JP2022036571A - Ozone generator and lighting control method of excimer lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

To achieve lamp lighting control by which the emission of a gas containing high-concentration ozone is suppressed in an ozone generator using an excimer lamp.SOLUTION: When ozone generation operation is turned on by the operation of a power switch button 22 and a timer dial 24 by an operator, the lighting of an excimer lamp 30 is started by time-shifting by a prescribed delay time in a process ranging from the starting of a blower 40 until a flow rate of gas in a flow passage pipe 20 becomes constant.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an ozone generator using an excimer lamp.

In an ozone generator equipped with an excimer lamp, ozone is generated by irradiation with ultraviolet rays by the excimer lamp, and ozone is discharged to the outside by a blower fan or the like. The ozone generator is provided with a power button, a timer button, etc. operated by the user, and the blower fan operates and the excimer lamp lights up according to the user's power button and timer setting operation (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

If high-concentration ozone gas is released, it may affect the human body, so it is not preferable for the operator to be near the ozone generator during operation. Therefore, there is known an ozone generator that operates the blower fan first and starts lighting the lamp after a lapse of time in consideration of the worker leaving the room (see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-43786 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-15361

Ozone generators have various usage environments such as hospital beds, common spaces for recreational facilities, and hotel guest rooms, and their installation locations and operating environments also vary. For example, in the case of a portable compact type ozone generator, when the ozone generation is turned on and the operation is started, it is necessary for the operator to check whether the lamp is not turned off due to an abnormality in the device, and the delayed lighting of the lamp hinders the work. May cause.

However, in the case of an ultraviolet irradiation type ozone generator using an excimer lamp, unlike a discharge type ozone generator, a gas containing a high concentration of ozone is generated at the same time as the lamp is turned on. Therefore, there is a risk that a gas containing a high concentration of ozone will be released immediately after the device operation is turned on.

Therefore, in an ozone generator using an excimer lamp, lamp lighting control that suppresses the emission of gas containing a high concentration of ozone is required.

The ozone generator of the present invention comprises an excimer lamp, a blower arranged along a flow path of a fluid containing oxygen flowing around the excimer lamp, and a control unit for controlling the lighting of the excimer lamp and the operation of the blower. Be prepared. For example, the excimer lamp can be arranged at a position facing the opening of the blower, and can be arranged in the vicinity of the outflow side opening on the opposite side of the blower in the flow path pipe.

In the present invention, the control unit starts lighting of the excimer lamp and starts operation of the blower so that the maximum value of the ozone concentration at the outlet of the flow path after the start of lighting of the excimer lamp is within a range not exceeding a predetermined concentration. Delay from. Here, the "predetermined concentration" represents the upper limit of the maximum value of the ozone concentration and can be determined according to a standard or the like.

For example, when the flow in the flow path is not sufficient and the excimer lamp is not sufficiently cooled, the ozone concentration becomes highest at the moment (immediately after) the start of lighting. Therefore, the moment when the lighting starts, the concentration value higher than the upper limit or the standard concentration value, which is set by the government and standard organizations, considering the influence on the human body during long-time work at the rated output (constant air volume) of the blower. It can be set as a "predetermined concentration" in consideration of the effect on the human body in a short time (immediately after). The “channel outlet” in which the ozone concentration is detected includes, for example, an ozone discharge port of an ozone generator, an outlet of a channel tube, and the like, and may be an ozone concentration near the outlet.

The delay time for starting the lamp lighting can be determined according to the ozone generation amount of the excimer lamp, the operating characteristics of the blower, the arrangement of the excimer lamp in the flow path, and the like. For example, the control unit can delay the start of lighting of the excimer lamp from the start of operation of the blower according to the delay time determined based on the ozone generation amount of the excimer lamp and the operating characteristics of the blower. Further, the delay time may be determined based on the distance between the excimer lamp and the outlet of the flow path.

Considering that the excimer lamp is turned on promptly when the ozone generation operation is started, the control unit starts turning on the excimer lamp until the flow rate of the flow path after the start of operation of the blower becomes substantially constant. Just let me do it. For example, when the excimer lamp is arranged at a position facing the opening of the blower, the control unit may start lighting the excimer lamp in the middle of the operation transition period from the start of operation of the blower to the substantially constant air volume. Just do it. Considering that the timing when the ultraviolet illuminance becomes maximum occurs in the operation transition period from the initial operation of the blower to the rated output, the maximum ozone concentration is within the range not exceeding the predetermined concentration within the operation transition period. As described above, the lighting start delay of the excimer lamp may be delayed.

It is possible to provide a timer dial operated to set the ozone generation time and a power switch button operated to set the device power ON / OFF. In this case, when the power switch button is operated after the timer dial operation, the ozone generation operation may be turned on. It is also possible to configure the ozone generation operation to be ON when the timer dial is operated after the power switch button is operated.

In the flow path, a window that transmits light having a wavelength longer than that of ultraviolet rays emitted from the excimer lamp may be formed at a position where the discharge generation region of the excimer lamp can be visually recognized from the side operated by the operator.

Another aspect of the present invention, the method of controlling the lighting of the excimer lamp, is an operation of generating ozone by an operator in an ozone generator provided with an excimer lamp arranged in a flow path through which a fluid flows along the blowing direction of the blower. According to this, the start of lighting of the excimer lamp is delayed from the start of operation of the blower so that the maximum value of the ozone concentration at the outlet of the flow path after the start of lighting of the excimer lamp is within the range not exceeding the predetermined concentration. And.

According to the present invention, in an ozone generator using an excimer lamp, it is possible to realize lamp lighting control that suppresses the emission of gas containing a high concentration of ozone.

It is a schematic internal block diagram of the ozone generator of this embodiment. It is a figure which showed the flow of the ozone generation operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic internal configuration diagram of the ozone generator according to the present embodiment.

The ozone generator 10 includes a flow path tube 20, an excimer lamp 30, a blower 40, a lamp power supply 50, and a control unit 60, and can be used for applications such as sterilization and deodorization by emitted ozone. Here, a grip (not shown) is provided so that it can be carried to various places such as hotel rooms, shared spaces for recreational facilities, and hospital beds, and is compact enough to be installed vertically (directly above) or horizontally. It is configured as a type ozone generator.

When the ozone generator 10 is installed directly above, the flow path tubes 20 are arranged along the vertical direction, and the window 20W that transmits light having a wavelength longer than the ultraviolet rays radiated from the excimer lamp 30 discharges the excimer lamp 30. The area where the radiant is generated is provided at a position where it can be visually recognized from the side operated by the operator. The excimer lamp 30 is coaxially arranged in the flow path FP of the flow path tube 20, and the blower 40 is also coaxially arranged near the bottom side opening (hereinafter referred to as the inflow port) 20A of the flow path tube 20. ..

On the front side of the housing (not shown) of the ozone generator 10, a power switch button 22 operated to set the device power ON / OFF and an ozone generation time (period) set are operated. A timer dial 24 is provided. The timer dial 24 is inserted into the rotating shaft of the motor-driven variable resistor 23.

The operator can set the ozone generation operation ON time with a predetermined time (for example, 12 hours) as the maximum time, and when the timer dial 24 is rotated to the operation OFF set position by the motor drive, the ozone generation operation is turned off. Further, the operator can forcibly turn off the ozone generation operation by manually turning the timer dial 24 to the rotation limit position (operation OFF setting position).

The lamp power supply 50 includes a switching power supply that converts a commercial frequency voltage into a high frequency voltage, and a step-up transformer that boosts the high frequency voltage and supplies power to the excimer lamp 30. The control unit 60 controls the operation of the ozone generator 10, controls the lighting of the excimer lamp 30, and controls the ozone generation operation including the blower 40.

When the operator turns on the ozone generation operation by operating the power switch button 22 and the timer dial 24, the blower 40 operates and the excimer lamp 30 lights up. The excimer lamp 30 irradiates the gas (fluid) containing oxygen flowing into the flow path tube 20 by the blower 40 with ultraviolet rays, thereby generating ozone. By visually recognizing light (visible light) having a wavelength longer than that of ultraviolet rays radiated from the excimer lamp 30 through the window portion 20W provided on the operating side, the excimer lamp 30 lights up and ozone is generated. Recognize that it has started. The generated ozone-containing gas flows out from the upper surface side opening (hereinafter referred to as an outlet) 20B of the flow path tube 20, and is discharged to the outside through the device opening 10A.

The ozone generator 10 is an ultraviolet irradiation type ozone generator, and is more likely to generate high-concentration ozone at the moment when the lamp is turned on, as compared with the discharge type. In general, the ultraviolet illuminance emitted from the excimer lamp 30 tends to decrease (particularly, 172 nm) as the surface temperature of the excimer lamp 30 rises.

Therefore, if there is no gas flow in the flow path tube 20 at the start of lighting of the excimer lamp, or if the flow rate is low, the excimer lamp is insufficiently cooled at the start of lighting of the lamp and is in an overheated state. Immediately after the lamp 30 starts lighting, the ultraviolet illuminance becomes maximum and the amount of ozone generated becomes maximum, and then the ultraviolet illuminance decreases.

On the other hand, the blower 40 has a period from the start of rotation to a constant rotation speed (hereinafter referred to as an operation transition period) due to its inertia, and at the initial motion moment of the blower 40, the gas volume is based on the rated output of the blower 40. It is not possible to blow air. Therefore, there is a maximum timing of the ultraviolet illuminance within the operation transition period in which the gas flow in the flow path tube 20 is hardly generated or insufficient, and the ozone concentration becomes the maximum at that time.

Since the flow rate (air volume) of the gas flowing from the inflow port 20A to the outflow port 20B in the flow path pipe 20 depends on the operation of the blower 40, the air volume based on the rated output of the blower 40 after the operation transition period of the blower 40 has passed. A gas flow due to the above, that is, a gas flow having a desired ozone concentration in rated operation occurs. Therefore, when the excimer lamp 30 is turned on at the same time as the operation of the blower 40 is started, the gas containing high concentration ozone is released immediately after the start of the operation.

In particular, since the ozone generator 10 is configured as a compact type device here, the outlet 20B of the flow path tube 20 is located near the device opening 10A, and the excimer lamp 30 is the inlet 20A (blower 40). ) And the outlet 20B are arranged so as to face each other. That is, the inflow port 20A and the outflow port 20B are arranged facing each other at a minimum distance interval for accommodating the excimer lamp 30 in a state where dielectric breakdown can be prevented. Here, the distance interval L2 between one end of the excimer lamp 30 and the outlet 20B along the axis E of the flow path pipe 20 is shorter than the distance interval L1 from the inlet 20A to one end thereof. Therefore, when the excimer lamp 30 starts lighting, a gas containing a high concentration of ozone is likely to be released to the outside of the device.

In the present embodiment, when the ozone generation operation is set to ON by the operator, the excimer lamp 30 is lit in a delayed manner in consideration of the flow rate of the gas in the flow path tube 20. However, the delayed lighting here does not give a grace period for the worker to leave the room, etc., and while the ozone generation operation is executed according to the ozone generation operation ON setting, the concentration is high at the same time as the operation starts. A delay time is set for the purpose of suppressing the emission of the ozone-containing gas from the ozone generator 10.

Specifically, the excimer so that the maximum ozone concentration in the device opening 10A does not exceed a predetermined concentration in the process up to the rated operation in which the gas flow rate in the flow path tube 20 becomes substantially constant. The lighting start timing of the lamp 30 is delayed from the operation start timing of the blower 40.

The predetermined concentration can be set to a value recommended by a standard body or the like, or a value based on the value, in consideration of, for example, the ozone concentration that affects the human body even in a short time. Here, the blower 40 is set to a value higher than the upper limit concentration value determined by the flow state (rated operation) in which the operation transition period is exceeded and the air volume is constant, or the reference ozone concentration value. Since it is within the operation transition period when the ultraviolet irradiation illuminance is maximum, the output of the excimer lamp 30 and the diameter of the flow path tube 20 are set so that the maximum ozone concentration value in the operation transition period does not exceed the predetermined concentration. The size, the length of the flow path, the air volume of the blower 40, and the like are defined.

The blower 40 rotates while accelerating from a stopped state to a constant rotation speed. During the operation transition period in which the rotation speed is increasing, the flow rate of the gas in the flow path tube 20 is not yet substantially constant, and the flow rate continues to increase. When the excimer lamp 30 is turned on in this state, the ozone concentration of the gas flowing out from the flow path tube 20 does not increase sharply because ozone is generated in the state where the gas is flowing in the flow path tube 20. , The maximum value of ozone concentration can be suppressed to a predetermined concentration or less.

After that, as the rotation speed of the blower 40 increases, the air volume increases and the ozone concentration decreases, and the amount of ozone generated by the excimer lamp 30 and the air volume of the blower 40 are balanced. The ozone concentration becomes constant.

As described above, when the excimer lamp 30 is turned on at the same time as the rotation of the blower 40 starts (before the rotation starts), the excimer lamp 30 radiates from the excimer lamp 30 in a state where almost no gas flows in the flow path tube 20. When the ultraviolet irradiation is maximized, a large amount of ozone is generated, a gas containing a high concentration of ozone is released to the outside of the device, and the maximum value of the ozone concentration during the operation transition period exceeds a predetermined concentration.

However, by starting the excimer lamp 30 to start lighting during the transition period until the flow rate of the gas in the flow path tube 20 becomes constant, it is possible to prevent the gas containing such a high concentration of ozone from being released to the outside of the device. be able to. Then, the ozone concentration of the gas released to the outside of the device is consistently set to a predetermined concentration from the start of lighting of the excimer lamp 30 as well as the start of lighting of the excimer lamp 30 after a sufficient time has elapsed such as considering the worker leaving period. The gas flow does not exceed. By time-shifting the start of lighting of the excimer lamp 30 for a relatively short time from the start of operation of the blower 40, an appropriate ozone generation operation is enabled.

In the ozone generator 10 here, the outlet 20B of the flow path tube 20 is adjacent to the device opening 10A. Therefore, when the rotation speed of the blower 40 is constant, that is, when the air volume becomes substantially constant, it can be considered that the flow rate of the flow path pipe 20 is close to substantially constant. Therefore, it is possible to turn on the excimer lamp 30 at the timing when the air volume of the blower 40 becomes substantially constant.

Further, the lighting delay time of the excimer lamp 30 may be determined by the ozone concentration increase characteristic. The ozone concentration increase characteristic is determined by the amount of ozone generated by the excimer lamp 30, the amount of air in the blower 40, and the like, and can be obtained experimentally. For example, when the ozone production amount is 3 (mg / h) and the flow rate of the blower 40 is 1 (m ³ / min) or more, the delay time can be set to 0.5 seconds. Further, a delay time longer than 0.5 seconds may be set as long as the operation transition period is until the air volume of the blower 40 becomes substantially constant.

On the other hand, the shorter the distance interval L2 between one end of the excimer lamp 30 and the outlet 20B, the higher the possibility that a gas containing a high concentration of ozone will be released to the outside of the device. You can set the time.

If the short-circuit current when the excimer lamp 30 is instantaneously started to light by the high frequency high voltage and the inrush current at the start of the operation of the blower 40 flow at the same time, a malfunction may occur depending on the device. Such electrical characteristics correlate with the amount of ozone generated by the excimer lamp 30 and the amount of air in the blower 40. Therefore, it is possible to set the delay time including the electrical characteristics.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of ozone generation operation. When the device power is turned on by the operation of the power switch button 22 by the operator, the operation is started.

The control unit 60 determines whether or not the operator is operating the timer dial 24 (S101). When it is determined that the predetermined rotation position has been exceeded due to the operation of the timer dial 24 and the resistance value exceeding a predetermined threshold value, the ozone generation operation is set to the ON state (S102). Regarding the operation of the timer dial 24, the timer dial 24 is operated and stopped at a predetermined rotation position, and the resistance value becomes constant for a predetermined time (for example, several seconds), so that the control unit 60 determines the position of the timer dial 24. It may be determined that the ozone generation operation is ON.

The control unit 60 outputs a control signal instructing the blower 40 to start operation (S103), and causes the blower 40 to start operation. Then, a control signal is output to the lamp power source 50 according to a predetermined delay time, and the excimer lamp 30 is turned on (S104). The ozone generation operation continues until the timer dial 24 rotates and moves to the ozone generation operation OFF set position.

When the timer dial 24 is rotated to the ozone generation operation OFF set position by the motor drive (S105), the control unit 60 sets the ozone generation operation OFF, outputs a control signal to turn off the excimer lamp 30, and stops the blower 40. (S106). The control unit 60 can determine that the timer dial 24 has been rotated by the motor drive to the ozone generation operation OFF set position due to the resistance value exceeding a predetermined value or the like.

When the operator rotates the timer dial 24 to the ozone generation operation OFF set position, or when the power switch button 22 is switched to OFF, it is determined that the ozone generation operation is set to OFF, and the ozone generation operation is performed. Should be terminated. In this case, the ozone generation operation OFF setting position operated by the operator may be different from the ozone generation operation OFF setting position driven by the motor.

In FIG. 2, the ozone generation operation when the timer dial 24 is operated after the operation of the power switch button 22 has been described, but conversely, after the operator operates the timer dial 24, the power switch button 22 is switched to ON. The ozone generation operation may be performed by performing the above operation and setting the ozone generation operation to ON accordingly.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the ozone generation operation is turned on by the operation of the power switch button 22 and the timer dial 24 of the operator, the gas flow in the flow path tube 20 flows after the blower 40 is started. In the process until it becomes constant, the excimer lamp 30 is started to light by time-shifting by a predetermined delay time. Just by operating the power switch button 22 and the timer dial 24, it is possible to exert sterilization and deodorizing effects by appropriate ozone generation, and it is possible to operate under various operating conditions.

By providing a time lag between the start of the blower 40 and the excimer lamp 30, it is possible to promptly start ozone generation and ozone emission, while the gas containing high concentration ozone is immediately after the start of ozone generation operation. It is not released and can prevent the effect on the human body, sterilization, sterilization target, etc. Further, after the ozone generation operation is turned on, if ozone is not generated due to some equipment failure and an abnormality occurs, the operator can notice the failure. The operator may leave the room after visually recognizing the lighting of the excimer lamp through the window formed in the flow path.

The size of the space where the ozone generator 10 is installed varies, and the time required for a person to evacuate to the outside of the room also differs depending on the size of the space and the evacuation route, and it is possible to set an appropriate time in advance. Have difficulty. In the ozone generator 10 of the present embodiment, the ozone generation operation can be started when the ozone generation operation is turned on, regardless of the size of the space of the installation location.

Regarding the timer dial 24, the operating conditions may be changed depending on the rotation position. Further, a rotation position for switching to the ozone generation operation ON may be set, and the timer dial 24 may be detected to rotate to that position and set to the ozone generation operation ON state. At this time, the timer dial 24 may be stopped by driving the motor for a certain period of time, and the ozone generation operation may be set to the ON state accordingly. In addition, it is possible to change the operating conditions (adjusting the air volume of the blower, etc.) according to the rotation position of the timer dial 24, and remote control is also possible.

In the present embodiment, the ozone generator 10 is configured as a compact device, but it can also be applied to a permanently installed ozone generator. In this case, the length of the flow path pipe, the distance interval from the excimer lamp outlet in the flow path tube, the distance interval between the flow path tube outlet and the device opening (outlet), the distance between the blower and the excimer lamp. The time from the start of the blower to the time when the flow rate in the flow path tube becomes substantially constant differs depending on the difference in time. The excimer lamp 30 may be lit with a delay in consideration of these influences.

10 Ozone generator 20 Channel tube 20W Window 22 Power switch button 24 Timer dial 30 Excimer lamp 40 Blower 50 Lamp power 60 Control unit

Claims (10)

Excimer lamp and
A blower arranged along the flow path of a fluid containing oxygen flowing around the excimer lamp, and
It is equipped with a control unit that controls the lighting of the excimer lamp and the operation of the blower.
The control unit starts lighting the excimer lamp so that the maximum ozone concentration in the outlet or the vicinity of the outlet of the flow path after the start of lighting of the excimer lamp is within a range not exceeding a predetermined concentration. An ozone generator characterized in that the operation of the blower is delayed from the start. Until the flow rate of the flow path becomes substantially constant after the operation of the blower is started by the control unit.
The ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein the excimer lamp is turned on. The excimer lamp is arranged at a position facing the opening of the blower.
The ozone generator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts lighting the excimer lamp in the middle of an operation transition period from the start of operation of the blower to the substantially constant air volume. The claim is characterized in that the control unit delays the start of lighting of the excimer lamp from the start of operation of the blower so that the maximum value of ozone concentration within the operation transition period falls within a range not exceeding a predetermined concentration. Item 3. The ozone generator according to item 3. Claims 1 to 4, wherein the start of lighting of the excimer lamp is delayed from the start of operation of the blower according to a delay time determined based on the ozone generation amount of the excimer lamp and the operating characteristics of the blower. The ozone generator according to any one. The ozone generator according to claim 5, wherein the delay time is further determined based on the distance between the excimer lamp and the outlet of the flow path. A timer dial operated to set the ozone generation time,
It also has a power switch button that is operated to set the device power ON / OFF.
The ozone generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the power switch button is operated after the timer dial operation, the ozone generation operation is turned on. A timer dial operated to set the ozone generation time,
It also has a power switch button that is operated to set the device power ON / OFF.
The ozone generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when the timer dial is operated after the power switch button operation, the ozone generation operation is turned on. In the flow path, a window that transmits light having a wavelength longer than that of ultraviolet rays radiated from the excimer lamp is formed at a position where the discharge generation region of the excimer lamp can be visually recognized from the side operated by the operator. The ozone generator according to any one of claims 1 to 8. In an ozone generator equipped with an excimer lamp arranged in a flow path through which a fluid flows along the blowing direction of the blower.
According to the operation of generating ozone by the operator, the excimer is set so that the maximum value of the ozone concentration in the vicinity of the outlet or the outlet of the flow path after the excimer lamp is turned on does not exceed the predetermined concentration. A method for controlling the lighting of an excimer lamp, which comprises delaying the start of lighting of the lamp from the start of operation of the blower.

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