JP2003287354A - Refrigerator having photocatalyst filter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To irradiate to a photocatalyst in maximum efficiency with an ultraviolet ray radiated from a planar ultraviolet lamp, and to improve a flow of cold air to a photocatalyst filter without changing a form of the photocatalyst filter incorporated into a refrigerator. <P>SOLUTION: The photocatalyst filter 2 and the planar ultraviolet lamp 3 are arranged in a ventilation passage of the refrigerator in an opposed state. The photocatalyst filter 2 is a corrugate structure or a honeycomb structure constituted by laminating a plurality of waveform belts 5 for forming a large number of air vents 4 via a plate. The waveform belts 5 are inclined to an ultraviolet ray radiated from the planar ultraviolet lamp 3, and the photocatalyst filter 2 is positioned so that a straight line L for connecting the front end upper edge P of the lower air vent 4a and the rear end upper edge Q of the upper air vent 4b among the vertically adjacent air vents becomes parallel to the ultraviolet ray S radiated from the planar ultraviolet lamp 3. A straightening plate 14 for introducing the cold air is arranged in the air vents 4 of the photocatalyst filter 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a photocatalytic filter, and more particularly to a refrigerator in which the photocatalytic filter is irradiated with ultraviolet rays at maximum efficiency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Refrigerators have been developed which are deodorized and sterilized by a photocatalyst (for example, titanium oxide) and an ultraviolet ray sterilizing action. A refrigerator provided with this photocatalytic filter is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a photocatalytic filter 2 in a ventilation path 1 provided on the back side of a refrigerating room R, and a flat type ultraviolet lamp arranged so as to face the photocatalytic filter 2. 3 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the photocatalytic filter 2 has a corrugated structure or a honeycomb structure formed by laminating a plurality of corrugated bands 5 forming a large number of vent holes 4 with a flat plate interposed therebetween. A photocatalyst is attached to at least one surface. The wavy strip 5 is not horizontal to the horizontal plane,
It is tilted at a predetermined angle. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the vent holes 4 of the photocatalytic filter 2 are inclined. The photocatalyst is an adsorbent such as zeolite carrying a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide, and is applied or kneaded on the surface layer of the wavy band 5 via a binder.

The flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 is attached to a notched hole portion of the rear plate 6 of the refrigerating compartment R, and the ultraviolet ray emitting surface 3a on the side facing the photocatalytic filter 2 is made of quartz glass.
The light emitting surface 3b on the refrigerating compartment R side is formed of ordinary soda glass. Therefore, due to the passing wavelength characteristic, normal visible light is emitted from the light emitting surface 3b on the refrigerating compartment R side, and harmful ultraviolet rays are not emitted, but ultraviolet rays are emitted from the ultraviolet ray emitting surface 3a toward the photocatalytic filter 2.

By the way, the return cool air from the refrigerating room R flows into the ventilation passage 1 from the return port 6a at the lower portion of the rear plate 6 as shown in FIG. After moving through the air holes 4 of the photocatalyst filter 2, it flows into the evaporator (cooler) 8. At this time, when the returned cool air passes through the ventilation hole 4 of the photocatalyst filter 2, the photocatalyst is activated by the ultraviolet irradiation from the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3, and the odor component contained in the cool air is activated by the activated photocatalyst. At the same time as being decomposed, germs and the like are sterilized by ultraviolet irradiation. As a result, deodorization and sterilization are simultaneously performed.

The deodorized and sterilized cold air is heat-exchanged by an evaporator 8 and cooled to a predetermined temperature, and is then cooled by a rotary fan 7 from a blow-out port 1a at an upper end of a ventilation passage 1 to a refrigerating chamber R.
It is blown out inside. In this way, the cool air circulates between the refrigerating compartment R and the ventilation passage 1 to maintain the inside of the refrigerating compartment R at a suitable cooling temperature.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 9 denotes a defrosting heater, which heats the evaporator 8 to remove the defrost when frost adheres to the evaporator 8. 10 is an outer box 11 and an inner box 12 of the refrigerator
It is a heat insulating material filled between and (see FIG. 1). A freezing room F is provided below the refrigerating room R, but the description thereof is omitted. The front door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment R is also omitted.

[0008]

In the above refrigerator, the air passage 1 is provided with the photocatalyst filter 2 and the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3, so that the deodorization and sterilization of the cool air passing through the air passage 1 can be prevented. Since it is performed, odorless and aseptic cold air can be supplied into the refrigerator compartment R. Therefore, it is convenient that the stored contents in the refrigerating room R are kept refrigerated under a suitable cooling environment and no foul odor will drift even if the front door of the refrigerator is opened.

However, due to the positional relationship between the photocatalytic filter 2 and the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 are not always applied to the photocatalytic filter 2 with high efficiency. That is, among the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 as shown in FIG. 4A, the ultraviolet rays between the ultraviolet rays A and the ultraviolet rays B pass through the ventilation holes 4 of the photocatalytic filter 2, and the wavy band 5 is formed. Cannot sufficiently irradiate the photocatalyst on the surface layer.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, a reflection plate 13 is provided on the side opposite to the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 with the photocatalyst filter 2 interposed therebetween, and the vent hole 4 of the photocatalyst filter 2 is provided.
The ultraviolet rays passing through the reflecting plate 13 are reflected by the reflection plate 13, and the reflected ultraviolet rays are re-irradiated to the photocatalyst filter 2 to increase the irradiation efficiency of the ultraviolet rays to the photocatalyst. However, in this case, since it is necessary to install the reflection plate 13, the cost becomes high, and since the reflected light (reflected ultraviolet light) by the reflection plate 13 is used, the ultraviolet light becomes weak and the photocatalyst can be sufficiently activated. There wasn't.

In order to improve the irradiation efficiency of the ultraviolet rays to the photocatalyst without installing the reflection plate 13, it is sufficient to prevent the ultraviolet rays from passing through the ventilation holes 4 of the photocatalytic filter 2. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the inclination angle of the wavy band 5 of the photocatalytic filter 2 to prevent passage of ultraviolet rays as shown in FIG. 5A, but in that case, the irradiation area for the wavy band 5 is narrowed. The irradiation efficiency of the ultraviolet rays to the photocatalyst is lowered, and the ventilation hole 4 has a steep slope, so that the ventilation resistance of cold air is increased.

Further, in order to prevent ultraviolet rays passing through the ventilation hole 4 of the photocatalytic filter 2 without increasing the inclination angle of the wavy belt 5 of the photocatalytic filter 2, as shown in FIG. A means for increasing the width may be considered, but in that case, the overall shape of the photocatalytic filter 2 becomes large, which makes it difficult to install the photocatalyst filter 2 in the ventilation passage 1, resulting in a problem of high cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems in the prior art, and its purpose is to apply the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp to the photocatalyst without changing the form of the photocatalyst filter. It is to provide a refrigerator equipped with a photocatalytic filter that can be irradiated with maximum efficiency. Another object of the present invention is to improve the flow of cold air through the ventilation holes of the photocatalytic filter.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides a photocatalyst filter having a plurality of vent holes in a vent passage provided in a refrigerator, and an ultraviolet ray to the photocatalyst filter. A refrigerator provided with a flat type ultraviolet lamp to irradiate is arranged so as to sterilize and deodorize cold air passing through a vent hole of the photocatalyst filter, wherein the photocatalyst filter is formed by stacking a plurality of wavy bands having vent holes. The photocatalyst filter has a corrugated structure or a honeycomb structure, and the vent hole of the photocatalyst filter is inclined with respect to the ultraviolet rays emitted from the planar ultraviolet lamp, and the upper edge of the front end of one of the adjacent vent holes is formed. The photocatalytic filter is positioned such that the straight line connecting the upper edge of the rear end of the other vent and the upper edge of the other vent is parallel to the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp. That. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, a rectifying plate for guiding cool air to the ventilation hole of the photocatalytic filter is provided in the vicinity of the surface of the photocatalytic filter opposite to the surface facing the flat type ultraviolet lamp in the ventilation passage. Characterize.

According to the first aspect of the invention, all the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp are uniformly irradiated to the wavy band of the photocatalytic filter, that is, the ultraviolet rays passing through the ventilation holes of the photocatalytic filter are constituted by the above structure. Disappear.
As a result, the leakage of ultraviolet rays is completely prevented, and the irradiation efficiency of ultraviolet rays on the photocatalyst can be maximized.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the return cool air rising in the ventilation passage is rectified by the straightening plate toward the ventilation hole of the photocatalytic filter, so that the circulation of the cool air to the ventilation hole of the photocatalytic filter can be improved.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present description, the same members as those of the above-described conventional device are designated by the same reference numerals. Figure 4 (b)
[FIG. 6] is an explanatory view showing an embodiment of a refrigerator provided with a photocatalytic filter according to the present invention, and is a diagram showing a positional relationship between the planar ultraviolet lamp 3 and the photocatalytic filter 2. In the present embodiment example, among the vent holes 4 that are vertically adjacent to each other in the photocatalyst filter 2, the front vent upper edge P (upper end edge on the side facing the planar ultraviolet lamp 3) of the lower vent hole 4 a and the upper vent Vent 4b
A straight line L connecting the rear upper edge Q (upper edge on the side not facing the flat-type ultraviolet lamp 3) is the flat-type ultraviolet lamp 3.
The photocatalytic filter 2 is positioned so as to be parallel to the ultraviolet rays S emitted from the photocatalytic filter 2.

When the photocatalytic filter 2 is positioned in this manner, the light flux of the ultraviolet rays S emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 is uniformly applied to the wavy band 5. Therefore,
The ultraviolet irradiation efficiency with respect to the photocatalytic filter 2 can be maximized. In this case, if the photocatalyst layer is provided in advance on the irradiation surface of the ultraviolet rays S, that is, the lower surface side of the wavy band 5, the photocatalyst is activated to the maximum by receiving the maximum amount of light energy.

The photocatalyst filter 2 and the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 are specified by the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 and the photocatalytic filter 2 in the ventilation passage 1 provided on the back side of the refrigerating room R in the refrigerator as in the conventional case. It is used by being incorporated based on the positional relationship of.

Flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 and photocatalyst filter 2
When is installed in the ventilation path 1 of the refrigerator, the angle θ formed by the ultraviolet radiation surface 3a of the flat ultraviolet lamp 3 in the above-mentioned specific positional relationship and the light receiving surface of the photocatalytic filter 2 facing this is maintained. Therefore, it can be easily incorporated. Therefore, after the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 is attached to the back plate 6 of the refrigerating room R, the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 is attached.
Of the photocatalytic filter 2 using the ultraviolet radiation surface 3a of
The photocatalyst filter 2 can be positioned and attached so that the angle formed with the light receiving surface of is θ. The distance between the flat-type ultraviolet lamp 3 and the photocatalytic filter 2 is not particularly limited as long as the angle θ can be reliably maintained.
An appropriate interval can be selected in consideration of the space in the air passage 1.

In this way, when the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 and the photocatalytic filter 2 are arranged in the ventilation passage 1 of the refrigerator, the return cold air rising in the ventilation passage 1 of the photocatalytic filter 2 as in the conventional case. It flows through the ventilation hole 4 and flows to the evaporator 8 side. At this time, the returned cool air passing through the ventilation holes 4 of the photocatalyst filter 2 is decomposed into odor components contained in the cool air by the photochemical reaction of the photocatalyst which is activated to the maximum as described above, and finally, carbon dioxide is removed. , Hydrogen, oxygen, water, etc. are deodorized. At that time, since the odorous component is adsorbed by the adsorbent such as zeolite mixed in the photocatalyst layer, the deodorizing action of the photocatalyst can be enhanced.

Further, since the returned cool air passing through the ventilation hole 4 of the photocatalyst filter 2 comes into contact with the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3, the bacteria mixed in the cold air are sterilized by the ultraviolet rays. Be sterilized. Then, germs and the like sterilized by ultraviolet rays are decomposed by the photocatalyst. This ensures that bacteria and the like in the cool air are sterilized.
Ultraviolet rays having wavelengths near 254 nm and 360 nm are preferable because they have a bactericidal action. When the wavelength is in the vicinity of 185 nm, ozone is generated and the bactericidal power is increased, but when ozone having a high concentration is generated, it may be harmful, so it is preferable to suppress the generated ozone concentration to about 5 ppm.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, it is preferable to provide a rectifying plate 14 near the surface of the photocatalytic filter 2 opposite to the surface facing the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3. This straightening plate 14
By this, the flow of the returning cool air rising in the ventilation path 1 can be rectified and the cool air can be guided to the ventilation hole 4 of the photocatalytic filter 2. As a result, the circulation of cold air through the ventilation holes 4 of the photocatalytic filter 2 can be improved.

In this embodiment, all the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 are wavy bands 5 of the photocatalytic filter 2.
As a result, the ultraviolet rays that pass through the vent holes 4 of the photocatalytic filter 2 disappear. Therefore, it is not necessary to install the reflection plate 13 in the ventilation path 1 as in the conventional case. or,
It is not necessary to increase the inclination angle of the wavy band 5 of the photocatalytic filter 2 or increase the width of the wavy band 5.

On the other hand, FIG. 4 (c) shows the upper edge of the front end upper edge P of the lower vent hole 4a (the upper edge on the side facing the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3) of the upper and lower wavy bands 5 of the photocatalytic filter 2. ) And a rear end upper edge Q (upper edge on the side not facing the planar ultraviolet lamp 3) of the upper vent hole 4b.
Is the case of the comparative example which is not parallel to the ultraviolet rays S emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3.

According to this comparative example, the area of the wavy band 5 of the photocatalytic filter 2 irradiated with the light flux of the ultraviolet rays S emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp 3 is narrowed. Therefore, a part of the photocatalyst layer is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays, which causes a decrease in irradiation efficiency and a decrease in activation of the photocatalyst.

[0026]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, a photocatalytic filter having a corrugated structure or a honeycomb structure having a plurality of ventilation holes provided in the ventilation passage of a refrigerator, and the photocatalytic filter is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. In the positional relationship with the flat type ultraviolet lamp, the vent hole of the photocatalytic filter is inclined with respect to the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp, and the front end upper edge of one of the adjacent vent holes and the other of The photocatalytic filter was positioned so that the straight line connecting the upper edge of the rear end of the ventilation hole was parallel to the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp, so the flat type ultraviolet lamp radiated without changing the shape of the photocatalytic filter. The generated ultraviolet rays can be applied to the photocatalyst with maximum irradiation efficiency. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a refrigerator in which the photocatalyst of the photocatalyst filter is activated to the maximum and the deodorizing effect is improved, and at the same time, the sterilizing effect by ultraviolet irradiation is obtained. Further, according to the invention of claim 2, the flow of the returning cool air rising in the ventilation passage is rectified by the rectifying plate and guided to the ventilation hole of the photocatalytic filter, so that the cooling air can be smoothly passed through the ventilation hole of the photocatalytic filter. Flowing. This has the effect of improving the circulation of cold air and enhancing the cooling function of the refrigerator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerating compartment showing an example of a refrigerator provided with a photocatalytic filter.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a photocatalytic filter.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity where a photocatalytic filter and a flat-type ultraviolet lamp are arranged in a ventilation path provided on the back side of a refrigerating compartment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a positional relationship between the photocatalytic filter and the flat type ultraviolet lamp, and (a) shows a case where a part of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp passes through a vent hole of the photocatalytic filter. (B) is an embodiment of the present invention,
(C) shows the case of a comparative example, respectively.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the form of the photocatalytic filter is changed, and FIG.
(B) shows the case where the width of the wavy band is increased.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Ventilation path 2 ... Photocatalytic filter 3 ... Flat type UV lamp 3a ... UV emitting surface 4 ... Vent 5 ... Wavy band 14 ... Current plate

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) B01J 35/02 B01J 35/04 311A 35/04 311 311C B01D 53/36 J H (72) Inventor Hideaki Kamiya Osaka Moriguchi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiromichi Mogi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4C080 AA07 AA10 BB02 BB05 CC01 HH08 JJ06 KK08 LL03 MM02 NN24 QQ17 4D048 AA22 AB03 BB02 BB04 CC22 CC35 CC38 EA01 4G069 BA48A CA17 DA06 EA21 EA22

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photocatalyst filter having a plurality of vent holes and a flat type ultraviolet lamp for irradiating the photocatalyst filter with ultraviolet rays are provided to face each other in a vent passage provided in a refrigerator, and the photocatalyst filter passes through the vent holes of the photocatalyst filter. In the refrigerator for deodorizing and sterilizing the cool air to be, the photocatalytic filter is a corrugated structure or a honeycomb structure configured by laminating a plurality of corrugated bands forming ventilation holes, and the ventilation holes of the photocatalytic filter are A straight line that is inclined with respect to the ultraviolet rays emitted from the flat type ultraviolet lamp and that connects the front end upper edge of one of the adjacent vent holes and the rear end upper edge of the other vent hole is A refrigerator equipped with a photocatalytic filter characterized in that the photocatalytic filter is positioned so as to be parallel to the ultraviolet rays emitted from the lamp. 2. A photocatalyst filter in the ventilation passage, in the vicinity of a surface opposite to a surface facing the flat-type ultraviolet lamp,
The refrigerator equipped with the photocatalyst filter according to claim 1, wherein a rectifying plate that guides cool air is provided in a vent hole of the photocatalyst filter.