Heat pump and dehumidifying device

A dehumidifying apparatus comprising:

• a pressurizer for raising a pressure of a refrigerant;
• a condenser for condensing said refrigerant to heat a high-temperature heat source fluid;
• an evaporator for evaporating said refrigerant to cool process air to a temperature equal to or lower than its dew point;
• heat exchanging means disposed in a refrigerant path connecting said condenser and said evaporator, for evaporating and condensing the refrigerant under an intermediate pressure between the condensing pressure of said condenser and the evaporating pressure of said evaporator to cool said process air by evaporation of said refrigerant under said intermediate pressure and to heat said process air by condensation of said refrigerant under said intermediate pressure;
• and
• a process air path connecting said heat exchanging means and said evaporator such that said process air is successively cooled by said heat exchanging means, cooled by said evaporator, and heated by said heat exchanging means in the order named.

A dehumidifying apparatus comprising:

• a pressurizer for raising a pressure of a refrigerant;
• a condenser for condensing said refrigerant;
• an evaporator for evaporating said refrigerant to cool process air to a temperature equal to or lower than its dew point;
• and
• heat exchanging means for precooling said process air at the upstream side of said evaporator which cools said process air and reheating said process air at the downstream side of said evaporator which cools said process air;
• wherein the refrigerant before being introduced into said evaporator is supplied to said heat exchanging means.

A heat pump comprising:

• a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;
• a condenser for condensing said refrigerant to heat a high-temperature heat source fluid;
• an evaporator for evaporating said refrigerant to cool a low-temperature heat source fluid;
• and
• heat exchanger disposed in a refrigerant path connecting said condenser and said evaporator, for evaporating and condensing the refrigerant under an intermediate pressure between the condensing pressure of said condenser and the evaporating pressure of said evaporator to cool said low-temperature heat source fluid by evaporation of said refrigerant under said intermediate pressure and to heat said low-temperature heat source fluid by condensation of said refrigerant under said intermediate pressure;
• wherein said low-temperature heat source fluid is successively cooled by said heat exchanger, cooled by said evaporator, and heated by said heat exchanger in the order named.

A dehumidifying apparatus comprising:

• a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;
• a condenser for condensing said refrigerant to heat a high-temperature heat source fluid;
• an evaporator for evaporating said refrigerant to cool process air to a temperature equal to or lower than its dew point;
• heat exchanger disposed in a refrigerant path connecting said condenser and said evaporator, for evaporating and condensing the refrigerant under an intermediate pressure between the condensing pressure of said condenser and the evaporating pressure of said evaporator to cool said process air by evaporation of said refrigerant under said intermediate pressure and to heat said process air by condensation of said refrigerant under said intermediate pressure;
• and
• a process air path connecting said heat exchanger and said evaporator such that said process air is successively cooled by said heat exchanger, cooled by said evaporator, and heated by said heat exchanger in the order named.

A dehumidifying apparatus comprising:

• a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;
• a condenser for condensing said refrigerant;
• an evaporator for evaporating said refrigerant to cool process air to a temperature equal to or lower than its dew point;
• and
• heat exchanger for precooling said process air at the upstream side of said evaporator which cools said process air and reheating said process air at the downstream side of said evaporator which cools said process air;
• wherein the refrigerant before being introduced into said evaporator is supplied to said heat exchanger.