JP2008101840A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a structure of a device is complicated, its scale is enlarged, as a washing tank and a drain pipe are needed for an exclusive device for dipping vegetable and fruits in wash fluid, and removing harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals by physical action and chemical action of fine bubbles including an ozone gas. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator comprises a photocatalyst member 117 coated with photocatalyst, a light generating means 118 generating light toward the photocatalyst member 117, and a dew condensation means 119 allowing dew condensation on the photocatalyst member 117 in a vegetable compartment 114, so that OH radical can be created by reaction of the light generated from the light generating means 118, the condensed moisture by the dew condensation means 119 and the photocatalyst, and the agricultural chemicals in stored object can be reduced by oxidative decomposition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator capable of reducing agrochemical components adhering to foods such as vegetables and fruits by OH radicals generated by the reaction of light generated from light generation means, moisture condensed by condensation means and photocatalyst. Is.

  In recent years, consumers are very worried about food safety. According to the Tokyo Consumer Life Questionnaire “Food Safety” (Survey from July to August 2000) According to a survey of national consciousness, 90% of those who are feeling uneasy.

  In order to ensure the safety of pesticide residues, regulations on the use of pesticides by farmers and the food hygiene law that regulates the amount of residues from the viewpoint of human health have been established. There is the fact that so-called offending agricultural products that remain above the prescribed amount have been detected. Residual pesticides with high detection rates are mainly pesticides used overseas for post-harvest purposes, and many of them are prohibited in Japan.

  In the actual situation of such residual agricultural chemicals, we believe that there is a high need for an apparatus that removes residual agricultural chemicals so that consumers can live a safe diet.

  Conventionally, there is a food washing apparatus having a function of removing harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals attached to vegetables and fruits (for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 6 shows a conventional food washing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 having a function of removing harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals.

  As shown in FIG. 6, normal tap water is used as the cleaning liquid 26, a supply pipe 36 that supplies the cleaning liquid 26 is connected to the side wall of the cleaning tank 25, and a discharge pipe 37 that discharges the cleaning liquid is connected to the bottom of the cleaning tank 25. ing. The supply pipe 36 and the discharge pipe 37 are provided with solenoid valves 38 and 39 for controlling the supply and discharge of the cleaning liquid 26.

  Microbubbles are generated in the cleaning liquid 26, and the bubble generating means 27 is configured to convey the cleaning liquid 26 and pressurize the cleaning liquid 26 and dissolve the gas, while ejecting the ejector 30 provided with the suction pipe 31 for sucking the gas that becomes the fine bubbles. The fluid pump 28 and the dissolved gas are decompressed and deposited, and the cleaning tank 25 is constituted by a branching portion 33 for returning the cleaning liquid 26 containing fine bubbles to the ejector 30 again. The cleaning tank 25, the ejector 30, the ejector 30 and the fluid pump 28 are configured as a discharge pipe 29 for transporting the cleaning liquid 26, the fluid pump 28 and the branching section 33 are configured as a discharge pipe 32, and the branching section 33 and the ejector 30 are configured as a return pipe 35. Yes. The liquid reforming means 40 for eluting contaminants adhering to food is provided between the fluid pump 28 constituting the bubble generating means 27 and the branch portion 33, and the cleaning liquid 26 constitutes the liquid reforming means 40. By contacting with the cyclosilicate compound, it is modified as a cleaning solution for eluting contaminants. The contaminated ultraviolet light 48 includes an ozone generator 49 that generates ozone, a gas pump 50 that supplies the generated ozone to the cleaning tank 25, and an electromagnetic valve 51 that prevents the supply of ozone and the inflow of the cleaning liquid 26. . As the ozone generator 49, an apparatus that generates ozone using high-pressure discharge is applied.

  The operation of the food washing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

When a cleaning start signal is issued from a control unit (not shown), the electromagnetic valve 38 is activated (opened), and the cleaning liquid 26 for cleaning food is supplied from the supply pipe 36 to the cleaning tank 25. When the cleaning liquid 26 reaches a predetermined amount, the electromagnetic valve 38 is activated (closed) and the supply is stopped. Next, the fluid pump 28 is operated, the cleaning liquid 26 passes through the transport pipe 29, is transported to the ejector 30, and entrains air sucked from the suction pipe 31 provided in the ejector 30. The air entrained in the cleaning liquid 26 is dissolved in the cleaning liquid 26 pressurized by the fluid pump 28, passes through the discharge pipe 32, is activated by the liquid reforming means 40, is pressurized by the decompression nozzle 34, and is dissolved. Are ejected into the cleaning tank 25 in a state where fine bubbles are generated. Since the pressure reduction nozzle 34 increases the pressure loss and decreases the flow rate of jetting to reduce the pressure of the pressurized cleaning liquid 26, the excessive cleaning liquid 26 is guided to the return pipe 35 and circulates through the bubble generating means 27. On the other hand, simultaneously with the operation of the fluid pump 28, the ozone generator 49, the gas pump 50, and the electromagnetic valve 51 are operated, and ozone is supplied to the cleaning liquid 26 in the cleaning tank 25. Foods such as vegetables and fruits placed in the washing tank 25 are washed by this washing liquid 26.
JP-A-9-75050

  However, in the above conventional configuration, the washing tank or drain pipe is a dedicated device that removes harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals by immersing vegetables and fruits in the cleaning liquid and removing the harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals by the physical and chemical action of fine bubbles containing ozone gas. Therefore, there is a problem that the structure is complicated and becomes a large-scale device.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to reduce the amount of agricultural chemical components by causing decomposition reaction to agricultural chemicals by oxidative decomposition ability of OH radicals while being stored in a refrigerator instead of a dedicated machine. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a box having a storage chamber, a photocatalyst member coated with a photocatalyst in the storage chamber, and light generation that generates light toward the photocatalyst member in the storage chamber. Condensing means for condensing the means and the photocatalytic member is provided.

  Thus, in the present invention, chemical bonds of harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals adhering to vegetables and fruits are caused by the OH radicals generated by the reaction between the light generated from the light generating means, the moisture condensed by the condensation means and the photocatalyst. The components can be oxidatively decomposed, and the stored agricultural chemical components can be reduced while being stored in a refrigerator instead of a dedicated machine.

  The refrigerator of the present invention is capable of decomposing agricultural chemicals by OH radicals generated by the reaction of light generated from the light generating means and moisture condensed by the dew condensation means and the photocatalyst, and can reduce the agricultural chemical ingredients while storing. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator with improved safety and usability.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a box having a storage chamber, a photocatalyst member coated with a photocatalyst in the storage chamber, light generating means for generating light toward the photocatalyst member in the storage chamber, and the photocatalyst Condensation means for condensing the member, and it becomes possible to create OH radicals generated by the reaction of the light generated from the light generation means, the moisture condensed by the condensation means and the photocatalyst, and the pesticides in the stored product It can be reduced by oxidative decomposition.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the dew condensation means generates mist by an electrostatic atomization method, and generates fine mist by dividing and subdividing water droplets using electric energy such as high voltage. Since the generated mist is charged, it adheres to vegetables and fruits due to the adsorption force between the negative charge of the mist and the positive charge on the vegetable surface, so the mist adheres more uniformly to the vegetable surface. At the same time, the mist adhesion rate can be further improved as compared with the type of mist that is not charged, so that it is possible to more effectively remove the pesticide from the stored product.

  In the invention according to claim 3, since the dew condensation means generates mist by an ultrasonic atomizer and water droplets are made finer using high-frequency vibration energy, a high voltage is generated when fine mist is generated. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a fine mist at a low voltage, so that the safety associated with mist generation can be further increased.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the dew condensation means generates water from water vapor contained in the air in the storage chamber, a temperature detection means for detecting the surface temperature of the water collection plate, and the water collection. Temperature adjustment means to adjust the temperature of the plate, and by adjusting the surface temperature of the water collection plate below the dew point temperature, it becomes possible to collect water reliably, and water supply in a tank etc. is required This eliminates the user's trouble.

  Invention of Claim 5 can reduce the agrochemical component of the said preservation | save, ensuring the safety | security of the user of a refrigerator, without degrading vegetables by the wavelength of the said light being 320 nm-780 nm. it can.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the conventional example or the embodiments described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a side sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the dew condensation means in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 is partitioned into a refrigerator compartment 112, a switching room 113, a vegetable compartment 114, and a freezer compartment 115 from above by a partition plate 111. The vegetable compartment 114 is composed of a door 116a for partitioning and opening and closing the vegetable compartment 114, and the whole vegetable interior wall is provided with a photocatalytic member 117 on which a titanium oxide coating as a photocatalyst is applied. A light generating means 118 and a dew condensation means 119 are provided on the top top surface of the vegetable compartment 114. The light generating means 118 is an ultraviolet LED that irradiates ultraviolet light having a peak wavelength of around 380 nm, and is irradiated toward the photocatalyst member 117. The dew condensation means 119 is capable of spraying water as a mist by an electrostatic atomization method.

  The dew condensation means 119 includes a spray device 120 and a blower device 121 for blowing the mist generated by the spray device 120 into the vegetable compartment 114. Further, the spraying means 120 is located inside the water storage tank 122, is positioned so as to immerse one end thereof in the stored water 123 stored in the water storage tank 122, and the other end forms a spray tip portion 124 in the water storage tank 122. It is installed in one section of the capillary supply structure 125 and the water storage tank 122, and is located in one section of the water storage tank and the cathode 126 that applies a negative high voltage to the stored water 123 in the water storage tank 122 so as to face the cathode 126. The anode 127 is positioned, and a high-voltage power supply 128 that applies a high voltage to the cathode 126.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  As the light generation means 118, a highly safe ultraviolet LED having a wavelength in the range of 320 nm to 380 nm is used.

  By the photocatalytic reaction between the ultraviolet light generated from the light generating means 118 and the titanium oxide applied to the inner wall of the vegetable compartment 114, water generated from the dew condensation means 119 provided on the top surface of the vegetable compartment 114 can be decomposed to produce OH radicals. it can. The OH radical's strong oxidative degradation power can act on harmful substances such as residual agricultural chemicals attached to the surface of vegetables, etc., stored in the storage room, so that chemical bonds can be cleaved. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of pesticides attached to the stored items in the vegetable compartment.

  The dew condensation means 119 generates mist by an electrostatic atomization method. Since the electrostatic atomization method has a very small particle size peak of 18 nm, water adheres to the vegetable room 114 wall surface. There is no objectively wet feeling, so it is sensually good. Further, since it has a negative charge, it easily adheres to the wall surface having a positive charge, so that the OH radical generation efficiency can be improved, so that the pesticide decomposition efficiency of the stored product can be improved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator 100 has the photocatalyst member 117 coated with the photocatalyst in the storage chamber, the light generation means 118 that generates light toward the photocatalyst member 117 in the storage chamber, and the storage. By providing the dew condensation means 119 that condenses the wall surface of the room, the refrigerator has the function of removing and decomposing harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals with a simple structure, and consumers simply store vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator. In addition, harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals can be reduced. In addition, the use of an ultraviolet LED having a high safety ultraviolet wavelength makes it possible to reduce the irradiation intensity, leading to prevention of material deterioration of the vegetable indoor wall.

  In the present embodiment, the vegetable compartment 114 is arranged at the upper stage of the freezing compartment 115. However, by arranging the vegetable compartment 114 at the lowest stage, when using the vegetable compartment 114, ultraviolet rays are directly observed. The vegetable compartment 114 can be used more safely without entering.

  In the present embodiment, the titanium oxide coating is applied to the wall surface of the vegetable compartment 114, but the same effect can be obtained by applying the titanium oxide coating to the inside of the storage case in the vegetable compartment 114.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, the refrigerator 100 is partitioned into a refrigerator compartment 112, a switching room 113, a vegetable room 114, and a freezer room 115 from above by a partition plate 111. A light generating means 118 and a dew condensation means 119 are provided on the top top surface of the vegetable compartment 114. The dew condensation means 119 includes a water collection plate 201 that generates water from water vapor in the air, a temperature detection means 202 that detects the temperature of the water collection plate 201, and a temperature adjustment means 203 that adjusts the temperature of the water collection plate 201. Yes. The water collecting plate 201 is made of a heat conductive metal or resin such as aluminum or stainless steel, and a temperature adjusting means 203 such as a Peltier element is brought into contact with one surface of the cooling plate to change the voltage applied to the Peltier, or The surface temperature of the water collecting plate 201 is controlled by varying the application time.

  The vegetable compartment 114 is provided with a storage case 204 for storing stored items. The storage case 204 is a photocatalyst member 117 formed of a resin kneaded with titanium oxide having a photocatalytic effect.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  The vegetable room is cooled to 5 ° C. by cooling air. Water in the air condenses on the water collecting plate 201 by cooling the water collecting plate 201 by the temperature adjusting means 203 that adjusts the temperature of the water collecting plate 201 provided in the upper part to the outdoor temperature or lower. The condensed moisture falls freely to the lower part of the storage case 204 by gravity.

  Since the dew condensing means 119 is provided on the upper top surface, the storage case 204 can be dewed by free fall, so that parts for spraying water become unnecessary, leading to cost reduction.

  The storage case 204 is condensed due to the dropped water, and then the condensed water can be decomposed by the light irradiated by the light irradiation means 118 and the photocatalytic effect of the titanium oxide kneaded in the case. It is possible to create OH radicals that are oxidizing agents.

  Since the produced OH radical can oxidize and decompose harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals attached to the preserved material, the amount of the agricultural chemical attached to the preserved material can be reduced.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the photocatalyst member formed of the resin in which the photocatalyst is kneaded in the storage chamber is formed in the refrigerator 100, and the light generation that generates light toward the photocatalyst member in the storage chamber. Means 118 and dew condensation means 119 are provided, and dew condensation means 119 removes harmful substances such as agricultural chemicals with a simple structure by cooling water collection plate 201 and allowing water collection plate 201 to condense moisture in the air. The refrigerator has a function of decomposing.

  In the present embodiment, the dew condensation means 119 is disposed on the upper surface of the vegetable compartment 114. However, the cooler disposed on the back side of the vegetable compartment 114 is used as the dew condensation means, and the storage case 204 is formed by the cool air cooled by the cooler. The same effect can be obtained by condensing the side.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dew condensation means of the refrigerator in the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, the refrigerator 100 is partitioned into a refrigerator compartment 112, a switching chamber 113, a vegetable compartment 114, and a freezer compartment 115 from above by a partition 111. In the vegetable compartment 114, a storage case 204 is installed, and food is stored in a space cooled to 4 to 6 ° C. The rear of the vegetable compartment 114 is provided with an internal partition 302 for partitioning the air passage 301 and the vegetable compartment 114. The interior partition 302 is provided with dew condensation means 119, light generation means 118, and a circulation fan 303. Further, the internal partition 302 is coated with titanium oxide.

  The dew condensation means 119 includes a stored water holding means 304, a spray means 305, and a blower means 306, and the spray means 305 is an ultrasonic method. Water is supplied to the stored water holding means 304 from a water supply tank 307 provided in the refrigerator compartment 112 via a water supply path 308.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  First, water is supplied from the water supply tank 307 to the stored water holding means 304 via the water supply path 308, and the stored water is atomized by the spraying means 305 and sprayed into the air passage 301 by the blower means 306. .

  Next, light is generated by the light generating means 118. The titanium oxide photocatalyst applied to the internal partition 302 can generate OH radicals having strong oxidizing ability from oxygen in the air by receiving light energy. The produced OH radicals are circulated into the vegetable compartment 114 by the circulation fan 303. Since the recycled OH radicals can oxidatively decompose the pesticide attached to the preserved preserved product, the agrochemical component of the preserved product can be reduced.

  In addition, since the titanium oxide photocatalyst can produce OH radicals from moisture when it produces OH radicals, many OH radicals can be produced by spraying water into the air passage by the dew condensation means 119. Can be produced, and the degradation ability of agricultural chemicals can be further improved.

  In addition, the titanium oxide photocatalyst can simultaneously produce ozone having higher oxidation ability than oxygen in the air. Since the ozone can also oxidatively decompose the agricultural chemical components adhering to the preserved preserved product, the agrochemical content of the preserved preserved product can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the light generation means 118, the photocatalyst member 117, and the dew condensation means 119 are arranged in the air passage 301. However, the light generation means 118 and the evaporating dish between the heat exchanger that is the drain water recovery path By providing the circulation fan 303 and coating the drain water recovery path with titanium oxide, the ultrasonic device, which is the dew condensation means 119, and the water supply tank 307 are not required, so the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. can do.

  As described above, since the hazardous substance decomposition function of the refrigerator according to the present invention can irradiate ultraviolet rays with high decomposability and reduce the pesticides in the stored products, it can be used for household refrigerators, commercial refrigerators, food storages, and foods. It can also be applied to the use of cleaning equipment.

Side sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Side sectional view of the dew condensation means in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Side sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Side sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Vertical sectional view of the dew condensation means in Embodiment 3 of the present invention Schematic configuration diagram of a conventional food cleaning device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Refrigerator 111 Partition plate 112 Refrigeration room 113 Switching room 114 Vegetable room 115 Freezing room 116a Door 117 Photocatalyst member 118 Light generation means 119 Dew condensation means 120 Spraying device 121 Blowing means 122 Water storage tank 123 Reservation water 124 Spray tip part 125 Capillary supply structure 126 Cathode 127 Anode 128 High voltage power supply 201 Water collecting plate 202 Temperature detecting means 203 Temperature adjusting means 204 Storage case 301 Air passage 302 Internal partition 303 Circulating fan 304 Reserving water holding means 305 Spraying means 306 Blower means 307 Water supply tank 308 Water supply path

Claims (5)

  A box having a storage chamber; a photocatalyst member coated with a photocatalyst in the storage chamber; a light generating means for generating light toward the photocatalyst member in the storage chamber; and a dew condensation means for condensing the photocatalyst member. Toxics of residual agricultural chemicals attached to the surface of vegetables stored in the storage room due to OH radicals generated by the reaction of light generated from the light generating means, moisture condensed by the dew condensation means, and the photocatalyst A refrigerator equipped with a decomposition means for decomposing substances.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the dew condensation means is an electrostatic atomization type mist spraying device.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the dew condensation means is an ultrasonic mist spraying device.   The dew condensation means includes a water collecting plate for generating water from water vapor contained in the air in the storage chamber, a temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature of the water collecting plate, and a temperature for adjusting the temperature of the water collecting plate. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting unit, wherein the surface temperature of the water collecting plate is adjusted to a dew point temperature or less.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a wavelength of light emitted by the light generating means is 320 nm to 780 nm.

Images