JP2005328904A - Ion generator, and air conditioner using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion generator which can efficiently generate a positive ion and a negative ion, and at the same time, can freely control the ion generating amount, and to provide an ion generator which can provide an excellent sterilization effect to, e.g., airborne microbes in air, and an air conditioner using the ion generator. <P>SOLUTION: For this ion generator, a discharge electrode and a counter electrode which face each other sandwiching a dielectric substance are provided. To the discharge electrode, a voltage having a wave form which varies with time by repeating a unit waveform in either range of positive or negative with the counter electrode as a reference, and a voltage having another wave form which varies with time by repeating the unit waveform in a range of an opposite polarity from the first voltage are alternately applied, and the ion generator is constituted in a manner to generate both of the positive ion and the negative ion. The ion generator can feed both of the positive ion and the negative ion to a living space as a whole by being used solely or as a combination of two or more units. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generator capable of generating positive ions and negative ions in air, and an air conditioner using the same.

  In recent years, with the increasing airtightness of living spaces and growing interest in health problems, the floating airborne microorganisms such as bacteria and mold, pollen, tobacco smoke, dust and other floating pollutants, etc. floating in the air have been removed. There is a growing demand for a comfortable and comfortable life. In order to meet this demand, air purifiers have been developed that remove airborne microorganisms and airborne contaminants with various filters. These air purifiers employ a method in which air in a living space is sucked and airborne microorganisms and airborne contaminants are adsorbed by a filter.

  However, in this method, maintenance such as replacement of the filter is necessary due to long-term use, and in order to remove suspended microorganisms and suspended contaminants, the suspended microorganisms and suspended contaminants are sucked toward the filter. Satisfactory air cleaning performance has not been obtained because it must be carried by air and passed through a filter.

As a method of solving the above problem and improving the air cleaning performance, for example, in Patent Document 1, positive ions and negative ions generated by applying an alternating voltage between electrodes facing each other with a dielectric interposed therebetween A method for disinfecting and detoxifying harmful microorganisms and harmful substances floating in the air by a chemical reaction caused by these ions is disclosed. According to the method of Patent Document 1, positive ions such as H ₃ O ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is 0 or any natural number) and negative ions O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is 0). (Or any natural number) released into the air, H ₂ O ₂ (hydrogen peroxide) or .OH (hydroxyl radical) produced by chemical reaction of these ions on the surface of airborne microorganisms in the air is extremely powerful. In order to show the active activity, it is possible to sterilize airborne bacteria and fungi in the air. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses that a bactericidal effect can be obtained when the concentration of positive ions and negative ions is 10000 / cm ³ or more at a position 10 cm away from the electrode of the ion generator, and the generated ion concentration becomes high. It is disclosed that the bactericidal effect tends to be better.

However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the efficiency of generating ions is low, and as a result, the amount of generated ions is not large enough, so that the size of the living space to be purified and floating contaminants in the air Depending on the type and amount, the bactericidal effect may be insufficient. Furthermore, since it is difficult to arbitrarily set the ratio of the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, a desired amount of positive ions and / or negative ions is supplied to the air. There is a problem that it is difficult to deal with applications intended to do.
JP 2002-224211

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and can efficiently generate positive ions and negative ions, and can freely control the generation amount of positive ions and negative ions from a low concentration to a high concentration. For example, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ion generator capable of obtaining an excellent sterilizing effect against airborne microorganisms, and an air conditioner using the ion generator.

  The present invention provides a discharge electrode and a counter electrode that are opposed to each other with a dielectric interposed therebetween, and changes with time by repeating a unit waveform with respect to the discharge electrode in either a positive or negative range with respect to the counter electrode. Ion generation that alternately applies a voltage having a waveform and a voltage having another waveform that changes over time by repeating a unit waveform in the range of the polarity opposite to that of the voltage to generate both positive ions and negative ions Relates to the device. The ion generator can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  In the present invention, two or more ion generators provided with a discharge electrode and a counter electrode facing each other with a dielectric interposed therebetween are combined, and in at least one ion generator, the counter electrode is used as a reference with respect to the discharge electrode. A voltage having a time-varying waveform is applied by repeating the unit waveform in a positive range, and in at least one other ion generator, the unit is in a negative range with respect to the counter electrode with respect to the discharge electrode. The present invention relates to an ion generator that generates both positive ions and negative ions by applying a voltage having another waveform that changes with time by repeating the waveform.

  When a voltage is applied between the electrodes provided facing each other so that the dielectric is sandwiched in the air, the dielectric is polarized, and a positive charge is stored in the electrode having a higher potential according to the magnitude of this polarization, An equal amount of negative charge is stored in the electrode with the lower potential. In the air near the end of the electrode, the electric field created by the polarization of the dielectric and the electric field created by the charge stored in the electrode are intensified to generate an electric field.

  Here, the dielectric constant and the thickness of the dielectric are represented by ε and d, respectively, and the magnitude of the voltage applied between the electrodes is represented by V (t) (the magnitude of the voltage V is a function of time t). The polarization of the body is proportional to the product of (ε−1) / d and V (t). Therefore, the greater the relative permittivity of the dielectric and the thinner the thickness, the greater the polarization. Moreover, the polarization increases as the applied voltage increases. However, even if the polarization of the dielectric is large, if the rate at which the polarization of the dielectric increases is small, the interface between the dielectric and air (the surface of the dielectric) is charged and the electric field in the air near the electrode ends The electric field in the air near the end of the electrode is not so strong because the action to prevent the rise is dominant. In order to generate a strong electric field in the air near the electrode end, is it necessary to increase the polarization of the dielectric at such a high rate that it overcomes the rate at which the charge at the interface between the dielectric and air (the surface of the dielectric) increases? It is necessary to utilize the charge left on the interface between the dielectric and air (the surface of the dielectric) by reducing the polarization of the dielectric at a sufficiently large rate. That is, changing the polarization of the dielectric with time is an effective means for generating a strong electric field in the air near the electrode end.

  As described above, the polarization of the dielectric is proportional to the product of (ε−1) / d and V (t), but it is considered that changes in the relative permittivity ε and thickness d of the dielectric are negligibly small. Therefore, in order to change the polarization of the dielectric over time, it is necessary to change the voltage applied between the electrodes over time. As the relative permittivity of the dielectric is larger, the thickness is thinner, and the time change rate of the applied voltage is larger, the time change rate of the polarization of the dielectric is increased, and a strong electric field is generated in the air near the electrode end.

  The ion generator of the present invention generates ions by generating discharge plasma by the electric field generated in the air near the electrode end in this way, and ionizing oxygen and water vapor in the air. Most of the ions generated by the discharge plasma disappear energetically because they are unstable in energy, but some of them become stable in terms of energy by combining with water molecules in the air, and occupy the wind generated by the blower fan. Sent to space.

In order to obtain an excellent removal effect against airborne microorganisms, H ₃ O ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m is mainly used as positive ions, and O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n is mainly used as negative ions. Preferably it is sent in. The ion generator of the present invention has positive ions H ₃ O ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is 0 or any natural number) formed by clustering water molecules in the air with oxonium ions (H ₃ O ⁺ ). And negative ions O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is 0 or any natural number) formed by clustering water molecules in the air with oxygen ions (O ₂ ⁻ ). Excellent in removing floating microorganisms.

  As described above, in the present invention, the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount can be easily controlled by the time change rate of the applied voltage. Therefore, in order to obtain a desired ion generation amount according to the application, the applied voltage time Adjust the rate of change.

  The polarity of ions generated from the ion generator depends on the polarity of the voltage applied between the electrodes. When the potential of the electrode where the ions are generated (discharge electrode) is higher than the potential of the electrode (counter electrode) opposed to this electrode across the dielectric, positive charge is stored in the discharge electrode, and the dielectric and air The boundary surface (dielectric surface) is positively charged. For this reason, of the positive ions and negative ions generated by the discharge plasma in the air, most of the negative ions are attracted to the surface of the discharge electrode or the dielectric and immediately disappear. Therefore, in this case, most of the ions generated from the ion generator are positive ions. Conversely, when the potential of the discharge electrode is lower than the potential of the counter electrode, negative charges are stored in the discharge electrode, and the interface between the dielectric and air (the surface of the dielectric) is negatively charged. Most of the ions generated from the generator are negative ions.

  In the present invention, when a potential difference (voltage) is applied between the counter electrode and the discharge electrode, both the counter electrode and the discharge electrode may not be grounded. This simplifies the circuit configuration and improves the safety of the ion generator. In particular, by applying a voltage to the counter electrode provided by grounding the discharge electrode and embedding it inside the dielectric, the user will not accidentally come into contact with the high potential electrode. Is further improved.

  As a method of changing the magnitude of the voltage over time, for example, by applying a voltage in which the unit waveform constituting the applied voltage waveform covers both positive and negative ranges, such as an alternating voltage, a positive voltage and a negative voltage are applied. A method of alternately applying can be considered. In this case, as described above, since the polarity of ions generated by applying a positive voltage is different from the polarity of ions generated by applying a negative voltage, positive ions and negative ions are substantially separated from one ion generator. It can be sent to the living space at the same time. However, since the polarity of the applied voltage changes frequently, most of the ions generated by the application of the positive voltage disappear by the application of the negative voltage immediately after that, and most of the ions generated by the application of the negative voltage immediately after the application of the negative voltage. It disappears when a positive voltage is applied. That is, in this method, since the efficiency of generating ions is poor, it is difficult to generate a high concentration of ions.

  In the present invention, by applying a voltage having a waveform that repeatedly repeats a unit waveform that changes in time in either a positive or negative range, the time in which the voltage changes in time only in either a positive or negative range is obtained. By ensuring a long length, ions having a positive or negative polarity can be efficiently generated. That is, in the present invention, there are provided two or more ion generators that apply a voltage having a waveform that repeats a unit waveform that changes over time in either a positive or negative range, and at least one ion generator has a discharge electrode. By applying a positive voltage with reference to the counter electrode, and applying a negative voltage with reference to the counter electrode to the discharge electrode in at least one other ion generator, both positive ions and negative ions as a whole Can be efficiently generated at the same time.

  In addition, by adjusting the time change rate of these applied voltages, the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount can be freely controlled from a low concentration to a high concentration. It is also possible to arbitrarily set the ratio to the negative ion generation amount. As a method of adjusting the time change rate of the applied voltage, for example, a method of adjusting the frequency (frequency) at which the unit waveform constituting the applied voltage waveform is repeated is preferable. According to this method, the time change rate of the applied voltage can be adjusted without changing the maximum value of the applied voltage. Moreover, it is relatively easy to control the above frequency.

  Moreover, according to this method, the ratio of the time at which the voltage changes with time in the time corresponding to one cycle of the unit waveform does not change. As described above, in order to generate ions, the applied voltage needs to change with time. In order to generate ions with a higher concentration, it is preferable that the rate of time during which the voltage changes in the unit waveform constituting the waveform of the applied voltage is higher, and in particular, 50% or more of the time for one cycle of the unit waveform. It is preferable.

  In the present invention, if a voltage having a waveform that changes with time only in one of the positive and negative ranges is continuously applied between the electrodes, the charge on the interface between the dielectric and the air (dielectric surface) gradually increases. The electric field generated in the air near the electrode ends becomes weaker. As a result, the intensity of the generated discharge plasma gradually decreases, so that the amount of ions generated gradually decreases. Therefore, by alternately applying a voltage with a time-varying waveform in the positive range and a voltage with a time-varying waveform in the negative range, the polarity of charging at the interface between the dielectric and the air (the surface of the dielectric) is changed. By preventing the increase in charging by replacing, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the amount of generated ions. Here, if the time interval for switching the polarity of the voltage is too short, as described above, the disappearance of ions due to the switching of the polarity increases, and the efficiency of generating ions deteriorates. On the other hand, if the time interval for switching the polarity of the voltage is too long, charging at the interface between the dielectric and air increases, thereby decreasing the ion concentration. Therefore, in order to efficiently generate high-concentration ions, it is necessary to take an appropriate time interval for switching the polarity of the voltage.

  In the case of alternately applying a voltage having a time-varying waveform in the positive range and a voltage having a time-varying waveform in the negative range to the ion generator of the present invention, positive ions and negative ions can be used alone. Both can be generated, but two or more ion generators may be used in combination. When two or more ion generators are used in combination, the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount can be controlled more widely. Further, when two or more ion generators are used in combination, when applying a time-varying positive voltage in at least one ion generator, a time-varying negative voltage is applied in at least one other ion generator. It is preferable to do. Thereby, both positive ions and negative ions can be generated at the same time, which is preferable because positive ions and negative ions are efficiently supplied to the living space.

  The present invention also relates to an air conditioner using one or more ion generators according to the present invention. The air conditioner preferably includes a blower fan. In particular, when the air conditioner includes a plurality of ion generators, the discharge electrode of one ion generator does not face the lee of the discharge electrode of another ion generator. It is preferable to set the blowing direction of the blower fan. In this case, when the ions generated from each of the plurality of discharge electrodes are sent out on the wind from the blower fan, they approach other discharge electrodes or dielectric surfaces having electricity of the opposite polarity to the ions. Because there are few, there is little disappearance of ion.

  As a method for preventing the discharge electrode of one ion generator from becoming leeward of the discharge electrode of another ion generator, the discharge electrodes of a plurality of ion generators are arranged on the same plane or the same curved surface, and A method of setting the air blowing direction in a direction along the same plane or the same curved surface is preferably employed. Or it is also preferable to arrange | position an ion generator so that the discharge electrode of a some ion generator may oppose at intervals, and to generate a wind from a ventilation fan in the direction which passes a space | interval.

  The concentration of positive ions and negative ions generated in the present invention can be freely controlled from a low concentration to a high concentration by adjusting the time change rate of the applied voltage. As described above, the greater the applied voltage and the greater the rate of change of the applied voltage, the stronger the electric field can be generated near the end of the electrode, so that oxygen and water vapor in the air actively ionize and high concentration ions are generated. To do.

  However, as to the magnitude of the applied voltage, it is not preferable to apply a higher voltage than necessary from the viewpoint of safety. In particular, when the present invention is applied to a home air conditioner, it is desirable to use an applied voltage of several kV or less. When a plate-like ceramic having a relative dielectric constant of 100 or more and a thickness of 1 mm or less is used as a dielectric, and the maximum value of the time change rate of the applied voltage is 1 kV / msec or more, it is sufficiently high at an applied voltage of several kV or less. This is preferable because ions of a concentration can be supplied to the living space. Alternatively, even when a plate-like ceramic having a relative dielectric constant of 1000 or more and a thickness of 5 mm or less is used as the dielectric, and the maximum value of the time change rate of the applied voltage is 150 V / msec or more, the applied voltage of several kV or less Is preferable because a sufficiently high concentration of ions can be supplied to the living space.

  In the present invention, the waveform that continuously repeats the unit waveform that changes over time in either the positive or negative range is not particularly limited. For example, a waveform that linearly or nonlinearly increases voltage and then linearly or nonlinearly decreases waveform that repeats at regular intervals, linearly or nonlinearly increases voltage, holds linear for a certain period of time Or a waveform that decreases nonlinearly at regular intervals, a positive or negative waveform that rectifies an AC wave such as a sine wave, or a negative / positive portion of an AC wave such as a sine wave is inverted to positive / negative A positive / negative waveform, a positive or negative waveform obtained by superimposing an alternating current wave such as a sine wave and a direct current wave, or the like can be selected. Further, a waveform obtained by superimposing such a waveform and a direct current wave can also be used.

  The air conditioner using the above ion generator generates positive ions and negative ions for the purpose of obtaining bactericidal action against airborne microorganisms, deodorizing action against malodorous substances, detoxifying action against harmful substances, etc. Specifically, it can be used as an air purifier or an air conditioner, or it can be used in a dehumidifier, humidifier, petroleum fan heater, gas fan heater, ceramic fan heater, refrigerator, etc. it can.

  According to the present invention, an ion generator that uses at least one ion generator that generates positive ions and at least one ion generator that generates negative ions or generates both positive ions and negative ions is provided. By using alone or in combination of two or more, it is possible to efficiently supply positive ions and negative ions simultaneously. Moreover, the ion generator of the present invention can supply sufficiently high concentration ions to the living space with an applied voltage of several kV or less. Further, the ion generator of the present invention can freely control the amount of positive ions and negative ions generated from a low concentration to a high concentration by adjusting the rate of change of applied voltage with time. The ratio of the amount of negative ions generated can also be controlled arbitrarily.

  In the present invention, at least one ion generator to which a positive voltage is applied and at least one ion generator to which a negative voltage is applied are used in combination, or a positive voltage and a negative voltage are alternately applied. By using an ion generator that generates both positive ions and negative ions alone or in combination of two or more, it is possible to generate positive ions and negative ions simultaneously as a whole. Hereinafter, a configuration example of an ion generator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of an air conditioner using the ion generator of the present invention. In the air conditioner 11, on the downstream side of the blower fan 12, an ion generator comprising a flat dielectric 13a, a counter electrode 14a and a discharge electrode 15a facing each other with the dielectric 13a interposed therebetween, and a voltage applying means 16a 17a is provided. Similarly, on the downstream side of the blower fan 12, an ion generator 17b including a flat dielectric 13b, a counter electrode 14b and a discharge electrode 15b opposed to each other with the dielectric 13b interposed therebetween, and a voltage applying unit 16b. Is provided. FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which ions are generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a voltage applied in the present invention. By applying to the discharge electrode 15a a voltage that changes with time only in a positive range with reference to the counter electrode 14a as shown by a voltage waveform a in FIG. Positive ions can be efficiently generated from the vicinity of the. In addition, for example, the amount of positive ions generated can be reduced by changing the frequency of the voltage waveform a in FIG. 2A (the frequency with which the unit waveform constituting the voltage waveform a is repeated) to adjust the voltage temporal change rate. Can be controlled. Here, since the polarization of the dielectric 13a is determined by the potential difference between the counter electrode 14a and the discharge electrode 15a, the counter electrode 14a and the discharge electrode 15a can be grounded regardless of whether the counter electrode 14a is grounded or the discharge electrode 15a is grounded. A configuration in which neither of the discharge electrodes 15a is grounded may be employed. However, by grounding one of them, the circuit configuration of the voltage applying means 16a is simplified and the safety of the ion generator 17a is improved. In particular, since the discharge electrode 15a is grounded and a voltage is applied to the counter electrode 14a provided by being embedded in the dielectric, the user does not accidentally contact the high potential electrode. Safety is further improved.

  Similarly, by applying to the discharge electrode 15b a voltage that changes with time only in the negative range with reference to the counter electrode 14b as shown in the voltage waveform b of FIG. Negative ions can be efficiently generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15b. Further, for example, by changing the frequency of the voltage waveform b shown in FIG. 2B (the frequency with which the unit waveform constituting the voltage waveform b is repeated) and adjusting the time change rate of the voltage, the amount of negative ions generated can be reduced. Can be controlled.

  Further, by switching the voltage waveform a and the voltage waveform b, negative ions can be generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15a and positive ions can be generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15b.

  In FIG. 1, the discharge electrode 15a and the discharge electrode 15b are on the plane 18, and the wind generated by the blower fan 12 is on the plane 18 in such a direction that each of the discharge electrode 15a and the discharge electrode 15b does not become the other leeward. Pass along. In this configuration, ions generated from each of the discharge electrode 15a and the discharge electrode 15b are less likely to disappear near the other electrode or dielectric surface having the opposite polarity to the ions, so that positive ions Negative ions can be generated efficiently.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of a waveform of a voltage applied in the present invention. As shown in the voltage waveform a or voltage waveform b of FIG. 3, a waveform that repeats a unit waveform that changes in time in either positive or negative range continuously and another unit waveform that changes in time in the range of opposite polarity By selecting the voltage of the waveform where the waveform that repeats alternately appears alternately, it is possible to prevent an increase in charging at the interface between the dielectric and air (the surface of the dielectric), thus preventing a decrease in the amount of generated ions. Thus, the desired ion generation amount can be maintained.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another example of an air conditioner using the ion generator of the present invention. In the air conditioner 41, on the downstream side of the blower fan 42, a plate-like dielectric 43, a counter electrode 44a and a discharge electrode 45a facing each other with the dielectric 43 interposed therebetween, a counter electrode 44b and a discharge electrode 45b, and voltage application An ion generator 47 comprising means 46a and 46b is provided. Similar to the configuration of FIG. 1, ions having opposite polarities can be generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 45a and the discharge electrode 45b, respectively, and positive ions and negative ions can be efficiently generated as a whole. Moreover, the generation amount of positive ions and negative ions can be controlled by adjusting the temporal change rate of the voltage applied to each electrode.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the counter electrode 44a, the discharge electrode 45a, the counter electrode 44b, and the discharge electrode 45b are all provided to face each other with the dielectric 43 interposed therebetween, and the wind from the blower fan 42 Each of 45a and discharge electrode 45b is set in such a direction that it does not become the other leeward. Therefore, the ions generated from each of the discharge electrode 45a and the discharge electrode 45b do not disappear near the other electrode or dielectric surface having the opposite polarity to the ions, so that positive ions and negative ions Can be generated efficiently.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example of an air conditioner using the ion generator of the present invention. In the air conditioner 51, on the downstream side of the blower fan 52, an ion generator comprising a flat dielectric 53a, a counter electrode 54a and a discharge electrode 55a facing each other across the dielectric 53a, and a voltage applying means 56a. 57a is provided. Similarly, on the downstream side of the blower fan 52, an ion generator 57b including a flat dielectric 53b, a counter electrode 54b and a discharge electrode 55b opposed to each other with the dielectric 53b interposed therebetween, and a voltage applying unit 56b. Is provided. Similar to the configuration of FIG. 1, ions having opposite polarities can be generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrodes 55a and 55b, respectively, and positive ions and negative ions can be efficiently generated as a whole. Moreover, the generation amount of positive ions and negative ions can be controlled by adjusting the temporal change rate of the voltage applied to each electrode.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, there is a predetermined interval between the discharge electrode 55a and the discharge electrode 55b, so that the wind generated from the blower fan 52 passes between the discharge electrode 55a and the discharge electrode 55b. In this configuration, ions generated from each of the discharge electrode 55a and the discharge electrode 55b are less likely to disappear near the other electrode or dielectric surface having the opposite polarity to the ions, so that positive ions and Negative ions can be generated efficiently.

  6 and 7 are schematic views showing another example of an air conditioner using the ion generator of the present invention. In the air conditioner 61, an ion generator comprising a plate-like dielectric 63, a counter electrode 64 and a discharge electrode 65 facing each other across the dielectric 63, and a voltage applying unit 66 on the downstream side of the blower fan 62. 67 is provided. 6 and 7 show a configuration in which ions are generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 65.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a waveform of a voltage applied in the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the discharge electrode 65 has a waveform that repeats a unit waveform that changes with time in either a positive or negative range with respect to the counter electrode 64 as a reference, and a time change in a range of opposite polarity. By applying a voltage having a waveform in which a waveform in which another unit waveform is continuously repeated alternately appears, positive ions and negative ions can be efficiently generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 65. In addition, the amount of positive ion generation and the amount of negative ion generation can be controlled by adjusting the time change rate of the applied voltage.

  As the dielectric incorporated in the ion generator of the present invention, a commonly used general dielectric such as ceramics and glass can be used, and is not particularly limited, but an applied voltage of several kV or less from the viewpoint of safety. In order to supply a sufficiently high concentration of ions to the living space, it is preferable that the dielectric has a large relative dielectric constant and a small thickness. However, if the thickness is too thin, dielectric breakdown is likely to occur due to the voltage applied between the electrodes, and thus a thickness that does not cause dielectric breakdown is necessary.

  Also, the shape of the dielectric is not limited, but a plate-like one is preferably used from the viewpoint of the efficiency of sending ions to the space and the manufacturing cost.

  A counter electrode and a discharge electrode facing each other with a dielectric interposed therebetween are, for example, a metal of tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, aluminum, copper, nickel, molybdenum, or a conductive material film containing these metals on the surface of the dielectric. Can be obtained by physically or chemically forming or printing, or by bringing a metal plate such as stainless steel, tungsten, or aluminum, a wire, a wire mesh, or the like into close contact with the surface of the dielectric.

  Since the ion generator of the present invention generates discharge plasma by an electric field generated in the air near the electrode end and ionizes oxygen and water vapor in the air to generate ions, the discharge electrode has the length of the electrode end. It is preferable to make the shape as long as possible. For example, a shape having a number of through holes inside is preferable.

  In FIG. 1, for example, the counter electrode 14a and the discharge electrode 15a and the discharge electrode 15a are formed so that a large current does not flow by forming a highly conductive discharge path between the counter electrode 14a and the discharge electrode 15a and between the counter electrode 14b and the discharge electrode 15b. The electrode 15a, the counter electrode 14b, and the discharge electrode 15b are preferably formed smaller than the dielectric 13a and the dielectric 13b, respectively.

  In the present invention, ions can be generated from the vicinity of both the counter electrode and the discharge electrode facing each other across the dielectric, but in FIG. 1, for example, ions are generated only from the vicinity of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b. It is good also as a structure. The counter electrode 14a and the counter electrode 14b are preferably formed larger than the discharge electrode 15a and the discharge electrode 15b so that a strong electric field is generated in the vicinity of the entire electrode ends of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b.

  In addition, as the voltage application means of the ion generator of the present invention, the voltage of the waveform that continuously repeats the unit waveform that changes in time in either positive or negative range, or the time in either positive or negative range. The voltage of the waveform in which the waveform that repeats the unit waveform that changes continuously and the waveform that repeats another unit waveform that changes in time in the opposite polarity range alternately can be applied in the desired waveform. A generally used configuration can be applied as appropriate, and is not particularly limited.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example is given and this invention is demonstrated in detail, this invention is not limited to these.

<Manufacture of ion generator>
In order to manufacture the ion generators 17a and 17b shown in FIG. 1, as the dielectrics 13a and 13b, the composite powder “MCC-B30J” manufactured by Kyoritsu Material Co., Ltd. was sintered. (Air blowing direction) Ceramic of 95 mm × width 95 mm × thickness 5 mm was used. According to the electronic catalog published on the Internet by Kyoritsu Material Co., Ltd., the dielectric constant of ceramics produced by sintering the above products is 2500-2900 at 25 ° C. In general, as a dielectric ceramic having a relative dielectric constant of 1000 or more at room temperature, an additive is added to barium titanate (BaTiO ₃ ) to adjust the relative dielectric constant near room temperature, and the temperature change of the relative dielectric constant near room temperature is flattened. There is something that was made. As dielectrics 13a and 13b, instead of ceramics produced by sintering the above products having a relative dielectric constant of 2500 to 2900 at 25 ° C., other dielectric ceramics having a relative dielectric constant of 1000 or more at room temperature are used. Similarly, a high concentration of ions can be preferably supplied to the living space with an applied voltage of several kV or less.

  As discharge electrodes 15a and 15b, a stainless steel wire having a length of 5 mm × width 20 mm in which a stainless steel wire having a wire diameter of 0.15 mm is woven in a mesh shape, and as counter electrodes 14a and 14b, a plate shape having a length of 75 mm × width 75 mm × thickness 0.05 mm Each stainless steel was used. The discharge electrode 15a or 15b is adhered and fixed to one surface of the dielectric 13a or 13b using the adhesive tape “AGF-100A” manufactured by Chukoh Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and the counter electrode 14a or 14b is adhered to the other surface.・ Fixed. When fixing, the center lines of the dielectric, the discharge electrode, and the counter electrode were made to coincide in the lateral direction. In the vertical direction, the ends of the dielectric, discharge electrode, and counter electrode far from the blower fan have a distance of 10 mm between the counter electrode and the dielectric, and 30 mm between the discharge electrode and the dielectric. Aligned so that. Each electrode and the voltage application means 16a and 16b were connected using the electric wire "5854/7" by an alpha wire company.

<Ion generation>
The counter electrodes 14a and 14b of the ion generator devices 17a and 17b manufactured by the above method are grounded, and a positive voltage that changes with time according to the voltage waveform a of an embodiment described later is applied to the discharge electrode 15a, and the discharge electrode 15b is applied. By applying a negative voltage that changes with time in a voltage waveform b of an example described later, positive ions were generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15a and negative ions were generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15b. As the blower fan 12, a cross flow fan “MF930-BC” manufactured by Oriental Motor Co., Ltd. was used. It is installed 15 cm away from the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b, and an air voltage of 3.4 m / sec is applied at the position of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b by applying an AC voltage having a frequency of 60 Hz and an effective voltage of 40 V to operate the blower fan 12. I sent the wind. Positive ions generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15a and negative ions generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15b were sent to the space by the wind generated by the blower fan 12.

<Measurement of generated ion concentration>
For the measurement of the generated ion concentration, an air ion counter (model number 83-1001B-II) manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd. was used. The generated ion concentration is indicated by the concentration (number / cm ³ ) of small ions having a mobility of 1 cm ² / Vsec or more detected at a position 50 cm away from the discharge electrodes 15 a and 15 b in the blowing direction of the blowing fan 12.

(Example 1)
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in the first embodiment. 9A is applied to the discharge electrode 15a of the ion generators 17a and 17b manufactured by the above method, and the voltage waveform b of FIG. 9B is applied to the discharge electrode 15b. A negative voltage changing with time was applied to generate positive ions and negative ions. 10 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 1, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Example 1. As shown in FIG. Here, it the present embodiment, although a voltage rise / fall time T _R of the voltage rising / falling time T _R and the voltage waveform b of the voltage waveform a of the same length, to adjust the respective T _R independently Thus, the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount can be individually controlled, and the ratio of both can be freely controlled. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, with increasing / lowering speed 1.5 kV / T _R of the applied voltage is increased, the positive ion concentration and negative ion concentration increased.

(Example 2)
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in the second embodiment. A positive voltage that changes with time in the voltage waveform a of FIG. 12A is applied to the discharge electrode 15a of the ion generators 17a and 17b manufactured by the above method, and the voltage waveform b of FIG. 12B is applied to the discharge electrode 15b. A negative voltage changing with time was applied to generate positive ions and negative ions. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 2, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Example 2. In the present embodiment, although the voltage rise / fall time T _R of the voltage rising / falling time T _R and the voltage waveform b of the voltage waveform a are the same length, by adjusting the respective T _R independently The positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount can be individually controlled, and the ratio between the two can be freely controlled. As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, by applying a voltage having a waveform obtained by superimposing a DC wave and a time-varying waveform, the concentration of generated ions was increased compared to Example 1 for both positive ions and negative ions. . Furthermore, with increasing / lowering speed 1.5 kV / _{T R} of the applied voltage is increased, an increase in positive ion concentration and negative ion concentrations, 100,000 at 150 V / msec or more / cm ³ or more positive ion concentration and 100,000 Negative ion concentration of more than ions / cm ³ was measured.

(Example 3)
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in the third embodiment. A positive voltage that changes with time in the voltage waveform a of FIG. 15A is applied to the discharge electrode 15a of the ion generators 17a and 17b manufactured by the above method, and the voltage waveform b of FIG. 15B is applied to the discharge electrode 15b. A negative voltage changing with time was applied. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 3, and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Example 3. Here, in this embodiment, the period T of the voltage waveform a (the time corresponding to one period of the unit waveform constituting the voltage waveform a) and the period T of the voltage waveform b have the same length. By adjusting, the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount can be individually controlled, and the ratio between the two can be freely controlled. 16 and 17, the horizontal axis represents the voltage waveform frequency of 1 sec / T (unit: Hz). As FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 show, since the frequency of occurrence of discharge plasma increases as the frequency of the applied voltage waveform becomes 1 sec / T, the positive ion concentration and the negative ion concentration increased. Moreover, it can be considered that the positive ion concentration and the negative ion concentration are increased because the ratio of the time at which the voltage changes with time in the unit waveform constituting one period of the applied voltage is increased.

Example 4
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in the fourth embodiment. A positive voltage that changes with time in the voltage waveform a of FIG. 18A is applied to the discharge electrodes 15a of the ion generators 17a and 17b manufactured by the above method, and the voltage waveform b of FIG. 18B is applied to the discharge electrodes 15b. A negative voltage changing with time was applied. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 4, and FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Example 4. In the present embodiment, although the voltage raising / lowering width V _MAX voltage rising / falling width V _MAX and the voltage waveform b of the voltage waveform a of the same size, by adjusting the respective V _MAX individually Further, the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount can be individually controlled, and the ratio between the two can be freely controlled. As shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the positive ion concentration and the negative ion concentration increased as the applied voltage increase / decrease width V _MAX increased.

(Example 5)
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in the fifth embodiment. As the dielectrics 13a and 13b, ion generators 17a and 17b manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 4 except that borosilicate glass having a length (air blowing direction) of 95 mm × width of 95 mm × thickness of 0.55 mm was used. A positive voltage changing with time in voltage waveform a in FIG. 21A was applied to the discharge electrode 15a, and a negative voltage changing in time with voltage waveform b in FIG. 21B was applied to the discharge electrode 15b. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 5, and FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Example 5. In the present embodiment, although the voltage rise / fall time T _R of the voltage rising / falling time T _R and the voltage waveform b of the voltage waveform a are the same length, by adjusting the respective T _R independently In addition, the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount can be individually controlled, and the ratio between the two can be freely controlled. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, with increasing / lowering speed 3.0 kV / T _R of the applied voltage is increased, the positive ion concentration and negative ion concentration increased.

(Comparative Example 1)
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in Comparative Example 1. The counter electrode 64 of the ion generator 67 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 was grounded, and a sine wave voltage with a frequency of 15 kHz shown in FIG. 24 was applied to the discharge electrode 65. The ion generator 67 was manufactured in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 4 except that borosilicate glass having a length (95 mm) × width 95 mm × thickness 0.55 mm was used as the dielectric 63. The blower fan 62 is operated in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 5, the wind is sent at the position of the discharge electrode 65 so that the wind speed is 3.4 m / sec, and positive ions and The concentration of negative ions was measured. 25 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Comparative Example 1, and FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Comparative Example 1. As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the positive ion concentration and the negative ion concentration increased as the amplitude _VP-P of the applied voltage increased.

  In Example 5 and Comparative Example 1, in order to compare the efficiency of generating ions, the concentration of ozone generated simultaneously with the ions was measured. Since the generated ozone concentration increases as the intensity of the generated discharge plasma increases, if the generated ion concentration is the same, the lower the generated ozone concentration, the better the efficiency of generating ions. Moreover, since ozone has a bad influence on the human body when its concentration is high, the generated ozone concentration is preferably low from the viewpoint of health.

<Measurement of generated ozone concentration>
For the measurement of the generated ozone concentration, an ozone monitor (model number EG-2001) manufactured by Sugawara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. was used. The generated ozone concentration is the ozone concentration (ppm) detected at a position 5 cm away from the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b in Example 5 and from the discharge electrode 65 in Comparative Example 1 in the blowing direction of the blower fan 12 or 62, respectively. ).

  Since the amount of ozone generated from the ion generators of Example 5 and Comparative Example 1 is very small, the wind speed at the position of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b or the discharge electrode 65 is 3.4 m / sec, which is the same as when the generated ion concentration is measured. When the blower fan 12 or 62 is operated so as to be, the detected ozone concentration is below the detection limit of the ozone monitor, and it cannot be measured accurately. Therefore, by reducing the effective voltage value of the alternating voltage applied to the blower fan 12 or 62 to 20 V, the wind speed at the position of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b or the discharge electrode 65 is lowered to 1.4 m / sec. The generated ozone concentration was measured.

27 and 28 are diagrams showing the ozone concentrations measured in Example 5 and Comparative Example 1. FIG. 27 and 28, the vertical axis represents ozone concentration (unit: arbitrary unit), and the horizontal axis represents positive ion concentration and negative ion concentration (unit: pieces / cm ³ ), respectively. The unit of the measured value of the ozone concentration is originally ppm. However, since the wind speed and the measurement position are different between the ozone concentration measurement and the ion concentration measurement, they are expressed as arbitrary units. As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, in Comparative Example 1, the polarity of the applied voltage frequently changes, so that the efficiency of generating ions is poor, whereas in Example 5, the applied voltage is in either the positive or negative range. Since the time changing time is long enough, the efficiency of generating ions is good.

In the present invention, when a plate-like ceramic having a relative dielectric constant of 1000 or more and a thickness of 5 mm or less is used as a dielectric, and the maximum value of the time change rate of applied voltage is 150 V / msec or more, an application of several kV or less is applied. Even with voltage, high concentration ions can be supplied to the living space. In Examples 1 to 4, by using a plate-like ceramic having a relative dielectric constant of 2500 to 2900 and a thickness of 5 mm as a dielectric, and setting the maximum value of the time change rate of the applied voltage to 150 V / msec, High positive ion concentrations and negative ion concentrations were observed. For example, in Example 2, high positive ion concentrations and negative ion concentrations of 100,000 ions / cm ³ or more were observed at a position 50 cm away from the electrode of the ion generator.

  In Examples 1 to 5, the voltage applied between the electrodes is always a voltage that changes over time only in one of the positive and negative ranges, but the voltage of the waveform that changes over time in the positive range By switching the voltage of the waveform that changes with time in the negative range and alternately applying the voltage at an appropriate timing, it is possible to prevent an increase in charge on the interface between the dielectric and the air (the surface of the dielectric). According to this method, the generation amount of ions can be prevented from decreasing and the efficiency of generating ions can be further improved.

  Moreover, in Examples 1-5, when the parameter of an applied voltage waveform is changed in order to control the amount of ion generation, among the time for 1 period of unit waveforms which comprise an applied voltage waveform, time for a voltage to change over time is demonstrated. Although the ratio of occupancy changes, it is also possible to control the amount of ion generation by changing the frequency of the applied voltage (frequency with which the unit waveform is repeated) without changing this ratio. According to this method, it is possible to adjust the time change rate of the applied voltage relatively easily while keeping the ratio of the time that the voltage changes in the applied voltage waveform constant, and as a result, positive ions are generated. The amount and negative ion generation amount can be freely controlled from a low concentration to a high concentration. Examples thereof will be described below.

(Example 6)
<Manufacture of ion generator>
In order to manufacture the ion generators 17a and 17b shown in FIG. 1, a rutile type titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ) polycrystal having a length of 95 mm × width of 95 mm × thickness of 0.5 mm is baked as the dielectrics 13a and 13b. Ceramics produced by bonding were used. In general, the dielectric constant of titanium dioxide (TiO ₂ ) polycrystal is 110 to 120 at 25 ° C. As the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b, a DuPont gold (Au) conductor paste "5715" is formed in a lattice shape with a line width of 0.3 mm and a space width of 1.0 mm, and the outer shape is 30.2 mm long, 22.4 mm wide, and a film. It printed on each surface of the dielectrics 13a and 13b so that thickness might be set to 7-9 micrometers. As the counter electrodes 14a and 14b, a dielectric platinum 13a and 13b made of DuPont silver platinum (Ag / Pt) paste “5164N” so that the outer shape is 50.2 mm long × 42.4 mm wide and the film thickness is 10 to 14 μm. Printed on each surface. Further, a protective glass paste “PLS 3121” made by Nippon Electric Glass was printed so as to cover the counter electrodes 14 a and 14 b including the electrode ends.

  Since the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b are conductors mainly composed of gold (Au), they are not easily oxidized even if discharge plasma is generated at the electrode ends. For this reason, even if the ion generating element is operated for a long period of time, the amount of ion generation is not easily reduced. Further, since the counter electrodes 14a and 14b are covered with protective glass including the electrode ends, an electric field that is strong enough to generate discharge plasma is not generated in the air near the electrode ends of the counter electrodes 14a and 14b. Therefore, in this embodiment, ions are generated only from the vicinity of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b. Moreover, since the counter electrodes 14a and 14b are covered with protective glass, their surfaces are difficult to oxidize.

  The discharge electrodes 15a and 15b and the counter electrodes 14a and 14b were printed so that their centers coincided with the dielectrics 13a and 13b, respectively.

  Discharge electrodes 15a and 15b, counter electrodes 14a and 14b, and voltage applying means 16a and 16b were connected using an electric wire “5854/7” manufactured by Alpha Wire Company. As a method for connecting the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b to the electric wires, Kyoto Elex silver palladium (Ag / Pd) paste “DD2332H” was printed and provided so as to be in contact with and adjacent to each of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b. A method of soldering an electric wire to a soldering portion having a length of 3.0 mm and a width of 5.0 mm was used. Further, as a method of connecting the counter electrodes 14a and 14b and the electric wire, each of the counter electrodes 14a and 14b is provided by leaving one end of the counter electrodes 14a and 14b without being covered with a protective glass, and is 3.0 mm in length and 5.0 mm in width. A method of soldering an electric wire to a soldered portion was used.

<Ion generation>
FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in the sixth embodiment. The counter electrodes 14a and 14b of the ion generators 17a and 17b manufactured by the above method are grounded, and the voltage waveform a in FIG. 29A and the voltage waveform b in FIG. A voltage having a waveform that appears alternately at intervals of minutes was applied. A voltage having the same waveform is applied to the discharge electrode 15b, but when a voltage having the voltage waveform a is applied to the discharge electrode 15a, a voltage having the voltage waveform b is applied to the discharge electrode 15b and the voltage waveform is applied to the discharge electrode 15a. When the voltage b was applied, the voltage waveform a was applied to the discharge electrode 15b.

In the voltage waveform a of FIG. 29, when time is x, voltage is y, and the period of the unit waveform constituting the voltage waveform a is represented by T, the voltage y is
Section of x = 0 to T / 4: rise according to the following formula y = 1.75 kV × [1 + sin [π (8x / T −1) / 2]]
x = T / 4 to T / 2 section: constant according to the following formula y = 3.5 kV
Section of x = T / 2 to 3T / 4: descending according to the following formula y = 1.75 kV × [1 + sin [π (8x / T −3) / 2]]
x = 3T / 4 to T section: constant according to the following formula y = 0 kV
It changes with time.

Further, in the voltage waveform b of FIG. 29, when time is represented by x, voltage is represented by y, and the period of the unit waveform constituting the voltage waveform b is represented by T, the voltage y is
Section of x = 0 to T / 4: rise according to the following formula y = −1.75 kV × [1 + sin [π (8x / T−1) / 2]]
x = T / 4 to T / 2 section: constant according to the following formula y = −3.5 kV
Section of x = T / 2 to 3T / 4: Decreasing according to the following formula y = −1.75 kV × [1 + sin [π (8x / T−3) / 2]]
x = 3T / 4 to T section: constant according to the following formula y = 0 kV
It changes with time.

  When the voltage waveform a is applied to the discharge electrode 15a and the voltage waveform b is applied to the discharge electrode 15b, positive ions are generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15a and negative ions are generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15b. . Further, when a voltage waveform b is applied to the discharge electrode 15a and a voltage waveform a is applied to the discharge electrode 15b, negative ions are generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15a, and positive ions are generated from the vicinity of the discharge electrode 15b. Occur.

  As the blower fan 12, a cross flow fan “MF930-BC” manufactured by Oriental Motor Co., Ltd. was used. Installed at a distance of 15 cm from the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b and operated by applying an AC voltage having a frequency of 60 Hz and an effective voltage value of 40 V to send wind at a wind speed of 3.4 m / sec at the positions of the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b. It was.

<Measurement of generated ion concentration>
Ion is generated by the above method from the ion generator devices 17a and 17b manufactured by the above method, and the position is 50 cm away from the discharge electrodes 15a and 15b in the blowing direction of the blower fan 12 as in the first to fifth embodiments. The concentration (number / cm ³ ) of small ions having a mobility of 1 cm ² / Vsec or more detected at 1 was measured. 30 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 6, and FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Example 6. Here, in this embodiment, the period T of the unit waveform constituting the voltage waveform a and the period T of the unit waveform constituting the voltage waveform b have the same length, but by adjusting each T individually, It is also possible to individually control the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount and freely control the ratio between the two.

The frequency (frequency) at which the unit waveforms constituting the voltage waveforms a and b are repeated is represented by 1 sec / T (Hz), and the voltage increase / decrease rate is proportional to the frequency. As shown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, as the frequency of the applied voltage increases, the positive ion concentration and the negative ion concentration increase, and the positive ion concentration of 100,000 ions / cm ³ or more and 100,000 ions / cm at 100 Hz or higher. A negative ion concentration of ³ or more was measured. In the unit waveform of the voltage applied in Example 6, in the period T, the voltage changes over time in the sections of time x = 0 to T / 4 and time x = T / 2 to 3T / 4. The ratio of the time at which the voltage changes with time was 50% of the time for one cycle of the unit waveform. In addition, when the frequency of the applied voltage is 100 Hz, the average value of the voltage rising / falling speed is 1 in the sections of the voltage waveforms a and b at times x = 0 to T / 4 and x = T / 2 to 3T / 4. 4 kV / msec.

In the present invention, when a plate-like ceramic having a relative dielectric constant of 100 or more and a thickness of 1 mm or less is used as the dielectric, and the maximum value of the time change rate of the applied voltage is 1 kV / msec or more, an application of several kV or less is applied. Even with voltage, high concentration ions can be supplied to the living space. In Example 6, flat ceramics having a relative dielectric constant of 110 to 120 and a thickness of 0.5 mm were used as the dielectric, and the maximum value of the time change rate of the applied voltage was set to 1.4 kV / msec. Thus, high positive ion concentration and negative ion concentration of 100,000 / cm ³ or more were observed at a position 50 cm away from the electrode of the ion generator. It is also considered that the effect of increasing the amount of generated ions is obtained when the ratio of the time at which the voltage changes is set to 50% or more of the time for one cycle of the unit waveform.

  According to the ion generator of the present invention, positive ions and negative ions can be efficiently generated simultaneously, and sufficiently high concentration ions can be supplied to the living space even with an applied voltage of several kV or less. In addition, the amount of positive ions and negative ions generated can be controlled freely from low to high by adjusting the rate of change of applied voltage over time, and the ratio between the amount of positive ions generated and the amount of negative ions generated Can also be controlled arbitrarily.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the air conditioning apparatus using the ion generator of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the waveform of the voltage applied in this invention. It is a figure which shows another example of the waveform of the voltage applied in this invention. It is the schematic which shows another example of the air conditioning apparatus using the ion generator of this invention. It is the schematic which shows another example of the air conditioning apparatus using the ion generator of this invention. It is the schematic which shows another example of the air conditioning apparatus using the ion generator of this invention. It is the schematic which shows another example of the air conditioning apparatus using the ion generator of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the waveform of the voltage applied in this invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Example 1. 6 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in Example 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the concentration of negative ions measured in Example 2. 6 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in Example 3. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 3. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the negative ion concentration measured in Example 3. It is a figure which shows the waveform of the voltage applied in Example 4. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 4. It is a figure which shows the density | concentration of the negative ion measured in Example 4. It is a figure which shows the waveform of the voltage applied in Example 5. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the negative ion concentration measured in Example 5. 6 is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a voltage applied in Comparative Example 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Comparative Example 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the negative ion concentration measured in Comparative Example 1. It is a figure which shows the density | concentration of ozone measured in Example 5 and Comparative Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the density | concentration of ozone measured in Example 5 and Comparative Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the waveform of the voltage applied in Example 6. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the concentration of positive ions measured in Example 6. FIG. It is a figure which shows the density | concentration of the negative ion measured in Example 6.

Explanation of symbols

  11, 41, 51, 61 Air conditioner, 12, 42, 52, 62 Blower fan, 13a, 13b, 43, 53a, 53b, 63 Dielectric, 14a, 14b, 44a, 44b, 54a, 54b, 64 Counter electrode 15a, 15b, 45a, 45b, 55a, 55b, 65 Discharge electrode, 16a, 16b, 46a, 46b, 56a, 56b, 66 Voltage application means, 17a, 17b, 47, 57a, 57b, 67 Ion generator, 18 Plane.

Claims (15)

  A discharge electrode and a counter electrode facing each other with a dielectric interposed therebetween, and a waveform that changes with time by repeating a unit waveform in either a positive or negative range with respect to the discharge electrode as a reference. An ion generator that alternately applies a voltage having a voltage and a voltage having another waveform that changes over time by repeating a unit waveform in a range of polarity opposite to that of the voltage to generate both positive ions and negative ions .   When two or more ion generators according to claim 1 are combined and a voltage having a time-varying waveform in the positive range is applied in at least one ion generator, the other at least one ion generator An ion generator that generates both positive ions and negative ions by applying a voltage having a time-varying waveform in a negative range.   Two or more ion generators provided with a discharge electrode and a counter electrode opposed to each other with a dielectric interposed therebetween are combined, and at least one ion generator has a positive range with respect to the discharge electrode in a positive range. A voltage having a time-varying waveform is applied by repeating the unit waveform, and in at least one other ion generator, the unit waveform is repeated in a negative range with respect to the counter electrode with respect to the discharge electrode. An ion generator that generates both positive ions and negative ions by applying a voltage having another waveform that changes over time.   The ion generator in any one of Claims 1-3 which controls the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount by adjusting the speed | rate of the said time change.   The ion generator in any one of Claims 1-4 which controls the positive ion generation amount and the negative ion generation amount by adjusting the repetition frequency of a unit waveform.   The ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a time during which the voltage is changing occupies 50% or more of a total time during which the voltage is applied.   7. The dielectric according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric is a plate-shaped ceramic having a relative dielectric constant of 100 or more and a thickness of 1 mm or less, and a maximum value of a time change rate of an applied voltage is 1 kV / msec or more. Ion generator.   7. The dielectric according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric is a plate-shaped ceramic having a relative dielectric constant of 1000 or more and a thickness of 5 mm or less, and a maximum value of a time change rate of an applied voltage is 150 V / msec or more. Ion generator.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein one of the discharge electrode and the counter electrode is grounded.   The ion generator according to claim 9, wherein the discharge electrode is grounded, and the counter electrode is embedded in the dielectric. The positive ion is H ₃ O ⁺ (H ₂ O) _m (m is 0 or any natural number), and the negative ion is O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _n (n is 0 or any natural number). The ion generator in any one of Claims 1-10 which are these.   An air conditioner comprising the ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and delivering positive ions and negative ions into the air.   The apparatus according to claim 12, comprising a plurality of ion generators and a blower fan, wherein a blow direction of the blower fan is set in a direction in which a discharge electrode of one ion generator is not leeward of a discharge electrode of another ion generator. Air conditioning device.   The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the discharge electrodes of the plurality of ion generators are arranged on the same plane or the same curved surface, and the blowing direction is set in a direction along the same plane or the same curved surface.   The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the ion generators are arranged so that discharge electrodes of the plurality of ion generators face each other with a space therebetween, and air is generated from the blower fan in a direction passing through the space. apparatus.

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