JP2023019220A - Indoor atmosphere cleaning system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an indoor atmosphere cleaning system to cause droplets and aerosol generated by people to be entrained in an air curtain and discharged outdoors, where the system prevents the aerosol entrained in the air curtain from flowing back indoors.SOLUTION: An air curtain unit 2 forms an air curtain C indoors, which is an upward sheet flow. An upper structure 3 positioned above the air curtain C horizontally divides the interior. Ventilation means 1 discharges air outdoors through an air outlet 10 positioned in a wall surface above the upper structure 3. The upper structure 3 partitions a space above a suction fan 61 to form multiple vertically extending wind guides 30. Even if a horizontal position of the air curtain unit 2 is changed, the discharge wind from the air curtain C does not flow back indoors but is discharged outdoors.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The invention of this application relates to an indoor atmosphere purification technique for preventing virus infection.

At the time this application is filed, the novel coronavirus pandemic has become a major social problem. Particularly affected are facilities such as restaurants and conference rooms, where the problem of aerosols (sometimes written as aerosols, but in the present application is unified as aerosols) tends to become serious. In such places, people emit aerosols when eating, drinking and talking. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently acknowledged that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted by aerosols. That is, if the aerosol contains viruses, the risk of infection is greatly increased.

JP 2020-79697 A Japanese Patent No. 6868922

In consideration of the recent situation as described above, the applicant of the present application forms an air curtain in front of a person who emits droplets or aerosols (hereinafter collectively referred to as aerosols), puts the aerosols on the air curtain, and discharges the aerosols. Or, a patent application has been filed for a harmless atmosphere cleaning structure (Patent Document 2). In the invention of this application, the aerosol emitted by a person is sucked by a fan, rendered harmless through an antiviral HEPA filter, and released indoors.

However, HEPA filters, such as antiviral HEPA filters, are generally expensive and need to be replaced after a certain period of use due to clogging (lifetime). For this reason, running costs are likely to be a problem. In order to purify the indoor atmosphere without using an expensive filter such as an antiviral HEPA filter, it is necessary to exhaust the aerosol placed on the air curtain to the outside by exhaust means.

However, exhaust air from the air curtain mechanism cannot be sufficiently exhausted to the outside only by the exhaust means normally installed in order to comply with the Building Standards Law, etc., and part of the exhaust air is returned indoors. As a result, the aerosol placed on the air curtain will diffuse indoors.

The invention of this application was made to solve such problems, and is an indoor atmosphere purification system that discharges droplets and aerosols emitted by people on an air curtain, and uses an expensive filter. It is an unnecessary outdoor discharge type system, and the purpose is to prevent the aerosol placed on the air curtain from flowing back indoors.

In order to solve the above problems, this specification discloses an invention of an indoor atmosphere purification system. The disclosed indoor atmosphere purification system is an indoor atmosphere purification system that purifies the indoor atmosphere by discharging aerosols emitted from people indoors to the outside.
This system
an air curtain unit that forms an air curtain that is a planar flow indoors from bottom to top;
an upper structure that horizontally partitions the interior at a position above the air curtain formed by the air curtain unit;
and exhaust means for exhausting the indoor air through an exhaust port provided at a position above the upper structure of the ceiling or wall.
The air curtain unit is a unit that can be placed in any horizontal position indoors.
The upper structure is a structure that divides the space above the suction fan and forms a plurality of vertically extending air guide passages,
The distance between the position where the wind is discharged by the air curtain in the air curtain unit and the end of the upper structure on the side of the air curtain unit is 1 m or less,
The upper structure has a shape in which the cross-sectional area of the air guide passage is 2 m ² or less or 1 m ² or less.
Further, in the above indoor atmosphere purification system, the upper structure may be a structure that forms an air guide passage with a square cross section.
Further, in the above indoor atmosphere cleaning system, the upper structure may be provided with a blocking plate that blocks the air ducts other than the air duct located right above the air curtain unit.
Further, in the above indoor atmosphere cleaning system, the upper structure may be provided with an auxiliary exhaust fan for upwardly exhausting the inside of the air guide located directly above the air curtain unit.
Further, in the above indoor atmosphere cleaning system, the air guide passage of the upper structure may be provided with an upper rectifier that divides the air guide passage into a plurality of fine air passages extending in the vertical direction.
Further, in order to solve the above problems, an indoor atmosphere purification system according to another disclosed invention is a system for purifying an indoor atmosphere by discharging aerosols emitted from people indoors to the outside,
an air curtain unit that forms an air curtain that is a planar flow indoors from bottom to top;
an upper structure provided at a position above the air curtain formed by the air curtain unit;
and exhaust means for exhausting the indoor air through an exhaust port provided at a position above the upper structure of the ceiling or wall.
The air curtain unit is a unit that can be placed in any horizontal position indoors.
The upper structure is a tact unit that connects the suction fan and the exhaust port of the air curtain unit.
In addition, the indoor atmosphere purification system according to the above-described another invention includes:
The suction fan of the air curtain unit and the suction opening of the duct unit are spaced apart, and the width of the suction opening in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the air curtain formed by the air curtain unit is equal to the suction of the air curtain unit. It may have a configuration that is greater than the horizontal width of the fan.

As described below, according to the indoor atmosphere purification system according to the disclosed invention, the air curtain unit forms an air curtain that is a vertical air flow from the bottom to the top, and exhaust air from the air curtain unit is It is quickly discharged outdoors through the superstructure. Therefore, the aerosol exhaled by one of the people facing each other across the air curtain is quickly discharged outdoors without reaching the other person, thereby preventing indoor infection. Since the system is an outdoor exhaust type system that does not require the use of an expensive filter, it can be constructed at a low cost, and the aerosol carried on the air curtain does not flow back indoors, so that the effect of purifying the indoor atmosphere can be further enhanced.
In a configuration in which the upper structure is a structure that divides the space above the suction fan and forms a plurality of vertically extending air guide passages, the above effect does not change even if the horizontal position of the air curtain unit is changed. In addition, the equipment does not become large-scale, and the appearance does not deteriorate.
In addition, when the upper structure is a structure that forms an air guide passage with a square cross section, the effect of facilitating assembly of the upper structure can be obtained.
In addition, in a configuration in which a blocking plate is provided to block the air guide paths other than the air guide path located directly above the air curtain unit, the flow velocity increases in the air guide path directly above the air curtain, so indoor circulation prevention is further improved. more effective.
In addition, in a configuration in which an auxiliary exhaust fan is provided to exhaust upward through the air guide located directly above the air curtain unit, the flow velocity in the air guide directly above the air curtain is further increased, thus preventing indoor recirculation. more effective.
In addition, in the configuration in which the upper rectifier is provided in the introduction path, the upward rectification action is promoted, and the indoor reflux prevention effect is enhanced.
The suction fan of the air curtain unit and the suction opening of the duct unit are separated from each other, and the width of the suction opening in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the air curtain formed by the air curtain unit is equal to the suction of the air curtain unit. With a configuration larger than the width of the fan in the horizontal direction, even if the air curtain unit is moved in the width direction, the effect of purifying the indoor atmosphere can still be obtained, and in this respect, the system is highly flexible.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an indoor atmosphere purification system of a first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing the detailed structure of the air curtain unit; FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing the detailed structure of the air curtain unit; 1 is a perspective schematic view of a rectifier; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic front cross-sectional view for explaining an example of an installation structure of an air curtain unit; It is the front schematic diagram which showed about the effect|action of an upper structure. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view explaining the mounting position (height) of the upper structure and the size of the air guide passage. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view explaining the mounting position (height) of the upper structure and the size of the air guide passage. 1 is a schematic diagram of an indoor atmosphere purification system of a second embodiment; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an indoor atmosphere purification system of a second embodiment; FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional front view of an indoor atmosphere purification system of a third embodiment; FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of an indoor atmosphere purification system of a fourth embodiment; FIG. 11 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of an indoor atmosphere purification system of a fourth embodiment; FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of an indoor atmosphere purification system of a fifth embodiment; FIG. 11 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of an indoor atmosphere purification system of a fifth embodiment;

Hereinafter, modes (embodiments) for carrying out the disclosed invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an indoor atmosphere cleaning system according to the first embodiment. The indoor atmosphere purification system shown in FIG. 1 is a system for purifying an indoor atmosphere by discharging aerosols generated by people indoors to the outside. A room in which this system is installed is provided with an exhaust port 10 on the upper part of the wall or on the ceiling, and an exhaust means 1 for exhausting the indoor air through the exhaust port 10 is provided. The exhaust means 1 is typically an exhaust fan.

The indoor atmosphere purification system of this embodiment includes an air curtain unit 2 and an upper structure 3, and aerosols emitted from people are sent upward on the air curtain C and passed through the upper structure 3. It is a system that discharges to the outside from the exhaust port 10 .
In this embodiment, the air curtain unit 2 is a movable unit installed on the table 8, and is a unit that forms an air curtain C that is a planar air flow vertically flowing from bottom to top. be. Movable means that it can move horizontally in the room.

2 and 3 are schematic diagrams showing the detailed structure of the air curtain unit 2, where FIG. 2 is a schematic front view and FIG. 3 is a schematic side view.
In this embodiment, the air curtain unit 2 has a shield 4 and is a unit that forms air curtains C on both sides (left and right) of the shield 4 along the shield 4 .
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air curtain unit 2 includes a blower box 5 provided on the lower side and a suction box 6 provided on the upper side. A blower fan 51 is provided in the blower box 5, and a suction fan 61 is provided in the suction box 6. These fans 51, 61 form an air curtain C. As shown in FIG.

The blowing box 5 and the suction box 6 are generally elongated rectangular parallelepiped boxes formed of a plurality of members, and are fixed to each other on supports 7 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction.
The shield 4 is a transparent acrylic plate, vinyl sheet, or the like. The shield 4 is attached to the suction box 6 by a fixture 41 and suspended.

First, the structure inside the blower box 5 will be described. As can be seen from FIG. 1, square fans 51 are arranged in a row. As shown in FIG. 2 , the blower fans 51 arranged in a line are accommodated in the blower box 5 . Each blower fan 51 is a small axial fan with an outside dimension of about 2 to 12 cm square. Those used for cooling the CPU in desktop PCs can be suitably used. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the longitudinal direction of the long blowing box 5 is simply referred to as the longitudinal direction, and the horizontal direction perpendicular thereto is referred to as the lateral direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , a horizontal partition plate 52 is provided in the blower box 5 to partition the front side (downstream side) of each blower fan 51 . The partition plate 52 has a wind control port 520 . This is an opening for restricting the air blown out from each blower fan 51 to only the central region in the lateral direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the wind control port 520 has a slit shape elongated in the longitudinal direction.

The space above the partition plate 52 is a space for branching and rectifying. Air passage plates 53 are provided on the left and right sides of the space above the partition plate 52 . Each air passage plate 53 is a member that extends downward from the upper plate portion 56 of the blower box 5. The left and right ends of the partition plate 52 are bent and extend upward, and the upwardly extending portions are the air passage plates 53, respectively. is fixed to
A rectifier 55 is fixed inside each air passage plate 53 . The rectifier 55 adjusts the flow from the blower fan 51 into a vertical air flow from bottom to top. The rectifier 55 is fixed at a position directly below the positions where the left and right air curtains C are formed.
In this example, as the rectifier 55, a member forming finely divided air passages that are elongated in the vertical direction is used. FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of a rectifier.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the rectifier 55 is a member forming a small air passage 550 having a square cross section. It is preferable that one side of the cross section of the air passage 550 is 2 mm or more and 20 mm or less. If it is less than 2 mm, the conductance becomes too small, and the air volume of the air curtain C is reduced, resulting in less effect. If it is larger than 20 mm, the rectifying action will be deteriorated, and the air curtain C will not be formed as a vertical flow. When the cross-sectional shape of the air passage 550 is rectangular, it is preferable that the length of the long side is 20 mm or less and the length of the short side is 2 mm or more.
As such a rectifier 55, for example, a plastic cardboard material sold under the name of Pradan can be used. It is possible to use a plastic cardboard material cut into a predetermined size, and a plurality of sheets laminated and adhered together.

The left and right air passage plates 53 and the rectifier 55 are elongated in the longitudinal direction. The upper plate portion 56 of the blower box 5 has left and right openings matching the shape of the upper end of the rectifier 55, and the rectifier 55 is fitted into the openings with the upper end flush with the upper plate portion. It is fixed to the upper plate portion 56 of the blower box 5 with an L-shaped plate.
The bottom plate portion 57 of the blower box 5 has an attachment opening for the blower fan 51, and the blower fan 51 is fitted in the attachment opening. The side plate portion 58 of the blower box 5 has a leakage port 580 for letting out the wind that is blocked by the partition plate 52 (the wind that does not pass through the wind control port 520) among the wind sent out by the blower fan 51. there is

The structure of the suction box 6 is also substantially the same as that of the blower box 5, although it is upside down. As shown in FIG. 2, a suction fan 61 is provided inside the suction box 6 . An upper plate portion 67 of the suction box 6 is provided with an opening for attaching the suction fan 61, and the suction fan 61 is attached by being fitted therein.
The suction fan 61 is also a plurality of axial fans arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction. Each suction fan 61 may be the same as each blower fan 51 (same size and same capacity), but a larger size or higher capacity (larger air volume) than each blower fan 61 may be used. There is also
A partition plate 62 is provided on the front side (lower side) of the suction fan 61 . A wind control port 620 is formed in the partition plate 62 to limit the suction action of the suction fan 61 . The center of the wind control port 620 in the lateral direction coincides with the central axis of the suction fan 61 .

Left and right air passage plates 63 are formed to extend upward from a lower plate portion 66 of the suction box 6, and a rectifier 65 is fixed inside thereof. The lower plate portion 66 of the suction box 6 has left and right openings for the rectifiers 65 , and the rectifiers 65 are fitted into the openings with their lower ends flush with the lower plate portion 66 . The horizontal position of the left and right rectifiers 65 is the formation position of the air curtain C, and each rectifier 65 of the suction box 6 faces each rectifier 55 of the blower box 5 .

Several installation structures for such an air curtain unit 2 are conceivable. FIG. 5 is a schematic front cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the installation structure of the air curtain unit 2. As shown in FIG.
For example, when the air curtain unit 2 is installed on the table 8 as shown in FIG. 1, there is an installation method of simply placing the air curtain unit 2 on the table 8 as shown in FIG. 5(1). In this case, a short leg portion 59 is provided on the lower surface of the blower box 5 so that the blower box 5 is slightly lifted from the table 8 . The leg portion 59 may be fixed to the table 8 by screwing or the like.

As another installation method, there may be a method of fitting the blower box 5 into the table 8 as shown in FIG. 5(2). An opening corresponding to the contour of the blower box 5 is provided on the plate surface of the table 8, and the blower box 5 is fixed with an L-shaped plate or the like by fitting into the opening. The upper ends of the left and right rectifiers 55 are preferably flush with the surface of the table 8 .
5(1) and 5(2), the air curtain unit 2 is movable, and can be removed from the table 8 and moved, or can be moved together with the table 8. FIG.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a power supply unit 59 is housed in the blower box 5 . The power supply box 59 and each blower fan 51 and each suction fan 61 are connected by a power supply line (not shown), and a switch (not shown) for turning on/off the power supply circuit in the power supply box 59 is provided on the outer surface of the blower box 5. there is A power supply line is provided to each suction fan 61 through one of the columns 7 .

When the switch is turned on to operate the blowing fans 51 and the suction fans 61, air curtains C are formed on the left and right sides of the shield 4. As shown in FIG. That is, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2 , the air blown out from each blower fan 51 collides with the upper plate portion 56 of the blower box 5 and splits into left and right, and reaches the rectifier 55 while being guided by the air passage plate 53 . Then, it rises through the rectifier 55 and is discharged vertically upward from the upper end. The released air flow forms an air curtain C and rises along the shield 4 . Then, the suction by the suction box 6 also works, and the air curtain C reaches the suction box 6 while maintaining a planar flow.

The arrival position of the air curtain C is the lower end position of the rectifier 65 in the suction box 6 , and the flow by the air curtain C flows into the suction box 6 while rising through the rectifier 65 . 2, after passing through the rectifier 65, it reaches the partition plate 62 while being guided by the air passage plate 63, and since the left and right are closed by the air passage plate 63, it gathers in the center and is controlled. It reaches the suction fan 61 through the air vent 620 . Then, it is sucked by the suction fan 61 and discharged upward.

The air curtain unit 2 having such a configuration and action cooperates with the upper structure 3 to effectively purify the indoor atmosphere. The upper structure 3 has a function of reliably discharging exhaust air from the air curtain to the outside regardless of the horizontal position of the air curtain unit 2 .
As shown in FIG. 1, the upper structure 3 is a structure that partitions the space above the suction fan 61 and forms a plurality of vertically extending air guide passages 30 . In this embodiment, the upper structure 3 is a structure in which plate members 31 are combined in a vertical posture to form an air guide passage 30 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape in the horizontal direction.

More specifically, the plate member 31 is preferably made of a material that is lightweight and has necessary strength, and is often made of a resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. It may also be a foamed resin such as styrofoam. Hollow plates made of non-foamed resin may be combined, and ceramic plates such as gypsum boards or steel plates may be used.

As for the combination of the plate members 31, it is possible to employ a structure in which a concave portion having a depth of about half the width is formed in the band-shaped plate member 31 and the concave portions are fitted to each other. The interval at which the recesses are formed in the plate member 31 is the length of one side of the cross-sectional square of the air guide passage 30 . In the case of a plate made of resin, it may be adhered after fitting, and in the case of a plate made of steel or ceramics, it may be fixed by riveting or the like after fitting.

Such an upper structure 3 is installed so as to horizontally partition the indoor space above the air curtain unit 2 in the indoor space where the air curtain unit 2 is installed. That is, it is installed by fixing the end surface of the plate member 31 constituting the upper structure 3 to the wall surface. In some cases, each support is fixed to the wall surface, and the end of each plate member 31 is placed on each support and fixed. The installation height of the upper structure 3 is above the air curtain unit 2 and slightly lower than the position of the exhaust port 10 .

When the exhaust means 1 exhausts the indoor air through the exhaust port 10, the upper structure 3 as described above quickly reaches the ceiling without recirculating the flow of air exhausted from the suction fan 61 of the air curtain unit 2 indoors. It has a function of directing and discharging from the exhaust port 10 . This point will be described using FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing the operation of the upper structure 3. FIG.

FIG. 6(1) shows the case without the upper structure 3, and FIG. 6(2) shows the case with the upper structure 3, respectively. As indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6(1), in the absence of the upper structure 3, the upward flow F of the exhaust air emitted from the suction fan 61 in the suction box 6 reaches the vicinity of the ceiling and reaches the exhaust port. Although discharged from 10, part of the flow F' directed obliquely upward is recirculated indoors without reaching the vicinity of the ceiling. If viruses are carried in this flow F', the viruses will not be discharged outdoors and will be scattered indoors.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6(2), when there is an upper structure 3, the flow directed obliquely upward enters the air guide passage 30 of the structure, and is guided upward by the suction force of the exhaust means 1. Then, it is discharged from the exhaust port 10 . For this reason, it will not recirculate indoors, and even if the virus is on it, it will not be scattered indoors.
Such a configuration of the upper structure 3 is significant in that the above-described wind guiding action can be obtained regardless of the position of the air curtain unit 2 in the horizontal direction.

As for the exhaust air from the air curtain unit 2, a configuration in which the air curtain unit 2 and the exhaust port 10 are connected by an exhaust duct is conceivable. However, there is a decision to make a large-scale structure, and it cannot be dealt with if the horizontal position of the air curtain unit 2 is changed. Although it is conceivable to connect with an exhaust duct made of a flexible tube, if it is assumed that the horizontal position of the air curtain unit 2 is changed, the flexible tube must be lengthened to some extent, which further increases the size and looks good. do not have. Moreover, it may become an obstacle when a person passes between tables.
On the other hand, in the configuration employing the upper structure 3 as in the embodiment, exhaust air from the air curtain unit 2 can be reliably discharged regardless of the position of the air curtain unit 2 in the horizontal direction. It's simple and doesn't look bad. Since the feature is that the air curtain unit 2 can be placed at any position in the horizontal direction, the air curtain unit 2 does not have to be movable, and may be fixed and not moved after installation.

It is preferable that the distance from the air curtain C is not too long for such an upper structure 3 . Moreover, it is preferable that the cross section of the air guide passage 30 is not made too large. These points will be described below with reference to FIG. 7 and 8 are schematic front views explaining the mounting position (height) of the upper structure 3 and the size of the air guide passage 30. FIG.

In the axial fan employed as the suction fan 61, most of the exhaust air flows in the axial direction, but there is a component that flows obliquely forward in the peripheral portion. As described above, this flow tends to circulate indoors. The direction in which the exhaust air is flowing can be known by a visualization test using smoke or the like.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the flow of the exhaust air obliquely at the largest angle with respect to the axis is called the most inclined flow and indicated by Fm. Also, the distance from the air curtain unit 2 to the upper structure 3 is indicated by d. A distance d is the distance from the suction fan 61 to the lower end of the upper structure 3 .
As shown in FIG. 7(1), when the distance d is long, the most inclined flow Fm tends to descend without entering the air guide passage 30 of the upper structure 3, resulting in indoor circulation. As shown in FIG. 7(2), if the distance d is short, there is no such problem. .

Also, as shown in FIG. 8(1), even if the distance d is short, if the cross section of the air guide passage 30 is large, even if it enters the air guide passage 30 once, it is likely to turn downward and come back. Therefore, it is necessary not to increase the cross section of the air guide passage 30 beyond the limit.
The upper limits of d and the size of the cross section depend on the capacity and size of the axial fan used as the suction fan 61 . Assuming an axial flow fan of about 2 W to 40 W (about 2 cm square to 40 cm square in terms of outer diameter) that is normally used as the suction fan 61, the distance d is preferably 200 cm or less, and 100 cm or less. It is more preferable to have On the same premise, the cross-sectional area of the air guide passage 30 of the upper structure 3 is preferably 2 m ² or less, more preferably 1 m ² or less.

Whether or not the most inclined flow Fm is taken into the air guide passage 30 is also affected by the horizontal positional relationship between the air guide passage 30 and the suction fan 61 . The most inclined flow Fm is most difficult to be taken into the air guide passage 30 when the shaft of the suction fan 61 and the plate member 31 of the upper structure 3 are positioned at the same position in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 8(2). is the case. Even in this case, d and the size of the cross section are appropriately selected so that the most inclined flow Fm is taken into the air guide passage 30 .

d and the size of the cross section are selected in consideration of the ability of the exhaust means 1 to exhaust from the exhaust port 10 as well. For example, if the exhaust means 1 has a minimum capacity stipulated by regulations such as the Building Standards Law, d and the size of the cross section are selected on the premise of that. When the exhaust means 1 having a higher capacity than the regulation is provided, d and the size of the cross section are selected on the premise that the exhaust means 1 is operated under the condition that the capacity is exhibited.

As described above, according to the indoor atmosphere cleaning system of the embodiment, the air curtain C, which is a vertical air flow from the bottom to the top, is formed by the air curtain unit 2 on the table 8, and the air curtain C from the air curtain unit 2 Exhaust air is discharged outside through the upper structure 3 without being circulated indoors. Therefore, the aerosol exhaled by one of the persons facing each other across the table 8 does not reach the other person, and is quickly discharged outdoors, preventing indoor infection.

Even if the position of the air curtain unit 2 is changed in the horizontal direction, the above effects can still be obtained, and the equipment does not become large-scaled and the appearance does not deteriorate. For this reason, when installed on tables and counters (reception counters, etc.) in various restaurants and facilities, it can be used as a suitable measure to prevent virus infection.

Next, an indoor atmosphere cleaning system of a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 and 10 are schematic diagrams of the indoor atmosphere purification system of the second embodiment, in which FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view, FIG. 10(1) is a schematic plan view, and FIG. 10(2) is a schematic front view. be.

As shown in FIG. 9, an embodiment of the indoor atmosphere cleaning system may have a configuration in which a plurality of exhaust ports 10 are provided on the wall surface. This is preferable because the exhaust air from the air curtain unit 2 that has reached the vicinity of the ceiling is quickly exhausted to the outside.
Also, as shown in FIG. 10, there is a case where the side wall near the ceiling has a double structure, and the inner wall 11 is formed in a circumferential shape with a perforated board such as a mesh board or a punching board. By largely depressurizing the outside of the inner wall 11, the exhaust air from the air curtain C can be discharged uniformly and quickly.

Next, the indoor atmosphere cleaning system of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic front sectional view of the indoor atmosphere purification system of the third embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 11 , in the third embodiment, a closing plate 32 is provided to block a part of the air guide passage 30 of the upper structure 3 . Not all the air ducts 30 are blocked, and the air duct 30 located directly above the air curtain unit 2 is not blocked. All other air guide paths 30 are blocked.

Also in this embodiment, since the air guide passage 30 is square, the closing plate 32 is also a square that fits the cross-sectional shape of the air guide passage 30 (that is, can be fitted). The closing plate 32 must be attached to the upper structure 3 so as not to fall off, and there are several possibilities for this structure. In the example of FIG. 11, hinges 33 are used as shown in an enlarged view. The hinge 33 contains a spring, and the elasticity of the spring resists the load of the cover plate 32 . A plurality of hinges 33 (for example, two on each side) are provided along the periphery of the air guide passage 30 . Closing plate 32 can be removed by opening hinge 32 against its elasticity as indicated by the arrow. In addition, there are cases in which a plate spring hooked on a projection provided on the plate member 31 is provided on the closing plate 32 and attached, or attached by adhesion, riveting, or the like.

As described above, if the air guide passages 30 other than the air guide passage 30 directly above the air curtain unit 2 are closed with the blocking plate 32, the flow velocity of the air guide passage 30 directly above is increased. The effect of quickly guiding the exhaust air from the air outlet 10 to the exhaust port 10 is enhanced. As a result, the effect of indoor purification is enhanced.
Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 11, an auxiliary exhaust fan 34 for exhausting air from the air guide passage 30 right above the air curtain unit 2 may be provided. In this example, the auxiliary exhaust fan 34 is provided at the outlet of the air guide passage 30 , but may be provided inside the air guide passage 30 or at the entrance of the air guide passage 30 . If the auxiliary exhaust fan 34 is provided, the flow velocity of the air guide passage 30 directly above the air curtain unit 2 is further increased, so the above effects are enhanced.

Moreover, it is preferable that a rectifier (hereinafter referred to as an upper rectifier) 37 is provided in the air guide passage 30 of the upper structure 3 . As in the air curtain unit 2, the upper rectifier 37 is a member that partitions a plurality of narrow air passages extending in the vertical direction. The upper rectifiers 37 may be provided in all the air guide paths 30, or may be provided in some of the air guide paths 30, such as only in the air guide paths 30 located right above the air curtain unit 2. Also good. In either case, the upper rectifier 37 promotes upward rectification, and the indoor reflux prevention effect is enhanced. If the upper rectifier 37 is provided, the conductance is lowered. In addition, if the upper rectifier 37 is arranged in the air guide passage 30 in the configuration in which the auxiliary exhaust fan 34 is provided, even if an inexpensive axial fan is adopted as the auxiliary exhaust fan 34, the exhaust air from the auxiliary exhaust fan 34 is directed vertically. , the above effect can be obtained more highly.

Next, the indoor atmosphere cleaning system of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIG. 12 and 13 are schematic diagrams of the indoor atmosphere purification system of the fourth embodiment, where FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view and FIG. 13 is a schematic front sectional view.
In the fourth embodiment, the configuration of the upper structure 3 is different from each of the above embodiments. In the fourth embodiment, the upper structure 3 is a tact unit that connects the suction fan 61 of the air curtain unit 2 and the exhaust port 10 . More specifically, the upper structure 3 is composed of a suction cover 35 connected to the suction box 6 of the air curtain unit 2 and a duct 36 connecting the space inside the suction cover 35 to the exhaust port. .

As shown in FIG. 13, the suction cover 35 is in contact with the suction box 6, and the space above the suction box 6 is closed. As shown in FIG. 12 , in this example, a plurality of air curtain units 2 are arranged in a row, and the suction cover 35 has a dimension and shape that covers the suction covers 35 of the plurality of air curtain units 2 . Note that "in a row" means that the air curtains C are arranged so as to be flush with each other. However, in a strict sense, they do not need to be flush, and may be shifted within the range of the width of the air curtain unit 2 in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the air curtain C.
A communication port 350 is formed in the center of the suction cover 35 in the longitudinal direction, and a duct 36 is provided so as to extend from the edge of the communication port 350 . An auxiliary exhaust fan 34 is provided above the communication port 350 .

According to this embodiment, the exhausted air from the suction fan 61 of each air curtain unit 2 is rapidly and reliably guided to the exhaust port 10 through the suction cover 35 and the duct 36 and discharged to the outside by the exhaust means 1 . Therefore, the effect of preventing indoor reflux is further enhanced. Further, since the auxiliary exhaust fan 34 is provided, the effect is further enhanced.

Next, the indoor atmosphere purification system of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14 and 15 are schematic diagrams of the indoor atmosphere purification system of the fifth embodiment, where FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view and FIG. 15 is a schematic front sectional view.
As shown in FIG. 14, in the fifth embodiment, a plurality of air curtain units 2 are provided in parallel. "In parallel" means that the formed air curtains C are arranged side by side. This means that other air curtains C are also pierced.

Also in the fifth embodiment, the upper structure 3 is a tact unit that connects the suction fan 61 of each air curtain unit 2 and the exhaust port 10, and includes a suction cover 35 covering each suction box 6 and a suction cover 35 and a duct 36 that communicates the space inside 35 with the exhaust port 10 .
As shown in FIG. 15, in the fifth embodiment, the suction cover 35 is not in contact with the suction box 6 and is separated. As can be seen from FIG. 14, the suction opening (lower end opening of the suction cover 35) 351 is square, but as can be seen from FIG. It has a large opening.

As can be seen from FIGS. 14 and 15, in the fifth embodiment, even if each air curtain unit 2 is moved in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the air curtain C, the same effect can be obtained. That is, each air curtain unit 2 can also be moved in the horizontal direction along the surface of the air curtain C to some extent. Therefore, there is an advantage that the installation position of the air curtain unit 2 is highly flexible.

The configuration of the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 can be suitably employed in situations where the air curtain units 2 are arranged on a counter or along a wall, for example. . On the other hand, the configuration of the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 can be suitably adopted when the air curtain unit 2 is installed on each table like box seats in a restaurant. That is, even if the table is slightly moved, the effect of the air curtain unit 2 can be obtained without change, and the effect can be obtained without change even if the two tables are attached or separated.

In the case of the fifth embodiment, since the suction cover 35 and the suction box 6 are separated from each other, the exhaust air from the air curtain C is exhausted through the duct 36 without leakage. It is preferred that only the exhaust through the exhaust port 10 be used. For example, if a window is opened and there is a large air flow that is discharged to the outside through the window, part of the air flow caused by the air curtain C will branch and head toward the window, and as a result, will circulate indoors. can be. Therefore, it is preferable to close the window so that the only substantial exhaust path is the path from the duct 36 to the exhaust port 10 .

Although the air curtain unit 2 has the shield 4 in each of the above-described embodiments, the shield 4 may not be provided. Even without the shield 4, the effect of discharging the aerosol on the air curtain C can be obtained. However, it is preferable to have a shield 4 in order to prevent infection due to droplets vigorously ejected from a person's mouth. If the shield 4 is not provided, the efficiency of the blower fan 51 and/or the suction fan 61 can be increased to increase the flow velocity of the air curtain C, thereby enhancing the effect of blocking droplets. In this sense, the shield 4 also has the significance of eliminating the need to increase the capabilities of the blower fan 51 and the suction fan 61 .

The configuration in which the air curtains C are formed on both sides of the shield 4 has the effect of shielding the aerosols from each other between the people facing each other. In this case, even without the shield 4, a sufficient infection prevention effect can be obtained by increasing the flow velocity of the air curtain C or increasing the thickness of the air curtain C (the width of the basin in the lateral direction). .
In some cases, the air curtain unit 2 is used when a table or counter is installed on a wall or near a window and people are present only on one side. In such a case, a configuration in which only one air curtain C is formed (only on one side) may be adopted.

In addition, two air curtains C are simultaneously formed by the blower fan 51 and the suction fan 61 arranged in a row. two rows) may be provided. Furthermore, a linear flow fan such as a cross flow fan may be used instead of the row of blower fans 51 and the row of suction fans 61 . The configuration in which the two air curtains C are simultaneously formed by the blower fan 51 and the suction fan 61 arranged in a row has the effect of simplifying the structure and reducing the number of parts, thereby reducing costs. .

The adoption of the rectifiers 55 and 65 is significant in that the air curtain C is formed smoothly while the cost is reduced, thereby enhancing the effect. Axial fans are inexpensive, so if they are used as the blower fan 51 or the suction fan 61, they greatly contribute to cost reduction. easy. Although it is possible to form the air curtain C even if these are used as they are, there is a problem that the efficiency decreases due to increased waste. easy. Employment of the rectifiers 55 and 65 is significant in preventing such problems and enhancing the effect. Although the rectifier is effective even if it is arranged on either the blowing side or the suction side, the effect is enhanced if it is arranged on both sides.

Furthermore, it is also possible to use a compressor instead of the blower fan 51 . For example, air may be blown by connecting a compressor to a pipe having a long slit in the longitudinal direction. The suction fan 61 may also have a structure in which a vacuum suction machine is connected to a pipe having a slit elongated in the longitudinal direction for suction.

Also, the air curtain unit 2 may be installed directly on the floor rather than on a table or counter. In this case, the air curtain C should be about the height of the person's chest to the height of the person's head (for example, from the height of 1 meter to the height of 2 meters above the floor). A configuration provided below the blower box 5 may be employed. This configuration is similar to a caster-equipped (movable) whiteboard.

It should be noted that each effect of the configuration of the air curtain unit 2 described above can be obtained even if it is not assumed that the air curtain unit 2 is provided in the indoor atmosphere purification system. That is, even if the air curtain unit 2 is not used together with the upper structure 3, the exhaust means 1, etc., the above-described effects of the air curtain unit 2 can be similarly obtained. For example, a filter such as an antiviral HEPA filter that renders viruses harmless is provided behind the suction fan (exhaust air discharge side), and the exhaust air from the air curtain is discharged indoors through the filter. , the effect of the above-described air curtain unit can be obtained even with such a configuration. In this case, the position of the filter may be inside the suction box, or inside a separate filter box provided behind the suction box.

In each of the first to third embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the air guide passage 30 of the upper structure 3 may be rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular, pentagonal, or other polygonal shape. can be However, in the case of a square, there is an effect that it is easier to assemble than other shapes.
If the air guide path 30 is formed of a plate material 31 extending in the vertical direction, the thickness of the plate material 31 does not act to guide the air, and the exhaust air from the air curtain unit 2 bounces back. It is desirable that the thickness is not thick. More specifically, the thickness of the plate member 31 is preferably 20% or less of the length of the short side when the cross-sectional shape of the air guide passage is square.

Although the exhaust means 1 is an exhaust fan in the above example, it may be part of an air conditioning system. For example, the exhaust means 1 may correspond to a facility (outdoor unit) that cools or warms the air discharged to the outdoors while purifying it with a filter (e.g., a HEPA filter, especially an antiviral HEPA filter). .

1 Exhaust Means 10 Exhaust Port 11 Inner Wall 2 Air Curtain Unit 3 Upper Structure 30 Air Guide Path 31 Plate Material 32 Closing Plate 34 Auxiliary Exhaust Fan 35 Suction Cover 36 Duct 4 Shield 5 Blow Box 51 Blow Fan 55 Rectifier 6 Suction Box 61 Suction Fan 65 rectifier 7 column 8 table C air curtain

Claims (7)

An indoor atmosphere purification system for purifying an indoor atmosphere by discharging aerosols emitted from people indoors to the outdoors,
an air curtain unit that forms an air curtain that is a planar flow indoors from bottom to top;
an upper structure that horizontally partitions the interior at a position above the air curtain formed by the air curtain unit;
an exhaust means for exhausting the indoor air through an exhaust port provided at a position above the upper structure of the ceiling or wall,
The air curtain unit is a unit that can be placed in any horizontal position indoors.
The upper structure is a structure that divides the space above the suction fan and forms a plurality of vertically extending air guide passages,
The distance between the position where the wind is discharged by the air curtain in the air curtain unit and the end of the upper structure on the side of the air curtain unit is 1 m or less,
The indoor atmosphere purification system, wherein the upper structure has a shape in which the cross-sectional area of the air guide passage is 2 m ² or less or 1 m ² or less. 2. The indoor atmosphere cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the upper structure is a structure forming an air guide passage having a square cross section. 3. The indoor atmosphere purifying system according to claim 1, wherein the upper structure is provided with a closing plate for blocking the air ducts other than the air duct located right above the air curtain unit. . 4. The indoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper structure is provided with an auxiliary exhaust fan for upwardly exhausting the inside of the air guide located directly above the air curtain unit. atmosphere cleaning system. 5. The air duct of the upper structure is provided with an upper rectifier that divides the air duct into a plurality of fine air ducts extending in the vertical direction. indoor atmosphere purification system. An indoor atmosphere purification system for purifying an indoor atmosphere by discharging aerosols emitted from people indoors to the outdoors,
an air curtain unit that forms an air curtain that is a planar flow indoors from bottom to top;
an upper structure provided at a position above the air curtain formed by the air curtain unit;
an exhaust means for exhausting the indoor air through an exhaust port provided at a position above the upper structure of the ceiling or wall,
The air curtain unit is a unit that can be placed in any horizontal position indoors.
The indoor atmosphere purification system, wherein the upper structure is a tact unit that connects the suction fan and the exhaust port of the air curtain unit. The suction fan of the air curtain unit and the suction opening of the duct unit are separated from each other, and the width of the suction opening in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the air curtain formed by the air curtain unit is equal to that of the air curtain unit. 7. The indoor atmosphere cleaning system of claim 6, wherein the horizontal width of the suction fan is greater than that of the suction fan.

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