Device for eliminating condensate for air conditioners, air conditioner and method for eliminating condensate

Abstract

A device for eliminating condensation for air conditioners comprises a control unit and a valve connected to the control unit, the valve having an inlet suitable for being connected to at least one first heat exchanger and at least one first outlet suitable for being connected to at least one second heat exchanger, wherein the control unit is suitable for setting the opening and the closing of the first outlet of the valve for conveying the condensation towards the second heat exchanger.

1 . A device for eliminating condensation for air conditioners, the device comprising a control unit and a valve connected to the control unit, the valve having an inlet suitable for being connected to at least one first heat exchanger and at least one first outlet suitable for being connected to at least one second heat exchanger, wherein the control unit is suitable for setting the opening and the closing of the first outlet of the valve for conveying the condensation towards the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve has at least one second outlet suitable for being connected to the first heat exchanger, and the control unit is suitable for setting the opening and the closing of the second outlet of the valve for conveying the condensation towards the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a pump having an inlet suitable for being connected to the first heat exchanger and/or to the second heat exchanger, the pump being suitable for conveying the condensation arriving from the first heat exchanger and/or from the second heat exchanger towards the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one collecting tank for the condensation interposed between the first heat exchanger and the pump and/or between the second heat exchanger and the pump, the tank being suitable for collecting the condensation arriving from the first heat exchanger and/or from the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein it comprises at least one level sensor positioned in the collecting tank and connected to the control unit. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one nebulizer or vaporizer positioned downstream of the valve. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the valve has a third outlet connected to the nebulizer or vaporizer. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one humidity sensor suitable for being positioned in a room, wherein the humidity sensor is connected to the control unit. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit commands the opening and the closing of the third outlet of the valve towards the nebulizer or vaporizer depending on a signal arriving from the level sensor and/or from the humidity sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is suitable for being connected to a cycle inversion valve of the air conditioner and commands the opening and the closing of the outlet of the valve of the device towards the first heat exchanger or towards the second heat exchanger depending on the cycle inversion. 
     
     
         12 . An air conditioner comprising a circuit for the circulation of a coolant fluid; a compressor for bringing the coolant fluid from a first pressure to a second pressure which is higher than the first; a first heat exchanger positioned downstream of the compressor; a second heat exchanger positioned upstream of the compressor; a throttling unit, preferably a capillary tube or a control valve, interposed between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and a device for eliminating condensation according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet of the valve is connected at least to the second heat exchanger; an outlet of the valve is connected to the first heat exchanger; and the control unit is suitable for setting the opening and the closing of the outlet of the valve for conveying the condensation towards the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein the inlet of the valve is connected to the first heat exchanger, an outlet of the valve is connected to the second heat exchanger, and the control unit is suitable for setting the opening and the closing of the outlet of the valve for conveying the condensation towards the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein the inlet of the pump is connected to the first heat exchanger and/or to the second heat exchanger for conveying the condensation arriving from the first heat exchanger and/or from the second heat exchanger towards the valve. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner according to  claim 11 , wherein it comprises a coolant cycle inversion valve, wherein the control unit commands the opening and the closing of the outlet of the valve of the device towards the first heat exchanger or towards the second heat exchanger depending on the cycle inversion. 
     
     
         16 . A method for eliminating condensation in an air conditioner comprising a circuit for the circulation of a coolant fluid; a compressor for bringing the coolant fluid from a first pressure to a second pressure which is higher than the first, a first heat exchanger positioned downstream of the compressor; a second heat exchanger positioned upstream of the compressor; a throttling unit, preferably a capillary tube or a control valve, interposed between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and a device for eliminating condensation according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet of the valve is connected to the second heat exchanger and an outlet of the valve is connected to the first heat exchanger; the method comprising the steps of: conveying the condensation arriving from the second heat exchanger towards the valve, and opening the outlet of the valve by means of the control unit for conveying the condensation towards the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein it comprises the step of ascertaining the quantity of condensation upstream of the valve and if the quantity of condensation is greater than a predetermined value, opening the valve by means of the control unit for conveying the condensation towards a nebulizer or vaporizer. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the air conditioner comprises a coolant fluid cycle inversion valve for causing operation of the air conditioner in cooling or heating mode, wherein the inlet of the valve of the device for eliminating condensation is connected to the first heat exchanger and wherein an outlet of the valve is connected to the second heat exchanger, the method being characterised in that it comprises the steps of: determining the cooling or heating operating mode of the air conditioner; if the mode is cooling, conveying the condensation arriving from the second heat exchanger towards the valve and opening the second outlet of the valve towards the first heat exchanger; if the operating mode is heating, conveying the condensation arriving from the first heat exchanger towards the valve and opening the first outlet of the valve towards the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein it comprises the step of ascertaining the humidity of the room in which at least the second heat exchanger is located and opening the valve by means of the control unit for conveying the condensation towards a nebulizer or vaporizer if the humidity is greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein it comprises the step of collecting the condensation arriving from the first heat exchanger and/or from the second heat exchanger in a collecting tank and ascertaining the level of condensation in the collecting tank before conveying the condensation towards the valve, preferably by means of a pump.