Dehumidifier

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a dehumidifier having an outer case having a first inlet hole, a second inlet hole, a first outlet hole, and a second outlet hole, a first draft fan to move air from the first inlet hole to the first outlet hole, a second draft fan to move air from the second inlet hole to the second outlet hole, an evaporator to remove moisture included in the air inlet from the first inlet hole, a compressor to compress refrigerant evaporated at the evaporator, a first condenser disposed at a moving path of the air moved by use of the first draft fan, a second condenser disposed at a moving path of the air moved by use of the second draft fan, and an expansion apparatus to expand the refrigerant condensed at the first condenser or the second condenser.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dehumidifier, comprising:
 an outer case having a first inlet hole, a second inlet hole, a first outlet hole, and a second outlet hole;   a first draft fan configured to move air from the first inlet hole to the first outlet hole;   a second draft fan configured to move air from the second inlet hole to the second outlet hole;   an evaporator configured to remove moisture included in the air inlet from the first inlet hole;   a compressor configured to compress refrigerant evaporated at the evaporator;   a first condenser disposed at a moving path of the air moved by use of the first draft fan;   a second condenser disposed at a moving path of the air moved by use of the second draft fan; and   an expansion apparatus configured to expand the refrigerant condensed at the first condenser or the second condenser.   
     
     
         2 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an exit of the evaporator and an entry of the compressor, an exit of the compressor and an entry of the first condenser, the exit of the compressor and an entry of the second condenser, an exit of the second condenser and the entry of the first condenser, an exit of the first condenser and an entry of the expansion apparatus, and an exit of the expansion apparatus and an entry of the evaporator each are connected by use of a conduit,   the conduit connecting the exit of the compressor and the entry of the first condenser is provided with a first compressor-exit-valve disposed thereto, and   the conduit connecting the exit of the compressor and the entry of the second condenser is provided with a second compressor-exit-valve disposed thereto.   
     
     
         3 . The dehumidifier of  claim 2 , wherein:
 during a warm air dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve is open while the second compressor-exit-valve is closed, and   during a general dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve is closed while the second compressor-exit-valve is open.   
     
     
         4 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an exit of the evaporator and an entry of the compressor, an exit of the compressor and an entry of the second condenser, an exit of the second condenser and an entry of the first condenser, an exit of the second condenser and an entry of the expansion apparatus, an exit of the first condenser and the entry of the expansion apparatus, and an exit of the expansion apparatus and an entry of the evaporator each are connected by use of a conduit,   the conduit connecting the exit of the second condenser and the entry of the first condenser is provided with a first condenser-exit-valve disposed thereto, and   the conduit connecting the exit of the second condenser and the entry of the expansion apparatus is provided with a second condenser-exit-valve disposed thereto.   
     
     
         5 . The dehumidifier of  claim 4 , wherein:
 during a general air dehumidification mode, the first condenser-exit-valve is open while the second condenser-exit-valve is closed, and   during a cool air dehumidification mode, the first condenser-exit-valve is closed while the second condenser-exit-valve is open.   
     
     
         6 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an exit of the evaporator and an entry of the compressor, an exit of the compressor and an entry of the first condenser, the exit of the compressor and an entry of the second condenser, an exit of the second condenser and an entry of the expansion apparatus, an exit of the first condenser and the entry of the expansion apparatus, and an exit of the expansion apparatus and an entry of the evaporator each are connected by use of a conduit,   the conduit connecting the exit of the compressor and the entry of the first condenser is provided with a first compressor-exit-valve disposed thereto, and   the conduit connecting the exit of the compressor and the entry of the second condenser is provided with a second compressor-exit-valve disposed thereto.   
     
     
         7 . The dehumidifier of  claim 6 , wherein:
 during a warm air dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve is open while the second compressor-exit-valve is closed, and   during a cool air dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve is closed while the second compressor-exit-valve is open.   
     
     
         8 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 an exit of the evaporator and an entry of the compressor, an exit of the compressor and an entry of the first condenser, the exit of the compressor and an entry of the second condenser, an exit of the second condenser and the entry of the first condenser, the exit of the second condenser and an entry of the expansion apparatus, an exit of the first condenser and the entry of the expansion apparatus, and an exit of the expansion apparatus and an entry of the evaporator each are connected by use of a conduit,   the conduit connecting the exit of the compressor and the entry of the first condenser is provided with a first compressor-exit-valve disposed thereto,   the conduit connecting the exit of the compressor and the entry of the second condenser is provided with a second compressor-exit-valve disposed thereto,   the conduit connecting the exit of the second condenser and the entry of the first condenser is provided with a first condenser-exit-valve disposed thereto, and   the conduit connecting the exit of the second condenser and the entry of the expansion apparatus is provided with a second condenser-exit-valve disposed thereto.   
     
     
         9 . The dehumidifier of  claim 8 , wherein:
 during a warm air dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve is open while the second compressor-exit-valve is closed,   during a general dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve and the second condenser-exit-valve are closed while the second compressor-exit-valve is open, and   during a cool air dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve and the first condenser-exit-valve are closed while the second compressor-exit-valve and the second condenser-exit-valve are open.   
     
     
         10 . A dehumidifier, comprising:
 an outer case having a first inlet hole, a second inlet hole, a first outlet hole, and a second outlet hole;   a first draft fan configured to move air from the first inlet hole to the first outlet hole;   a second draft fan configured to move air from the second inlet hole to the second outlet hole;   an evaporator configured to remove moisture included in the air inlet from the first inlet hole;   a compressor configured to compress refrigerant evaporated at the evaporator;   a first condenser disposed at a moving path of the air moved by use of the first draft fan;   a second condenser disposed at a moving path of the air moved by use of the second draft fan;   a water container at which condensation water generated at the evaporator is collected;   a third condenser disposed below the water container and to heat-exchange with the condensation water; and   an expansion apparatus configured to expand the refrigerant that is condensed at the first condenser, the second condenser, or the third condenser.   
     
     
         11 . The dehumidifier of  claim 10 , comprising:
 a first compressor-exit-valve disposed at a conduit connecting an exit of the compressor and an entry of the first condenser;   a second compressor-exit-valve disposed at a conduit connecting the exit of the compressor and an entry of the second condenser;   a first condenser-exit-valve disposed at a conduit connecting an exit of the second condenser and the entry of the first condenser; and   a second condenser-exit-valve disposed at a conduit connecting the exit of the second condenser and an entry of the expansion apparatus,   wherein an exit of the first condenser and the entry of the expansion apparatus are connected by use of a conduit,   an exit of the evaporator and an entry of the compressor are connected by use of a conduit, and   an exit of the expansion apparatus and an entry of the evaporator are connected by use of a conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The dehumidifier of  claim 11 , wherein:
 during a warm air dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve is open while the second compressor-exit-valve is closed,   during a general dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve and the second condenser-exit-valve are closed while the second compressor-exit-valve is open, and   during a cool air dehumidification mode, the first compressor-exit-valve and the first condenser-exit-valve are closed while the second compressor-exit-valve and the second condenser-exit-valve are open.   
     
     
         13 . The dehumidifier of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the third condenser is formed as the conduit connecting the exit of the first condenser or the exit of the second condenser to the entry of the expansion apparatus is disposed to pass under the water container.   
     
     
         14 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first outlet hole is disposed at a front surface, a side surface, or an upper surface of the dehumidifier, and   the second outlet hole is disposed at a rear surface or a side surface of the dehumidifier.   
     
     
         15 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second condenser and the second draft fan are disposed at an inside of an inner case.   
     
     
         16 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a filter unit.   
     
     
         17 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a humidifying element; and   a water container configured to collect the condensation water generated at the evaporator in a dehumidification mode or to store humidification water to be supplied to the humidifying element in a humidification mode.   
     
     
         18 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outlet pipe connected to the second outlet hole.   
     
     
         19 . The dehumidifier of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drain pipe configured to drain the condensation water generated at the evaporator.   
     
     
         20 . A dehumidifier, comprising:
 an outer case;   a first inlet hole provided at a front surface of the outer case;   a first outlet hole provided at an upper surface of the outer case;   a second inlet hole provided at a side surface of the outer case;   a second outlet hole provided at a rear surface of the outer case;   a first draft fan configured to move air from the first inlet hole to the first outlet hole;   a second draft fan configured to move air from the second inlet hole to the second outlet hole;   an evaporator configured to remove moisture included in the air inlet from the first inlet hole;   a compressor configured to compress refrigerant evaporated at the evaporator;   a first condenser disposed at a moving path of the air moved by use of the first draft fan;   a second condenser disposed at a moving path of the air moved by use of the second draft fan;   an expansion apparatus configured to expand the refrigerant condensed at the first condenser or the second condenser; and   an inner case configured to isolate the second condenser from the second draft fan.   
     
     
         21 . The dehumidifier of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a water container at which the condensation water generated at the evaporator is collected; and   a third condenser disposed below the water container and configured to heat-exchange with the condensation water,   wherein the expansion apparatus is configured to expand the refrigerant condensed at the first condenser, the second condenser, or the third condenser.