JP2003308947A - Negative ion generator and environmental sterilizer or air-cleaning device provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a negative ion generator to efficiently generate negative ions. <P>SOLUTION: This device is provided with a discharge electrode needle (21) to which a negative DC voltage is applied, and a dielectric electrode (22) to which a positive DC voltage is applied, and problems are solved because the dielectric electrode (22) is arranged at the side face position more backward than the tip of the discharge electrode needle (21). By so doing, negative ions are emitted abundantly covering a wide range without forming harmful substances such as ozone, nitrogen oxides and positive ions or the like. <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 an environmental sterilizer having a negative ion emitting mechanism utilizing corona discharge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Negative ions have been around since 1930,
Researchers in the fields of hygiene, physiology, pathology, and clinical studies have conducted various animal experiments and clinical investigations, and have recently resolved respiratory diseases, hyperacidity, gastric ulcers, gastric bleeding, and stress. Various pathological effects of have been confirmed.

Therefore, in recent years, an environmental sterilizer (air purifier) equipped with a negative ion generator has been known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-78471, etc.). DC free corona discharge (hereinafter, simply referred to as "corona discharge") is known as one of the mechanisms for generating negative ions. First, the operation principle will be described. In this specification, negative ions refer to particles in which electrons are attached to molecules (water in the air or the like) and are negatively charged.

A mechanism for generating DC free corona discharge (hereinafter referred to as "corona discharge mechanism") is a rod-shaped or needle-shaped discharge electrode (discharge electrode needle) to which a negative voltage is applied.
And a plate-shaped dielectric electrode to which a positive voltage is applied, are arranged so as to face each other, so that only the region with a strong electric field is locally subject to dielectric breakdown and emits light, and the sharp tip of the discharge electrode needle is provided. Electrons can be emitted from the department ("Ionized gas theory" published by The Institute of Electrical Engineers, page 106, etc.).

When the electrons are released into the air, the electrons attach to the water content in the air to generate negative ions.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a negative ion generator using a conventional corona discharge mechanism. In order to efficiently generate electrons, the dielectric electrode 102 is formed in a ring shape, and the tip of the discharge electrode needle 101 (minus electrode) is a flat plate ring-shaped dielectric electrode 1 arranged in front of the discharge electrode needle.
It is arranged so as to coincide with the central axis of 02 (plus electrode).

[0007]

However, the structure of the conventional negative ion generator has the following problems. As a diagram for explaining the problem of the conventional negative ion generator, it will be described with reference to FIG. In the conventional negative ion generator, not all electrons emitted from the discharge electrode needle 101 are emitted to the outside, but some of them are captured by the dielectric electrode by electrostatic attraction. Therefore, the electron emission efficiency was poor.

Further, the electrons were accelerated by the electric field between the discharge electrode needle 101 and the dielectric electrode 102, and the air molecules (oxygen O ₂ and nitrogen N ₂ ) were easily dissociated. As a result, a large amount of oxygen in an atomic state is generated, and the oxygen atom (O) is bonded to an oxygen molecule (O ₂ ) in the air, which is harmful to the human body such as ozone (O ₃ ) and nitrogen oxide (NO). _x ), and oxygen-free (O) and nitrogen atoms (N) have produced electron-less positive ions and the like. That is, the conventional corona discharge mechanism has a problem that not only the generation efficiency of negative ions beneficial to the human body is poor, but also ozone and nitrogen oxides harmful to the human body are generated. Moreover, as described above, in the conventional corona discharge mechanism, in addition to the negative ions, the positive ions are also generated. Therefore, the generated electrons are neutralized, and the generation efficiency of the negative ions is further reduced.

[0009] The main object of the present invention is to provide a novel negative ion generator which can increase the efficiency of generation of negative ions (electrons) beneficial to the human body and can reduce the generation of substances harmful to the human body. A second object is to provide a new environmental sterilization apparatus using

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a negative ion generator 26 according to the present invention has a discharge electrode needle 21 to which a negative DC voltage is applied and a dielectric to which a positive DC voltage is applied. An electrode 22 and the dielectric electrode 22
Is arranged at a side surface position behind the tip of the discharge electrode needle 21. This way,
A large amount of negative ions are released in a wide range without producing harmful substances such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and positive ions.

Further, the negative ion generator 26 according to the present invention is installed inside a housing 35, and has a fan 34 for sending out the negative ions to the outside of the housing behind the negative ion generator 26. You may have it. A certain amount of air flow is generated by the ionic wind, but by adding a fan, negative ions can be sent further away.

Further, the anion generator can be incorporated to form an environmental sterilizer. The configuration is such that a singlet oxygen generator 33 is further provided near the electrode needle 21. By doing so, the singlet oxygen generated by the singlet oxygen generator and the electrons generated by the negative ion generator are combined to generate a superoxide anion radical that is harmless to the human body and has a high bactericidal power. Can be oxidized and inactivated, and negative ions can be sent out.

The air cleaning device according to the present invention has an intake port 49.
And inside the housing 45 in which the air outlet 48 is provided,
A negative ion generator 46 including a discharge electrode needle 41 and a dielectric electrode 42, a dust collecting filter 47, and a fan 44 on the outlet side of the dust collecting filter are provided, and the dust collecting filter 47 includes the dielectric electrode 42. It is characterized by being covered with. In this case, the dielectric electrode 42 is preferably a mesh electrode. According to this configuration,
Since the dielectric electrode and the dust collecting filter are integrally provided, space can be saved, and electrostatic dust is used to efficiently adsorb fine dust and fungi to the dust collecting filter. Oxide anion radicals strongly oxidize and inactivate to create clean air.

Further, it is preferable that the dielectric electrode 42 be detachably attached so as to be replaceable. In this way, if the filter becomes dirty, the filter and the dielectric electrode can be easily replaced.

Alternatively, the air cleaning device according to the present invention is
A housing 65 provided with an intake port 69 and an outlet port 68
A negative ion generator 66 including a discharge electrode needle 61 and a dielectric electrode 62, a dust collecting filter 67, and a fan 64 closer to the outlet than the dust collecting filter, the dielectric electrode The electrode needle 61 may be provided at a side surface position behind the tip end portion. If the dust collecting filter 67 and the dielectric electrode 62 are thus separated from each other, the dust collecting filter 67 can be a conventionally known inexpensive dust collecting filter.

In the above air purifying apparatus according to the present invention,
A singlet oxygen generator 43 may be further provided inside the housing 45 and near the discharge electrode needle 41 to provide an environmental sterilizer. In this case, it is most preferable to further include a negative ion generator according to the present invention and a singlet oxygen generator on the outlet side of the fan 44. This device configuration has the highest environmental sterilization effect.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Principle of Solving Problems) -Principle of Operation of Negative Ion Generator-FIG. 8 is a view showing a principle of operation of a corona discharge mechanism of the present invention. The circuit configuration itself is the same as the conventional one, and the discharge electrode needle 1
A negative voltage is applied from 1 to the DC power supply 13, and a positive voltage is applied to the dielectric electrode 12. Since a high voltage is actually applied to the discharge electrode needle and the dielectric electrode, a high-resistivity insulator (glass) such as glass or ceramic must be inserted between the housing and the electrode to electrically insulate them. This insulation is omitted in the drawing although it must be.

In the conventional structure, the dielectric electrode is arranged in front of the tip of the discharge electrode needle, but as shown in the figure, in the present invention, the dielectric electrode 12 is the discharge electrode needle 11 where corona discharge occurs. Is arranged rearward (side surface position) from the front end portion of the. The shape of the dielectric electrode may be a rod shape (the dielectric electrode 12 is shown in a sectional view in FIG. 8) as shown in FIG. 8, or may be a plate shape or a net shape. Placement is important, not shape. With this arrangement, even if electrons are emitted from the tip of the discharge electrode needle 11, the electrons are not accelerated by the dielectric electrode beyond the initial velocity at the time of emission, and thus harmful electrons such as ozone and nitrogen oxides are generated. No by-products are generated. Also, when electrons are emitted in an environment without an accelerating electric field, negative ions are generated and diffused only by collision of electrons with moisture in the air. ).

Further, since the generation of positive ions is suppressed, the negative ions are not neutralized and disappear by the positive ions. The flow of ions diffused without using a fan is called “ion wind”. According to the experiments conducted by the inventors of the present invention, even at a distance of 1 meter from the tip of the discharge electrode needle 11, only 200,000 ions flow. It has been confirmed that negative ions of / cm ³ or more are emitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment of the Invention) -Configuration of Negative Ion Generator-FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a negative ion generator according to the present invention. The negative ion generator 26 has a discharge electrode needle 21 that emits electrons, and the discharge electrode needle 21
The dielectric electrode 21 is arranged rearward of the tip of the (the side surface position of the new discharge electrode). In the present embodiment, the dielectric electrode 22 is a plate-shaped electrode (the cross section is shown in the figure).
And are arranged so as to be orthogonal to the discharge electrode needles. Various environmental sterilizers equipped with this negative ion generator are conceivable.

[0021]

[Embodiment] -Environmental sterilizer (air purifier)-(First embodiment) Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an environment sterilizer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Inside the housing 35, a negative ion generator 26 having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 1 and a singlet oxygen generator 33 are mounted. Even if the singlet oxygen generator 33 is not provided, it functions as a negative ion generator.

However, when the singlet oxygen generator 33 is added in the vicinity of the negative ion generator 26, the singlet oxygen imparts an electron to the superoxide anion radical (.O ₂ −) having a bactericidal activity for microorganisms. Since it has a changing property, it can function as an environmental sterilizer. In this case, it is preferable that the singlet oxygen generator 33 is arranged near the tip of the discharge electrode needle 31 of the negative ion generator 26. This is because a large amount of electrons are emitted from the tip of the discharge electrode needle 21.

Here, the sterilization mechanism by oxygen free radicals will be described. A pair of (two) electrons orbits the molecular orbital of the oxygen molecule. Since these two electrons have opposite spins, they cancel each other out and maintain balance. However, if one of the two electrons does not jump out of the orbit, there will be no opponent to cancel out the spin. The remaining electrons are called unpaired electrons, and the oxygen molecule having such unpaired electrons is called "oxygen free radical". Oxygen free radicals have a property of depriving electrons from surrounding substances to stabilize themselves, so that substances that come into contact with free radicals are extracted and oxidized. When free radicals come into contact with fungi, they are sterilized (also called inactivation). This is the radical clean technology using oxygen free radicals. Superoxide anion radical is a kind of free radical obtained by giving an electron to singlet oxygen.

Further, a fan is provided behind the negative ion generator 26 and the singlet oxygen generator 33. Therefore, the negative ions and singlet oxygen do not come into contact with the fan, the dust collection filter, etc., and the generation efficiency of the negative ions and the sterilization efficiency are improved. As described in the solution principle of the problem, in the negative ion generator according to the present invention, even at a distance of 1 meter from the tip of the discharge electrode needle 21, negative ions of 200,000 / cm ³ or more are emitted only by the ion wind. Therefore, this environmental sterilizer can function even without a fan, but by providing the fan 34 at the rear side in this way, negative ions can be sent to a farther distance. That is, by rotating the fan 34, negative ions and superoxide anion radicals can be efficiently ejected in the direction of the arrow (forward) in FIG.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 3 and 4 are views showing an example of the configuration of an environmental sterilizer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a device configuration, and FIG.
[FIG. 3] is a three-dimensional view showing the outline of the apparatus. The same components are designated by the same reference numerals. When air enters the device through an intake port 49 provided in the housing 45, electrons are emitted from the discharge electrode needle 41 to combine with molecules in the air to generate negative ions, and the singlet oxygen generator 43 is also generated.
The singlet oxygen generated from is given an electron to generate a superoxide anion radical (.O2-) having bactericidal activity of microorganisms.

In the apparatus shown in this embodiment, the dielectric electrode 42 having the function of a dust collecting filter is provided near the discharge electrode needle 41 on the intake port side. The dielectric electrode 42 has a built-in dust collecting filter (47) for adsorbing and removing fine dust and fungi in the air. This is the characteristic part of this embodiment. Although a DC power supply is actually applied to the discharge electrode needle 41 and the dielectric electrode 42, they are not shown.

Here, the structure of the dielectric electrode 42 having the function of a dust collecting filter will be described. FIG. 5A is an exploded view of the dielectric electrode according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is a figure which shows attachment / detachment of the dielectric electrode which concerns on the 2nd Example of this invention. The dust collecting filter 47 has a structure sandwiched between two dielectric electrodes 42. The four corners of the dielectric electrode are crimped by spot welding or the like. With such a structure, even if the filter itself is made of a soft cotton-like material, the dielectric electrode wrapping the filter is made of a metal having high strength.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, by providing the housing with a guide such as a U-shaped groove or an L-shaped insulating jig, the housing can be slidably attached and detached. The dielectric electrode shown in this embodiment is a mesh electrode formed of a conductive material such as aluminum, stainless steel or carbon and capable of ventilation, and this mesh electrode is a dust collecting filter 47.
It is configured to wrap around. With this configuration,
The dust collecting filter will be positively charged. On the other hand, dust in the air taken in from the intake port is negatively charged by the electrons emitted by the corona discharge.
Therefore, the negative electrode, which is the positive electrode side of the corona discharge in the negative ion generator, easily adsorbs negatively charged dust.By adding a dust collection filter function, negative ion generation and dust removal can be achieved. And can be done at the same time.

In this system, since the filter and the dielectric electrode are integrated, even if dust adheres, the space voltage is not greatly affected. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the dielectric electrode can be made detachable by, for example, a sliding type. In this way, when the filter becomes dirty, only the dielectric electrode can be replaced, so that the maintenance cost can be reduced.

The air that has passed through the dust collecting filter 47 sends out negative ions and superoxide anion radicals (.O2-) to the outside of the apparatus through the air outlet 48 by the air flow created by the fan 44. As described above, in this embodiment, the negative ion generator 46 according to the present invention including the DC power source (not shown), the dielectric electrode 42, the dust collecting filter 47, and the discharge electrode needle 41 is provided on the intake port side. Another feature is that the dielectric electrode and the dust collecting filter are integrated.

In the first embodiment, since the direction of the discharge electrode needle and the direction of the air outlet coincided with each other, the air flow was formed to some extent by the ion wind without the fan. However, in the present embodiment, The presence of the fan 47 is more important than in the first embodiment because the air flow is small without the fan 47. However, with regard to the singlet oxygen generator 43, even if the function of sterilization is deleted, the function of generating negative ions and removal of dust is fulfilled, so there is no problem even if it is excluded from the device configuration for reasons such as cost reduction. Absent. (If the singlet oxygen generator is not provided, it should be an air purifier rather than an environmental sterilizer.)

Since the environmental sterilization apparatus shown in this embodiment performs so-called electric dust collection on air containing a large amount of negative ions efficiently, it can be captured only by physical adsorption without electric dust collection. It is possible to capture fine particles in the unit of micron such as viruses and bacteria (which is said to be possible up to about 0.001 micron in principle).

Further, in the present invention, since the singlet oxygen generator is provided in the vicinity of the negative ion generator, the method of applying the disinfectant to the dust collecting filter and the method of applying ozone, titanium oxide or the like. Higher sterilization efficiency than conventional methods of sterilization and sterilization (Since sterilization with titanium oxide changes the sterilization effect significantly depending on humidity, it is considered not preferable to use it as the main sterilization device. ), And there is little risk of adversely affecting the human body.

Among the conventional methods, there is a method of sterilizing by utilizing ozone which is a by-product of corona discharge. In the negative ion generator according to the present invention, ozone which is a by-product of corona discharge is generated. The amount is reduced compared to the conventional one. The method of using ozone, which is a by-product of corona discharge, not only uses ozone that is harmful to the human body, but when actually tested, a sufficient bactericidal effect cannot be obtained in a short time,
Inappropriate.

On the other hand, there is also known an environmental sterilization apparatus in which a large amount of ozone is positively generated by an ozone generator instead of ozone as a by-product to sterilize it and a dust collecting function is further added. Not only is it difficult to save space in the device, but since a large amount of ozone is used, it is feared that the human body will be adversely affected.

However, according to the apparatus shown in this embodiment,
Since the dielectric electrode and the dust collecting filter are integrated, space saving can be realized, and since the ozone sterilization method is not adopted, there is no fear of adverse effects on the human body. The method of generating superoxide anion radicals by singlet oxygen to sterilize the superoxide anion radicals has a lifetime of nanosecond order, and therefore has no adverse effect on the human body.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an environmental sterilizer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. When air enters the device through an intake port 69 provided inside the housing 65, electrons are emitted from the discharge electrode needle 61 and are combined with molecules in the air to generate negative ions, and the singlet oxygen generator 63 is also generated. The singlet oxygen generated from is given an electron to generate a superoxide anion radical (.O2-) having bactericidal activity of microorganisms. This device uses an intake port 69 by the air flow created by the fan 64.
Negative ions and superoxide anion radicals (.O2-) are added to the air taken in from the air, while the bacteria adsorbed on the dust collecting filter 67 are sterilized to remove minute dust, and then the air outlet is provided. From 68, clean air containing negative ions and less dust is released.

In the third embodiment, unlike the second embodiment, the dust collecting filter 67 and the dielectric electrode 62 are provided separately. FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the negative ion generator 66. A negative DC voltage is applied to the discharge electrode needle 61, and a positive DC voltage is applied to the round rod-shaped dielectric electrode 62.

Therefore, as the dust collecting filter 67, a conventionally known inexpensive dust collecting filter can be used. However, the dust collecting filter 67 can be replaced with a so-called dust collecting electrode filter having a positively charged electrode. This is preferable in that the dust collecting ability is further enhanced. The effect is the same as that of the second embodiment except the part related to the dust collecting filter.

The first embodiment described above can also be used in combination with the second embodiment or the third embodiment.
That is, in the first embodiment, the negative ion generator (and, if necessary, the singlet oxygen generator) was provided on the outlet side of the environmental sterilizer, but this configuration also generates negative ions on the intake side. The second embodiment or the third embodiment in which the apparatus and the dust collecting filter or the dust collecting electrode (and the singlet oxygen generator, if necessary) are provided may be applied.

[0041]

Since the negative ion generator according to the present invention uses the corona discharge mechanism, the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case of using another mechanism. In addition, since it has a higher electron generation efficiency than conventional ones, it can efficiently generate a large amount of negative ions, which are beneficial to the human body, and suppress the generation of substances harmful to the human body such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and positive ions. it can. Further, since the plasma discharge is small between the tip of the discharge electrode needle and the dielectric electrode, the consumption of the discharge electrode needle is small.

The environmental sterilizer or air cleaner according to the present invention has a singlet oxygen generator disposed near the tip of the discharge electrode needle of the negative ion generator according to the present invention, so that viruses, bacteria, etc. can be obtained. It is possible to efficiently generate a large amount of superoxide anion radicals that inactivate.

Further, in the environmental sterilizing apparatus or air purifying apparatus according to the present invention, the dust collecting filter is integrated with the dielectric electrode, which is a part of the negative ion generating apparatus according to the present invention, and is positively charged. Since the dust is negatively charged by the electrons emitted from the discharge electrode needle of the ion generator to collect the electricity, the dust particles can be collected more efficiently than the simple physical adsorption in which the electricity is not collected. Further, since the dielectric electrode and the dust collecting filter are integrated, not only the generation of negative ions but also the dust collecting function is added, and a higher function can be realized in a space-saving manner.

Further, the dielectric electrode and the dust collecting filter may be separately provided. By doing so, an inexpensive conventional dust collecting filter can be used as it is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a negative ion generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the environmental sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an environmental sterilizer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an environmental sterilizer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a dielectric electrode according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a view showing attachment / detachment of a dielectric electrode according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an environmental sterilizer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the negative ion generator.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the operating principle of the corona discharge mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a negative ion generator using a conventional corona discharge mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the problems of the conventional negative ion generator.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Discharge electrode needle 12 Dielectric electrode 13 DC power supply 21 Discharge electrode needle 22 Dielectric electrode 26 Negative ion generator 34 fans 33 Singlet oxygen generator 35 housing 41 Discharge electrode needle 42 Dielectric electrode 43 Singlet oxygen generator 44 fans 45 housing 46 Negative ion generator 47 Dust collection filter 48 outlet 49 Inlet 61 Discharge electrode needle 62 Dielectric electrode 63 Singlet oxygen generator 64 fans 65 housing 66 negative ion generator 67 Dust collection filter 68 Outlet

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A discharge electrode needle (21) to which a negative DC voltage is applied and a dielectric electrode (2) to which a positive DC voltage is applied.
2), wherein the dielectric electrode (22) is arranged at a side surface position behind the tip of the discharge electrode needle (21). 2. A housing (35), and a negative ion generator (26) inside the housing (35), which is more than the negative ion generator (26) inside the housing (35). A negative ion generator comprising a fan (34) for sending the negative ions to the outside of the housing at the rear. 3. The negative ion generator according to claim 1, further comprising a singlet oxygen generator (33) near the electrode needle (21). 4. A discharge electrode needle (4) is provided inside a casing (45) provided with an air inlet (49) and an air outlet (48).
1) A negative ion generator (46) including a dielectric electrode (42), a dust collecting filter (47), and a fan (44) closer to the air outlet than the dust collecting filter. (47) is an air purifier characterized by being covered with the dielectric electrode (42). 5. The air cleaning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the dielectric electrode (42) is a mesh electrode. 6. The air cleaning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the dielectric electrode (42) containing the dust collecting filter is detachable so as to be replaceable. 7. A discharge electrode needle (6) is provided inside a housing (65) provided with an air inlet (69) and an air outlet (68).
1) and a dielectric electrode (62), a negative ion generator (66), a dust collecting filter (67), and a fan (64) closer to the outlet than the dust collecting filter. An air purifying device, characterized in that it is provided at a side surface position behind the tip of the discharge electrode needle (61). 8. The air cleaning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a singlet oxygen generator is provided inside the housing (45) and in the vicinity of the discharge electrode needle (41). An environmental sterilizer (45) further comprising (43). 9. The blower outlet side of the fan (44),
An environmental sterilizer further comprising the anion generator according to claim 1 and a singlet oxygen generator.