purpose of improving control stability. When performing such operation, the compressor 11 may be a compressor that operates at a fixed frequency, and in this case, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, the arrangement of the cooling unit 2 will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a part of the air passage 30 extends along the air flow in the air passage 30. A partition member 200 that is divided into two parts is provided, and the partition member 200 divides a part of the air passage 30 into a first passage 30A and a second passage 30B. The cooling unit 2 is provided in the first flow path 30A. Further, a flow rate adjustment damper 201 that adjusts the opening degree of the first flow path 30A and the second flow path 30B is provided at the downstream end of the partition member 200. On the other hand, an upstream temperature sensor 44 is provided in the intake port 31, and the upstream temperature sensor 44 is the temperature of the air after being taken into the intake port 31 that merges with the air from the return flow path 100. Is supposed to be detected. Here, the flow rate adjustment damper 201 in the present embodiment is controlled by the control unit 50 in accordance with the temperature detected by the upstream temperature sensor 44, thereby opening the first flow path 30A and the second flow path 30B. It is possible to adjust.

  Next, the heating unit 4 will be described. The heating unit 4 in the present embodiment branches a part of the heat medium flowing out from the compressor 11 toward the condenser 12 in the first cooling unit 10, and the heating coil 16 and It has a structure for returning to the condenser 12 on the downstream side of the compressor 11 via the heating amount adjusting valve 18 provided on the downstream side.

  Specifically, the heating coil 16 has a heat medium inlet and a heat medium outlet, and the heat medium inlet and the upstream side of the pipe between the compressor 11 and the condenser 12 are connected by other pipes. The heat medium outlet and the downstream side of the pipe between the compressor 11 and the condenser 12 are further connected by another pipe. A heating amount adjusting valve 18 is provided in the pipe extending from the heat medium outlet. Thereby, the heating unit 4 branches a part of the heat medium flowing out from the compressor 11 toward the condenser 12 and returns it to the condenser 12 via the heating coil 16 and the heating amount adjustment valve 18. It is possible.

  In the heating unit 4, a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous heat medium compressed by the compressor 11 is supplied to the heating coil 16. The heating coil 16 heats the air by causing the supplied heat medium to exchange heat with air to be temperature controlled. The heat medium exchanged with air is returned from the heating coil 16 to the pipe between the compressor 11 and the condenser 12. Here, the heating amount adjusting valve 18 can change the heating capacity of the heating coil 16 by adjusting the return amount of the heat medium from the heating coil 16. The heating capacity increases as the return amount of the heat medium increases. The heating capacity of the heating unit 4 can be adjusted according to the operating frequency of the compressor 11 and / or the opening of the heating amount adjustment valve 18.

  Next, operation | movement of the air conditioning apparatus 1 of this Embodiment is demonstrated. In the air conditioning apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the air taken in from the temperature control target inlet 31 is cooled by the cooling unit 2, heated by the heating unit 4, and controlled toward a preset target temperature. Is done.

  When operating the air conditioning apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, first, the target temperature and the target humidity are input in the control unit 50. In addition, when the blower 60 is driven, the air in the air passage 30 flows toward the discharge port 32, whereby the temperature control target air is taken in from the intake 31 of the air passage 30. Further, the compressors 11 and 21 of the cooling units 10 and 20 are also driven. Further, the air volume adjustment damper 101 is opened so that the air having a predetermined ratio with respect to the air volume output from the blower 60 returns from the return flow path 100 to the upstream side of the cooling unit 2 and the upstream side of the heating unit 4. The degree is adjusted.

  When the blower 60 or the like is driven as described above, the air taken in from the intake port 31 of the air flow passage 30 is first detected by the upstream temperature sensor 44 and then the cooling unit 2 (first It passes through the first flow path 30A) and / or the second flow path 30B, and then passes through the heating unit 4. Thereafter, the air is humidified by the humidifier 70 and then discharged from the discharge port 32, part of the air reaches the use area U, and the other part is upstream of the cooling unit 2 and upstream of the heating unit 4. Return to position. Here, the temperature of the air passing through the discharge port 32 is detected by the temperature sensor 41, and the humidity is detected by the humidity sensor 42. The temperature sensor 41 outputs the detected temperature to the control unit 50, and the humidity sensor 42 outputs the detected humidity to the control unit 50.

  Based on the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 41 and the target temperature, the control unit 50 opens the heating amount adjusting valve 18, the opening degree of the expansion valve 13 of the first cooling unit 10, and the second cooling unit. The opening degree of the 20 expansion valves 23 and the operating frequency of the compressor 21 are controlled, and control is performed so that the heating capacity and the refrigerating capacity corresponding to the above differences are output. The control unit 50 also controls the humidification capability of the humidifier 70 based on the difference between the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 42 and the target humidity.

  In such an operation, in the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, a part of the air that has passed through the cooling unit 2 and the heating unit 4 is upstream of the cooling unit 2 and the heating unit 4 by the return flow channel 100. Can be combined with the air before being taken into the intake port 31 of the air passage 30. Thereby, even when the temperature of the external air taken into the intake port 31 greatly fluctuates in accordance with a significant change in the environmental temperature, this external air is air from the return flow path 100 whose temperature is controlled. As a result, the temperature approaches the temperature to be temperature controlled. That is, an effect mitigating effect against the influence of environmental fluctuations is produced. Therefore, it becomes easy to control the external air joined with the air from the return flow path 100 to a desired temperature without abruptly changing the refrigeration capacity or the heating capacity in response to a large fluctuation in the temperature of the external air. .

  The influence mitigation effect (environmental change reduction effect) with respect to the influence of the environmental change of the air conditioner 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of environmental variation conditions, where the horizontal axis represents time, the vertical axis represents temperature, and the temperature variation according to the time of external air (open air) taken in from the intake port 31 is shown. Show. The graph in FIG. 2 shows an environmental condition in which the temperature of the external air at 22 ° C. rises by 1 ° C. (1.0 ° C./5 min) in 5 minutes and becomes 24 ° C. after 10 minutes. 3 to 6 are graphs showing the effect mitigating effect on the influence of the environmental variation condition shown in FIG. 2 according to the air volume of the air (return air) returned by the return flow path 100. In the examples of FIGS. 3 to 6, the external air mixed with the return air is suppressed from changing in temperature due to the influence of environmental fluctuations in the state before flowing into the cooling unit 2 and the heating unit 4 by mixing the return air. Then, when it passes through the cooling unit 2 and the heating unit 4, it is controlled to 23 ° C.

  In FIG. 3, the opening degree of the air volume adjusting damper 101 is adjusted so that the air of 10% of the air volume output from the blower 60 returns to the upstream side of the cooling unit 2 and the upstream side of the heating unit 4. The temperature change of the air to be mixed is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the temperature of the mixed air (mixing air) to be temperature controlled is about 23.9 ° C. at the peak of 10 minutes after the open air temperature reaches 24 ° C. The fluctuation rate of the mixing air temperature is 0.9 ° C. (0.9 ° C./5 min) for 5 minutes.

  In FIG. 4, the opening degree of the air volume adjusting damper 101 is adjusted so that air of 30% of the air volume output from the blower 60 returns to the position upstream of the cooling unit 2 and upstream of the heating unit 4. The temperature change of the air to be mixed is shown in the case of the above (return rate 30%). In FIG. 4, the temperature of the mixed air (mixing air) to be temperature controlled is about 23.7 ° C. at the peak 10 minutes after the open air temperature reaches 24 ° C. The fluctuation rate of the mixing air temperature is 0.7 ° C. (0.7 ° C./5 min) for 5 minutes.

  In FIG. 5, the opening degree of the air volume adjusting damper 101 is adjusted so that the air of 60% of the air volume output from the blower 60 returns to the position upstream of the cooling unit 2 and upstream of the heating unit 4. This shows the temperature change of the air to be mixed in the case of the return (return rate 60%). In FIG. 5, the temperature of the mixed air (mixing air) to be temperature controlled is about 23.4 ° C. at the peak 10 minutes after the open air temperature reaches 24 ° C. The fluctuation rate of the mixing air temperature is 0.4 ° C. (0.4 ° C./5 min) for 5 minutes.

  In FIG. 6, the opening degree of the air volume adjusting damper 101 is adjusted such that 90% of the air volume with respect to the air volume output from the blower 60 returns to the upstream side of the cooling unit 2 and the upstream side of the heating unit 4. This shows the temperature change of the air to be mixed in the case of the return (return rate 90%). In FIG. 6, the temperature of the mixed air (mixing air) to be temperature controlled is about 23.1 ° C. at the peak 10 minutes after the open air temperature reaches 24 ° C. The fluctuation rate of the mixing air temperature is 0.1 ° C. (0.1 ° C./5 min) for 5 minutes.

  As shown in the graphs in FIGS. 3 to 6 described above, in the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, the temperature of the external air taken into the intake 31 greatly fluctuates in accordance with a significant fluctuation in the environmental temperature. Even in this case, the outside air merges with the air from the temperature-controlled return flow path 100 so that the temperature approaches the temperature to be temperature-controlled. Thereby, it becomes easy to control the external air joined with the air from the return flow path 100 to a desired temperature.

  Therefore, according to the air conditioning apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, even when the environmental temperature varies significantly, the air to be temperature controlled can be quickly controlled to a desired temperature in a stable state, In addition, it is possible to prevent the entire apparatus from being undesirably increased in size and unnecessarily increasing the energy for operation while ensuring such suitable control performance.

  Moreover, according to the air conditioning apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the return flow path 100 is set while the air volume of the blower 60 is set to a certain value by adjusting the air volume returned to the upstream side by the return flow path 100. Therefore, it is possible to change the air volume of the air discharged from the discharge port 32 to the temperature control target space (use area U) without returning. For this reason, if the air conditioner 1 ensures reliability of temperature control when the air volume of the blower 60 is set to a certain value, the air volume of air discharged from the discharge port 32 to the temperature control target space is required. Even in the case of changing to various patterns accordingly, the reliability of temperature control can be ensured in each pattern. As a result, the air conditioner 1 can be quickly set to a state in which a suitable control performance can be ensured according to the required air volume, so that the air conditioner 1 can be effectively used both before and after shipment. It can also be used.

  In the return channel 100, an air volume adjusting damper 101 for adjusting the air volume of the air flowing through the return channel 100 is provided. Thus, by adjusting the air volume adjusting damper 101, it is possible to flexibly set a suitable return amount of air from the return flow path 100 in accordance with the assumed fluctuation of the environmental temperature. It is possible to achieve a balance between the stability of control and efficient operation. For example, when the temperature of the external air taken into the intake port 31 has changed significantly, the larger the return amount of the air from the return channel 100, the more the external air taken in depends on the temperature to be temperature controlled. Get closer. Therefore, when it is assumed that the temperature of the external air changes greatly, the air flow adjustment damper 101 is adjusted to increase the return amount of the air from the return flow path 100, so that the variation in the environmental temperature can be prevented. Settings that improve control stability can be made. When the temperature of the external air is not expected to change greatly, the temperature control is performed from the discharge port 32 by adjusting the air volume adjusting damper 101 to reduce the return amount of the air from the return flow path 100. Settings for efficiently supplying air to the target space can be made.

  The blower 60 can change the air volume. Thereby, the air volume of the blower 60 can be changed, and the air volume of the air flowing through the return flow path 100 can be adjusted by the air volume adjusting damper 101, so that the temperature control target space can be set from the discharge port 32 required by the user. It is possible to flexibly set the return amount of air from the return flow path 100 while ensuring the air volume of the air. Thereby, the application range of the air conditioning apparatus 1 can be expanded, and usability can be improved extremely.

  An intake passage 312 for allowing external air to flow is connected to the intake 31, and a filter device 313 is provided in the intake passage 312. The return flow channel 100 communicates with a position on the downstream side of the filter device 313 in the intake flow channel 312. As a result, air from the return flow channel 100 is supplied into the intake flow channel 312 without being subjected to pressure loss that occurs when passing through the filter device 313, so that it can be smoothly combined with external air that has passed through the filter device 313. It is possible to improve the stability of temperature control by merging and suppressing fluctuations in the output of the blower 60. Moreover, since the air from the return flow path 100 has already passed through the filter device 313, the problem of contamination does not occur.

  In addition, a partition member 200 that divides a part of the air passage 30 into two is provided in the air passage 30, and a part of the air passage 30 is separated from the first passage 30 </ b> A and the second passage by the partition member 200. The cooling section 2 is provided in the first flow path 30A. Further, a flow rate adjustment damper 201 that adjusts the opening degree of the first flow path 30A and the second flow path 30B is provided. Further, the temperature of the air after being taken into the intake port 31 that has joined with the air from the return flow path 100 is detected by the upstream temperature sensor 44, and the flow control damper 201 is connected to the upstream side. By controlling according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 44, the opening degree of the first flow path 30A and the second flow path 30B is adjusted. Thereby, according to the temperature of the air after being taken in into the intake 31 which joined the air from the return flow path 100, the refrigerating capacity given to the air after joining can be adjusted, It can be efficiently controlled to a desired temperature.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an air conditioner 1 ′ according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Of the components in the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the air conditioning apparatus 1 'according to the second embodiment, the second cooling unit 20 described in the first embodiment is not provided. In this air conditioner 1 ′, the refrigeration capacity is flexibly adjusted by adjusting the frequency of the compressor 11 and the opening of the expansion valve 13 in the first cooling unit 10. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  Even with such an air conditioner 1 ′ according to the second embodiment, when the environmental temperature fluctuates significantly, the air to be temperature controlled can be quickly controlled to a desired temperature in a stable state. And while ensuring such suitable control performance, it can suppress that the whole apparatus undesirably enlarges or energy for operation increases undesirably.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the number of the cooling units 2 and the heating units 4 is not limited to the aspect of each embodiment described above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1 '... Air conditioning apparatus 2 ... Cooling part 4 ... Heating part 10 ... 1st cooling unit 20 ... 2nd cooling unit 30 ... Air flow path 30A ... 1st flow path 30B ... 2nd flow path 31 ... Take-in Port 32 ... Discharge port 41 ... Temperature sensor 42 ... Humidity sensor 44 ... Upstream temperature sensor 50 ... Control unit 60 ... Blower 100 ... Return flow path 101 ... Damper 200 for air volume adjustment ... Partition member 312 ... Intake flow path 313 ... Filter Device 322 ... Supply channel

Claims (5)

An air passage having an intake port for taking in external air and a discharge port for discharging air taken in from the intake port;
A blower that allows air to flow from the intake port toward the discharge port;
A cooling unit that is housed in the air flow path and cools the air taken in from the intake port with a variable refrigeration capacity;
A heating unit that is housed in the air flow path and heats the air taken in from the intake port with a variable heating capacity;
A return flow path extending from a position downstream of the cooling unit and downstream of the heating unit to a position upstream of the cooling unit and upstream of the heating unit,
Air supplied to a position upstream of the cooling unit and upstream of the heating unit via the return flow path is taken into the external air before being taken into the intake port or the intake port. is adapted to be joined to the outside of the air after,
A partition member that divides a part of the air passage is divided into two in the air passage,
A part of the air flow path is partitioned into a first flow path and a second flow path by the partition member,
The cooling section is provided in the first flow path;
A flow rate adjusting damper for adjusting an opening degree of the first flow path and the second flow path is provided;
The temperature of the air before being taken into the intake port merged with the air from the return flow path or the air after being taken into the intake port is to be detected by an upstream temperature sensor,
The air conditioner is characterized in that the flow rate adjustment damper is controlled according to the temperature detected by the upstream temperature sensor to adjust the opening degree of the first flow path and the second flow path. .   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein an air volume adjusting damper that adjusts an air volume of air flowing through the return flow path is provided in the return flow path.   The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the air volume adjusting damper is capable of adjusting an air volume of air flowing through the return flow path manually and automatically.   The air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the blower is capable of changing an air volume. An intake passage for allowing external air to flow is connected to the intake port,
The intake passage is provided with a filter device,
The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the return flow path communicates with a position on the downstream side of the filter device in the intake flow path.

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