JP4624289B2 - Ion generator and air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ion generating apparatus that effectively denatures or sterilizes suspended matters in air and removes static electricity, that is, eliminates static electricity, and an air conditioner including the same.

  In recent years, techniques for removing bacteria, molds, viruses, and the like present in the atmosphere have been proposed in order to meet the demand for a comfortable indoor environment. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for sterilizing suspended bacteria floating in the air by releasing positive ions and negative ions with a discharge device or the like. In addition, static electricity removal (static elimination) is performed for static electricity control in the air, such as cleaning in a clean room and preventing static charge of suspended particles. For this non-contact static elimination, a corona discharge ionizer is used. It is used a lot.

  As an example, Patent Document 2 discloses a static eliminator that generates positive ions and negative ions by using discharge electrodes, and describes a technique for controlling ion balance. In order to ensure the neutralization, that is, the expected effect by the static eliminator, it is necessary to balance the positive and negative ion generation amounts by the discharge of the discharge electrodes included in the static eliminator equally. This is called ion balance in this industry.

  Patent Document 3 describes a technique for arbitrarily switching between a static elimination function and a sterilization (sterilization) function. As a switching method, a charged object such as a container is switched by switching between a mode in which almost equal amounts of positive ions and negative ions are generated and a mode in which a negative dominant state in which more negative ions are generated periodically occurs. Proposal that dust and bacteria adhering to the surface can be sterilized (sterilized) immediately after neutralizing the charged object and weakening the adhesive force, and can be effectively removed and sterilized. Yes.

However, the sterilization technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique for sterilizing bacteria in the air. Moreover, although the static elimination apparatus of patent document 2 has the characteristics which removes the static electricity of a dust and suppresses adhesion to a wall surface or clothes, it is not aimed at the use as a sterilization technique. Moreover, although the technique of patent document 3 has shown the technique which uses a negative ion as a sterilization method, since the sterilization power of a negative ion is not necessarily strong, it has the problem that improvement of sterilization performance is difficult. ing.
JP 2002-95731 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-64691 JP 2005-183223 A

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. The purpose of the present invention is to devise a method for releasing ions, and to remove the attached bacteria and dust from the wall surface, clothes, etc. An ion generator capable of switching the sterilization performance for effectively removing harmful components according to the purpose and situation by applying an action such as sterilization or modification to the above dust etc. and an air conditioner equipped with the same It is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention releases ions of positive ions and negative ions to form an air region A in which positive ions are dense and an air region B in which negative ions are densely separated in space. The generator is characterized by having an operation setting for changing a distance between the arrangement of the air region A and the air region B.

  Further, the ion generator of the present invention can switch the setting that improves the sterilization performance and / or the setting that improves the static elimination performance by the operation setting that changes the distance between the arrangement of the air region A and the air region B. It is characterized by performing.

  Further, the ion generator of the present invention is an apparatus that discharges ions to a space such that L1 <L2 with respect to the distance L between the air region A and the air region B, and has a sterilizing performance. It is characterized by having a setting in which the distance in the setting with increased L is set to L1 and / or a setting in which the distance in the setting with improved static elimination performance is set to L2.

  The ion generator of the present invention has a plurality of discharge electrodes for generating ions, and switches between L1 and L2 by switching the applied voltage to the electrode contributing to discharge among the discharge electrodes to positive or negative. It is characterized by.

  Moreover, the ion generator of this invention has two or more ion generating parts, and switches said L1 and said L2 by switching the ion generating part to operate | move.

  The ion generator of the present invention is an ion generator in which an AC pulse voltage applied to a discharge electrode for generating ions is composed of positive and negative potentials, and ionizes air to release positive and negative ions into the air. And the distance of arrangement | positioning of the said air area A and the said air area B is changed by changing the application period of this alternating current pulse voltage, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

The present invention further provides an air conditioner provided with the above ion generator.
In the air conditioner, it is preferable to periodically switch between a setting operation with improved sterilization performance and / or a setting operation with improved static elimination performance using a timer function.

  According to the ion generating apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to effectively remove harmful components by removing the attached bacteria and dust from the wall surface, clothes, etc., and by applying an action such as sterilization or denaturation to the separated dust. Since the sterilization performance to be removed can be switched according to the purpose and situation, it is possible to effectively perform static elimination and sterilization. Such an ion generator of the present invention can be suitably used for an air conditioner.

  The present invention is an ion generator that releases positive ions and negative ions to form an air region A in which positive ions are dense and an air region B in which negative ions are densely separated in a space. An operation setting for changing the distance L between the air region A and the air region B is provided. According to the operation setting, it is possible to switch between a setting with improved sterilization performance and a setting with improved static elimination performance, and thereby an ion generator capable of effectively performing either sterilization or static elimination or both. Is realized.

  Here, “bactericidal performance” refers to the ability to act on bacteria, viruses or allergens to suppress their activity or action, or to modify harmful chemical substances, etc. to suppress harmfulness. The term “to remove bacteria and dust adhering to an object such as a wall surface or clothes” from the object by removing static electricity. In addition, “setting with improved sterilization performance” means a setting with both sterilization performance and static elimination performance, but higher sterilization performance, and “setting with enhanced static elimination performance” means sterilization performance and static elimination performance. It means a setting that has both performances but higher static elimination performance. Switching between these settings is performed by changing the distance L between the air region A and the air region B. In other words, regarding the distance L between the air region A and the air region B, the distance between the air region A and the air region B in the setting with improved sterilization performance is L1, and the air region A and the air region in the setting with increased static elimination performance When the distance of arrangement of B is set to L2, the setting which improved sterilization performance and the setting which improved static elimination performance are switched by switching L1 and L2. In the present invention, it is preferable to release ions to the space so that L1 <L2. In the present invention, L1 is generally set to a value in the range of 1 μm to less than 1 mm, and L2 is generally set to a value in the range of 1 mm to 1000 mm. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 is an ion generator, 102 is a discharge device having a discharge electrode that generates positive and negative ions, 103 is a discharge device having two electrodes, 103A is a discharge electrode that generates positive ions, and 103B is negative ions. The generated discharge electrode, 104 is a fan, 105 is a wind tunnel, and 106 indicates a blowing direction. 107 is a high-voltage AC voltage pulse generator applied to the discharge electrode 102; 108A is a high-voltage AC voltage pulse generator applied to the discharge electrode 103A; 108B is a high-voltage AC voltage pulse generator applied to the discharge electrode 103B; Reference numeral 109 denotes a high-voltage pulse unit switching control device, and 110 denotes a control unit.

  In the present embodiment, by switching the operation of the discharge device 102 and the discharge device 103 that are ion generation units, the distance L1 in the setting with improved sterilization performance and the L2 in the setting with improved static elimination performance are switched. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail.

  First, the discharge device 102 that is an ion generation unit will be described in detail. FIG. 2 shows the discharge device 102 in detail. Here, 201 is an alumina dielectric, 202 is an electrode embedded in the alumina dielectric, and 203 is an electrode facing the electrode 202 formed on the surface of the alumina dielectric 201. Reference numeral 204 denotes a high-voltage AC voltage pulse generator (107 in FIG. 1) applied between the electrodes. The high-voltage AC voltage pulse generator 204 applies a positive and negative voltage periodically as an AC pulse. Although the applied voltage and the peak voltage are not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the voltage has a frequency of 20 kHz and the peak voltage has a positive and negative value of 3 kV. Air is blown to the electrodes from a fan (not shown), and in the present embodiment, the wind speed in the vicinity of the electrodes is set to 1 m / second in the direction of the arrow 205.

  With such a configuration, the electrode unit alternately discharges positive ions and negative ions from the electrode 202 to the space at a cycle of 20 kHz, and periodically creates an air region 207 in which positive ions are dense and an air region 208 in which negative ions are dense. It has a function to generate wind in a superposed state. In the present embodiment, since the frequency of the applied voltage is 20 kHz, the period in which positive ions and negative ions are emitted is different by 25 μs. Therefore, the air region where positive ions are dense and the air region where negative ions are dense. The distance L1 between the air region 207 where the positive ions are dense and the air region 208 where the negative ions are dense is 0.025 mm. However, the value of L1 is not limited to this, and can generally take a value in the range of 1 μm to less than 1 mm as described above.

In the discharge electrode 102 in the present embodiment, ions containing H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m as positive ions and O ²⁻ (H ₂ O) n (m, n are natural numbers) as negative ions are generated as main components. However, in general, ions emitted from the discharge electrode can change the ion species by adjusting the discharge voltage and the electrode structure. Therefore, in this specification, the “positive ion” means the ion This is a concept including not only H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m but also H ₂ O ⁺ , H ₃ O ⁺ , N ₂ ⁺ , O ₂ ⁺ , CO ₂ ^{+ and the} like. Means not only the ion O ²⁻ (H ₂ O) n but also OH ⁻ , H ₂ O ⁻ , O ₃ ⁻ , O ₂ ⁻ , N ₂ ⁻ , NO ₂ ⁻ , NO ₃ ⁻ , CO ₂ ^−. , CO _3- ^{and the} like.

  As described above, the distance L1 between the air region where the positive ions are densely formed and the air region where the negative ions are densely formed by the positive and negative ions emitted from the discharge device 102 is relatively small. Rapidly progressing, the binding energy generated by the binding of ions, that is, charged particles, or the energy of the generated radicals acts on airborne bacteria or dust attached to the airborne bacteria, and the sterilization or denaturation action in the air increases. Further, since the energy of ions is used until it reaches the wall surface of the room and disappears, the sterilization or denaturing action is kept in a high state.

  Next, the discharge device 103 that is an ion generation unit will be described in detail. FIG. 3 shows the discharge device 103 in detail. Here, 301 is an alumina dielectric, 302 and 303 are creeping discharge electrodes composed of an electrode embedded in the alumina dielectric and a surface electrode facing the alumina, and the discharge electrode 103A and the discharge electrode in FIG. Corresponds to 103B. Note that high voltage AC voltage pulse generators 304 and 305 (108A and 108B in FIG. 1) are connected to each of the creeping discharge electrodes. In the present embodiment, in the high voltage AC voltage pulse generators 304 and 305, the high voltage AC voltage pulse generator 304 is configured to periodically apply a positively biased pulse voltage to the surface electrode side of the electrode 302. The high-voltage AC voltage pulse generator 305 is configured to periodically apply a negatively biased pulse voltage to the surface electrode side of the electrode 303. Although the applied voltage and the peak voltage are not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the voltage generated from the high-voltage AC voltage pulse generators 304 and 305 is an AC having a frequency of 20 kHz, and the peak value. The voltage is 3 kV. Air is blown to the electrodes from a fan (not shown), and in this embodiment, the wind speed is 1 m / second in the vicinity of the electrodes in the direction indicated by the arrow 306. Moreover, in this embodiment, the distance between the electrodes of the creeping discharge electrodes 302 and 303 is 5 cm, and the direction which connects both electrodes and a wind direction are substantially orthogonal.

The discharge electrodes 103A and 103B in the present embodiment include H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m as positive ions and O ²⁻ (H ₂ O) n (m and n are natural numbers) as main ions as main components. Generates ions.

  With the above-described configuration, the two creeping discharge electrodes 302 and 303 mainly release positive ions from the creeping discharge electrode 302 and negative ions from the creeping discharge electrode 303, and an air region 307 in which positive ions are dense and negative ions. The ion has a function of generating a dense air region 308. In this embodiment, since the distance between the creeping discharge electrodes 302 and 303 is 5 cm, the distance between the air region where positive ions are dense and the air region where negative ions are dense, that is, the air region 307 where positive ions are dense. The distance L2 between the air regions 308 where the negative ions are dense is 50 mm. However, the value of L2 is not limited to this, and can generally take a value in the range of 1 mm to 1000 mm as described above.

  As described above, in the discharge device 103, since the interval between the discharge electrodes 103A and 103B is 5 cm, positive ions and negative ions released from the discharge electrodes 103A and 103B respectively are air (electrodes) blown from the fan 104. The wind speed is 1 m / sec in the vicinity, and the distance L2 between the air region where the positive ions are dense and the air region where the negative ions are dense is about 5 cm and is released into the room. Thus, since L2 is relatively large, the binding speed of ions in air is relatively small, and ions reach far away. For this reason, the action of the binding energy generated by the binding of ions in the vicinity of the electrode or the generated radical energy on the floating bacteria or dust attached to the floating bacteria is relatively small. Becomes smaller. However, since the ions reach the wall surface of the room, the article, and the like satisfactorily, the effect of removing electricity becomes relatively large.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the two discharge devices 102 and 103 that are ion generation units are included, and by operating the discharge device 102, the setting for enhancing the sterilization effect can be achieved. By operating 103, it is possible to achieve a setting with improved static elimination performance. Such switching of the ion generating unit to be operated can be easily performed by providing the switching controller 109 for the high voltage pulse unit. It is conceivable that such setting switching is most simply performed by a switch. In addition, a conventionally well-known thing can be used for the switching control apparatus of a high voltage | pressure pulse part.

  The relative positional relationship between the discharge device 102 and the discharge device 103 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the discharge device 102 is installed on the leeward side of the discharge device 103, but it is of course possible to install it on the leeward side. Further, the distance between the two discharge electrodes is not particularly limited. In FIG. 1, the two discharge devices are arranged in series, but can be arranged in parallel.

  The position where the fan 104 is attached is not particularly limited. That is, the fan 104 is assumed to be installed on the windward side of the discharge devices 102 and 103, but the distance from the discharge devices 102 and 103 is not particularly limited. Further, in the above description, the wind speed of the wind brought from the fan 104 is 1 m / second in the vicinity of the electrode, but is not limited thereto. By changing the wind speed, it is also possible to change the arrangement distance L between the air region where positive ions are dense and the air region where negative ions are dense to some extent.

  In addition, the ion generator of the present embodiment may be provided with a control unit 110 such as a sensor or a timer, and may be switched between the discharge device 102 and the discharge device 103 in conjunction with the control unit 110. For example, when a human body sensor that detects a human body is used as the control unit 110, when the control unit 110 detects a human body, the high-voltage AC voltage pulse generation units 108A and 108B may be driven to generate ions from the discharge device 103. It is done. Thereby, bacteria, dust, etc. adhering to the human body can be reduced by removing static electricity, and can be dropped. When the control unit 110 does not detect a human body, it is conceivable that the high-voltage AC voltage pulse generation unit 107 is driven by an instruction from the switching control unit 109 to generate ions from the discharge device 102.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the high-voltage AC voltage pulse generation units 107, 108A, and 108B are selectively operated by the switching control device 109, and the operations of the discharge device 102 and the discharge device 103 that are ion generation units are performed. By switching, it is possible to switch between a setting that enhances the bactericidal action and a setting that improves the static elimination performance in accordance with the purpose. However, in using the apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is not always necessary to switch between the setting for enhancing the bactericidal action and the setting for enhancing the static elimination performance. That is, only one of the settings can be used according to the purpose. In the present embodiment, since the change in the distance L of the arrangement of the dense air regions of the positive and negative ions is performed by switching the discharge device itself, the switching can be performed with a switch that is easy to operate. Therefore, there is no need to change the circuit constant of the high voltage portion, and the high voltage circuit can be easily configured. The ion generator of this embodiment can be suitably mounted on various electric devices such as an air conditioner.

  In this embodiment, only the function of simply switching the discharge devices 102 and 103 is provided. However, a high voltage generator having a function of changing a pulse waveform is used, or a function of changing a high voltage pulse waveform is provided. By doing so, the function of adjusting or changing the amount of ions generated from the respective discharge devices may be further provided by making it possible to change the applied voltage. Moreover, you may further provide the function to operate two discharge devices simultaneously. By having such a function together, it is possible to provide a function of appropriately adjusting the sterilization performance and the charge removal performance without consuming the discharge power unnecessarily.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4A, 401 indicates an ion generator, 402 indicates a creeping discharge device equivalent to the discharge device 102 in FIG. 1, 403 indicates a wind tunnel, 404 indicates a fan, and 405 indicates a blowing direction. Reference numeral 408 denotes a high voltage pulse generation circuit. In FIG. 4B, reference numerals 406 and 407 denote voltage pulses applied to the discharge device 402 from the high voltage pulse generation circuit 408 in the present embodiment. The voltage pulses 406 and 407 are composed of pulses composed of positive and negative voltages, respectively, and their pulse periods are different.

  The present embodiment is characterized in that the period of the voltage pulse is changed like the voltage pulses 406 and 407. Thus, by changing the control of the high voltage pulse generation circuit 408, the period of the applied voltage pulse is changed, so that the positive ions generated in the space and the negative ions are in the dense air region. The arrangement distance L can be changed. Thereby, the ion generator which has both sterilization performance and static elimination performance is implement | achieved, and switching with the setting which improved the sterilization performance and the setting which improved the static elimination performance can be performed easily.

  In the present embodiment, by changing the control of the high voltage pulse generation circuit 408, for example, in the voltage pulse 406, the interval between the positive voltage and the negative voltage is about 1 millisecond, and the voltage pulse In 407, it is about 17 milliseconds. In this case, the distance L between the air region where positive ions are dense and the air region where negative ions are dense is about 1 mm and about 17 mm, respectively, when the wind speed of the fan 404 is set to 1 m / second. In this embodiment, when the voltage pulse period is the voltage pulse 406, the sterilization performance is increased, and when the voltage pulse period is 407, the neutralization performance is increased. That is, L1 = about 1 mm and L2 = about 17 mm. As described above, L1 can be varied generally within a range of 1 μm to less than 1 mm, and L2 can be varied generally within a range of 1 mm to 1000 mm, but the values of L1 and L2 are not limited thereto. Although there are some differences depending on the size of the distance L, positive and negative ions have both sterilization and static elimination performance, and therefore it is possible to appropriately change the period setting of the voltage pulse according to the application.

  Here, the position where the fan 404 is attached is not particularly limited. That is, the fan 404 is assumed to be installed on the windward side of the discharge electrode 402, but the distance from the discharge device 402 is not particularly limited. Further, in the above description, the wind speed of the wind brought from the fan 404 is 1 m / second in the vicinity of the electrode, but is not limited thereto. By changing the wind speed, it is also possible to change the arrangement distance L between the air region where positive ions are dense and the air region where negative ions are dense to some extent.

In the discharge device 402 in this embodiment, ions containing H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m as positive ions and O ^2- (H ₂ O) n (m and n are natural numbers) as main ions are main components. appear.

  As described above, by changing the period of the voltage pulse, it is possible to easily switch between the setting with improved sterilization performance and the setting with improved static elimination performance. The simplest way to change the setting is to use a switch. Moreover, you may make it switch disinfection performance and static elimination performance by attaching control parts (not shown), such as a human body sensor, similarly to 1st Embodiment. Moreover, it is good also as what aims only for either the switch to sterilization performance or the switch to static elimination performance by these switching.

  Further, this embodiment may further have a function of periodically repeating the voltage pulse 406 and the voltage pulse 407 by providing a timer or the like. By adding such a function, it is possible to periodically perform both static neutralization and space sterilization, and it is possible to adjust the balance between static elimination and sterilization. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which can change the period by a timer according to the objective or liking.

  In the present embodiment, since the change in the distance L of the arrangement of the dense air regions of the positive and negative ions is performed by changing the control of the high voltage pulse generation circuit 408, the period can be significantly changed, and the wind speed is simply set. It is possible to cause a change in L that cannot be dealt with by the change in.

<Third Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a discharge electrode 502 and an ion generation unit including an electrode positive / negative switching unit 508, 505 denotes a power source for applying a DC voltage, 502 a to f are needle-type discharge electrodes, 508 is an electrode positive / negative switching unit, and 509 is Fan, 506 is wiring, 503 is an air region where negative ions are dense, 504 is an air region where positive ions are dense, and 507 is a distance R between the discharge electrodes. FIG. 5 shows that a negative voltage is applied to a, c, e of the discharge electrodes 502, and negative ions are released from these electrodes as indicated by the air region 503 where negative ions are dense, while 502b, A positive voltage is applied to d and f, and positive ions are released from these electrodes as indicated by an air region 504 in which positive ions are dense. The applied voltage is not particularly limited, but is 5 kV in the present embodiment. Thus, when the wind speed in the vicinity of the wind electrode provided from the fan 509 is 2 m / s, the ion concentration becomes 1 million ions / cm ³ at 5 cm leeward from each needle electrode.

Also, conventionally known needle-type discharge electrodes can be used. For example, when a needle-type discharge electrode such as tungsten or stainless steel is used, H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m as positive ions and O as negative ions. ^2- (H ₂ O) n (m, n is a natural number) is generated as the main component.

  In this embodiment, by operating the switch of the electrode positive / negative switching unit 508 to switch the applied voltage to the electrode contributing to the discharge of the discharge electrode 502 to positive or negative, it is emitted from each needle-type discharge electrode. It is characterized in that the sign of the ion is changed. Thereby, the distance L of arrangement | positioning of the air area | region where positive ions formed in space are dense and the air area | region where negative ions are dense can be changed. With such a configuration, an ion generator having both sterilization performance and static elimination performance is realized, and switching between a setting with improved sterilization performance and a setting with improved static elimination performance can be easily performed.

  For example, as described below, the switch of the electrode positive / negative switching unit 508 is operated to change the positive / negative of the ions emitted from the needle-type discharge electrodes 502a to 502f to change the state to a state different from the state shown in FIG. It is possible. That is, it is conceivable that a positive voltage is applied to the discharge electrodes 502a, b, and c, a negative voltage is applied to the 502d, e, and f, positive ions are released from a to c, and negative ions are released from d to f. . In such a state, as compared with the state of FIG. 5, the distance L between the air region where the positive ions are dense and the air region where the negative ions are dense is simply tripled. That is, for example, when the needle-type discharge electrodes 502a to 502f are installed at intervals of 5 cm (distance R between the discharge electrodes R = 5 cm), the distance L is 15 cm. By switching to such a state, the distance L can be increased, so that the setting for improving the static elimination performance can be achieved. In addition, since the distance L can be reduced to 5 cm by returning to the state of FIG. 5, the sterilization performance can be set higher.

Here, the number of needle-type discharge electrodes 502 is not particularly limited. As the number increases, it becomes possible to provide various pattern distances L, but the size of the ion generator increases accordingly.
Moreover, although all the needle-type discharge electrodes installed in the ion generator may be operated, only some of the needle-type discharge electrodes may be operated.

  Also, the distance R between the discharge electrodes is not particularly limited, but at least when the distance L between the air region where positive ions are dense and the air region where negative ions are dense is the smallest, that is, L is equal to R. It is preferable that R is 3 cm or less so that the sterilization performance is improved.

  Here, the position where the fan 509 is attached is not particularly limited. That is, the fan 509 is assumed to be installed on the windward side of the ion generator 501, but the distance from the ion generator 501 is not particularly limited. Further, the wind speed of the wind provided from the fan 509 is not particularly limited, but may be 1 m / second in the vicinity of the electrode, for example. By changing the wind speed, it is also possible to change the arrangement distance L between the air region where positive ions are dense and the air region where negative ions are dense to some extent.

  Further, the discharge from each needle-type discharge electrode of the discharge electrode 502 is not necessarily limited to the DC voltage application method, but adopts an AC pulse voltage application method and periodically switches between positive and negative voltages at an appropriate timing. The same effect can be obtained. According to such an AC pulse voltage application method, no changeover switch is required.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by operating the switch of the positive / negative switching unit 508 of the electrode, it is possible to easily switch between the setting with improved sterilization performance and the setting with improved static elimination performance. By appropriately performing such switching, for example, it is possible to switch between a setting for removing dust attached to a human body or an article, and a setting for sterilizing floating bacteria, so that both suspended matter and attached matter can be effectively used. Can be removed and a hygienic or clean space can be created. The simplest way to change the setting is to use a switch. Moreover, you may make it switch disinfection performance and static elimination performance by attaching control parts (not shown), such as a human body sensor, similarly to 1st Embodiment.

  Further, by adding a timer or the like to the present embodiment, it may further have a function of periodically switching between positive and negative of each discharge electrode. By adding such a function, it is possible to periodically perform both static neutralization and space sterilization, and it is possible to adjust the balance between static elimination and sterilization. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which can change the period by a timer according to the objective or liking.

<Fourth Embodiment>
The present invention also provides an air conditioner including the above-described ion generator.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, 601 is an air conditioner, 602 is a positive / negative ion generation unit composed of a needle-type discharge electrode that discharges positive ions and a needle-type discharge electrode that discharges negative ions, and 604 is equivalent to the discharge device 102 of FIG. , 605 is a fan, 606 is a filter, 603 is a blowing direction, and 607 is a human body. Here, the air conditioner of this invention is not restrict | limited to this embodiment, The air conditioner of this invention contains all the air conditioners provided with the ion generator of this invention.

  The air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes two ions, an ion generator 602 having a needle-type discharge electrode similar to that of the third embodiment and an ion generator 604 including a discharge device similar to that of the first embodiment. It has a generating part. Moreover, although not shown in figure, the air conditioner of this embodiment has a switching control apparatus which switches operation | movement of these two ion generation parts. With such a configuration, an air conditioner that effectively exhibits both sterilization performance and static elimination performance and that can be easily switched between a setting that improves the sterilization performance and a setting that improves the static elimination performance is realized. In addition, a conventionally well-known general structure can be employ | adopted for parts other than an ion generation part.

In the present embodiment, although not particularly limited, for example, the distance between each needle-type discharge electrode of the ion generator 602 can be 10 cm. Similar to the third embodiment, positive ions and negative ions are emitted from the two discharge electrodes, respectively. A conventionally known needle-type discharge electrode can be used. For example, when a needle-type discharge electrode such as tungsten or stainless steel is used, H ⁺ (H ₂ O) m as positive ions and O as negative ions. ^2- (H ₂ O) n (m, n is a natural number) is generated as the main component.

  When this ion generation unit 602 is operated, the distance L between the air region where positive ions are densely formed and the air region where negative ions are densely formed is relatively large at about 10 cm. It becomes. That is, for example, when positive and negative ions are irradiated toward the human body 607, it takes time to combine positive ions and negative ions, so that a high concentration of ions reaches the human body 607. Thereby, the area | region of the ion of a reverse polarity concentrates and contacts the charge part of the human body 607, and can eliminate effectively the location which is charged or dust, bacteria, etc. This effect makes it possible to remove bacteria, dust, and the like attached to the human body 607.

  On the other hand, when the ion generating unit 604 is operated, for example, when the wind speed in the vicinity of the electrode is 4 m / sec and the frequency of the AC pulse voltage is 20 kHz, the distance L between the air region where the positive ions are dense and the air region where the negative ions are dense. Is 100 μm. Thus, since the distance L is comparatively small, it becomes the setting which improved the bactericidal performance which operates the ion generation part 604. FIG. That is, germs floating in the air have a higher frequency of contact with positive ions and negative ions, and sterilization in the air proceeds rapidly.

  As described above, it is possible to switch between the setting with improved sterilization performance and the setting with improved static elimination performance. It is possible to sterilize viruses, bacteria, etc. floating in the air. The simplest way to change the setting is to use a switch.

  In addition, the relative positional relationship between the ion generators 602 and 604 is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the ion generation unit 602 is installed on the leeward side of the ion generation unit 604, but it is of course possible to install it on the leeward side. Further, the distance between the two discharge electrodes is not particularly limited. Further, in FIG. 6, the two discharge devices are arranged in series, but they can be arranged in parallel.

  The position where the fan 605 is attached is not particularly limited. That is, the fan 605 is assumed to be installed on the windward side of the ion generation units 602 and 604, but the distance from the ion generation units 602 and 604 is not particularly limited. Further, the wind speed of the wind provided from the fan 605 is not particularly limited, and can be set to 1 to 10 m / second in the vicinity of the electrode, for example. By changing the wind speed, it is also possible to change the arrangement distance L between the air region where positive ions are dense and the air region where negative ions are dense to some extent.

  As in the other embodiments, the air conditioner of the present embodiment may be switched between sterilization performance and static elimination performance by providing a control unit (not shown) such as a human body sensor and a timer. . Moreover, it may further have a function of periodically switching the ion generator by attaching a timer or the like to the air conditioner of the present embodiment. By adding such a function, it is possible to periodically perform either or both of the neutralization of the surrounding area and the sterilization of the space, and the neutralization and / or the sterilization can be performed according to the purpose. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which can change the period by a timer according to the objective or liking.

<Example>
The same discharge devices (hereinafter referred to as discharge devices A and B, respectively) as the discharge devices 102 and 103 used in the first embodiment were separately operated independently, and their sterilization performance and static elimination performance were examined and compared. The results and evaluation are shown below. The operating conditions of the discharge devices A and B are the same as the conditions described in the first embodiment.

[Position dependence of air ion concentration]
(Measuring method)
In the indoor space, each of the discharge devices A and B was operated independently, and positive and negative ions were blown using a fan with a wind speed of 1 m / sec near the electrodes. An ion counter (83-1001B manufactured by Dan Kagaku Co., Ltd.) was installed at a point of 50, 100, and 150 cm from the discharge device in the blowing direction, and the value of the ion counter was measured. The measured air ion concentration is measured for small ions (ions having a mobility of 1 cm ² / V · sec or more).

(Measurement result)
FIG. 7 shows the results of measuring the position dependence of the air ion concentration. The broken line indicates the result when the discharge device A is used, and the solid line indicates the result when the discharge device B is used. The vertical axis indicates the average value of ion concentrations of positive ions and negative ions. As shown in FIG. 7, the ion concentration in the space is gradually decreasing, and the discharge device A has a sharp decrease in ion concentration, and the discharge device B maintains the ion concentration for a relatively long time. I understand. In addition, at the point of 50 cm from the discharge device, the ion concentration value was approximately the same 10,000 particles / cm ³ in both discharge devices.

[Bactericidal performance test]
(Measuring method)
In a 1 m ³ space, a small amount of a liquid containing E. coli was sprayed, and at the same time, the discharge device was operated to release positive and negative ions into the space. The suspended Escherichia coli concentration at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the operation of the discharge device was measured using an air sampler.

(Measurement result)
FIG. 8 shows the results of measuring the time dependency of the floating E. coli concentration. The broken line indicates the result when the discharge device A is used, and the solid line indicates the result when the discharge device B is used. As shown in FIG. 8, it can be seen that the decrease in floating E. coli is larger when the discharge device A is used and the sterilization performance is higher. About 90-fold difference was observed after 90 minutes.

[Static elimination performance test]
(Measuring method)
FIG. 9 is a layout diagram of equipment used in the static elimination performance test. In FIG. 9, 908 is an ion generator, 905 is a flat plate made of Teflon (registered trademark), 906 is an insulating table, and 907 is a floor. Reference numeral 901 denotes a discharge device A or B, 903 denotes a wind tunnel, and 902 denotes a fan. The discharge device A or the discharge device B is not shown, but is connected to a high voltage power source. The wind speed is 1 m / second in the vicinity of the electrode as in the above test. The distance between the discharge device 901 and the flat plate 905 made of Teflon (registered trademark) was 1 m. Using such equipment, the flat plate 905 made of Teflon (registered trademark) is charged by friction, and the surface voltage of the flat plate 905 made of Teflon (registered trademark) is measured with a voltmeter (not shown) to obtain the surface voltage. The voltage was 10 kV. Next, the discharge device 901 and the fan 902 were operated for 10 seconds, and the surface voltage of the flat plate 505 made of Teflon (registered trademark) was measured again.

(Measurement result)
When the discharge device A was used, the surface voltage decreased to 2 kV by driving the discharge device for 10 seconds. On the other hand, when the discharge device B was used, the surface voltage decreased to 0.5 kV by driving the discharge device for 10 seconds. From this, it can be seen that the discharging device B has higher static elimination performance.

[Evaluation]
As described above, the disinfection performance and the charge removal performance of the discharge device A and the discharge device B are different.

  In the discharge device A, the wind speed in the vicinity of the electrode is 1 m / second, and the pulse of the high voltage power source applied to the discharge device alternates with a cycle of a positive / negative voltage of 20 kHz. Accordingly, the distance L between the air region where the positive ions are dense and the air region where the negative ions are dense formed in the space is 25 μm. On the other hand, air ions mainly composed of ions having different polarities are emitted from each discharge electrode of the discharge device B, and the distance between the air having a high ion concentration is 5 cm at the electrode portion and is sent to the space. .

  The air discharged from each discharge device has a shorter average distance between positive ions and negative ions in the case of the discharge device A than in the case of the discharge device B, and the positive and negative ions are caused by the Coulomb force between the ions and collision due to diffusion. The frequency of recombination in the air increases. Therefore, it is considered that the positive and negative ion lifetimes in the space are shorter and the results shown in FIG. 7 are obtained.

  This means that positive and negative ions react rapidly in air. In particular, active radicals generated by the reaction between positive ions and negative ions are generated on the surface of bacteria or the like. For example, a bacterium or the like that contacts positive or negative polarity ions easily contacts a reverse polarity ion, and an active radical (OH radical or the like) is generated by a chemical reaction on the surface of the bacterium. As a result, the ability to sterilize airborne bacteria is increased. For this reason, it is considered that the result that the sterilization performance in the air by the discharge device A is large was obtained as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the discharge device B has a property that the ion life tends to be long and it reaches a long distance because the distance L between the air region where the positive ions are dense and the air region where the negative ions are dense is relatively separated. For this reason, when there is a charged wall surface, clothes, etc., it moves by receiving the electric field, and a high concentration charge is given to the charged portion, and the effect of discharging is increased. Therefore, it is considered that the discharge device B was able to carry out the charge removal of the Teflon (registered trademark) flat plate shown in FIG. 9 rapidly. However, when the discharge device B is used, when positive or negative ions are attached to the bacteria, it is considered that it takes time to come into contact with the ions of opposite polarity for a long time. Air ions charged to one-sided potential generated by the discharge device B are attracted to the wall surface charged by Coulomb force and move in groups and easily contact with the wall surface to lose charge. It is considered that the frequency of binding is relatively low, and the bactericidal performance of planktonic bacteria is relatively lowered.

  In the ion generator that forms the air region A in which positive ions are dense and the air region B in which negative ions are densely separated in the space by releasing positive ions and negative ions using the above results, By changing the distance L between the arrangement of the air region A and the air region B, it is possible to perform switching of settings with improved sterilization performance and / or switching of settings with improved static elimination performance. As a result, it is possible to provide an ion generating apparatus that effectively removes and drops attached dust and bacteria and sterilizes in air.

  Here, regarding the distance L of the arrangement of the air region A and the air region B, when the distance in the setting with improved sterilization performance is L1, and the distance in the setting with improved static elimination performance is L2, the above test results show that L1 <L2 It turns out that it is preferable.

  Moreover, it has shown that disinfection performance can be improved or static elimination performance can be improved by changing the distance L of arrangement | positioning of the air area | region A and the air area | region B, The means to change the distance L is especially Not limited. Examples of means for switching between L1 and L2 by changing the distance L include the means shown in the first to third embodiments described above.

  Further, as shown by the above test results, according to the ion generator of the present invention, it is possible to effectively perform both sterilization and static elimination, and therefore the air conditioner of the present invention provided with the ion generator of the present invention. In addition, either or both of sterilization and static elimination can be effectively performed.

  It should be understood that the embodiments and examples disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. For example, setting conditions such as changing the concentration of released ions as appropriate are allowed. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the discharge device 102 of FIG. 1 in detail. It is the figure which showed the discharge device 103 of FIG. 1 in detail. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the result of having measured the position dependence of air ion concentration. It is a graph which shows the result of having measured the time dependence of floating colon_bacillus | E._coli density | concentration. It is the layout of the equipment used for the static elimination performance test.

Explanation of symbols

  101, 401, 908 Ion generator, 102, 103, 402 Discharge device, 103A, 103B, 302, 303, 502 Discharge electrode, 104, 404, 509, 605, 902 Fan, 406, 407 Voltage pulse, 501, 602 604 Ion generating unit, 508 Electrode positive / negative switching unit, 601 Air conditioner, 606 filter, 607 human body, 905 Teflon (registered trademark) plane plate.

Claims (5)

By releasing positive ions and negative ions, an air region A in which positive ions are dense and an air region B in which negative ions are densely separated in a space are formed, and the arrangement of the air region A and the air region B is formed. An ion generator that switches between a setting that improves sterilization performance and a setting that improves static elimination performance by changing the distance L of
With respect to the distance L between the air region A and the air region B, when the distance in the setting with the improved sterilization performance is L1, and the distance in the setting with the neutralization performance is L2, L1 <L2. Which releases ions into space,
By having a plurality of discharge electrodes for ion generation, switching the applied voltage to the electrode that contributes to discharge among the discharge electrodes to positive or negative, and changing the positive or negative of ions emitted from the electrode that contributes to the discharge, Switching between L1 and L2 is performed, and an ion generator is provided. By releasing positive ions and negative ions, an air region A in which positive ions are dense and an air region B in which negative ions are densely separated in a space are formed, and the arrangement of the air region A and the air region B is formed. An ion generator that switches between a setting that improves sterilization performance and a setting that improves static elimination performance by changing the distance L of
With respect to the distance L between the air region A and the air region B, when the distance in the setting with the improved sterilization performance is L1, and the distance in the setting with the neutralization performance is L2, L1 <L2. Which releases ions into space,
An ion generator having a plurality of ion generators and switching between the L1 and the L2 by switching the ion generators to be operated. By releasing positive ions and negative ions, an air region A in which positive ions are dense and an air region B in which negative ions are densely separated in a space are formed, and the arrangement of the air region A and the air region B is formed. An ion generator that switches between a setting that improves sterilization performance and a setting that improves static elimination performance by changing the distance L of
With respect to the distance L between the air region A and the air region B, when the distance in the setting with the improved sterilization performance is L1, and the distance in the setting with the neutralization performance is L2, L1 <L2. Which releases ions into space,
The AC pulse voltage applied to the discharge electrode for generating ions is composed of positive and negative potentials, and switching between the L1 and the L2 is performed by changing the application cycle of the AC pulse voltage. An ion generator. The air conditioner provided with the ion generator in any one of Claims 1-3 . The switching between the operation of setting with increased operation and neutralization performance settings with enhanced bactericidal performance, and performs periodically by the timer function, the air conditioner according to claim 4.

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