Cooling/heating air conditioner with humidifying function

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a cooling/heating air conditioner with a humidifying function. The cooling/heating air conditioner comprises a refrigeration cycle mechanism including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, expansion units, indoor heat exchangers, and a 4-way valve, to enable both cooling and heating operations, a condensed water collecting device to receive and store condensed water, which is produced in part of the outdoor heat exchanger and indoor heat exchangers serving as evaporators, a steam generating device to change the condensed water gathered via the condensed water collecting device into humidifying steam, and a humidifying spray device to supply the steam generated in the steam generating device to rooms. The cooling/heating air conditioner has the effect of realizing more pleasant air conditioning environment in a heated room that may be easily dried, and of achieving effective utilization of the condensed water.

1 . A cooling/heating air conditioner with a humidifying function comprising: 
 a refrigeration cycle mechanism including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, expansion units, indoor heat exchangers, and a 4-way valve, to enable both cooling and heating operations;    a condensed water collecting device to receive and store condensed water, which is produced in part of the outdoor heat exchanger and indoor heat exchangers serving as evaporators;    a steam generating device to change the condensed water gathered via the condensed water collecting device into humidifying steam; and    a humidifying spray device to supply the steam generated in the steam generating device to rooms.    
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration cycle mechanism has a simultaneous cooling and heating structure, which includes a plurality of indoor heat exchangers to enable cooling and heating operations to be simultaneously carried out.  
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the condensed water collecting device includes: 
 a plurality of condensed water sumps located below the outdoor heat exchanger or indoor heat exchangers to receive the condensed water falling from the respective heat exchangers;    a steam tank in which the condensed water received in the respective condensed water sumps is gathered; and    condensed water pipes connecting the respective condensed water sumps to the steam tank.    
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein a pump is provided on the condensed water pipes to pump the condensed water gathered in the condensed water sumps into the steam tank.  
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the steam tank is connected to an external water supply device for supplementing water from an external station.  
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the steam generating device is constructed to generate steam by separating water particles by use of an ultrasonic vibrator.  
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the refrigeration cycle mechanism has a simultaneous cooling and heating structure, which includes a plurality of indoor heat exchangers to enable cooling and heating operations to be simultaneously carried out.  
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the condensed water collecting device includes: 
 a plurality of condensed water sumps located below the outdoor heat exchanger or indoor heat exchangers to receive the condensed water falling from the respective heat exchangers;    a steam tank in which the condensed water received in the respective condensed water sumps is gathered; and    condensed water pipes connecting the respective condensed water sumps to the steam tank.    
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the humidifying spray device includes: 
 a steam pipe extending from the condensed water collecting device to the rooms to transfer the steam generated by the steam generating device into the rooms; and    spray nozzles provided at a distal end of the steam pipe to inject the steam into the respective rooms.    
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein opening/closing valves are provided upstream of the spray nozzles to open or close flow paths.  
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the refrigeration cycle mechanism has a simultaneous cooling and heating structure, which includes a plurality of indoor heat exchangers to enable cooling and heating operations to be simultaneously carried out.  
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the condensed water collecting device includes: 
 a plurality of condensed water sumps located below the outdoor heat exchanger or indoor heat exchangers to receive the condensed water falling from the respective heat exchangers;    a steam tank in which the condensed water received in the respective condensed water sumps is gathered; and    condensed water pipes connecting the respective condensed water sumps to the steam tank.    
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein a pump is provided on the condensed water pipes to pump the condensed water gathered in the condensed water sumps into the steam tank.  
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the steam tank is connected to an external water supply device for supplementing water from an external station.  
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the steam generating device is constructed to generate steam by separating water particles by use of an ultrasonic vibrator.  
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the humidifying spray device includes: 
 a steam pipe extending from the condensed water collecting device to the rooms to transfer the steam generated by the steam generating device into the rooms; and    spray nozzles provided at a distal end of the steam pipe to inject the steam into the respective rooms.    
     
     
         17 . A cooling/heating air conditioner with a humidifying function comprising: 
 a refrigeration cycle mechanism including a compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, expansion units, indoor heat exchangers, and a 4-way valve, to enable both cooling and heating operations;    a condensed water collecting device to receive and store condensed water, which is produced in part of the outdoor heat exchanger and indoor heat exchangers serving as evaporators, the condensed water collecting device including: a plurality of condensed water sumps located below the outdoor heat exchanger or indoor heat exchangers to receive the condensed water falling from the respective heat exchangers; a steam tank in which the condensed water received in the respective condensed water sumps is gathered; and condensed water pipes connecting the respective condensed water sumps to the steam tank;    a steam generating device to change the condensed water gathered via the condensed water collecting device into humidifying steam, the steam generating device being constructed to generate steam by separating water particles by use of an ultrasonic vibrator; and    a humidifying spray device to supply the steam generated by the steam generating device to rooms, the humidifying spray device including: a stem pipe extending from the condensed water collecting device into the rooms to transfer the steam generated by the steam generating device into the rooms; and    spray nozzles provided at a distal end of the steam pipe to inject the steam into the respective rooms.    
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein a pump is provided on the condensed water pipes to pump the condensed water gathered in the condensed water sumps into the steam tank.  
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the steam tank is connected to an external water supply device for supplementing water from an external station.  
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein opening/closing valves are provided upstream of the spray nozzles to open or close flow paths.