JP2009295359A - Ion generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion generating device capable of superbly carrying out the deodorization and sterilization of a space even if relative humidity is low. <P>SOLUTION: The ion generating device provided with an ion generating means generating ions and a humidity determination means determining the humidity state of a space is further provided with a low-temperature control means for generating more ions than those in a high-humidity state in the case that the humidity determination means determines that the space is in a low-humidity state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generator that generates a plasma cluster for sterilizing and deodorizing a space, particularly a vehicle interior.

When the ion generator is formed in a passage through the heat exchanger on the indoor side of the air conditioner, if the ion generator is operated in a high humidity state and positive ions and negative ions are generated, the amount of ions is reduced. There was a problem that almost never occurred. In order to solve this, the ion generator and the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1 apply a voltage to an ion generating element having an electrode to generate H ⁺ (H ₂ O) _n (n is a natural number) as positive ions. ) And a negative ion O ₂ ⁻ (H ₂ O) _m (where m is a natural number), an ion generator comprising a steel, and by providing a heating means for heating the ion generating element, the electrode The relative humidity in the vicinity of is reduced.

  An ion generator and an air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 2 include an ion generator that generates ions, a temperature sensor that detects temperature, a humidity sensor that detects humidity, and a temperature result detected by the temperature sensor. And a control unit that controls the ion generator based on the humidity detection result detected by the humidity sensor to generate a larger amount of ions than during normal operation. In particular, the indoor state detected by the temperature / humidity detection means is in a predetermined state, specifically, a state in which mold is likely to occur or a state in which viruses are likely to propagate, for example, a high temperature, high humidity, and a dirty room. In such a case, a large amount of ions are generated. Further, this ion generating means generates positive ions and negative ions.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a parameter that depends on the output of a gas sensor between a clean operation mode in which positive and negative ion particles are generated by plasma discharge and a refresh operation mode in which the generation ratio of negative ion ions is increased as compared with this mode. The vehicle air cleaning device that can be switched based on the above is disclosed. In this device, it is determined whether the air in the passenger compartment is in a “clean” state or a “dirty” state based on the ratio (gas sensor ratio) between the control gas sensor calculation value and the reference value, and the ion generator Is operated in a refresh mode or a clean mode.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a needle-like electrode that generates positive ions by applying a positive voltage, a needle-like negative electrode that generates negative ions by applying a negative voltage, and applying a positive voltage to the needle-like positive electrode. Disclosed are an air purifier having a voltage applying means for alternately and periodically applying a negative voltage to a needle-like negative electrode, and an air purifier equipped with the same.

In Patent Document 5, a mesh-like first electrode embedded in a glass plate and a mesh-like second electrode provided on the surface of the glass plate are opposed to each other, and between the first and second electrodes, An ion generator configured to generate positive ions and negative ions by applying an AC voltage, an air cleaner equipped with the ion generator, and an air conditioner are disclosed.
JP 2003-123939 A JP-A-2005-30585 JP-A-2005-75234 JP 2005-243288 A JP 2002-65838 A

As disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, in contrast to the conventional ion generator that generates only negative ions, in the ion generator that generates positive ions and negative ions at the same time, a peroxidation that is an active species by chemical reaction Hydrogen H ₂ O ₂ or hydroxyl radical / OH is generated, and these extremely powerful activities can remove airborne bacteria and microorganisms in the air.

  As shown in Patent Document 1, it has been pointed out that when the ion generator is operated in a high humidity state, there is a problem that the amount of ions is reduced or almost no longer occurs. Thus, it has been pointed out that in the ion generator itself, the amount of ion generation increases as the humidity decreases.

  However, with respect to the generated ions, when the relationship between the ion residual ratio and time when the relative humidity is low (40% RH) and when the relative humidity is high (70% RH) is measured, for example, as shown in FIG. In the case of 70% humidity, it took 1.3 seconds to drop to a residual ion rate of 50%, whereas in the case of 40% relative humidity, it was 0.9 seconds. As described above, it was found that the higher the humidity, the longer the time for the ions to exist, and conversely the neutralization immediately occurs in the low humidity environment, which is not effective for sterilization and deodorization.

  For this reason, this invention is providing the ion generator which can perform the deodorization and sterilization of space satisfactorily, even when relative humidity is low.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an ion generating apparatus including an ion generating unit that generates ions and a humidity determining unit that determines a humidity state of the space, wherein the humidity determining unit has a low humidity state in the space. When it is determined that this is the case, there is provided a low humidity control means for generating a larger number of ions than in the high humidity state.

  The ion generating means is preferably installed in a vehicle air conditioner, and the space is preferably a passenger compartment.

  Further, the ion generating means is started simultaneously with the start of the operation of the vehicle air conditioner, and the normal control means for stopping the ion generating means simultaneously with the stop of the operation of the vehicle air conditioner, and the operation of the vehicle air conditioner is stopped. After that, it is desirable to provide air-conditioning sterilization means for operating the ion generation means for a predetermined time at the same time as closing all the air outlets of the vehicle air conditioner.

  Furthermore, it is desirable that the ion generating means generate positive ions and negative ions.

  In addition, the humidity determination unit preferably includes a humidity sensor that detects the relative humidity of the space, but may be a humidity state determination unit that determines a humidity state from an operating state of the vehicle air conditioner. .

  According to the present invention, when the humidity determination means determines that the humidity state of the space is a low humidity state, it can generate a larger number of ions than when it is in a high humidity state. It is possible to sterilize even during the season, and more effective air purification for passengers.

  In addition, according to the present invention, sufficient ions can be generated even when the relative humidity is low even when disinfecting and deodorizing the air conditioner for a predetermined time after the vehicle air conditioner is stopped. is there.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The ion generator 1 which concerns on this invention is provided in the vehicle air conditioner 2 as shown, for example in FIG. This vehicle air conditioner 2 is, for example, a vertical center-placed type air conditioner mounted on a center console portion of a vehicle, for sucking outside air or room air with a blower (not shown) and blowing it into the vehicle interior 3. Thus, an evaporator 6 for cooling, a heater core 7 for heating, an air mix door 8 for adjusting the amount of air passing through the heater core 7 on the air flow path 5 defined by the air conditioning case 4, and the evaporator 6. An air filter 9 is provided on the upstream side. Further, on the downstream side of the air flow path 5, a foot air outlet 10 that is opened and closed by a foot door 14, a vent air outlet 11 that is opened and closed by a vent door 15, and a differential air outlet 12 that is opened and closed by a differential door 16 are opened. .

  The ion generator 1 according to the present invention is provided on the downstream side of the evaporator 6. As the ion generator 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, a high-voltage AC voltage is applied from a high-voltage AC power source 23 to a pair of electrodes 21 and 22 provided so as to sandwich a ceramic plate 20. It is desirable to use an AC discharge type that generates clusters having positive ions and clusters having negative ions alternately from each electrode by generating plasma discharge on the plate 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), it has a needle-like anode discharge electrode 25 rectified by a diode 24 with respect to an AC power source and a needle-like cathode discharge electrode 27 rectified by a diode 26, each of which has It may be a type that discharges to the metal mesh electrode 28 to generate clusters having positive ions and clusters having negative ions.

  The ion generator 1 as described above is desirably controlled as part of the air conditioning control by the control unit (C / U) 40 that performs the air conditioning control. The control unit 40 includes a temperature setting unit 31 including a temperature setting switch for the air conditioner, a mode setting unit 32 including a switch for setting a blow-out mode of the air conditioner, and a temperature detection including a sensor for detecting the temperature of the passenger compartment and outside air. At least signals from the means 33 and humidity detecting means 34 comprising a sensor for detecting the humidity in the passenger compartment, and an engine control unit (ECU) 30 for controlling the traveling engine are input. The door 8, the differential door 16, the vent door 15, the foot door 14 and the blower 19 are controlled, and further, the ion generator 1 is controlled.

  With the above configuration, the control of the ion generator 1 is, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. This flowchart is started from step 100 when an ignition (not shown) is turned on (power ON). The signal is received from the ECU 30. In step 110, it is determined whether or not a traveling engine (not shown) has been started (ENGINE ON). If the traveling engine has not been started (N), this determination is repeated. When it is determined in step 110 that the traveling engine has been started (Y), the routine proceeds to step 120, where it is determined whether or not the air conditioner (AC) 2 has been started. This determination is repeated. If the start of the air conditioner 2 is determined in the determination of step 120 (Y), the process proceeds to step 130 and the ion generator 1 starts to start.

  The operation of the ion generator 1 is continued until it is determined in step 140 that the air conditioner is stopped (AC OFF). If it is determined that the air conditioner 2 is stopped, the process proceeds to step 150 and the ion generator 1 is operated. Stop operation.

  Furthermore, if it is determined in step 160 that the traveling engine is stopped (ENGINE OFF), the power source is switched from the traveling engine generator to the battery power source in step 170, and in step 180, the differential door 16, the vent door 15, The foot doors 14 are actuated to close the respective outlets 10, 11, and 12. In step 190, the air mix door 8 is fully cooled (FC) to close the passage leading to the heater core 7, and ions are generated in step 200. When the apparatus 1 is operated and the operation time ts of the blower 19 is less than the predetermined time to in the determination of Step 200 (Y), the operation is continued, and the operation time ts reaches the predetermined time to (N) In step 220, the ion generator 1 and the blower 19 are stopped. In step 230, the process returns to step 100.

  As described above, in addition to the normal control of the ion generator 1, the air conditioner 2 operates the ion generator 1 with the air conditioner sealed for a predetermined time after the engine is stopped. Deodorization and sterilization can be executed.

  Moreover, the ion control of the said ion generator 1 is shown, for example in the flowchart figure of FIG. When the operation of the ion generator 1 is started, control is started from step 300, and in step 310, the relative humidity Hrd is determined from the humidity signal detected by the humidity detector 34 and / or the temperature detected by the temperature detector 33. Is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the relative humidity Hrd calculated in step 320 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold Hs (Hrd <Hs?). In this determination, if the relative humidity Hrd is equal to or greater than the predetermined value Hs (N), the routine proceeds to step 340, where normal ion control is performed to discharge at a normal voltage. In the determination of step 320, the relative humidity Hrd is When it is determined that the value is lower than the predetermined value Hs (Y), high ion concentration control is executed so as to increase the amount of ions generated by increasing the AC voltage supplied to the ion generator 1 by a predetermined value. Is.

  As a result, when the relative humidity in the passenger compartment 3 is low, control is performed to increase the amount of ions, so that the amount of remaining ions can be maintained, and sterilization and deodorization can be performed efficiently.

  When the vehicle air conditioner 2 is in an operating state, instead of calculating the relative humidity in step 310 and determining the relative humidity in step 320, the air conditioning mode is read and the air conditioning mode is the cooling mode. May determine that the humidity of the air passing through the ion generator 1 has decreased, and proceed to step 330 to execute high ion concentration control.

It is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle air conditioner provided with the ion generator which concerns on this invention. (A) shows an example of an AC high voltage type ion generator, and (b) shows an example of an ion generator having a needle electrode. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the control apparatus of an air conditioner. It is the flowchart figure which showed the example of control of the ion generator. It is the flowchart figure which showed an example of ion control. It is a characteristic diagram which showed the relationship between the ion residual rate and time when relative humidity is high and low.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ion generator 2 Vehicle air conditioner 3 Car interior 4 Air conditioning case 5 Air flow path 6 Evaporator 7 Heater core 8 Air mix door 9 Air filter 10 Foot blower outlet 11 Vent blower outlet 12 Differential blower outlet 14 Foot door 15 Vent door 16 Differential door 20 Ceramic Plate 21, 22 Electrode 23 AC high voltage power supply 24, 26 Diode 25 Needle-like anode discharge electrode 27 Needle-like cathode discharge electrode 28 Wire mesh electrode

Claims (6)

In an ion generator comprising ion generating means for generating ions and humidity determining means for determining the humidity state of the space,
When the humidity determination unit determines that the humidity state of the space is a low humidity state, the humidity determination unit includes a low humidity control unit that generates a larger number of ions than in a high humidity state. Ion generator.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the ion generator is installed in a vehicle air conditioner, and the space is a passenger compartment. Normal control means for starting the ion generating means simultaneously with the start of the operation of the vehicle air conditioner, and stopping the ion generating means simultaneously with the stop of the operation of the vehicle air conditioner;
3. The air conditioning sterilization means for operating the ion generating means for a predetermined time at the same time as closing all the air outlets of the vehicle air conditioning apparatus after the operation of the vehicle air conditioning apparatus is stopped. Ion generator.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein the ion generation unit generates positive ions and negative ions.   The ion generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidity determination unit includes a humidity sensor that detects a relative humidity of the space. The ion generation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the humidity determination unit is a humidity state determination unit that determines a humidity state from an operation state of the vehicle air conditioner.

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