JP2009131734A - Electrostatic atomizer, and dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrostatic atomizer wherein need for applying a high voltage to its water-droplet supply means is eliminated to make its water-proofing easier, to make the electric insulation treatment between its water-droplet supply means and its discharge electrode unnecessary, to make a versatility in designing its discharge electrode and in arranging its water-droplet supply means greater, and to enable it to efficiently atomize water. <P>SOLUTION: The electrostatic atomizer 16 that atomizes water-droplets by virtue of an electric field formed between its electrodes 44 and 58 onto which a high voltage is applied, is characterized by comprising a water-droplet supply means 50 that is insulated from each of the electrodes 44, 58 and supplies water-droplets to a location disposed between the electrodes 44 and 58, and closer to the electrode 44. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer that refines water droplets by an electric field and a dryer using the electrostatic atomizer.

  The liquid is sucked up at the tip of the capillary structure by capillary action, and an electrostatic charge is imparted to the liquid, and droplets with this electrostatic charge are atomized from the tip of the capillary structure toward the counter electrode, resulting in a strong charge in nano size. An electrostatic atomization phenomenon that generates nano ions, which are mists having a mist, is known (Patent Documents 1 and 2). In Patent Document 1, a lower part of a capillary structure is immersed in a cartridge (tank) for storing liquid, and liquid is sucked up at the upper end of the capillary structure, while a high voltage is applied near the lower end of the capillary structure stored in the cartridge. It is shown that the capillary structure itself is used as an electrode (hereinafter also referred to as a discharge electrode). In this case, there are described a method of causing a droplet to jump here using a wall, ceiling, and floor of a room at ground potential as a counter electrode, and a method of providing an annular counter electrode.

  Patent Document 2 discloses that a Peltier element is used instead of a water tank that supplies water to a capillary structure (water transport unit) serving as a discharge electrode. That is, moisture (water vapor) in the air is condensed on the water supply part cooled by the Peltier element, and the condensed water is conveyed to the tip of the capillary structure. In addition, since it is necessary to supply a current to the Peltier element while applying a high voltage to the capillary structure (discharge electrode), it is necessary to consider electrical insulation between the Peltier element and the capillary structure. There is. In particular, since moisture is imparted to the capillary structure, it is necessary to improve waterproofness in order to reliably maintain the electrical insulation between the peripheral portion of the high-voltage capillary structure and the Peltier element.

  Patent Document 3 describes that such a Peltier element is waterproofed and the periphery of the Peltier element is sealed with a potting resin in order to prevent damage to the Peltier element due to thermal stress.

Japanese Patent No. 3260150 JP 2005-131549 A JP 2007-21371 A

  Since those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 suck water droplets at the tip of one electrode (discharge electrode) by capillary action, the structure of this electrode is a capillary structure, and its lower end is a water droplet supply means (liquid Tank, Peltier element). For this reason, there has been a problem that the degree of freedom of design of the discharge electrode and the degree of freedom of arrangement of the water droplet supply means are reduced.

  Further, in the case where the Peltier element is sealed with the potting resin disclosed in Patent Document 3, there is a possibility that the power supply wiring of the Peltier element may be short-circuited or broken due to the injection pressure of the potting resin, and the structure for preventing leakage of the potting resin There was a problem that became complicated. Furthermore, it is necessary to sandwich an electrical insulating material between the capillary structure (discharge electrode) to which a high voltage is applied and the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element. This electrical insulating material deteriorates heat transfer between the capillary structure and the Peltier element. There is also the problem of doing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, eliminates the need to apply a high voltage to the water droplet supply means, can simplify the waterproofing process, and provides an electrical connection between the water droplet supply means and the discharge electrode. It is a first object to provide an electrostatic atomizer capable of nebulizing water efficiently because insulation treatment is not required, the degree of freedom in design of the discharge electrode and the degree of freedom in arrangement of the water droplet supply means is increased. To do. A second object is to provide a dryer using the electrostatic atomizer.

  According to the present invention, a first object is an electrostatic atomizer that refines water droplets by an electric field formed between electrodes to which a high voltage is applied. This is achieved by an electrostatic atomizing device comprising water droplet supply means for supplying water droplets at a position close to the electrode.

  The same purpose is an electrostatic atomizer that refines water droplets by an electric field formed between electrodes to which a high voltage is applied, and is disposed at a position that is insulated from each electrode and has a small distance from one electrode. It is also achieved by an electrostatic atomizer characterized by comprising an installed conductor and water droplet supply means for supplying water droplets to the conductor.

  The second object is achieved by a dryer comprising the electrostatic atomizer according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

  Since the water drop supply means and one electrode (discharge electrode) close thereto are separately provided, it is not necessary to apply a high voltage to the water drop supply means. This simplifies waterproofing and insulation treatment of the discharge electrode. In addition, since the discharge electrode does not need to be a capillary structure, the degree of freedom in design increases, and the degree of freedom in arrangement of the water droplet supply means increases. When a Peltier element is used as the water droplet supply means, a process for insulating the Peltier element from the discharge electrode is unnecessary, and the water droplets can be efficiently condensed by effectively utilizing the heat absorbing action of the Peltier element.

  When a conductor is disposed between both electrodes and water drops are supplied to the conductor, the degree of freedom in design is further increased.

  According to this invention, it is thought that it is atomized and ionized as follows, for example. The water droplet supplied to a position near one electrode (discharge electrode) has a non-uniform distribution of charge in the water droplet due to the induced electric charge generated by the strong electric field formed between both electrodes, and the water droplet is pulled to both electrodes at both ends. It is done. The pulling force F at this time is proportional to the product of the electric charge and the electric field strength, and when this force F becomes larger than the surface tension of the water droplet, the water droplet is split (Rayleigh splitting, electrostatic atomization). Therefore, fine water droplets ionized in the opposite polarity to the discharge electrode are adsorbed on the discharge electrode. On the other hand, fine water droplets ionized to the polarity attracted by the counter electrode jump toward the counter electrode. If this counter electrode is a ring electrode, it passes through this ring electrode and is emitted to the outside.

  When a conductor is interposed between both electrodes, a discharge (corona discharge) occurs between the conductor and the discharge electrode approaching the conductor, and occurs between the other end of the conductor and the counter electrode. Due to the strong electric field, the water droplets supplied to the conductor are subjected to Rayleigh splitting and miniaturized. For this reason, fine water droplets charged (ionized) with a polarity opposite to that of the counter electrode are discharged to the outside. The ionized fine water droplets may be generated by other means.

  If one electrode (discharge electrode) that is close to the water droplet supplied from the water droplet supply means has a needle shape and the other electrode (counter electrode) has an annular shape, the electric field strength that can be generated at the tip of the discharge electrode becomes very large ( Claim 2). For this reason, water droplets are easily miniaturized, and efficiently ionized fine water droplets are released. When a conductor is interposed between the two electrodes, the electric field strength between the electrode and the needle-like discharge electrode close to one end of the electrode becomes large, and discharge becomes easy. For this reason, a high voltage is applied between the other end of the conductor and the counter electrode, and the water droplets are refined and ionized by this strong electric field (claim 4).

  The annular counter electrode is formed of a conductive flat plate having an opening, and the conductor can be shaped like a rod so that the vicinity of the tip of the electrode can face the vicinity of the center of the opening of the counter electrode. In this case, the arrangement of the counter electrode can be changed by changing the length and arrangement of the conductor, and the degree of freedom in design increases.

  The rod-shaped conductor is opposed to the needle-shaped discharge electrode except for its tip, and the tip faces the vicinity of the center of the annular counter electrode, thereby facilitating discharge between the tip of the discharge electrode and on the counter electrode side. Water droplets can be easily refined and ionized, and the degree of freedom of arrangement and design of each electrode and conductor can be increased. In this case, the same effect can be obtained by crossing the rod-shaped conductor with the discharge electrode and inclining the counter electrode serving as the counter electrode with respect to the conductor.

  If a fan that forms an air flow from the needle-like discharge electrode side toward the counter electrode is provided, ionized fine water droplets that have passed through the counter electrode can be efficiently discharged outside.

  The water droplet supply means can be formed of a Peltier element. In this case, the conductor is an upright bar fixed to the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element, and by cooling the upright bar, water vapor in the air can be condensed here. If this upright bar is placed with its tip facing downward, water droplets that condense here will flow smoothly to the lower end (tip) due to gravity, and the water droplets will be efficiently refined and ionized with the annular counter electrode facing this lower end. (Claim 10). Note that the upright bar may be erected upward or sideways. In this case, it is considered that the water droplets condensed on the upright rod are carried to the tip having a large electric field strength by the pulling force F acting on the water droplets, and are electrostatically atomized here.

  The water droplet supply means is not limited to the Peltier element, and may be one that supplies water droplets by other methods. For example, it is possible to supply water droplets to predetermined positions between the electrodes by capillary action (claim 11). In this case, water is sucked up from the water tank by the capillary structure, and the tip thereof is made to face a predetermined position close to the discharge electrode.

  The electrostatic atomizer of the present invention can be applied to various medical devices and beauty devices. For example, it can be applied to a dryer (claim 12). In this case, by using the discharge electrode as the cathode and the counter electrode as the anode, negatively ionized fine water droplets can be discharged, and the fine hair droplets can be applied to the hair to improve the hair styling effect. Note that if the polarities of the discharge electrode and the counter electrode are reversed, positively ionized fine water droplets can be discharged, and the fine water droplets ionized to the desired polarity may be used depending on the purpose of use.

  1 is a plan view of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing only the electrostatic atomizer, and FIG. Similarly, a sectional view taken along line IV-IV, and FIG. 5 is a bottom view. 6 is a side sectional view showing an enlarged main part, and FIG. 7 is a view taken along arrow VII in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this dryer 2, a grip 6 is foldably attached to a lower portion of a substantially cylindrical housing 4, and a main inlet 8 for outside air is formed at the rear end of the housing 4. A heated main air discharge port 10 is formed at the front end. As a result, a main air passage 12 is formed in the housing 4. The upper portion of the housing 4 bulges upward, and an electrostatic atomizer 16 (described later) is accommodated in the bulged portion 14.

  Inside the housing 4, a main fan 18 that sucks outside air into the housing 4 from the main suction port 8, a main motor (not shown) that is housed in the motor housing portion 20 and rotates and drives the main fan 18, The heater 22 etc. which are in the downstream and heat air are accommodated.

  A sub air flow path 24 parallel to the main air passage 12 in the housing 4 is formed inside the bulging portion 14, one end (rear end) thereof is a sub suction port 26, and the other end (front end) is a sub discharge port. 28. In the auxiliary air passage 24, there is a fan unit 34 in which an auxiliary fan 30 for sucking outside air from the auxiliary inlet 26 and an auxiliary motor 33 for driving the auxiliary fan 30 are integrated, and downstream of the auxiliary fan 30. An electrostatic atomizing unit 36 that generates ionized fine water droplets (nanoionic water droplets) is accommodated.

  In this embodiment, the electrostatic atomizer 16 is formed by a fan unit 34 and an electrostatic atomizer unit 36. The electrostatic atomizing unit 36 is assembled to a horizontal substrate 38 held on the inner wall of the sub air passage 24. A square opening 40 provided near the fan unit 34 and a Peltier element mounting seat 42 (FIG. 6) provided downstream of the air are formed on the substrate 38. A holder 46 for holding the discharge electrode 44 is fitted and fixed to the opening 40 from below. A needle-like discharge electrode 44 bent in a crank shape is fixed to the holder 46.

  With the holder 46 fixed to the substrate 38, the discharge electrode 44 extends in the downstream direction of the air along the lower surface of the substrate 38, and the other end extends to the upper surface of the substrate 38 so that high voltage wiring can be connected. The Peltier element mounting seat 42 is surrounded by a plurality of standing walls 48 standing on the upper surface of the substrate 38, and the Peltier element 50 mounted on the mounting seat 42 is positioned and fixed by these standing walls 48. The Peltier element 50 serves as a water droplet supply unit that condenses water vapor in the air and supplies water droplets.

  The Peltier element 50 has a heat radiating plate 52 on the upper surface serving as a heat radiating surface, and a metal bar-like conductor 54 stands downward at the center of the lower surface serving as the heat absorbing surface. The rod-shaped conductor 54 protrudes downward through a window 56 (FIG. 6) provided in the substrate 38. The tip of the needle-shaped discharge electrode 44 is close to the position other than the tip of the conductor 54, in this embodiment, near the center of the conductor 54, as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 58 denotes a metal conductor flat plate serving as a counter electrode. The conductor flat plate 58 is disposed on the lower surface of the substrate 38 at an angle of about 45 °, and the inside of the circular opening 60 provided in the conductor flat plate 58. The periphery is annular. The lower end of the conductor 54 faces downward near the center of the annular electrode (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

  The counter electrode 58 is fixed to a holder 62 shown in FIG. 6, and is attached by engaging the holder 62 with an engaging claw 64 (FIG. 5) protruding from the lower surface of the substrate 38. Here, the holder 62 holds the conductor flat plate 58 obliquely and opens in the air flow direction so that air passing through the opening 60 can pass through the holder 62.

  In FIG. 3, reference numeral 66 denotes a power source for the Peltier element 50, which is connected to electrical wirings 62 and 62 that are led out from the Peltier element 50 and fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 38. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 70 denotes a high-voltage power supply, in which the cathode is connected to the needle-like discharge electrode 44 and the anode is connected to the conductor flat plate 60 serving as the counter electrode.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the power is turned on by a switch provided on the handle 6, the main motor and the main heater 22 are activated, and the outside air is introduced into the main air passage 12, heated by the heater 22, and discharged from the main discharge port 10. Also, by the operation of the fan unit 34 in the sub air passage 24, outside air flows into the sub air passage 24 and flows along the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 38 of the electrostatic atomization unit 36. The air flowing on the upper surface of the substrate 38 cools the heat dissipation plate 52 of the Peltier element 50 and flows out from the sub discharge port 28.

  The air flowing along the lower surface of the substrate 38 flows from the discharge electrode 44 to the rod-shaped conductor 54 cooled by the Peltier element 50 and the opening 60 of the counter electrode 58, and then flows to the sub discharge port 28. The water vapor contained in the air flowing in from the outside is condensed by contacting the cooled conductor 54 and is condensed on the surface. This condensed water (condensed water) descends due to gravity and moves toward the lower end of the conductor 54.

  On the other hand, since a high voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 44 and the counter electrode 58, a strong electric field is generated in a narrow gap provided between the tip of the discharge electrode 44 and the counter electrode 58. In the conductor 54 in this electric field, an induced charge is generated between the position where the discharge electrode 44 faces and the tip which faces the counter electrode 58, and the discharge electrode 44 and the conductor 54 facing each other with a narrow gap are generated. Discharge (corona discharge) occurs between them. Therefore, a strong electric field is generated between the tip of the conductor 54 facing with a wide gap and the inner peripheral edge of the opening 60 of the counter electrode 58. This electric field is concentrated at the tip of the conductor 56, and the electric field density (electric field strength) is remarkably increased.

  As a result, water droplets present at the lower end of the conductor 54 are atomized, and fine water droplets that are negatively charged (ionized) jump toward the opening 60 of the counter electrode 58. The wind generated by the fan unit 34 carries the ionized fine water droplets from the sub discharge port 28 and is discharged together with the warm air discharged from the main discharge port 10. The other positively charged fine water droplets that have been split adhere to the tip of the conductor 54 and are neutralized, and are electrostatically atomized again.

  FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of another embodiment. In this embodiment, only water droplets are supplied without interposing a conductor between both electrodes. In this figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an air passage, and outside air is guided by a fan unit 106 including a fan 102 and a motor 104. An electrostatic atomizing unit 108 is disposed on the downstream side of the fan unit 106, and an electrostatic atomizing device 110 is formed by these units.

  The electrostatic atomizing unit 106 includes a needle-like discharge electrode 112 whose tip is directed in the direction of air flow, an annular counter electrode 114 positioned on the downstream side thereof, and between these electrodes 112 and 114. Water droplet supply means 116 for supplying water droplets to a position close to the discharge electrode 112 is provided. The water droplet supply means 116 has a water tank 118 and a capillary structure 120 that sucks up the water in the water tank 118 by a capillary phenomenon, and the upper end of the capillary structure 120 is close to the tip of the discharge electrode. . Reference numeral 122 denotes a high voltage power supply, the cathode of which is connected to the discharge electrode 112 and the anode of which is connected to the counter electrode 114.

  According to this embodiment, the electric field density (electric field strength) is remarkably increased at the tip of the needle-like electrode 112. For this reason, water droplets supplied from the upper end of the capillary structure 120 are atomized by a strong electric field, and fine water droplets ionized negatively are sent to the wind and discharged through the counter electrode 114.

The top view of the dryer which is one Example of this invention Similarly, a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. Similarly IV-IV sectional view Similarly rear perspective view Similarly bottom view Side sectional view with enlarged main part VII arrow view in FIG. Conceptual diagram showing another embodiment

Explanation of symbols

16, 110 Electrostatic atomizer 24 Sub-air passage 34, 106 Fan unit 36, 116 Electrostatic atomizer unit 38 Substrate 44, 112 Needle-shaped discharge electrode 50 Peltier element (water droplet supply means)
54 Conductors 58, 114 Counter electrode (conductor flat plate)
60 opening

Claims (12)

An electrostatic atomizer that refines water droplets by an electric field formed between electrodes to which a high voltage is applied,
An electrostatic atomizer characterized by comprising water droplet supply means which is insulated from each electrode and supplies water droplets to a position close to one of the electrodes.   2. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein one electrode is a needle-like discharge electrode, the other electrode is a counter electrode having an annular opening, and the water droplet supply means supplies water droplets to a position close to the discharge electrode. An electrostatic atomizer that refines water droplets by an electric field formed between electrodes to which a high voltage is applied,
An electrostatic atomizer comprising: a conductor that is insulated from each electrode and disposed at a position where a distance from one electrode is narrow; and a water droplet supply unit that supplies water droplets to the conductor.   4. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 3, wherein one electrode close to the conductor is a needle-like discharge electrode having a sharp tip, and the other electrode far from the conductor is a counter electrode having an annular opening.   5. The electrostatic atomization according to claim 4, wherein the annular counter electrode is formed of a conductor flat plate having an opening, the conductor is substantially rod-shaped, and the tip thereof faces the center of the opening of the conductor flat plate serving as the counter electrode. apparatus.   The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 5, wherein the rod-like conductor is opposed to the tip of the acicular discharge electrode except for the tip.   The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 6, wherein the rod-shaped conductor is disposed so as to cross the needle-shaped discharge electrode, and the conductive flat plate serving as the counter electrode is inclined with respect to the rod-shaped conductor.   The electrostatic atomizer in any one of Claim 2, 4-7 provided with the fan which forms the air flow which goes to a counter electrode from a discharge electrode.   The electrostatic atomizer according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the water droplet supply means is formed of a Bertier element, and a rod-like conductor is fixed to the heat absorbing surface of the Peltier element.   The rod-shaped conductor of the Peltier element stands downward, the other end of the Peltier element is close to the substantially horizontal needle-like discharge electrode, and the tip of the Peltier element faces the vicinity of the center of the annular counter electrode made of a conductive flat plate that is inclined. The electrostatic atomizer of Claim 9.   The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the water droplet supply means supplies water droplets by capillary action.   A dryer comprising the electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1.

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