JP2006322677A - Antibacterial material and device comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely inhibit generation of slime by sterilizing drain water for a long period, in a drain pan and drain piping of an air conditioner. <P>SOLUTION: This air conditioner comprises the drain pan 8 for collecting the drain water generated in an indoor heat exchanger 7, and the drain piping 15 for guiding the drain water in the drain pan 8 to the external. The drain pan 8 comprises an antibacterial member 8a composed of brass on its bottom surface. The drain pipe 15 comprises an antibacterial member 16 composed of a brass wire 16 spirally formed along an inner side face of the pipe 15. The antibacterial member 8a and the brass wire 16 elute zinc ion in the drain water in the drain pan 8 and the drain pipe 15 for a long period by dezincification corrosion of brass, thus the drain water can be surely sterilized. As a result, the generation of slime can be inhibited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

    The present invention relates to an antibacterial material and an air conditioner, a cooling tower, and a chilling unit including the antibacterial material.

    Conventionally, in an air conditioner, a method of sterilizing drain water generated in a casing with a drain pan or a drain pipe has been studied. This is in order to suppress the generation of slime by the propagation of germs contained in the drain water. When this slime is generated, problems such as clogging of the drain pipe, water leakage, and a strange odor occur.

    As drain water sterilization treatment, mainly sterilization treatment with a drug (for example, Patent Document 1) and sterilization treatment with a metal ion (for example, Patent Document 2) have been studied.

    In the sterilization treatment method described in Patent Document 1, a slime inhibitor is provided on substantially the entire surface of the drain pan of the air conditioner. This anti-slime agent is formed by kneading a polyester non-woven fabric or the like with a drug coated with microcapsules. With such a configuration, a small amount of the drug is eluted in the drain water over a long period of time, and the drain water is sterilized.

    In the sterilization method described in Patent Document 2, a part of the drain pan of the air conditioner in contact with the drain water is made of a copper-based material, and the drain water sent from the drain pan is prevented from flowing back into the drain discharge pipe. A check valve is provided. Thereby, since the drain water containing the copper ion which has a bactericidal effect stays in the drain pan and drain pipe, generation | occurrence | production of the slime in a drain pan and drain pipe can be suppressed together.

Moreover, silver and zinc other than copper are mentioned as a metal which shows a bactericidal effect. Silver has an excellent bactericidal effect, but has a small amount of elution when immersed in water. Moreover, it is known that zinc has a higher bactericidal effect than copper depending on the type of bacteria to be sterilized.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-159710 JP 2004-205132 A

    However, the anti-slime agent using the drug described in Patent Document 1 has to be processed by kneading the drug with a microcapsule and then kneading it into a nonwoven fabric in order to elute the drug for a long period of time.

    Further, in the sterilization treatment with metal ions as in Patent Document 2, for example, when a pure zinc plate is used as an antibacterial material, after a predetermined period of time has passed after being immersed in water, a protective film is formed on the metal surface of the pure zinc plate. Therefore, there is a problem that the elution amount of zinc ions is drastically reduced and the bactericidal effect is lowered.

    The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an air conditioner including an antibacterial material that elutes an antibacterial substance into water for a long period of time without performing special processing, and an antibacterial member made of the antibacterial material It aims at providing apparatuses, such as a machine.

The first invention is an antibacterial material made of an alloy containing zinc and a metal having a smaller ionization tendency than zinc.

    In the first invention, since it is made of an alloy containing zinc and a metal having a smaller ionization tendency than zinc, zinc ions are preferentially eluted by being immersed in water.

    In a second aspect based on the first aspect, the alloy includes zinc and copper.

    In the second invention, since it is an alloy containing zinc and copper having a smaller ionization tendency than zinc, “dezincification corrosion” in which zinc ions are preferentially eluted occurs when immersed in water. As a result, even when the alloy is immersed in water for a long period of time, a zinc protective film is not formed on the metal surface exposed to water, and an active surface in which spongy copper remains is left. Elute over time.

    In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the alloy is brass.

    Since the third invention uses brass mainly composed of zinc and copper as an antibacterial material, dezincification corrosion occurs when immersed in water, and zinc ions are eluted over a long period of time. In addition, brass is excellent in workability because it is rich in malleability and ductility.

    4th invention is an air conditioner by which the antibacterial member (16) which consists of an antibacterial material as described in 1st invention is provided in the drain piping (15).

    In this 4th invention, by providing the said antibacterial member (16) in the said drain piping (15), zinc ion elutes into the drain water which flows in the drain piping (15).

    A fifth invention is the wire (16) in which the antibacterial member (16) is formed in a spiral shape in the fourth invention.

    In this 5th invention, since the said antimicrobial member (16) is a wire (16), a process is easy. And since the wire (16) is formed in a spiral shape and provided in the drain pipe (15), the contact area between the drain water and the antibacterial member (16) is larger than that provided as a linear shape. Become. Further, if a spiral shape is formed along the inner surface of the drain pipe (15), the antibacterial member (16) can be used even when the drain pipe (15) flows unevenly because of a small amount of drain water. Zinc ions are surely eluted in the drain water.

    In a sixth aspect based on the fourth aspect, the antibacterial member (16) is located in the lower part of the horizontal portion of the drain pipe (15).

    In the sixth aspect of the invention, the antibacterial member (16) is provided in the lower part of the horizontal portion of the drain pipe (15), so that the drain water flowing through the drain pipe (15) Therefore, zinc ions are surely eluted in the drain water.

    In a seventh aspect based on the fourth aspect, the drain pipe (15) is a flexible hose (15).

    In the seventh aspect of the invention, since the drain pipe (15) is a flexible hose (15), the process of providing the antibacterial member (16) is easy.

    The eighth invention is an air conditioner in which an antibacterial member (8a) made of the antibacterial material described in the first invention is provided in a drain pan (8).

    In the eighth aspect of the invention, by providing the antibacterial member (8a) for sterilizing the drain water on the drain pan (8), zinc ions are eluted in the drain water in the drain pan (8).

    9th invention is a cooling tower in which the antibacterial member (58) which consists of an antibacterial material as described in 1st invention is provided in the cooling water piping (56).

    In the ninth aspect, by providing the antibacterial member (58) in the cooling water pipe (56), zinc ions are eluted in the cooling water flowing in the cooling water pipe (56).

    In a tenth aspect based on the ninth aspect, the antibacterial member (58) is a wire (58) formed in a spiral shape.

    In the tenth aspect, since the antibacterial member (58) is a wire (58), processing is easy. Then, by forming the wire (58) in a spiral shape and providing it in the cooling water pipe (56), the contact area with the cooling water becomes larger than that in a linear shape. Furthermore, if a spiral shape is formed along the inner surface of the cooling water pipe (56), the cooling water reliably contacts the antibacterial member (58), so that zinc ions are surely eluted into the cooling water.

    The eleventh invention is a cooling tower in which an antibacterial member (54b) made of the antibacterial material described in the first invention is provided in a water tank (54).

    In this eleventh aspect, by providing the antibacterial member (54b) in the water tank (54) of the cooling tower, zinc ions are eluted in the cooling water in the water tank (54).

    The twelfth invention is a chilling unit in which an antibacterial member (58) made of the antibacterial material described in the first invention is provided in the chiller pipe.

    In the twelfth aspect of the invention, the antibacterial member (58) is provided in the chiller pipe of the chilling unit, so that zinc ions are eluted in the refrigerant in the chiller pipe.

    In a thirteenth aspect based on the twelfth aspect, the antibacterial member (58) is a wire (58) formed in a spiral shape.

    In the thirteenth aspect, since the antibacterial member (58) is a wire (58), processing is easy. Then, by forming the wire (58) in a spiral shape and providing it in the chiller pipe, the contact area with the refrigerant becomes larger than when the wire (58) is formed in a linear shape. Furthermore, if a spiral shape is formed along the inner surface of the chiller pipe, the refrigerant reliably comes into contact with the antibacterial member, so that zinc ions are surely eluted into the refrigerant.

    According to the first invention, since the antibacterial material is composed of an alloy containing zinc and a metal having a smaller ionization tendency than zinc, when immersed in water, zinc ions are preferentially eluted, Can be sterilized over a long period of time.

    In addition, according to the second invention, since the antibacterial material is an alloy containing zinc and copper having a smaller ionization tendency than zinc, zinc ions are preferentially eluted when immersed in water. "Happens. As a result, the surface of the alloy exposed to water becomes an active surface where zinc-like protective film is not formed and sponge-like copper remains, and zinc ions continue to be eluted. Can do.

    Further, according to the third invention, since the antibacterial material is made of brass, zinc ions continue to be eluted by dezincification corrosion when immersed in water, so that a reliable sterilization treatment can be performed over a long period of time. it can.

    Moreover, since brass is rich in malleability and ductility, it can be processed into a wire shape, a plate shape, a foil shape, or the like according to the place where the antibacterial material is provided.

    According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the antibacterial member (16) made of the antibacterial material of the first aspect is provided in the drain pipe (15) of the air conditioner, the drain water flowing through the drain pipe (15). Since zinc ions are eluted, drain water can be sterilized, so that generation of slime in the drain pipe (15) can be prevented.

    Moreover, according to the said 5th invention, since the said antimicrobial member (16) is a wire (16), a process is easy. And since this wire (16) was formed in a spiral shape and provided in the drain pipe (15), the contact surface between the drain water and the antibacterial member (16) should be larger than that formed in a linear shape. Therefore, the drain water sterilization effect is improved. Moreover, if it is provided so as to form a spiral along the inner surface of the drain pipe (15), even if the drain water flows in a small amount in the drain pipe (15), the antibacterial member ( 16) can be reliably contacted, and zinc ions are surely eluted in the drain water, so that the drain water can be sterilized reliably.

    Further, according to the sixth invention, since the antibacterial member (16) is located in the lower part of the horizontal portion of the drain pipe (15), the amount of drain water flowing through the drain pipe (15) is small. In addition, since the antibacterial member (16) is reliably contacted, zinc ions are surely eluted in the drain water, so that the drain water can be sterilized with certainty.

    Further, according to the seventh invention, since the drain pipe (15) is a flexible hose (15), the process of providing the antibacterial member (16) can be easily performed, and the hose (15) By providing the antibacterial member (16) on the inner surface, the strength of the hose (15) can be improved.

    According to the eighth invention, since the antibacterial member (8a) made of the antibacterial material of the first invention is provided in the drain pan (8) of the air conditioner, zinc ions are eluted in the drain water. The drain water can be sterilized. Further, since the drain water containing zinc ions in the drain pan (8) flows out to the drain pipe (15), it is possible to prevent both the drain pan (8) and the drain pipe (15) from generating slime.

    Further, according to the ninth invention, since the antibacterial member (58) made of the antibacterial material of the first invention is provided in the cooling water pipe (56) of the cooling tower, the cooling flowing through the cooling water pipe (56) is performed. Since zinc ions are eluted in the water, the cooling water can be sterilized, so that slime in the cooling water pipe (56) can be prevented from being generated.

    According to the tenth aspect of the invention, since the antibacterial member (58) is a wire (58), processing is easy. And since the wire (58) is spirally formed and provided in the cooling water pipe (56), the contact area with the cooling water is larger than that of forming the wire (58), so the cooling water is surely sterilized. can do. Furthermore, if the spiral shape is formed along the inner surface of the cooling water pipe (56), the antibacterial member (58) can be reliably brought into contact with the cooling water (56). Since it elutes reliably, the sterilization process of cooling water can be performed reliably.

    According to the eleventh aspect, since the antibacterial member (54b) made of the antibacterial material of the first invention is provided in the water tank (54) of the cooling tower, the antibacterial member (54b) can be easily attached. In addition, the cooling water can be sterilized.

    According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, since the antibacterial member (58) made of the antibacterial material described in the first aspect is provided in the chiller pipe of the chilling unit, zinc ions are eluted in the refrigerant in the chiller pipe. Therefore, since the refrigerant can be sterilized, the generation of slime in the chiller pipe can be prevented.

    Moreover, according to the thirteenth aspect, since the antibacterial member (58) is a wire (58), processing is easy. Then, by forming the wire (58) in a spiral shape and providing it in the chiller pipe, the contact area with the refrigerant becomes larger than that formed in the linear shape, so that the refrigerant can be sterilized reliably. Furthermore, if a spiral shape is formed along the inner surface of the chiller pipe, the antibacterial member can be reliably brought into contact with the refrigerant, so that zinc ions can be reliably eluted into the refrigerant. It can be done reliably.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 of the Invention
Embodiment 1 of the present invention is a ceiling-embedded air conditioner (1) shown in FIG. The air conditioner (1) is inserted and arranged in an opening (H) formed in the ceiling (R), and a casing (2) that opens downward is installed in the ceiling space (S).

    A turbo fan (3) is disposed at the center of the casing (2). The turbofan (3) includes an impeller (4), a fan motor (5), and a bell mouth (6). The impeller (4) is formed by a shroud (4a), a hub (4b), and a blade (4c) held between the shroud (4a) and the hub (4b). Is connected to the lower end of the drive shaft of the fan motor (5). The fan motor (5) is fixed to the upper center of the casing (2). The turbo fan (3) is configured to blow out indoor air sucked from the lower side to the radially outer side of the impeller (4) by rotation of the blade (4c) driven by the fan motor (5). . The bell mouth (6) is disposed below the impeller (4) so as to guide indoor air to the impeller (4).

    An indoor heat exchanger (7) is disposed around the impeller (4). The indoor heat exchanger (7) is connected to an outdoor unit (not shown) via a refrigerant pipe. The indoor heat exchanger (7) functions as an evaporator during cooling operation and as a condenser during heating operation, and adjusts the temperature and humidity of the indoor air blown out from the turbo fan (3). To do.

    A drain pan (8) for collecting drain water generated in the indoor heat exchanger (7) during cooling operation or dehumidifying operation is disposed below the indoor heat exchanger (7). Yes. A drain pump (11) for discharging drain water accumulated in the drain pan (8) is disposed, and the drain pump (11) has a drain pipe (15) for guiding the drain water to the outside. It is connected.

    As shown in FIG. 2, the drain pan (8) is provided with a float (8b) for detecting the water level of the drain water. The drain pump (11) detects that the float (8b) has accumulated the drain water in the drain pan (8) to a predetermined water level, and is activated when a float switch (not shown) is actuated, so that the drain pan (8) When the drain water is discharged to the drain pipe (15) and it is detected that the drain water has dropped to a predetermined water level, the drain water is stopped by the operation of the float switch.

    And in the said drain pan (8), the antibacterial member (8a) of the brass (JIS C2800) for disinfecting the accumulated drain water is provided. The antibacterial member (8a) is formed in a flat plate shape and is provided on the bottom surface of the drain pan (8). The antibacterial member (8a) is not particularly limited as long as the antibacterial member (8a) is provided at least in a portion in contact with the drain water in the drain pan.

    The drain pipe (15) is a pipe made of vinyl chloride having an inner diameter of 20 mm, and includes an in-machine drain pipe (12), a connector (13), and an outside drain pipe (14). The in-machine drain pipe (12) is connected to the drain pump (11), has a rising portion (12a) rising vertically upward, and a horizontal portion (12b) bent from the rising portion (12a), and a connector ( 13) connected.

    The external drain pipe (14) extends from the horizontal portion (14a) connected to the connector (13) toward the wall surface (W) of the building in the ceiling space (S), and the ceiling space (S ) In order to avoid the beams (B1, B2) in the horizontal portion (14e) is formed through the bent portion (14g) having the inclined portion (14b, 14d) and the lower horizontal portion (14c), the horizontal The falling part (14f) continues from the part (14e). The external drain pipe (14) has a trapped portion (14g) bent downward from the beam (B1). The falling part (14f) of the external drain pipe (14) extends downward along the wall surface (W) of the building, and its end is connected to a drain collecting pipe (not shown).

    The drain pipe (15) is provided with a brass wire (16) which is an antibacterial member (16) for sterilizing drain water flowing in the pipe (15). The brass wire (16) is a 0.5 mm diameter wire obtained by processing brass (JIS C2800), is formed in a spiral shape with a pitch of 3 cm, and is provided along the inner surface of the drain pipe (15). Yes.

    On the other hand, a decorative panel (9) having a rectangular shape in plan view is attached to the lower end of the casing (2). The decorative panel (9) has an air suction port (9a) formed of a rectangular opening at the center thereof, and a plurality of locations (for example, four locations) on the side edge of the decorative panel (9). Are formed with air outlets (9b, 9b...) Corresponding to the sides of the decorative panel (9). The air suction port (9a) is provided with an air filter (9c) for removing dust in the indoor air sucked from the air suction port (9a), and the lower side of the air filter (9c) A suction grill (not shown) is attached to the.

-Driving action-
Next, generation | occurrence | production of drain water and discharge operation | movement of this drain water are demonstrated with the air-conditioning operation | movement in this embodiment.

    During the cooling or dehumidifying operation of the air conditioner (1), the fan motor (5) is driven and the turbo fan (3) rotates, so that the room air is moved from the air inlet (9a) to the inside of the casing (2). Sucked into. Thereafter, the indoor air passes through the air filter (9c) and the bell mouth (6), is further blown out radially outward from the impeller (4), and passes through the indoor heat exchanger (7). The indoor air is cooled or dehumidified by the indoor heat exchanger (7) and blown out into the room from the air outlet (9b).

    In the indoor heat exchanger (7), water vapor in the indoor air is condensed and drain water is generated. The drain water is dropped from the indoor heat exchanger (7) and collected in the drain pan (8).

    Here, since the brass antibacterial member (8a) is provided on the bottom surface of the drain pan (8), zinc ions are eluted from the surface of the antibacterial member (8a) into the drain water over a long period of time. That is, since the antibacterial member (16) is brass made of zinc and copper having a lower ionization tendency than zinc, zinc ions can be formed without forming a protective film on the metal surface even when immersed in drain water for a long time. Continue to elute. Thereby, drain water is reliably sterilized over a long period of time.

    And when the drain water of the drain pan (8) accumulates to a predetermined water level, a float switch will act | operate and a drain pump (11) will start. The drain water in the drain pan (8) is discharged to the drain pipe (15) by the drain pump (11).

    Here, since the brass wire (16) is provided in the drain pipe (15), zinc ions are eluted from the surface of the brass wire (16) into the drain water over a long period of time. And since the said brass wire (16) is the wire formed in the spiral along the inner surface of drain pipe (15), since there is little drain water which flows through the said pipe (15), drain pipe (15) Even in the case of uneven flow, the drain water surely flows in contact with the brass wire (16). Thereby, since zinc ion elutes to drain water reliably from a brass wire (16), drain water is reliably sterilized over a long period of time.

    Thereafter, when the drain water in the drain pan (8) is lowered to a predetermined water level, the float switch is operated and the drain pump (11) is stopped.

-Examination of bactericidal effect-
Next, the examination performed regarding the bactericidal effect of the antibacterial member (8a) in the drain pan (8) and the brass wire (16) of the drain pipe (15) will be described.

    The examination of the bactericidal effect was performed by using the drain pipe (15) of the air conditioner (1) as the drain pipe A and comparing the slime generation situation with the drain pipe B of the conventional air conditioner. The conventional air conditioner is an air conditioner having the same configuration as that of the air conditioner (1) of the present embodiment and in which neither the drain pan nor the drain pipe is provided with an antibacterial member.

    FIG. 3 shows the passage of days and units of drain pipes A and B when the air conditioner (1) of this embodiment and the conventional air conditioner are air-cooled every day during the summer period from 8:00 to 18:00. The relationship with the slime adhesion amount per area (g / m 2) is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the drain pipe A of the air conditioner (1) of the present embodiment has a slime adhesion amount of 0. 30 days even after 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days have elapsed since the start of the operation of the air conditioner. It is about 5 (g / m 2). And when this deposit | attachment was analyzed, it was not only the slime by growth of microorganisms but only the inorganic type deposit | attachment produced in the operation | movement initial stage of an air conditioner. On the other hand, the drain pipe B of the conventional air conditioner has a slime deposit of 2 (g / m2) after 30 days from the start of operation of the air conditioner, 6 (g / m2) after 60 days, and 12 (g) after 90 days. / M2).

    As is clear from the above results, the air conditioner (1) of the present embodiment is formed in a spiral shape in the pipe of the brass plate antibacterial member (8a) and the drain pipe A (15) provided in the drain pan (8). Since the brass wire (16) is used to elute zinc into the drain water and sterilize it, the generation of slime can be surely suppressed even during the summer season when slime is likely to occur.

-Effect of Embodiment 1-
According to the first embodiment, since the brass antibacterial member (8a) is provided in the drain pan (8), zinc ions continue to elute in the drain water in the drain pan (8). Since it can sterilize, generation | occurrence | production of the slime in a drain pan (8) can be suppressed.

    And since the brass wire (16) which forms the spiral along the inner surface was also provided in the drain pipe (16), there was a small amount of drain water, and the inside of the drain pipe (16) flowed unevenly. Even so, since the drain water is in reliable contact with the brass wire (16), zinc ions continue to elute in the drain water. Thereby, since drain water can be sterilized reliably also in the drain pipe (16), generation | occurrence | production of the slime in a drain pipe (16) can be suppressed.

    As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent problems such as the drain water does not flow and water leakage occurs or a strange odor due to the accumulation of slime occurs.

-Modification 1 of Embodiment 1-
In this embodiment, instead of the first embodiment in which the brass wire (16) is formed in a spiral shape along the inner surface of the drain pipe (15), the brass wire (16) as an antibacterial member is connected to the drain pipe ( It is provided at the lower part in the horizontal part of 15). In other words, even if a small amount of drain water flows through the drain pipe (15), the drain water always comes into contact with the lower part of the drain pipe (15) when flowing in the horizontal portion of the drain pipe (15). Then, in the horizontal part of the drain pipe (15), the brass wire (16) is provided so that it may be located in the lower part of the drain pipe (15).

    The horizontal part of the drain pipe (15) means the horizontal part (12a) connected to the connector (13) of the in-machine drain pipe (12) shown in FIG. 2 and the out-of-machine drain pipe (14). These are the horizontal part (14a), the lower horizontal part (14c) and the horizontal part (14e) on the wall surface (W) side connected to the connector (13).

    As shown in FIG. 4, the brass wire (16) is formed in a spiral shape so as to be positioned below the horizontal portion (12a, 14a, 14c, 14e) of the drain pipe (15). Yes. Thus, by providing the brass wire (16) in the lower part of the horizontal part (12a, 14a, 14c, 14e), even if there is a small amount of drain water flowing through the drain pipe (15), Touch (16). Furthermore, since the brass wire (16) is formed in a spiral shape, the contact area with the drain water is larger than that formed in a linear shape, so that zinc ions are surely eluted in the drain water, and the drain water A sterilization process can be performed reliably.

    In addition, since the drain water flows in the lower part in the pipe (14) if the inclination angle is gentle in the inclined part (14b, 14d) of the bent part (14g) of the external drain pipe (14), the same In addition, it may be provided in the lower part of the above-described external drain pipe (14).

-Modification 2 of Embodiment 1
In the present embodiment, a flexible hose is used as a drain pipe instead of using the vinyl chloride drain pipe (15) in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, since a flexible hose is used as the drain pipe, the brass wire (16) can be easily attached. Furthermore, if it comprises the wire which forms the spiral shape along the inner surface of a flexible hose, the intensity | strength of a hose can also be reinforced.

<< Embodiment 2 of the Invention >>
As shown in FIG. 5, Embodiment 2 of the present invention is a cooling tower (50) that performs heat treatment (cooling) of the load-side refrigerant with cooling water. The cooling tower (10) includes a substantially cylindrical tower body (50a) and a cooling water pipe (56). A water-cooled condenser (57) is connected to the cooling water pipe (56).

    Inside the tower body (50a), a blower (51), an upper watering tank (52), a heat exchanger (53), and a lower water tank (54) are arranged in this order from above, and the tower body (50a) A drain port for discharging drain water (not shown) is provided at the lowermost part. The blower (51) is a turbo fan, and includes a fan motor (51a) and an impeller (51b). A connection part (52a) to the cooling water pipe (56) is provided on the upper part of the side surface of the upper water spray layer (52), and a spray nozzle (52b) is provided on the lower surface. And the said heat exchanger (53) is provided in the lower part of the said upper water sprinkling tank (52), and the side surface of the said tower (50a) is the same height as the installation position of the said heat exchanger (53), An intake port (50b) for taking in outside air is formed. The lower water tank (54) is formed in a dish shape partially including a recess (54a), and a connection port (54c) with a cooling water pipe is provided on a side surface of the recess (54a).

    The lower water tank (54) is provided with an antibacterial member (54b) made of brass (JIS C2800). The antibacterial member (54b) is formed in a flat plate shape, and is provided on the bottom surface of the recess (54a) in the lower water tank (54). In addition, in the said lower water tank (54), it should just be provided in the part which cooling water contacts at least, and an installation position and a shape are not specifically limited.

    The cooling water pipe (56) is an iron pipe having an outer diameter of 60.5 mm, an inner diameter of 54.9 mm, and a total length of 160 m, and includes a feed cooling water pipe (56a) and a return cooling water pipe (56b). The feed cooling water pipe (56a) is connected to the connection part (54a) of the lower water tank (54) and the cooling water inlet (57a) of the water-cooled condenser (57). The return cooling water pipe (56b) is connected to the cooling water outlet (57b) of the water-cooled condenser (57) and the connection part (52a) of the upper watering tank (52). The feed cooling water pipe (56a) includes a circulation pump (55) in the vicinity of the outlet of the lower water tank (54). The cooling water is configured to flow out from the lower water tank (54) and then return to the upper watering tank (52) through the cooling water pipe (56) by the circulation pump (55).

    The cooling water pipe (56) is provided with a brass wire (58) which is an antibacterial member (58) for sterilizing the cooling water flowing in the cooling water pipe (56). The brass wire (58) is a 0.5 mm diameter wire made of brass (JIS C2800), is formed in a spiral shape with a pitch of 10 cm, and is provided along the inner side surface of the cooling water pipe (56). In the first embodiment, instead of forming the brass wire (16) having a diameter of 0.5 mm on the drain pipe (15) having an inner diameter of 20 mm with a pitch of 3 cm, the cooling water having an inner diameter of 54.9 mm is used in the present embodiment. The pipe (56) has a pitch of 10 cm, which is wider than that of the first embodiment. This is because the cooling water pipe (56) of the cooling tower (50) has a very long total length of 160 m, and the amount of cooling water flowing through the cooling water pipe (56) is always a constant high water quantity. This is to prevent as much as possible from rising.

-Driving action-
Next, the cooling water circulation process in the present embodiment will be described.

    When the operation of the cooling tower (50) is set, the circulation pump (55) and the fan motor (51a) are driven to start watering of the cooling water in the upper watering tank (52).

    The cooling water in the upper water spray tank (52) is sprinkled from the spray nozzle (52a) toward the heat exchanger (53). And since a fan rotates by the drive of the said fan motor (51a), external air is attracted | sucked in a tower | column (50a) from an inlet port (50b). The cooling water is heat-exchanged with the outside air in the heat exchanger (50b), and becomes cooled water with a temperature drop. The water to be cooled becomes droplets from the lower part of the heat exchanger and is collected in the lower water tank (54). The outside air that has taken heat from the cooling water becomes exhaust air and is exhausted from the upper part of the tower body (50a).

    Here, since the brass antibacterial member (54b) is provided on the bottom surface of the lower water tank (54), zinc ions are eluted from the surface of the antibacterial member (54b) into the water to be cooled over a long period of time. That is, in this embodiment, since brass made of zinc and copper having a smaller ionization tendency than zinc is used, a protective coating is not formed on the metal surface even when immersed in cooling water for a long time, and zinc ions are Continue to elute. Thereby, the cooling water in the lower water tank (54) is sterilized.

    And the to-be-cooled water containing the said zinc ion is sent to a load side heat exchange part (57) from a lower water tank (54) through a cooling water piping (56a) by a circulation pump (55). The water to be cooled becomes cooling water whose temperature has been increased by heat treatment (cooling) of the refrigerant on the load side. Thereafter, the cooling water is sent to the upper watering tank (52) through the return cooling water pipe (56b), and circulates in the same manner.

    Here, since the cooling water pipe (56) is provided with a brass wire (58) formed in a spiral shape along the inner surface of the cooling water pipe (56), the cooling water pipe (56 ) The cooling water flowing in the inside flows reliably in contact with the brass wire (58). Thereby, since zinc ion is reliably eluted from the brass wire (58) into the cooling water in the cooling water pipe (56), the cooling water is sterilized.

-Examination of bactericidal effect-
Next, the examination performed regarding the bactericidal effect of the antibacterial member (54b) in the lower water tank (54) and the brass wire (58) of the cooling water pipe (56) will be described.

    The examination of the sterilization effect is that the cooling water pipe (56) of the cooling tower (50) is the cooling water pipe A, and slime is generated with the cooling water pipe B which is the cooling water pipe of the conventional cooling tower (60) shown in FIG. This was done by comparing the situation. The conventional cooling tower has the same configuration as the cooling tower (50) of the present embodiment, but does not include an antibacterial member made of brass, and as shown in FIG. 5, near the inlet of the feed cooling water pipe (56a). Disinfectant injection means (61) is provided. The sterilizing agent injecting means (61) is configured to sterilize the cooling water by supplying sodium hypochlorite, which is a sterilizing agent, to 1 ppm in the cooling water.

    FIG. 6 shows the outlet of the lower water tank (54) of the cooling tower in the cooling water pipes A and B after the cooling tower (50) of the present embodiment and the conventional cooling tower (60) are continuously operated for 2000 hours during the summer period. It shows the relationship between the distance from 54c) and the amount of slime deposited per unit area. In the cooling water pipe A of the cooling tower (50) of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the distance from the outlet of the lower water tank (54) changes, the slime adhesion amount is 10 to 20 (g / m 2). Although it is substantially constant, the cooling water pipe B of the conventional cooling tower (60) has a slime adhesion amount of about 10 (g / m 2) near the lower water tank outlet of the cooling tower (60). ) When the distance from the outlet exceeds 40 m, the amount of slime increases gradually, and when the distance from the lower water tank (54) outlet exceeds 100 m, the amount of adhesion becomes about 250 (g / m 2).

    As is clear from the above results, the cooling tower (50) of the present embodiment is formed in a spiral shape on the entire inner surface of the brass antibacterial member (54b) and the cooling water pipe A (56) in the lower water tank (54). By providing the brass wire (58), the generation of slime due to the growth of microorganisms can be suppressed even during the summer period. Further, in the cooling water pipe B, in the vicinity of the position where the sterilizing agent injecting means (61) is provided, the sterilizing effect is high and slime hardly adheres, but the distance from the sterilizing agent injecting means (61) increases. It turns out that the bactericidal effect falls.

-Effect of the second embodiment-
According to the second embodiment, since the brass antibacterial member (54b) is provided in the lower water tank (54), zinc ions continue to elute into the cooling water in the lower water tank (54). 54) Since the cooling water inside can be sterilized over a long period of time, generation of slime can be suppressed.

    And since the brass water (58) which forms a spiral shape along the inner surface of the cooling water pipe (56) is also provided in the cooling water pipe (56), the cooling water is composed of the brass wire (58) and Contact is made reliably, and zinc ions continue to elute from the contact surface. Thereby, since cooling water can be sterilized reliably also in a cooling water piping (56), generation | occurence | production of slime can be suppressed.

As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent problems such as the cooling water not flowing and causing water leakage or the generation of a strange odor due to the accumulation of slime.
<< Other Embodiments >>

    The present invention may be configured as follows with respect to the above embodiment.

    In Embodiments 1 and 2 above, brass (JIS C2800) is used as an antibacterial member, and this brass includes about 60% by mass of copper and about 40% by mass of zinc. The ratio brass may be used. Moreover, even if it is not brass, the alloy which consists of zinc and copper, and also the alloy which consists of a metal with a smaller ionization tendency than zinc and zinc may be sufficient. In short, any alloy that preferentially elutes zinc ions in water may be used.

    Moreover, the installation position and shape of an antibacterial member are not restricted to the position and shape shown to the said Embodiment 1 and 2, For example, in the drain pan (10) of an air conditioner (1), and the lower water tank (54) of a cooling tower (50) It may be provided on the entire inner surface or inner side surface of the container, or in the cooling tower (50), may be provided in the upper watering tank (52). Moreover, the antibacterial member provided in the drain pipe (15) of the air conditioner (1) and the cooling water pipe (56) of the cooling tower (50) may be provided on the entire inner wall of the pipe, or may be formed in a straight line. It may be a wire or may not be a wire. And an antibacterial member may be provided only in either the drain pan (10) or the drain water pipe (15) of the air conditioner (1), or the upper water tank (52), lower water tank (54) of the cooling tower (50). ), An antibacterial member may be provided in any one of the cooling water pipes (56).

    In short, the antibacterial member is only required to be in contact with at least drain water or cooling water.

    Moreover, the structure of the air conditioner (10) and cooling tower (50) which provide an antibacterial member is not restricted to the structure shown to the said Embodiment 1 and 2. FIG.

    Furthermore, the antibacterial member can be provided in an apparatus including a pipe through which a liquid such as water or a refrigerant flows and a container for storing the liquid, in addition to the air conditioner and the cooling tower. Specifically, a chiller pipe of a chilling unit may be provided. Also in this case, as in the first and second embodiments, by using a brass wire (58) that forms a spiral along the inner surface of the chiller pipe, the refrigerant can be reliably sterilized. Generation of slime in the chiller piping can be prevented.

    In addition, the above embodiment is an essentially preferable illustration, Comprising: It does not intend restrict | limiting the range of this invention, its application thing, or its use.

    As described above, the present invention is useful for an antibacterial material and an air conditioner, a cooling tower, and a chilling unit including the antibacterial material.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the air conditioning machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the antibacterial member in the drain pan and drain piping of the air conditioning machine which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the comparison of the slime adhesion amount of the drain piping of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and the conventional air conditioner. It is a figure which shows the block diagram of the antibacterial member in the drain piping of the air conditioning machine which concerns on the modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the cooling tower which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of a conventional cooling tower. It is a figure which shows the comparison of the slime adhesion amount of the cooling water piping of the cooling tower which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention, and a conventional cooling tower.

Explanation of symbols

8 Drain pan
8a Antibacterial material
15 Drain piping
16 Brass wire (antibacterial material, wire)
54 Lower water tank (water tank)
54b Antibacterial materials
56 Cooling water piping
58 Brass wire (antibacterial material, wire)

Claims (13)

An antibacterial material comprising an alloy containing zinc and a metal having a smaller ionization tendency than zinc. In claim 1,
The antibacterial material characterized in that the alloy includes zinc and copper. In claim 2,
An antibacterial material, wherein the alloy is brass. An air conditioner characterized in that an antibacterial member (16) made of the antibacterial material according to claim 1 is provided in a drain pipe (15). In claim 4,
The antibacterial member (16) is an air conditioner which is a wire (16) formed in a spiral shape. In claim 4,
The air conditioner characterized in that the antibacterial member (16) is located in a lower portion in a horizontal portion of the drain pipe (15). In claim 4,
The air conditioner characterized in that the drain pipe (15) is a flexible hose (15). An air conditioner characterized in that an antibacterial member (8a) made of the antibacterial material according to claim 1 is provided in a drain pan (8). The cooling tower characterized by the antibacterial member (58) which consists of an antibacterial material of Claim 1 provided in the cooling water piping (56). In claim 9,
The antibacterial member (58) is a cooling tower characterized by being a wire (58) formed in a spiral shape. The cooling tower characterized by the antibacterial member (58) which consists of an antibacterial material of Claim 1 provided in the water tank (54). A chilling unit, wherein an antibacterial member (58) made of the antibacterial material according to claim 1 is provided in a chiller pipe. In claim 12,
The antibacterial member (58) is a wire (58) formed in a spiral shape.

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