Dehumidifier and Method for Controlling Same

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2024/095269 designating the United States, filed on Feb. 16, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0046029, filed on Apr. 7, 2023, and 10-2023-0072390, filed on Jun. 5, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The disclosure relates to a dehumidifier for saving power and a method for controlling the same.

In general, high humidity in the air causes decay, corrosion, and condensation, and also leads to generation of odors and bacteria. Accordingly, there is a need for dehumidifiers that remove moisture from spaces where people live or moisture-sensitive equipment such as electrical, communication, and various electronic devices are located.

Dehumidifiers are classified into refrigeration dehumidifiers, which use a compressor in a refrigeration cycle to lower the temperature of a refrigerant and condense moisture contained in the refrigerant, and dehumidifiers of the absorption type, which absorb moisture from the air using an adsorbent (or dehumidifying agent and moisture absorbent).

Conventional refrigeration dehumidifiers have problems of formation of frost in a heat exchanger under low-temperature, low-humidity environments, and low efficiency because a rotation speed of a compressor cannot be reduced even when the humidity was low.

Currently available refrigeration-type dehumidifiers do not have a power-saving mode. Even when a power-saving mode is provided, functions thereof are limited, for example, a dehumidifier may turn off in response to the power-saving mode, and thus power-saving efficiency is not significant.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a dehumidifier configured to automatically set a target humidity value and a frequency of a compressor during a power-saving mode in consideration of a comfort level, and a method for controlling the same.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a dehumidifier configured to acquire a preferred humidity value by learning an input humidity value input by a user during the general mode, and setting a target humidity value used during the power-saving mode on the basis of the acquired preferred humidity value and a comfort level, and a method for controlling the same.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a dehumidifier includes: a compressor, an input interface comprising circuitry and configured to receive an input, and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to cause the dehumidifier to: reduce an indication frequency of the compressor by a specified ratio in response to a power-saving mode received via the input interface.

The dehumidifier according an example embodiment may further include: a humidity sensor configured to detect a humidity, wherein at least one processor of the dehumidifier, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: set a target humidity value based on an input humidity value received via the input interface, and determine the indication frequency of the compressor based on the target humidity value and a humidity value detected by the humidity sensor.

At least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: acquire an input humidity value via the input interface during a general mode, acquire a preferred humidity value by learning the acquired input humidity value, and set the target humidity value based on the acquired preferred humidity value.

At least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: acquire an input humidity value of a current operation cycle received via the input interface before a power-off command is received upon receiving the power-off command via the input interface during the general mode, acquire a first average of input humidity values of pre-stored operation cycles, acquire a second average of the acquired first average and the acquired input humidity value of the current operation cycle, and acquire the acquired second average as the preferred humidity value.

At least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: acquire the preferred humidity value by rounding down the ones place of the second average by a specified unit.

At least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: set the target humidity value by adding a specified humidity value to the preferred humidity value based on the preferred humidity value being within a reference humidity range, and set the preferred humidity value as the target humidity value based on the preferred humidity value being out of the reference humidity range.

At least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: release the power-saving mode based on a variation in the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor being equal to or less than a specified first setting value after a first period has elapsed since the power-saving mode was started, and the humidity value detected by a humidity sensor being equal to or greater than a specified second setting value after a second period, different from the first period, has elapsed since the power-saving mode was started.

At least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control the operation of the compressor at the determined indication frequency of the compressor based on releasing the power-saving mode.

At least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to: re-perform the power-saving mode based on the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor in response to the release of the power-saving mode being less than a specified third setting value, or the detected humidity value exceeding a value obtained by subtracting a specified fourth setting value from the input humidity value.

The dehumidifier according an example embodiment further includes a first heat exchanger connected to the compressor, a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger, and a fan configured to blow the air heat-exchanged by the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the fan are integrally provided inside the housing, and an airflow path of the first heat exchanger, an airflow path of the second heat exchanger, and an airflow path of the fan are the same flow path.

The dehumidifier according an example embodiment further includes a communicator comprising communication circuitry, wherein at least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to cause the dehumidifier to reduce the specified ratio more as the received power price increases.

The dehumidifier according an example embodiment further includes a display. At least one processor of the dehumidifier according an example embodiment, individually and/or collectively, is configured to control the display to display a level of the power-saving mode corresponding to the received power price during the power-saving mode.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling a dehumidifier including a compressor includes: setting a target humidity value based on an input humidity value received via an input interface during a power-saving mode, determining an indication frequency of the compressor based on the target humidity value and a humidity value detected by a humidity sensor, and controlling the operation of the compressor by reducing the determined indication frequency of the compressor by a preset ratio.

The setting of the target humidity value includes acquiring an input humidity value received via the input interface during a general mode, acquiring a preferred humidity value by learning the acquired input humidity value, and setting the target humidity value based on the acquired preferred humidity value.

The acquiring of the preferred humidity value includes: acquiring an input humidity value received via the input interface before a power-off command is received upon receiving the power-off command via the input interface during a general mode, acquiring a first average of input humidity values of operation cycles stored in a memory, acquiring a second average of the acquired first average and the acquired input humidity value, and acquiring the acquired second average as the preferred humidity value by rounding down the ones place of the second average by a preset unit.

The setting of the target humidity value includes: setting the target humidity value based on the preferred humidity value and a specified humidity value based on the preferred humidity value being less than a reference humidity value, and setting the preferred humidity value as the target humidity value based on the preferred humidity value being equal to or greater than the reference humidity value.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling a dehumidifier further includes: releasing the power-saving mode based on a variation in the humidity value detected by the humidity sensor after a first period has elapsed since the power-saving mode was started being equal to or less than a specified first setting value and a humidity value detected by the humidity sensor after a second period has elapsed since the power-saving mode was started being equal to or greater than a specified second setting value, controlling the operation of the compressor at the determined indication frequency of the compressor in response to the release of the power-saving mode.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling a dehumidifier further includes: re-performing the power-saving mode based on a humidity value detected by the humidity sensor in response to the release of the power-saving mode being less than a specified third setting value or the detected humidity value being greater than a value obtained by subtracting a specified fourth setting value from the input humidity value.

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling a dehumidifier further includes: receiving a power price via a communicator, identifying a specified ratio corresponding to the received power price, and reducing the indication frequency of the compressor based on the identified specified ratio.

The specified ratio corresponding to the received power price increases as the power price increases.

According to various example embodiments of the present disclosure, energy consumption (power) may be reduced without significantly impairing the comfort level by automatically setting the target humidity value and the frequency of the compressor in consideration of the comfort level during the power-saving mode. Accordingly, user satisfaction may be increased and marketability of products may be enhanced.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, respiratory problems and diseases may be prevented and/or reduced and comfortable indoor environment may be obtained by maintaining an appropriate humidity level in the indoor air (e.g., 40% to 60%).

Various example embodiments of the present disclosure and terms used herein are not intended to limit technical features disclosed herein to particular modes of practice, and it is to be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes of the various embodiments are encompassed in the present disclosure.

Regarding the description of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used for like or related elements throughout the drawings.

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more items unless the context states otherwise.

Throughout the disclosure, “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B”, “A, B or C”, “at least one of A, B and C”, and “at least one or A, B, or C” may each include any one or all the possible combinations of A, B and C.

The term “and/or” is interpreted to include a combination or any of associated elements.

Terms such as “first” or “second” are used to distinguish one component from other components and, therefore, the components are not limited by the terms in any other aspect (e.g., importance or order).

When an element (first element) is mentioned as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another element (second element) with or without terms like “functionally” or “communicatively,” the one element may be connected to the other either directly (e.g., via a wired connection), wirelessly, or through a third element.

In addition, the terms such as “including” or “having” are intended to indicate the existence of features, numbers, levels, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the disclosure, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, levels, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

When an element is mentioned as being “connected to”, “coupled to”, “supported by”, or “contacting” another element, it includes not only a case that the elements are directly connected to, coupled to, supported by or contact each other but also a case that the elements are connected to, coupled to, supported by or contact each other through a third element.

When an element is mentioned as being located “on” another element, it implies not only that the element is in direct contact with the other element but also that another element exists between the two elements.

A dehumidifier according to various example embodiments refers to a device that performs functions such as humidity control in a space to be dehumidified (hereinafter, referred to as “indoor space”).

According to an example embodiment, as shown in, a dehumidifierincludes a refrigeration cycle for dehumidification. The refrigeration cycle includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, and a second heat exchanger, through which a refrigerant circulates, and further includes an expansion device and refrigerant pipes connecting the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion device, and the second heat exchanger. All components of the refrigeration cycle may be housed inside a single housing forming the exterior of the dehumidifier.

The first heat exchangermay perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and air using a phase change (e.g., condensation) of the refrigerant. For example, while the refrigerant is condensing in the first heat exchanger, the refrigerant may release heat to the surrounding air.

Similarly, the second heat exchangermay perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the surrounding air using a phase change (e.g., evaporation) of the refrigerant. For example, while the refrigerant is evaporating from the second heat exchanger, the refrigerant may absorb heat from the surrounding air.

For example, the dehumidifiermay perform a dehumidification function through the phase change process of the refrigerant that circulates between the first heat exchangerand the second heat exchangerand may include the compressorconfigured to compress the refrigerant for such circulation of the refrigerant. The compressormay intake refrigerant gas through an inlet and compress the refrigerant gas. The compressormay discharge high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas through an outlet.

The refrigerant may circulate in the order of the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion device, and the second heat exchangerthrough the refrigerant pipes.

The dehumidifiermay include the expansion device to reduce a pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the second heat exchanger.

The expansion device may reduce temperature and pressure of the refrigerant using the throttling effect. The expansion device may include orifices that may reduce a cross-sectional area of a flow path. The refrigerant having passed through the orifices may have reduced temperature and pressure.

For example, the expansion device may be implemented as an electronic expansion valve configured to control an opening ratio (a ratio a cross-sectional area of the flow path of the expansion valve in a partially opened state to a cross-sectional area of the expansion valve in a fully opened state). An amount of the refrigerant passing through the external device may be controlled based on the opening ratio of the electronic external device.

The dehumidifiermay include an accumulator. The accumulator may be connected to the inlet of the compressor. The refrigerant at a low-temperature and a low-pressure evaporated from the second heat exchangermay flow into the accumulator.