Air-conditioning apparatus and method

Abstract

An air-conditioning apparatus includes upper and lower chambers, and first and second heat exchange units respectively disposed in the upper and lower chambers and respectively having first and second working fluids. The first heat exchange unit has a condenser and a first fan adapted to draw air into the upper chamber for exchange of heat with the condenser. The second heat exchange unit has an evaporator and a second fan adapted to draw air into the lower chamber for exchange of heat with the evaporator. First and second tubing units are respectively connected to the condenser and the evaporator and each has a heat exchange tube section. The heat exchange tube sections of the first and tubing units are associated with each other such that the second working fluid transfers heat to the first working fluid.

1 . An air-conditioning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing including an upper chamber that has an upper air inlet and an upper air outlet, and a lower chamber that has a lower air inlet and a lower air outlet;   a first heat exchange unit disposed in said upper chamber and having a first working fluid, a condenser to condense said first working fluid, and a first fan adapted to draw air into said upper chamber through said upper air inlet for exchange of heat with said condenser;   a second heat exchange unit disposed in said lower chamber and having a second working fluid, an evaporator to vaporize said second working fluid, and a second fan adapted to draw air into said lower chamber through said lower air inlet for exchange of heat with said evaporator;   a first tubing unit connected to said condenser to form a closed circulating path that extends downward from said condenser and that extends upward to said condenser, said first working fluid circulating through said first tubing unit and said condenser, said first tubing unit having a heat exchange tube section disposed away from said condenser; and   a second tubing unit connected to said evaporator to form a closed circulating path that extends downward to said evaporator and that extends upward from said evaporator, said second working fluid circulating through said second tubing unit and said evaporator, said second tubing unit having a heat exchange tube section disposed away from said evaporator and associated with said heat exchange tube section of said first tubing unit such that said second working fluid transfers heat to said first working fluid.   
   
   
       2 . The air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermoelectric cooler that has a cold side and a hot side respectively in contact with said heat exchange tube sections of said second and first tubing units. 
   
   
       3 . The air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein all of said heat exchange tube sections of said second and first tubing units and said cold and hot sides of said thermoelectric cooler are inclined with respect to a horizontal line so that each of said heat exchange tube sections has a lower end, and a higher end opposite to and higher than said lower end. 
   
   
       4 . The air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of said condenser and said evaporator has a top end provided with a vapor-receiving section, a bottom end provided with a liquid-receiving section, and a plurality of channels connected between said vapor-receiving and liquid-receiving sections. 
   
   
       5 . The air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said second tubing unit further has a vapor-flowing tube section connected to said vapor-receiving section of said evaporator and said higher end of said heat exchange tube section of said second tubing unit, and a liquid-flowing tube section connected to said liquid-receiving section of said evaporator and said lower end of said heat exchange tube section of said second tubing unit. 
   
   
       6 . The air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said second tubing unit further has an insulating layer that is made of a non-heat-conductive material and that covers said heat exchange tube section and said liquid-flowing tube section of said second tubing unit. 
   
   
       7 . The air-conditioning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second working fluids has a phase-change temperature of about 5-10° C. 
   
   
       8 . An air-conditioning method, comprising:
 (a) circulating a first working fluid through a closed circulating path formed by a first tubing unit and a condenser to cause the first working fluid to flow upward and downward alternately;   (b) circulating a second working fluid through a closed circulating path formed by a second tubing unit and an evaporator to cause the second working fluid to flow upward and downward alternately, the second tubing unit and the evaporator being disposed at a level generally below the first tubing unit and the condenser;   (c) absorbing heat from air by evaporating the second working fluid in the evaporator so that the second working fluid flows upward;   (d) liberating heat to air by condensing the first working fluid in the condenser so that the first working fluid flows downward; and   (e) exchanging heat between the first and second working fluids at a level generally higher than the second tubing unit and generally lower than the first tubing unit so that the first working fluid evaporates and flows upward and the second working fluid condenses and flows downward.   
   
   
       9 . The air-conditioning method of  claim 8 , wherein each of said first and second working fluids has a phase-change temperature of about 5-10° C.