Heating medium temperature control device having dehumidification function

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function. The device is connected to a temperature regulating apparatus and controls a temperature of a circulating heating medium. The device includes a main tank containing the heating medium, a heat exchange part, a switching part, and a heating medium circulation part. The heat exchange part includes a thermoelectric element and a heating medium block provided with a flow path through which the heating medium is returned from the temperature regulating apparatus to the main tank. The switching part includes a bypass inlet, and first and second bypass outlets. The heating medium circulation part includes an inflow line connecting the temperature regulating apparatus and the heating medium block, a discharge line connecting the first bypass outlet and the temperature regulating apparatus, and a bypass line connecting the second bypass outlet and the heating medium block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating medium temperature control device having a dehumidification function connected to a temperature regulating apparatus provided with a tube and controlling a temperature of the heating medium circulating through the tube, the heating medium temperature control device comprising:
 a main tank accommodating the circulating heating medium;   a heat exchange part including a thermoelectric element and a heating medium block disposed on one side of the thermoelectric element and provided with a flow path through which the heating medium returned from the temperature regulating apparatus is transferred to the main tank;   a switching part including a bypass inlet through which the heating medium is supplied from the main tank, a first bypass outlet and a second bypass outlet selectively opened and closed to discharge the heating medium; and   a heating medium circulation part including an inflow line connecting the temperature regulating apparatus and the heating medium block, a discharge line connecting the first bypass outlet and the temperature regulating apparatus, and a bypass line connecting the second bypass outlet and the heating medium block.   
     
     
         2 . The heating medium temperature control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to selectively control the thermoelectric element and the switching part in response to a cooling mode, a heating mode, and a dehumidification mode,
 wherein the controller controls the switching part to open the second bypass outlet in the dehumidification mode.   
     
     
         3 . The heating medium temperature control device of  claim 2 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the thermoelectric element or the temperature of the heating medium accommodated in at least one of the main tank and the heating medium block,
 wherein the controller controls the switching part such that an open state of the second bypass outlet is maintained when a temperature value sensed through the temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature value and the first bypass outlet is open when the temperature value is equal to or greater than the preset temperature value in the dehumidification mode.   
     
     
         4 . The heating medium temperature control device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary tank for receiving condensed water generated in the dehumidification mode;   an auxiliary line connecting the auxiliary tank and the main tank;   an auxiliary pump for supplying the condensed water from the auxiliary tank to the main tank through the auxiliary line; and   a water level sensor configured to sense a water level of the auxiliary tank,   wherein the controller determines whether to operate the auxiliary pump based on water level information from the water level sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The heating medium temperature control device of  claim 2 , further comprising an auxiliary heat dissipation part including an auxiliary thermoelectric element, and an auxiliary heating medium block disposed on one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element,
 wherein the auxiliary heating medium block includes a flow path for the heating medium, the flow path having an auxiliary block inlet and an auxiliary block outlet formed at one end and the other end thereof, and   wherein the bypass line includes a first bypass line connecting the second bypass outlet and the auxiliary block inlet, and a second bypass line connecting the auxiliary block outlet and the heating medium block.   
     
     
         6 . The heating medium temperature control device of  claim 5 , wherein the one side of the auxiliary thermoelectric element is fixed and operated as a cooling surface for performing a cooling action. 
     
     
         7 . The heating medium temperature control device of  claim 6 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the thermoelectric element or the temperature of the heating medium accommodated in at least one of the main tank and the heating medium block,
 wherein in the dehumidification mode, the controller performs,
 control such that the heating medium circulates in a state in which the auxiliary thermoelectric element does not operate when a temperature value sensed through the temperature sensor is less than a preset temperature value, and 
 control such that the heating medium cooled through heat exchange circulates in a state in which the auxiliary thermoelectric element operates when the temperature value is equal to or greater than the preset temperature value. 
   
     
     
         8 . The heating medium temperature control device of  claim 1 , further comprising a circulation pump for inducing circulation of the heating medium.