JP2007313460A - Electrostatic atomizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently and stably form a nanometer sized electrically charged fine particle mist having a radical. <P>SOLUTION: The electrostatic atomizer is provided with a high voltage applying part 1, a discharge electrode 2 to which high voltage generated in the high voltage applying part is applied, a counter electrode 3 opposed to the discharge electrode 2, a liquid supply means 4 for supplying a liquid W to be atomized to the discharge electrode 2 and a detection means 5 for detecting a retained state of the liquid W on the discharge electrode 2. A tailer cone tip angle control means 6 for controlling the tip angle of a tailer cone T of the liquid W which is retained on the discharge electrode 2 to 70-95° based on the information about the retained state of the liquid W on the discharge electrode 2 by the detection means 5 when the high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 2 is included. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer for generating nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist.

  Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electrostatic atomizer that electrostatically atomizes water to generate nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist. Water is supplied to the tip of the discharge electrode shown in Patent Document 1. As a means for this, the discharge electrode is cooled to condense water on the surface.

  In the conventional example as described above, the mechanism of generation of nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist by the electrostatic atomizer is such that the water supplied to the tip of the discharge electrode by the voltage applied between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode is When charged, the Coulomb force acts on the charged water, and the surface of the water supplied and held at the tip of the discharge electrode swells up into a cone with a pointed tip locally (to become a tailor cone). Charges are concentrated and concentrated, and electrostatic atomization is performed by repeatedly dividing and scattering liquids (Rayleigh splitting) due to the repulsive force of the high-density charge, and nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist (radical ions) with radicals. Mist) is generated.

  The nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist having radicals described above has effects such as deodorization and sterilization. The main effects of this deodorization and sterilization are the radicals contained in the nanometer-size charged fine particle mist. It is thought that it acts as a factor.

However, in the conventional electrostatic atomizer, the angle of the tip of the tailor cone is not stable because the amount of water supplied to the tip of the discharge electrode is not constant. There is a problem that it is difficult to stably generate nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist having radicals.
JP 2005-296653 A

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above-described conventional problems, and provides an electrostatic atomizer capable of generating nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist having radicals efficiently and stably. It is to be an issue.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention has a high voltage application unit 1, a discharge electrode 2 to which a high voltage generated by the high voltage application unit 1 is applied, and the discharge electrode 2. The counter electrode 3 to be discharged, the liquid supply means 4 for supplying the liquid W to be atomized to the discharge electrode 2, and the detection means 5 for detecting the holding state of the liquid W held by the discharge electrode 2. 5, the tip angle of the tailor cone T of the liquid W held by the discharge electrode 2 when a high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 2 based on the information on the holding state of the liquid W to the discharge electrode 2 by 70. Tailor cone tip angle control means 6 for controlling to 95 ° is provided.

  With such a configuration, the holding state of the liquid W held by the discharge electrode 2 is detected by the detection unit 5, and the tailor cone tip angle is determined based on the information on the holding state of the liquid W detected by the detection unit 5. The tip angle of the tailor cone T of the liquid W held on the discharge electrode 2 can be controlled to 70 ° to 95 ° by the control means 6, and nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist having radicals can be generated efficiently and stably. can do.

  Further, the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 is a constant structure, and the tailor cone tip angle control means 6 is based on the information on the holding state of the liquid W obtained by the detection means 5. It is preferable to control the high voltage applied to.

  By controlling the high voltage applied to the discharge electrode 2 in this way, the tip angle of the tailor cone T of the liquid W held on the discharge electrode 2 can be easily controlled to 70 ° to 95 ° for efficient and stable operation. Thus, nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist having radicals can be generated.

  Further, the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 is a constant structure, and the tailor cone tip angle control means 6 is based on the information on the holding state of the liquid W obtained by the detection means 5. It is preferable that the supply amount of the liquid W to be atomized to be supplied is controlled.

  By controlling the supply amount of the liquid W to be atomized supplied to the discharge electrode 2 in this way, the tip angle of the tailor cone T of the liquid W held on the discharge electrode 2 can be easily controlled to 70 ° to 95 °. Thus, nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist having radicals can be generated efficiently and stably.

  Further, the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 is variable and the applied high voltage is constant, and the tailor cone tip angle control means 6 is based on the liquid W holding information obtained by the detection means 5. Thus, it is preferable to control the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 and the supply amount of the liquid W to be atomized supplied to the discharge electrode 2.

  With such a configuration, the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 and the supply amount of the liquid W to be atomized supplied to the discharge electrode 2 are controlled, so that the discharge electrode 2 can easily hold the discharge electrode 2. By controlling the tip angle of the tailor cone T of the liquid W to 70 ° to 95 °, nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist having radicals can be generated efficiently and stably.

  As described above, the present invention includes a detecting unit that detects the holding state of the liquid held by the discharge electrode, and applies a high voltage to the discharge electrode based on the information on the holding state of the liquid by the detecting unit. The tailor cone tip angle control means for controlling the tip angle of the tailor cone of the liquid held by the discharge electrode when it is applied to 70 ° to 95 ° is provided, so that it has radicals efficiently and stably. Nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist can be generated, and radicals contained in nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist can efficiently and stably deodorize, sterilize, allergen inactivate effect, agrochemical decomposition effect, organic matter decomposition (soil removal) ) And the like can be exhibited.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the electrostatic atomizer of the present invention. The electrostatic atomizer of this example includes a high voltage application unit 1, a discharge electrode 2 to which a high voltage generated by the high voltage application unit 1 is applied, a counter electrode 3 facing the discharge electrode 2, and a discharge electrode. 2 is provided with a liquid supply means 4 for supplying the liquid W to be atomized to the front end portion.

  As the liquid supply means 4 for supplying the liquid W to be atomized to the distal end portion of the discharge electrode 2, the liquid W stored in the liquid reservoir portion by capillary action is supplied to the distal end portion of the discharge electrode 2, Alternatively, it is conceivable that water in the air is cooled and generated as condensed water so that the condensed water is supplied to the tip of the discharge electrode 2.

  In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, an example is shown in which the discharge electrode 2 is cooled by a cooling means and moisture in the air is condensed on the surface of the discharge electrode 2 to generate condensed water. In the following description, the liquid W is described as water W or condensed water W.

  The cooling means to be the liquid supply means 4 is constituted by a Peltier unit 9 having a cooling part 7 and a heat radiating part 8, and the discharge electrode 2 is connected to the cooling part 7 side of the Peltier unit 9 to cool the discharge electrode 2 itself. It is free. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the counter electrode 3 is supported at the tip of the casing 10 connected to the Peltier unit 9 so that the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval. It is fixed to.

  The Peltier unit 9 has a pair of Peltier circuit boards facing each other so that the circuit sides face each other, and sandwiches a number of BiTe-based thermoelectric elements between the two Peltier circuit boards, and adjacent thermoelectric elements are arranged on both sides. The cooling part 7 is formed by the insulating plate of the Peltier circuit board on the cooling side and the insulating board for cooling, and the heat is radiated by the insulating plate of the Peltier circuit board on the heat radiating side and the heat radiating plate or the heat radiating fin. Heat is transferred from the cooling unit 7 side to the heat radiating unit 8 side by energization control to the thermoelectric element performed by the cooling control unit 13 via the Peltier input lead wire 11. Yes.

  The discharge electrode 2 connected to the cooling unit 7 of the Peltier unit 9 is formed in a substantially rod shape using a material having high thermal conductivity and conductivity such as aluminum, copper, tungsten, titanium, and stainless steel. The condensed water W is generated by being cooled by the above.

  A high voltage application plate 12 is connected to the rear end of the discharge electrode 2 as shown in FIG. 1, and the high voltage application plate 12 and the counter electrode 3 are connected to the high voltage application unit 1 via high-voltage leads. The high voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 from the high voltage application unit 1.

  In the electrostatic atomizer having the above-described configuration, when the thermoelectric elements are energized, heat is transferred in the same direction in each thermoelectric element, and the cooling unit 7 of the Peltier unit 9 is cooled. When the cooling unit 7 is cooled, the discharge electrode 2 connected to the cooling unit 7 is cooled, and the air around the discharge electrode 2 is cooled, so that moisture in the air is liquefied due to condensation or the like, and the discharge electrode 2 Condensed water W is generated at the tip of the water.

  As described above, the discharge electrode 2 is connected to the cooling unit 7 of the Peltier unit 9 to directly cool the discharge electrode 2 to condense moisture in the air, thereby generating condensed water W. Therefore, the apparatus can be made compact. In addition, there is no need to replenish water as in the prior art, and furthermore, since moisture in the air is condensed, impurities such as tap water are not included, and the trouble of removing deposits becomes unnecessary.

  In the state where the discharge electrode 2 is cooled and the condensed water W is held at the tip of the discharge electrode 2 as described above, the tip of the discharge electrode 2 becomes a negative electrode by the high voltage application unit 1 and the charge is concentrated. Thus, when a high voltage of about 5 kV is applied between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3, the water W held at the tip of the discharge electrode 2 is charged, and the Coulomb force acts on the charged water, The surface of the water W locally rises to a conical shape (Taylor cone), the charge concentrates on the tip of the conical water W, the charge density becomes high, and the repulsive force of the high-density charge repels. In this way, water splits and scatters (Rayleigh splitting) to perform electrostatic atomization to generate nanometer-sized charged fine particle mist (negative ion mist) having radicals.

  Here, in the present invention, the control unit 20 has the detection means 5 for detecting the holding state of the liquid W held by the discharge electrode 2 and the tailor cone tip angle control means 6. The holding state of the liquid W in the electrode 2 is detected, and discharge is performed by the tailor cone tip angle control means 6 provided in the control unit 20 based on the detection information of the holding state of the liquid W in the discharge electrode 2 by the detecting means 5. The tip angle of the tailor cone T of the liquid W held by the discharge electrode 2 when a high voltage is applied to the electrode 2 is controlled to 70 ° to 95 °.

  As the detecting means 5 for detecting the holding state of the liquid W held by the discharge electrode 2, a means (ammeter 21) for detecting a minute current flowing between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3, or the discharge electrode 2 A means for obtaining information by an image by disposing the video camera 22 through the opening 23 provided in the housing 10 so as to face the front end can be given, but it is not limited to the above example. Further, when the discharge electrode 2 is cooled and water W is condensed on the surface thereof, means for detecting the temperature and humidity of the air in the vicinity of the discharge electrode 2 (temperature sensor 15 and humidity sensor 16) should be added. Is desirable.

  Table 1 below shows changes in radical generation amount with respect to applied voltage in two types of discharge electrodes 2 having different tip diameters, and currents of 6 μA and 9 μA were applied to the two types of electrodes 1 and 2 having different tip diameters, respectively. FIG. 2 shows the measurement result of the tip angle of the tailor cone T when the voltage is changed when the voltage is changed, and FIG. 2 shows the change in radical generation amount with respect to the applied voltage in the two types of discharge electrodes 2 having different tip diameters in this case. It is a graph to show.

表１及び図２から明らかなように、ラジカル発生量はテーラーコーンＴの先端角度が７０°〜９５°の間で極大点をとる。先端角度７０°より小さい場合には、放電電極２の先端の水Ｗの量が多い状態となり、エネルギーの伝達効率が悪くなってラジカルを含む帯電微粒子ミストの発生量が減少すると推察される。また、先端角度が９５°以上の場合には、先端がボール状となる状態が不定期的に見られ、この状態になると電界の集中が悪くなってラジカルを含む帯電微粒子ミストの発生量が減少すると推察される。よってテーラーコーンＴの先端角度を７０°〜９５°となるように制御することでラジカルを含む帯電微粒子ミストを効率よく且つ安定して発生させることが可能となる。

As is apparent from Table 1 and FIG. 2, the radical generation amount takes a maximum point when the tip angle of the tailor cone T is between 70 ° and 95 °. When the tip angle is smaller than 70 °, it is presumed that the amount of water W at the tip of the discharge electrode 2 is large, the energy transmission efficiency is deteriorated, and the generation amount of charged fine particle mist containing radicals is reduced. In addition, when the tip angle is 95 ° or more, a state in which the tip becomes a ball shape is irregularly observed. In this state, the concentration of the electric field is worsened and the generation amount of charged fine particle mist containing radicals is reduced. I guess that. Therefore, by controlling the tip angle of the tailor cone T to be 70 ° to 95 °, it is possible to efficiently and stably generate charged fine particle mist containing radicals.

  The tailor cone tip angle control means 6 for controlling the tip angle of the tailor cone T to 70 ° to 95 ° as described above is based on, for example, a high voltage based on the holding state of the liquid W detected by the detection means 5. Means for controlling the voltage applied by the application unit 1 or means for controlling the supply amount of the liquid W to be atomized to the tip of the discharge electrode 2 based on the holding state of the liquid W detected by the detection unit 5 Alternatively, based on the holding state of the liquid W detected by the detecting means 5, the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 is controlled and the supply amount of the liquid W to be atomized to the tip of the discharge electrode 2 is controlled. The means to do is mentioned.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. When the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 facing the discharge electrode 2 is constant, the detection means 5 (in the attached drawings, the video camera 22 The high voltage applied to the discharge electrode 2 by the high voltage application unit 1 is determined based on the information on the holding state of the water W at the tip of the discharge electrode 2 detected by the image). As shown in FIG. 1 (b), when the tip angle of the tailor cone T is less than 70 ° by the detection means 5, the applied voltage is increased by the tailor cone tip angle control means 6, The tip angle of the tailor cone T is controlled to be 70 ° to 95 °. When the tip angle of the tailor cone T exceeds 95 °, the applied voltage is reduced by the tailor cone tip angle control means 6. Be to, control the tip angle of the Taylor cone T to be a 70 ° to 95 °. This makes it possible to easily and stably generate charged fine particle mist containing radicals by controlling the applied voltage.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. When the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 facing the discharge electrode 2 is constant, the detection means 5 (in the attached drawings, Based on the information on the holding state of the water W at the front end of the discharge electrode 2 detected by the video camera 22 using an image), the water W to the front end of the discharge electrode 2 is detected. In FIG. 3, the cooling performance of the Peltier unit 9 is adjusted by controlling the amount of current supplied to the thermoelectric elements of the Peltier unit 9 by the cooling control unit 13 in FIG. The amount of condensation on the surface, that is, the amount of water W supplied to the tip of the discharge electrode 2 is adjusted. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the tip angle of the tailor cone T is less than 70 ° by the detection means 5, the tail cone cone angle control means 6 causes the Peltier to be controlled by the cooling control unit 13. The tip angle of the tailor cone T is controlled to be 70 ° to 95 ° by lowering the amount of current supplied to the thermoelectric element of the unit 9 to lower the cooling performance, and the tip angle of the tailor cone T is 95 °. Is exceeded, the tail angle of the tailor cone T is increased from 70 ° to 95 by increasing the amount of current supplied to the thermoelectric elements of the Peltier unit 9 by the cooling control unit 13 by the tailor cone tip angle control means 6. It is controlled so that it becomes °. This makes it possible to easily and stably generate charged fine particle mist containing radicals by adjusting the amount of water W supplied to the tip of the discharge electrode 2.

  In each of the above embodiments, when used in a space where the amount of ozone is limited, an ozone amount detecting means 14 for detecting the ozone amount is added as shown in FIG. 4 to control the applied high voltage and water supply amount. In this case, charged fine particle mist containing radicals can be generated efficiently and stably within a range in which the amount of ozone is limited. That is, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the tip angle of the tailor cone T is less than 70 ° by the detecting means 5 and the ozone amount detected by the ozone amount detecting means 14 is large, the cooling performance is lowered. When the tip angle of the tailor cone T is less than 70 ° and the amount of ozone detected by the ozone amount detector 14 is small, the tip angle of the tailor cone T is set to 70 ° to 95 ° by increasing the applied voltage. Control to be. When the tip angle of the tailor cone T exceeds 95 ° and the amount of ozone is large, the applied voltage is reduced, and when the tip angle of the tailor cone T exceeds 95 ° and the amount of ozone is small, cooling is performed. The tip angle of the tailor cone T is controlled to be 70 ° to 95 ° by improving the performance. This makes it possible to easily and stably generate charged fine particle mist containing radicals by controlling the applied voltage, and to optimize the amount of ozone.

  FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. When used in a space where the ozone amount is limited, an ozone amount detecting means 14 for detecting the ozone amount is added as shown in FIG. Variable control of the distance between the discharge electrode 2 to be applied and the counter electrode 3 and the supply amount of water are controlled. In this embodiment, the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 is variable, and when the applied voltage is constant, the detection means 5 (in the accompanying drawings, the video camera 22 displays an image). The distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 and the tip of the discharge electrode 2 are detected based on the information on the water holding state at the tip of the discharge electrode 2 detected by The amount of water W supplied to the water is controlled. That is, in the present embodiment, the counter electrode support portion 10 a that supports the counter electrode 3 at the tip of the housing 10 is movable with respect to the housing 10, and the counter electrode support portion 10 a The distance between the electrode 2 and the discharge electrode 2 is changed by driving. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the tip angle of the tailor cone T is less than 70 ° by the detection means 5 and the ozone amount detected by the ozone amount detection means 14 is large, the cooling performance When the tip angle of the tailor cone T is less than 70 ° and the ozone amount detected by the ozone amount detecting means 14 is small, the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 is controlled to be short. Thus, the tip angle of the tailor cone T is controlled to be 70 ° to 95 °. When the tip angle of the tailor cone T exceeds 95 ° and the amount of ozone is large, the distance between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 is controlled so that the tip angle of the tailor cone T is 95 °. If the ozone amount is small, the tip angle of the tailor cone T is controlled to be 70 ° to 95 ° by increasing the cooling capacity. This makes it possible to easily and stably generate charged fine particle mist containing radicals by controlling the applied voltage, and to optimize the amount of ozone.

  In the present embodiment, the entire device can be reduced in size without using a high voltage variable device that is expensive and requires an installation space including a circuit, and the current flowing between the discharge electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3 can be reduced. Control in a state where the value is kept constant is possible, and it is effective in use in a space where the amount of ozone is limited.

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a schematic overall configuration diagram, (b) is 70 ° to 95 ° when the tip angle of the tailor cone is less than 70 ° and exceeds 95 °. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the example controlled in this way. It is a graph which shows the change of the radical generation amount with respect to the applied voltage in two types of discharge electrodes from which a tip diameter differs. Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a schematic overall configuration diagram, and (b) is 70 ° to 95 ° when the tip angle of the tailor cone is less than 70 ° and more than 95 °. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the example controlled to become. FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a schematic overall configuration diagram, and (b) is 70 ° to 95 ° when the tip angle of the tailor cone is less than 70 ° and more than 95 °. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the example controlled to become. FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a schematic overall configuration diagram, and (b) is 70 ° to 95 ° when the tip angle of the tailor cone is less than 70 ° and more than 95 °. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the example controlled to become.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 High voltage application part 2 Discharge electrode 3 Counter electrode 4 Liquid supply means 5 Detection means 6 Taylor cone tip angle control means W Liquid

Claims (4)

  A high voltage application unit, a discharge electrode to which a high voltage generated by the high voltage application unit is applied, a counter electrode facing the discharge electrode, a liquid supply means for supplying a liquid to be atomized to the discharge electrode, and a discharge Detecting means for detecting the holding state of the liquid held by the electrode, and when the high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode based on the information on the holding state of the liquid to the discharge electrode by the detecting means, An electrostatic atomizer comprising: tailor cone tip angle control means for controlling the tip angle of a held tailor cone of liquid to 70 ° to 95 °. The distance between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode is a constant structure, and the tailor cone tip angle control means controls the high voltage applied to the discharge electrode based on the liquid holding state information obtained by the detection means. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an electrostatic atomizer.   The liquid to be atomized supplied to the discharge electrode on the basis of the liquid holding state information obtained by the detection means by the tailor cone tip angle control means with a constant distance between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the supply amount is controlled.   The distance between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode is variable, the applied high voltage is constant, and the tailor cone tip angle control means is based on the liquid holding information obtained by the detection means, and the discharge electrode and the counter electrode The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, which controls the distance to the discharge electrode and the supply amount of the liquid to be atomized supplied to the discharge electrode.

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