Ventilator

Abstract

A total heat exchanger unit includes a controller for, upon receipt of a stop signal for stopping optional ventilation operation, terminating the optional ventilation operation and starting forced ventilation operation, and upon receipt of a start signal for starting the optional ventilation operation, terminating the forced ventilation operation and starting the optional ventilation operation. The controller allows intermittent operation of an air supply fan and an exhaust fan during the forced ventilation operation.

1 . A ventilator for performing ventilation operation to ventilate air in a living room, the ventilator comprising:
 an air supply fan for supplying outdoor air, as supply air, into the living room;   an exhaust fan for discharging the air in the living room, as exhaust air, to outdoors; and   a total heat exchanger having a supply air channel through which the supply air flows, and an exhaust air channel through which the exhaust air flows,   wherein the ventilation operation includes optional ventilation operation for optionally performing ventilation, and forced ventilation operation for forcibly ventilating the living room in an amount of ventilation less than an amount of ventilation in the optional ventilation operation and greater than or equal to a predetermined required amount of ventilation,   the ventilator further includes a controller for, upon receipt of a stop signal for stopping the optional ventilation operation, terminating the optional ventilation operation and starting the forced ventilation operation, and upon receipt of a start signal for starting the optional ventilation operation, terminating the forced ventilation operation and starting the optional ventilation operation, and   the controller enables intermittent control for intermittently operating both of the fans during the forced ventilation operation.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilator of  claim 1 , wherein
 airflow rates of both of the fans are variable, and   the controller is switchable between a first operation in which both of the fans are continuously operated, and a second operation in which both of the fans are intermittently operated at a higher fan rotation speed than in the first operation such that an amount of ventilation per unit time is substantially equal to an amount of ventilation per unit time in the first operation, thereby performing the forced ventilation operation.   
     
     
         3 . The ventilator of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an air supply side temperature sensing unit for sensing a temperature T 1  at a supply air entrance to the total heat exchanger; and 
 an exhaust side temperature sensing unit for sensing a temperature T 2  at an exhaust air entrance to the total heat exchanger, 
 wherein when a value sensed by the air supply side temperature sensing unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined value Tset and less than a value sensed by the exhaust side temperature sensing unit, the controller selects the second operation, and when the value sensed by the air supply side temperature sensing unit is greater than or equal to the predetermined value Tset and greater than or equal to the value sensed by the exhaust side temperature sensing unit, the controller selects the first operation. 
 
     
     
         4 . The ventilator of  claim 2  further comprising:
 an air supply side temperature sensing unit for sensing a temperature T 1  at a supply air entrance to the total heat exchanger; and 
 an exhaust side temperature sensing unit for sensing a temperature T 2  at an exhaust air entrance to the total heat exchanger, 
 wherein when a value sensed by the air supply side temperature sensing unit is less than a predetermined value Tset and less than or equal to a value sensed by the exhaust side temperature sensing unit, the controller selects the first operation, and when the value sensed by the air supply side temperature sensing unit is less than the predetermined value Tset and greater than the value sensed by the exhaust side temperature sensing unit, the controller selects the second operation. 
 
     
     
         5 . The ventilator of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a cooling mechanism for cooling an interior of the living room so that a temperature of the interior of the living room is equal to a set cooling temperature, 
 wherein when a temperature T 1  sensed at a supply air entrance by the air supply side temperature sensing unit is higher than or equal to the set cooling temperature, the controller selects the first operation, and when the temperature T 1  at the supply air entrance is lower than the set cooling temperature, the controller selects the second operation. 
 
     
     
         6 . The ventilator of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a heating mechanism for heating an interior of the living room so that a temperature of the interior of the living room is equal to a set heating temperature, 
 wherein when a temperature T 1  of the supply air sensed at a supply air entrance by the air supply side temperature sensing unit is lower than or equal to the set heating temperature, the controller selects the first operation, and when the temperature T 1  at the supply air entrance is higher than the set heating temperature, the controller selects the second operation. 
 
     
     
         7 . The ventilator of any one of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein
 the controller can change the ratio of a driving time of each of the fans to an intermittent operation time of the fan during the forced ventilation operation and the ratio of a stop time of the fan to the intermittent operation time.   
     
     
         8 . The ventilator of  claim 5 , wherein
 the cooling mechanism and the controller are electrically connected together such that when operation of the cooling mechanism stops, the stop signal is delivered from the cooling mechanism to the controller, and when operation of the cooling mechanism starts, the start signal is delivered from the cooling mechanism to the controller.   
     
     
         9 . The ventilator of  claim 6 , wherein
 the heating mechanism and the controller are electrically connected together such that when operation of the heating mechanism stops, the stop signal is delivered from the heating mechanism to the controller, and when operation of the heating mechanism starts, the start signal is delivered from the heating mechanism to the controller.   
     
     
         10 . The ventilator of any one of  claim 1 - 6 ,  8  or  9 , further comprising:
 a user-operable operating unit, 
 wherein the operating unit and the controller are electrically connected