Air conditioner using cooling/dehumidifying energy recovery technology

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes: a main body 10 having an intake hole 11 and a discharge hole 12; a heat exchanger 20 disposed within the main body 10 and installed downstream from the intake hole 11; a cooling coil 30 disposed within the main body 10 and installed downstream from the heat exchanger 20; a fan 40 disposed within the main body 10 and installed downstream from the cooling coil 30 to exhaust air within the main body 10 to an indoor space; and air passages 13 a, 13 b, 13 c and 13 d for introducing air passing through the cooling coil 30 again into the heat exchanger 20. Thus, according to the present invention, cooling/dehumidifying energy may be recovered from cooled air to prevent a cold draft from occurring and improve energy usage efficiency.

1 . An air conditioner using cooling/dehumidifying energy recovery technology, comprising:
 a main body having an intake hole and a discharge hole;   a heat exchanger which is disposed in the main body and installed downstream from the intake hole;   a cooling coil which is disposed in the main body and installed downstream from the heat exchanger;   a fan which is disposed in the main body and installed downstream from the cooling coil to exhaust air in the main body to an indoor space; and   air passages for introducing air passing through the cooling coil again into the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the intake hole and discharge hole are respectively formed in a front surface of the main body, and the air passage is formed between a rear surface of the main body and the cooling coil and also at the lower sides of the cooling coil and heat exchanger so as to be in the form of a reversed “L” shape. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the intake hole is formed in a rear surface of the main body, and the discharge hole is formed in a front surface of the main body, and the air passage is formed between the front surface of the main body and the cooling coil and also at the lower sides of the cooling coil and heat exchanger so as to be in the form of a reversed “L” shape. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the intake hole is formed in a side surface of the main body, and the discharge hole is formed in a front surface of the main body, and the air passage is formed between a rear surface of the main body and the cooling coil and also at the lower sides of the cooling coil and heat exchanger so as to be in the form of an “L” shape. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the intake hole is formed at a lower side of a front or side surface of the main body, and the discharge hole is formed in a front surface of the main body, and the air passage is formed between the front surface of the main body and the cooling coil, and a lower portion of the air passage is separated from the intake hole by a partition plate installed at a lower end of the cooling coil. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanging plate and a second heat exchanging plate which are alternately stacked on each other and in which heat exchanger intake/discharge holes and are formed respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the air passages further comprise a damper which is opened and closed in order to introduce a part of air passing through the cooling coil directly to the fan. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner according to  claim 7 , wherein the damper is controlled by a temperature/humidity sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanging plate and a second heat exchanging plate which are alternately stacked on each other and in which heat exchanger intake/discharge holes and are formed respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner according to  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanging plate and a second heat exchanging plate which are alternately stacked on each other and in which heat exchanger intake/discharge holes and are formed respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanging plate and a second heat exchanging plate which are alternately stacked on each other and in which heat exchanger intake/discharge holes and are formed respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner according to  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanging plate and a second heat exchanging plate which are alternately stacked on each other and in which heat exchanger intake/discharge holes and are formed respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , wherein the air passages further comprise a damper which is opened and closed in order to introduce a part of air passing through the cooling coil directly to the fan. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner according to  claim 3 , wherein the air passages further comprise a damper which is opened and closed in order to introduce a part of air passing through the cooling coil directly to the fan. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner according to  claim 4 , wherein the air passages further comprise a damper which is opened and closed in order to introduce a part of air passing through the cooling coil directly to the fan. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner according to  claim 5 , wherein the air passages further comprise a damper which is opened and closed in order to introduce a part of air passing through the cooling coil directly to the fan.