WO2011161043A1

WO2011161043A1 - Room air conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2011161043A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/060202
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Heule; Alexandr Sologubenko
Original assignee: Mentus Holding Ag
Priority date: 2010-06-21
Filing date: 2011-06-20
Publication date: 2011-12-29
Also published as: TW201209353A; CH703356A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a room air conditioner (1) comprising a housing (2) having a front panel (3) and having ventilation slits (4, 5). Heat pump modules (6 -13) are disposed in the interior of the housing (2), comprising a chamber (16), a first thermoelectric module (17), and fins (18), wherein the first thermoelectric module (17) is disposed between the chamber (16) and the fins (18). A piping system connects the chambers (16) of the heat pump modules (6 -13) to an inlet (21) and an outlet (22) that can be connected to an external circuit carrying a heat transfer fluid. The room air conditioner (1) further comprises means for generating a forced air flow, in order to draw in air, transport the air past the fins (18), and blow out the air. At least one of the heat pump modules (6 - 13) comprises a second thermoelectric module (19) disposed on the side of the chamber (16) opposite the first thermoelectric module (17) and in good thermal contact with the front panel (3) of the housing (2).

Description

Room air conditioner

Technical area

The invention relates to a room air conditioner. Such room air conditioners are suitable for controlling the temperature and humidity in a room. Background of the Invention

A room air conditioner is known from patent US 3252504. The room air conditioner includes a thermoelectric heat pump module connected to an external circuit in which a heat transfer fluid circulates. The

Fluid may be heated by a central boiler or cooled by a cooling tower or cooled or heated by a heat exchanger. Further such room air conditioners are known from DE 1817077 and FR 2460449.

From the patent US 6393842 a mobile room air conditioner with thermoelectric heat pump modules is known, which also allows dehumidification of the room air in addition to cooling and heating. Brief description of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a room air conditioner that allows efficient heating, cooling and dehumidification of the room air.

An inventive room air conditioner comprises

- a housing with a front panel and with ventilation slots,

heat pump modules arranged inside the housing and having a chamber, a first thermoelectric module and fins, the first thermoelectric module being arranged between the chamber and the fins,

a conduit system connecting the chambers of the heat pump modules to an inlet and an outlet connectable to an external circuit carrying a heat transfer fluid,

- Means for generating a forced air flow to suck air to the

Pass slats and blow them out again, and

- a control unit that controls the heat pump modules.

At least one of the heat pump modules has a second thermoelectric module disposed on the opposite side of the chamber from the first thermoelectric module and in good thermal contact with the front panel of the housing. The second thermoelectric modules can be used as needed to heat the front panel so that the front panel emits radiant heat to the room. The

Heat pump modules are preferably individually or in groups in different

Operating modes operable. The order of flow of the fluid through the heat pump modules is preferably variable.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment and with reference to the drawing. The figures are not drawn to scale.

Description of the figures

Fig. 1 shows schematically in perspective view an inventive

Room air conditioner, and

Fig. 2 shows schematically a section through the room air conditioner.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 shows schematically in perspective view an inventive

Room air conditioner 1. The room air conditioner 1 has a housing 2 with a front panel 3, which is provided in the upper and in the lower area with ventilation slots 4 and 5 respectively. The suction and blowing out of air in this example is from / down / up. The vents 4 and / or 5 can also be on the front panel 3, so that the suction and

Blowing air from / to the front is possible. Inside the housing 2, a plurality of thermoelectrically operating heat pump modules 6 to 13 are arranged. In this

Embodiment, eight heat pump modules are present, which are arranged in two vertically superimposed rows 14 and 15. 2 shows a section through the room air conditioner 1, which corresponds to a plan view of the heat pump modules 10 to 13. The heat pump modules 6 to 13 comprise a chamber 16 through which a fluid can flow, a first thermoelectric module 17 with lamellae 18. The term "lamellae" also includes ribs.The first thermoelectric module 17 is arranged between the chamber 16 and the lamellae 18 and with One or more of the heat pump modules, in the example the two heat pump modules 10 and 13, additionally comprise a second thermoelectric module 19, which is arranged on the side of the chamber 16 opposite the first thermoelectric module 17 and with the front plate 3 of the housing 2 is in good thermal contact, for example, as shown by a flat Connection. (For the sake of clarity of drawing, the reference numerals 16 to 19 are registered only for the heat pump module 13). The chambers 16 of the heat pump modules 6 to 13 are connected via a line system 20 (shown only in FIG. 2) to an inlet 21 and an outlet 22 for connection to an external circuit in which a heat transfer fluid, for example water, circulates. The chambers 16 of the heat pump modules 6 to 13 may be fluidly arranged serially, in parallel or in a combination thereof, wherein the order of flow of the

Fluid through the heat pump modules 6 to 13 is advantageously changed by means of valves. The room air conditioner 1 further has an unillustrated means for generating a forced air flow, which sucks the air at the arranged in the lower region of the housing 2 ventilation slots 4, past the fins 18 and blown over the arranged in the upper region ventilation slots 5. This means includes, for example, a fan or a fan and air ducts or

Air ducts. Below the slats 18 drip trays are arranged to catch the accumulating condensate in operation and perform a drain.

Each thermoelectric module 17, 19 consists of at least one Peltier element or comprises at least one Peltier element and has two opposite outer sides, of which the one outer side cooled and the other outer side is heated when an electrical voltage is applied to the at least one Peltier element. The one outer side can thus be referred to as a cold side, the other outside as a warm side. Which of the two outer sides is the cold side and which is the hot side depends on the polarity of the voltage or the direction of the current flowing in the Peltier element.

The room air conditioner 1 further comprises a control unit 23 and sensors, for example sensors for measuring the temperature, humidity and / or dew point of the air, whose measured values are used for the control of the heat pump modules 6 to 13. The

Control unit 23 preferably comprises a control panel arranged on the room air conditioner and / or can be operated via a remote control. For example, the control panel has a built-in display so that the temperature and / or humidity can be displayed. The control unit 23 determines from the measured values supplied by the sensors and from the room climate values entered by a user via the control panel or the remote control or already preset at the factory and the actual temperature which the fluid at the inlet 21 has, that for the optimum Operation necessary control commands for the heat pump modules 6 to 13. The control unit 23 can also be set up to determine from the room climate values to be attained a setpoint temperature which the fluid at the inlet 21 should have, and to transmit this setpoint temperature to a heating device and / or cooling device arranged in the external circuit Fluid heats or cools to the desired temperature. It should be noted that in a house several such room air conditioners 1 may be present, which request a different target temperature, which is why the prevailing at the inlet 21 actual temperature of the fluid does not necessarily correspond to the required target temperature.

The line system 20 of the room air conditioner 1 may, as already mentioned, include valves with which the inflow of the fluid to the individual heat pump modules 6 to 13 and / or grouped heat pump modules 6 to 13 interrupted or changed as needed and thus the flow can be prevented or changed can. The heat pump modules 6 to 13 are preferably individually or in groups controllable.

Each of the heat pump modules 6 to 13 enables three basic modes of operation, namely heating, cooling, and cooling and dehumidifying, which are explained below:

1. heating

In the heating mode, the polarity of the voltage applied to the Peltier elements voltage is chosen so that the side facing the chamber 16 of the thermoelectric module 17 is cooled by the current flowing through the Peltier elements and thus forms the cold side, while the fins 18 facing side of the thermoelectric module 17 is heated and thus forms the warm side. The fluid flowing through the chamber 16 is thus cooled while the air flowing past the fins 18 is heated. These

Operating mode is clarified again below:

- The fluid has at the inlet 21 of the room air conditioner 1 to a temperature T _A at the outlet and a temperature T _off, where T _A> T _Off.

The fluid supplies heat to the cold side of the Peltier elements. The temperature of the cold side of the Peltier elements is called Tkait.

- The Peltier elements supplied electrical energy causes by pumping

Thermal energy from the cold side to the warm side warming of the hot side to the temperature T _warm , where T is _warm > Tkait.

The temperatures are typically in the range of

T _A = 24 ° C to 45 ° C _From T = T _A - ΔΤι with ΔΤι = 1 ° C to 5 ° C

Twarm = T _cold + ΔΤ ₂ ~ T _A + ΔΤ ₂ with ΔΤ ₂ = 0 ° C to 60 ° C,

Of course, other temperature ranges are possible.

One or more of the heat pump modules, in the example the heat pump modules 10 and 13, additionally have the second thermoelectric module 19, which is thermally well connected to the front panel 3 of the housing 2. The polarity of the voltage applied to the Peltier elements of the second thermoelectric module 19 voltage is selected in the heating mode so that the chamber 16 facing side of the thermoelectric module 19 is cooled and thus forms the cold side, while the front panel 3 of the housing 2 facing side is heated and forms the warm side, so that the front panel 3 emits radiant heat to the room. In order to achieve the largest possible radiating surface, the front plate 3 ideally has a good thermal conductivity.

2. cooling

In the cooling mode, the polarity of the voltage applied to the Peltier elements is reversed from the polarity in the heating mode, i. chosen so that the chamber 16 facing side of the thermoelectric module 17 is heated by the current flowing through the Peltier elements and thus forms the hot side, while the fins 18 facing side of the thermoelectric module 17 is cooled and thus forms the cold side. The flowing through the chamber 16 fluid is thus heated, while at the

Slats 18 passing air is cooled.

This operating mode is clarified again below:

- The fluid has at the inlet 21 of the room air conditioner 1, in turn, has a temperature T _A at the outlet and a temperature T _off, wherein T _off> T _A.

The fluid removes heat from the warm side of the Peltier elements,

- The Peltier elements supplied electrical energy causes by pumping

Thermal energy from the cold side to the hot side cooling the cold side to the temperature T _kidt , where T _kidt <T is _warm .

The temperatures are typically in the range of

T _A = 15 ° C to 25 ° C,

_From T = T _A + ΔΤι with ΔΤι = 1 ° C to 10 ° C,

_Ka i T _t = T _hot - T _A ~ ₂ ΔΤ - ΔΤ ₂ ΔΤ ₂ = 0 ° C to 25 ° C,

Of course, other temperature ranges are possible. The by the Ventilation slots 4 sucked air is cooled when passing on the fins 18, for example, 22 °. The heat withdrawn from the air and the electrical operating energy supplied to the Peltier elements is removed from the room air conditioner 1 by the fluid. Upon cooling, the relative humidity of the air increases. When the temperature of the air reaches its dew point when it flows past the fins 18, condensed water forms. In this case, the room air is both cooled and dehumidified, resulting in the next mode.

The second thermoelectric modules 19 of the two heat pump modules 10 and 13 are either switched off or they are operated such that the chamber 16 side facing the hot side and the front panel 3 of the housing 2 side facing the cold side, so the front panel 3 of the housing 2 to cool. The remains

Surface temperature of the front panel 3 ideally but above the dew point of the air to be cooled. 3. Cooling and dehumidifying

In this mode of operation, the polarity of the voltage applied to the Peltier elements is chosen to be the same as in the "cooling" mode and the fluid is used to dissipate heat from the room air conditioner 1. However, the voltage applied to the Peltier elements is chosen to be the cold side of the Peltier element and thus the fins 18 are cooled to a temperature below the dew point of the air, so that to the

Fins 18 forms condensation. In this process, the air is therefore both cooled and dehumidified.

The control unit of the room air conditioner 1 is set up, on the one hand, to operate all the heat pump modules 6 to 13 simultaneously in one of the above operating modes in order to either heat, cool or cool the room and dehumidify the room. The control unit of the

Room air conditioner 1, on the other hand, can be set up to operate the heat pump modules 6 to 13 in different operating modes as needed in order to control the extent of dehumidification and cooling of the air leaving the room air conditioner. This leads to the following additional operating mode of the room air conditioner 1: 4. Dehumidify with reheating

In this mode of operation, at least some of those in the lower row 14 are arranged Heat pump modules 6 to 9 operated in the operating mode "cooling and dehumidifying" and at least the upper row 15 directly above heat pump modules are operated in heating mode to reheat the cooled and dehumidified air, but only to the extent that the temperature of the room discharged air is about equal to the temperature of the air sucked in by the room.

In addition, the second thermoelectric modules 19 of the two heat pump modules 10 and 13 can be used to heat the front panel 3 of the housing 2 so that the front panel 3 emits radiant heat.

In these modes of operation, however, it may be advantageous to first direct the fluid through the heat pump modules operating in one mode of operation and then through the heat pump modules operating in the other mode of operation, the order depending on whether the fluid as a whole supplies heat or Heat should dissipate, ie whether the desired temperature of the fluid at the inlet 21 is greater or less than its desired temperature at the outlet 22.

The numerical values for the temperatures and temperature differences given in the various operating modes are only to be understood as examples and not in a limiting manner.

Claims

1. room air conditioner (1), comprising a housing (2) with a front plate (3) and with ventilation slots (4, 5), inside the housing (2) arranged heat pump modules (6-13) having a chamber (16) , a first thermoelectric module (17) and fins (18), wherein the first thermoelectric module (17) between the chamber (16) and the fins (18) is arranged, a line system, the chambers (16) of the heat pump modules ( 6 - 13) with an inlet s (21) and an outlet s (22) connects, which are connectable to an external, a heat transfer fluid leading circuit,

Means for generating a forced air flow to suck in air, past the lamellae (18) and blow it out again, characterized in that at least one of the heat pump modules (6-13) has a second thermoelectric module (19) on the first thermoelectric Module (17) opposite side of the chamber (16) and with the front plate (3) of the housing (2) is in good thermal contact, and that the room air conditioner further comprises a control unit (23), the heat pump modules (6-13) controls.

2. Room air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Heat pump modules (6 - 13) can be operated individually or in groups in different operating modes.

3. room air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the order of flow of the fluid through the heat pump modules (6 - 13) is variable.