JP2009034377A - Mist generator and mist generation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate fine mist of uniform particle size and to accurately control the generation amount. <P>SOLUTION: This mist generator generates mist of a predetermined particle size in a chamber 1, and discharges the generated mist from a discharge port 6 of the chamber 1. This mist generator is provided with a discharge part 2 for discharging the mist into the chamber 1, an outside air feed part 3 for feeding outside air inside the chamber 1, and a humidity detection part 7 and a temperature detection part 8 for detecting the humidity and the temperature inside the chamber 1. The both or one of the discharge amount of the mist by the discharge part 2 and the feed amount of the outside air by the outside air feed part 3 is controlled based on the detection results of the humidity detection part 7 and the temperature detection part 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for generating mist.

  The technology for generating the desired mist is an important technology in various technical fields such as generation of liquid tracer particles in PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) and mist cooling in which mist is cooled by spraying mist on the heat generation material. is there. In particular, this technique is particularly important in the field of inhalation therapy in which a mist-like chemical solution is discharged and inhaled by a user.

  Pulmonary transport of pharmaceutically active drugs is accomplished by several different methods. According to one method, a pharmaceutically active drug is dispersed in a low boiling propellant, loaded into a pressurized canister, and the drug / propulsion from the canister by using a device commonly known as metered inhalation. The formulation can be released. After release, the propellant evaporates and the drug particles are inhaled by the patient. Another method uses a nebulizer that uses vibration to produce a fine mist of particles from a solution or suspension of drug, which is inhaled by the patient through the mouth and / or nose. In yet another method, a dry powder drug is inhaled.

  However, there are several problems with systems that use dry powder. First, dry powders are difficult to store and can easily become contaminated with water vapor and agglomerate. Systems that do not use dry powder include drugs dissolved or suspended in a liquid carrier. While such a system has advantages (eg, agglomeration of powder particles is avoided), such a system is also subject to moisture in the surrounding air, ie humidity. Specifically, such systems use water as a carrier to generate mist. That is, a preparation containing a drug and water is used. However, when the ambient humidity varies, the rate and amount of moisture evaporation may vary. The amount of water evaporation affects the diameter of the mist particles (hereinafter referred to as “mist particle size”), and the particle size affects the amount of particles that reach the lungs and the specific area of the lungs that the particles can reach.

As an invention for avoiding these problems, a method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is disclosed. In this method, mist particles are generated by passing a liquid through a porous membrane having pores having a diameter of about 0.25 [mm] to about 6.0 [mm] with sufficient flexibility. Also, the mist particle size is controlled by positively heating the air in contact with the mist particles to give energy to the particles and adjusting the amount of water evaporation.
JP 2004-290688 A

  The method disclosed in Patent Document 1 controls the mist particle size by accelerating the evaporation of moisture by applying thermal energy to the mist particles via the air in contact with the mist particles. In this method, the quality of the preparation may be deteriorated by heat energy. In addition, mist is generated by passing liquid through the porous membrane, but the mist particle size is not uniform because the hole diameter ranges from about 0.25 [mm] to about 6.0 [mm]. The amount of mist generated cannot be accurately controlled.

  On the other hand, an ink jet method is known as a method for generating mist having a precisely controlled particle size. However, in the ink jet method, since the mist particle size is determined by the discharge nozzle diameter, only a mist having a particle size depending on the discharge nozzle diameter can be obtained. Further, if the discharge nozzle diameter is designed to be smaller in order to reduce the mist particle diameter, the uniformity of the mist particle diameter is lost due to the increased tolerance of the nozzle diameter to be created.

  It is an object of the present invention to generate mist having a uniform particle diameter that is smaller than the discharge nozzle diameter and to accurately control the generation amount.

  One of the mist generating apparatuses of the present invention is a mist generating apparatus that generates a mist having a predetermined particle diameter in a chamber and discharges the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber. The mist generating device includes: a discharge unit that discharges mist into the chamber; an outside air supply unit that supplies outside air into the chamber; a humidity detection unit that detects humidity in the chamber; and a temperature inside the chamber. Temperature detecting means for detecting. Both or one of the discharge amount of mist into the chamber by the discharge means and the supply amount of outside air into the chamber by the outside air supply means is based on the detection results of the humidity detection means and the temperature detection means. Controlled.

  One of the mist generation methods of the present invention is a mist generation method in which a mist having a predetermined particle diameter is generated in a chamber, and the generated mist is discharged from the discharge port of the chamber. In this mist generation method, mist is discharged into the chamber, and outside air is supplied into the chamber to mix the mist and the outside air in the chamber. Further, the humidity and temperature in the chamber are detected. Then, both or one of the amount of mist discharged into the chamber and the amount of outside air supplied into the chamber is controlled based on the detected humidity and temperature in the chamber.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to generate mist having a fine and uniform particle diameter and to accurately control the generation amount.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a mist generating apparatus according to this embodiment. The mist generator includes a chamber 1 having a discharge port 6 through which mist is discharged, a discharge means (discharge section 2) for discharging mist into the chamber, and an outside air supply means (outside air supply) for supplying outside air into the chamber. Part 3). Moreover, it has a flow rate control unit (flow rate control unit 4) that controls the amount of outside air supplied into the chamber by the outside air supply unit 3, and a flow rate detection unit (flow rate detection unit 5) that detects the supply amount of outside air. Furthermore, it has a humidity detection means (humidity detection part 7) which detects the humidity in a chamber, and a temperature detection means (temperature detection part 8) which detects temperature.

  As used herein, the term “dry air” means a gas that has been subjected to some dehumidification treatment, and the humid air means a gas that has undergone some humidification treatment.

  It is desirable that the discharge unit 2 is configured to mist a liquid by an ink jet method and discharge the liquid into the chamber 1. Either a bubble jet method or an ink jet method using a piezo element may be used.

  Further, it is desirable that the discharge unit 2 generate mist showing a monodisperse particle size distribution without generating satellite. An example of a discharge method that does not generate satellites is a discharge method in which the discharge speed is set low. In the case of a mist containing water as a main component, a mist showing a monodispersed particle size distribution in which no satellite is generated can be generated by setting the discharge speed to about 2 [m / s]. The presence or absence of satellites greatly depends on the surface tension and discharge speed of the mist to be discharged. By setting the discharge speed according to the surface tension of the mist to be discharged, it is possible to achieve discharge without generating satellites. it can.

  FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a discharge state in which satellites are generated at a high mist discharge speed by the discharge unit 2, and FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a discharge state in which satellites are not generated at a low mist discharge speed by the discharge unit 2. Shown in

  Refer to FIG. 1 again. The amount of outside air supplied into the chamber 1 by the outside air supply unit 3 is detected by the flow rate detection unit 5 and controlled by the flow rate control unit 4.

  The mist discharged from the discharge unit 2 and the outside air supplied by the outside air supply unit 3 are mixed in the chamber 1.

  Here, the water in the mist discharged from the discharge unit 2 starts to evaporate immediately after discharge. Then, the evaporation stops when the vapor pressure of the outside air supplied into the chamber 1 becomes the saturated vapor pressure due to the water evaporated from the mist. Accordingly, when the concentration of the mist in the chamber 1 and the supply amount of the outside air are controlled so that the vapor pressure of the outside air becomes the saturated vapor pressure when the water is evaporated until the particle size of the mist reaches a predetermined particle size. A mist having a predetermined particle diameter can be obtained.

  In order to control the mist particle size as described above, the time from when the mist starts to evaporate in the chamber 1 until the mist is discharged to the outside of the chamber 1, the vapor pressure of the outside air is saturated by the evaporation of the mist. It must be longer than the time to reach vapor pressure. In other words, the time required for the mist discharged from the discharge unit 2 to be discharged out of the chamber 1 is longer than the time required for the vapor pressure of the outside air to reach the saturated vapor pressure due to moisture evaporated from the mist. It must be long.

  Therefore, in order to evaporate a predetermined amount of water, the amount of mist discharged by the discharge unit 2 and the amount of outside air supplied into the chamber 1 based on the detection results of both the humidity detection unit 7 and the temperature detection unit 8 Is adjusted. More specifically, the number concentration of mist discharged from the discharge unit 2 and the amount of outside air supplied into the chamber 1 are adjusted based on the humidity and temperature in the chamber 1. This is because the amount of saturated water vapor varies with temperature, and the amount of liquid that can be dissolved as a gas in a certain state of air is determined by the humidity of the gas.

  FIG. 1 shows an example in which the humidity detector 7 is arranged upstream in the outside air supply direction and the temperature detector 8 is arranged downstream in the same direction. However, if the humidity and temperature of the chamber 1 can be detected, the positional relationship between the humidity detector 7 and the temperature detector 8 is not particularly limited.

  The number density of mist can be controlled by changing the ejection frequency at the ejection section 2. It can also be controlled by changing the number of nozzles provided in the discharge unit 2. Furthermore, the total amount of mist discharged (total discharge amount) can be controlled by the number of discharges.

A _ex [l / s] is the supply amount of outside air to chamber 1, the relative humidity of outside air is H [% RH], the temperature is T [° C], and the saturated water vapor amount is M [g / m ³ ]. Then, the amount of water V [g] that can be dissolved as a gas in A _ex is

となる。

It becomes.

If the number of nozzles provided in the discharge unit 2 is N [pieces] and the discharge frequency is f [Hz], the number of mists discharged per unit time is Nf [pieces], and the mist particle size immediately after discharge is d. _{When 0} [m] and the target particle size is d '[m], the amount of water V' [g] to evaporate is

となる。

It becomes.

  In order to evaporate a predetermined amount of water, V = V ′ may be satisfied. That means

となるように、A_ex、N、fを設定すればよい。

A _ex , N, and f may be set so that

Assuming that A _ex [l / s], T [° C], H [% RH], and N [pieces], which are the parameters of the mathematical formula (* 1), are fixed to a certain value, the change in mist particle size d ₀ [ The discharge frequency f [Hz] required to realize m] → d '[m] is

となり、単位時間あたりに吐出されるミストの粒子数はfN[個]であるので、時間t[s]の間に排出口６から排出されるミストの質量m’[g]は、

Since the number of mist particles discharged per unit time is fN [pieces], the mass m ′ [g] of the mist discharged from the discharge port 6 during time t [s] is

となる。

It becomes.

Now, the environment in which the mist generator is used and the temperature in the chamber 1 is T = 25 [° C.], the humidity is H = 20% [RH], and the number of nozzles used for discharging the mist is N = 1000 [pieces]. To do. Consider a case where the mist having the initial particle diameter d ₀ = 10 [μm] is evaporated to generate the mist having the target particle diameter d ′ = 2 [μm] under the above conditions. The relationship between the elapsed time t [m] at this time and the total mass m ′ [g] of the generated mist is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows that the mist generator can be operated for about 5.7 minutes to generate mist with a total mass of 100 [mg].

Since any component can be reduced in size, the mist generator of this embodiment is suitable for use as a portable mist generator.
(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, other examples of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the mist generating apparatus according to this embodiment.

  The mist generator of this embodiment includes a chamber 9 having a discharge port 14 through which mist is discharged, discharge means (discharge unit 10) for discharging mist into the chamber, and wet air for supplying wet air into the chamber. Supply means (wet air supply unit 11). In addition, flow rate control means (flow rate control unit 12) for controlling the amount of wet air supplied into the chamber by the wet air supply unit 11, and flow rate detection means (flow rate detection) for detecting the supply amount of wet air into the chamber. Part 13). Furthermore, it has the temperature detection means (temperature detection part 15) which detects the temperature in a chamber.

  It should be noted that, as in the first embodiment, it is desirable that the discharge unit 10 is an ink jet method, and that the discharge unit 10 may be a bubble jet method or an ink jet method using a piezo element. Further, the point that it is desirable for the discharge unit 10 to generate a mist showing a monodisperse particle size distribution that does not generate satellites is the same as in the first embodiment, and the setting of the discharge speed for this is also the same as in the first embodiment. is there.

  The amount of wet air supplied into the chamber 9 by the wet air supply unit 11 shown in FIG. 5 is detected by the flow rate detection unit 13 and controlled by the flow rate control unit 12.

  The mist discharged from the discharge unit 10 and the humid air supplied into the chamber 9 are mixed in the chamber 9.

  Again, the water in the mist discharged from the discharge unit 10 starts to evaporate immediately after discharge. Then, the evaporation stops when the vapor pressure of the wet air supplied into the chamber 1 becomes the saturated vapor pressure due to the water evaporated from the mist. Therefore, when the water vapor evaporates until the particle size of the mist reaches a predetermined particle size, the mist in the chamber 9 is adjusted according to the humidity and supply amount of the humid air so that the vapor pressure of the humid air becomes the saturated vapor pressure. By controlling the number concentration, mist having a predetermined particle size can be obtained.

  In order to control the mist particle size as described above, the time from when the mist starts to evaporate in the chamber 9 until the mist is discharged to the outside of the chamber 9, the vapor pressure of the wet air is saturated by the evaporation of the mist. It must be longer than the time to reach vapor pressure. In other words, the time required from when the mist is discharged from the discharge unit 10 until the mist is discharged out of the chamber 9 is the time required until the vapor pressure of the wet air becomes the saturated vapor pressure due to evaporation of moisture in the mist. Must be longer than.

  Therefore, in order to evaporate a predetermined amount of moisture, the number concentration of mist discharged from the discharge unit 10 and the wetness supplied into the chamber 9 according to the temperature in the chamber 9 detected by the temperature detection unit 15. The amount of air is adjusted. This is because the amount of saturated water vapor varies with temperature, and the amount of liquid that can be dissolved as a gas in a certain state of air is determined by the humidity of the gas.

  The number density of mist can be controlled by changing the ejection frequency in the ejection section 10. It can also be controlled by changing the number of nozzles provided in the discharge unit 10. The total amount of mist discharged (total discharge amount) can be controlled by the number of discharges.

The supply amount of humid air to the chamber 9 is A _ev [l / s], the relative humidity of the humid air is H [% RH], the temperature is T [° C.], and the saturated water vapor amount at this time is M [g / m ³ ], the amount of water V [g] that can be _dissolved as a gas in A _ev is

となる。

It becomes.

Further, when the number of nozzles provided in the discharge unit 10 is N [pieces] and the discharge frequency is f [Hz], the number of mists discharged per unit time is Nf [pieces], and the mist particle size immediately after discharge is d. _{When 0} [m] and the target particle size is d '[m], the amount of water V' [g] to evaporate is

となる。

It becomes.

  In order to evaporate a desired amount of water, V = V ′ may be satisfied. That means

となるように、H 、A_ev、N、fを設定すればよい。

H, A _ev , N, and f may be set so that

In the mist generating apparatus according to the present embodiment, the humidity of the gas mixed with the mist can be adjusted, so the number concentration of the desired particle size mist generated per unit time and the amount of mist discharged from the discharge port 14 Both can be controlled simultaneously.
(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, other examples of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the mist generating apparatus according to this embodiment.

  The mist generating apparatus of the present embodiment includes a chamber 16 having a discharge port 24 through which mist is discharged, and discharge means (discharge unit 17) that discharges mist into the chamber. Also, a humid air supply means (wet air supply fresh section 18) for supplying wet air into the chamber, and a first flow rate control means (first flow control means for controlling the amount of wet air supplied into the chamber by the supply section 18). A flow control unit 19). Moreover, it has the 1st flow volume detection means (1st flow volume detection part 20) which detects the supply amount of the humid air in a chamber. Furthermore, a dry air supply unit (dry air supply unit 21) that supplies dry air into the chamber, and a second flow rate control unit (secondary control unit) that controls the amount of dry air supplied into the chamber by the supply unit 21. A flow control unit 22). In addition, second flow rate detection means (second flow rate detection unit 23) for detecting the amount of dry air supplied into the chamber, and temperature detection means (temperature detection unit 25) for detecting the temperature in the chamber And have.

  It is to be noted that, as in the first and second embodiments, it is desirable that the discharge unit 17 is an ink jet method, and that the discharge unit 17 may be a bubble jet method or an ink jet method using a piezo element. Further, the point that it is desirable for the discharge unit 17 to generate a mist showing a monodisperse particle size distribution without generating satellites is the same as in the first and second embodiments, and the setting of the discharge speed for that is also the first embodiment. Same as 2.

  The discharge unit 17 is disposed downstream of the wet air supply unit 18 and upstream of the dry air supply unit 21. With this arrangement, the discharge unit 17 is always covered with moist air, and discharge failure caused by drying of the discharge unit is prevented.

  The amount of wet air supplied to the chamber 16 by the wet air supply unit 18 is detected by the first flow rate detection unit 20 and controlled by the first flow rate control unit 19. On the other hand, the amount of dry air supplied into the chamber 16 by the dry air supply unit 21 is detected by the second flow rate detection unit 23 and controlled by the second flow rate control unit 22.

  Note that the positional relationship between the first flow rate control unit 19 and the first flow rate detection unit 20 is not particularly limited as long as the supply amount of wet air into the chamber 16 can be controlled and detected. Similarly, if the supply amount of dry air into the chamber 16 can be controlled and detected, the positional relationship between the second flow rate control unit 22 and the second flow rate detection unit 23 is not particularly limited.

  The mist discharged from the discharge unit 17, the wet air supplied by the wet air supply unit 18, and the dry air supplied by the dry air supply unit 21 are mixed in the chamber 16. Also here, the water in the mist discharged from the discharge unit 17 starts to evaporate when mixed with dry air and wet air, and the vapor pressure of the mixed air becomes saturated vapor pressure due to the water evaporated from the mist. At that point, evaporation stops. Therefore, when the water vapor evaporates until the mist particle size reaches a predetermined particle size, the number concentration of the mist in the chamber 16 and the vapor pressure of the mixed gas are set so that the vapor pressure of the mixed gas becomes the saturated vapor pressure. By controlling, a mist having a predetermined particle diameter can be obtained.

  In order to control the mist particle size as described above, the time from when the mist starts to evaporate in the chamber 16 until the mist is discharged to the outside of the chamber 16 depends on the vapor pressure of the mixed air due to the evaporation of the mist. It must be longer than the time to reach saturated vapor pressure. In other words, the time required from when the mist is discharged from the discharge portion 17 to when the mist is discharged out of the chamber 16 is longer than the time required until the vapor pressure of the mixed air becomes the saturated vapor pressure due to moisture evaporation from the mist. It must be long.

  Therefore, in order to evaporate a predetermined amount of moisture, the number concentration of mist discharged from the discharge unit 17 and the amount of mixed air in the chamber 16 according to the temperature in the chamber 16 detected by the temperature detection unit 25. And are adjusted. This is because the amount of saturated water vapor varies with temperature, and the amount of liquid that can be dissolved as a gas in a certain state of air is determined by the humidity of the gas.

  The number density of mist can be controlled by changing the ejection frequency at the ejection section 17. It can also be controlled by changing the number of nozzles provided in the discharge section 17. The total amount of mist discharged (total discharge amount) can be controlled by the number of discharges.

  When the supply amounts of wet air and dry air into the chamber 17 are Aw [l / s], Ad [l / s], and the temperature of the mixed gas is T [° C.], the relative humidity H [% RH of the mixed gas] ]

となる。

It becomes.

In addition, the amount of mixed air A _unit [m ³ ] flowing per unit time is

であり、T[℃]での飽和水蒸気量をM[g/m³]とすると、A_unit中に気体として溶け込める水の量V[g]は、

When the saturated water vapor amount at T [° C.] is M [g / m ³ ], the amount of water V [g] that can be dissolved as a gas in A _unit is

となる。

It becomes.

Further, if the number of nozzles provided in the discharge unit 17 is N [pieces] and the discharge frequency is f [Hz], the number of mists discharged per unit time is Nf [pieces], and the mist particle size immediately after discharge is d. _{When 0} [m] and the target particle size is d '[m], the amount of water V' [g] to evaporate is

となる。

It becomes.

  In order to evaporate the mist with a desired amount of water, V = V ′ may be satisfied. That means

となるように、Aw、Ad、N、fを設定すればよい。

Aw, Ad, N, and f should be set so that

  The dry air is desirably adjusted in advance so that the humidity becomes 0% [RH]. However, if the humidity is known, outside air can be used as the dry air. Assuming that the humidity of the outside air is H ′ [% RH] and the supply amount of the outside air into the chamber 17 is Ad ′ [l / s], the relational expression in the above-described embodiment is revised. Humidity H [% RH] of the mixed air of humid air and outside air is

となり、以降前述と同様の考え方によって式（※３）の関係に至ることができる。

Then, the relationship of the formula (* 3) can be reached by the same idea as described above.

In the present embodiment, the humidity of the gas mixed with the mist is adjusted by mixing wet air and dry air. In addition, by devising the arrangement of the wet air supply unit 18 and the dry air supply unit 21, discharge failure due to drying of the discharge unit can be suppressed, and the discharge amount and concentration of mist can be accurately controlled.
(Embodiment 4)
So far, an example of an embodiment of the present invention has been described on the assumption that the main component of mist is water. Here, an example of an embodiment in which the main component generates mist other than water will be described with reference to FIG. In the mist generating apparatus of this example, the wet air supply unit 18 shown in FIG. 6 includes a volatile component contained in the mist discharged from the discharge unit 17, and the vapor pressure of the volatile component has already reached the saturated vapor pressure. It is replaced with a section (saturated air supply section) that supplies air (saturated air). Other configurations are the same as those described in the third embodiment.

  The supply amounts of saturated air and dry air supplied into the chamber 17 are Aw [l / s] and Ad [l / s], and the temperatures are saturated at temperature T [° C.] and temperature T [° C.], respectively. The vapor pressure is Ps, and the vapor pressure of the mixed gas is Pa. The vapor pressure ratio Pc at this time is

と定義する。

It is defined as

The amount of mixed air A _unit [m ³ ] flowing per unit time is

であり、T[℃]でのミスト主成分の飽和蒸気量をM[g/m³]とすると、A_unit中に気体として溶け込めるミスト主成分の量V[g]は、

When the saturated vapor amount of the mist main component at T [° C.] is M [g / m ³ ], the amount V [g] of the mist main component dissolved as a gas in A _unit is

となる。

It becomes.

Further, if the number of nozzles provided in the discharge unit 17 is N [pieces] and the discharge frequency is f [Hz], the number of mists discharged per unit time is Nf [pieces], and the mist particle size immediately after discharge is d. _{When 0} [m] and the target particle size is d ′ [m], the amount of vaporized mist main component V ′ [g] is

となる。

It becomes.

  In order to evaporate a desired amount of moisture from the mist, V = V ′ may be satisfied. That means

となるように、Aw、Ad、N、fを設定すればよい。

Aw, Ad, N, and f should be set so that

  In the present embodiment, the vapor pressure of the gas mixed with the mist is adjusted by mixing the dry air and the air in which the vapor pressure of the volatile component contained in the mist discharged from the discharge unit 17 reaches the saturated vapor pressure. Realized by. Further, by devising the arrangement of the saturated air supply unit and the dry air supply unit 21, discharge failure due to drying of the discharge unit can be suppressed, and the discharge amount and generated concentration of mist can be accurately controlled. However, it is also possible to adjust the vapor pressure of saturated air by mixing outside air and saturated air instead of dry air.

  Here, it has been confirmed by experiments that the moisture in the mist having a particle size of about 10 [μm] evaporates in several hundreds [msec] even in a high humidity environment where the environmental humidity is 80% [RH]. . That is, a mist having a particle size of several tens [μm] is reduced to a particle size of several μm within 1 [sec] at the longest.

  In order to evaporate a predetermined amount of water as described above, the number concentration of mist discharged from the discharge unit 17, saturated air, and dry air according to the temperature in the chamber 16 detected by the temperature detection unit 25. The mixing ratio and the total amount are adjusted.

  The number density of mist can be controlled by changing the ejection frequency at the ejection section 17. It can also be controlled by changing the number of nozzles provided in the discharge section 17. The total amount of mist discharged (total discharge amount) can be controlled by the number of discharges.

  The shape of the chamber 16 is cylindrical, and its diameter is 5 [cm]. Each supply amount of saturated air and dry air into the chamber 16 is 0.4 [l / s], 0.1 [l / s], and each humidity is 100% [RH], 0% [RH]. The temperature is 25 [° C]. The relative humidity of the mixed gas is 80% [RH].

The amount of mixed air flowing per unit time is 0.5 × 10 ⁻³ [m ³ ], and the saturated water vapor amount at 25 [° C.] is 23.1 [g / m ³ ], so the amount of water that can be dissolved as a gas V [g] is

となる。

It becomes.

  When the number of nozzles provided in the discharge unit 17 is 3000 [pieces] and the mist particle size immediately after discharge is 8 [μm], in order to obtain a mist with a particle size of 3 [μm], discharge is performed at a discharge frequency of 3032 [Hz] Just do it.

  In addition, the gas vapor pressure is saturated before the mist is discharged from the discharge port 24, and the change in the particle size due to the evaporation of moisture is stopped, so that the chamber 16 from the position of the dry air supply unit 21 to the discharge port 24 is stopped. The length may be at least 26 [cm] or more. Thereby, it is possible to earn a time of 1 [sec] or more until the mist starts to evaporate and is discharged from the discharge port 24.

  Desirably, the dry air is a gas that has been subjected to dehumidification treatment in advance. However, if the humidity is known and the humidity is lower than that of the saturated air, the outside air can be used as the dry air.

  In the present embodiment, humidity adjustment of the gas mixed with the mist is realized by mixing saturated air and dry air. In addition, by devising the arrangement of the saturated air supply unit and the dry air supply unit 21, discharge failure due to drying of the discharge unit can be suppressed, and the discharge amount and generated concentration of mist can be accurately controlled.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the mist generator which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. When discharging mist using an ink jet system, it is a mimetic diagram showing a mode that discharge speed is large and the discharged liquid is divided into a plurality of droplets. When discharging mist using an ink jet system, it is a mimetic diagram showing a mode that discharge speed is small and the discharged liquid is united. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the operation time of the mist generator which concerns on Embodiment 1, and the total mass of the generated mist. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the mist generator which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the mist generator which concerns on Embodiment 3, 4. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 9, 16 Chamber 2, 10, 17 Discharge unit 3 Outside air supply unit 4, 12, 19, 22 Flow rate control unit 5, 13, 20, 23 Flow rate detection unit 6, 14, 24 Discharge port 7, 15, 25 Temperature Detection unit 8 Humidity detection unit 11, 18 Wet air supply unit 21 Dry air supply unit

Claims (13)

A mist generating device that generates mist having a predetermined particle size in a chamber and discharges the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber,
Discharging means for discharging mist into the chamber;
Outside air supply means for supplying outside air into the chamber;
Humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity in the chamber;
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the chamber,
Both or one of the discharge amount of mist into the chamber by the discharge means and the supply amount of outside air into the chamber by the outside air supply means is based on the detection results of the humidity detection means and the temperature detection means. The mist generator characterized by being controlled. A mist generating device that generates mist having a predetermined particle size in a chamber and discharges the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber,
Discharging means for discharging mist into the chamber;
Air supply means for supplying humidity or air in which both humidity and temperature are adjusted into the chamber;
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the chamber,
Both or one of the discharge amount of the mist into the chamber by the discharge means and the supply amount of the air into the chamber by the air supply means is controlled based on the detection result of the temperature detection means. The mist generator characterized by the above-mentioned. A mist generating device that generates mist having a predetermined particle size in a chamber and discharges the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber,
Discharging means for discharging mist into the chamber;
Wet air supply means for supplying wet air into the chamber;
Dry air supply means for supplying dry air into the chamber;
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the chamber,
Either or one of the discharge amount of mist into the chamber by the discharge means and the supply amount of the wet air and the dry air into the chamber by the wet air supply means and the dry air supply means, A mist generator controlled based on a detection result of a temperature detection means.   The wet air supply means is arranged upstream of the discharge means in the supply direction of the wet air, and the dry air supply means is arranged downstream of the discharge means in the supply direction. Item 4. The mist generator according to item 3. A mist generating device that generates mist having a predetermined particle size in a chamber and discharges the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber,
Discharging means for discharging mist into the chamber;
Saturated air supply means for supplying air into the chamber in which the vapor pressure of a volatile component contained in the mist discharged from the discharge means is a saturated vapor pressure;
Outside air supply means for supplying outside air into the chamber;
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the chamber,
Both the discharge amount of mist into the chamber by the discharge means, the supply amount of the air into the chamber by the saturated air supply means, and the supply amount of the outside air into the chamber by the outside air supply means Or one is controlled based on the detection result of the said temperature detection means, The mist generator characterized by the above-mentioned.   6. The saturated air supply unit is disposed upstream of the discharge unit in the air supply direction, and the outside air supply unit is disposed downstream of the discharge unit in the supply direction. The mist generator as described.   The mist generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the discharge means discharges the mist by an ink jet method. A mist generating method for generating a mist having a predetermined particle size in a chamber and discharging the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber,
Discharging mist into the chamber and supplying outside air into the chamber to mix the mist and outside air in the chamber;
Detecting humidity in the chamber;
Detecting the temperature in the chamber,
A method of generating mist, comprising controlling both or one of a discharge amount of mist into the chamber and a supply amount of outside air into the chamber based on the detected humidity and temperature in the chamber. . A mist generating method for generating a mist having a predetermined particle size in a chamber and discharging the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber,
While discharging mist into the chamber, supplying humidity or air with adjusted humidity and temperature into the chamber, the mist and the air are mixed in the chamber,
Detecting the temperature in the chamber,
A method for generating mist, comprising controlling both or one of a discharge amount of mist into the chamber and a supply amount of air into the chamber based on the detected temperature in the chamber. A mist generating method for generating a mist having a predetermined particle size in a chamber and discharging the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber,
Discharging mist into the chamber and supplying wet air and dry air into the chamber to mix the mist, the wet air and the dry air in the chamber,
Detecting the temperature in the chamber,
Controlling both or one of the discharge amount of mist into the chamber and the supply amount of the wet air and the dry air into the chamber based on the detected temperature in the chamber, How to generate mist.   The method for generating mist according to claim 10, wherein the mist discharged into the chamber is mixed with the wet air and then mixed with the dry air. A mist generating method for generating a mist having a predetermined particle size in a chamber and discharging the generated mist from an outlet of the chamber,
The mist is discharged into the chamber, and air and outside air in which the vapor pressure of the volatile component contained in the mist is a saturated vapor pressure are supplied into the chamber, and the mist, the air, and the outside air are supplied. In the chamber,
Detecting the temperature in the chamber,
A mist that controls both or one of a discharge amount of mist into the chamber and a supply amount of the air and the outside air into the chamber based on the detected temperature in the chamber. How it occurs.   13. The mist generation method according to claim 12, wherein the mist discharged into the chamber is mixed with the air and then mixed with the outside air.

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