JP2008022898A - Air conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning device which is provided with a wet type air sterilization function and can smoothly supply conditioned air into a room. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioning device 100 comprises: a case body 23 with an air suction port 21 and one, two or more blow-off ports 22a and 22b; a plurality of blowing fans 25a and 25b for respectively forming a plurality of air conducting routes A and B from the suction port 21 to the blow-off ports 22a and 22b; a heat exchanger 24 arranged on the plurality of air conducting routes 25a and 25b; and an air sterilization means 5 arranged on at least one air conducting route A for sterilizing the air by bringing a liquid with a sterilization effect into contact with the air supplied through the air conducting route A. The air conditioning device 100 is provided with the air conducting route B where only the heat exchanger 24 out of the heat exchanger 24 and the air sterilization means 5 is arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner having an air sterilization function for removing airborne microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi (hereinafter simply referred to as “viruses”)).

Conventionally, a method of purifying air (disinfecting) by decomposing / removing harmful substances contained in air by bringing air into contact with a liquid having a disinfecting effect such as alkaline electrolyzed water is known. Yes. In addition, air after sterilization is supplied to the air conditioner, and air that has been decomposed and removed from harmful substances is air-conditioned and dehumidified, so that comfortable air is supplied indoors. (For example, refer to “Patent Document 1”).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-250876

By the way, when the above conventional air sterilization apparatus sterilizes air, the air is brought into contact with a nonwoven fabric moistened with a liquid having a sterilization effect. When adding air sterilization function that adopts such wet sterilization method to the air conditioner, the air after the sterilization is supplied to the room by ventilating the non-woven fabric, so the gas-liquid contact of the non-woven fabric etc. The ventilation resistance in the member is large, the air volume by the blower fan is reduced, and the air-conditioned air cannot be smoothly supplied into the room, and the air-conditioning capability may be reduced.
The subject of this invention is providing the air conditioning apparatus which can supply the air conditioned indoors smoothly while providing the air sanitization function by wet.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a housing provided with an air inlet and one or more air outlets, and one or more inside the housing from the air inlet toward the air outlet. A plurality of blower fans respectively forming a plurality of air conduction paths, a heat exchanger disposed on a plurality of air conduction paths formed by the plurality of blower fans, and disposed on at least one of the air conduction paths. A plurality of air conduction units formed by the plurality of blower fans, and an air sterilization unit that sterilizes the air by bringing the liquid supplied through the air conduction path into contact with a liquid having a sterilization effect. Only the heat exchanger of the heat exchanger and the air sterilization means is arranged in at least one of the air conduction paths in the path.
According to the above configuration, the housing is provided with an air suction port and one or a plurality of air outlets, and one or a plurality of air conduction paths are formed in the housing from the air inlet to the air outlet by the plurality of blower fans. Is done. And a heat exchanger is arrange | positioned on the some air conduction path | route formed with a some air blower fan, and an air sterilization means is arrange | positioned at at least any one air conduction path | route. In the air sterilization means arranged on the air conduction path, a liquid having a sterilization effect is brought into contact with the air supplied through the air conduction path, and sterilization is performed by wet. Here, the plurality of air conduction paths have an air conduction path in which only the heat exchanger is arranged among the heat exchanger and the air sterilization means. For this reason, when air is sterilized by a wet method, even if the ventilation resistance (air resistance) in the air sterilization means increases and the air volume decreases, it has an air conduction path in which only the heat exchanger is arranged. Therefore, a sufficient air volume can be ensured in the air conduction path where only the heat exchanger is arranged, and air conditioned in the room can be supplied smoothly.

In addition, the air conditioner of the present invention includes a housing provided with an air inlet, upper and lower outlets provided at the upper and lower portions of the casing, and the upper outlet from the inlet. An upper blower fan that forms an upper air conduction path in the housing toward the lower side, a lower blower fan that forms a lower air conduction path in the housing from the suction port toward the lower blower outlet, and the upper air conduction A heat exchanger disposed on the path and the lower air conduction path; and a liquid disposed on the upper air conduction path and brought into contact with a liquid having a sterilizing effect through the upper air conduction path. And air sterilizing means for sterilization.
According to the above configuration, the air inlet, the upper outlet, and the lower outlet are provided in the casing. And the air suck | inhaled from the suction inlet is blown off from an upper blower outlet or a lower blower outlet via an upper air conduction path or a lower air conduction path by an upper ventilation fan or a lower ventilation fan. Since the heat exchanger is disposed on the upper air conduction path and on the lower air conduction path, heat exchange is performed from the upper outlet and the lower outlet via the upper air conduction path and the lower air conduction path. Later conditioned air can be blown out. On the other hand, the air sterilization means is disposed on the upper air conduction path, contacts the air supplied through the upper air conduction path with a liquid having a sterilization effect, performs sterilization by wet, and after sterilization The air is blown into the room from the upper outlet through the upper air conduction path. For this reason, when sterilizing air by a wet method, even if the ventilation resistance increases and the air volume decreases in the upper air conduction path where the air sterilization means is disposed, a sufficient air volume is ensured in the lower air conduction path. Therefore, the air heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger from the lower outlet can be smoothly supplied into the room.

  In the air conditioner having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the heat exchanger and the air sterilizing unit are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side on the upper air conduction path.

  In the air conditioner having the above-described configuration, the width of the heat exchanger and the width of the air sterilization means are formed substantially the same, and the air sterilization means has a height that is greater than the height of the heat exchanger. The height is formed in about ½ to about ¼, and in the housing, the air sterilization means is arranged on the upper side of the heat exchanger, and the upper end side of the heat exchanger It is preferable that the upper blower fan is disposed on the lower end side of the heat exchanger.

Further, in the air conditioner having the above-described configuration, the drain pan disposed at a lower portion of the heat exchanger, a sub-drain pan that receives the liquid discharged from the air sterilization unit, and the sub-drain pan connected to the sub-drain pan, And a drain pipe for introducing the liquid received in the drain pan into the drain pan.
According to this configuration, the drain pan disposed in the lower part of the heat exchanger is introduced with the liquid having the sterilizing effect received in the sub-drain pan through the drain pipe, so that germs are contained in the drain water stored in the drain pan. Occurrence and the like are prevented.

  According to the present invention, when air is sterilized by a wet method, even if the ventilation resistance is increased in the air sterilization means, it has an air conduction path in which only the heat exchanger is arranged. Air conditioned air can be smoothly supplied into the room by the air conduction path in which only the vessel is arranged.

Hereinafter, an air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment. The air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment is a separation type heat pump air conditioner that includes an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit 2. The outdoor refrigerant pipe 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor refrigerant pipe 20 of the indoor unit 2 are connected via a connecting pipe, and the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 are controlled by the control device 4.

  The outdoor unit 1 is installed outdoors. As shown in FIG. 1, a compressor 11 is disposed in an outdoor refrigerant pipe 10, and an accumulator 12 is connected to the compressor 11 on its suction side, and its discharge is performed. On the side, a four-way valve 13, an outdoor heat exchanger 14, and an electric expansion valve 15 are connected in order. The outdoor unit 1 is provided with an outdoor fan 16 that blows air toward the outdoor heat exchanger 14.

  The indoor unit 2 is installed indoors, and, as shown in FIG. 1, an indoor heat exchanger 24 and an air flow in a housing 23 having an air inlet 21 and two air outlets 22a and 22b. One blower fan 25a that conducts (air blows) air into the housing 23 from the air inlet 21 toward the one air outlet 22a, and inside the housing 23 from the air air inlet 21 toward the other air outlet 22b. Active oxygen is supplied to the air blown by the indoor heat exchanger 24 and disposed in one air conduction path A in the housing 23 formed by the other blower fan 25b that conducts air and the one blower fan 25a. An air sterilization unit 5 (air sterilization means) that performs sterilization of air by contacting electrolyzed water containing seeds (liquid having a sterilization effect) is provided.

  The air conditioner 100 is configured to switch between the cooling operation and the heating operation by switching the flow of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 100a by switching the four-way valve 13. During the cooling operation, the refrigerant flows in the direction of the solid line arrow C shown in the figure, the outdoor heat exchanger 14 functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 24 functions as an evaporator. On the other hand, during the heating operation, the refrigerant flows in the direction of the wavy arrow D, the outdoor heat exchanger 14 functions as an evaporator, and the indoor heat exchanger 24 functions as a condenser.

  Thus, when the air is sterilized by wet, the air conduction path in which only the indoor heat exchanger 24 is arranged even if the ventilation resistance (air resistance) in the air sterilization unit 5 increases and the air volume decreases. Since B is provided, a sufficient air volume can be secured in the air conduction path B where only the indoor heat exchanger 24 is arranged, and air conditioned can be smoothly supplied into the room.

  Next, a more specific configuration of the indoor unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The indoor unit 2 of the present embodiment is a so-called floor-standing type (see FIG. 3), and is installed on the floor of a house.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the suction port 21 is formed in the center of the front surface of the housing 23 of the indoor unit 2, and one of the air outlets 22a shown in 1 is formed as an upper air outlet 22a in the upper part of the housing 23. The other air outlet 22b is formed in the lower part of the housing | casing 23 as the lower air outlet 22b. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, air is blown from the suction port 21 toward the upper air outlet 22 a, and an air conduction path (hereinafter referred to as “upper air conduction path A”) is formed in the upper part of the housing 23. One blower fan 25a is disposed as the upper blower fan 25a, blows air from the suction port 21 toward the lower blower port 22b, and is connected to an air conduction path (hereinafter referred to as “lower air conduction path B”) in the lower part of the housing 23. .) Is arranged as the lower blower fan 25b.

  The upper blower fan 25a and the lower blower fan 25b are cross-flow fans (cross-flow blowers), respectively, and suck the air introduced into the housing 23 through the suction port 21 from one radial direction of the impeller and the opposite side. The upper air conduction path A or the lower air conduction path B is formed by blowing air from the radial direction. The rotation of the cross flow fan can be controlled to a high speed, a medium speed, a low speed, etc. according to the air conditioning load in the room. Further, the casing 23 is provided with blower casings 26a and 26b for guiding the air flow through the upper air conduction path A and the lower air conduction path B formed by the upper blower fan 25a and the lower blower fan 25b. .

  The upper air outlet 22 a is provided with a wind direction changing device 27 for changing the wind direction of the air blown out from the inside of the housing 23. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the wind direction changing device 27 can include a horizontal blade 27 a that rotates up and down and a vertical blade 27 b that rotates left and right. An auxiliary blade 28 that rotates up and down is disposed at the lower air outlet 22b, and an auto louver 29 is disposed behind the auxiliary blade 28. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the auto louver 29 includes a rotating shaft 29a and a deflection blade 29b mounted around the rotating shaft 29a so as to be oblique to the rotating shaft 29a. Provided, and the deflecting blade 29b is rotated around the rotation shaft 29a to disperse the air supplied via the lower air conduction path B to the left and right. The air dispersed to the left and right is guided by the auxiliary blades 28 and discharged into the room from the lower air outlet 22b.

  On the other hand, an air purifying filter 41 is disposed inside the suction port 21, and an indoor heat exchanger 24 is disposed inside thereof. The indoor heat exchanger 24 is located on the upper air conduction path A and the lower air conduction path B described above. That is, the indoor air sucked from the suction port 21 is subjected to heat exchange by the indoor heat exchanger 24, and is passed from the upper air outlet 22a or the lower air outlet 22b via the upper air conduction path A or the lower air conduction path B. It is designed to be discharged. An air sterilization unit 5 is disposed on the upper air conduction path A and on the leeward side of the indoor heat exchanger 24. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the width of the indoor heat exchanger 24 and the width of the air sterilization section 5 are substantially the same (W), and the height of the indoor heat exchanger 24 is high. The height of the air sterilization part 5 is about 1/4 (H) with respect to (H). Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the air sterilization unit 5 is arranged so that the lower end portion of the air sterilization unit 5 is positioned at a half height (1 / 2H) of the indoor heat exchanger 24. The upper air blowing fan 25a and the lower air blowing fan 25b are disposed on the upper side and the lower side of the indoor heat exchanger 24, respectively, and the air sterilization unit 5 is provided with the upper air blowing fan 25a. And the lower blower fan 25b are biased toward the upper blower fan 25a.

  The indoor heat exchanger 24 is a fin tube type heat exchanger (see FIG. 5A), and includes a casing (not shown) pressed into a box shape, and a plurality of fins 241 arranged in a stacked manner. As shown in FIG. 2, refrigerant tubes (hairpin tubes) 242 a to 242 h pass therethrough, and the refrigerant tubes 242 a to 242 h are connected by a U-shaped connecting tube at the side end of the fin 241. ing. The indoor refrigerant pipe 20 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 242a and the refrigerant pipe 242i located at the end of the fin 241. The refrigerant pipe 242i is connected to the refrigerant pipe 242g and the refrigerant pipe 242h.

  In the indoor heat exchanger 24, during heating, the refrigerant flows through the fins 241 in a direction from the refrigerant pipe 242a toward the refrigerant pipe 242b, and then flows in the direction from the refrigerant pipe 242b toward the refrigerant pipe 242c and from the refrigerant pipe 242c. Similarly, the refrigerant meanders and flows through the fins 241 while branching to the refrigerant pipe 242d and the refrigerant pipe 242e, from the refrigerant pipe 242d toward the refrigerant pipe 242f and the refrigerant pipe 242g, and from the refrigerant pipe 242e toward the refrigerant pipe 242h. The refrigerant flows while meandering through the fins 241, the refrigerant pipe 242 g and the refrigerant pipe 242 h merge with the refrigerant pipe 242 i, and the refrigerant flows into the indoor refrigerant pipe 20. On the other hand, at the time of cooling, the refrigerant flows through the indoor heat exchanger 24 in the reverse order to the above, and the refrigerant flows in the direction from the indoor refrigerant pipe 20 to the refrigerant pipe 242a. In FIG. 2, the refrigerant circuit 100a is not shown.

  A drain pan 42 is disposed below the indoor heat exchanger 24, and a drain hose 43 is connected to the drain pan 42 so that drain water stored in the drain pan 42 can be discharged to the outside.

  The air sterilization unit 5 is connected to an electrolysis unit 62 via an electrolyzed water supply pipe 61, and electrolyzed water is supplied from the electrolyzed water supply pipe 61. As shown in FIG. 4, the air sterilization unit 5 includes a gas-liquid contact member 51 with high water retention and a dispersion plate 52 disposed above the gas-liquid contact member 51, and below the gas-liquid contact member 51. A water tray (sub-drain pan) 44 is disposed in the chamber.

  The gas-liquid contact member 51 can be composed of a nonwoven fabric made of, for example, acrylic fiber or polyester fiber. In addition, as the material of the gas-liquid contact member 51, a material having low reactivity with respect to electrolyzed water is preferable. In addition, polyolefin resin (polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, etc.), vinyl chloride resin, fluorine resin (PTFE, PFA, ETFE, etc.) ), Cellulosic materials, ceramic materials, or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the gas-liquid contact member 51 is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment, and the affinity for electrolyzed water is enhanced. Thereby, the water retention (wetting property) of the electrolyzed water of the gas-liquid contact member 51 is maintained, and the contact between the electrolyzed water and the introduced air is maintained for a long time.

  The dispersion dish 52 is formed with a connection port to which the electrolyzed water supply pipe 61 is connected on the side surface, and the electrolyzed water supplied through the electrolyzed water supply pipe 61 is dropped and dispersed in the gas-liquid contact member 51. A number of holes (not shown) are formed on the bottom surface of the dispersion plate 52.

  In addition, the water tray 44 holds the gas-liquid contact member 51 from below and can store the electrolyzed water that has passed through the gas-liquid contact member 51. A drain pipe 45 that guides the electrolyzed water to the drain pan 42 is connected to the bottom surface of the water tray 44 (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the electrolysis unit 62 includes an electrolysis tank 62a connected to the electrolyzed water supply pipe 61, and two electrodes 62b and 62c arranged in the electrolysis tank 62a. When the two pairs of electrodes 62b and 62c are energized, the tap water introduced into the electrolytic cell 62a is electrolyzed to generate electrolyzed water containing active oxygen species. This electrolyzed water is supplied to the air sterilization unit 5 as sterilization water. Here, the tap water introduced into the electrolyzed water is, for example, configured to be connected to a storage tank (not shown) via the tap water supply pipe 63 to the electrolytic tank 62a, and the tap water stored in the storage tank is supplied to the electrolytic tank 62a. It is good also as a structure to introduce, and it is good also as a structure which connects a water pipe directly to the tap water supply pipe 63, and introduces tap water directly into the electrolytic cell 62a.

  Here, the reactive oxygen species are oxygen molecules having an oxidation activity higher than that of normal oxygen and related substances, and so-called narrow definition such as superoxide anion, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, or hydrogen peroxide. These active oxygens include so-called broad active oxygens such as ozone and hypohalous acid.

  For the electrodes 62b and 62c, for example, two electrode plates having a base made of Ti (titanium) and a coating layer made of Ir (iridium) and Pt (platinum) can be used.

When the tap water is energized by the electrodes 62b and 62c,
4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ + (4OH ⁻ ) → 2H ₂ + (4OH ⁻ )
And the anode electrode
2H ₂ O → 4H ⁺ + O ₂ + 4e ⁻
At the same time, the chlorine ions contained in the water (pre-added to tap water)
2Cl ⁻ → Cl ₂ + 2e ⁻
In addition, this Cl ₂ reacts with water,
Cl ₂ + H ₂ O → HClO + HCl
It becomes.

  In this configuration, when the electrodes 62b and 62c are energized, HClO (hypochlorous acid) having high sterilizing power is generated, and air is supplied to the gas-liquid contact member 51 to which the electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid is supplied. By passing the gas, the virus or the like floating in the air passing through the gas-liquid contact member 51 can be inactivated, and the air can be sterilized, and germs can propagate on the gas-liquid contact member 51. Can be prevented. Further, when the odor passes through the gas-liquid contact member 51, it reacts with hypochlorous acid in the electrolyzed water, and is ionized and dissolved in the electrolyzed water, so that it can be deodorized because it is removed from the air. .

When a current having a predetermined current density (for example, 20 mA / cm ² ) is supplied to the electrodes 62b and 62c, tap water having a predetermined amount of water is electrolyzed and active oxygen species (hypochlorous acid) having a predetermined concentration are obtained. Electrolyzed water containing (for example, free residual chlorine concentration of 1 mg / l or the like) can be generated. Further, the concentration of the active oxygen species contained in the electrolyzed water can be adjusted by adjusting the value of the current flowing between the electrodes 62b and 62c. Basically, the active oxygen in the electrolyzed water can be increased by increasing the current value. The seed concentration can be increased.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
In the air conditioner 100, when the four-way valve 13 provided in the outdoor unit 1 is switched to the cooling side or the heating side, the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant circuit 100a is switched, and the cooling operation or the heating operation is performed.

  Then, the indoor air sucked into the casing 23 from the suction port 21 is heat-exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 24 by the upper blower fan 25a, and the air after the air conditioning is changed as shown in FIGS. The air is supplied to the air sterilization unit 5 through the upper air conduction path A. The air sterilization unit 5 is supplied with sterilization water from the electrolysis unit 62 via a sterilization water supply pipe. The air supplied to the air sterilization unit 5 is brought into contact with the sterilization water in the gas-liquid contact member 51, and viruses and the like are inactivated and sterilized. The air after sterilization is guided to the wind direction changing device 27 and blown out from the upper outlet 22a by the upper blower fan 25a as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the indoor air sucked into the casing 23 from the suction port 21 by the lower blower fan 25b is heat-exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 24, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower air conduction path B Passes through the auto louver 29 in the vertical and horizontal directions. And the air which was guided by the auxiliary | assistant blade | wing 28 and was disperse | distributed to the left-right direction is blown out indoors downward from the lower blower outlet 22b, as shown in FIG.

  In this way, the air discharged from the upper air outlet 22 a into the room through the upper air conduction path A is guided by the wind direction changing device 27, and the air discharged from the lower air outlet 22 b is moved left and right by the auto louver 29. By automatically guiding, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, the air that has been conditioned is discharged from the lower part of the casing 23 into the room, and the air that has been conditioned and sterilized is discharged from the casing 23. It is made to discharge toward the room from the upper part.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment described above, the housing 23 is provided with the air suction port 21, the upper air outlet 22 a, and the lower air outlet 22 b, and the air sucked from the air inlet 21 is supplied to the upper blower fan 25 a or The lower blower fan 25b is configured to blow off from the upper air outlet 22a or the lower air outlet 22b via the upper air conduction path A or the lower air conduction path B. Since the indoor heat exchanger 24 is disposed on the upper air conduction path A and on the lower air conduction path B, the upper air outlet 22a is connected via the upper air conduction path A and the lower air conduction path B. And the air-conditioned air after heat exchange can be blown out from the lower outlet 22b.

  On the other hand, the air sterilization unit 5 is arranged on the upper air conduction path A among the upper air conduction path A and the lower air conduction path B, and applies active oxygen species to the air supplied via the upper air conduction path A. The electrolyzed water contained is brought into contact and sterilized by a wet process, and the sterilized air is blown into the room through the upper air conduction path A from the upper air outlet 22a. For this reason, when the air is sterilized by a wet process, even if the ventilation resistance is increased and the air volume is reduced in the upper air conduction path A where the air sterilization unit 5 is disposed, a sufficient air volume is provided in the lower air conduction path B. Since it can ensure, the air heat-exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 24 from the lower blower outlet 22b can be supplied smoothly indoors.

  Further, in the air sterilization unit 5 of the present embodiment, for example, when an influenza virus invades indoor air, the reactive oxygen species destroys and disappears (removes) the surface protein (spike) of the virus essential for the infection. If this is destroyed, the influenza virus and the receptor (receptor) necessary for the virus to be infected will not be bound, thereby preventing the infection. As a result of the verification test in collaboration with the Institute for Hygiene and Environment, it was found that 99% or more of the virus can be removed when the air in which the influenza virus has entered passes through the gas-liquid contact member 51 of this configuration. Further, when the odor passes through the gas-liquid contact member 51, it reacts with hypochlorous acid in the electrolyzed water, and is ionized and dissolved in the electrolyzed water, so that it can be deodorized because it is removed from the air. .

  In the present embodiment, the air discharged from the upper air outlet 22 a into the room through the upper air conduction path A is guided by the wind direction changing device 27, and the air discharged from the lower air outlet 22 b is left and right by the auto louver 29. By automatically guiding in the direction, the air-conditioned air is discharged from the lower part of the housing 23 into the room as indicated by the arrows in FIG. In this way, the air discharged from the upper air outlet 22a and the air output from the lower air outlet 22b are merged, so that the temperature of the living space is made uniform and the sterilized air is showered. Thus, it can be supplied from the upper part in the room, and the comfort in the room can be improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid is discharged to the drain pan 42 from below the air sterilizing unit 5. For this reason, when the electrolyzed water is mixed into the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 42, various bacteria are prevented from being generated in the drain water, and slime is prevented from being generated on the drain pan 42. For this reason, the frequency of cleaning and maintenance of the drain pan 42 is reduced, and the labor of cleaning and maintenance can be reduced.
Moreover, since drain water is discharged | emitted outside via the drain hose 43, the labor of a maintenance can be saved.

  Further, like the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the upper air conduction path A is formed from the suction port 21 toward the upper air outlet 22a by the upper blower fan 25a, and air sterilization is performed in the upper air conduction path A. By arranging the part 5 on the downstream side with respect to the indoor heat exchanger 24, the following effects can be obtained. That is, when the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is air-cooled, air that has been cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 24 and has a high relative humidity is supplied to the air sterilization unit 5. Air heated by the exchanger 24 and having a low relative humidity is supplied to the air sterilization unit 5. Therefore, even if the electrolyzed water is brought into contact with the air supplied in the air sterilization unit 5, since the air having a high relative humidity is already supplied during the cooling operation, the increase in the relative humidity of the air after the air sterilization is increased. Can be suppressed. Moreover, since air with low relative humidity is supplied during heating operation, the relative humidity of the air after air sterilization can be increased by bringing the air sterilization unit 5 into contact with the electrolyzed water. Therefore, the air is sterilized and purified in a wet manner, and the humidification amount at the time of air conditioning can be reduced without increasing the load of air conditioning only by switching the four-way valve 13 to switch between the cooling operation and the heating operation. It can be controlled automatically and the indoor air environment can be kept comfortable.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, since the air sterilization part 5 is provided in the upper air outlet 22a side of the upper air conduction path A in the housing | casing 23, it is the air blown out from this air sterilization part 5. The contained hypochlorous acid is not directly introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 24. For this reason, it can prevent that the indoor heat exchanger 24 corrodes by hypochlorous acid.

The embodiment described above is one aspect of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the floor-standing indoor unit 2 has been described as an example. However, the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 100 of the present invention is not limited to the floor-standing type, and is a wall-mounted type. 1 or a ceiling-suspended type. In short, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of air conduction paths (A, B) are provided in the housing 23 to exchange heat in the room. What is necessary is just the structure which has the air conduction path | route (A) in which only the indoor heat exchanger 24 is arrange | positioned among the container 24 and the air sanitization part 5. FIG. Thus, by providing the air conduction path (A) in which only the indoor heat exchanger 24 is arranged, when the air is sterilized in the air sterilization unit 5, for example, the gas-liquid contact member 51 or the like Even if the ventilation resistance is increased by allowing air to pass through the filter member, after the air conditioning in which heat is exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 24 from the air conduction path (A) where only the indoor heat exchanger 24 is disposed. The air can be smoothly supplied into the room.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the example which provided the upper blower outlet 22a and the lower blower outlet 22b in the housing | casing 23 was demonstrated, the number of blower outlets is not limited and it is the structure of an indoor unit. It can be provided accordingly. In addition, even when a single outlet is used, a plurality of air conduction paths are provided in the housing 23 by a plurality of blower fans, and only the indoor heat exchanger 24 is disposed in at least one of the air conduction paths. Any configuration can be used.

Further, for example, in the above embodiment, the configuration for generating hypochlorous acid as the active oxygen species has been described. However, as the configuration for generating ozone (O ₃ ) or hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) as the active oxygen species. Also good. In this case, when a platinum tantalum electrode is used as the electrodes 62b and 62c, active oxygen species can be stably generated with high efficiency by electrolysis even from water in which ion species are dilute.
At this time, in the anode electrode,
2H ₂ O → 4H ⁺ + O ₂ + 4e ⁻
At the same time as
3H ₂ O → O ₃ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻
2H ₂ O → O ₃ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻
This reaction occurs and ozone (O ₃ ) is generated. In the cathode electrode,
4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ + (4OH ⁻ ) → 2H ₂ + (4OH ⁻ )
O ₂ ⁻ + e ⁻ + 2H ⁺ → H ₂ O ₂
As shown, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) is generated by combining O ₂ ⁻ generated by O ₂ ⁻ by the reaction of the electrodes 62b and 62c with H ⁺ in the solution.

In this configuration, when the electrodes 62b and 62c are energized, ozone (O ₃ ) and hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) having high sterilizing power are generated, and these ozone (O ₃ ) and hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ ) are generated. Electrolyzed water containing O ₂ ) can be made. Then, the concentration of ozone or hydrogen peroxide in the electrolyzed water is adjusted to a concentration that inactivates the target virus or the like, and the air is passed through the gas-liquid contact member 51 supplied with the electrolyzed water of this concentration. It is possible to inactivate target viruses that float inside. Further, when the odor passes through the gas-liquid contact member 51, it reacts with ozone or hydrogen peroxide in the electrolyzed water, and is ionized and dissolved in the electrolyzed water, so that it is removed from the air, so that it can be deodorized. it can.
In the embodiment described above, electrolyzed water containing active oxygen species is described as an example of the liquid having a sterilizing effect, but the liquid having the sterilizing effect according to the present invention is not limited to electrolyzed water. .

  Further, when scale is deposited on the electrodes 62b and 62c (cathode) by electrolyzing tap water, the electrical conductivity is lowered, and continuous electrolysis becomes difficult. In this case, it is effective to reverse the polarity of the electrodes 62b and 62c (switch between plus and minus of the electrodes 62b and 62c). By electrolysis using the cathode electrode as the anode electrode, the scale deposited on the cathode electrode can be removed. In this polarity reversal control, for example, it may be reversed periodically using a timer, or may be reversed irregularly, such as reversed every time the operation is started. Further, an increase in electrolytic resistance (decrease in electrolysis current or increase in electrolysis voltage) may be detected, and the polarity may be reversed based on this result.

  Moreover, in the said form, although the height of the air sanitization part 5 was about 1/4 height of the indoor heat exchanger 24, the height of the air sanitization part 5 was about the height of the indoor heat exchanger 24. The height may be about 1/2 to about 1/4. This is arranged in the casing 23 so as to be parallel to the indoor heat exchanger 24 and to be positioned in the upper half of the indoor heat exchanger 24, so that the upper heat conduction path A causes the indoor heat exchanger 24 to This is to supply the heat-exchanged air to the air sterilization unit 5 and to avoid disposing the air sterilization unit 5 in the lower air conduction path B.

  In the present embodiment, the air sterilization unit 5 is disposed substantially parallel to the indoor heat exchanger 24. However, the air sterilization unit 5 is inclined with respect to the indoor heat exchanger 24. You may arrange.

  Moreover, in the said form, although the air sanitization part 5 shall be arrange | positioned in the leeward side of the indoor heat exchanger 24, you may arrange | position the air sanitization part 5 in the windward side of the indoor heat exchanger 24. FIG.

  In addition, the drain hose 43 is connected to the drain pan 42 and the drain water is discharged to the outside via the drain hose 43. However, the drain hose 43 is not provided, and heat from the indoor heat exchanger 24 is used. The drain water may be naturally evaporated, or the drain pan 42 may be taken out freely, and the drain pan 42 may be taken out from the housing 23 and the drain water stored inside may be discharged by the user.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the air conditioning apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the indoor unit in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the installation state of the indoor unit in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the auto louver provided in the lower blower outlet of an indoor unit. It is a figure for demonstrating a structure and arrangement | positioning of an indoor heat exchanger and an air sanitization part.

Explanation of symbols

1 Outdoor unit 2 Indoor unit 5 Air sterilization section (air sterilization means)
21 Inlet 22a Upper outlet (outlet)
22b Lower outlet (outlet)
23 Housing 24 Indoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger)
25a Top blower fan (fan)
25b Lower fan (fan)
42 Drain pan 43 Drain hose 44 Water pan (sub drain pan)
45 Drain pipe A Upper air conduction path (air conduction path)
B Lower air conduction path (air conduction path)

Claims (5)

A housing with an air inlet and one or more outlets;
A plurality of blower fans that respectively form one or a plurality of air conduction paths in the housing from the suction port toward the blowout port;
A heat exchanger disposed on a plurality of air conduction paths formed by the plurality of blower fans;
An air disinfecting means that is disposed on at least one of the air conduction paths and sterilizes the air by bringing a liquid having a sterilizing effect into contact with the air supplied through the air conduction path;
With
In at least any one of the plurality of air conduction paths formed by the plurality of blower fans, only the heat exchanger of the heat exchanger and the air sterilization means is disposed.
An air conditioner characterized by. A housing with an air inlet;
An upper outlet and a lower outlet provided in the upper and lower parts of the housing, respectively;
An upper blower fan that forms an upper air conduction path in the housing from the inlet toward the upper outlet;
A lower blower fan that forms a lower air conduction path in the housing from the suction port toward the lower blowout port;
A heat exchanger disposed on the upper air conduction path and the lower air conduction path;
Air sterilization means disposed on the upper air conduction path and sterilized by bringing a liquid having a sterilization effect into contact with the air supplied through the upper air conduction path,
An air conditioner comprising: In the air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2,
Arranged in the order of the heat exchanger and air sterilization means from the upstream side toward the downstream side on the upper air conduction path,
An air conditioner characterized by. The air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3,
The width of the heat exchanger and the width of the air sterilization means are formed substantially the same, and the height of the air sterilization means is about 1/2 to about 1 with respect to the height of the heat exchanger. / 4,
In the housing, the air sterilization means is disposed on the upper side of the heat exchanger,
The upper blower fan is disposed on the upper end side of the heat exchanger, and the lower blower fan is disposed on the lower end side of the heat exchanger;
An air conditioner characterized by. In the air harmony device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A drain pan disposed at a lower portion of the heat exchanger;
A sub-drain pan that receives the liquid discharged from the air sterilization means;
A drain pipe connected to the sub-drain pan for introducing the liquid received in the sub-drain pan into the drain pan;
An air conditioner comprising:

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