JP2011214731A - Cleaning method of heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning method of a heat exchanger capable of being executed with the small consumption of a chemical by simple and inexpensive equipment.SOLUTION: In the method of cleaning the heat exchanger 3 disposed in an air conditioner 1, a cleaning liquid is supplied to an ultrasonic humidifier 20 disposed near the heat exchanger 3 in the air conditioner 1 to generate the mist of the cleaning liquid while stopping air distribution, so that the heat exchanger 3 is cleaned by attaching the mist of the cleaning liquid to the heat exchanger 3. By attaching and condensing the mist of the cleaning liquid on a surface of the heat exchanger 3, the surface of the heat exchanger can be cleaned. Furthermore, by supplying the cleaning liquid to the ultrasonic humidifier 20, a vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 can be cleaned.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a heat exchanger provided in an air conditioner.

  A heat exchanger is provided inside the air conditioner, and air whose temperature is adjusted by the heat exchanger in the air conditioner is blown into the room. As described above, since the air taken in from the outside or the room passes through the heat exchanger, dirt such as dust tends to adhere to the heat exchanger. Especially in the dehumidifying season in summer, the environment becomes a high humidity environment, so the heat exchanger becomes a good propagation environment for microorganisms. According to Non-Patent Document 1, it is said that unless properly maintained and managed by cleaning or the like, microorganisms grown on the surface of the heat exchanger are scattered, which may be a source of contamination of indoor floating microorganisms.

  An increase in indoor airborne microbe concentration may increase the risk of opportunistic infection in susceptible patients. In food factories, it can also cause product contamination. Therefore, in order to suppress the growth of microorganisms on the heat exchanger for air conditioning and the inner surface of the air conditioner, it is desirable to perform maintenance management such as periodic cleaning, disinfection and sterilization thereof.

  As a method for disinfecting and sterilizing a heat exchanger for air conditioning, there is a method for disinfecting and sterilizing a heat exchanger by injecting a cleaning fluid containing a disinfectant (Patent Document 1). In addition, the heat exchanger is washed / sanitized by spraying ozone water with a spray nozzle (Patent Document 2) or discharging water having a sterilizing function such as electrolyzed water from the nozzle at the top of the heat exchanger. A method (Patent Document 3) is known.

JP 2003-172594 A JP-A-8-320196 JP 2008-215707 A

Yanagi, Ikeda: Study on actual conditions and countermeasures of microbial contamination in air conditioning systems 1st report-Microbiological growth environment and actual conditions, Journal of Architectural Institute of Japan, No.593, 49-56 (2005)

  However, the method of Patent Document 1 has a problem that a large amount of chemical liquid is injected and consumed so that the chemical liquid spreads over the entire surface of the heat exchanger, and the injection sound of the chemical liquid is a noise in the case of an air conditioner in a hospital room system. There is a problem of becoming. Moreover, the method of patent document 2 and patent document 3 needs to equip those functional water production | generation apparatuses, and there exists a fault that an installation cost becomes high.

  On the other hand, in the conventional ultrasonic humidifier, if the vibrator water tank is not periodically cleaned, the water in the water tank is significantly contaminated with microorganisms, and it is carried indoors together with the humidifying mist, and the indoor air is contaminated with microorganisms. There is a problem.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this point, and it aims at providing the washing | cleaning method of the heat exchanger which can be performed with a small amount of chemical | medical solution consumption with a simple and cheap installation.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning a heat exchanger provided in an air conditioner, which is provided in the vicinity of the heat exchanger in the air conditioner in a state where blowing is stopped. A cleaning method for a heat exchanger is provided, wherein the cleaning liquid is supplied to an ultrasonic humidifier to generate a mist of the cleaning liquid, and the mist of the cleaning liquid is attached to the heat exchanger to clean the heat exchanger. The In addition, the term “cleaning” as used in the present invention includes a case where the heat exchanger is sterilized and disinfected as well as a clean state of the heat exchanger.

  In this cleaning method, the heat exchanger may be cleaned with a damper provided on the upstream side or downstream side of the air conditioner closed. Moreover, you may wash | clean a heat exchanger in the state which supplied the heat medium for cooling to the heat exchanger. In addition, the cleaning water supply source is connected to the vibratory water tank of the ultrasonic humidifier, the damper provided upstream or downstream of the air conditioner is closed, and the fan provided in the air conditioner is stopped. A vibrator built in the sonic humidifier may be operated.

  Further, the cleaning liquid may be two kinds of cleaning chemical liquid and disinfecting chemical liquid. In this case, after cleaning the heat exchanger by adhering the mist of the cleaning chemical to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger may be disinfected by attaching the mist of the disinfecting chemical to the heat exchanger. Further, after disinfecting the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger may be further diluted and washed with water. The cleaning chemical solution is, for example, an aqueous sodium carbonate solution. Further, the disinfectant chemical solution is, for example, any one of an aqueous benzalkonium chloride solution, an aqueous benzethonium chloride solution, an aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate solution, and an aqueous sodium carbonate solution.

  According to the present invention, the heat exchanger surface can be cleaned by adhering and condensing the mist of the cleaning liquid on the surface of the heat exchanger. In this case, as a cleaning liquid, by using two kinds of cleaning chemical liquid consisting of a sodium carbonate aqueous solution and a disinfecting chemical liquid consisting of either a benzalkonium chloride aqueous solution, a benzethonium chloride aqueous solution, a chlorhexidine gluconate aqueous solution, or a sodium carbonate aqueous solution The surface of the heat exchanger can be satisfactorily sterilized. Moreover, the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier can be cleaned by supplying the cleaning liquid to the ultrasonic humidifier. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a safe air-conditioning environment free from microbial contamination by suppressing microbial growth on the surface of the heat exchanger with simple and inexpensive equipment and a small amount of chemical solution consumption.

It is explanatory drawing of the air conditioner for enforcing the washing | cleaning method concerning this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of an ultrasonic humidifier. It is explanatory drawing of the air conditioner which installed the nozzle in the downstream upper part of the heat exchanger. It is explanatory drawing of the air conditioner which installed the nozzle in both the upper upstream of a heat exchanger, and downstream upper. It is explanatory drawing of the air conditioner which installed the nozzle above the heat exchanger.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a filter 2, a heat exchanger 3, and a fan 4 are provided inside the air conditioner 1. An air supply duct 11 having a damper 10 and a blower duct 13 having a damper 12 are connected before and after the air conditioner 1. The heat exchanger 3 is supplied with a heated or cooled heat medium. By opening the damper 10 and the damper 12 and operating the fan 4, air is taken into the air conditioner 1 through the air supply duct 11, and the air filtered and temperature-adjusted in the air conditioner 1 is air-conditioned through the air duct 13. Air is supplied to a space (not shown). The air-conditioned space is, for example, a factory, a warehouse, an office, a computer room, a guest room, a banquet hall, a game hall, a printing room, a hospital room, a toilet, a kitchen, and the like.

  Inside the air conditioner 1, a nozzle 21 of an ultrasonic humidifier 20 is provided in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 3. The ultrasonic humidifier 20 blows out mist generated in a vibrator water tank provided therein from a nozzle 21. Inside the ultrasonic humidifier 20, a blower for blowing out mist is also incorporated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 has a slit shape and can spray mist over the entire width of the heat exchanger 3. The ultrasonic humidifier 20 is connected to a water supply source 22, a cleaning chemical solution supply source 23, and a disinfecting chemical solution supply source 24. The ultrasonic humidifier is connected to these supply sources 22, 23, and 24. 20 can be supplied by switching water, cleaning chemicals, and disinfecting chemicals.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is disposed on the upper upstream side of the heat exchanger 3, and mist-like water, cleaning chemicals, and disinfecting chemicals blown out from the nozzles 21. Is attached and aggregated on the upper upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 and then flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3. A drain pan 25 is disposed below the heat exchanger 3. Water, a cleaning chemical solution, and a disinfecting chemical solution that have flowed down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3 are received by the drain pan 25 and collected.

  It is desirable that the cleaning chemical solution and the disinfecting chemical solution are substances having low volatility or components having low toxicity to the human body even if volatilized. As the cleaning chemical, for example, an aqueous sodium carbonate solution can be used. In addition, as the disinfectant chemical solution, for example, any of a benzalkonium chloride aqueous solution, a benzethonium chloride aqueous solution, and a chlorhexidine gluconate aqueous solution can be used. These disinfectant chemicals are widely used in the medical field for disinfecting various sites ranging from the environment, instruments, skin, and wound sites, are inexpensive drugs, and the components themselves hardly volatilize. Moreover, these are generally used as an aqueous solution having a concentration of several percent or less, and are preferably used within the range.

  When the air conditioner 1 performs a cooling operation in summer, for example, the heat exchanger 3 is supplied with a cooled heat medium (refrigerant). In this case, for example, cold water is used as the heat medium. When the damper 10 and the damper 12 are opened and the fan 4 is operated, air is taken into the air conditioner 1 through the air supply duct 11, filtered by the filter 2 in the air conditioner 1, and cooled by the heat exchanger 3. The air thus supplied is supplied to an air-conditioned space (not shown) through the blower duct 13.

  Thus, for example, in the summer season, the cooling operation for the air-conditioned space is performed. Further, during the cooling operation, moisture in the air is condensed and removed by the heat exchanger 3, and the dehumidified air is supplied to the air-conditioned space. The moisture condensed and removed by the heat exchanger 3 flows down the surface of the heat exchanger 3 and is received by the drain pan 25 and collected.

  On the other hand, when the cooling operation is performed in this way, dirt such as dust adheres to the surface of the heat exchanger 3 as the operation time elapses. Further, during the cooling operation, a high humidity environment is obtained by dehumidification. The surface of the vessel 3 is a good breeding environment for microorganisms. Therefore, the heat exchanger 3 is periodically cleaned by the following procedure.

  That is, when the cleaning method for the heat exchanger 3 is performed, first, the fan 4 is stopped to stop the blowing, and the damper 10 and the damper 12 are closed. On the other hand, for example, cold water is continuously supplied to the heat exchanger 3 as a cooling heat medium (refrigerant). Then, a cleaning chemical such as an aqueous sodium carbonate solution is supplied to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 from the cleaning chemical supply source 23 while cooling the heat exchanger 3. In this way, the cleaning chemical solution is made mist by the ultrasonic humidifier 20, and the mist cleaning chemical solution is sprayed from the nozzle 21 over the entire width above the heat exchanger 3.

  The mist-like cleaning chemical solution blown out from the nozzle 21 adheres and aggregates on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 and then flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3. In this case, since the heat exchanger 3 is cooled by the cooling heat medium, the mist-like cleaning chemical liquid blown from the nozzle 21 can be efficiently adhered and aggregated on the surface of the heat exchanger 3. Then, the adhering and aggregating cleaning chemical solution flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3, whereby the entire front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is cleaned with the cleaning chemical solution. And the chemical | medical solution for washing | cleaning which flowed down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is received by the drain pan 25, and is collect | recovered.

  When the cleaning with the cleaning chemical solution is completed, the supply of the cleaning chemical solution from the supply source 23 and the operation of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 are stopped. Then, the cleaning chemical remaining in the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is discharged.

  Next, a disinfecting chemical solution such as a benzalkonium chloride aqueous solution, a benzethonium chloride aqueous solution, or a chlorhexidine gluconate aqueous solution is supplied to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 from the supply source 24 of the disinfecting chemical solution. In this way, the sterilizing chemical solution is made mist by the ultrasonic humidifier 20, and the mist-like disinfecting chemical solution is sprayed from the nozzle 21 over the entire width above the heat exchanger 3.

  The mist-like disinfecting chemical solution blown out from the nozzle 21 adheres and aggregates on the upper upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 and then flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3. Also in this case, by cooling the heat exchanger 3 with a cooling heat medium, the mist-like disinfecting chemical liquid blown out from the nozzle 21 can be efficiently adhered and aggregated on the surface of the heat exchanger 3. . Then, the disinfecting chemical solution that has adhered and agglomerated flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3, whereby the entire front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is disinfected and cleaned with the disinfecting chemical solution. The disinfecting chemical liquid that has flowed down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is received by the drain pan 25 and collected.

  When the disinfecting cleaning with the disinfecting chemical solution is completed, the supply of the disinfecting chemical solution from the supply source 24 and the operation of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 are stopped. Then, the disinfecting chemical solution remaining in the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is discharged.

  Next, water is supplied from the supply source 22 to the ultrasonic humidifier 20. In this way, water is made mist by the ultrasonic humidifier 20, and mist-like water is sprayed from the nozzle 21 over the entire width above the heat exchanger 3.

  Thus, the mist-like water blown out from the nozzle 21 adheres and aggregates on the upper upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 and then flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3. In this case as well, by cooling the heat exchanger 3 with a cooling heat medium, the mist-like water blown from the nozzle 21 can be efficiently adhered and aggregated on the surface of the heat exchanger 3. Then, the adhered and agglomerated water flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3, whereby the entire front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is rinsed with water, and the disinfecting chemical solution remaining on the front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is diluted and cleaned. The

  When the rinse with water is completed, the supply of the cleaning chemical from the supply source 23 and the operation of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 are stopped. Then, the water remaining in the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is discharged.

  When the cleaning process is thus completed, the damper 10 and the damper 12 are opened again, and the air blowing by the fan 4 is resumed. In this way, air is taken into the air conditioner 1 through the air supply duct 11, air filtered by the filter 2 in the air conditioner 1 and cooled by the heat exchanger 3 is passed through the air duct 13 to the conditioned space (not shown). ).

  As described above, by cleaning the heat exchanger 3 at an appropriate time during the cooling operation, dirt such as dust adhering to the surface of the heat exchanger 3 can be cleaned and removed, and the heat exchanger It is possible to avoid the occurrence of a good breeding environment for microorganisms on the surface of 3. Moreover, the vibratory water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 can be cleaned by supplying the ultrasonic humidifier 20 with a cleaning chemical or a disinfecting chemical. Thus, it is possible to provide a safe air-conditioning environment free from microbial contamination by suppressing microbial growth on the surface of the heat exchanger 3 with simple and inexpensive equipment and a small amount of chemical consumption. For example, a centrifugal humidifier can be used for cleaning, but a centrifugal humidifier increases the amount of chemical solution consumed in the same manner as a spray humidifier.

  Further, during the cleaning process, the state in which the fan 4 is stopped and the dampers 10 and 12 are closed to stop the blowing is maintained. For this reason, the mist of the cleaning chemical solution or the disinfecting chemical solution used for the cleaning process of the heat exchanger 3 does not leak into the air-conditioned space, and the odor contamination by the cleaning chemical solution or the disinfecting chemical solution can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent an increase in humidity due to mist spreading into the room. In addition, by performing rinsing with water, the problem of odor can be avoided when the operation of the air conditioner 1 is resumed even when, for example, an odorous cleaning chemical or a disinfecting chemical is used.

  In addition, by performing a cleaning process using mist using the ultrasonic humidifier 20, a small amount of cleaning liquid can be used compared to the case of using a spray nozzle as in the prior art, and this is a low-cost and environmentally friendly disinfection method. is there. In addition, since no noise is generated, the air conditioning system in the hospital room can be cleaned, and can be used for disinfecting air conditioners in all air conditioning systems such as food factories. In particular, in the summer when microorganisms are likely to grow, the microorganisms can be prevented from growing in the heat exchanger 3 by periodically performing such a cleaning process. As a result, microbial contamination of indoor air can be prevented, which is effective in preventing opportunistic infections in hospitals and contamination in food factories.

  Next, when heating operation is performed in the air conditioner 1 in winter, for example, a heated heat medium is supplied to the heat exchanger 3. In this case, for example, warm water is used as the heat medium. When the damper 10 and the damper 12 are opened and the fan 4 is operated, air is taken into the air conditioner 1 through the air supply duct 11, filtered by the filter 2 in the air conditioner 1, and heated by the heat exchanger 3. The air thus supplied is supplied to an air-conditioned space (not shown) through the blower duct 13.

  Thus, for example, in the winter season, the heating operation for the air-conditioned space is performed. Further, during heating operation, humidification is performed by supplying water from the supply source 22 to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 as necessary, and blowing out mist-like water by the ultrasonic humidifier 20. Thus, the heated and humidified air is supplied to the conditioned space through the air duct 13.

  On the other hand, since the humidification by the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is continuously performed during the heating operation as described above, the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 may be contaminated. Therefore, the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is periodically cleaned by the following procedure.

That is, when washing the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 during the heating operation, first, the supply of water from the supply source 22 to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is stopped, and the ultrasonic humidifier 20 in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is stopped. Water remaining in the vibratory water tank is discharged. Further, the fan 4 is stopped to stop the blowing, and the damper 10 and the damper 12 are closed.
Then, a cleaning chemical such as an aqueous sodium carbonate solution is supplied to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 from the cleaning chemical supply source 23 while cooling the heat exchanger 3. Then, only the vibrator is operated without operating the blower built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20, and the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is washed with the vibrated cleaning chemical.

  When the cleaning with the cleaning chemical solution is completed, the supply of the cleaning chemical solution from the supply source 23 and the operation of the vibrator built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 are stopped. Then, the cleaning chemical remaining in the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is discharged.

  Next, a disinfecting chemical solution such as a benzalkonium chloride aqueous solution, a benzethonium chloride aqueous solution, or a chlorhexidine gluconate aqueous solution is supplied to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 from the supply source 24 of the disinfecting chemical solution. Then, only the vibrator is operated without operating the blower built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20, and the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is cleaned with the sterilized chemical solution.

  When the disinfecting cleaning with the disinfecting chemical solution is completed, the supply of the disinfecting chemical solution from the supply source 24 and the operation of the vibrator built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 are stopped. Then, the disinfecting chemical solution remaining in the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is discharged.

  Next, water is supplied from the supply source 22 to the ultrasonic humidifier 20. Then, only the vibrator is operated without operating the blower incorporated in the ultrasonic humidifier 20, and the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is rinsed and washed with the vibrated water.

  When the rinse with water is completed, the supply of the cleaning chemical solution from the supply source 23 and the operation of the vibrator built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 are stopped. Then, the water remaining in the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is discharged.

  When the cleaning process is thus completed, the damper 10 and the damper 12 are opened again, and the air blowing by the fan 4 is resumed. Moreover, humidification is performed by supplying water from the supply source 22 to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 as necessary, and blowing out the water in a mist form by the ultrasonic humidifier 20. In this way, air is taken into the air conditioner 1 through the air supply duct 11, air filtered by the filter 2 in the air conditioner 1 and heated by the heat exchanger 3 is passed through the air duct 13 to the conditioned space (not shown). ).

  As described above, by washing the vibrator water tank 3 in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 at an appropriate time during the heating operation, it is possible to keep the state free from contamination.

  In addition to cleaning the vibrator water tank 3 in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 as described above, the heat exchanger 3 may also be cleaned by the following procedure.

  That is, when the heat exchanger 3 is washed during heating operation, the vibrator built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is operated and the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is vibrated. While washing with the chemical solution, the blower built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is also operated. Thereby, the chemical | medical solution for washing | cleaning made into mist form by the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is sprayed over the whole width | variety above the heat exchanger 3 from the nozzle 21. FIG.

  The mist-like cleaning chemical solution blown out from the nozzle 21 adheres and aggregates on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 and then flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3. Then, the adhering and aggregating cleaning chemical solution flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3, whereby the entire front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is cleaned with the cleaning chemical solution.

  Similarly, the ultrasonic wave humidifier 20 is operated while operating the vibrator built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 and washing the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 with the vibrated disinfectant chemical solution. The blower incorporated in the vessel 20 is also operated. As a result, the disinfecting chemical liquid mist-formed by the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is sprayed from the nozzle 21 over the entire width above the heat exchanger 3.

  The mist-like disinfecting chemical solution blown out from the nozzle 21 adheres and aggregates on the upper upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 and then flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3. Then, the adhering and aggregating disinfecting chemical solution flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3, whereby the entire front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is washed with the disinfecting chemical solution.

  Similarly, the ultrasonic humidifier is operated while activating the vibrator built in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 and rinsing the vibrator water tank in the ultrasonic humidifier 20 with the vibrated water. The blower built in 20 is also operated together. Thereby, the water mist-shaped by the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is sprayed from the nozzle 21 over the entire width above the heat exchanger 3.

  Thus, the mist-like water blown out from the nozzle 21 adheres and aggregates on the upper upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 and then flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3. Then, the adhered and agglomerated water flows down the front surface of the heat exchanger 3, whereby the entire front surface of the heat exchanger 3 is rinsed with water.

  Further, when the heat exchanger 3 is washed during the heating operation in this way, a cooled heat medium (refrigerant) may be supplied to the heat exchanger 3 during the washing. That is, when the heat exchanger 3 is washed during the heating operation, for example, cold water is supplied to the heat exchanger 3 as a cooling heat medium (refrigerant). Thereby, during the cleaning, the heat exchanger 3 is cooled by the cooling heat medium, so that the mist-like cleaning chemical solution, disinfecting chemical solution, and water blown from the nozzle 21 are applied to the surface of the heat exchanger 3. Adhesion and aggregation can be performed efficiently.

  Moreover, after completion | finish of washing | cleaning, the heating medium heated to the heat exchanger 3 is supplied again, and heating operation is restarted.

  Thus, in the winter season, the ultrasonic humidifier 20 can be used as a normal humidifier, and can also be applied to cleaning the vibrator water tank and the heat exchanger 3 in the ultrasonic humidifier 20. . The ultrasonic humidifier 20 has a problem that if the washing is neglected, the inside of the vibrator water tank is contaminated with microorganisms, and the microorganisms are scattered together with the mist to contaminate the indoor environment. In the humidification season such as winter, the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is provided by incorporating a process of periodically supplying cleaning liquid and disinfecting chemical liquid to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 and performing disinfection and sterilization in the vibrator water tank. Can be humidified safely without microbial contamination.

  Also, when both functions of humidification and disinfection of the heat exchanger 3 are necessary, conventionally, a nozzle or the like for disinfecting the heat exchanger 3 is necessary separately from the humidifier. Since the sonic humidifier 20 can be applied to the cleaning of the heat exchanger 3, it is a simple and inexpensive facility and has both functions of humidification and heat exchanger cleaning.

  The supply sources 22, 23, and 24 that supply liquid to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 are preferably liquid tanks having a necessary and sufficient capacity for the number of ultrasonic humidifiers 20 installed. Alternatively, the apparatus can be connected and supplied to the ultrasonic humidifier 20 through a pipe using an apparatus that dilutes the stock solution to a predetermined concentration. Further, it is desirable that the piping system is appropriately provided with a valve, and is supplied / stopped / purged by gravity or pump power and further controlled by a control device so that the operation can be scheduled.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the example in which the nozzle 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is arranged on the upper upstream side of the heat exchanger 3 is shown, but the arrangement position of the nozzle 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is appropriately set. Can change. As shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 may be installed above the downstream side of the heat exchanger 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the nozzles 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 may be installed both on the upstream side and the downstream side of the heat exchanger 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 may be installed above (on the upper surface side) of the heat exchanger 3. In any case, by arranging the nozzle 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 above the heat exchanger 3, in addition to the mist itself blown from the nozzle 21 dropping due to gravity, the heat exchanger Since the liquid adhering to the surface of 3 flows down on the surface by gravity, the condensed liquid spreads over the entire surface of the heat exchanger.

  In addition, as described in FIG. 1, a stirring fan 26 is provided inside the air conditioner 1, and the mist of the cleaning chemical solution or the disinfecting chemical solution blown from the nozzle 21 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is supplied to the air conditioner 1. You may enable it to wash | clean and sterilize the inside of the air conditioner 1 by spreading over the whole inside. When the stirring fan 26 is provided inside the air conditioner 1 in this manner, the arrangement of the nozzle 21 and the stirring fan 26 of the ultrasonic humidifier 20 is opposite to each other with the heat exchanger 3 interposed therebetween. It is desirable.

  The present invention is useful in the field of air conditioning.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 2 Filter 3 Heat exchanger 4 Fan 10, 12 Damper 11 Air supply duct 12 Air duct 20 Ultrasonic humidifier 21 Nozzle 22 Water supply source 23 Cleaning chemical supply source 24 Disinfection chemical supply source 25 Drain pan

Claims (8)

A method of cleaning a heat exchanger provided in an air conditioner,
In a state where the air blowing is stopped, the cleaning liquid is supplied to an ultrasonic humidifier provided in the vicinity of the heat exchanger in the air conditioner to generate a mist of the cleaning liquid.
A method of cleaning a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is cleaned by adhering a mist of cleaning liquid to the heat exchanger.   2. The heat exchanger cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is cleaned in a state in which a damper provided upstream or downstream of the air conditioner is closed.   The heat exchanger cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat exchanger is cleaned in a state where a cooling heat medium is supplied to the heat exchanger.   In the state where the supply source of cleaning liquid is connected to the vibratory water tank of the ultrasonic humidifier, the damper provided upstream or downstream of the air conditioner is closed, and the fan provided in the air conditioner is stopped. The method for cleaning a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a vibrator built in the humidifier is operated.   The cleaning method for a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning liquid is two kinds of cleaning chemical liquid and disinfecting chemical liquid.   The mist of the chemical for cleaning is attached to the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger is cleaned, and then the mist of the chemical for sterilization is attached to the heat exchanger to disinfect the heat exchanger. 5. The heat exchanger cleaning method according to 5.   7. The heat exchanger cleaning method according to claim 6, further comprising diluting and cleaning the heat exchanger with water after disinfecting the heat exchanger.   The cleaning method for a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the cleaning chemical is an aqueous sodium carbonate solution.

Images