JP2010142700A - Cleaning device, and cleaning method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem associated with a prior art cleaning device using cavitation caused by an ultrasonic oscillator or the like, that a cleaning effect is not attained and a long cleaning time is required. <P>SOLUTION: The cleaning device is characterized by including a cleaning chamber 12 that stores an object to be cleaned and a discharging means 16 that generates streamer discharge by applying a pulse power to a pair of electrodes disposed in the cleaning chamber 12, to clean an object 11 to be cleaned. In particular, by generating streamer discharge by applying a pulse power, a shock wave of a high pressure range can be generated, and contaminant components, bacteria, viruses and the like sticking to the object 11 to be cleaned are removed. Further, ozone can be generated by generating streamer discharge in water, and then the sterilizing capability of the cleaning device is improved and cleaning water can be cleaned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus capable of cleaning an object to be cleaned in a short time by applying a shock wave by applying a pulse power to generate a streamer discharge.

Conventionally, an object to be cleaned is cleaned by generating cavitation using an ultrasonic vibrator. For example, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the object to be cleaned 1, water, detergent, and the like are put into the cleaning chamber 2. In order to stir the water to be cleaned 1 and the water containing the detergent, a stirring means 3 is provided to give a mechanical action. Furthermore, a method has been proposed in which the ultrasonic vibrator 4 provided at the lower portion of the cleaning chamber 2 is operated by a power source 5 to generate cavitation to clean clothes.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-292191 JP-A-8-89684

  However, in the above-described Patent Documents 1 and 2, since ultrasonic waves hit air particles in the solution and bubbles are generated, there is a problem that cavitation is attenuated and the effect of ultrasonic waves is reduced. In particular, since clothing and the like contain a large amount of gas, there is a problem that impact force due to cavitation expected for ultrasonic waves is weak. Therefore, the subject that the cleaning effect by an ultrasonic wave was not acquired occurred. Further, in order to improve the cleaning effect, it has been necessary to lengthen the cleaning time by ultrasonic waves or to add a detergent.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus that uses a shock wave to perform cleaning for a short time and uses as little detergent as possible.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a cleaning chamber for storing an object to be cleaned and a discharge means for generating a streamer discharge by applying pulse power to two electrodes provided in the cleaning chamber are provided. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a cleaning object. In particular, by applying a pulse power to generate a streamer discharge, a shock wave in a high pressure range can be generated, so that dirt components, bacteria, viruses, and the like attached to the object to be cleaned are removed. Furthermore, since ozone can be generated by generating a streamer discharge in the water, the sterilization performance can be improved and the cleaning water can be purified.

  By adopting this configuration, cleaning time can be shortened and chemicals such as detergents need not be used as much as possible, so that energy saving and environmental load reduction can be realized.

  Furthermore, it becomes possible to purify cleaning performance, sterilization performance, and cleaning water with ozone.

  The cleaning apparatus of the present invention applies a pulse power to the two electrodes provided in the cleaning chamber to generate a streamer discharge to form a shock wave in a high pressure range, and uses the shock wave to shorten the cleaning time. It can be done with. Furthermore, not only dirt but also bacteria and microorganisms attached to the object to be cleaned can be sterilized and sterilized. Further, since it is not necessary to use chemicals such as detergent as much as possible, it becomes possible to realize energy saving and environmental load reduction.

  Further, when washing clothes as an object to be washed, since mechanical action such as stirring is not given, an effect of reducing damage to clothes can be obtained.

  Furthermore, since ozone can be generated in the water, further improvement in cleaning performance and sterilization performance can be achieved, and cleaning water can be purified, so that it can be used for reuse of cleaning water.

  In addition, since the cleaning device uses water, bacteria with high humidity may grow and mold and so on, but by applying pulse power to generate streamer discharge to form shock waves and ozone in a high pressure range. Since mold attached to the cleaning device can be sterilized and removed, a clean cleaning device can always be maintained.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, a shock wave is generated by providing a cleaning chamber for storing an object to be cleaned and a discharge means for generating a streamer discharge by applying pulse power to two electrodes provided in the cleaning chamber. By cleaning the object to be cleaned, the cleaning time can be reduced in a short time, and chemicals such as detergents need not be used as much as possible, so that energy saving and environmental load reduction can be realized.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in particular, the object to be cleaned is clothing, and water and clothing are provided in the cleaning room to generate a shock wave by generating a streamer discharge in the water. This makes it possible to use chemicals such as detergents as much as possible. Therefore, the washing | cleaning apparatus of the clothing which can save energy and reduce environmental impact is realizable. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to stir the clothes, the clothes are not damaged. Therefore, it becomes possible to wash wool and silk that cannot be washed in a washing machine.

  Furthermore, since ozone can be generated by generating streamer discharge in water, it can be further improved in cleaning performance and sterilization performance, and cleaning water can be purified. can do.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in particular, the washing ability of the garment can be improved by adding a surfactant to the water to wash the garment. In other words, streamer discharge is generated by pulse power to form a shock wave to remove dirt adhered to clothing, widen the distance between the woven fibers, and further to solve the twist of each fiber. Can do. For this reason, the surfactant or the like can easily penetrate into the fiber, and the dirt behind the fiber can be removed.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the object to be cleaned is water, and a streamer discharge is generated by pulse power to form a shock wave so that microorganisms such as bacteria and mold existing in the cleaning apparatus can be sterilized. It becomes possible to realize a clean cleaning device forever.

  In particular, the fifth invention is provided with a cleaning chamber for containing an object to be cleaned, and a discharge means for generating a streamer discharge by applying a pulse power to two electrodes provided in the cleaning chamber. This is a method that cleans the object to be cleaned by generating a shock wave by generating a streamer discharge with pulse power, and cleaning time can be shortened and chemicals such as detergents are used as much as possible. Therefore, energy saving and environmental load reduction can be realized.

In particular, the sixth invention is a method for cleaning clothes by using clothes to be cleaned, providing water and clothes in a cleaning chamber, and generating streamer discharge in water. By generating streamer discharge in water, shock waves are generated. By washing the garment, the garment can be washed in a short time and a chemical such as a detergent may be used as little as possible. Therefore, the washing | cleaning apparatus of the clothing which can save energy and reduce environmental impact is realizable. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to stir the clothes, the clothes are not damaged. Therefore, it becomes possible to wash wool and silk that cannot be washed in a washing machine. Furthermore, since ozone can be generated by generating streamer discharge in water, it can be further improved in cleaning performance and sterilization performance, and cleaning water can be purified. can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic structure of a cleaning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In this Embodiment 1, the washing | cleaning apparatus at the time of using clothes to be washed is shown.

  In FIG. 1, a cleaning chamber 12 for accommodating an object to be cleaned 11, a cylindrical ground electrode 13 provided in the cleaning chamber 11, and a high voltage electrode 14 placed on a cylindrical shaft are supplied from a pulse power source 15. Discharge means 16 for generating a streamer discharge by applying pulse power is provided. The diameter of the cylindrical electrode was 30 cm, and the voltage, current, and pulse width of the pulse power were 100 kV, 10 kA, and 1 μs, respectively. The cleaning chamber 12 is provided with clothes and water as the object to be cleaned 11. During the application of the pulse power, the area of the underwater streamer discharge formed by the discharge means 16 widened, and the speed at which the diameter of the discharge area increased was 4 cm / μs. In addition, the shock wave generated in the water increased with the number of times the pulse power was applied.

  For the evaluation of washing on clothes, the surface reflectance of the contaminated cloth before and after the shock wave load was measured with a color difference meter using a contaminated cloth adhered with mud dirt and an organic substance such as sebum.

  In the first embodiment, the evaluation was performed by changing the voltage from the pulse power supply 15 from 50 kV to 1000 kV. As a result, a change in reflectance of about 20 to 80 was recognized in all regions, and it was confirmed that there was a cleaning effect, and it was found that there was a high cleaning effect especially at 100 kV or higher. Furthermore, although the pulse width was also changed from 1 μs to 1 ns, the streamer discharge was generated more strongly as the pulse width became smaller, the shock wave pressure increased, and at the same time the cleaning effect was improved.

  Furthermore, by generating ozone by streamer discharge using pulse power, it consumes less power than normal corona discharge, less secondary generation of nitrogen oxides, and can further extend the life of the electrode. There is an effect. In addition, ozone has a strong oxidizing power and has the effect of oxidizing / decomposing, sterilizing, and deodorizing, so that it is possible to further improve the cleaning power of clothes. Further, since the cleaning water can be reused by purifying the cleaning water with ozone, a water saving effect can be obtained.

  Furthermore, the washing time can be shortened compared to conventional washing machines because it can be washed in a short time by shock waves generated by streamer discharge by pulse power without always giving mechanical action such as stirring like a washing machine. As well as being able to save energy.

  Further, when a detergent such as a surfactant was added to the cleaning chamber 12 in order to further improve the cleaning ability, a cleaning effect about 1.2 to 1.5 times that of the case where no detergent was added was confirmed.

This removes dirt adhering to the garment by generating a shock wave by generating a streamer discharge with pulse power, widens the distance between the woven fibers, and further untwists the fibers one by one be able to. For this reason, it is considered that the surfactant or the like is likely to soak into the fiber, the dirt behind the fiber is lifted by the surfactant activator, and the lifted dirt is efficiently removed by the shock wave.

  In addition, foam is generated by the detergent with stirring in the conventional washing machine. However, since the cleaning apparatus of the present embodiment does not stir, the generation of foam by the detergent can be suppressed. Even if bubbles are generated by the movement, the clothes are degassed by the shock wave generated by the streamer discharge, and the bubbles disappear, so that the clothes can be easily rinsed.

  Furthermore, since it is not stirred, the pain of clothing can be reduced.

  In addition, neutral detergents that are gentle on clothes as detergents and ingredients that suppress the rise of fiber scales such as wool, such as wool and silk that cannot be washed in a normal washing machine by adding silicon or softening agents. Can also be cleaned.

  Even when no detergent is added, since it is not necessary to stir at the time of washing, the fibers are not entangled, and, for example, the wool scales are not entangled, so that the washing is possible.

  When wool was washed with a conventional washing machine as shown in FIG. 3, shrinkage occurred about 10 to 30%, but no shrinkage occurred in the cleaning device of the present embodiment. Further, when a softening agent such as a neutral detergent and silicone was added, shrinkage did not occur and the touch was good.

  As described above, the cleaning apparatus according to the present embodiment can perform cleaning in a short time by shock waves without always applying mechanical action such as stirring as in a washing machine, so that the cleaning time can be greatly shortened and the energy saving effect can be obtained. Can be obtained, and the damage to the clothes can be reduced, and even clothes that could not be washed by a washing machine can be easily washed.

  In addition, this cleaning apparatus not only removes dirt on clothes, but also has an effect of sterilizing and removing bacteria attached to the clothes. This is thought to be because the cell wall of bacteria attached to the clothes can be destroyed by applying a shock wave, so that the bacteria can be sterilized and the bacteria can be detached from the clothes.

  Furthermore, this cleaning device can sterilize and remove bacteria such as molds attached to the cleaning device as well as bacteria attached to the clothing. That is, the cleaning device often uses water and the humidity is high, so that bacteria such as mold often adhere to the cleaning chamber 12 or the cleaning device. However, by applying a shock wave with streamer discharge by pulse power at the time of cleaning, the shock wave is propagated not only to clothing but also to the wall surface of the cleaning chamber 12 and so on, so that mold attached to the cleaning chamber 12 is sterilized and removed. Is possible. For this reason, the cleaning device can always be kept clean.

  Further, the cleaning chamber 12 may be provided with a liquid such as water as the object to be cleaned 2 instead of clothes, and a shock wave may be applied to peel and remove bacteria in the cleaning apparatus.

  In the present embodiment, a large-capacity streamer-like discharge can be generated even if a flat plate electrode as shown in FIG. 2 is used instead of the cylindrical electrode. Therefore, not only the cylindrical electrode used in the present embodiment but also a similar cleaning effect can be obtained if streamer discharge can be generated.

  This is not a limitation.

  Although the cleaning device has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the washing room 12 may be provided with a drainage and dehydration mechanism to add a function of dehydrating clothes to form a washing machine. Furthermore, the same effect can be obtained even if a heating means or a drying means for blowing dry air is provided in the cleaning chamber 12 to provide washing, dehydration and drying functions for clothes and form a washing / drying machine.

  As described above, the power generation device according to the present invention can generate shock waves and ozone in a high pressure range by applying pulse power and generating streamer discharge, and thus can improve sterilization performance. The cleaning water can be purified. In addition, since there is no need for detergents or agitation during washing, it can be used in a wide range of fields such as clothes washing, washing machines, dishwashers, washing equipment such as sterilizers and electronic parts, home appliances, and industrial washing equipment. It can be applied as a cleaning device.

Schematic showing the schematic structure of the washing | cleaning apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Schematic showing the schematic structure of the other washing | cleaning apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Schematic showing the schematic structure of a conventional cleaning device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 To-be-cleaned object 12 Cleaning room 13 Ground electrode 14 High voltage electrode 15 Pulse power supply 16 Discharge means

Claims (6)

A cleaning chamber for storing an object to be cleaned, and a discharge means for generating a streamer discharge by applying pulse power to two electrodes provided in the cleaning chamber to clean the object to be cleaned Cleaning device. The object to be cleaned is clothing, water and clothing are provided in the cleaning chamber, pulse power is applied to the two electrodes provided in the cleaning chamber, and streamers are discharged in the water to wash the clothing. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1. The washing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the clothes are washed by adding a surfactant to water. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object to be cleaned is water, and microorganisms such as bacteria and mold existing in the cleaning apparatus are sterilized. A cleaning chamber for storing an object to be cleaned, and a discharge means for generating a streamer discharge by applying pulse power to two electrodes provided in the cleaning chamber to clean the object to be cleaned Cleaning method. 6. The cleaning method according to claim 5, wherein the object to be cleaned is clothes, and water and clothes are provided in the cleaning chamber to generate streamer discharge in the water to clean the clothes.

Images