JP4371173B2 - Electrostatic atomizer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer that generates nanometer-sized ion mist by an electrostatic atomization phenomenon.

The electrostatic atomizer includes a discharge electrode tip becomes the discharge unit (water conveying unit), and a supply means for supplying water to the discharge electrode, the discharge electrode by applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode The water to be retained is atomized to generate nanometer-sized ion mist having a strong charge (hereinafter referred to as nano-ion mist) (see Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3). The nano ion mist has a particle size of about 3 to several tens of nanometers, which is smaller than 70 nm, which is the size of the keratinocytes of the human body. Can penetrate the skin, exhibit high deodorizing and bactericidal effects, and the skin can be sufficiently replenished with water by the exposure of nano ion mist, resulting in a high moisturizing effect. Moreover, since the effect of moisturizing the hair and the like can be obtained, various effects can be obtained by preparing for various products.

  The conventional electrostatic atomizer shown in the above-mentioned patent document 1 cools moisture in the air and supplies condensed water to the discharge electrode. The rear end of the discharge electrode is provided in the cooling part of the Peltier module. The discharge electrode is cooled by contacting the part, and the water in the air is condensed by cooling the discharge electrode in this way, thereby generating condensed water on the discharge electrode.

  Moreover, the conventional electrostatic atomizer shown by patent document 2 connects a cooling plate to the cooling part of a Peltier module, and connects the rear-end part of a discharge electrode to a cooling plate, and cools a cooling plate. Moisture in the air is condensed, and condensed water adhering to the cooling plate is supplied to the discharge electrode connected to the cooling plate.

  Moreover, the conventional electrostatic atomizer shown in patent document 3 has a water tank filled with water as water supply means, and water that transports water in the water tank to the discharge section at the tip by capillary action. A transport unit is provided.

  In the above Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the cooling part of the Peltier module constituting the discharge electrode and the water supply means is in contact directly or via a cooling plate, the water supply means is provided from the discharge electrode side. In order to prevent leakage to the Peltier module, the insulation between the discharge electrode and the Peltier module is required, and there is a problem that the size of the device is limited, and the discharge electrode is connected to the cooling part of the Peltier module. Are connected directly or via a cooling plate, there is a problem that the degree of freedom in fixing the position of the discharge electrode and the Peltier module is low, the degree of freedom in designing the device assembly is low, and there is a limitation in downsizing the device.

Further, in the conventional example shown in Patent Document 3, it is necessary to continuously supply water to the water tank. However, when this water is supplied, the operation of the electrostatic atomizer is always stopped. This is very inconvenient because the water tank cannot be replenished during the electrostatic atomization operation. . In addition, even in this conventional example, there is a problem that the degree of freedom in fixing the position of the discharge electrode and the water tank is low, the degree of freedom in design for incorporating the equipment is low, and there is a restriction on downsizing of the equipment.
JP 2006-826 A JP 2005-131549 A JP 2004-358364 A

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and can completely separate the discharge part side and the water supply part side, and has a high degree of freedom in designing a device to be incorporated. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic atomizer that can be downsized.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention is connected to the cooling water side of the Peltier module 13 and the rod-shaped water transport unit 4 having a sharp tip, and the condensed water generated on the surface is supplied to the water. In the electrostatic atomizer provided with the cooling plate 14 to be supplied to the transport unit 4 and the high voltage applying means 3 for applying a high voltage to the water of the water transport unit 4, the lower end of the cooling plate 14 has gravity. Condensation water that has flowed down along the surface of the cooling plate 14 is collected and dropped in a downward direction, while the water transport unit 4 receives the condensed water dripped from the cooling plate 14. water receiving portion 5 is provided, the said population water droplet bottom 14a and the water receiving portion 5, Ri formed as the non-contact through the space 6, the water receiving portion 5, the water transport unit 4 itself or the water transport unit and it is characterized in porous der Rukoto connected to the 4

By adopting such a configuration, a cooling plate 14 for generating condensed water connected to the cooling side of the Peltier module 13 and a water receiving unit comprising the water transfer unit 4 itself or a porous body connected to the water transfer unit 4 5 can be made non-contact through the space 6, and the edge of the water conveyance unit 4 side and the side of the cooling plate 14 connected to the Peltier module 13 can be electrically cut. Further , the water collecting / dropping part 14 at the lower end of the cooling plate 14 and the water receiving part 5 made of a porous body connected to the water transporting part 4 itself or the water transporting part 4 are in contact with each other through the space 6. In addition, since the water transfer unit 4 side and the cooling plate 14 side are not connected, the degree of freedom of equipment assembly design is possible and the equipment can be downsized. In the case where the cooling plate 14 and the water receiving portion 5 are not in contact with each other through the space 6 in this way, the dew condensation water that has flowed down along the surface of the cooling plate 14 due to gravity at the lower end of the cooling plate 14 Since the water collecting and dropping unit 14a collects water and drops downward, the condensed water condensed on the surface of the cooling plate 14 cooled by the Peltier module 13 is caused to flow downward along the surface of the cooling plate 14 by gravity. This is effectively collected by the water collecting / dropping portion 14 a at the lower end of the cooling plate 14 and effectively dropped downward, and connected to the water conveying portion 4 itself or the water conveying portion 4 located below through the space 6. The water can be supplied to the water receiving section 5 made of the porous body, retained in the porous body, and continuously supplied to the water transport section 4.

Further, it is preferable to provide a guide portion 8 for guiding water supplied from the cooling plate 14 to the water receiving portion 5.

  With this configuration, the water supplied from the cooling plate 14 can be guided by the guide portion 8 and guided to the water receiving portion 5.

  The water transport unit 4 is connected to a high voltage application plate 18, while a counter electrode 19 is provided at a certain distance from the tip of the water transport unit 4, and the high voltage application plate 18 and the counter electrode 19 are high. It is also preferable to apply a high voltage between the counter electrode 19 and the water connected to the voltage applying means 3 and supplied from the high voltage applying means 3 to the water transport unit 4.

In the present invention, as described above, the cooling plate that generates the condensed water connected to the cooling side of the Peltier module, and the water receiving unit made of the porous body connected to the water transfer unit itself or the water transfer unit are a space. Since the Peltier module side connected to the cooling plate and the water conveyance part side can be completely electrically disconnected, there is no worry about leakage etc. Since the cooling plate side and the water receiving part side made of a porous body connected to the water conveying part itself or the water conveying part are not in contact with each other through a space, the degree of freedom in designing the equipment can be designed and the equipment can be downsized. Is possible. Further, in this way, in the case where the cooling plate side connected to the Peltier module is not in contact with the water conveyance portion side through the space, the lower end portion of the cooling plate flows down along the surface of the cooling plate by gravity. The water receiving part that receives the condensed water dripped from the cooling plate is made up of a water conveying part itself or a porous body connected to the water conveying part. Since the water collecting and dripping portion and the water receiving portion are not in contact with each other through the space, the condensed water condensed on the surface of the cooling plate cooled by the Peltier unit is lowered along the surface of the cooling plate by gravity. It is made of a porous body connected to the water conveyance part itself or the water conveyance part located below through the space by effectively collecting water at the water collection and dripping part and effectively dripping it. was added dropwise to water receiving portion, the porous In and water retention, it can be stably supplied continuously to the water transport.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  The cooling plate 14 connected to the cooling unit of the Peltier module 13 constitutes the water supply unit 2. In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes a heat radiating member such as a fin connected to the heat radiating portion of the Peltier module.

  The Peltier module 13 has a pair of Peltier circuit boards in which a circuit is formed on one side of an insulating plate made of alumina or aluminum nitride having high thermal conductivity so that the circuit sides face each other, and are arranged in multiple rows. BiTe-based thermoelectric elements are sandwiched between both Peltier circuit boards and adjacent thermoelectric elements are electrically connected by circuits on both sides, and one Peltier circuit board side is connected to the other Peltier circuit by energizing the thermoelectric elements. It is provided so that heat moves toward the plate side, and one side of the Peltier module 13 is a cooling side and the other side is a heat dissipation side. The Peltier module 13 is preferably sealed to prevent moisture.

  Thermally conductive grease or the like is interposed between the cooling part of the Peltier module 13 and the cooling plate 14 to lower the contact thermal resistance. Contact thermal resistance is lowered by interposing conductive grease.

  The cooling plate 14 is made of aluminum, copper, or an alloy thereof, and is preferably subjected to rust prevention treatment. Moreover, it is preferable to perform a hydrophilic treatment so that the condensed water can be easily dropped.

  The heat dissipation member 15 is made of aluminum, copper, or an alloy thereof.

  When the Peltier module 13 is energized, the cooling plate 14 is cooled, whereby moisture in the air is cooled and condensed water is generated on the surface of the cooling plate 14.

  The condensed water generated on the cooling plate 14 serving as the water supply unit 2 is moved from the cooling plate 14 by gravity or other moving means to supply water to a water receiving unit 5 provided on the discharge unit 1 side described later. It has become. In the attached drawings, the arrow “a” indicates the direction of gravity.

  A water receiving part 5 is provided on the discharge part 1 side. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is an example in which the water receiving part 5 is provided in the water transport part 4 itself whose tip part becomes the discharge part 1, and in the embodiment shown in FIGS. This is an example in which a water reservoir 7 is connected to the portion 1 and the water reservoir 7 serves as a water receiver 5 that receives water supplied from the water supply unit 2 side.

  Also in any embodiment, the front-end | tip part positions the water receiving part 5 of the discharge part 1 through the space 6 under the water supply part 2. As shown in FIG. Thus, by positioning the water receiving part 5 below the water supply part 2 via the space 6, the water supply part 2 and the water receiving part 5 are not in contact with each other, that is, in a state where the edges are electrically cut off. It has become.

  In these embodiments, the rod-shaped water conveyance part 4 having a spindle shape with a sharp tip at a sharp angle is disposed sideways, and the weight-shaped tip of the water conveyance part 4 is the discharge unit 1. Yes. The rod-shaped water conveyance part 4 whose tip part becomes the discharge part 1 is composed of, for example, a porous body 12 such as porous ceramic, porous metal, felt, etc., and in this embodiment, a water supply part located above. The water dripping from 2 is received by the water transport unit 4 made of the porous body 12, and therefore the water transport unit 4 itself made of the porous body 12 is the water receiving unit 5.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the cooling plate 14 that is the water supply unit 2 is installed vertically, and condensed water that has condensed on the surface of the cooling plate 14 is caused to flow down along the surface by gravity, and from the lower end of the cooling plate 14. The water is dropped downward, and the dropped water is received by the upper surface portion which is the water receiving portion 5 of the water transport portion 4 made of the porous body 12.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the cooling plate 14 that is the water supply unit 2 is installed sideways (perpendicular to the direction of gravity in the embodiment), and the condensed water condensed on the surface of the cooling plate 14 is lowered by gravity. The water dropped from the water supply unit 2 is received by the upper surface portion which is the water receiving unit 5 in a wide area in the longitudinal direction of the water transport unit 4 made of the porous body 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the water supply to the water receiving unit 5 from the generation of condensed water in the water supply unit 2 can be accelerated, thereby shortening the time required from the start of operation to the start of electrostatic atomization.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the water dripped from the water supply unit 2 is received at the tip of the water transport unit 4 made of the porous body 12. This also shortens the time required from the start of operation to the start of generation of electrostatic atomization.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water received by the water receiving unit 5 is retained in the porous body 12 because the water transporting unit 4 is the porous body 12, and at the same time, the water transporting unit 4 by capillary action. Is supplied to the discharge part 1 at the tip.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the water supplied to the tip of the water transport unit 4 made of the porous body 12 is supplied to the discharge unit 1 at the tip of the porous body 12 and part of the water is Water is also retained in the central portion and the rear portion of the porous body 12 which is a portion other than the tip portion of the porous body 12 due to the capillary phenomenon.

  Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the concave portion 16 is formed in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface portion of the rod-shaped water conveyance portion 4 which is turned sideways, and the concave portion 16 is used as the water receiving portion 5. The water dripping from 2 is received by the water receiving portion 5 including the concave portion 16 via the space 6, and the water received by the water receiving portion 5 is supplied to the discharge portion 1 at the tip portion through the concave portion 16. In this embodiment, the water conveyance part 4 may not be a porous body.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , a water reservoir 7 is connected to the discharge unit 1, and the water receiver 5 receives water supplied from the water supply unit 2 side. This is an example. That is, in the embodiment, the upper part of the water reservoir 7 is open, and the upper opening of the water reservoir 7 is located below the water supply part 2 via the space 6.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the water accumulated in the water reservoir 7 is supplied to the discharge unit 1 at the tip of the water conveyance unit 4 via the water conveyance unit 4. Here, the rear end portion of the water conveyance portion 4 may be directly connected to the water reservoir portion 7 or the water reservoir portion 7 and the rear end portion of the water conveyance portion 4 may be connected via the water connection portion 17. May be connected in communication. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the water transport section 4 may be composed of the porous body 12 as in the above-described embodiment, or continuously from the rear end portion to the discharge portion 1 at the front end portion. A water passage hole may be formed. Further, the water connection portion 17 may also be formed of the porous body 12 or may be formed with water passage holes communicating with the front and rear ends.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6 , a guide portion 8 is provided in the upper opening of the water reservoir portion 7. The guide portion 8 has a hole in a part (in the central portion in the embodiment), and the upper surface portion is inclined downward so that the hole is the lowest, and water dropped from the water supply portion 2 by gravity. Is received by the upper inclined surface portion of the guide portion 8 and guided to the lowermost hole side so as to flow into the water reservoir portion 7. In FIG. 6 , 8 a is an air vent hole and is provided in the guide portion 8.

Further, the water reservoir 7 constituting the water receiving part 5 is filled with the porous body 12, and the porous body 12 receives the water supplied from the water supply part 2 and simultaneously retains the water. The water once retained in this way is supplied to the discharge section 1 at the tip of the water transport section 4 through the water transport section 4.

  A counter electrode 19 is provided at a certain distance from the tip of the discharge unit 1 provided at the tip of the water transport unit 4. Further, a high voltage application plate 18 is connected to the water transport section 4, and the high voltage application plate 18 and the counter electrode 19 are connected to the high voltage application means 3 via high-voltage lead wires, respectively. A high voltage is applied between the water supplied from the voltage application means 3 to the discharge unit 1 and the counter electrode 19.

  In the electrostatic atomizer having the above configuration, when the thermoelectric elements of the Peltier module 13 are energized, heat is transferred in the same direction in each thermoelectric element, and the cooling part of the Peltier module 13 is cooled. The cooling plate 14 is cooled, whereby water in the air is cooled, and condensed water is generated on the surface of the cooling plate 14. Condensed water generated on the surface of the cooling plate 14 drops from the cooling plate 14 by gravity, and is supplied to the water receiving unit 5 provided on the discharge unit 1 side located below through the space 6. The water supplied to is supplied to the discharge unit 1.

  When water is supplied to the discharge unit 1 in this way and the high voltage applying means 3 applies a negative or positive high voltage of about 3 to 10 kV to the water supplied to the discharge unit 1, the discharge unit 1 holds it. The charged water is charged, the Coulomb force works on the charged water, the water level rises locally in a cone shape, and a Taylor cone is formed. The water at the tip of the Taylor Cone is high in density and repels the surface tension by receiving a large amount of energy (repulsive force of the high-density charge), and the water is repeatedly split and scattered (Rayleigh split) repeatedly. Electron atomization is performed, and nanometer-sized charged fine particle water containing active species (radicals) is generated. The nanometer-sized charged fine particle water moves toward the counter electrode 19 positioned opposite to the discharge unit 1 and is discharged to the outside of the electrostatic atomizer.

  Since this nanometer-sized charged fine particle water is extremely small as nanometer size, it floats in the air for a long time and has high diffusivity, so it floats to every corner of the atomization target space, The nanometer-sized charged fine particle water is present in such a way that the active species are encapsulated in water molecules, and thus deodorizing effect, mold and fungus sterilization and propagation In addition, the nanometer-sized charged fine particle water that exists in such a manner that the active species is encapsulated in water molecules has a longer life than the case where it exists as a free radical alone, so that the diffusibility, deodorizing effect, mold and The sterilization effect of bacteria and the suppression effect of reproduction will be further improved. In addition, since nanometer-sized charged fine particle water has a moisturizing effect, it has an effect of moisturizing.

  By the way, in this invention, since the water supply part 2 and the water receiving part 5 provided in the discharge part 1 side are made non-contact via the space 6, the discharge part 1 side and the water supply part 2 side are electrically connected. As a result, a high voltage applied for electrostatic atomization for generating charged fine particle water is not applied to the water supply unit 2 side. Trouble due to high voltage does not occur. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, in the case where the water supply unit 2 supplies water generated by condensation of moisture in the air using the Peltier module 13, the discharge unit 1 and the Peltier module 13 are used to prevent leakage. There is no need to perform insulation sealing. In addition, since the discharge unit 1 side and the water supply unit 2 side are not connected and are not in contact with each other, the degree of freedom of design for incorporating the device is possible and the device can be downsized.

  In each of the above embodiments, the water that was not received by the water receiver 5 among the water supplied from the water supply unit 2 is provided below the water receiver 5 with a recovery unit that recovers the water via a space. Here, it may be accumulated and dried by natural drying, or a drain may be provided and discharged.

Here, in the present invention, in each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7 , the cooling plate 14 is provided with a water collection dropping portion 14 a having a sharp tip at the lower end, and the surface of the cooling plate 14 is provided. The condensed water generated in the step can be effectively collected in the triangular water collecting / dropping portion 14a, and water can be effectively dropped from the pointed bottom end.

  In each of the above embodiments, each member is appropriately fixed to a housing or the like.

  In the attached drawings, the symbol W indicates water.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the counter electrode is provided and electrostatic atomization is described, but the counter electrode may not be provided.

It is a schematic block diagram of one Embodiment of the electrostatic atomizer of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of other embodiment of the electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of further another embodiment of the electrostatic atomizer same as the above. (A) is a schematic block diagram seen from the front of further another embodiment of the electrostatic atomizer same as the above, (b) is side sectional drawing. It is a schematic block diagram of further another embodiment of the electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram of further another embodiment of the electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is a front view of the specific example of the cooling plate of this invention.

3 High Voltage Application Means 4 Water Conveying Section 5 Water Receiving Section 6 Space 7 Water Reserving Section 8 Guide Section 12 Porous Body 14 Cooling Plate 14a Water Collection Dropping Section

Claims (3)

A rod-shaped water conveyance part with a sharp tip, a cooling plate connected to the cooling side of the Peltier module and supplying condensed water generated on the surface to the water conveyance part, and applying a high voltage to the water in the water conveyance part In an electrostatic atomizer provided with a high voltage applying means
The lower end portion of the cooling plate is composed of a water collection dropping portion that collects condensed water that has flowed down along the surface of the cooling plate due to gravity and drops the condensed water downward, while the water transport portion is dropped from the cooling plate. water receiving portion for receiving the dew condensation water is provided with, the said population water drop lower and the water receiving portion, Ri formed as the non-contact with the air, the water receiving portion, and the water transport unit itself or the water transport unit the electrostatic atomization device according to claim connected porous body der Rukoto. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion for guiding water supplied from the cooling plate to the water receiving portion. The water transport unit is connected to a high voltage application plate, while providing a counter electrode at a certain distance from the tip of the water transport unit, the high voltage application plate and the counter electrode are connected to a high voltage application means, The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a high voltage is applied between the water supplied from the high voltage applying means to the water transport unit and the counter electrode.

Images