JP2005304807A - Method and device for controlling air current of air cleaning device using photocatalyst - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the flow rate of air to be cleaned under an optimum condition in all the photocatalyst units in an air cleaning device for sterilizing viruses, etc., by decomposing, detoxicating and deodorizing toxic chemical substances by using a photocatalyst. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of same photocatalyst units 10, each of which consists of photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13 and an ultraviolet light source 14, are disposed at regular intervals on a circumference, and conditions for taking in the air 7 to be cleaned and conditions for air 8 to be discharged are the same in the photocatalyst units 10. Accordingly, the flow rates of the air 7 to be cleaned passing through the photocatalyst units 10 are equalized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air cleaning apparatus that decomposes harmful chemical substances using a photocatalyst to detoxify or deodorize them and sterilize viruses and the like, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for controlling an air flow to be cleaned.

  Conventionally, a photocatalyst such as titanium oxide is excited by applying an ultraviolet light source (black light, mercury lamp, etc.) to generate OH radicals, and the activated photocatalyst is passed through the air to be cleaned to decompose pollutants and harmless. Air purifiers for sterilization, deodorization or sterilization are known.

  In such an air cleaning device, a part of the taken-in air is purified by contact with the photocatalyst, such as a case where air to be cleaned passes through a cylinder coated with the photocatalyst, and a total amount of the taken-in air. Have passed through the photocatalyst support, and the opportunity for the air to be cleaned to come into contact with the photocatalyst is increased as much as possible.

  For example, as shown in JP 2003-53194 A, an air cleaning device 20 as shown in FIG. 5 is known. This air purifying device 20 is provided with an air intake port 21 and an air discharge port 22 in a housing, a blower 23 is provided immediately before the air discharge port 22, and air 26 to be cleaned of a plurality of plate-like photocatalyst carriers 24. A plurality of fluorescent tubular ultraviolet light sources 25 are arranged in parallel and perpendicular to the flow.

  In such an air cleaning device 20, the air 26 to be cleaned passes through the entire surface of the photocatalyst support 24, and the air 26 to be cleaned always passes through the photocatalyst support 24 and obtains an opportunity for purification. .

  However, since the distance between the photocatalyst carrier 24 and the ultraviolet light source 25 is not uniform, the photocatalyst is sufficiently excited and activated near the ultraviolet light source 24, but the portion far from the ultraviolet light source 24 is sufficiently excited. Not very active. When the air 26 to be cleaned is passed over the entire surface of the photocatalyst carrier 24, there is a problem that the air 26 to be cleaned flows evenly in a portion that is not so activated and the decomposition reaction does not proceed sufficiently and is discharged. .

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the photocatalyst units 34 are arranged side by side so as not to make a portion far from the ultraviolet light source 38 by the photocatalyst units 34 by the relatively small photocatalyst carriers 36 and 37 surrounding the ultraviolet light source 38. It is also possible.

  This air purifier 30 is provided with an air intake port 31 and an air exhaust port 32 in a housing, and a blower 33 is provided immediately before the air exhaust port 32 to clean a plurality of relatively small plate-like photocatalyst carriers 36. Arranged in parallel and orthogonal to the flow of the air 39, one fluorescent tubular ultraviolet light source 38 is arranged between them, and photocatalyst carriers 37 are also arranged on both sides of the ultraviolet light source 38, and these are held by the holding body 35. The photocatalyst unit 34 is held in parallel, and the photocatalyst unit 34 is arranged in parallel to the air 39 flow to be cleaned.

In such an air cleaning device 30, the air 39 to be cleaned always passes through the photocatalyst carriers 36 and 37 in which the air 39 is necessarily activated, and an opportunity for purification is obtained.
JP 2003-53194 A

  In the technique shown in FIG. 6, when there is a large amount of pollutants in the air, the blower 33 is slowly rotated to increase the contact time with the photocatalyst carriers 36 and 37 to increase the accuracy of the pollutant decomposition. Need to be discharged from. In addition, when there are few pollutants, it is more efficient to turn the blower 33 faster, shorten the contact time with the photocatalyst carrier 36, 37, increase the amount of air to be purified, and complete the purification in a short time. .

  That is, when the amount of contaminants is large, it is necessary to slowly pass the photocatalyst carrier and reduce the amount of contaminants that pass through undecomposed. Further, when the amount of contaminants is small, it is more efficient to pass the photocatalyst carrier quickly to increase the amount of processing air.

  Moreover, the time required for discharging after raising the accuracy of decomposition differs depending on the odor or chemical substance to be purified. In other words, a persistent substance that is partially cleaved by contact with the photocatalyst and once generates an intermediate substance cannot be completely purified if the intermediate substance has a bad odor or harm, and it cannot be said to be completely purified. It is thought that further decomposition is necessary to achieve complete purification such as carbon and water.

  However, in the case where the photocatalyst units 34 shown in FIG. 6 are arranged in parallel, the flow rate of the air 39 to be cleaned flowing into the photocatalyst unit 34 close to the housing is slowed down due to the housing. Further, the flow velocity of the air 39 to be cleaned flowing into the photocatalyst unit 34 on the side close to the blower 33 is increased.

  If nothing is provided on the inflow side of the photocatalyst unit 34 (which is not practical as an air purifier as a product) but if it is intended to directly take in air to be cleaned, it flows into the photocatalyst unit at the center from the photocatalyst units arranged in the vicinity The flow rate of air to be cleaned is reduced.

  In this way, if the flow rate of air to be cleaned flowing into the individual photocatalyst units is different, the air blower is slowly turned to pass the photocatalyst carrier for a long time, but it is discharged after raising the accuracy of decomposition. Things that cannot be done happen. That is, the flow rate of air to be cleaned cannot be controlled under optimal conditions in all photocatalytic units, and odors and harmful substances may remain.

  In addition, the fluorescent tubular ultraviolet light source has a lifetime and must be replaced periodically. However, if the ultraviolet light sources are arranged in a plurality of rows and stages, it is not easy to replace the ultraviolet light source at the center. There was a problem.

  Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to control the flow rate of air to be cleaned under optimum conditions in all photocatalytic units by making the flow rate of air to be cleaned pass through a plurality of photocatalytic units, and to easily replace the ultraviolet light source. An object of the present invention is to provide an air flow control method and apparatus for an air cleaning apparatus using a photocatalyst.

  The air flow control method of the air purifier using the photocatalyst according to the first aspect of the present invention is the photocatalyst carrier 12, 13 carrying the photocatalyst, the ultraviolet light source 14, and the air purifier 1 using the blower 5. , 13 and a plurality of the same photocatalyst units 10 composed of the ultraviolet light source 14 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and the conditions of intake and exhaust air 8 to be cleaned of the photocatalyst unit 10 are made the same and cleaned. The flow velocity through which the power air 7 passes through the plurality of photocatalytic units 10 is made uniform.

  The air flow control method of the air purifier using the photocatalyst according to the second aspect of the present invention takes in air 7 to be cleaned from the outer circumferential direction of the photocatalyst unit 10 arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and equidistantly arranges on the circumference. The blower 5 is provided at the center of the photocatalyst unit 10 arranged in the above, and the photocatalyst unit 10 directs the air 8 to be discharged toward the center.

  The air flow control device of the air purifier using the photocatalyst according to the invention of claim 3 is the photocatalyst carrier 12, 13 carrying the photocatalyst, the ultraviolet light source 14, and the air purifier 1 using the blower 5. , 13 and the ultraviolet light source 14 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and the air 7 to be cleaned is taken in the outer circumferential direction of the photocatalyst units 10 arranged at equal intervals on the circumference. The air intake port 15 is provided, the same air discharge port 16 for discharging the air 8 discharged in the inner circumferential direction is provided, the blower 5 is provided at the center of the photocatalyst unit 10 arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and the photocatalyst unit 10 air outlets 16 are communicated with the blower 5.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of identical photocatalyst units 10 including photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13 and an ultraviolet light source 14 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and the photocatalyst unit 10 takes in air 7 to be cleaned. And the condition of the air 8 to be discharged are made the same, and the flow velocity of the air 7 to be cleaned passes through the plurality of photocatalyst units 10, so that the flow velocity of the air 7 to be cleaned is controlled under the optimum conditions in all the photocatalyst units 10. It is possible to discharge after raising the accuracy of decomposition of pollutants.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the air 7 to be cleaned is taken in from the outer peripheral direction of the photocatalyst unit 10 arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and the blower 5 is placed in the center of the photocatalyst unit 10 arranged at equal intervals on the circumference. Since the photocatalyst unit 10 directs the exhausted air 8 toward the center thereof, the structure becomes simple and the photocatalyst unit 10 is arranged in an exposed form without overlapping the circumference, so that the ultraviolet light source 14 of the photocatalyst unit 10 is provided. Can be easily replaced.

  According to the invention of claim 3, a plurality of the same photocatalyst units 10 comprising the photocatalyst carriers 12, 13 and the ultraviolet light source 14 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and the photocatalyst units are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference. The same air intake port 15 for taking in the air 7 to be cleaned is provided in the outer peripheral direction of 10 and the same air exhaust port 16 for discharging the air 8 discharged in the inner peripheral direction is provided, arranged at equal intervals on the circumference. Since the air blower 5 is provided in the center of the photocatalyst unit 10 and the air discharge port 16 of the photocatalyst unit 10 is communicated with the air blower 5, the flow rate of the air 7 to be cleaned passing through the plurality of photocatalyst units 10 is made uniform. Since the flow rate of the air 7 to be cleaned can be controlled under the optimum conditions in 10, it can be discharged after increasing the accuracy of decomposition of the pollutants.

  Further, since the structure becomes simple and the photocatalyst unit 10 is arranged in an exposed form without overlapping the circumference, the ultraviolet light source 14 of the photocatalyst unit 10 can be easily replaced.

  For the purpose of making it possible to control the flow rate of air to be cleaned under optimum conditions in all photocatalytic units, a plurality of identical photocatalytic units consisting of a photocatalyst carrier and an ultraviolet light source are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, The conditions for taking in and discharging the air to be cleaned in the photocatalyst unit were made the same, and the flow rate of the air to be cleaned passing through the plurality of photocatalyst units was made uniform.

  FIG. 1 is a front view of an air purifying apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air purifying apparatus 1 is relatively large and includes air that contains a relatively hardly decomposable substance such as formaldehyde. The air purifier 1 is assumed to be used in a factory, and a plurality of identical photocatalyst units 10 and blowers 5 comprising photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13 and an ultraviolet light source 14 are provided in a box-shaped housing 2. Is provided.

  A housing air intake port 3 made up of a large number of small holes is provided around the housing 2, and a housing air discharge port 4 made up of a number of long holes arranged concentrically at the center of the upper surface of the housing 2. A blower 5 is provided directly below the air outlet 4.

  The photocatalyst units 10 including the photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13 and the ultraviolet light source 14 are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference in plan view. In the embodiment, four identical photocatalytic units 10 are arranged at equal intervals at an angle of 90 degrees on the circumference.

  The outside of each photocatalyst unit 10 is connected to the inside of the adjacent photocatalyst unit 10, guides the air 7 to be cleaned and the air 8 to be discharged, and holds the photocatalyst unit 10. The plan view is substantially L-shaped. Four identical guide plates 6 which are plates are provided. The guide plate 6 divides the outer peripheral direction and the inner peripheral direction of the photocatalyst unit 10.

  The photocatalyst unit 10 is provided with a holder 11, photocatalyst carriers 12, 13 and an ultraviolet light source 14.

  The photocatalyst carrier 12 is a plate having a relatively small vertical direction, and a plurality of photocatalyst carriers 12 are arranged in parallel to be orthogonal to the air flow 7 to be cleaned. In the embodiment, four plate-like photocatalyst carriers 12 are arranged in parallel in one photocatalyst unit 10.

  The photocatalyst carrier 13 is provided between both ends of the photocatalyst carrier 12 and is a relatively small plate-like plate that is long in the vertical direction, and is arranged in parallel with the air flow 7 to be cleaned. In the embodiment, six plate-like photocatalyst carriers 13 are arranged in parallel in one photocatalyst unit 10.

  These photocatalyst carriers 12, 13 are hard and have a predetermined thickness in which a photocatalyst (photoreactive semiconductor) such as titanium oxide is supported on a ceramic porous substrate carrier.

  Between the photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13, one elongated fluorescent tubular ultraviolet light source 14 is disposed long in the vertical direction. The elongated ultraviolet light source 14 and the photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13 are arranged close to each other in parallel, and the ultraviolet light source 14 is surrounded by the photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13. In the embodiment, three ultraviolet light sources 14 are arranged in one photocatalyst unit 10.

  The ultraviolet light source 14 emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength that excites the photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13, and is a black light or a mercury lamp. In the examples, a black light (maximum wavelength 352 nm) of 10 watts (ultraviolet output 1.2 W) was used.

  A pair of holding bodies 11 are provided on both sides of the photocatalyst carrier 13, and the holding body 11 is a substantially U-shaped plate in plan view, and both ends of the holding body 11 are respectively outside the outermost photocatalyst carrier 12. Located between the pair of holding bodies 11, there is an air intake port 15 and an air exhaust port 16 through which the photocatalyst carrier 12 is exposed. The holding body 11 seals the other portions of the air intake port 15 and the air exhaust port 16 so that air does not flow.

  The air intake port 15 and the air exhaust port 16 have the same shape in each photocatalyst unit 10, the air intake port 15 faces in the outer peripheral direction defined by the guide plate 6, and the air exhaust port 16 is defined by the guide plate 6. Arranged toward the inner circumference.

  The air intake port 15 communicates with the housing air intake port 3, and the air 7 to be cleaned taken in from the housing air intake port 3 goes to the air intake port 15.

  A blower 5 is provided in the center in the vertical direction of the photocatalyst unit 10 arranged at equal intervals on the circumference in plan view, and is provided on the inner side defined by the guide plate 6 so that the air discharge port 16 of the photocatalyst unit 10 communicates with the blower 5. The air 8 discharged from the air discharge port 16 is directed toward the center, and is discharged from the housing air discharge port 4 to the outside by the blower 5.

  The blower 5 is like a fan motor, and the blower 5 is attached inside the upper surface of the housing 2.

  The air 7 to be cleaned taken in from the housing air intake 3 is taken into the photocatalyst unit 10 from the air intake 15, but the shape of the guide plate 6 and the air intake 15 is the same. Are the same conditions.

  The air 8 discharged from the air discharge port 16 is discharged by the blower 5, but the shape of the guide plate 6 and the air discharge port 16 is the same, and the distance from the air discharge port 16 to the blower 5 is the same. Therefore, the same conditions are applied to each photocatalytic unit 10.

  For this reason, the flow rate of the air 7 to be cleaned passing through the plurality of photocatalyst units 10 becomes uniform, and the rotational speed of the blower 5 is increased or decreased to optimize the amount and quality of pollutants in all the photocatalyst units 10. The flow rate of the air 7 to be cleaned can be controlled under the conditions.

  In the photocatalyst unit 10, the contaminants in the air 7 to be cleaned are purified by the photocatalysts of the photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13 excited by the ultraviolet light source 14 being decomposed. Since the ultraviolet light source 14 and the photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13 are arranged close to each other, the photocatalyst is sufficiently excited by the ultraviolet light source 14.

  When the housing 2 is removed, the photocatalyst unit 10 is arranged in an exposed form without overlapping on the circumference because of a simple structure with nothing outside the photocatalyst unit 10. Easy to replace.

  In the above embodiment, the air 7 to be cleaned by the blower 5 is sucked in the center direction. However, the air 7 to be cleaned by the blower 5 may be extruded from the center direction to the outer peripheral direction.

  Moreover, although the example which provided the air blower 5 in the center of the vertical direction of the photocatalyst unit 10 arrange | positioned at equal intervals on the periphery of planar view was shown, the photocatalyst unit 10 arrange | positioned at equal intervals on the periphery of front view was shown. You may provide the air blower 5 in the center of a horizontal direction.

  Moreover, although the example which has arrange | positioned the air blower 5 in the air purifying apparatus 1 was shown, you may connect the air blower 5 with a duct separately.

  In addition, although the photocatalyst carriers 12 and 13 are of a ceramic porous substrate, they are of an aluminum fiber or glass fiber substrate, other metal fiber substrates (such as stainless steel), plant fiber substrates or synthetic fibers A fiber base material or the like may be used.

  Moreover, although the example which controls the flow rate of the air 7 which should be cleaned by increasing / decreasing the rotation speed of the air blower 5 was shown, the opening area of the housing | casing air discharge port 4 is adjusted and the flow rate of the air 7 which should be cleaned is controlled. You may make it do.

  Further, although an example of purifying a relatively hardly decomposable substance such as formaldehyde has been shown, the present invention may be used when purifying a substance that is relatively easy to decompose, such as ammonia or hydrogen sulfide.

It is a front view which shows one Example of the air flow control method and apparatus of an air purifying apparatus using a photocatalyst. FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing a main part of FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing which shows a prior art. It is sectional drawing which shows another prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1 Air Cleaner 5 Blower 7 Air to be Cleaned 8 Air to be Exhausted
10 Photocatalytic unit
12 Photocatalyst carrier
13 Photocatalyst carrier
14 UV light source
15 Air intake port
16 Air outlet

Claims (3)

  In an air cleaning device using a photocatalyst carrier carrying a photocatalyst, an ultraviolet light source and a blower, a plurality of the same photocatalyst units consisting of the photocatalyst carrier and the ultraviolet light source are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and the photocatalyst unit An air flow control method for an air purifier using a photocatalyst in which the conditions of intake and discharge of air to be cleaned are the same and the flow rate of the air to be cleaned passing through a plurality of photocatalyst units is made uniform.   Air to be cleaned is taken in from the outer circumferential direction of the photocatalyst unit arranged at equal intervals on the circumference, and a blower is provided at the center of the photocatalyst unit arranged at equal intervals on the circumference. An air flow control method for an air purifier using the photocatalyst according to claim 1.   In an air cleaning device using a photocatalyst carrier carrying a photocatalyst, an ultraviolet light source and a blower, a plurality of identical photocatalyst units consisting of the photocatalyst carrier and the ultraviolet light source are arranged at equal intervals on the circumference. The same air intake port that takes in air to be cleaned is provided in the outer peripheral direction of the photocatalyst unit arranged at equal intervals on the upper side, the same air exhaust port that discharges air that is discharged in the inner peripheral direction is provided on the circumference, etc. An air flow control device for an air purifier using a photocatalyst in which a blower is provided at the center of a photocatalyst unit disposed at an interval and an air discharge port of the photocatalyst unit is communicated with the blower.

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