JP2013004385A - Ion generator and electric device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ion generator in which ions generated by an ion-generating element are prevented from disappearing near the ion-generating element, and high-density ions can be supplied to indoor space, and an electronic device.SOLUTION: The ion generator comprises an ion-generating element having an induction electrode and a discharge electrode for generating ions between the induction electrode and itself. The ion-generating element is surrounded by metal, and a voltage having the same polarity as that of generated ions is applied to the metal.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generator including a discharge unit that generates positive ions or negative ions, and an electric device using the same.

  Conventionally, ion generators have been used to purify, sterilize, or deodorize indoor air. Many of these are provided with an ion generating electrode and discharge positive ions and negative ions generated by corona discharge from an ion discharge port provided in the casing. These ions have the effect of purifying, deodorizing, or sterilizing the air.

  As an ion generating element, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is an element in which a needle-shaped metal or the like is used as a discharge electrode and a metal plate or a grid or the like facing the discharge electrode is arranged, and in particular, no counter electrode is arranged. . In these ion generating elements, the air between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode serves as an insulator. In this ion generating element, when a high voltage is applied to the discharge electrode, electric field concentration occurs at the tip of the electrode having an acute angle portion, and the ion discharge phenomenon is obtained by the dielectric breakdown of the air at the tip. Ions generated by the ion generating element are released to the outside through the transport path.

  By the way, for example, when the transport path is positively charged, negative ions generated by the ion generator may be attracted to the transport path, and ions to be released may be reduced. A similar problem occurs in the opposite polarity. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, in Patent Document 2, a DC voltage having the same polarity as ions is applied to the inner surface of the transport path to generate an electric repulsive force between the inner surface of the transport path and the ions. In addition, a static eliminator is disclosed that prevents ions from coming into contact with the inner surface of the transport path. According to this apparatus, it is possible to suppress a decrease in ions passing through the transport path.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-13649 (published January 20, 2005) JP 2008-911145 A (published April 17, 2008)

  However, in the ion generator disclosed in Patent Document 1, ions generated by a discharge phenomenon generated between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode are applied to the wall surface around the ion generation element before reaching the transport path. As a result, the ions to be released tend to decrease because they adhere or disappear. Also, when the wind tunnel near the ion generating element is made of resin, the potential increases when the resin wind tunnel is charged and becomes higher than the voltage of the ion generating element. Because it repels the generated ions, it cannot pass. The ions that cannot pass through are attracted to the counter electrode and disappear, so that ions emitted to the outside may be reduced. Also, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, ions generated from the ion generating element are attracted to the wall surface around the ion generating element before reaching the transport path, and the ions are reduced. May interfere with supply.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and ions generated from an ion generating element can supply high-concentration ions to an indoor space without disappearing in the vicinity of the ion generating element. It is an object of the present invention to provide a generator and an electronic device.

  An ion generation apparatus according to the present invention is an ion generation apparatus including an ion generation element including an induction electrode and a discharge electrode for generating ions between the induction electrode, the ion generation element Is surrounded by a metal, and a voltage having the same polarity as the generated ions is applied to the metal.

  Further, a pulse voltage may be applied to the discharge electrode or the induction electrode.

  The inner wall in the vicinity of the ion generating element may be made of metal.

  The voltage applied to the metal may be lower than the discharge voltage of the ion generating element.

  An electronic device according to the present invention includes the ion generator according to any one of the above, and a blowing unit for sending the ions generated by the ion generating device to the outside of the electric device in an air flow. It is characterized by.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the ion generator and electronic device which can supply high concentration ion to indoor space are realizable.

It is typical sectional drawing of the ion generator which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the ion generating element which concerns on this invention. It is an experimental block diagram of the ion generator which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram of the ion generating element vicinity which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the pulse discharge which concerns on this invention. It is an ion current measurement result of the ion generator which concerns on this invention. It is a comparative experiment block diagram of the ion generator which concerns on this invention. It is a graph which shows the comparative experiment result which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an ion generator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ion generation apparatus 100 includes an ion generation element 1, a high voltage circuit 2, a blower unit 3, an ion generation case 4, a metal wall 5, and a voltage application circuit 6.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the ion generating element 1. The ion generating element 1 is for causing, for example, corona discharge to generate at least one of positive ions and negative ions. The ion generating element 1 includes a discharge electrode 11 and a dielectric electrode 12. The discharge electrode 11 has a needle-like tip portion 11a. The dielectric electrode 12 is formed of an annular metal plate and has through holes corresponding to the number of discharge electrodes. This through-hole is an opening for discharging ions generated by corona discharge to the outside. In the present embodiment, there is one through hole, and the planar shape of the through hole is, for example, a circular shape. The discharge electrode 11 and the induction electrode 12 are fixed by the support substrate 13 so that the distal end portion 11a of the discharge electrode 11 is disposed at substantially the center of the through hole of the induction electrode 12. The needle-like tip 11 a of the discharge electrode 11 protrudes to the surface side of the support substrate 13, and the other end of the discharge electrode 11 is connected to the high-voltage circuit 2. In this state, the ion generator 1 is installed in a part of an ion generation case 4 described later. At this time, the distal end portion 11 a of the discharge electrode 11 faces the inside of the ion generation case 4.

  The high voltage circuit 2 is connected to the discharge electrode 11 and the induction electrode 12, and a positive or negative voltage is applied to each electrode. The blower unit 3 is configured by a fan or the like, sends ions generated by blowing air taken from an air intake port (not shown), and supplies ions to the outside from the blowout port. The stronger the wind power and the wind speed of the blower unit 3, the more widely generated ions can be diffused farther and more widely. . The ion generation case 4 is generally made of a resin such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, or acrylic, and has a cylindrical shape with a hollow inside, such as a substantially rectangular cross section, a substantially circular cross section, or a substantially semicircular cross section. The opening 3 at the other end is connected to a transport path until ions generated from the ion generating element 1 are supplied to the outside by an air flow from the blowing unit 3. In addition, it is good also as a structure which integrated the ion generation case 4 and the conveyance path.

  The metal wall 5 is suitably conductive, workable, and versatile. For example, copper or aluminum is used. Such a metal wall 5 is disposed so as to surround the vicinity of the ion generating element 1. For example, in the ion generating case 4 having a substantially rectangular cross section, the surface where the ion generating element 1 is arranged, its both side surfaces, and the surface facing the ion generating element 1 are covered with a metal foil or a metal plate. The element 1 is surrounded. The voltage application circuit 6 is connected to the metal wall 5 and applies a positive or negative voltage to the wall surface of the metal wall 5.

  The voltage value applied by the high voltage circuit 2 and the voltage application circuit 6 is appropriately set depending on the specifications of the apparatus, the environment in which the apparatus is installed, and the like. Further, the high voltage circuit 2 and the voltage application circuit 6 may be provided separately as shown in the present embodiment, or both may be controlled by one circuit.

  Next, as Example 1, a method for generating ions using the ion generator 100 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is an apparatus configuration diagram for measuring the relationship between the voltage applied to the metal wall and the ion current using the ion generator 100a that generates positive ions and the ion generator 100b that generates negative ions. is there. 4A is a perspective view of only the portion where the metal walls 5a and 5b are arranged in the ion generators 100a and 100b, and FIG. 4B is a configuration view of the metal walls 5a and 5b as seen from the inner wall side. is there.

  The openings on the fan side of the portions where the metal walls 5a and 5b are made of aluminum foil with respect to the inner walls of the ion generators 100a and 100b have a width of 55 mm, a height of 70 mm, a depth of 75 mm, and an opening on the ion emission side. The width was 42 mm and the height was 55 mm. Under the conditions of an air temperature of 23 ° C. and a humidity of 33%, positive ions were generated from 100a and negative ions were generated from 100b, and current values based on these ions were measured. The sizes of the ion generating elements 1a and 1b used this time are 9 mm in inner diameter and 12 mm in outer diameter, and the range of the metal walls 5a and 5b is the surface on which the ion generating element 1 is disposed, and its opposing surface. All sides were taken. The range covered with the metal may be the entire inner wall of the ion generation case or a part thereof, but it is preferable not to cover at least 1 cm from the opening on the ion emission side.

  Here, the high voltage circuit 2 was operated, and a voltage was applied to the ion generating element 1a and the ion generating element 1b to generate positive ions and negative ions, respectively. The discharge condition was pulse discharge. In the ion generating element 1a, a DC voltage of 5 kV was applied to the discharge electrode, and a pulse voltage of 5 to 0 kV was applied to the dielectric electrode. In the ion generating element 1b, a DC voltage of −5 kV was applied to the discharge electrode, and a pulse voltage of −5 to 0 kV was applied to the dielectric electrode. In either case, the frequency of the pulse voltage was 2 kHz and DUTY was 5%.

  FIG. 5A is a graph showing the relationship between the pulse discharge time and voltage on the positive electrode side, and FIG. 5B is the negative electrode side. In FIG. 5, the vertical axis represents voltage and the horizontal axis represents time. In FIG. 5, t1 indicates a pulse width, and t2 indicates a cycle. The DUTY in this example was a percentage of t1 / t2. In this embodiment, the pulse voltage is applied to the dielectric electrode side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The pulse voltage may be applied to the discharge electrode side, and the pulse voltage may be applied to either one of them.

  Further, positive and negative voltages were respectively applied to the metal walls 5a and 5b by the voltage application circuit 6, and air was blown using a fan, and the ion current blown from the ion generation case 4 was measured by the ion counter 7. . The ion counter 7 was installed in the middle of the two ion generators of the ion generators 100a and 100b and on the air path 41 cm from the ion outlet.

  FIG. 6 shows the measurement results of the relationship between the voltage applied to the metal wall and the ionic current. 6A shows a measurement result in the ion generator 100a that generates positive ions, and FIG. 6B shows a measurement result in the ion generator 100b that generates negative ions. However, in FIG. 6B, the data is expressed in absolute values so that it can be easily compared with FIG. 6A on the positive ion side. For example, the wall voltage 1 kV in FIG. 6B is actually −1 kV, and similarly the ion current 1 nA is −1 nA.

  For the positive ion side, it can be seen that when a voltage is applied to the metal wall in the range of approximately 2.5 to 4.5 kV, the ion current released is increased. Furthermore, a voltage within the range of 3.0 to 4.0 kV is particularly preferable. In addition, for the negative ion side, when a voltage is applied to the metal wall made of aluminum foil in a range of approximately -4.5 to -2.5 kV, the ion current to be released increases. Furthermore, a voltage in the range of −4.0 to −3.0 kV is particularly preferable.

  From the above results, it can be seen that the voltage applied to the metal wall 5 is preferably 50 to 90%, more preferably 60 to 80% of the voltage applied to the ion generating element 1.

<Comparative example>
As a comparative example, measurements as shown in FIG. 7 were performed. An ion generator 200a that generates positive ions and an ion generator 200b that generates negative ions are arranged in parallel. The ion generation case 4 is made of resin, and there is no portion covered with a metal plate. The size, discharge voltage, and other conditions of the ion generating elements 1a and 1b were the same as those in Example 1.

  The high voltage circuit 2 is operated, and voltage is applied to the ion generating element 1a and the ion generating element 1b to generate positive ions and negative ions, respectively, and the ionic current blown out from the ion generating case 4 is blown by a fan. Measurement was performed with an ion counter 7.

  FIG. 8 shows the measurement results of each ion current. (A) in FIG. 8 is an ionic current of the ion generators 100a and 100b in which a metal plate is arranged in the vicinity of the ion generating element 1 according to the present invention. This time, 3.9 kV is applied to the metal wall 5 from the above embodiment. This is a graph of the values when the voltage is applied. Here, for easy understanding, an absolute value is displayed for negative ions. The ion current at this time was 8 nA or more of positive ions and -8 nA or more of negative ions. On the other hand, (b) in FIG. 8 is the ion current of the ion generators 200a and 200b measured in the comparative example. When the vicinity of the ion generating element 1 is only a resin, the ion current is limited to about 4 nA positive ions and about 4 nA negative ions. When the ion generation case 4 is made of resin only, the ions generated from the ion generation element 1 adhere inside the resin ion generation case, particularly in the vicinity of the ion generation element 1, and the charge amount of the resin on the inner wall increases. It is considered that the ions are attracted to the dielectric electrode and disappear, and as a result, the ion current blown out from the ion generation case 4 is lowered.

  From the above experimental results, by enclosing the vicinity of the ion generating element 1 with metal and applying a voltage, ions generated from the ion generating element 1 can flow without loss and supply high-concentration ions indoors. it can. Furthermore, a further effect can be obtained by making the voltage applied to the metal lower than the discharge electrode of the ion generating element.

  The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as being restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The ion generator according to the present invention can be suitably used for electronic devices such as an air cleaner, an air conditioner, a humidifier, and a dehumidifier that release ions into the room.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a, 1b Ion generating element 2 High voltage circuit 3 Blower part 4, 4a, 4b Ion generating case 5, 5a, 5b Metal wall 6 Voltage application circuit 7 Ion counter 11 Discharge electrode 12 Dielectric electrode 13 Support substrate 100, 100a, 100b , 200a, 200b Ion generator

An ion generation apparatus according to the present invention includes an ion generation element including an induction electrode, a discharge electrode for generating ions between the induction electrode, and an ion generation case including a resin . In the ion generation device, the ion generation element is disposed inside the ion generation case, and an inner wall of the ion generation case is covered with a metal so as to surround the ion generation element. Is characterized by applying a voltage having the same polarity as the generated ions.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the ion generating element 1. The ion generating element 1 is for causing, for example, corona discharge to generate at least one of positive ions and negative ions. The ion generating element 1 includes a discharge electrode 11 and an induction electrode 12. The discharge electrode 11 has a needle-like tip portion 11a. The induction electrode 12 is formed of an annular metal plate and has through holes corresponding to the number of discharge electrodes. This through-hole is an opening for discharging ions generated by corona discharge to the outside. In the present embodiment, there is one through hole, and the planar shape of the through hole is, for example, a circular shape. The discharge electrode 11 and the induction electrode 12 are fixed by the support substrate 13 so that the distal end portion 11a of the discharge electrode 11 is disposed at substantially the center of the through hole of the induction electrode 12. The needle-like tip 11 a of the discharge electrode 11 protrudes to the surface side of the support substrate 13, and the other end of the discharge electrode 11 is connected to the high-voltage circuit 2. In this state, the ion generating element 1 is installed in a part of an ion generating case 4 described later. At this time, the distal end portion 11 a of the discharge electrode 11 faces the inside of the ion generation case 4.

Claims (5)

An induction electrode;
An ion generator comprising an ion generating element configured with a discharge electrode for generating ions with the induction electrode,
The ion generating element is surrounded by a metal;
An ion generator, wherein a voltage having the same polarity as the generated ions is applied to the metal.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein a pulse voltage is applied to the discharge electrode or the induction electrode.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall in the vicinity of the ion generating element is made of metal.   The ion generator according to claim 1, wherein a voltage applied to the metal is lower than a discharge voltage of the ion generating element. The ion generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An electric device comprising a blower unit for sending ions generated by the ion generator to an outside of the electric device on a blowing airflow.