JP4046821B2 - Negative ion generator - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a negative ion generator that generates negative ions in the air using the Leonard effect (waterfall effect).
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a water droplet breaks up in the air, more precisely, when a water droplet collides with a metal plate, which is a barrier, and splits, negative ions are generated in the nearby air, and the water droplets are equal in amount to positive ions. The phenomenon of obtaining an electric charge has long been known as the Leonard effect. This phenomenon is also called the waterfall effect because negative electricity exists in the air near the waterfall.
[0003]
A method of generating negative ions using the Leonard effect is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-587555. In this method, fine water droplets are generated from water by a fine water droplet making machine, and at the same time, air is blown into the fine water droplets at a wind speed of 0.5 to 50 m / sec to form fine water droplet mixed air, and then the fine water droplet mixing is performed. By passing air through a separator, fine water droplets having a particle size of at least 1 μm are separated to form ultrafine water droplet mixed air, and negative ions are generated in 1.25 × 10 ⁹ or more in 1 m ^{3 of the} ultrafine water droplet mixed air. Is. In this preceding example, the fine water droplet making machine is a water splitting unit, and the separator is a gas-liquid separating unit. In the water splitting section, a device that ejects water at high pressure and collides with the impingement wall, a device that injects water onto a rotating disc and applies centrifugal force to the sprayed water to split it into fine water droplets, ultrasonic humidification A device that vibrates water and divides it into fine water droplets or a device that blows water onto a rotating impeller and smashes the water with an impeller to divide the water into fine water droplets is used. A separator is used.
[0004]
When using the above apparatus, fine water droplets generated in the water splitting section are blown, and the fine water droplets are separated from the air in a cyclone separator, which is a gas-liquid separation section, to extract air containing negative ions to the outside. it can.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the negative ion generator is equipped with a water tank, the water in the water tank is pumped up and supplied to the water splitting part, and most of the water supplied to the water splitting part and the gas-liquid separation part are separated. A system is used in which the collected water is collected in a water tank and circulated.
[0006]
In the water splitting unit, water is split into fine water droplets in the air taken from outside air, so dust collected in the air is taken in and contaminated in the water collected in the water tank. Need to change the water. Of course, it must be considered that not only dust in the air but also other bacteria such as bacteria, viruses and molds floating in the air are taken in. When germs are taken up into the water, there is a risk of rapid propagation in the aquarium if the temperature conditions of the water are compatible with the survival of the germs.
[0007]
The objective of this invention is providing the negative ion generator which removed the germ of the water supplied to a water division part, and prevented the propagation of the germ in a water tank.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the negative ion generator according to the present invention is a negative ion generator having a water splitting unit and a metal eluting unit, wherein the water splitting unit splits the supplied water into fine water droplets. It is a part that generates negative ions in the air, and the metal elution device elutes metal ions in the water supplied to the water splitting part to remove germs in the water, and pipes it to the water supply line has, the pipe has been detachably connected to the supply line of water, the pair of electrodes of the metal dissolution unit is inserted into the pipe, by energizing between pairs of electrodes, the electrode metal Is eluted in the water flowing into the pipe.
[0011]
In addition, water containing metal ions eluted from the metal eluting device is circulated and supplied to the water splitting section.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
1 to 3, the negative ion generator includes a water splitting unit 2, a gas-liquid separation unit 3, and a water tank 4 in a case 1.
[0015]
The water splitting unit 2 is a part that splits the water supplied from the water tank 4 into fine water droplets and blows air containing the fine water droplets to the gas-liquid separating unit 3. It is a part that separates and removes water droplets in the received air and sends out humid air containing negative ions to the outside, and the water tank 4 is filled with water to be supplied to the water splitting unit 2. In the figure, 5 is an air intake opening opened at the bottom of the case 1, and 6 is an air supply opening opened at the upper surface of the case 1. An air flow path 7 is provided between the air intake 5 and the air supply port 6. The air flow path 7 has a blower 8, and the water splitting unit 2 and the gas-liquid separation unit 3 are located downstream of the blower 8. Each is formed in the air flow passage 7.
[0016]
The water splitting unit 2 includes a nozzle 9 and a barrier 10, and a water supply pipe 11 that communicates with the nozzle 9 is connected to the water tank 4 through a pump 12. A plurality of nozzles 9 are attached in parallel to a portion of the pipe 11 a arranged in a horizontal posture with the jet port facing downward, and the barrier 10 is arranged below the nozzle 9 so as to face the jet port of the nozzle 9. It is installed. The water tank 4 and the water supply line 11 form a water circulation system to the water splitting section 2.
In the present embodiment, a block having an isosceles triangular cross section is used as the barrier wall 10, and two inclined surfaces forming a right angle are used as the collision surface 13. In addition, a large number of vertical grooves 14 are attached to the collision surface 13 in parallel.
[0018]
The use of the two sides of the isosceles triangular block as the collision surface 13 is based on a negative ion generation amount measurement experiment, and is not necessarily limited to this example. According to the experiment, the amount of negative ions generated is larger when the spray water of the nozzle 9 is collided with the inclined surface than with the surface orthogonal to the ejection direction. It is preferred that Further, even when the jet water collides with the orthogonal surface, when a plurality of appropriate holes are made in the flat plate surface, negative ions equal to or higher than those are generated. According to experiments, a large amount of negative ions is generated when the jet water collides with the convex portion and breaks up into fine water droplets. It is desirable that no water film be formed on the impinging surface of the jet water. The recess receives the jet water and forms a water film. Even if jet water collides with the water film, the amount of negative ions generated is small.
[0019]
The humid air containing negative ions descends the air flow passage 7 of the water splitting section 2, then turns up and turns up the air flow path 7, and is introduced into the gas-liquid separation section 3. Two or more baffle plates 15 are arranged in a zigzag manner along the air flow passage 7 in the air flow passage 7 of the gas-liquid separator 3. The air received in the gas-liquid separation unit 3 collides with the baffle plate 15 while rising in the air flow passage 7 of the gas-liquid separation unit 3, and the baffle plate 15 captures minute water droplets contained in the air. And remove from the air.
[0020]
Therefore, fine water droplets in the air are removed while the air passes through the gas-liquid separation unit 3, and humid air containing negative ions is taken out from the air supply port 6. Note that most of the water sprayed to the water splitting unit 2 and the water separated from the air by the gas-liquid separation unit 3 fall into the water tank 4 in the case 1 and are circulated for use.
[0021]
In the present invention, various germs including bacteria and viruses in the water to be supplied to the water splitting section 2 are removed.
Conventionally known methods for removing germs in water include a method for capturing germs with a filter and a method for sterilization using UV or chemical substances.
[0022]
Chemical substances used for removing germs in water include inorganic compounds and organic compounds, and various heavy metals are known as inorganic compounds. Among them, the following is known about the bacteriostatic action of each metal ion which seems to be relatively safe.
<Strength of bacteriostatic action against bacteria (element symbol means each metal ion)>
Ag>Co> Ni ≧ Al ≧ Zn ≧ Cu = Fe> Mn ≧ Sn> Ba ≧ Mg ≧ Ca ”(see“ Anti-bacterial and fungicidal ”. Vol 24, No. 8, 561 to 567, (1996)). That is, among metal ions, silver ions are shown to have the strongest bacteriostatic action. The same document also mentions the bacteriostatic action against fungi,
It is said that metals having strong action can be arranged in the order of “Ni> Cu ≧ Co> Zn = Ag> Fe ≧ Al ≧ Sn = Mn ≧ Ba ≧ Mg ≧ Ca”.
[0023]
In addition, bacteriostatic means a state “in general, the growth of microorganisms is suppressed”, and “an increase in the apparent number of bacteria as a whole is often not observed (supervised by Taizo Ishii,“ Microbial Control Practical Dictionary ”P26). , Fuji Techno System). However, silver is listed as the strongest metal for sterilizing power.
[0024]
As a method for supplying silver ions as an antibacterial agent, there are many known methods of carrying them on zeolite, silica gel or other carriers (see JP-A-2-255844, JP-A-3-294374, etc.). Further, a device such as carrying silver as a complex has been devised (see JP-A-5-124905, etc.).
[0025]
A metal elution device 19 is used to remove various bacteria. The metal elution device 19 is, for example, an electric type, and an electric metal is provided in a part of a water circulation system, for example, a water supply line 11 connecting between a water tank 4 and a nozzle as shown in FIG. The elution device 19 is assembled. The metal eluting device 19 has two electrodes 23, 23 mounted vertically on a plug 24. The electrodes 23, 23 are inserted into the pipe 22 through the upper end opening, and the plug 24 is screwed into the upper end of the pipe 22. It is detachable. The pipe 22 has a water supply port 20 at the lower end, and is provided with a water supply port 21 in the body portion near the upper end. The water supply port 20 is detachably connected to the water supply pipe 11 that communicates with the water tank 4. Is detachably connected to the nozzle pipe 11a. By assembling the metal elution device 19 into the water circulation system using the pipe 22, it becomes easy to install the metal elution device. When necessary, the pipe can be removed and the electrode can be maintained, cleaned and replaced outside the machine. .
[0026]
For the electrode 23, the eluted metal is used for the anode, and the eluted metal is preferably platinum, gold, silver, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc, aluminum, lead, cadmium, etc. Silver, copper and zinc are preferred. These electrode metals may be a single metal or an alloy, and may be supported on a conductive ceramic, a conductive zeolite, or the like.
The power source 25 connected to the electrodes 23 and 23 may be either alternating current or direct current as long as it enhances the elution of the anode metal. However, when alternating current is used, the distance between the electrodes 23 and 23 and the movement of ions are considered. There is a need. Although the electrodes are vertically long, the shape thereof may be cylindrical, prismatic or plate-like, and both electrodes 23 and 23 may be arranged in parallel or non-parallel.
[0027]
In this embodiment, a silver electrode is used, and a DC stabilized power supply is used as the power supply 25. A stable current was passed between the electrodes 23 and 23 as a direct current for a certain time, and silver ions were eluted from the electrodes into the water in the pipe 22 supplied to the nozzle 9. The water sprayed from the nozzle 9 breaks up into fine water droplets and generates negative ions in the air, but most of the water is recovered in the water tank 4 and the water is eluted into the water while repeating the circulation between the water tank 4 and the nozzle 9. Silver ions, which are metals, are taken in and bacteria in the water are removed.
[0028]
Even if the current was stopped after applying a direct current to the electrodes 23 and 23 for a certain period of time, the silver ions in the water did not disappear and the bactericidal effect was maintained. Not only that, it was revealed that the sterilization effect lasts as long as silver ions remain in the water after the device is shut down. Furthermore, it has been clarified that the addition of metal ion-containing water, which has been treated separately using an electric metal eluting apparatus, into the water tank has an effect of removing germs. The installation position of the metal eluting device 19 is not limited to the water supply pipeline, and may be installed in a part of the water circulation system, for example, in the water tank.
[0029]
In the embodiment, a see-through window 16 is provided in a part of the case 1 so that the water splitting portion 2 can be seen from the outside through the see-through window 16, and at least at the installation position of the barrier wall 10 of the water splitting portion 2. Correspondingly, a transparent window 16 is provided in a part of the front panel 17. The see-through window 16 is obtained by fitting a transparent plate such as transparent glass or transparent plastic into the opening of the panel 17. In order to express the image of the waterfall, it is preferable to form the see-through window 16 in a vertically long shape so that the barrier 10 and a part of the space below it can be seen through.
[0030]
In addition, a lighting tool 18 is installed in the case 1 to illuminate the state of water splitting into fine water droplets when the water jetted from the nozzle 9 collides with the barrier 10. The illumination tool 18 may be an LED, a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, EL, plasma emission, or the like. As an illumination method, in addition to direct illumination by the illumination tool 18, illumination is performed indirectly using an optical fiber or a prism. be able to. Since the water splitting part 2 in the case 1 is a humid environment in which water sprayed from the nozzle 9 is scattered, it is necessary to perform a waterproof process on the lighting fixture 18 in the case of direct lighting. When performing indirect illumination using an optical fiber, the illuminator 18 can be placed outside the air flow path 7 and the light emitting end of the optical fiber can be exposed in the flow path of the humid environment. An electric metal eluting device can also be used for the lighting tool.
[0031]
In the above embodiment, an example in which a combination of a nozzle and a barrier is used for the water splitting unit 2 and an isosceles triangular block is used for the barrier is shown. However, in the present invention, the structure of the nozzle and the barrier to be used is not limited to the above embodiment. In the water splitting section, water is sprayed on a rotating disk and centrifugal force is applied to the jet water to break it up into fine water droplets. An ultrasonic humidifier is used to oscillate the water and split it into fine water droplets. Water is sprayed on the device or rotating impeller, and the water is smashed into fine water droplets by hitting the impeller, supplying water to the rotating body, splashing water droplets by the centrifugal force of rotation, and colliding with surrounding barriers to make fine A device that splits water droplets can be used.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a metal elution device is provided in the water supply line to the water splitting section, the metal ions are eluted in the water, and in order to remove various bacteria in the water with the eluted metal ions, Fine water droplets generated in the splitting section can be kept sterile, and even if the water spouted from the nozzle of the water splitting section touches the air and takes in germs in the air, it elutes into the water collected in the water tank. As long as the metal remains, the germs taken in from the outside are sterilized, and there is an effect that clean negative ions can be generated without the germs propagating in the water tank and thus without releasing the germs.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a water supply line to which an electric metal eluting device is connected.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Water splitting part 3 Gas-liquid separation part 4 Water tank 5 Air inlet 6 Air inlet 7 Air flow path 8 Blower 9 Nozzle 10 Wall 11 Water supply pipe 11a Nozzle piping 12 Pump 13 Colliding surface 14 Vertical groove 15 Baffle plate 16 Transparent window 17 Front panel 18 Illuminator 19 Metal eluting device 20 Water supply port 21 Water supply port 22 Pipe 23 Electrode 24 Plug 25 Power supply

Claims (2)

A negative ion generator having a water splitting part and a metal eluting device, wherein the water splitting part is a part that splits the supplied water into fine water droplets to generate negative ions in the air. is the water to be supplied to the water dividing unit eluting metal ions is intended to remove bacteria in the water, has a pipe to the supply pipe of the water, the pipe is detachable from the supply line for water has been connected to the pair of electrodes of the metal dissolution unit is inserted into the pipe, by energizing between pairs of electrodes, characterized by eluting the electrode metal in the water that has flowed into the pipe Negative ion generator. Water containing metal ions dissolved from the metal dissolution apparatus with recycling, the negative ion generator of claim 1, wherein the supplying water splitting unit.

Images