Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner includes a heat storage unit having a heat storage medium, a first heat exchanger for heat exchange with air in a compartment, a second heat exchanger for heat exchange with outside air, and a peltier unit having a first and second heat exchange surfaces opposite to each other. The first heat exchange surface is thermally conductive to the heat storage unit, and the second heat exchange surface is thermally conductive to the first and second heat exchangers. In heat storage mode electric current flows through the peltier unit in one direction to provide heat transfer between the second heat exchanger and the heat storage unit. In air conditioning mode electric current flows through the peltier unit in the other direction to provide heat transfer between the first heat exchanger and the heat storage unit.

1 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 a heat storage unit having a heat storage medium;   a first heat exchanger for heat exchange with air in a compartment;   a second heat exchanger for heat exchange with outside air; and   a peltier unit having a peltier device, the peltier unit having a first heat exchange surface and a second heat exchange surface opposite to each other, the first heat exchange surface being thermally conductive to the heat storage unit, the second heat exchange surface being thermally conductive to the first and second heat exchangers,   wherein in heat storage mode electric current flows through the peltier unit in one direction to provide heat transfer between the second heat exchanger and the heat storage unit for heat storage in the heat storage medium, and in air conditioning mode electric current flows through the peltier unit in the other direction to provide heat transfer between the first heat exchanger and the heat storage unit for air conditioning of the compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first heat medium circuit where heat medium is circulated between the heat storage unit and the first heat exchange surface of the peltier unit;   a second heat medium circuit where heat medium is circulated between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchange surface of the peltier unit; and   a third heat medium circuit where heat medium is circulated between the second heat exchanger and the second heat exchange surface of the peltier unit.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , further comprising a fourth heat medium circuit where heat medium is circulated between the second heat exchanger and the first heat exchange surface of the peltier unit. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a switching device for switching between the heat medium circuits; and   a controller for controlling the switching device,   wherein in the air conditioning mode the switching device is controlled by the controller so that the air conditioner is operated in a first circulation condition in which heat medium is circulated through the first heat medium circuit, or operated in a second circulation condition in which heat medium is circulated through the fourth heat medium circuit.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heat storage medium; and   a second temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the second heat exchanger,   wherein in the air conditioning mode the switching device is controlled by the controller so that the air conditioner is operated in the first circulation condition when there is a temperature difference between the temperatures of the heat storage medium and the second heat exchanger, and operated in the second circulation condition when there is no temperature difference between the temperatures of the heat storage medium and the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heat storage medium; and   a second temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the second heat exchanger,   wherein in the air conditioning mode the switching device is controlled by the controller so that the air conditioner is operated in the first circulation condition when a first temperature difference between the temperature of the heat storage medium and a target compartment temperature is smaller than a second temperature difference between the temperature of the second heat exchanger and the target compartment temperature, and operated in the second circulation condition when the second temperature difference is smaller than the first temperature difference.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner according to  claim 5 , further comprising a third temperature sensor for detecting compartment temperature or outside air temperature,
 wherein in the air conditioning mode the switching device is controlled by the controller so that the air conditioner is operated in the second circulation condition when the compartment temperature or the outside air temperature is within the range of 10 to 30 degrees Celsius, or 10 degrees Celsius above or below the melting point of the heat storage medium.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner according to  claim 7 , further comprising a third heat exchanger for heat exchange with waste heat, the third heat exchanger being thermally conductive to the first heat exchange surface of the peltier unit. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner according to  claim 8 , further comprising a fifth heat medium circuit where heat medium is circulated between the third heat exchanger and the first heat exchange surface of the peltier unit. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner according to  claim 9 , wherein in the air conditioning mode the switching device is controlled by the controller so that the air conditioner is operated in the first circulation condition or in a third circulation condition in which heat medium is circulated through the fifth heat medium circuit. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner according to  claim 10 , further comprising a fourth temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the third heat exchanger,
 wherein in the air conditioning mode the switching device is controlled by the controller so that the air conditioner is operated in the first circulation condition when the temperature of the heat storage medium is higher than the temperature of the third heat exchanger, and operated in the third circulation condition when the temperature of the third heat exchanger is higher than the temperature of the heat storage medium.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner according to  claim 7 , wherein in the heat storage mode the air conditioner is operated so that heat transfer between the second heat exchanger and the heat storage unit is provided only when the compartment temperature or the outside air temperature is not within the range of 10 to 30 degrees Celsius, or 10 degrees Celsius above or below the melting point of the heat storage medium. 
     
     
         13 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 a heat storage unit having a heat storage medium;   a heat exchanger for heat exchange with air in a compartment or outside air; and   a peltier unit having a peltier device, the peltier unit having a first heat exchange surface and a second heat exchange surface opposite to each other, the first heat exchange surface being thermally conductive to the heat storage unit, the second heat exchange surface being thermally conductive to the heat exchanger,   wherein in heat storage mode electric current flows through the peltier unit in one direction to provide heat transfer between the outside air and the heat storage unit through the heat exchanger for heat storage in the heat storage medium, and in air conditioning mode electric current flows through the peltier unit in the other direction to provide heat transfer between the air in the compartment and the heat storage unit through the heat exchanger for air conditioning of the compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat storage medium has a melting point within the range of 5 to 30 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner according to  claim 14 , wherein potassium fluoride tetrahydrate is used for the material of the heat storage medium.