Air conditioner ventilation device and air conditioner ventilation method

Abstract

An outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer defines an outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel in which an outdoor heat exchanger is located. The outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer has a first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, an outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet, and a second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet. The first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet each are connected to an exterior space. The second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet is connected to a target room. An outdoor fan creates an airflow in the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel. The airflow includes outdoor air in the exterior space drawn through the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and indoor air in the target room drawn through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, passing through the outdoor heat exchanger, and discharged to the exterior space through the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet.

1 . An air conditioner ventilation device, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger being operable as an evaporator to evaporate a refrigerant,   an indoor heat exchanger being operable as a condenser to condense the refrigerant;   a cooperative system to constitute, together with the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant circulates;   an indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer having an indoor-heat-exchanger inlet and an indoor-heat-exchanger outlet each connected to a target room to be air-conditioned, the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer defining an indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel connecting the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet to the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet, the indoor heat exchanger being located in the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel;   an indoor fan located in the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel, the indoor fan being configured to create an airflow in the indoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel, the airflow including indoor air in the target room drawn through the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet, passing through the indoor heat exchanger, and discharged to the target room through the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet;   an outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer having a first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, an outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet, and a second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet each being connected to an exterior space isolated from the target room, the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet being connected to the target room, the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer defining an outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel connecting the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet to the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet, the outdoor heat exchanger being located in the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel;   an outdoor fan located in the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel, the outdoor fan being configured to create an airflow in the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel, the airflow including outdoor air in the exterior space drawn through the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the indoor air in the target room drawn through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, the drawn outdoor air and the drawn indoor air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor air and the indoor air being discharged to the exterior space through the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet;   an outdoor temperature sensor to detect temperature of the outdoor air;   a damper to adjust an amount of the indoor air flowing into the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel through the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet; and   a controller to control the damper to increase the amount of the indoor air flowing into the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel through the second outdoor-heat exchanger inlet when a detection result of the outdoor temperature sensor decreases below a predetermined lowest threshold that is a temperature at which there is a possibility that frosting occurs.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner ventilation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet faces an interior of the target room at a position farther from the indoor-heat-exchanger outlet than the indoor-heat-exchanger inlet.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner ventilation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outside-air intake duct having an opening at a first end facing the exterior space, and an opening at a second end connected to the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet,   wherein the outside-air intake duct has, in a portion facing the target room between the first end and the second end, a through-hole through which the indoor air is drawn in to allow the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet to serve as the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, and   the damper adjusts the amount of the indoor air flowing into the outside-air intake duct through the through-hole.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner ventilation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the outdoor-heat-exchanger ventilation channel definer is located in the exterior space, and the first outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet and the outdoor-heat-exchanger outlet face the exterior space,   the air conditioner ventilation device further comprises an indoor-air intake duct having an opening at a first end facing an interior of the target room, and an opening at a second end connected to the second outdoor-heat-exchanger inlet, and   the damper adjusts the amount of the indoor air flowing into the indoor-air intake duct through the opening at the first end of the indoor-air intake duct.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An air conditioner ventilation method, comprising:
 performing, between indoor air and an indoor heat exchanger, indoor heat exchange including creating an airflow including the indoor air drawn in from a target room to be air-conditioned and causing the indoor air to pass through the indoor heat exchanger and to return to the target room while a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulate is constituted using the indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger being operable as an evaporator to evaporate the refrigerant, the indoor heat exchanger being operable as a condenser to condense the refrigerant;   performing outdoor heat exchange and ventilation including drawing in outdoor air from an exterior space isolated from the target room and drawing in the indoor air from the target room, and causing the outside air and the indoor air drawn in to pass through the outdoor heat exchanger and to be discharged to the exterior space; and   controlling the amount of the indoor air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger to increase the amount of the indoor air passing therethrough when a detection result of temperature of the outdoor air decreases below a predetermined lowest threshold that is a temperature at which there is a possibility that frosting occurs.