Humidity control apparatus

A humidity control apparatus, comprising:

• a refrigerant circuit which includes a compressor, and a first adsorption heat exchanger and a second adsorption heat exchanger each carrying an adsorbent, and which performs a first refrigeration cycle operation in which the first adsorption heat exchanger serves as a radiator and the second adsorption heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, and a second refrigeration cycle operation in which the second adsorption heat exchanger serves as a radiator and the first adsorption heat exchanger serves as an evaporator;
• an air supply fan configured to supply outdoor air to an indoor space;
• an exhaust fan configured to exhaust indoor air to an outdoor space;
• and
• a switching mechanism configured to switch a flow path of the air between a first path in which the outdoor air passes through the first adsorption heat exchanger and thereafter flows into the indoor space, and the indoor air passes through the second adsorption heat exchanger and is thereafter exhausted to the outdoor space, and a second path in which the outdoor air passes through the second adsorption heat exchanger and thereafter flows into the indoor space, and the indoor air passes through the first adsorption heat exchanger and is thereafter exhausted to the outdoor space, wherein
• the humidity control apparatus performs
• a first operation in which the air supply fan and the exhaust fan are actuated;
• the refrigerant circuit alternately performs the first refrigeration cycle operation and the second refrigeration cycle operation every predetermined period of time;
• and the switching mechanism alternately sets the flow path of the air to the first path and the second path in conjunction with the alternate change of the refrigeration cycle operation of the refrigerant circuit, thereby dehumidifying or humidifying the outdoor air to be supplied to the indoor space, and
• a second operation in which the air supply fan and the exhaust fan are actuated;
• the compressor of the refrigerant circuit is stopped;
• and the switching mechanism alternately sets the flow path of the air to the first path and the second path every predetermined period of time.