Total heat exchange element and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A total heat exchange element has a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members are joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members. According to the present invention, the spacing members have water retention properties. Further, an adhesive that exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent is used as the adhesive. As a result, it is easy to obtain a total heat exchange element with which it is possible to easily constitute an air-conditioning apparatus or a ventilator that has high latent heat exchange efficiency and has high reliability.

1 . A total heat exchange element having a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members being joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members, wherein
 the spacing members have water retention properties, and   the adhesive exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.   
   
   
       2 . The total heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is an organic-solvent-based adhesive, a solventless reactive adhesive, or a hot-melt adhesive. 
   
   
       3 . The total heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the partition members is made of a water retentive material that is impregnated with the water-soluble moisture absorbent. 
   
   
       4 . The total heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the spacing members includes a base material made of a water retentive material and a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer disposed on one of surfaces of the base material, and   the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer functions as the adhesive used for causing the spacing members to be joined with the partition members.   
   
   
       5 . The total heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble moisture absorbent is a deliquescent alkali metal salt or a deliquescent alkali earth metal salt. 
   
   
       6 . A manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element having a stacked-layer structure in which sheet-like partition members added a water-soluble moisture absorbent thereto and spacing members are stacked alternately, the spacing members being joined with the partition members by using an adhesive so as to form air flow passages together with the partition members, the manufacturing method comprising:
 a unit manufacturing step of obtaining a plurality of element structuring units in each of which one of the partition members and a corresponding one of the spacing members each being made of a water retentive material are joined together by using the adhesive; and   a layer stacking step of joining the element structuring units together by using an adhesive and obtaining the total heat exchange element in which the plurality of element structuring units are stacked in layers, wherein   the adhesive used at the unit manufacturing step and the adhesive used at the layer stacking step each exhibits insolubility to the water-soluble moisture absorbent or an aqueous solution of the water-soluble moisture absorbent.   
   
   
       7 . The manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to  claim 6 , wherein the adhesive used at the unit manufacturing step and the adhesive used at the layer stacking step are each an organic-solvent-based adhesive, a solventless reactive adhesive, or a hot-melt adhesive. 
   
   
       8 . The manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the partition members is made of a water retentive material that is impregnated with the water-soluble moisture absorbent. 
   
   
       9 . The manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to  claim 6 , wherein
 each of the spacing members includes a base material made of a water retentive material and a thermal-adhesion-type resin layer disposed on one of surfaces of the base material, and   the thermal-adhesion-type resin layer is used as the adhesive at the unit manufacturing step.   
   
   
       10 . The manufacturing method of a total heat exchange element according to  claim 6 , wherein the water-soluble moisture absorbent is a deliquescent alkali metal salt or a deliquescent alkali earth metal salt.