JP2007313458A - Electrostatic atomizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrostatic atomizer capable of stably increasing the quantity of electrically charged fine particle water without increasing applied voltage between an atomizing electrode and a counter electrode. <P>SOLUTION: The electrostatic atomizer is provided with a high voltage applying part 1, an atomizing electrode 2 to which high voltage generated in the high voltage applying part is applied, a counter electrode 3 opposed to the atomizing electrode 2 and a water supply means 4 for supplying water to be atomized to the atomizing electrode 2. An infrared irradiation means 5 for irradiating the water on the atomizing electrode 2 with infrared light of near infrared region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer that generates charged fine particle water by applying a high voltage to water.

  An atomizing electrode, a counter electrode facing the atomizing electrode, and a high voltage generating circuit for applying a high voltage between the atomizing electrode and the counter electrode, and applying high voltage to the water on the atomizing electrode An electrostatic atomizer that generates charged fine particle water when applied is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such an electrostatic atomizer, when increasing the generation amount of charged fine particle water, there is conventionally a method of increasing the voltage applied between the atomization electrode and the counter electrode in a high voltage generation circuit. It was taken.

In this case, if the voltage applied between the atomizing electrode and the counter electrode becomes high, there is a risk of arc discharge or short-circuiting, and it is not possible to stably generate charged fine particle water. There was a problem that the amount would increase.
JP 2005-131549 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to stably increase the generation amount of charged fine particle water without increasing the applied voltage between the atomizing electrode and the counter electrode. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic atomizer that can be increased.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the invention according to claim 1, the high voltage application unit 1, the atomization electrode 2 to which the high voltage generated by the high voltage application unit 1 is applied, and the atomization electrode 2 Is an electrostatic atomizer composed mainly of a counter electrode 3 opposed to the water supply means 4 for supplying water to be atomized to the atomizing electrode 2, and is close to the water on the atomizing electrode 2. Infrared irradiation means 5 for irradiating infrared rays in the infrared region is provided.

  By setting it as such a structure, the generation amount of charged fine particle water can be increased stably, without making the applied voltage between the atomization electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 high.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, a lens 53 for condensing infrared rays in the near infrared region to be irradiated is provided.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately irradiate a large amount of infrared rays at a desired irradiation position, and it is possible to efficiently increase the generation amount of charged fine particle water.

  Moreover, in the invention which concerns on Claim 3, in the invention which concerns on Claim 1 or 2, the light shielding part which prevents that the infrared rays of the near infrared region to irradiate are irradiated to the atomization electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 It is characterized by providing.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to irradiate a desired irradiation position, and it is possible to efficiently increase the generation amount of charged fine particle water.

  Moreover, in the invention which concerns on Claim 4, in the invention which concerns on any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3, the irradiation amount of the infrared rays of the near infrared region to irradiate is a frequency more than the generation frequency of electrostatic atomization. It is characterized by comprising a control section 7 that is controlled by turning on / off at.

  By adopting such a configuration, when the frequency of occurrence of electrostatic atomization is a certain frequency, generation can be stabilized, and energy can be used efficiently.

  Moreover, in the invention which concerns on Claim 5, in the invention which concerns on any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4, the voltage applied between the atomization electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 by the high voltage application part 1 And a control unit 7 for controlling the irradiation amount of the infrared light in the near infrared region to be irradiated based on the value of the current flowing between the electrodes.

  With such a configuration, the amount of the charged fine particle water generated can be made constant and the atomization can be stably maintained.

  Further, in the invention according to claim 6, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the temperature sensor 81, the humidity sensor 82, or the gas sensor 83 is provided, and the measured value of any one of the sensors is provided. The control unit 7 is configured to control the irradiation amount of infrared rays in the near infrared region to be irradiated based on the above.

  With such a configuration, the amount of the charged fine particle water generated can be made constant and the atomization can be stably maintained. In particular, in the case where condensed water is supplied by a cooling means as a water supply means, the supply amount and irradiation amount of water can be controlled according to the environmental temperature and environmental humidity, and the gas concentration is particularly effective. Accordingly, the charged fine particle water can be efficiently generated to decompose the gas.

  In the present invention, the amount of charged fine particle water can be stably increased without increasing the applied voltage between the atomizing electrode and the counter electrode, which may cause arc discharge or short circuit. Thus, it is possible to prevent the charged fine particle water from being stably generated and the generation amount of ozone from being increased.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, the electrostatic atomizer of one Embodiment of this invention is shown. First, the basic configuration will be described.

  The electrostatic atomizer includes a high voltage application unit 1, an atomization electrode 2 to which a high voltage generated by the high voltage application unit 1 is applied, a counter electrode 3 facing the atomization electrode 2, and an atomization electrode. The main body is constituted by water supply means 4 for supplying water to be atomized to 2.

  The atomizing electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 are attached to a substantially cylindrical casing 6 serving as a casing. The counter electrode 3 is attached to one end edge of the housing 6, and the water supply means 4 is attached to the other end edge. In the present embodiment, the water supply means 4 condenses water vapor in the air by the cooling means, and the cooling means uses the Peltier module 40 which is a semiconductor electronic heat exchange element, and the heat absorbing portion 41 of the Peltier module 40 is provided. The heat dissipation part 43 of the Peltier module 40 is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity such as aluminum and having fins, while being connected to the cooling unit 42 made of a material such as an insulating material having a high thermal conductivity and a low electrical conductivity. The water supply means 4 is connected to the section 44. The cooling unit 42 is attached to the other end edge of the cylindrical casing 6, and a portion located in the casing 6 serves as a base 42 a that protrudes in a truncated cone shape toward the inside, The activating electrode 2 is erected.

  The atomizing electrode 2 is made of a material such as copper having a high thermal conductivity and a high electrical conductivity, and is formed in a columnar shape, and its tip 21 has a sharp conical shape. Then, the base end portion 22 of the atomizing electrode 2 is embedded in the central portion of the base portion 42 a in a plan view, and the tip end portion 21 of the atomizing electrode 2 is directed toward the other edge side of the housing 6. 6 is projected halfway.

  The counter electrode 3 has an annular shape, is attached to one end edge of a cylindrical housing 6, and the inside and outside of the housing 6 communicate with each other through a central hole 30. The counter electrode 3 and the atomizing electrode 2 are arranged such that the atomizing electrode 2 is disposed at the center of the hole 30 at the center of the counter electrode 3 in plan view, and the tip of the counter electrode 3 and the atomizing electrode 2 in side view. The high voltage applying unit 1 applies a high voltage between the counter electrode 3 and the atomizing electrode 2. The high voltage application unit 1 can apply a voltage of several thousand V between the electrodes. For example, the distance between the counter electrode 3 and the atomizing electrode 2 is 12 mm and a voltage of 6,000 V is applied. Thus, an electric field of 500 V / mm can be generated.

  The operation of the basic configuration of the electrostatic atomizer described above will be described. In order to supply water to the atomizing electrode 2, when the cooling control unit 45 is operated and current is supplied to the Peltier module 40 of the cooling means, heat transfer occurs in the Peltier module 40, and the heat absorbing portion 41 of the Peltier module 40 Heat is absorbed and heat is radiated at the heat radiating portion 43. And the atomization electrode 2 is cooled through the cooling part 42 connected to the heat absorption part 41, the air around the atomization electrode 2 is cooled, and reaches the dew point or less, so that the surface of the atomization electrode 2 Condensed water is generated on the top, and this becomes water to be atomized by the atomizing electrode 2. Then, with the condensed water adhering to the tip 21 of the atomizing electrode 2, the high voltage application unit 1 applies a high voltage so that the tip 21 side of the atomizing electrode 2 becomes a negative electrode and charges are concentrated. The water adhering to the tip 21 receives a large amount of energy and repeatedly undergoes Rayleigh splitting. For example, a large amount of charged nanoparticle water is intermittently generated at a frequency of about 1 kHz. The generated charged fine particle water has a negative charge and moves toward the counter electrode 3 by the electric field generated between the atomizing electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3. 30 is discharged out of the housing 6. The amount of charged fine particle water generated by electrostatic atomization is estimated by the voltage applied between the counter electrode 3 and the atomization electrode 2 by the high voltage application unit 1 and the value of the current flowing between the electrodes. Therefore, an ammeter 11 for measuring a current value that flows when a voltage is applied is provided between the atomizing electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3, and the high voltage application unit 1 according to the measured current value. The applied voltage and the current flowing between both electrodes can be adjusted by the control unit 7 composed of an electronic circuit. When the applied voltage is constant, the amount of charged fine particle water generated increases as the current value increases.

  It is known that the charged fine particle water generated by electrostatic atomization contains superoxide radicals and hydroxy radicals, and has effects such as deodorizing and sterilizing effects, allergen inactivating effects, and agricultural chemical degrading effects. The effect is also greatly improved by stabilizing and increasing the amount of charged fine particle water generated.

  In the present embodiment, a temperature sensor 81, a humidity sensor 82, and a gas sensor 83 are provided for detecting the temperature, humidity, and gas concentration of an external environment such as a room where the electrostatic atomizer is installed. It is possible to stably maintain the charged fine particle water by reading the measured value of the sensor and adjusting the amount of direct current supplied to the Peltier module 40 in the cooling control unit 45 so that the generation amount of the charged fine particle water becomes appropriate. It has become. Adjustment of the energization amount to the Peltier module 40 is preferably performed by duty control.

  The housing 6, the cooling control unit 45, the heat absorption part 41 and the heat radiation part 43 of the Peltier module 40, the cooling part 42 and the heat radiation part 44, the control part 7, the high voltage application part 1, and the infrared irradiation means 5 described later are not shown. Each sensor such as the temperature sensor 81 is accommodated in the outer shell casing and is also attached to the outer shell casing.

  The energy of hydrogen bonds between water molecules is 9.6 to 26.4 (kJ / mol), and charged fine particle water generated by atomizing water is generated between the atomizing electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3. Increasing the voltage applied in between increases the amount of hydrogen bonds that are likely to break, but increasing the applied voltage may cause arc discharge or short-circuiting, and stably generate charged particulate water. There is a limit because it cannot be done or the amount of ozone generated increases. Therefore, in the present invention, the infrared irradiation means 5 is provided to increase the amount of charged fine particle water generated without increasing the voltage applied between the atomizing electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3.

  The infrared irradiating means 5 is controlled by the control unit 7 to adjust the amount of infrared light to be radiated, and the infrared irradiating unit to irradiate an arbitrary amount of infrared light by adjusting the energization amount by the infrared control unit 51. 52. The infrared irradiation unit 52 is disposed outside the side wall of the housing 6, and an opening 61 is formed in the side wall of the housing 6 positioned between the infrared irradiation unit 52 and the tip portion 21 of the atomizing electrode 2. The infrared light oscillated by the infrared irradiation unit 52 is applied to the tip 21 of the atomizing electrode 2 through the opening 61. As shown in FIG. 1, by providing the lens 53 on the irradiation side portion of the infrared irradiation unit 52, it is possible to irradiate the infrared light emitted toward a wide range accurately and intensively to a desired irradiation position. It is possible to increase the generation amount of charged fine particle water efficiently.

  Infrared rays to be irradiated are preferably near infrared rays. As shown in FIG. 2, the absorption rate of electromagnetic waves into water is preferably high in the near-infrared region with a wavelength of 1 to 10 μm. Also, as shown in FIG. A wavelength in the vicinity of 3 μm with a high rate and high energy is more desirable.

  Moreover, you may provide the light-shielding part which prevents that the infrared rays to irradiate are irradiated to the atomization electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3, and the housing | casing 6 is a light-shielding part in this embodiment. Since the opening 61 is formed in the housing 6, the straight line connecting the infrared irradiation unit 52 (the lens 53 in the present embodiment) and the tip 21 of the atomizing electrode 2 passes directly through the opening 61. Although not blocked by the side wall of the body 6, the straight lines connecting the infrared irradiation part 52, the atomizing electrode 2, and the counter electrode 3 are blocked by the side wall of the housing 6. Is prevented from being irradiated. FIG. 4 shows a housing 6 in which an opening 61 is formed as a shielding part. 4A shows an example in which the opening 61 has a circular shape, FIG. 4B shows an example in which the opening 61 has a horizontally long rectangular shape, and FIG. 4C shows an example in which the opening 61 has a square shape. Since the temperature rises when irradiated with infrared rays, it is possible to irradiate a desired irradiation position by the light shielding portion, and prevent the atomization electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 from being overheated and causing malfunction. be able to. In particular, in the case where a cooling means for supplying water by generating condensed water is provided as the water supply means 4 as in the present embodiment, the condensation capability is reduced when the atomizing electrode 2 is heated. A further effect can be obtained in terms of maintaining the ability.

  The amount of charged fine particle water generated by atomization is the amount of infrared irradiation by the infrared irradiation means 5 when the voltage applied between the atomizing electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 by the high voltage application unit 1 is constant. Increasing the value increases. In this embodiment, the amount of charged fine particle water generated can be estimated from the voltage applied between the atomizing electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 and the value of the current flowing between the electrodes. In order to stabilize the generated amount of charged fine particle water, the amount of infrared irradiation by the infrared irradiation means 5 is adjusted by the control unit 7 and the infrared control unit 51. The infrared irradiation amount is adjusted by duty control in which infrared irradiation is turned ON / OFF at a frequency larger than the frequency of generation of the charged fine particle water described above.

  As an example, a case where the amount of condensed water generated by the cooling means and the amount of infrared irradiation are adjusted based on the current value will be described. This is because the control unit 7 reads the measured current value of the ammeter 11 and when the measured value is larger than the target value, the cooling control unit 45 is controlled to lower the cooling capacity and the infrared control unit 51 is controlled. The amount of infrared irradiation is increased by control. For example, when the target value of the current is 6 μA and the measured value is 8 μA, the infrared irradiation amount is controlled to be increased from 6 W to 8 W.

  In this way, by controlling the irradiation amount of infrared rays based on the value of applied voltage and current, it becomes possible to keep the amount of charged fine particle water generated constant and stably maintain the atomization. And by performing duty control, it is possible to stabilize the generation particularly when the frequency of occurrence of electrostatic atomization is a certain frequency, it is possible to use energy efficiently, By changing the duty ratio, the generation amount of charged fine particle water can be easily changed.

  Further, in controlling the amount of condensed water produced by the cooling means and the amount of irradiated infrared light in the near-infrared region, based on one or a plurality of measured values of the temperature sensor 81, the humidity sensor 82, and the gas sensor 83. You may do it.

  When the temperature sensor 81 and the humidity sensor 82 are used, a table in which the cooling capacity and the irradiation amount in the cooling means are set in advance for the combination of temperature and humidity is provided, and the control unit 7 sets the cooling control unit 45 based on this table. Control is performed to adjust the cooling capacity and the infrared control unit is controlled to adjust the amount of infrared irradiation to obtain a desired amount of charged fine particle water generation.

  A case where the gas sensor 83 is used will be described. The gas sensor 83 detects the concentration of a component of a specific gas (for example, methane gas), and the type of target gas is not particularly limited. Then, the irradiation amount of infrared rays is adjusted based on the gas concentration measured by the gas sensor 83. When the gas concentration is high, the generation amount of condensed water by the cooling means and the irradiation amount of infrared rays are increased to increase the generation amount of charged fine particle water. Thereby, charged fine particle water is generated according to the gas concentration, and the gas can be efficiently decomposed by the charged fine particle water.

  In this way, by controlling the amount of condensed water generated by the cooling means and the amount of infrared irradiation based on the above sensor, the amount of charged fine particle water generated can be kept constant and atomization can be stably maintained. Become. And by performing duty control, it is possible to stabilize the generation particularly when the frequency of occurrence of electrostatic atomization is a certain frequency, it is possible to use energy efficiently, By changing the duty ratio, the generation amount of charged fine particle water can be easily changed.

It is a block diagram of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the wavelength of electromagnetic waves-the absorption factor to water. It is a figure which shows the wavelength-energy relationship of electromagnetic waves. (A) (b) (c) is a figure which shows the example of the housing | casing as a light-shielding part, respectively.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 High voltage application part 2 Atomization electrode 3 Counter electrode 4 Water supply means 5 Infrared irradiation means

Claims (6)

  A high voltage applying unit, an atomizing electrode to which a high voltage generated by the high voltage applying unit is applied, a counter electrode facing the atomizing electrode, and a water supply means for supplying water to be atomized to the atomizing electrode An electrostatic atomizer comprising a main body comprising: an infrared irradiating means for irradiating water on an atomizing electrode with infrared light in a near infrared region. Device.   The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, further comprising a lens that collects infrared rays in a near infrared region to be irradiated.   The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, further comprising a light-shielding portion that prevents the near-infrared region to be irradiated from being irradiated with infrared rays to the atomization electrode and the counter electrode.   The control part which controls by turning ON / OFF the irradiation amount of the infrared rays of the near-infrared area | region to irradiate with the frequency more than the generation frequency of an electrostatic atomization is provided. The electrostatic atomizer according to one item.   A control unit that controls the irradiation amount of infrared light in the near infrared region to be irradiated based on the voltage applied between the atomizing electrode and the counter electrode by the high voltage application unit and the value of the current flowing between the electrodes. The electrostatic atomizer as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned.   A temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a gas sensor is provided, and a control unit that controls an irradiation amount of infrared rays in a near infrared region to be irradiated based on a measurement value of any one of the sensors is provided. The electrostatic atomizer as described in any one of 1-4.

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