JP2012170622A - Active seed generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance safety by elongating the creepage distance between a needle electrode and an opposed electrode to perform discharge over a wide range.SOLUTION: This active seed generator includes a body case 4, the needle electrode 12 arranged so as to leave a predetermined distance from the insulating substrate 7 provided in the body case 4, the opposed electrode 13 being in contact with the insulating substrate 7 and a power supply 14 for applying voltage across the needle electrode 12 and the opposed electrode 13. An adsorbing means, which covers the surface of the insulating substrate and adsorbs the moisture in the vicinity of the insulating substrate, is provided and the opposed electrode 13 is provided in contact with the adsorbing means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an active species generator that performs sterilization and deodorization of an indoor space.

  In recent years, active species generators have been developed that supply active species such as radicals into the air and purify the air by the cleaning action of the active species.

  This kind of active species generating device has a main body case, a needle electrode, a counter electrode facing the needle electrode, a power source for applying a voltage to the needle electrode and the counter electrode, and a surface of the counter electrode. It was the structure provided with the provided adsorption | suction means (for example, refer patent document 1).

JP 2006-320613 A

  In the above-described conventional active species generator, a main body case, a needle electrode, a counter electrode facing the needle electrode, a power source for applying a discharge voltage to the needle electrode and the counter electrode, and an adsorption means provided on the surface of the counter electrode It was the composition provided with.

  That is, by applying a voltage between the needle electrode and the counter electrode, corona discharge is performed, thereby decomposing water adsorbed on the adsorbing means and generating active species.

  In such a configuration, the current flowing between the needle electrode and the counter electrode due to corona discharge tends to flow in the thickness direction of the suction means that is the shortest path from the needle electrode to the counter electrode that is a conductor. There was a tendency for electrons to flow easily. When the current is concentrated in a narrow range, there is a possibility that the concentrated active species having a high concentration may cause the adsorption means to deteriorate. In addition, there is a possibility that active species generated in a concentrated manner peel off the adsorbing means and generate a spark discharge between the needle electrode and the counter electrode, and it is required to improve safety.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to improve safety by enhancing the insulation between the needle electrode and the counter electrode and generating active species in a wider range.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes a main body case, an insulating substrate provided in the main body case, a needle electrode disposed at a predetermined distance from the insulating substrate, and the insulating material. A counter electrode in contact with the substrate, a power source for applying a voltage to the needle electrode and the counter electrode, and a suction means for covering the surface of the insulating substrate and adsorbing moisture in the vicinity of the insulating substrate are provided. The counter electrode is provided in contact with the adsorbing means, thereby achieving the intended purpose.

  As described above, the present invention includes a main body case, an insulating substrate provided in the main body case, a needle electrode disposed at a predetermined distance from the insulating substrate, and a counter electrode in contact with the insulating substrate. And a power source for applying a voltage to the needle electrode and the counter electrode, the surface of the insulating substrate is covered, and an adsorbing means for adsorbing moisture in the vicinity of the insulating substrate is provided, and the counter electrode is Since it is the structure provided in contact with the said adsorption | suction means, safety | security can be improved.

  That is, in the present invention, an insulating substrate provided in the main body case, a needle electrode disposed at a predetermined distance from the insulating substrate, a counter electrode in contact with the insulating substrate, and a surface of the insulating substrate. Even when a high voltage is applied between the needle electrode and the counter electrode, the current flowing between the needle electrode and the counter electrode is From, the suction means located on the outer periphery of the insulating substrate flows in the surface direction and then reaches the counter electrode.

  That is, even when a high voltage is applied between the needle electrode and the counter electrode, the creepage distance between the needle electrode and the counter electrode becomes long, and electrons flow over a longer distance through the adsorption means. Spark discharge due to a short circuit is unlikely to occur, and as a result, safety can be improved. In addition, since the creeping distance between the needle electrode and the counter electrode is increased, the discharge range is expanded, and active species are generated from a wider range, so that safety can be improved.

1 is a perspective view of an indoor area where an active species generator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is installed. Cross section of the active species generator Side view of adsorption means part in the same active species generator Diagram showing the concept of positive corona discharge in the same active species generator The figure which shows the concept of the minus corona discharge in the same activated species generator

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an active species generator 3 is arranged on the floor 2 of the room 1.

  The active species generator 3 purifies air by supplying active species such as radicals to the air in the room 1, by the cleaning action of the active species.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the active species generator 3 in FIG. When the active species generator 3 is activated, air in the room 1 flows into the main body case 4 from the suction port 5 provided on the side surface of the plastic main body case 4. The air that has flowed into the main body case 4 moves to the upper part of the main body case 4 by the blower 6.

  A plate-like insulating substrate 7 made of a resin such as ceramic or fluorine is provided above the main body case 4. The insulating substrate 7 is fixed to the main body case 4 by a support member 18. The material of the insulating substrate 7 may be any inorganic material that is not easily corroded by ozone or radicals, and is formed of, for example, a ceramic substrate or a resin substrate as described later.

  A part of the surface of the insulating substrate 7 has a suction means 8 as shown in FIG. The adsorption means 8 has an adsorbent 9 such as zeolite composed of particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to several tens of micrometers that adsorbs water. Furthermore, this adsorbent 9 and an adhesive 10 such as colloidal silica for adhering the insulating substrate 7 are provided.

  Since the adsorbent 9 constituting the adsorbing means 8 has pores 11 on the surface, the adhesive 10 is smaller than the average particle diameter of the adsorbent 9 such as zeolite and is open on the surface of the zeolite. An average particle diameter larger than that of the holes 11 may be used. If the pores 11 are not blocked, glass powder or a silicate compound may be used as an adhesive.

  The adsorbent 9 in the present embodiment adsorbs water vapor in the air to the pores 11. However, if the pores 11 have an average particle diameter that is difficult to fill with the particles of the adhesive 10, the water vapor in the air is absorbed. Can be adsorbed. The adsorbent 9 may have an average particle size larger than that of the adhesive 10.

  In the present embodiment, zeolite is used as an example of the adsorbent 9, but the adsorbent 9 has nano-level pores 11, and water vapor is condensed in the pores by the so-called Kelvin capillary condensation phenomenon. As long as it is a porous structure having a structure having such pores, silica, zeolite, desiccite, allophine, imogolite, and the like may be included. Further, porous alumina, porous silica, or porous titania that adsorbs water by using gaps between particles may be used.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a needle electrode 12 using a SUS needle or a tungsten needle that causes corona discharge is disposed at a predetermined distance of about several millimeters to several tens of millimeters from the insulating substrate 7. A counter electrode 13 is provided on the insulating substrate 7.

  The counter electrode 13 is made of stainless steel such as SUS, aluminum, gold, silver, copper, or the like. In addition, it is not restricted to these, What is necessary is just a conductive material.

  In FIG. 2, the insulating substrate 7 is disposed in a state substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the needle electrode 12. The needle electrode 12 and the insulating substrate 7 are not limited to being in a substantially parallel state, and the needle electrode 12 may have a slight inclination on the surface side of the insulating substrate 7 with respect to the longitudinal direction.

  That is, by applying a high voltage to the needle electrode 12, radicals, active species such as ozone and hydrogen peroxide are generated on the surface of the insulating substrate 7. By making the needle electrode 12 and the insulating substrate 7 in a substantially parallel state, an ion wind is generated from the tip of the needle toward the longitudinal direction of the insulating substrate, so that the active species generated on the surface of the insulating substrate 7 are insulated. It moves from the surface of the conductive substrate 7 and becomes easy to diffuse.

  This point will be explained a little. The action of pushing out the active species generated on the surface of the insulating substrate 7 from the surface of the insulating substrate 7 by the direction of the corona discharge from the needle electrode 12 toward the insulating substrate 7 is expected. It can be done.

  In the present embodiment, the suction means 8 is provided on a part of the surface of the insulating substrate 7, but the suction means 8 may be provided on the entire surface of the insulating substrate 7 or on the side surface. . Further, the suction means 8 may be arranged so as to face the needle electrode 12. Thereby, the water adsorb | sucked by the adsorption | suction means 8 can be decomposed | disassembled efficiently.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the insulating substrate 7 is covered with the covering area (the entire surface of the insulating substrate 7, most of the side surfaces, and part of the back surface) 16 covered with the suction means 8, and the suction means 8. An uncovered area (a part of the back surface and a part of the side surface of the insulating substrate 7) 17 is provided. The counter electrode 13 is in contact with the insulating substrate 7 and the coating region 16 and is located between the coating region 16 and the non-coating region 17.

  As a result, the current flowing between the needle electrode 12 and the counter electrode 13 flows, for example, from the needle electrode 12 through the adsorbing means that covers the surface of the insulating substrate 7, then flows through the side surface, then flows through the back surface, and then finally The counter electrode 13 is reached, that is, the creepage distance is long, and as a result, no spark discharge occurs and the safety can be improved.

  Further, an air flow called ion wind is generated from the tip of the needle electrode 12. This airflow flows from the tip of the needle electrode 12 toward the insulating substrate 7. Dust or the like is likely to adhere to the windward side of the insulating substrate 7 in the airflow direction. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the insulating substrate 7 is covered with the adsorption means 8 (the entire surface of the insulating substrate 7, most of the side surfaces, and part of the back surface) 16, and the adsorption means. 8 may have an uncovered area 17 that is not covered by the cover 8. The uncovered area 17 is preferably located closer to the windward side in the airflow direction of the insulating substrate 7. As a result, even if dust, oil, carbon, or the like adheres to the windward side surface of the insulating substrate 7 and the insulating property is lowered, the uncovered area 17 exists, so that the gap between the needle electrode 12 and the counter electrode 13 can be made. The current flows from the needle electrode 12 through the windward side surface of the insulating substrate 7, then flows through the back surface, does not reach the counter electrode 13, and adsorbs the surface of the insulating substrate 7 from the needle electrode 12. The agent passes through the side on the leeward side, then flows on the back surface, and finally reaches the counter electrode 13, that is, it travels along a path with a long creepage distance. As a result, spark discharge does not occur and safety is ensured. Can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the insulating substrate 7 may be a ceramic substrate or a resin substrate such as fluorine. The ceramic substrate may be a substrate containing any one of silica, aluminum, and magnesium, or an alumina substrate. This is because an inorganic material or a fluororesin that is not easily corroded by ozone or radicals may be used.

The surface resistance of the ceramic provided with the suction means 8 that covers the surface of the insulating substrate 7 is preferably 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □. When a high voltage is applied between the needle electrode 12 and the counter electrode 13, the current is discharged from one electrode and flows to the other electrode through the adsorption means 8 that covers the surface of the insulating substrate 7. At this time, while covering the surface of the insulating substrate provided in the main body case, the needle electrode disposed at a predetermined distance from the insulating substrate, the counter electrode in contact with the insulating substrate, the surface of the insulating substrate, By providing an adsorbing means for adsorbing moisture in the vicinity of the insulating substrate, a so-called creepage distance, which is a distance that electrons move, is extended. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of spark discharge can be reduced and safety | security improves.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when a discharge voltage is applied to the needle electrode 12 by the power supply 14 at about 3 to 10 KV, a strong electric field is formed on the surface of the needle electrode 12. Since a positive high voltage is applied to the needle electrode 12, free electrons existing in the air flow into it. At this time, since the counter electrode 13 is in the minus state, as a result, electrons move from the counter electrode 13 to the needle electrode 12 due to movement of the electrons. This state is corona discharge, and OH radicals (an example of active species) are generated by the corona discharge force as described later.

  This will be described for the case where a positive voltage is applied to the needle electrode 12 as shown in FIG.

  The ceramic insulating substrate 7 and the adsorbent 9 are bonded by an adhesive 10. It is known that the surface of the adsorbent 9 has nano-level pores, and moisture in the air adsorbs moisture by condensing water vapor in the pores (Kelvin's capillary condensation phenomenon). . As a result, moisture in the air is adsorbed on the adsorption means 8 such as zeolite, and electrons easily flow. When a positive high voltage is applied to the needle electrode 12 to perform a positive corona discharge, the electrons in the adsorbent 9 are attracted to the needle electrode 12 with a strong force, so that the electrons move at a high speed. When an electron collides with an oxygen molecule near the adsorbent 9, an anion of the oxygen molecule in a state where one electron is added to the oxygen molecule is generated. Thereafter, oxygen molecule anions react with water molecules adsorbed on the surface of the insulating substrate 7 to generate active species such as OH radicals. Since corona discharge occurs around the adsorbed moisture, the moisture easily reacts with the electrons, so that OH radicals can be more easily generated.

  The insulating substrate 7 has a rectangular plate shape, and has a front surface (first surface), a back surface (second surface) facing the needle electrode 12, and front and back surfaces of the front and back surfaces. And a side surface (third surface) connected to the.

  The counter electrode 13 may be provided in contact with the back surface or side surface of the insulating substrate 7. As a result, when electrons flowing from the needle electrode 12 flow along the surface of the insulating substrate 7, a so-called creepage distance, which is a distance traveled by the electrons, increases, so that it is difficult for spark discharge to occur.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the counter electrode 13 is provided on the surface of the insulating substrate 7,
It is necessary to arrange in a state where a sufficient creepage distance is secured.

  In the present embodiment, the needle electrode 12 is applied positively, but the voltage applied to the needle electrode 12 may be positive or negative.

The case where a negative voltage is applied to the needle electrode 12 as shown in FIG. 5 will be described. When a discharge voltage is applied to the needle electrode 12 by the power supply 14 at about minus 3 to 10 KV, a strong electric field is formed on the surface of the needle electrode 12. Since a negative high voltage is applied to the needle electrode 12,
Free electrons are released into the air. The insulating substrate 7 in contact with the counter electrode 13 is on the plus side. As a result, an electric current flows from the counter electrode 13 to the needle electrode 12 as the electrons move.

  Since the electrons released from the needle electrode 12 in FIG. 5 to the air are attracted to the strong electric field of the counter electrode 13 with a strong force, the electrons move at high speed and collide with molecules in the air. At this time, when electrons moving at high speed collide with oxygen molecules in the air, an oxygen molecule anion in which one electron is added to the oxygen molecule is generated. Thereafter, oxygen molecule anions react with water molecules adsorbed on the surface of the insulating substrate 7 to generate OH radicals.

  By performing the so-called minus corona discharge, which is a discharge from the needle electrode 12 applied negatively as described above, the water around the adsorption means 8 reacts with electrons, thereby making it easier to generate OH radicals. It is.

  Further, in this way, electrons flow in the surface direction between the needle electrode 12 and the counter electrode 13 via the adsorption means 8, so that the creeping distance becomes long and current flows through the surface of the insulating substrate 7. .

  As described above, the OH radicals (active species) generated as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are discharged into the room from the exhaust port 15 of the active species generator 3 by the air blown from the blower 6 of FIG. By supplying the air containing the OH radicals into the room 1, the bacteria in the air can be inactivated. Moreover, the deodorizing effect can be exhibited by decomposing and removing the odor in the air.

  As described above, the present invention includes a main body case, an insulating substrate provided in the main body case, a needle electrode disposed at a predetermined distance from the insulating substrate, and a counter electrode in contact with the insulating substrate. And a power source for applying a voltage to the needle electrode and the counter electrode, the surface of the insulating substrate is covered, and an adsorbing means for adsorbing moisture in the vicinity of the insulating substrate is provided, and the counter electrode is Since it is the structure provided in contact with the said adsorption | suction means, safety | security can be improved.

  That is, in the present invention, an insulating substrate provided in the main body case, a needle electrode disposed at a predetermined distance from the insulating substrate, a counter electrode in contact with the insulating substrate, and a surface of the insulating substrate. Even when a high voltage is applied between the needle electrode and the counter electrode, the current flowing between the needle electrode and the counter electrode is not affected by the provision of an adsorption means that covers and adsorbs moisture near the insulating substrate. After flowing through the suction means located on the outer periphery of the insulating substrate, the counter electrode is reached.

  That is, even when a high voltage is applied between the needle electrode and the counter electrode, the creepage distance between the needle electrode and the counter electrode becomes long, and electrons flow over a longer distance through the adsorption means. Spark discharge due to a short circuit is unlikely to occur, and as a result, safety can be improved. In addition, since the creeping distance between the needle electrode and the counter electrode is increased, the discharge range is expanded, and active species are generated from a wider range, so that safety can be improved.

  Therefore, utilization as an air cleaner is expected.

1 Room 2 Floor 3 Active Species Generator 4 Body Case 5 Suction Port 6 Blower 7 Insulating Substrate 8 Adsorbing Means 9 Adsorbent 10 Adhesive 11 Pore 12 Needle Electrode 13 Counter Electrode 14 Power Supply 15 Exhaust Port 16 Covering Area 17 Non-Coating Region 18 Support member

Claims (15)

A main body case, an insulating substrate provided in the main body case, a needle electrode disposed at a predetermined distance from the insulating substrate, a counter electrode in contact with the insulating substrate, and the needle electrode and the counter A power source for applying a voltage to the electrode, and an adsorption means for covering the surface of the insulating substrate and adsorbing moisture in the vicinity of the insulating substrate is provided, and the counter electrode is provided in contact with the adsorption means An active species generator characterized by comprising: The insulating substrate is connected to a first surface facing the needle electrode, a second surface which is a back surface of the first surface, and outer peripheries of the first surface and the second surface. The active species generator according to claim 1, further comprising a third surface, wherein the counter electrode is provided in contact with the second surface or the third surface of the insulating substrate. The active species generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adsorption unit includes an adsorbent and an adhesive, and the adsorbent and the insulating substrate are bonded to each other by the adhesive. The said insulating board | substrate has the coating area | region covered with the said adsorption | suction means, and the non-coating area | region which is not covered with the said adsorption | suction means, The any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Active species generator. The active species generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the counter electrode is in contact with the uncovered area of the insulating substrate. The active species generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the coating area is disposed so as to face the needle electrode. The active species generator according to claim 1, wherein the needle electrode is disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the insulating substrate. The active species generator according to claim 1, wherein the insulating substrate is formed of a ceramic substrate. The active species generator according to claim 8, wherein the ceramic substrate includes any one of silica, aluminum, and magnesium. The active species generator according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the ceramic substrate is an alumina substrate. The active species generator according to claim 1, wherein the insulating substrate is formed of a resin substrate. The active species generator according to claim 11, wherein the resin substrate is a fluororesin substrate. The active species generator according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the adsorbent has an average particle size larger than that of the adhesive. The active species generating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the adsorbent has pores on the surface, and the pores are smaller than the average particle diameter of the adhesive. The active species generator according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the power supply applies a positive or negative voltage of 3 to 10 KV between the needle electrode and the counter electrode.

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