AIR-CONDITIONING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to an air-conditioning device for a space to be air-conditioned. The air-conditioning device has a housing including an air supply and an air discharge. In the housing, a flow path is formed between the air supply and the air discharge. In the flow path, at least one heat exchanger, a blower, and a means for generating an excited gas are provided. Furthermore, a surface coating is provided in the flow path, which is configured for the catalytic decomposition of the ozone content of the excited gas, and which is arranged downstream of the means for generating the excited gas.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning device for a space to be air-conditioned, comprising: a housing including an air supply, an air discharge, and at least one flow path formed between the air supply and the air discharge; and, at least one heat exchanger, a blower, and a means for generating an excited gas arranged in the at least one flow path.

2. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for generating the excited gas comprises a piezoelectric transformer.

3. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for generating the excited gas comprises a plasma generator, an ionizer, or an ozone generator.

4. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 1, wherein a surface coating is arranged downstream of the means for generating the excited gas in the at least one flow path for the catalytic reduction of the ozone content of the excited gas.

5. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 1, wherein a means for increasing the activity/reactivity is arranged in the at least one flow path in the housing.

6. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 5, wherein the means for generating the excited gas is arranged in the at least one flow path between the blower and the means for increasing the activity/reactivity.

7. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 6, wherein the blower is arranged upstream of the means for increasing the activity/reactivity in the at least one flow path, or the blower is arranged downstream of the means for increasing the activity/reactivity in the at least one flow path.

8. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a filter arranged in the housing and upstream of the at least one heat exchanger in the at least one flow path.

9. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 8, wherein the means for generating the excited gas is arranged upstream of the filter in the at least one flow path or is arranged downstream of the filter in the at least one flow path.

10. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 5, wherein a catalyst structure, an activated carbon structure, or a reactive filter is arranged upstream of the means for increasing the activity/reactivity in the at least one flow path.

11. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 10, wherein the means for increasing the activity/reactivity has a catalytically active surface by means of which molecules are degradable through heterogeneous oxidation.

12. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 10, wherein the means for increasing the activity/reactivity has a catalytically active surface by means of which microorganisms are inhibited in growth or killed through heterogeneous oxidation.

13. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a distributor flap arranged upstream of the air supply into the housing, the distributor flap is selectively in fluid communication with an ambient air or an internal air of the space.

14. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 13, further comprising a filter arranged upstream of the distributor flap to filter the ambient air.

15. The air-conditioning device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a distributing system arranged downstream of the air discharge.

16. A motor vehicle, comprising: an air-conditioning device for a space of the motor vehicle to be air-conditioned, the air-conditioning device comprising: a housing including an air supply, an air discharge, and at least one flow path formed between the air supply and the air discharge; at least one heat exchanger, a blower, and a piezoelectric transformer for generating an excited gas arranged in the at least one flow path; and, a surface coating arranged on the at least one heat exchanger and downstream of the piezoelectric transformer in the at least one flow path.

17. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 16, further comprising a means for increasing the activity/reactivity arranged in the at least one flow path in the housing.

18. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 17, wherein the blower is arranged upstream of the means for increasing the activity/reactivity in the at least one flow path.

19. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 16, wherein: a filter is arranged in the housing and upstream of the heat exchanger in the at least one flow path; and, the piezoelectric transformer is arranged upstream of the filter in the at least one flow path or is arranged downstream of the filter in the at least one flow path.

20. An air-conditioning device for a space to be air-conditioned, comprising: a housing including an air supply, an air discharge, and at least one flow path formed between the air supply and the air discharge; at least one heat exchanger, a blower, and a piezoelectric transformer for generating an excited gas arranged in the at least one flow path; a surface coating arranged downstream of the piezoelectric transformer in the at least one flow path; and, a means for increasing the activity/reactivity arranged in the at least one flow path in the housing; wherein the piezoelectric transformer is arranged between the blower and the means for increasing the activity/reactivity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Various embodiments are disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the air-conditioning device according to the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the air-conditioning device according to the invention;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the air-conditioning device according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the air-conditioning device according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the air-conditioning device according to the invention;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the air-conditioning device according to the invention; and,

[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the use of the air-conditioning device according to the invention in a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements. It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the disclosed aspects.

[0037] The illustrated embodiments are only examples of how the air-conditioning device according to the invention can be configured and is not to be understood as a final restriction. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

[0038] Furthermore, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0039] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It should be understood that any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the example embodiments.

[0040] It should be appreciated that the term substantially is synonymous with terms such as nearly, very nearly, about, approximately, around, bordering on, close to, essentially, in the neighborhood of, in the vicinity of, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. It should be appreciated that the term proximate is synonymous with terms such as nearby, close, adjacent, neighboring, immediate, adjoining, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. The term approximately is intended to mean values within ten percent of the specified value.

[0041] FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of air-conditioning device 1, which is preferably used for air-conditioning of the passenger compartment or interior of motor vehicles. Air-conditioning device 1 comprises housing 20 (shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 1-6). Housing 20 has formed air supply 21 (for the air not conditioned) and air discharge 22 (conditioned and purified air). Between air supply 21 and air discharge 22, flow path 25 is defined. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in flow path 25 in flow direction L in housing 20 downstream of air supply 21, means for generating an excited gas 5, heat exchanger 7, blower 8, and means for increasing the activity/reactivity 9 are provided. Via heat exchanger 7, heat Q is withdrawn from the air to be conditioned and discharged to the environment.

[0042] According to one embodiment, surface coating 10 is provided, for example, on heat exchanger 7. Surface coating 10 serves for catalytic degradation of the ozone content or the excited gas or plasma. The attachment of surface coating 10 on heat exchanger 7 has the advantage that there is a large surface area available to achieve the desired effect of the catalytic degradation. Other possibilities for providing surface coating 10 are provided by blower 8 and/or the evaporator blower. Here, the sufficient effect for the catalytic degradation is achieved by the high turbulence of the air to be conditioned. Another way of applying surface coating 10 is provided by the inner walls (not shown) of distribution system 11. This has the advantage that in distribution system 11, a large surface is available anyway, without the need for additional components for the application of the surface coating 10.

[0043] Distributor flap 4 is arranged upstream of air supply 21 of housing 20, so that selectively ambient air 31 or internal air 32 can be supplied to housing 20 for air-conditioning. From air discharge 22 of housing 20, the conditioned air is conducted into space 33 to be air-conditioned, which in the illustration shown in FIG. 1 is represented by an arrow to internal air 32. Means for generating an excited gas 5 is a piezoelectric transformer which functions as a plasma generator, an ionizer, or an ozone generator. The excited gas achieves a sterilization and a fresh effect of the air to be conditioned.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of air-conditioning device 1 according to the invention. Here, another arrangement of the elements of air-conditioning device 1 causing the air-conditioning is illustrated within housing 20. Air supply 21 is followed by heat exchanger 7, which is provided with surface coating 10. Then, further provided in flow direction L in flow path 25 are blower 8, means for generating an excited gas 5, and means for increasing the activity/reactivity 9.

[0045] FIGS. 3 and 4 show embodiments of the invention wherein air discharge 22 is arranged upstream of distributing system 11. With the distribution system, the conditioned air can be distributed in a targeted manner in space 33 to be air-conditioned. The arrangement of the elements in housing 20 of the embodiment described in FIG. 3 corresponds to the arrangement as described in FIG. 1. Likewise, the arrangement of the elements in housing 20 of the embodiment described in FIG. 4 corresponds to the embodiment of the arrangement as described in FIG. 2. Likewise, distributor flap 4 and filter 3 of ambient air 31, for particles, dirt, or water, are arranged upstream of air supply 21 in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of air-conditioning device 1. In housing 20, in flow direction L, means for generating an excited gas 5, filter 6, heat exchanger 7 (possibly with a surface coating, not shown here), blower 8, and means for increasing the activity/reactivity 9 are arranged between air supply 21 and air discharge 22. Filter 6 may already contain reactive constituents or catalytically active constituents in order to reduce the ozone content of the air to be conditioned.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. In housing 20, in flow direction L, filter 6, heat exchanger 7 (possibly with a surface coating, not shown here), blower 8, means for generating an excited gas 5, and means for increasing the activity/reactivity 9 are arranged between air supply 21 and air discharge 22.

[0048] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the use of air-conditioning device 1 according to the invention in motor vehicle 35 for air-conditioning. Space 33 to be air-conditioned is the interior or the passenger compartment of motor vehicle 35.

[0049] It will be appreciated that various aspects of the disclosure above and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. All of the above-described embodiments of the air-conditioning device can be used both individually and in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0050] 1 Air-conditioning device [0051] 3 Filter [0052] 4 Distributor flap [0053] 5 Means for generating an excited gas [0054] 6 Filter [0055] 7 Heat exchanger [0056] 8 Blower [0057] 9 Means for increasing the activity/reactivity [0058] 10 Surface coating [0059] 11 Distributing system [0060] 20 Housing [0061] 21 Air supply [0062] 22 Air discharge [0063] 25 Flow path [0064] 31 Ambient air [0065] 32 Internal air [0066] 33 Space [0067] 35 Motor vehicle [0068] L Flow direction [0069] Q Heat