JP2007000598A - Air cleaner and air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cleaner having a wide design freedom degree of a generating area and strength of discharge plasma in the air cleaner using the discharge plasma and to provide an air conditioner having the same. <P>SOLUTION: This air cleaner 1 is provided with a discharge plasma element 13 generating the discharge plasma in air, a filter 14 removing ozone generated with the discharge plasma by the discharge plasma element 13, a storage part 17 storing a cumulative operation time of the discharge plasma element 13 and a preset cumulative operation set time, and a control part 16 controlling the operation of the discharge plasma element 13. The control part 16 enables the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 when the cumulative operation time is the cumulative operation set time or less and stops the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 when the cumulative operation time reaches the cumulative operation set time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air purifier that purifies air by generating discharge plasma in the air, and an air conditioner that includes the air purifier.

  In recent years, with the emergence of environmental problems and the increase in airtightness of living spaces, there is an increasing demand for a living environment that removes chemical substances in the air harmful to the human body and leads to a healthy and comfortable life. In order to meet these demands, discharge plasma is generated in the atmosphere, and harmful chemical substances in the air are decomposed by using the strong oxidizing action of active species such as radicals, ozone, and ions generated by the discharge plasma. Air conditioning devices such as air purifiers and air conditioners equipped with technology have been developed and sold.

  For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-319058 (Patent Document 1) discloses an air cleaner equipped with a technique for deodorizing odor components in air by reacting them with plasma, radicals, and ozone generated by corona discharge. ing. In this air purifier, a gas processing function material coated with a chemical agent acting as an ozone decomposition catalyst is installed on the downstream side of the corona discharge electrode, and most of the ozone generated by the corona discharge is decomposed here.

Further, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-135281 (Patent Document 2) discloses an air purifier that can efficiently deodorize by suppressing the amount of ozone generated while exhibiting the deodorizing effect of radicals (including ozone). A method of operating the device is disclosed. In the operation method of this air purifier, the operation of the plasma generator is intermittent.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-319058 JP 2000-135281 A

  However, in the above-described conventional air cleaner or air purifier, as the cumulative operation time becomes longer, the ozone decomposition performance of the gas processing function material deteriorates, so the concentration of ozone discharged from the exhaust port increases. If the ozone concentration becomes too high, the health of the user may be adversely affected.

  Therefore, in order to reduce the possibility of adversely affecting the health of the user, it is necessary to accurately know the cumulative operation time from the start of use of the air cleaner to the end of use. However, the cumulative operation time until the air cleaner is not used varies depending on the user. For this reason, it is difficult to accurately know the accumulated operation time. Therefore, in order to reduce the possibility of adversely affecting the health of the user, it is necessary to assume a case where the cumulative operation time of the air cleaner is extremely long during product design.

  Further, in the above-described conventional air purifier or air purifying device, if the continuous operation time continuously used becomes longer, the time during which discharge plasma continues to be generated becomes longer. It decreases, and the concentration of ozone discharged from the exhaust port increases. If the ozone concentration becomes too high, the health of the user may be adversely affected.

  Therefore, it is necessary to accurately know the continuous operation time in which the air cleaner is continuously used in order to reduce the possibility of adversely affecting the user's health. However, the continuous operation time in which the air purifier is continuously used varies depending on the user. For this reason, it is difficult to accurately know the continuous operation time. Therefore, in order to reduce the possibility of adversely affecting the health of the user, it is necessary to assume a case where the time during which discharge plasma continues to be generated is extremely long during product design.

  On the other hand, the wider the generation area of the discharge plasma in the air cleaner and the stronger the intensity of the discharge plasma, the more electrons are generated, so the generation amount of radicals such as oxygen radicals and hydroxyl radicals increases, and the decomposition effect on harmful chemical substances However, the amount of ozone generated increases.

  Therefore, the conventional air purifier or the air purifying device can ensure safety even when the cumulative operation time is extremely long or when the discharge plasma continues to be generated for an extremely long time. Therefore, assuming that the cumulative operation time and the time during which discharge plasma continues to be generated are extremely long, considering the adverse effects on the user's health due to the increase in the ozone concentration discharged from the exhaust port, The area and intensity of discharge plasma that can be designed in a cleaner or an air purifier are limited. As a result, in the conventional air purifier or air purification device, the discharge plasma generation region is narrowed and the intensity of the discharge plasma is designed to be low in order to ensure safety. Since the air purification device is designed to reduce the amount of electrons generated in this way, the generation amount of radicals and other active species is small, the decomposition effect on harmful chemical substances is not sufficient, and the air purification effect by discharge plasma is sufficient. There was a problem that could not be pulled out.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an air purification device that uses discharge plasma, and that provides a wide range of design freedom of the discharge plasma generation region and strength, and an air conditioning device including the same. is there.

  Another object of the present invention is an air purification device that uses discharge plasma, and the concentration of discharged ozone is always at a low level that does not adversely affect the health of the user, and is a hazardous chemical substance. It is providing the air purification apparatus which can acquire the outstanding decomposition | disassembly effect with respect to this, and an air conditioner provided with the same.

  An air purification apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a discharge plasma element that generates discharge plasma in the air, an ozone removal unit that removes ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element, and a discharge plasma element. A storage unit that stores the cumulative operation time and a predetermined cumulative operation set time is provided, and a control unit that controls the operation of the discharge plasma element. The control unit enables the operation of the discharge plasma element when the cumulative operation time is equal to or less than the cumulative operation set time, and stops the operation of the discharge plasma element when the cumulative operation time reaches the cumulative operation set time.

  In the air purification apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, when the cumulative operation time of the discharge plasma element reaches a preset cumulative operation set time in consideration of deterioration of the ozone removal performance of the ozone removal unit, the discharge plasma is generated. Since it does not occur, the ozone concentration can always be kept at a safe level. Since the discharged ozone concentration can always be kept at a safe level, it can be designed so that the air purification effect by the discharge plasma can be fully exploited when designing the product of the air purification device, and the discharge plasma generation region And the design freedom of strength can be expanded.

  The air purification device according to one aspect of the present invention further includes a display unit that notifies that the cumulative operation time of the discharge plasma element has reached the cumulative operation set time, and the ozone removal unit is replaced according to the notification of the display unit. The accumulated operation time of the discharge plasma element stored in the storage unit is preferably reset to zero.

  By comprising in this way, an ozone removal part can be replaced | exchanged at an appropriate time and the driving | operation of a discharge plasma element can be restarted. For this reason, it is possible to ensure safety and save the ozone removing unit.

  In addition, the air purification device according to one aspect of the present invention further includes an air supply driving unit that supplies air to the discharge plasma element, and the storage unit has a continuous operation time that is predetermined as a continuous operation time of the air supply driving unit. The operation setting time is stored, and the control unit repeatedly operates the discharge plasma element for a certain time each time the continuous operation time stored in the storage unit reaches the continuous operation set time stored in the storage unit. It is preferable to control in such a manner.

  By comprising in this way, progress of deterioration of the ozone removal performance of an ozone removal part can be delayed by shortening the cumulative operation time of a discharge plasma element. For this reason, since the replacement frequency of the ozone removing unit can be reduced, the ozone removing unit can be saved.

  Furthermore, the air purification device according to one aspect of the present invention further includes an air supply driving unit that supplies air to the discharge plasma element, and the ozone removing unit has a function of adsorbing and removing harmful chemical substances in the air, Preferably, the controller has a function of decomposing and removing ozone, and the controller operates the discharge plasma element for a certain period of time after the start of the operation of the air supply drive unit or before the end of the operation.

  With this configuration, when the discharge plasma element is stopped, the ozone removing unit exhibits a function of adsorbing and removing harmful chemical substances in the air. When the discharge plasma device is operating, in addition to adsorption removal of harmful chemical substances by the ozone removal unit, radicals and ozone generated by the generation of discharge plasma in the air decompose the harmful chemical substances in the air. . Further, when ozone is decomposed and removed on the surface of the ozone removing unit, oxygen radicals are generated, and these oxygen radicals also decompose harmful chemical substances in the air. In addition, oxygen radicals generated when ozone is decomposed and removed on the surface of the ozone removing unit decomposes harmful chemical substances adsorbed on the surface of the ozone removing unit and restores the adsorption performance of the ozone removing unit. Therefore, the operation of the air purification device can be resumed after the adsorption performance of the ozone removing unit is recovered.

  An air purification apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a discharge plasma element that generates discharge plasma in the air, an ozone removing unit that removes ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element, and a discharge plasma element. The continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removal unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the preset operation time of the discharge plasma element, the operation stop time of the discharge plasma element, and the ozone removal unit A storage unit that stores a predetermined operation stop setting time of the discharge plasma element until the ozone removal capability is restored, and a control unit that controls the operation of the discharge plasma element. The control unit records the discharge plasma so as to stop the operation of the discharge plasma element until the operation stop time reaches the operation stop set time after continuously operating the discharge plasma element within the range of the continuous operation time within the continuous operation set time or less. Control the operation of the element.

  By configuring in this way, the discharge plasma element is stopped for a certain period of time before the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit reaches a predetermined value, so that the discharged ozone concentration can always be kept at a safe level. . In addition, by stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element, the ozone removal capability of the ozone removal unit can be recovered.

  Further, in the air purification device according to another aspect of the present invention, the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removing unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined first value while the discharge plasma element is continuously operated. Immediately after restarting the operation of the discharge plasma element after stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element, it is preferable that the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removing unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined second value smaller than the first value.

  By comprising in this way, since the operation | movement of a discharge plasma element is restarted after waiting for the ozone removal capability of an ozone removal part to fully recover, discharge | emission ozone density | concentration can be suppressed further low.

  Furthermore, the air purification apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention further includes a humidity sensor that measures the humidity around the discharge plasma element. The control unit controls the voltage applied to the discharge plasma element according to the humidity value measured by the humidity sensor so that the amount of ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element is less than a predetermined value. Is preferred.

  With this configuration, even if the humidity around the discharge plasma element fluctuates, the amount of ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element can be kept within a predetermined range. It is easy to maintain the exhaust ozone concentration at a safe level.

  Furthermore, the air purification apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention further includes an ozone sensor for measuring a concentration of ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element between the discharge plasma element and the ozone removing unit. Prepare. The control unit preferably controls the voltage applied to the discharge plasma element so that the value of the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

  With this configuration, the amount of ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element can be kept within a predetermined range, so that a stable decomposition effect on harmful chemical substances can be obtained and the concentration of exhausted ozone can be safely set. It becomes easy to keep at a certain level.

  The air purifier according to another aspect of the present invention further includes an ozone sensor that measures the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit. The controller is configured to stop the operation of the discharge plasma device until the operation stop time reaches the operation stop set time after continuously operating the discharge plasma device when the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. It is preferable to control the operation of the discharge plasma element.

  By configuring in this way, the discharge plasma element is stopped for a certain period of time before the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit reaches a predetermined value, so that the discharged ozone concentration can always be kept at a safe level. . In addition, by stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element, the ozone removal capability of the ozone removal unit can be recovered. Furthermore, since the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removing unit is measured by the ozone sensor, the discharged ozone concentration can be more reliably maintained at a safe level.

  In this case, the control unit stops the operation after continuously operating the discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor that measures the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit is equal to or lower than the predetermined first value. Ozone measured by an ozone sensor that measures the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removal unit immediately after the operation of the discharge plasma device is stopped until the time reaches the set stop time, and then the operation of the discharge plasma device is resumed. It is preferable to control the operation of the discharge plasma element so that the operation of the discharge plasma element is continued when the concentration is equal to or lower than a predetermined second value smaller than the first value.

  By comprising in this way, since the operation | movement of a discharge plasma element is restarted after waiting for the ozone removal capability of an ozone removal part to fully recover, discharge | emission ozone density | concentration can be suppressed further low.

  In the air purifying apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the ozone removing unit preferably has a function of adsorbing and removing harmful chemical substances in the air and a function of decomposing and removing ozone.

  By configuring in this way, harmful chemical substances in the air are not only decomposed by a chemical reaction in the air with radicals generated by discharge plasma, active species such as ozone, but also adsorbed to the ozone removal unit. Is also removed. Further, the harmful chemical substance adsorbed on the ozone removing unit is decomposed by causing a chemical reaction with ozone and oxygen radicals generated when ozone is decomposed and removed by the ozone removing unit. Thereby, the outstanding decomposition effect with respect to the harmful | toxic chemical substance in air is acquired.

  In addition, it is preferable that the ozone removal part in the air purification apparatus of this invention consists of a filter of the structure which carry | supported the ozone decomposition catalyst on the surface of the honeycomb-shaped base material.

  By comprising in this way, since air tends to pass through an ozone removal part, the speed of air purification is quick. In addition, ozone contained in the air passing through the ozone removing section is decomposed and removed by an ozone decomposition catalyst supported on the surface of the honeycomb-shaped substrate. Thereby, the outstanding decomposition effect with respect to the harmful | toxic chemical substance in air is acquired.

  Moreover, it is preferable that manganese dioxide is contained as said catalyst.

  By comprising in this way, the outstanding ozonolysis effect by manganese dioxide is acquired.

  An air purification device according to another aspect of the present invention includes an air purification unit including a discharge plasma element that generates discharge plasma in the air, and an ozone removal unit that removes ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element. A plurality of discharge plasma elements, a continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element, a predetermined continuous operation setting time of the discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removing unit is a predetermined value or less, and an operation stop time of the discharge plasma element And a storage unit that stores a predetermined operation stop setting time of the discharge plasma element until the ozone removal capability of the ozone removal unit is restored, and a control unit that controls the operation of the discharge plasma element. The control unit alternately operates each discharge plasma element of the plurality of air purification units, and after the discharge plasma element is continuously operated within a range where the continuous operation time is equal to or less than the continuous operation set time, the operation stop time is set to stop operation. The operation of the discharge plasma element is controlled so as to stop the operation of the discharge plasma element until time is reached.

  By configuring in this way, the discharge plasma element is stopped for a certain period of time before the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit reaches a predetermined value, so that the discharged ozone concentration can always be kept at a safe level. . In addition, by stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element, the ozone removal capability of the ozone removal unit can be recovered. Furthermore, by operating the discharge plasma elements of the plurality of air purification units alternately, the time for generating discharge plasma can be lengthened. Thereby, the outstanding decomposition effect with respect to the harmful | toxic chemical substance in air is acquired.

  An air purification apparatus according to yet another aspect of the present invention includes a discharge plasma element that generates discharge plasma in the air, and a plurality of ozone removal filters for removing ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element. Is provided. One ozone removal filter among the plurality of ozone removal filters is disposed on the downstream side of the discharge element. Furthermore, the air purifying device according to still another aspect of the present invention provides a discharge plasma element in advance when the continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element and the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removal unit are equal to or lower than a predetermined value. A storage unit that stores the determined continuous operation set time and a control unit that controls the operation of the discharge plasma element are provided. The control unit controls the operation of the discharge plasma element so that the discharge plasma element is continuously operated within a range where the continuous operation time is equal to or less than the continuous operation set time. After continuously operating the discharge plasma element, another ozone removal filter among a plurality of ozone removal filters is arranged downstream of the discharge plasma element instead of one ozone removal filter arranged downstream of the discharge element. Is possible.

  By configuring in this way, before the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removal filter reaches a predetermined value, the ozone removal filter is excluded from the downstream side of the discharge plasma element for a certain period of time and replaced with another ozone removal filter. Therefore, the discharged ozone concentration can always be kept at a safe level. Further, by removing the ozone removal filter used in the continuous operation for a predetermined time from the downstream side of the discharge plasma element, the ozone removal ability of the ozone removal filter can be recovered. Furthermore, by disposing a plurality of ozone removal filters alternately on the downstream side of the discharge plasma element, it is possible to lengthen the time for operating the discharge plasma element. Thereby, the outstanding decomposition effect with respect to the harmful | toxic chemical substance in air is acquired.

  The air conditioning apparatus of the present invention includes an air purification apparatus having at least one of the above-described features. The air conditioner using the above air purification device can be used for the purpose of obtaining an action of decomposing harmful chemical substances in the air by using discharge plasma, specifically, an air cleaner, an air conditioner. It can be incorporated into a machine, a dehumidifier, a heater, or the like.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the exhaust ozone concentration can be kept at a safe level at all times in the air purification device, so that the air purification effect by the discharge plasma can be sufficiently extracted when designing the product of the air purification device. Therefore, it is possible to expand the degree of freedom in designing the discharge plasma generation region and intensity.

  Further, according to the present invention, the exhaust ozone concentration can always be kept at a safe level, so that it can be designed so that the generation amount of active species such as radicals is increased when designing the product of the air purification device. It is possible to obtain an excellent decomposition effect against harmful chemical substances in the air. Moreover, since the ozone removal capability of the ozone removal unit can be recovered, the ozone removal unit can be used for a long period of time.

(Embodiment 1)
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of an air purification device 1 according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air purification apparatus 1 includes a wind tunnel 11, a blower fan 12 that is disposed on the inlet side of the wind tunnel 11 and serves as an air supply drive unit that supplies air to the discharge plasma element 13, and A discharge plasma element 13 that generates discharge plasma in the supplied air, and a filter 14 that is disposed on the outlet side of the wind tunnel 11 and that serves as an ozone removal unit that removes ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element 13. Composed. Air is supplied into the wind tunnel 11 from the outside of the air purification device 1 by the blower fan 12 arranged on the upstream side in the direction indicated by the arrow P, purified by the discharge plasma element 13 in the wind tunnel 11, and discharged. It is discharged out of the air purification device 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow Q through the filter 14 disposed on the downstream side of the plasma element 13.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the discharge plasma element 13 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge plasma element 13 has a configuration in which a plurality of unit discharge plasma elements 13a, 13b, 13c are bundled (for convenience, three unit discharge plasma elements are shown in FIG. 2). ing. Each unit discharge plasma element 13a, 13b, 13c has a cylindrical dielectric 31, an outer electrode 32 attached so as to closely cover the outer surface of the dielectric 31, and substantially the same length as the outer electrode 32. And the inner electrode 33 attached so as to cover the inner surface of the dielectric 31. The outer electrodes 32 of the respective unit discharge plasma elements 13a, 13b, and 13c are connected to each other by conducting wires and are held at an equal potential. Further, the inner electrodes 33 of the respective unit discharge plasma elements 13a, 13b, and 13c are connected to each other by conductive wires and are held at an equal potential. The outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 have a plurality of openings therein.

The voltage applying means 15 applies a high voltage that changes with time, such as an alternating high voltage, between the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33. As a result, a strong electric field is generated in the air in the vicinity of the boundary between the openings of the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 and in the vicinity of the periphery, and discharge plasma is generated by the strong electric field. When the discharge plasma is generated, radicals such as oxygen radicals (O.) and hydroxyl radicals (OH.), Ozone (O ₃ ), which have an excellent ability to decompose harmful chemical substances in the air, are generated. Since the time from the generation of the radical to the disappearance is very short, it exists only in the vicinity of the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33. On the other hand, since ozone has a relatively long life, it needs to be decomposed by the filter 14 before being discharged outside.

  The filter 14 includes an adsorbent and a catalyst on its surface, and has an effect of adsorbing and removing harmful chemical substances in the air and an effect of decomposing and removing ozone. In particular, the adsorption and removal performance of the adsorbent for harmful chemical substances is high, and the ozonolysis performance of the catalyst is high.

  When a high voltage that changes with time, such as an alternating high voltage, is applied between the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 and discharge plasma is generated, the filter 14 adsorbs and removes harmful chemical substances and in the air. Radicals and ozone generated by the generation of discharge plasma in the atmosphere decompose harmful chemical substances in the air. Further, when ozone is decomposed on the surface of the filter 14, oxygen radicals are generated, and these oxygen radicals also decompose harmful chemical substances in the air. In addition, oxygen radicals generated when ozone is decomposed on the surface of the filter 14 decomposes harmful chemical substances adsorbed on the surface of the filter 14 and restores the adsorption performance of the filter 14.

  The ozone removal performance of the filter 14 deteriorates as the accumulated generation time of the discharge plasma becomes longer. When, for example, manganese dioxide is used as the catalyst for ozonolysis, the ozonolysis performance deteriorates because the crystal structure having a higher catalytic activity is changed to a lower crystal structure as the cumulative generation time of the discharge plasma becomes longer.

  The control unit 16 shown in FIG. 2 controls the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 and is connected to the voltage application means 15 in this embodiment, and controls the application of voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application means 15. To do. A storage unit 17 and a display unit 18 are connected to the control unit 16. In this embodiment, the storage unit 17 accumulates the discharge plasma element 13 as a cumulative operation time of the discharge plasma element 13 as a cumulative voltage application time to the discharge plasma element 13 and as a predetermined cumulative operation set time. The voltage application set time is stored. The display unit 19 displays that the filter 14 needs to be replaced in order to notify that the accumulated voltage application time has reached the accumulated voltage application set time. The control unit 16 controls the application of voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application unit 15, so that the accumulated voltage application time is set to a predetermined accumulated voltage set in advance in consideration of deterioration of the ozone removal performance of the filter 14. The discharge plasma element 13 can be operated when it is less than the application set time, that is, the voltage application means 15 can be operated. When the accumulated voltage application set time is reached, the controller 16 stops the operation of the voltage application means 15. As a result, the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped. At this time, the display unit 18 displays that the filter 14 needs to be replaced. When the filter 14 is replaced with a new filter according to this display, the accumulated voltage application time stored in the storage unit 17 is reset to zero, and the operation of the voltage application means 15 can be resumed.

(Embodiment 2)
The air purification device 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention has the same structure as that shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the discharge plasma element 13 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 17 is connected to the blower fan 12, and applies the accumulated voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application means 15 as the accumulated operation time and accumulated operation set time of the discharge plasma element 13. In addition to the time and the cumulative voltage application setting time, in this embodiment, as the continuous operation time of the air supply drive unit, the continuous operation time of the blower fan 12 and the predetermined continuous operation set time of the air supply drive unit The continuous operation set time of the blower fan 12 is stored. The control unit 16 controls the application of the voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application unit 15, so that the continuous operation time of the blower fan 12 reaches a multiple of a predetermined time as a predetermined continuous operation set time. The controller 16 causes the voltage application means 15 to apply a high voltage, such as an alternating high voltage, between the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 for a certain period of time, and operates the discharge plasma element 13 for a certain period of time. Repeat to do. The other configuration of the discharge plasma element 13 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is the same as the configuration shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship among a predetermined continuous operation setting time of the blower fan 12, a continuous operation time of the blower fan 12, and a voltage application time (operating time of the discharge plasma element 13) by the voltage application unit 15. It is. In FIG. 4, tc indicates a predetermined continuous operation setting time, Tf indicates a continuous operation time of the blower fan 12, and Tv indicates a voltage application time (operation time of the discharge plasma element 13) by the voltage application unit 15. A time zone in which both the blower fan 12 and the discharge plasma element 13 are operating, and B, a time zone in which the blower fan 12 is operating but the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped. Therefore, in this configuration, the cumulative operation time of the blower fan 12 (= the cumulative operation time of the air purification device) is longer than the cumulative operation time of the discharge plasma element 13. Here, the cumulative operation time of the blower fan 12 is the total of the continuous operation time of the blower fan 12 after the user starts using the air purification device.

  With this configuration, A and B (the blower fan 12 is activated and discharge plasma is compared with the case where the operation state of the air purifier is only A (both the blower fan 12 and the discharge plasma element 13 are activated). If the two operating states of the element 13 are stopped), even if the accumulated operation time after the user starts the operation of the air purifier is the same, the accumulated operation time of the discharge plasma element 13 Therefore, the progress of the deterioration of the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 can be delayed.

  Further, a high voltage that changes with time, such as an alternating high voltage, is applied between the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 for a certain period of time after the start of the operation of the blower fan 12 or before the end of the operation. During the time other than the above, the control unit 16 stops the operation of the voltage applying unit 15.

  When the operation of the voltage application means 15 is stopped, no discharge plasma is generated, but the filter 14 adsorbs and removes harmful chemical substances in the air. When a high voltage that changes with time, such as an alternating high voltage, is applied between the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 and discharge plasma is generated, the filter 14 adsorbs and removes harmful chemical substances, and in the air. Radicals and ozone generated by the generation of discharge plasma decompose harmful chemical substances in the air. Further, when ozone is decomposed on the surface of the filter 14, oxygen radicals are generated, and these oxygen radicals also decompose harmful chemical substances in the air. In addition, oxygen radicals generated when ozone is decomposed on the surface of the filter 14 decomposes harmful chemical substances adsorbed on the surface of the filter 14 and restores the adsorption performance of the filter 14.

(Embodiment 3)
The air purification device 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention has the same structure as that shown in FIG. According to another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 5 shows a schematic structure of discharge plasma element 13 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge plasma element 13 has a configuration in which a plurality of unit discharge plasma elements 13a, 13b, 13c are bundled (for convenience, three unit discharge plasma elements are shown in FIG. 5). ing. Each unit discharge plasma element 13a, 13b, 13c has a cylindrical dielectric 31, an outer electrode 32 attached so as to closely cover the outer surface of the dielectric 31, and substantially the same length as the outer electrode 32. And the inner electrode 33 attached so as to cover the inner surface of the dielectric 31. The outer electrodes 32 of the respective unit discharge plasma elements 13a, 13b, and 13c are connected to each other by conducting wires and are held at an equal potential. Further, the inner electrodes 33 of the respective unit discharge plasma elements 13a, 13b, and 13c are connected to each other by conductive wires and are held at an equal potential. The outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 have a plurality of openings therein.

The voltage applying means 15 applies a high voltage that changes with time, such as an alternating high voltage, between the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33. As a result, a strong electric field is generated in the air in the vicinity of the boundary between the openings of the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 and in the vicinity of the periphery, and discharge plasma is generated by the strong electric field. When the discharge plasma is generated, radicals such as oxygen radicals (O.) and hydroxyl radicals (OH.), Ozone (O ₃ ), which have an excellent ability to decompose harmful chemical substances in the air, are generated. Since the time from the generation of the radical to the disappearance is very short, it exists only in the vicinity of the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33. On the other hand, since ozone has a relatively long life, it needs to be decomposed by the filter 14 before being discharged outside.

  The filter 14 has a structure in which a catalyst is supported on the surface of a honeycomb-shaped substrate, and has an effect of adsorbing and removing harmful chemical substances in the air and an effect of decomposing and removing ozone. For example, manganese dioxide can be used as the catalyst. In this case, a high ozonolysis effect can be obtained even at room temperature.

  When a high voltage that changes with time, such as an alternating high voltage, is applied between the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 and discharge plasma is generated, radicals or ozone generated by the discharge plasma being generated in the air Decomposes harmful chemical substances in the air, and the filter 14 adsorbs and removes harmful chemical substances in the air. Further, when ozone is decomposed on the surface of the filter 14, oxygen radicals are generated, and the oxygen radicals decompose harmful chemical substances adsorbed on the surface of the filter 14, thereby restoring the adsorption performance of the filter 14.

  When the discharge plasma element 13 is continuously operated, the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 gradually decreases. When ozone generated by the generation of discharge plasma is decomposed by the filter 14, the ozone is first adsorbed on the surface of the filter 14 and then decomposed by the catalyst on the surface of the filter 14. Since the latter speed is slower than the former speed, the amount of ozone adsorbed on the surface of the filter 14 increases as the time during which discharge plasma is continuously generated becomes longer. As a result, the space in the surface of the filter 14 where ozone is easily adsorbed gradually decreases, so the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 gradually decreases and the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 increases.

  Therefore, the application of voltage between the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 is stopped before the ozone concentration downstream of the filter 14 reaches a predetermined value, and the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped for a certain time. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the exhaust ozone concentration from rising to a level harmful to the human body.

  Further, since the ozone adsorbed on the surface of the filter 14 is decomposed by the catalyst on the surface of the filter 14 while the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped, the ozone removing performance of the filter 14 is restored. By sufficiently taking the time to stop the operation of the discharge plasma element 13, the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 is sufficiently recovered. Immediately after restarting the operation of the discharge plasma element 13, the time for stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is set so that the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 becomes a predetermined value or less.

  In order to control the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 as described above, the control unit 16 shown in FIG. 5 is connected to the voltage application means 15 in this embodiment, and is connected to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application means 15. The application of the voltage is controlled. A storage unit 17 is connected to the control unit 16. In this embodiment, the storage unit 17 has a continuous voltage application time to the discharge plasma element 13 as a continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element 13 and a continuous time to the discharge plasma element 13 as a predetermined continuous operation set time. A voltage application set time, a voltage application stop time for the discharge plasma element 13 as a stop time of the discharge plasma element 13, and a voltage application stop set time for the discharge plasma element 13 as a predetermined operation stop set time Remember. The control unit 16 controls the application of voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application means 15, so that the discharge plasma when the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 is equal to or less than a predetermined value is obtained. The discharge plasma element 13 is continuously operated within a range of a predetermined continuous voltage application set time or less of the element 13, that is, the voltage application means 15 can be continuously operated. The controller 16 stops the operation of the voltage application means 15 until the application stop set time is reached, thereby stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 13. At this time, while the discharge plasma element 13 is continuously operated, the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 is not more than a predetermined first value, and the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped after the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped. Immediately after restarting the operation of 13, the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 is equal to or lower than a predetermined second value smaller than the first value.

(Embodiment 4)
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of air purification device 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when generating discharge plasma from the discharge plasma element 13, the amount of ozone generated is greatly affected by the humidity around the discharge plasma element 13. When the humidity increases, the ozone generation amount decreases, and when the humidity decreases, the ozone generation amount increases. If the amount of ozone generated varies due to the influence of ambient humidity, the decomposition effect on harmful chemical substances in the air is not stable, and the rate at which the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 deteriorates is not stable.

  Therefore, a humidity sensor 51 for measuring the humidity around the discharge plasma element 13 is provided near the discharge plasma element 13, and the discharge plasma element is configured so that the ozone generation amount falls within a predetermined range according to the measurement value of the humidity sensor 51. The voltage applied to 13 is adjusted.

  In addition, an ozone sensor 52 that measures the ozone concentration downstream of the filter 14 is provided on the downstream side of the filter 14 in order to stop and restart the application of voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 at an appropriate timing. Before the measured value of the ozone sensor 52 reaches a predetermined value, the application of voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped, and the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped for a certain time. Further, when the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is resumed, the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is continued when the measured value of the ozone sensor 52 immediately after the operation is resumed is equal to or less than a predetermined value. In this case, the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is further stopped for a certain time.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a discharge plasma element 13 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  In order to control the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 as described above, the control unit 16 shown in FIG. 7 is connected to the voltage application means 15 in this embodiment, and is connected to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application means 15. The application of the voltage is controlled. A storage unit 17, a humidity sensor 51, and an ozone sensor 52 are connected to the control unit 16.

  The storage unit 17 has a continuous voltage application time to the discharge plasma element 13 as a continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element 13, and a continuous voltage application set time to the discharge plasma element 13 as a predetermined continuous operation set time. The voltage application stop time to the discharge plasma element 13 is stored as the stop time of the discharge plasma element 13 and the voltage application stop setting time to the discharge plasma element 13 is stored as a predetermined operation stop set time. The control unit 16 controls the application of voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application means 15, so that the discharge plasma when the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 is equal to or less than a predetermined value is obtained. The discharge plasma element 13 is continuously operated within a range of a predetermined continuous voltage application set time or less of the element 13, that is, the voltage application means 15 can be continuously operated. The controller 16 stops the operation of the voltage application means 15 until the application stop set time is reached, thereby stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 13.

  At this time, in this embodiment, the control unit 16 responds to the humidity value measured by the humidity sensor 51 so that the amount of ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element 13 is not more than a predetermined value. Thus, the voltage applied to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage applying means 15 is controlled.

  In this embodiment, the control unit 16 continuously operates the discharge plasma element 13 when the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor 52 is not more than a predetermined value, that is, the voltage application means 15 can be continuously operated. After the continuous operation, the control unit 16 stops the operation of the voltage application means 15 until the voltage application stop time reaches the voltage application stop set time, thereby stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 13.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 16 performs the voltage application stop time after the continuous operation of the discharge plasma element 13 when the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor 52 is equal to or lower than the predetermined first value. The controller 16 stops the operation of the voltage application means 15 until the application stop set time is reached, thereby stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 13, and then immediately after restarting the operation of the discharge plasma element 13, the ozone sensor 52. The operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is continued when the ozone concentration measured by the above is equal to or less than a predetermined second value smaller than the first value.

  The other configuration of the discharge plasma element 13 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention is the same as the configuration shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 5)
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of air purification device 1 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Between the discharge plasma element 13 and the filter 14, an ozone sensor 53 for measuring the concentration of ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element 13 is provided, and the discharge plasma is set so that the measured value of the ozone sensor 53 falls within a predetermined range. The voltage applied to the element 13 is adjusted. According to this configuration, since the fluctuation of the ozone generation amount is suppressed within a predetermined range, the decomposition effect on harmful chemical substances in the air is stabilized, and the rate at which the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 is degraded is also stabilized.

Further, similarly to the fourth embodiment, an ozone sensor 52 is provided on the downstream side of the filter 14, and based on the measured value of the ozone sensor 52, stopping and restarting the application of voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 is performed at an appropriate timing. Do.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a discharge plasma element 13 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

  In order to control the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 as described above, the control unit 16 shown in FIG. 9 is connected to the voltage application means 15 in this embodiment, and is connected to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application means 15. The application of the voltage is controlled. A storage unit 17, an ozone sensor 52, and an ozone sensor 53 are connected to the control unit 16.

  The storage unit 17 has a continuous voltage application time to the discharge plasma element 13 as a continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element 13, and a continuous voltage application set time to the discharge plasma element 13 as a predetermined continuous operation set time. The voltage application stop time to the discharge plasma element 13 is stored as the stop time of the discharge plasma element 13 and the voltage application stop setting time to the discharge plasma element 13 is stored as a predetermined operation stop set time. The control unit 16 controls the application of voltage to the discharge plasma element 13 by the voltage application means 15, so that the discharge plasma when the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 is equal to or less than a predetermined value is obtained. The discharge plasma element 13 is continuously operated within a range of a predetermined continuous voltage application set time or less of the element 13, that is, the voltage application means 15 can be continuously operated. The controller 16 stops the operation of the voltage application means 15 until the application stop set time is reached, thereby stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 13.

  At this time, in this embodiment, the control unit 16 applies a voltage according to the value of the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor 53 so that the concentration of ozone measured by the ozone sensor 53 becomes a predetermined value or less. The voltage applied to the discharge plasma element 13 by the means 15 is controlled.

  In this embodiment, the control unit 16 continuously operates the discharge plasma element 13 when the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor 52 is not more than a predetermined value, that is, the voltage application means 15 can be continuously operated. After the continuous operation, the control unit 16 stops the operation of the voltage application means 15 until the voltage application stop time reaches the voltage application stop set time, thereby stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 13.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 16 performs the voltage application stop time after the continuous operation of the discharge plasma element 13 when the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor 52 is equal to or lower than the predetermined first value. The controller 16 stops the operation of the voltage application means 15 until the application stop set time is reached, thereby stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 13, and then immediately after restarting the operation of the discharge plasma element 13, the ozone sensor 52. The operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is continued when the ozone concentration measured by the above is equal to or less than a predetermined second value smaller than the first value.

  The other configuration of the discharge plasma element 13 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention is the same as the configuration shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 6)
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of air purification device 100 according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 10, the air purification device 100 includes a plurality of unit air purification devices 110, 120, and 130 as a plurality of air purification units (in FIG. 10, for convenience, three unit air purification devices are shown. ) It is arranged side by side. Each of the unit air purification devices 110, 120, and 130 has the same configuration as the air purification device 1 described in the first embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the unit air purification devices 110, 120, and 130 are disposed on the wind tunnel 111, 121, 131 and the inlet side of the wind tunnel 111, 121, 131, respectively, and the discharge plasma elements 113, 123, 133 are disposed. Blower fans 112, 122, 132 as air supply drive units for supplying air to the discharge air, discharge plasma elements 113, 123, 133 for generating discharge plasma in the air supplied by the blower fans 112, 122, 132, and a wind tunnel 111, 121, 131 are arranged on the outlet side, and are composed of filters 114, 124, 134 as ozone removing units that remove ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma elements 113, 123, 133. The air is sent from outside the unit air purification devices 110, 120, and 130 by the blower fans 112, 122, and 132 arranged on the upstream side in the directions indicated by arrows P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₃ , respectively. , 131, and the purification process is performed by the discharge plasma elements 113, 123, 133 in the wind tunnel 111, 121, 131 and the filters 114, 124, 134 disposed downstream of the discharge plasma elements 113, 123, 133. Then, they are discharged out of the unit air purification devices 110, 120, and 130 in directions indicated by arrows Q ₁ , Q ₂ , and Q ₃ , respectively.

  When all the blower fans 112, 122, and 132 shown in FIG. 10 are operated and only the discharge plasma element 113 is continuously operated among the discharge plasma elements 113, 123, and 133, for example, the ozone removal performance of the filter 114 gradually decreases. As a result, the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 114 increases. Before the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 114 reaches a predetermined value, the operation of the discharge plasma element 113 is stopped for a certain time. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the ozone concentration exhausted from the unit air purification device 110 from rising to a level harmful to the human body, and to recover the ozone removal performance of the filter 114.

  If only the discharge plasma element 123 is continuously operated instead of stopping the operation of the discharge plasma element 113 for a certain period of time, the ozone removal performance of the filter 124 gradually decreases and the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 124 increases. To do. Before the ozone concentration downstream of the filter 124 reaches a predetermined value, the operation of the discharge plasma element 123 is stopped for a certain time.

If only the discharge plasma element 133 is continuously operated instead of the discharge plasma elements 113 and 123, the ozone removal performance of the filter 134 gradually decreases and the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 134 increases. Before the ozone concentration downstream of the filter 134 reaches a predetermined value, the operation of the discharge plasma element 133 is stopped for a certain time.

  Thus, by operating the discharge plasma elements of the plurality of unit air purification devices alternately, the time for generating the discharge plasma can be lengthened.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a discharge plasma element group according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

  In order to control the operation of the discharge plasma elements 113, 123, 133 as described above, the control unit 160 shown in FIG. 11 is connected to the voltage application unit 150 in this embodiment, and discharge by the voltage application unit 150 is performed. The application of voltage to the plasma elements 113, 123, 133 is controlled. A storage unit 170 is connected to the control unit 160.

  The storage unit 170 has a continuous voltage application time for each discharge plasma element as a continuous operation time for each of the discharge plasma elements 113, 123, and 133, and a continuous operation set time for a predetermined time. The voltage application set time, the stop time of each of the discharge plasma elements 113, 123 and 133, the voltage application stop time for each discharge plasma element, and the voltage to each discharge plasma element as a predetermined operation stop set time The application stop set time is stored. The controller 160 operates each discharge plasma element 113, 123, 133 alternately, and controls the voltage application means 150 to apply a voltage to each discharge plasma element. Each discharge plasma element is continuously operated within a range of a predetermined continuous voltage application set time of each discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration downstream of each filter corresponding to the element is not more than a predetermined value, That is, the voltage application means 150 can be continuously operated. After the continuous operation, the control unit 160 stops the operation of the voltage application means 150 until the voltage application stop time reaches the voltage application stop set time. Stop the operation of the element.

(Embodiment 7)
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of air purification device 1 according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the air purification device 1 includes a wind tunnel 11, a blower fan 12 that is disposed on the inlet side of the wind tunnel 11 and that supplies air to the discharge plasma element 13, and a blower fan 12. From a discharge plasma element 13 that generates discharge plasma in the supplied air, and a filter 14a that is disposed on the outlet side of the wind tunnel 11 and serves as an ozone removal unit that removes ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element 13. Composed. Air is supplied into the wind tunnel 11 from the outside of the air purification device 1 by the blower fan 12 arranged on the upstream side in the direction indicated by the arrow P, and the discharge plasma element 13 and the discharge plasma element 13 in the wind tunnel 11 are supplied. Is purified by a filter 14a disposed on the downstream side of the air, and is discharged out of the air purification apparatus 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow Q. An opening (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface of the wind tunnel 11 so that the filter 14a can be moved downward and taken out of the wind tunnel 11. A lid 19 is provided so as to cover the opening. As shown in FIG. 13, the lid 19 moves to the left, so that the filter 14a can be moved downward. Below the wind tunnel 11 are filters 14b and 14c (three filters are shown for convenience in FIGS. 12 to 15) for replacing the filter 14a when the ozone removal performance of the filter 14a is reduced. It is placed on the belt 20. As shown in FIG. 14, by rotating the rotors 21a and 21b in the direction indicated by the arrow S, the belt 20 moves and the filter placed on the belt moves in parallel.

  In FIG. 12, when the discharge plasma element 13 is continuously operated, the ozone removal performance of the filter 14a gradually decreases, and the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14a increases. Therefore, the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped before the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14a reaches a predetermined value. The filter 14a is replaced with the filter 14b by the method shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, and the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is immediately resumed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the discharged ozone concentration from rising to a level harmful to the human body, and it is possible to restore the ozone removal performance of the filter 14a. Moreover, the time which operates the discharge plasma element 13 can be lengthened by arrange | positioning a several ozone removal filter by turns in the downstream of the discharge plasma element 13 by turns.

  As a method of exchanging the filter 14a with the filter 14b, first, as shown in FIG. 13, the lid 19 is moved to the left, the filter 14a is taken out of the wind tunnel 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow R, and is placed on the belt 20. Put. Next, as shown in FIG. 14, by rotating the rotor 21 a and the rotor 21 b clockwise in the direction indicated by the arrow S, the filters 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are moved to the right side, and the filter 14 b is moved to the wind tunnel 11. It is located directly below the opening provided on the bottom surface. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the filter 14 b is moved into the wind tunnel 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow R, and the lid 19 is moved to the right to close the opening provided on the bottom surface of the wind tunnel 11.

  After the filter 14a is replaced with the filter 14b in this way, the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is resumed.

  Further, by the same method, the ozone removal performance of the filter 14b decreases, and the filter 14b is replaced with the filter 14c before the ozone concentration downstream of the filter 14b reaches a predetermined value.

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

Example 1
A wind tunnel 11 used in the air purification device 1 shown in FIG. 1 was produced using a stainless steel plate having a thickness of 0.3 mm so that the inner dimension was 18 cm square and 45 cm long. A propeller fan (MRS18V2-B manufactured by Oriental Motor Co., Ltd.) having an outer dimension of 18 cm square and 9 cm thickness was attached to one end of the wind tunnel 11 as the blower fan 12. The boundary between the wind tunnel 11 and the blower fan 12 was covered with an aluminum adhesive tape so that a part of the wind generated by the blower fan 12 would not escape from the gap between the wind tunnel 11 and the blower fan 12.

  The unit discharge plasma element constituting the discharge plasma element 13 shown in FIG. 2 is a cylindrical borosilicate glass having a diameter of 20 mm, a thickness of 1 mm and a length of 100 mm as the dielectric 31, and the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 per 100 square mm. A stainless steel wire mesh having a length of 50 mm and having 20 openings was used. The discharge plasma element 13 was produced by bundling 12 unit discharge plasma elements using a conducting wire.

  In the discharge plasma element 13, the central axis of the discharge plasma element 13 coincides with the central axis of the wind tunnel 11, and the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 (the edge of the discharge plasma element 13 on the blower fan 12 side) and the blower fan 12 It installed so that the distance of the ventilation direction between might be 12 cm. Further, on the downstream side of the discharge plasma element 13, an 18 cm square 1 cm thick filter 14 was installed at a distance of 12 cm in the blowing direction from the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33. As the filter 14, an ozone filter CAH (800 cells) manufactured by Cataler Co., Ltd. was used.

  When operating the air purification apparatus 1, the blower fan 12 was operated so that the wind speed in the wind tunnel 11 was 0.5 m / sec.

  When operating the discharge plasma element 13, the outer electrode 32 was grounded, and a sine wave AC voltage having a frequency of 60 Hz and an amplitude of 3.5 kV (peak-to-peak voltage of 7 kV) was applied to the inner electrode 33 by the voltage application means 15.

  In order to evaluate the decomposition performance of the air purification apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration against harmful chemical substances, the following experiment was performed.

(Evaluation of decomposition performance against harmful chemical substances)
The air purification apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration was installed in a stainless steel container having an inside dimension of 1 m long × 1 m wide × 1 m high. Further, in order to make the concentration of harmful chemical substances in the stainless steel container uniform, two stirring fans were installed in the stainless steel container and operated.

  Before starting the operation of the air purification apparatus 1, formaldehyde was injected into the stainless steel container as a harmful chemical substance so that the concentration of formaldehyde in the stainless steel container was 0.3 to 0.4 ppm.

  As a method for measuring the formaldehyde concentration in a stainless steel container, it passes through a collection DNPH cartridge (model number: LpDNPH S10L) manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich Japan Co., Ltd. for 10 minutes at a rate of 0.5 L / min. The amount of formaldehyde derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) contained in this cartridge was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Also, if ozone is contained in the air that passes through the DNPH cartridge, the derivatization of formaldehyde is disturbed, so the ozone is removed by passing through an ozone scrubber made by Sigma-Aldrich Japan Co., Ltd. I let it pass.

  As a result of performing an experiment for two cases of operating the discharge plasma element 13 and not operating it, the formaldehyde concentrations shown in Table 1 were measured.

  Even when the discharge plasma element 13 was not operated, the formaldehyde concentration in the stainless steel container decreased to about 2% of the initial concentration after 15 minutes due to the adsorption performance of the filter 14. In the case of operating the discharge plasma element 13, the formaldehyde concentration in the stainless steel container further decreased.

  In addition to formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOC) containing acetaldehyde, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and the like may be used as harmful chemical substances in the air.

  Next, the following experiment was conducted in order to investigate the progress rate of deterioration of the ozone removal performance of the filter 14.

(Measurement of ozone concentration)
Using an ozone monitor (Model No. EG-2001) manufactured by Sugawara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd., a position 5 cm downstream from the wind tunnel 11 on the extension of the central axis of the wind tunnel 11 (position on the outside (right side) of the filter 14 in FIG. Then, the ozone concentration at a position 5 cm downstream from the edge of the wind tunnel 11 on the filter 14 side was measured.

  In this embodiment, when generating discharge plasma, the outer electrode 32 is grounded, and a voltage application means 15 applies a sinusoidal AC voltage having a frequency of 60 Hz and an amplitude of 3.5 kV (peak-to-peak voltage of 7 kV) to the inner electrode 33. It is supposed to be. However, in this experiment, the amplitude of the applied voltage was increased from 3.5 kV to 5 kV in order to degrade the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 in a short time. However, when the ozone concentration was measured, the amplitude of the applied voltage was returned to the normal 3.5 kV. As a result of conducting such an experiment, the ozone concentrations shown in Table 2 were measured.

  When the amplitude of the applied voltage is returned from 5 kV to 3.5 kV, the amount of ozone generated is about 1/10. Therefore, the cumulative voltage application time converted when the amplitude of the applied voltage is 3.5 kV is about 10 in Table 2. It is considered to be double. Since it is considered that there is no safety problem if the exhausted ozone concentration is 0.05 ppm or less, when the amplitude of the applied voltage is 3.5 kV, when the cumulative voltage application time reaches 2000 hours, the voltage application means 16 It is considered appropriate to stop driving.

(Example 2)
A wind tunnel 11 used in the air purification device 1 shown in FIG. 1 was produced using a stainless steel plate having a thickness of 0.3 mm so that the inner dimension was 18 cm square and 45 cm long. A propeller fan (MRS18V2-B manufactured by Oriental Motor Co., Ltd.) having an outer dimension of 18 cm square and 9 cm thickness was attached to one end of the wind tunnel 11 as the blower fan 12. The boundary between the wind tunnel 11 and the blower fan 12 was covered with an aluminum adhesive tape so that a part of the wind generated by the blower fan 12 would not escape from the gap between the wind tunnel 11 and the blower fan 12.

  The unit discharge plasma element constituting the discharge plasma element 13 shown in FIG. 2 is a cylindrical borosilicate glass having a diameter of 20 mm, a thickness of 1.7 mm, and a length of 100 mm as the dielectric 31, and 100 squares as the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33. A 50 mm long stainless steel wire mesh having 20 openings per mm was used. The discharge plasma element 13 was produced by bundling 12 unit discharge plasma elements using a conducting wire.

In the discharge plasma element 13, the central axis of the discharge plasma element 13 coincides with the central axis of the wind tunnel 11, and the distance in the blowing direction between the edge of the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33 on the blower fan 12 side and the blower fan 12. Was set to 12 cm. Further, the filter 14 was installed on the downstream side of the discharge plasma element 13 with a distance of 12 cm in the blowing direction from the outer electrode 32 and the inner electrode 33. As the filter 14, an ozone removal filter in which a manganese dioxide catalyst was supported on the surface of an aluminum honeycomb-shaped substrate having an outer diameter of 18 cm square 20 mm thick and a cell number of 1000 cells / inch ² was used.

  When operating the air purification apparatus 1, the blower fan 12 was operated so that the wind speed in the wind tunnel 11 was 0.94 m / sec.

  When the discharge plasma element 13 was operated, the outer electrode 32 was grounded, and a sine wave AC voltage having a frequency of 60 Hz and an amplitude of 5.0 kV (peak-to-peak voltage of 10 kV) was applied to the inner electrode 33 by the voltage applying means 15.

  When the discharge plasma element 13 is operated, the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 gradually decreases, and the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 increases. Therefore, before the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 reaches a predetermined value, the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 is stopped for a certain period of time, and the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 is recovered during that time. In this example, after the discharge plasma element 13 was continuously operated for 8 hours, the discharge plasma element 13 was stopped for 16 hours.

  In order to measure the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the filter 14 when this operation cycle was repeated five times, the following experiment was performed.

(Measurement of ozone concentration)
Using an ozone monitor (model number EG-2001) manufactured by Sugawara Jitsugyo Co., Ltd., the ozone concentration at a position 1 cm downstream from the filter 14 on the extension of the central axis of the wind tunnel 11 was measured. As a result, measurement data shown in FIG. 16 was obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 16, when the discharge plasma element 13 was operated, the ozone concentration at the above position increased and became 0.03 to 0.035 ppm after 8 hours. This concentration is lower than 0.05 ppm, which is a reference value for the ozone concentration discharged from home appliances, and is considered to be a safe level for the human body. Since the discharge plasma was not generated while the discharge plasma element 13 was stopped, the ozone concentration at the above position was zero. In addition, since the ozone removal performance of the filter 14 was restored while the discharge plasma element 13 was stopped, the ozone concentration at the above position immediately after restarting the operation of the discharge plasma element 13 was about 0.002 ppm.

  It should be considered that the embodiments and examples disclosed above are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments and examples but by the scope of claims, and includes all modifications and variations within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of claims.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the air purification apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1, 2 and 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the discharge plasma element which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the discharge plasma element which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the predetermined continuous operation setting time of a ventilation fan, the continuous operation time of a ventilation fan, and the voltage application time (operation time of a discharge plasma element) by a voltage application means. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the discharge plasma element which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the air purification apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the discharge plasma element which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the air purification apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the discharge plasma element which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the air purification apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the discharge plasma element group which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the air purification apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st step of the method of replacing | exchanging a filter in the air purification apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd step of the method to replace | exchange a filter in the air purification apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 3rd step of the method to replace | exchange a filter in the air purification apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the time change of the ozone concentration measured in the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100: Air purification apparatus 11, 111, 121, 131: Wind tunnel, 12, 112, 122, 132: Blower fan, 13, 113, 123, 133: Discharge plasma element, 13a, 13b, 13c: Unit discharge plasma Element 14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 114, 124, 134: filter, 15, 150: voltage applying means, 16, 160: control unit, 17, 170: storage unit, 18: display unit, 19: lid, 20 : Belt, 21a, 21b: rotor, 31: dielectric, 32: outer electrode, 33: inner electrode, 51: humidity sensor, 52, 53: ozone sensor, 110, 120, 130: unit air purification device.

Claims (14)

A discharge plasma element for generating discharge plasma in air;
An ozone removing unit for removing ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element;
A storage unit for storing a cumulative operation time of the discharge plasma element and a predetermined cumulative operation set time;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the discharge plasma element,
The control unit enables the operation of the discharge plasma element when the cumulative operation time is less than or equal to the cumulative operation set time, and stops the operation of the discharge plasma element when the cumulative operation time reaches the cumulative operation set time. Let the air purification device. A display unit for notifying that the cumulative operation time has reached the cumulative operation set time;
The air purifying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the ozone removing unit is replaced in accordance with the notification from the display unit, the accumulated operation time stored in the storage unit is reset to zero. An air supply driving unit for supplying air to the discharge plasma element;
The storage unit stores a continuous operation time of the air supply drive unit and a predetermined continuous operation set time, and the control unit is constant every time the continuous operation time reaches the continuous operation set time. The air purifier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation of the discharge plasma element is repeated for a time. An air supply driving unit for supplying air to the discharge plasma element;
The ozone removing unit has a function of adsorbing and removing harmful chemical substances in the air and a function of decomposing and removing ozone.
The air purification device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit operates the discharge plasma element for a certain period of time after the start of operation of the air supply drive unit or before the end of operation. . A discharge plasma element for generating discharge plasma in air;
An ozone removing unit for removing ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element;
Continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element, predetermined continuous operation setting time of the discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit is not more than a predetermined value, operation stop time of the discharge plasma element And a storage unit for storing a predetermined operation stop setting time of the discharge plasma element until the ozone removal capability of the ozone removal unit is restored,
A control unit for controlling the operation of the discharge plasma element,
The control unit operates the discharge plasma element until the operation stop time reaches the operation stop set time after continuously operating the discharge plasma element within the continuous operation time within the range of the continuous operation set time or less. An air purification device that controls the operation of the discharge plasma element to stop.   While the discharge plasma element is continuously operated, the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removing unit is not more than a predetermined first value, and the operation of the discharge plasma element is stopped after the operation of the discharge plasma element is stopped. 6. The air purification device according to claim 5, wherein immediately after resuming, the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removing unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined second value smaller than the first value. A humidity sensor that measures the humidity around the discharge plasma element;
The control unit applies a voltage applied to the discharge plasma element according to a humidity value measured by the humidity sensor so that an amount of ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The air purification device according to claim 5 or 6, which controls the air. Between the discharge plasma element and the ozone removal unit, further comprising an ozone sensor for measuring the concentration of ozone generated with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element,
The control unit according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the control unit controls a voltage applied to the discharge plasma element so that an ozone concentration value measured by the ozone sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The air purifier according to item. An ozone sensor that measures the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removal unit;
The controller continuously operates the discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, and then continues until the operation stop time reaches the operation stop set time. The air purification device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the operation of the discharge plasma element is controlled so as to stop the operation.   The control unit continuously operates the discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration measured by the ozone sensor that measures the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined first value, The operation of the discharge plasma element is stopped until the operation stop time reaches the operation stop set time, and immediately after the operation of the discharge plasma element is restarted, the ozone concentration on the downstream side of the ozone removing unit is measured. The operation of the discharge plasma element is controlled to continue the operation of the discharge plasma element when an ozone concentration measured by an ozone sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined second value smaller than the first value. Item 10. The air purification device according to Item 9.   The air purification device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the ozone removing unit has a function of adsorbing and removing harmful chemical substances in the air and a function of decomposing and removing ozone. A plurality of air purification units including a discharge plasma element that generates discharge plasma in the air and an ozone removal unit that removes ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element;
Continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element, predetermined continuous operation setting time of the discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit is not more than a predetermined value, operation stop time of the discharge plasma element And a storage unit for storing a predetermined operation stop setting time of the discharge plasma element until the ozone removal capability of the ozone removal unit is restored,
A control unit for controlling the operation of the discharge plasma element,
The control unit alternately operates each discharge plasma element of the plurality of air purification units, and continuously operates the discharge plasma element within the range where the continuous operation time is equal to or less than the continuous operation set time, and then the operation is performed. An air purification device that controls the operation of the discharge plasma element so as to stop the operation of the discharge plasma element until a stop time reaches the operation stop set time. A discharge plasma element for generating discharge plasma in air;
A plurality of ozone removal filters for removing ozone generated together with the discharge plasma in the discharge plasma element;
One of the plurality of ozone removal filters is disposed on the downstream side of the discharge element, and
A storage unit that stores a continuous operation time of the discharge plasma element, and a predetermined continuous operation set time of the discharge plasma element when the ozone concentration downstream of the ozone removing unit is a predetermined value or less;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the discharge plasma element,
The control unit controls the operation of the discharge plasma element so as to continuously operate the discharge plasma element within a range where the continuous operation time is equal to or less than the continuous operation set time.
After continuously operating the discharge plasma element, instead of the one ozone removal filter disposed downstream of the discharge element, another ozone removal filter among the plurality of ozone removal filters is disposed on the discharge plasma element. An air purification device that can be arranged on the downstream side. An air conditioner comprising the air purifier according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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