JP2018100778A - Humidifying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a humidifying device that can prevent an air current from containing a lot of liquid-state humidification liquid and be preferably used for humidifying a high-capacity air current.SOLUTION: A humidifying device includes: an air feeding part for generating an air current; a liquid supply part for supplying humidification liquid to the air current; and a straightener part including a plurality of flow passages respectively partitioned by a partition wall formed of a material capable of absorbing the humidification liquid, through which a gas can penetrate, and straightening the incoming air current into a laminar flow.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a humidifier that humidifies an air current using water or other liquid as a humidifying liquid. In this specification and the like, terms such as “humidification” and “humidity” that are generally used when water is vaporized and mixed with the airflow are the same when liquid other than water is vaporized and mixed with the airflow. Used for.

  In a humidifier using water or other liquid as a humidifying liquid, the humidifying liquid is vaporized and mixed with an air stream for humidification. As a method for vaporizing the humidifying liquid, methods such as a heat vaporization method, an ultrasonic vaporization method, and a permeation vaporization method are known. In the heating vaporization method and the ultrasonic vaporization method, the humidification liquid is forcibly mixed in the airflow by heating or ultrasonic vibration, so that the mist-like humidification liquid is mixed into the airflow, or the vaporized humidification liquid is condensed. Therefore, there are cases where the airflow contains a large amount of humidified liquid in a liquid state. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 uses a film that permeates and vaporizes the humidifying liquid to vaporize the humidifying liquid and humidify the airflow, thereby suppressing the airflow from containing the humidified liquid in the liquid state. Is described.

JP 2005-16911 A

  While the heating vaporization method and the ultrasonic vaporization method can be applied to a large-capacity humidifier, as described above, the airflow may contain a lot of liquid humidified liquid, and the humidifier or the space to be humidified There is a problem that excessive humidified liquid stays in the tank. In addition, as described above, the pervaporation method can be avoided when the airflow contains a large amount of liquid humidified liquid, while the membrane that permeates and vaporizes the humidified liquid is expensive and the membrane passes through the airflow. Since the pressure loss at the time is large, there is a problem that it is not suitable for a high-capacity humidifier.

  In view of the above, the inventors of the present invention provide a humidifier that can avoid a large amount of humidified liquid in a liquid state from being included in the airflow and can be suitably used for humidifying a large volume of airflow. Objective.

  The humidifying device of the present invention includes an air supply section that generates an airflow, a liquid supply section that supplies a humidifying liquid to the airflow, and a partition wall that is formed of a material that transmits gas and can absorb the humidifying liquid. And a rectifying unit that rectifies the inflowing airflow into a laminar flow.

  In the humidifying device of the present invention, the airflow mixed with the humidifying liquid passes through the plurality of flow paths of the rectifying unit and is rectified into a laminar flow. When part of the humidified liquid mixed in the airflow is contained in the airflow as a liquid without vaporizing, in the process where the airflow passes through the plurality of flow paths of the rectification unit and is rectified into a laminar flow, The humidifying liquid in the airflow is absorbed and removed by the partition walls separating the flow paths. For this reason, it can be avoided that the humidified liquid in a liquid state is included in the airflow. Also, unlike the pervaporation method, the humidifier of the present invention does not require the entire airflow to pass through the partition wall, and the plurality of flow paths of the rectification unit are the main flow paths of the airflow, so the airflow passes through the rectification unit. It is possible to suppress an excessive increase in pressure loss, and it can be suitably used for humidifying a large volume of airflow. Further, the partition wall may be formed of a material that can absorb the humidifying liquid in the airflow, and it is not necessary to use a film that selectively vaporizes the humidifying liquid by molecular sieving as in the pervaporation method. For this reason, in the humidifier of this invention, it can suppress that the pressure loss at the time of an airflow passing a partition becomes large too much, and can suppress material cost. For this reason, it can be suitably used for humidifying a large volume of airflow. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a humidifying device that can avoid a large amount of liquid humidified liquid from being contained in the airflow and that can be suitably used for humidifying a large volume of airflow.

It is a figure which shows notionally the state where the humidification apparatus of Example 1 was integrated in the car air conditioner. It is a figure which shows the rectification | straightening part of the humidification apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the rectification | straightening part of the humidification apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the time-dependent change of the relative humidity of the airflow which concerns on a humidification test. It is a figure which shows the time-dependent change of the temperature of the airflow which concerns on a humidification test. It is a figure which shows notionally the humidification apparatus of Example 2. FIG.

  The humidifier according to the present invention includes an air supply unit that generates an air flow, a liquid supply unit that supplies a humidified liquid to the air flow, and a rectifying unit that rectifies the incoming air flow into a laminar flow. The rectifying unit includes a plurality of flow paths separated from each other by a partition wall. The partition wall is formed of a material that allows gas to pass through and absorbs the humidifying liquid.

≪Humidifying liquid≫
Examples of the humidifying liquid include water, organic solvents such as alcohol, or a mixed liquid thereof. As a moisturizing solution, it is effective for beauty, fragrance, treatment or prevention, ingredients that maintain the freshness of food, conversely, ripening fruits, etc., antiseptic, antifungal, sterilization or deodorization. A so-called functional component such as a certain component can also be used.

≪Air supply part≫
A blower such as an existing air conditioning system may be used as the air supply unit. For example, an air conditioner blower may be used as the air supply unit, and the airflow may flow into the rectification unit. Furthermore, the air supply unit may be operated integrally with the air conditioning system. In that case, the rectifying part is shared with the air outlet of the air conditioner or inside or around the air outlet so that part or all of the airflow from the air conditioner blower is not taken into the humidifier and the aesthetics of the passenger compartment is not impaired. You may merge.

≪Liquid supply part≫
A liquid supply part supplies humidification liquid with respect to the airflow which flows into a rectification | straightening part. The humidifying liquid may be supplied before the airflow flows into the rectifying unit or immediately after flowing into the rectifying unit. When a locally humidified air stream is sent to the target, the liquid supply unit preferably supplies the humidified liquid into at least one flow path of the rectifying unit. By supplying the humidifying liquid to the airflow after being divided into the plurality of flow paths of the rectifying unit, the range in which the humidified airflow is sent can be reduced. The air stream with higher humidity is released toward the side closer to the flow path to which the humidifying liquid is supplied, and the air stream with lower humidity is released toward the side farther from the flow path to which the humidifying liquid is supplied. According to the humidifying device of the present invention, since local humidification is possible, for example, in order to prevent the occurrence of dew condensation or cloudiness in a room such as an automobile or a residence, it is useful when humidifying only the surroundings of a person, not the entire room. . Further, according to the humidifying device of the present invention, using a substance that promotes human sleep and comfort as a humidifying liquid, or a drug effective for hay fever or viruses, a sleeping person, a desk work, or a work It is also possible to humidify only around the human face.

  It is preferable that the liquid supply unit supplies the humidifying liquid into at least one flow path located substantially at the center of the surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the airflow flowing into the rectification unit. By selecting the flow path at this position and supplying the humidifying liquid, a uniform humidity distribution is obtained over the entire plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the air flow, and the air flow humidity and the position where the air flow is sent are controlled more precisely. be able to. Moreover, it is preferable that a humidification liquid is discharge | released toward the partition of a rectification | straightening part. It can be efficiently absorbed by the partition walls. The angle at which the humidifying liquid is emitted is preferably 1 ° to 45 ° with respect to the partition wall, more preferably 10 ° to 20 °, and particularly preferably about 15 °.

≪Rectifying part≫
The airflow supplied from the air supply unit flows into the rectification unit. The rectification unit rectifies the supplied airflow including some turbulence component to a laminar flow state through a plurality of flow paths. Laminar flow is a state in which molecules of adjacent fluids flow in one direction without being mixed, and occurs in a region where the Reynolds number expressed by the ratio of the inertia force and the viscous force of the fluid is generally lower than 2000 to 4000. Then, for example, the airflow flowing inside the circular pipe is more likely to become a laminar flow when the diameter of the pipe is reduced, the speed of the airflow is reduced, and the temperature is increased to increase the viscosity.

  The rectifying unit may be an assembly in which a plurality of tubes each having a hollow inside are bundled, or, like a honeycomb, the wall surfaces of adjacent tubes are shared and the plurality of tubes are integrated as a whole. It may be. The rectifying unit may be detachable from other structures constituting the humidifying device such as an air supply unit. The cross-sectional shape of each tube may be a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, or any other shape as long as a laminar flow can be generated. The wall surface of the tube is an example of a partition wall, and is formed of a material that transmits gas and can absorb a humidifying liquid. Since a partition permeate | transmits gas, it permeate | transmits the airflow and the vaporized humidification liquid mixed with the airflow. The partition wall may be a material that allows a part of the humidifying liquid to pass therethrough, or may be a material that re-releases the humidified liquid once absorbed.

  The airflow mixed with the humidifying liquid passes through the plurality of flow paths of the rectification unit and is rectified into a laminar flow. When part of the humidified liquid mixed in the airflow is contained in the airflow as a liquid without vaporizing, in the process where the airflow passes through the plurality of flow paths of the rectification unit and is rectified into a laminar flow, The humidifying liquid in the airflow is absorbed and removed by the partition walls separating the flow paths. Since the partition wall is formed of a material that transmits gas and can absorb the humidifying liquid, the humidifying liquid in the air stream can be efficiently absorbed when the air stream passes through the partition wall.

  The plurality of flow paths of the rectifying unit may be perpendicular or bent. In order to efficiently absorb the humidifying liquid in the airflow, the liquid supply unit discharges the humidifying liquid to the rectifying unit and the plurality of rectifying units so that the airflow easily hits or passes through the partitioning wall. It is preferable that the direction of the flow path be non-parallel. When the rectifying unit is bent, the angle is preferably 1 ° to 45 °, more preferably 10 ° to 20 °, more preferably 15 ° with respect to the flow direction of the airflow flowing into the rectifying unit. It is particularly preferred that Further, the flow path resistance of the flow path for supplying the humidifying liquid may be set higher than the flow path resistance of the flow path for not supplying the humidifying liquid so that the airflow can easily pass through the partition wall. It is preferable that the partition wall has high liquid retention and high liquid separation properties with respect to the humidifying liquid. Even if only the airflow is allowed to flow into the rectifying unit after the supply of the humidifying liquid is stopped, the humidifying liquid stored in the partition wall is vaporized and mixed with the airflow, so that an airflow having a constant humidity can be sent.

  Specifically, the partition wall is preferably an aggregate of fibers having affinity for the humidifying liquid, and is preferably a braided structure or a nonwoven fabric structure, for example. If a braided structure or a nonwoven fabric structure with adjustable gaps is formed using fibers having affinity for the humidifying liquid, and this is used as a partition, the liquid absorbency, liquid retention, liquid separation of the humidifying liquid A partition wall having excellent properties can be obtained. More specifically, the partition wall is preferably an aggregate of one or more fibers selected from acrylic, cupra, nylon, polypropylene, and cellulose, and has an affinity or imparts an affinity. It is preferably a resin film made of polyfluorocarbon such as Teflon (registered trademark), polypropylene, or cellulose. These materials are superior in liquid absorbency, liquid retention and liquid separation properties of the humidifying liquid, are excellent in flexibility, and are inexpensive. If the partition wall made of a material having excellent flexibility is used, the shape and size of the plurality of flow paths through which the airflow flows can be easily adjusted. For example, a bent rectifying unit can be easily manufactured. In addition, if a partition wall made of an inexpensive material is used, the rectifying unit can be removed and replaced on a daily basis, and since it is excellent in terms of hygiene, it can be suitably used for humidifying foodstuffs. For the purpose of maintaining the strength or shape of the partition wall, a metal wire or the like may be used as the partition wall material together with the above fiber-based material.

≪Control means≫
The humidifier according to the present invention may further include control means for controlling the humidification conditions, the direction of sending the humidified airflow, and the like according to the indoor environment to be humidified and the position and state of a person present in the place.

   A humidifier 100 shown in FIG. 1 is installed in a cylindrical duct 10 inside an air outlet 150 of an air conditioner installed in a vehicle. The airflow from the air conditioner blower passes through the duct 10 in the x direction and is discharged from the third rectifying plate 140 attached to the outlet 150 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. The humidifier 100 uses an air conditioner blower as an air supply unit. The humidifier 100 includes a tank 101 for storing a humidifying liquid (water in this embodiment), a pump 102, a pipe 103, a nozzle 104, a first rectifying plate 110 having a function of holding the nozzle 104, and a rectifying unit. 120 and a second rectifying plate 130. The first rectifying plate 110, the second rectifying plate 130, and the third rectifying plate 140 are substantially disc-shaped rectifying plates having openings that are arranged substantially evenly on the yz plane. The nozzle 104 is connected to the approximate center of the yz plane of the first rectifying plate 110, and the nozzle 104 and the tank 101 are connected by a pipe 103. When the pump 102 installed in the pipe 103 is driven, the humidified liquid in the tank 101 is sprayed from the nozzle 104 toward the rectifying unit 120. The tank 101, the pump 102, the pipe 103, and the nozzle 104 are an example of a liquid supply unit in the present invention.

  The rectifying unit 120 includes a plurality of tube assemblies 200 each having a hollow inside. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the tube assembly 200 is housed inside the frame member 210 in a state where a plurality of tubes 220 are arranged so as to surround the tube 220 c located in the center of the yz plane. The plurality of tubes 220 is an example of a partition wall in the present invention. The plurality of tubes 220 are cupra fiber non-woven structures, are permeable to gas, and are excellent in moisture absorption, liquid retention and liquid separation properties of the humidifying liquid. The frame member 210 is formed of a material that does not transmit gas and humidifying liquid. The plurality of tubes 220 have a sawtooth shape that is bent by about 15 ° alternately in the positive or negative direction of the z-axis at several locations along the direction in which the airflow flows into the rectifying unit 120 (x direction). The frame member 210 and the tube assembly 200 are fixed in the duct 10 via a connector or the like, and can be easily attached to and detached from the duct 10.

  By flowing the airflow from the air conditioner blower through each of the plurality of tubes 220 in the x direction through the first rectifying plate 110, the airflow can be rectified into a laminar flow and discharged from the second rectifying plate 130. As shown in FIG. 2, the position of the flow path 222c in the tube 220c and the nozzle 104 in the yz direction substantially coincide, and most of the humidified liquid sprayed from the nozzle 104 flows into the flow path 222c. The gas component (water vapor) of the vaporized humidified liquid and the liquid component (water) of the mist-shaped humidified liquid that has not been vaporized are mixed in the airflow flowing into the flow path 222c. As indicated by arrows in FIG. 2, the airflow and water vapor that have flowed into the flow path 222c mainly pass through the flow path 222c and are released from the second rectifying plate 130, but a part of the airflow and water vapor are discharged from the tube wall of the pipe 220c. Through the pipe wall of the other pipe 220 disposed outside the pipe 220c and into the other flow path 222. At least part of the water in the airflow is absorbed in both the process in which the airflow passes through the flow path 222c and the process in which the airflow passes through the pipe 220c and the like, but the airflow is generated by the plurality of pipes 220 (including the pipes 220c). In the process of passing through the tube wall, water in the air stream is absorbed more efficiently. Since the plurality of tubes 220 are bent by about 15 ° with respect to the direction in which the airflow flows into the rectifying unit 120 (x direction), the airflow easily hits the tube wall of the tube 220 that is a partition wall and passes efficiently. Water can be absorbed by the tube wall of the tube 220.

  The plurality of tubes 220 have high liquid retention and high liquid separation properties with respect to the humidifying liquid. For this reason, when the airflow passing through the flow path 222 in the other tube 220 disposed outside the tube 220c is touched, the humidified liquid stored in the plurality of tubes 220 (shown in an elliptical shape in FIG. 2) And mixed with the low-humidity airflow in the flow path 222. As a result, the airflow flowing through the flow path 222 in the other pipe 220 arranged outside the pipe 220c is humidified. As a result, the airflow with higher humidity is released toward the side closer to the flow path 222c supplied with the humidifying liquid, and the airflow with lower humidity is released toward the side farther from the flow path 222c supplied with the humidifying liquid. In the present embodiment, the nozzle 104 of the liquid supply unit has a humidifying liquid in one flow path 222c positioned substantially at the center (yz plane) perpendicular to the flow direction (x direction) of the airflow flowing into the rectifying unit 120. Therefore, a uniform humidity distribution can be obtained over the entire surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the airflow, and the humidity of the airflow and the position where the airflow is sent can be controlled more precisely. Further, the frame member 210 and the tube assembly 200 can be easily attached to and detached from the duct 10, and can be exchanged as necessary.

  In order to confirm the effect of the rectifying unit of the present invention, the air flow and the humidifying liquid are supplied to the rectifying units 1A to 5A having different materials or structures according to the following test examples 1 to 5 and discharged from the outlets of the rectifying units 1A to 5A. The change over time in the relative humidity and temperature of the airflow was investigated. In addition, the inlet side of the rectifying units 1A to 5A is hermetically sealed with the air flow and humidification liquid supply paths inserted, and the outlet side is connected to an outlet circular pipe having an inner diameter (diameter) of 40 mm and a flow path length of 150 mm. Was sealed. An air flow of 0.5 m / sec was introduced into the inlet of the test air flow channel, and 10 mL of water was sprayed as a humidifying liquid in 6 minutes every 30 seconds from the start of the test for a total of 3 minutes. A temperature sensor and a humidity sensor were installed in the outlet circular pipe, and the relative humidity and temperature of the airflow discharged from the outlets of the rectifying units 1A to 5A were measured.

(Test Example 1)
The rectifying unit 1A used in this test example has two non-woven fabric structures (Bencot (registered trademark)) of cupra fibers wound around the outer periphery of a stainless steel spiral wire having a length of 150 mm, an outer diameter of 8 mm, and an inner diameter of 7 mm. 14 tubes were prepared, bundled, sealed with a non-permeable tape, and further bent by about 15 °.

(Test Example 2)
The rectifying unit 2A used in this test example is different from the rectifying unit 1A in that the rectifying unit 2A is not bent but is orthogonal, and the others are the same.

(Test Example 3)
The rectifying unit 3A used in this test example is rectified in that a single non-woven structure (wipeall (registered trademark)) of pulp fiber and polypropylene fiber is used as a partition wall instead of a non-woven structure made of cupra. It is different from the part 1A, and the others are the same.

(Test Example 4)
The rectifying unit 4A used in this test example is different from the rectifying unit 2A in that the rectifying unit 120 is filled with 4 g of acrylic fiber instead of the nonwoven fabric structure made of cupra as a partition wall, and the others are the same. It is.

(Test Example 5)
The rectifying unit 5A used in the present test example is different from the rectifying unit 2A in that only the spiral wire is bundled without using the partition wall, and the others are the same.

  FIG. 4 shows the change over time of the relative humidity of the air flow supplied from the outlets of the rectification units 1A to 5A by supplying the air flow and water to the rectification units 1A to 5A, and FIG. 5 shows the change over time of the temperature. In addition, the numbers 1-5 attached | subjected to the line which shows each series in FIG.4, 5 are respectively corresponded to the number of Test Examples 1-5. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in Test Example 5, for 3 minutes from the start of the experiment in which water was sprayed into the airflow, the airflow humidity was the highest at 80% or more, and the temperature drop due to the heat of vaporization of water was remarkable. On the other hand, after the spraying of water is stopped, the humidity of the airflow is quickly reduced and reduced to about 20% 10 minutes after the start of the test, and the effect of lowering the temperature of the airflow due to the heat of vaporization of water cannot be obtained. It was.

  On the other hand, in Test Examples 1 to 4, the humidity of the airflow was suppressed to about 30 to 60% for 3 minutes from the start of the experiment in which water was sprayed into the airflow. This is because the water in the airflow is absorbed by the partition walls in the process in which the airflow passes through the plurality of flow paths (inside the tubular bodies surrounded by the respective partition walls) of the rectifying units 1A to 4A and is rectified into a laminar flow. It can be inferred that it was removed. Further, in Test Examples 1 to 3, humidification of the airflow was continued even after the spraying of water was stopped, and a humidity of about 40% was maintained until 25 minutes after the start of the test. This is because the partition walls of the rectifying units 1A to 3A are formed of a material having high liquid retention and high liquid separation properties with respect to water, so that only the airflow is stopped after the water supply is stopped. Even if it is made to flow into 3A, it is guessed that it was because the water stored in the partition vaporized and humidified the airflow. Referring to FIG. 5, in Test Examples 1 to 3, after the spraying of water was stopped, the temperature of the airflow was maintained at a low temperature of about 20 ° C. until 30 minutes after the start of the test, and the spraying of water was stopped. It is inferred that vaporization of the water stored in the partition walls has occurred in the subsequent rectifying units 1A to 3A. Further, in the bent rectifying unit 1A, the humidity of the airflow for 3 minutes from the start of the experiment in which water is sprayed in the airflow is suppressed more significantly than in the straightening rectifying unit 2A, and the spraying of water is stopped. The humidity of the airflow after that was also high. This is because the humidification effect of the airflow in the rectifying unit does not depend only on the material properties of the partition wall, but better humidification characteristics by bending the partition wall or adjusting the angle at which the liquid supply unit radiates the humidifying liquid It can be obtained.

  The rectifying units 1A to 4A are examples of the rectifying unit according to the present invention, and are a plurality of flow paths that are separated from each other by partition walls that are formed of a material that is permeable to gas and that can absorb water as a humidifying liquid. And rectifies the incoming airflow into a laminar flow. By the humidification test, the rectifying units 1A to 4A are used as a humidifying device in combination with an air supply unit that generates an airflow and a liquid supply unit that supplies the humidifying liquid to the airflow. In the process where the airflow passes through the plurality of flow paths of the rectification unit and is rectified into a laminar flow, the partition wall separating the flow paths It was revealed that the humidifying liquid was absorbed and removed.

  In the second embodiment, the plurality of pipes 320 are orthogonal to the airflow direction (x direction), are not bent, and the nozzle 104 is inclined with respect to the x direction, so that the inner wall surface of the pipe 320 is In contrast to the first embodiment, the humidifying liquid is sprayed. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. According to the second embodiment, since the humidifying liquid is released toward the partition wall of the rectifying unit, the excessive humidifying liquid can be efficiently absorbed by the partition wall. The angle at which the humidifying liquid is emitted is preferably 1 ° to 45 ° with respect to the partition wall, more preferably 10 ° to 20 °, and particularly preferably about 15 °.

10 Duct
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Humidifier 101 Tank 102 Pump 103 Piping 104 Nozzle 120 Rectification part 200 Tube aggregate 210 Frame material 220, 220c Tube 222, 222c Flow path

Claims (9)

An air supply section for generating an air flow;
A liquid supply unit for supplying a humidifying liquid to the air stream;
A humidifier comprising: a plurality of flow paths separated from each other by partition walls made of a material that is permeable to gas and capable of absorbing the humidifying liquid; and a rectifying unit that rectifies the flowing airflow into a laminar flow. apparatus.   The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply unit supplies the humidifying liquid into at least one flow path of the rectifying unit.   The humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the liquid supply unit supplies the humidifying liquid into at least one flow path located substantially in the center of a plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the airflow flowing into the rectifying unit.   The humidifying device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the humidifying liquid is discharged toward a partition wall of the rectifying unit.   The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of flow paths of the rectifying unit are bent.   The humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a flow path resistance of a flow path for supplying the humidifying liquid is higher than a flow path resistance of a flow path for not supplying the humidifying liquid.   The humidifier according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the partition wall is an aggregate of fibers having affinity for the humidifying liquid.   The humidifying device according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is an aggregate of one or more fibers selected from acrylic, cupra, nylon, polypropylene, and cellulose.   The humidifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rectifying unit is installed at an air outlet of an air conditioning system of a vehicle.