Air-Conditioning System

The present invention relates to a system for air-conditioning a plurality of rooms in a building.

To realize an energy-saving and comfortable life of a housing, high airtight and high heat-insulation are increasingly required. As optical air-conditioning for such a high airtight and heat-insulation housing, there is an entire air-conditioning system for sending air conditioned by an air-conditioning machine to an entire house.

As an air-conditioning system of this kind, there is conventionally known a system in which an air-conditioning room having an air-conditioning machine is provided in a building, conditioned air is created therein, and the air is sent to each of the rooms. However, when there is no space for providing the air-conditioning room in the building or when it is unnecessary to air-condition most of the rooms in the building, such a system is not employed, and the air-conditioning machine is provided only in a room where air-conditioning is required in many cases. However, this system has many problems, such as a problem of uncomfortableness caused by temperature difference between rooms, a problem of power consumption caused by operating a plurality of air-conditioning machines, a problem of a located space of a plurality of air-conditioning machines.

Also in a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed, to realize a comfortable living space, a plurality of patent documents disclose simple air-conditioning systems for sending air of a room where the air-conditioning machine is placed to a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed.

In one of the air-conditioning systems, a suction port provided in a ceiling of a room where an air-conditioning machine is placed and an air supply port provided in a floor of a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed are connected to each other through a duct, an air blower and a damper, and a suction port provided in a floor of the room where the air-conditioning machine is placed and an air supply port provided in a ceiling of the room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed are connected to each other through the duct, the air blower and the damper. This air-conditioning system has an air-conditioning function for indirectly heating the room where the air-conditioning machine is placed by transferring air in the vicinity of the ceiling heated by the air-conditioning machine in a habitable room in the housing to a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed such as a washroom, and by blowing out the air from the floor, and an air-conditioning function for indirectly cooling the room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed by transferring air in the vicinity of the floor cooled by the air-conditioning machine in the habitable room in the housing to a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed such as the washroom and by blowing out the air from the ceiling (see patent document 1 for example).

Another air-conditioning system includes a first habitable room, a second habitable room, a circulation wind passage for circulating air, and an air blower for the circulation wind passage, and this air-conditioning system can send conditioned air in the first habitable room to the second habitable room through the circulation wind passage, and can send air in the second habitable room to the first habitable room through the circulation wind passage (see patent document 2 for example).

In yet another air-conditioning system, an air-conditioning machine and an air blower having an air cleaning section are placed in one of rooms in a building, conditioned air is sucked by the air blower to clean to the air, the air is sent out to a pipe portion together with outside air which exchanges heat with indoor air by a heat exchanging device, the conditioned air is introduced to each of the rooms by the pipe portion, and air quality environment in the respective rooms can be adjusted (see patent document 3 for example).

According to the air-conditioning system described in patent document 1, in a general housing, relatively warm air is sucked from a suction port of a ceiling in the habitable room where the air-conditioning machine is placed at the time of heating operation, relatively cool air is sucked from the suction section of the floor at the time of cooling operation, the air is transferred to a wash room or the like where the air-conditioning machine is not placed, and the room can indirectly be warmed or cooled. However, a purpose of this air-conditioning system is to warm or cool the bathroom or the like where the air-conditioning machine is not placed while suppressing power consumption of the air blower by utilizing a difference in density caused by temperature of air. However, temperatures in the rooms where the air-conditioning machines are placed are not uniform due to shapes and sizes of the rooms where the air-conditioning machines are placed, a positional relation between the air-conditioning machine and the suction port connected to the air blower through a duct, an operation state such as a blowing direction of the air-conditioning machine, and blast volume of the air blower, and the ununiform air is transferred. Therefore, temperatures in the rooms where the air-conditioning machines are not placed are not also uniform, and the rooms are not warmed or cooled. For example, a room where the air-conditioning machine is placed is too hot and a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed is cold in winter, and a room where the air-conditioning machine is placed is too cold and a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed is hot in summer, and there is a possibility that any of the rooms become uncomfortable, there is a problem that temperatures in the respective rooms is left to nature. Further, if the temperature is forced to be brought close to set temperature, operations of the air-conditioning machine and the air blower become non-efficient, and there is a possibility that power consumption becomes large as a result. Further, when means for returning from a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed to a room where the air-conditioning machine is placed is unclear and there is no returning wind passage, and when a door is closed, wind volume which is transferred to the room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed becomes insufficient, and power consumption and noise of the air blower are only increased and there is a problem that the room is not warmed or cooled.

According to the air-conditioning system described in patent document 2, it is possible to indirectly warm or cool a room where an air-conditioning machine is not placed, but there is a possibility like patent document 1 that temperatures of any of the rooms become ununiform and uncomfortable because installation places and positional relation of the air-conditioning machine, the air blower, a blowout port and a suction port are unclear. Even if wind volume of the air blower is increased, a temperature difference between temperature of the room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed and set temperature of the air-conditioning machine is large and for example, there is a possibility that a room where the air-conditioning machine is placed is too hot and a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed is cold in winter, and a room where the air-conditioning machine is placed is too cold and a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed is hot in summer, and if temperature in the room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed is forced to be brought close to set temperature, there is a problem that power consumption becomes large.

In the air-conditioning system described in patent document 3, although air quality environment of each room can be adjusted, there is a problem that air quality of the room becomes ununiform and uncomfortable and the power consumption is increased like patent documents 1 and 2. There is also a problem that means for returning from each room to the air-conditioning machine and wind passages of the respective air cleaning sections are unclear, wind volume transferred of another room is insufficient and air cleaning is insufficient. Further, there is also a problem that transferring means of heat-exchanged outside air to each room is unclear, and outside air introducing amount to each room is insufficient.

The present invention has been accomplished to solve such conventional problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide an energy-saving air-conditioning system which can adjust also temperature of a room where an air-conditioning machine is not placed with a system of a relatively config8uration in a high airtight and high heat insulation building, can clean air at the same time, can reliably reduce powder dust amount of a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed, and can reliably reduce COdensity by carrying out heat exchange and ventilation, and can improve air quality.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an air-conditioning system wherein an air-conditioning machine and a suction port C are provided in a space A in a high airtight and high heat insulative building, a blowout port is provided in a space B, a return air section forming a return air wind passage leading from the space B to the space A is provided between the space A and the space B, the suction port C, an air blower and the blowout port are connected to one another through an air-supply wind passage, air sucked by the suction port C is brown out from the blowout port by the air blower, the suction port C is provided below the air-conditioning machine, temperature and wind volume of a blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine are adjusted by setting of room temperature of the space A, and an operation mode, set temperature and wind volume of the air-conditioning machine, an angle of the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine is adjusted by setting of a wind direction louver of the air-conditioning machine, and blast volume of the air blower is adjusted, thereby making it possible to adjust temperature of the air sucked by the suction port C within 20K at time of heating operation and within 10K at time of cooling operation with respect to the room temperature of the space A. According to this means, temperature and wind volume of a blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine are stabilized, and it is possible to set an angle of the blowout air current and blast volume of the air blower, adjust temperature of air which is sucked through the suction port C, and adjust temperature in the space B to which the air is transferred.

At that time, to make it possible to adjust the temperature of air sucked through the suction port C within 20K at the time of the heating operation and within 10K at the time of the cooling operation with respect to room temperature of the space A, the suction port C which adjusts the angle of the wind direction louver is provided below the air-conditioning machine so that more blowout air current flows into the suction port C. Therefore, even if the wind direction louver does not lead to the direction of the suction port C at the time of the cooling operation, the wind direction louver leads to the lower suction port C by density of air, and if the wind direction louver leads to the direction of the suction port C, more blowout air current can be sucked into the suction port C more efficiently. However, since the wind direction louver leads upward by the density of air at the time of the heating operation, the wind direction louver vertically leads downward, the wind direction louver leads to the direction of the suction port C, the wind volume is strong, and more blowout air current flows into the suction port C.

For example, when it is desired to heat/cool the space B quickly, since the space A is not air-conditioned, the room temperature is low/high, set temperature of the air-conditioning machine is normal, the wind volume is set to a strong/medium level, heating/cooling operation is carried out, the blast volume of the air blower is strong, and the direction of the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine is set to a direction of the suction port C which is provided below the air-conditioning machine. According to this, wind speed of the blowout air current is reduced in the vicinity of the suction port C, more blowout air current is sucked into the suction port C, the temperature of the air becomes higher by about 20K at the time of the heating operation and becomes lower by about 10K at the time of the cooling operation and thus, the room temperature of the space B rises/lowers quickly.

When it is desired to heat/cool the space B also while heating/cooling the space A, since the space A is air-conditioned, room temperature of the space A is stabilized at the set temperature, temperature of the air-conditioning machine is slightly higher/lower than the set temperature, wind volume is medium/medium, heating/cooling operation is carried out, blast volume of the air blower is strong, and a direction of the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine is set to a direction of the suction port C which is provided below the air-conditioning machine. According to this, wind speed of the blowout air current is reduced in the vicinity of the suction port C, more blowout air current is sucked into the suction port C, the temperature of the air is higher by about 20K at the time of the heating operation and lower by about 10K at the time of the cooling operation with respect to the room temperature of the space A, but the wind volume of the air-conditioning machine is small. Therefore, variation in the room temperature of the space A is small, and room temperature of the space B rises/lowers.

Further, when the space A is heated/cooled and the heating/cooling operation of the space B may be left to nature, the space A is air-conditioned, the room temperature is stabilized at the set temperature, the set temperature of the air-conditioning machine is high/low, the wind volume is a medium/weak level, the heating/cooling operation is carried out, the blast volume of the air blower is medium, a direction of the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine leads downward at the time of the heating operation and leading horizontally at the time of the cooling operation for comfortableness of the space A. According to this, air at the room temperature of the space A is sucked instead of blowout air current into the suction port C. Therefore, temperature of the air comes close to zero K at the time of the heating operation and close to zero at the time of the cooling operation with respect to the ROOM TEMPERATURE of the space A. Hence, the room temperature of the space A is not varied almost at all, and the room temperature of the space B slightly rises/lowers is left to nature.

When only the space A is heated/cooled and the space B is not heated/cooled, the air blower may be stopped.

In any of the spaces, as described above, its temperature can be adjusted and can be comfortable depending upon one's preference, and the air-conditioning machine and the air blower are operated efficiently. Therefore, an air-conditioning system having small power consumption can be obtained as a result.

Further, means for returning from a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed to a room where the air-conditioning machine is placed is clear, even if the door is closed, blast volume of the air blower is stable, temperature of the sucked air of the air-conditioning machine is stable, and the temperature of the blowout air current is also stable. Therefore, power consumption and noise of the air blower are not increased, and it is possible to obtain an air-conditioning system which reliably heats/cools.

According to another means, the air-conditioning system further includes an electric dust collecting section or an HEPA filter for cleaning the air sucked by the suction port C, and the electric dust collecting section or the HEPA filter can be taken out from front of the suction port C.

According to this means, concerning not only the above-described adjustment of temperature but also air cleaning such as removal of powder dust, the air blower is operated, air in the space A is transferred to the space B, and the air is circulated through a return air passage. Therefore, air in the spaces A and B can be cleaned, and air quality can be improved.

Further, since the suction port C is provided below the air-conditioning machine, it is easy to suck the powder dust which is accumulated unevenly in a lower portion of the space A, and suction efficiency of the suction port C is also enhanced by directing the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine downward and by slightly bringing powder dust upward.

Further, since the electric dust collecting section or the HEPA filter can be taken out from front of the suction port C located below the air-conditioning machine, it is possible to easily carry out periodical maintenance without providing an inspection port or without using a ladder.

Another means provides an air-conditioning system wherein an air-conditioning machine, a suction port D and a suction port E are provided in a space A in a high airtight and heat insulative building, a blowout port is provided in a space B, a return air section for forming a return air wind passage leading from the space B to the space A is provided between the space A and the space B, the suction port D, the suction port E, an air blower and the blowout port are connected to one another through a duct to form an air-supply wind passage, air sucked by the suction port D and the suction port E is blown out from the blowout port by the air blower, the suction port D is provided below the air-conditioning machine, the suction port E is provided above the air-conditioning machine, dampers capable of adjusting respectively amounts of the airs sucked by the suction port D and the suction port E are provided, temperature and wind volume of a blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine are adjusted by setting of room temperature of the space A, and an operation mode, set temperature and wind volume of the air-conditioning machine, an angle of the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine is adjusted by setting of a wind direction louver of the air-conditioning machine, blast volume of the air blower is adjusted, and the dampers respectively adjust the amounts of the airs sucked by the suction port D and the suction port E, thereby making it possible to adjust temperature of the airs sucked by the suction port D and the suction port E within 20K at time of heating operation and within 10K at time of cooling operation with respect to the room temperature of the space A.

According to this means, temperature and wind volume of the blowout air current if the air-conditioning machine are stabilized, it is possible to set the angle of the blowout air current and the blast volume of the air blower, adjust amounts of air sucked by the suction port D and the suction port E, respectively, adjust temperature of air sucked by the suction port D and the suction port E, and adjust temperature of the space B to which the air is transferred.

At that time, the temperature of air sucked by the suction port D and the suction port E can be adjusted within 20K at the time of the heating operation and within 10K at the time of the cooling operation with respect to the room temperature of the space A. Therefore, the damper is adjusted and the angle of the wind direction louver is adjusted such that, much blowout air current flows into the suction port D and the suction port E. At the time of the cooling operation, the amount of air sucked from the suction port D is set to 100%, the amount of air sucked from the suction port E is set to 0%, and the suction port D is provided below the air-conditioning machine. Therefore, even if the wind direction louver does not lead to the direction of the suction port D at the time of the cooling operation, the wind direction louver leads to the suction port D located at a low position due to density of the air. Thus, if the wind direction louver leads to the direction of the suction port D, much blowout air current can be sucked into the suction port D more efficiently. At the time of the heating operation, the amount of air sucked from the suction port D is set to 0%, the amount of air sucked from the suction port E is set to 100%, and the suction port E is provided above the air-conditioning machine. Therefore, even if the wind direction louver does not lead to the direction of the suction port E at the time of the heating operation, since the wind direction louver leads to the suction port E located at a high position due to density of the air, if the wind direction louver leads to the direction of the suction port E, much blowout air current can be sucked into the suction port E more efficiently.

For example, when it is desired to heat the space B quickly, since the space A is not yet air-conditioned, the room temperature is low, the set temperature of the air-conditioning machine is normal, the wind volume is strong, the heating operation is carried out, the blast volume of the air blower is strong, the amount of air sucked from the suction port D is set to 0%, the amount of air sucked from the suction port E is set to 100%, and the direction of the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine is set to the direction of the suction port E which is provided above the air-conditioning machine. According to this, the wind speed of the blowout air current is reduced in the vicinity of the suction port E, much blowout air current is sucked into the suction port E, and the temperature becomes higher by about 20K at the time of the heating operation with respect to the room temperature of the space A. Therefore, the room temperature of the space B rises quickly.

When it is desired to carry out the heating operation also in the space B while carrying out the heating operation in the space A, since the space A is air-conditioned, the room temperature is stable at the set temperature, the temperature of the air-conditioning machine is slightly higher than the set temperature, the wind volume is medium and the heating operation is carried out, the blast volume of the air blower is strong, the amount of air sucked from the suction port D is set to 0%, the amount of air sucked from the suction port E is set to 100%, and the direction of the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine is set to the direction of the suction port E which is provided above the air-conditioning machine. According to this, the wind speed of the blowout air current is reduced in the vicinity of the suction port E, much blowout air current is sucked into the suction port E, and the temperature becomes higher by about 20K at the time of the heating operation with respect to the room temperature of the space A, but since the wind volume of the air-conditioning machine is small, variation of the room temperature of the space A is small, and the room temperature of the space B rises.

Further, when the space A is heated and the space B may be heated depending upon nature, the space A is air-conditioned, the room temperature is stable at the set temperature, the set temperature of the air-conditioning machine is high, the wind volume is medium, the blast volume of the air blower is medium, the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine leads downward for comfortableness of the space A, the amount of air sucked from the suction port D is 50% and the amount of air sucked from the suction port E is 50%. According to this, a temperature difference in the space A can be reduced by sucking the air which rises due to density of the air from the suction port D.

When the space A is cooled and the space B may be cooled depending upon nature, the space A is air-conditioned, the room temperature is stable at the set temperature, the set temperature of the air-conditioning machine is low, the wind volume is weak, the blast volume of the air blower is medium, the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine leads upward for comfortableness of the space A, the amount of air sucked from the suction port D is set to 50%, and the amount of air sucked from the suction port E is set to 50%. According to this, the temperature difference in the space A can be reduced by sucking the air which lowers due to density of the air from the suction port E.

When only the space A is heated/cooled and the space B is not heated/cooled, the air blower may be stopped.

In this manner, the temperatures in any of the spaces can be adjusted depending upon one's preference, the temperature difference in the space A can be reduced, the comfortableness can be enhanced, and the air-conditioning machine and the air blower can be operated more efficiently by utilizing the rising current caused by density of air at the time of the heating operation and the lowering current caused by density of air at the time of the cooling operation. Therefore, an air-conditioning system having small power consumption can be obtained as a result. Further, since means for returning from a room where the air-conditioning machine is not placed to a room where the air-conditioning machine is placed is clear, even if the door is closed, blast volume of the air blower is stable, temperature of sucked air of the air-conditioning machine is also stable and temperature of the blowout air current is also stable. Therefore, power consumption and noise of the air blower are not increased, and it is possible to obtain an air-conditioning system which reliably heats/cools.

According to another means, the air-conditioning system further includes an electric dust collecting section or an HEPA filter for cleaning the air sucked by at least any one of the suction port D and the suction port E, and the electric dust collecting section or the HEPA filter can be taken out from front of the suction port D or the suction port E.

By this means, it is possible to adjust the temperature as described above. In addition, the air blower is operated for cleaning air such as removal of powder dust at the same time, air in the space A is transferred to the space B, air in the spaces A and B can be cleaned by circulating the air through the return air passage, and air quality can be enhanced.

In the space A, by adjusting the amount of air sucked through the suction port D and the suction port E while aiming at a place where powder dust is unevenly distributed, it is possible to efficiently clean the space A uniformly.

Further, since the electric dust collecting section or the HEPA filter can be taken out from the front of the suction port D or the suction port E, it is possible to easily carry out periodical maintenance without providing an inspection port.

According to another means, a heat-exchanging unit is provided in an outdoor air introducing passage which connects outside of a room and inside of the building to each other, the heat-exchanging unit is provided in an indoor air discharging passage which connects the inside of the building and the outside of the room to each other, by the heat-exchanging unit, outdoor air is introduced into the building while discharging indoor air to the outside of the room, and the indoor air and the outdoor air are heat-exchanged with each other.

According to this means, not only the above-described adjustment of temperature and cleaning of air, heat can be exchanged with heat of outdoor air while discharging indoor air by this means, fresh air introduced into the building can be supplied to the space A and the space B by operating the air blower, moisture and smell in the building can be discharged and COcan be reduced while saving energy.

According to another means, the air-conditioning system is provided on each floor of the building.

According to this means, operation/stop and an operating state of the air-conditioning system can be set for each of floors in corresponding to distribution of temperature, a powder dust amount and COin the building. Therefore, it is possible to uniformly enhance the air quality more efficiently in the building.

Another means provides an air-conditioning system wherein an air-conditioning machine and a suction port F are provided in a space A in a high airtight and high heat insulative building, a blowout port is provided in a space B, a return air section for forming a return air wind passage leading from the space B to the space A is provided between the space A and the space B, the suction port F, an air blower and the blowout port are connected to one another through an air-supply wind passage, air sucked by the suction port F is blown out from the blowout port by the air blower, a heat-exchanging unit is provided in an outdoor air introducing passage which connects outside of a room and inside of the building to each other, the heat-exchanging unit is provided in an indoor air discharging passage which connects the inside of the building and the outside of the room to each other, by the heat-exchanging unit, outdoor air is introduced into the building while discharging indoor air to the outside of the room, and the indoor air and the outdoor air are heat-exchanged with each other, the heat-exchanged outdoor air is merged into the air-supply wind passage, temperature and wind volume of a blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine are adjusted by setting of room temperature of the space A, and an operation mode, set temperature and wind volume of the air-conditioning machine, an angle of the blowout air current of the air-conditioning machine is adjusted by setting of a wind direction louver of the air-conditioning machine, blast volume of the air blower is adjusted, and ventilation wind volume of the heat-exchanging unit is adjusted, thereby making it possible to adjust temperature of the air sucked by the suction port F within 20K at time of heating operation and within 10K at time of cooling operation with respect to the room temperature of the space A.

According to this means, the suction port is provided in the ceiling of a room where the air conditioner is placed. Therefore, the suction port is not prominent in terms of design in the room, and the room is slimmed. A depth of a wall for placing a suction port or a duct is small in many cases, but a depth of a ceiling is sufficient as a space behind the ceiling, and a space in which the suction port and the duct are placed is wide and therefore, workability is excellent.

Normally, blowout air current of an air conditioner is prone to be downward air current due to density of air at the time of the cooling operation, and if the suction port exists in a ceiling, it is difficult to suck much blowout air current. However, in the present embodiment, the suction port is provided immediately in the vicinity of a front surface of the air conditioner, a direction of the blowout air current is set horizontally, the wind speed is reduced, wind speed of the air blower is increased, the heat-exchanged outside air introducing amount is increased, and the heat-exchanged outside air is supplied to each room. According to this, wind volume of return air current to a room where the air conditioner is placed is brought into wind-sending plus ventilation wind volume, wind speed of the return air current to the suction port is increased, temperature of the return air current is made slightly higher than room temperature, the return air current is brought into rising air current, and the blowout air current is induced or attracted by the suction port by the return air current. Therefore, much blowout air current can be sucked by the suction port even at the time of the cooling operation.

Further, wind volume of the air blower and the heat-exchanging unit is increased. Therefore, power consumption is slightly increased, but the power consumption is smaller than that of the air conditioner, and a room where the air conditioner is placed is not heated or cooled more than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a comfortable air-conditioning system capable of adjusting temperature of a room where the air conditioner is not placed.

Concerning not only the above-described adjustment of temperature but concerning also cleaning of air, fresh outside air after heat exchange is mixed with conditioned air and the mixed air is supplied directly to each room. Therefore, it is possible to reliably and quickly enhance the air quality by reducing COand smell in each room.

According to another means, the air-conditioning system further includes an electric dust collecting section or an HEPA filter for cleaning the air sucked by the suction port F, and the electric dust collecting section or the HEPA filter can be taken out from a front surface of the suction port F.

According to this means, concerning not only the above-described adjustment of temperature but also cleaning of air such as removal of powder dust, it is possible to clean air in the space A and the space B and enhance the air quality by operating the air blower and transferring air in the space A to the space B, and by circulating the air through the return air passage.

Further, since the electric dust collecting section or the HEPA filter can be taken out from the front of the suction port F of the ceiling of the room, it is possible to easily carry out periodical maintenance without providing the inspection port.

According to another means, a heat exchanger for flowing refrigerant or liquid therein is provided downstream of a heat-exchanging element of the heat-exchanging unit in the outdoor air introducing passage, and the outdoor air introduced into the building passes through the heat-exchanging element and the heat exchanger in this order.