초록 ▼

An object of the present invention is to realize a cooling apparatus which does not decrease humidity and which produces a smaller temperature difference between an inlet and an outlet of a heat exchanger, i.e., reduces energy loss. In order to achieve the object, in the cooling apparatus of the pre

An object of the present invention is to realize a cooling apparatus which does not decrease humidity and which produces a smaller temperature difference between an inlet and an outlet of a heat exchanger, i.e., reduces energy loss. In order to achieve the object, in the cooling apparatus of the present invention, a material having a low heat conductivity is employed as a material of a heat exchanger. Due to employment of a material having a low heat conductivity, the temperature at the surface of the heat exchanger becomes higher than that of the refrigerant, so that the dew-point temperature increases. Therefore, the humidity of the space inside the refrigerator or the room is not decreased. Further, since the humidity of the space inside the refrigerator or the room is not decreased, the amount of latent heat of air does not decrease, so that sufficient cooling can be performed even when only a small temperature difference is produced between the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method of cooling moist air having a particular dew point, said method comprising the steps of:forming a heat exchanger having a wall, with an exterior cooling surface, and an interior chamber, said wall having substantial thickness and being formed from a material ha

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method of cooling moist air having a particular dew point, said method comprising the steps of:forming a heat exchanger having a wall, with an exterior cooling surface, and an interior chamber, said wall having substantial thickness and being formed from a material having substantial low-heat conductivity;placing said exterior cooling surface in contact with said moist air, said moist air having a temperature greater than said dew point;detecting at least the temperature and/or humidity of said moist air;circulating refrigerant through said interior chamber, said refrigerant drawing heat from said wall to lower the temperature of said cooling surface to a value that is greater than the temperature of said refrigerant and no lower than or equal to said dew point;circulating an amount of said moist air into contact with said exterior cooling surface, said amount being a function of said temperature and/or said humidity detected in said step of detecting for maintaining the temperature of said moist air contacting said exterior cooling surface above said dew point; andcooling said moist air, via said exterior cooling surface, such that said moist air cools only to temperatures that exceed said dew point.