JP4688613B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner including a drain pan that receives drain water.

  Generally, an air conditioner including a heat exchanger and a drain pan that receives drain water generated by the heat exchanger is known. In this type, slime is easily generated in the drain water stored in the drain pan, which causes clogging of the drain pan and drain hose.

In order to solve this problem, conventionally, a drain pan provided with a slime generation inhibitor has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-159710

  However, in the conventional configuration, since the chemical is mixed with drain water to suppress the generation of slime chemically, the effect is lost when there is no chemical soaked in, and eventually the durability, that is, the generation of slime is suppressed. There is a problem that there is difficulty in sustainability.

  Then, the objective of this invention is providing the air conditioner which eliminates the subject which the prior art mentioned above has, and can suppress permanently that slime generate | occur | produces in a drain pan.

The present invention includes a heat exchanger, a drain pan that receives drain water generated by the heat exchanger, and a drain pump that pumps the drain water accumulated in the drain pan and drains the drain water to the outside through a drain hose. An electrolytic unit having an electrode that electrolyzes the drain water to generate active oxygen species is disposed at least at one of the suction port and the discharge port of the drain pump, and the drain water electrolyzed by the electrolysis unit is drained again into the drain pan. In addition, the electrolysis unit or the drain hose is provided with heat storage means for storing the cold heat of the drain water and cooling the drain water supplied at the next and subsequent electrolysis .

  In this case, the drain hose may be provided with a rising portion extending upward, and the electrolyzed drain water in the rising portion and the electrolysis unit may be returned to the drain pan when the drain pump is stopped. . Further, it may be configured to include an electrolysis control means for controlling the drain pump to be operated during the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation or after the operation is completed, and to perform electrolysis of the drain water supplied to the electrolysis unit. .

Further, electrolytic control unit detects that the drain water is supplied into the electrolyzing unit may be configured to start the electrolysis of the drain water. Further, the electrolysis unit may include a stirring unit that stirs the drain water flowing into the electrolysis unit.

Also, electrodeposition in the solution unit may be configured using an electrode that can generate ozone.

  In this invention, generation | occurrence | production of the slime to a drain pan can be suppressed permanently.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an air conditioner body and a decorative panel, and FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the air conditioner body.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an air conditioner, and this air conditioner 1 is combined with an outdoor unit (not shown) and includes a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and the like, as shown in FIG. Thus, it is suspended and fixed in the ceiling space 41 of the building 40. 1 and 2 is an example of a four-way ceiling cassette type air conditioner 1, which has an air conditioner body 2 and a decorative panel 3, and a suction port 4 is provided at the center of the decorative panel 3. An air outlet 5 is opened around the suction port 4 of the decorative panel 3. Four bolts 42 are set vertically downward from the building 40, and these four bolts 42 are respectively fixed to the hanging metal fittings 43 of the air conditioner body 2.

  In the air conditioner main body 2, control devices such as a fan motor 6, an indoor fan 7 (turbo fan), a partition plate 8, a drain pump 12, a drain outlet 13, a refrigerant pipe 14, a drain pump control means, and an electrolysis control means. The electrical box 15 having the above, the heat exchanger 16 and the like are arranged.

  The indoor fan 7 is arranged corresponding to the fan nozzle 17. The heat exchanger 16 is bent into a substantially rectangular shape and is disposed near the four air outlets 5 so as to surround the indoor fan 7. The partition plate 8 connects the tube plates 21 and 21 of the heat exchanger 16, and a drain pump 12, a drain discharge port 13, an indoor mechanical valve is provided in a space 20 outside the heat exchanger 16 partitioned by the partition plate 8. 18 etc. are accommodated. The partition plate 8 prevents air from the indoor fan 7 from leaking out during operation, and the presence of the partition plate 8 ensures that the heat exchanged air from the four outlets 5 is blown into the room R. It has become so.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram of a drain pan. In FIG. 3, a drain pan 22 is provided below the heat exchanger 16. At the bottom of the drain pan 22, a drain reservoir 22A that is lowered by one step is formed, and the drain pump 12 is disposed in the drain reservoir 22A. For example, a drain pump drive unit 23 such as a DC motor is connected to the drain pump 12, and a drain pump control unit 24 that can control the rotation speed is connected to the drain pump drive unit 23.

The drain pump control means 24 includes an indoor fan operation stop detection means 26 (hereinafter simply referred to as fan operation detection means) for detecting whether the indoor fan 7 is operating, and a rotation speed setting means for setting the rotation speed of the drain pump 12. 27.
The rotation speed setting means 27 sets the drain pump 12 to the maximum rotation speed and outputs it to the drain pump drive means 23 when the fan operation detection means 26 detects that the indoor fan 7 is operating. After the fan operation detection means 26 detects the stop of the indoor fan 7, the minimum rotation speed that can be drained is output to the drain pump drive means 23. Then, the drain pump drive unit 23 operates the drain pump 12 at the rotation number output from the rotation number setting unit 27.

  Further, a drain hose 19 for draining drain water to the outside of the machine is connected to the drain port 13 of the drain pump 12. The drain hose 19 includes a rising portion 19A extending upward, and the drain water remaining in the rising portion 19A is returned to the drain pan 22 when the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, an electrolysis unit 30 that electrolyzes drain water and generates active oxygen species (for example, ozone) is disposed in the rising portion 19A of the drain hose 19. The electrolysis unit 30 includes an electrolysis tank 31 whose diameter is larger than that of the drain hose 21 and a pair of electrodes 32 and 33 disposed in the electrolysis tank 31, and these electrodes are connected to the electrolysis control means 34. When the electrodes 32 and 33 are energized, the drain water flowing into the electrolytic cell 31 is electrolyzed to generate active oxygen species (ozone).

  Here, the reactive oxygen species are oxygen molecules having an oxidation activity higher than that of normal oxygen and related substances, and so-called narrow definition such as superoxide anion, singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, or hydrogen peroxide. These active oxygens include so-called broadly active oxygens such as ozone and hypohalogen acids.

This active oxygen species prevents generation of slime and makes it difficult for slime to be generated in the drain pan 22 and the drain hose 19. The electrode material is preferably one that can generate active oxygen species by electrolyzing drain water (one that does not contain chlorine, such as tap water), such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide, radicals, etc. Specifically, platinum, lead oxide, platinum tantalum and the like are suitable. Among these, a platinum tantalum electrode is most preferable in this respect because ozone can be stably generated with high efficiency by electrolysis even from drain water having a small ionic species. At this time, in the cathode electrode,
4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ + (4OH ⁻ ) → 2H ₂ + (4OH ⁻ )
And the anode electrode
2H ₂ O → 4H ⁺ + O ₂ + 4e ⁻
At the same time as
3H ₂ O → O ₃ + 6H ⁺ + 6e ⁻
2H ₂ O → O ₃ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻
Reaction occurs.
Thus, ozone (O ₃ ) generated at the anode electrode is quickly dissolved in the drain water, and the slime prevention effect is exhibited by the drain water in which the ozone is dissolved (hereinafter referred to as ozone water). Specifically, since the ozone water is returned onto the drain pan 22 as the drain pump 12 is stopped, generation of slime in the drain pan 22 is prevented. Further, the ozone water discharged to the outside through the drain hose 19 prevents the generation of slime in the drain hose 19.

In addition, a heat storage material 35 is disposed inside the electrolytic cell 31 of the electrolytic unit 30. The heat storage material 35 stores the cold heat of the drain water generated during the cooling operation. Here, the reason for providing the heat storage material 35 will be described.
In general, as shown in FIG. 4, it is known that ozone has higher solubility in water as the water temperature is lower. For this reason, at the time of electrolysis of drain water, it is desirable to create ozone water having a high ozone concentration by keeping the temperature of the drain water low.

  However, the drain water stored on the drain pan 22 is warmed by the ambient temperature over time. For this reason, in this structure, by providing the heat storage material 35 in the electrolytic cell 31, at the time of the electrolysis immediately after the cooling operation, the cold heat of the drain water discharged to the outside is stored in the heat storage material 35, and the subsequent electrolysis is performed. In some cases, ozone water having a high ozone concentration can be easily generated by cooling the drain water supplied to the electrolytic bath 31 with the cold heat.

  Further, the electrolysis unit 30 includes a stirring blade (stirring means) 36 for stirring the drain water flowing into the electrolytic cell 31. The stirring blade 36 is connected to stirring blade driving means (hereinafter simply referred to as blade driving means) 37 such as a DC motor. The blade driving means 37 operates the stirring blade 36 during electrolysis under the control of the electrolysis control means 34, thereby stirring the drain water in the electrolytic bath 31 and efficiently performing the electrolysis. As described above, the DC motor is taken as an example of the stirring blade driving means 37, but the stirring blade 36 may be controlled using the flow of drain water as a driving source.

Next, the operation of the drain pump control means 24 will be described.
When the cooling operation of the air conditioner 1 is started, the compressor and the indoor fan 7 start the operation. When the indoor fan 7 starts operation, the fan operation detection means 26 of the drain pump control means 24 detects that the indoor fan 7 is in operation, and the rotation speed setting means 27 sets the drain pump 12 to the maximum rotation speed. Then, the drain pump drive means 23 operates the drain pump 12 at the maximum rotational speed. When the drain pump 12 is operated, the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22 is pumped up and drained outside the apparatus.

  When the cooling operation is stopped and the compressor and the indoor fan 7 stop operating, the fan operation detecting means 26 detects the stop of the operation of the indoor fan 7. When the indoor fan 7 is stopped, the rotation speed setting means 27 sets the rotation speed of the drain pump drive means 23 to the minimum rotation speed that can be drained, and the drain pump drive means 23 operates the drain pump 12 at this rotation speed. . By operating the drain pump 12 at the minimum number of rotations capable of draining, the noise of the drain pump 12 such as watering noise is minimized, and it adheres to the heat exchanger 16 and flows down after the compressor and the indoor fan 7 are stopped. The drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22 is drained.

  Next, when the water level of the drain pan 22 falls below a certain value, the drain pump 12 cannot drain, and the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped. The timing of stopping the drain pump 12 may be set to stop after the indoor fan 7 has stopped, for example, after being operated for about 20 minutes, and a water level sensor or the like (not shown) is provided in the drain pan 22. A sensor may be provided and the operation of the drain pump 12 may be stopped when the water level of the drain pan 22 reaches a minimum water level that can be drained.

  By the way, when the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped, the drain water remaining in the rising portion 19A of the drain hose 19 is returned to the drain pan 22 by its own weight. Is in a state. In the present embodiment, the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22 is pumped up to the electrolysis unit 30 by the drain pump 12, electrolyzed by the electrolysis unit 30, and then returned to the drain pan 22 again as ozone water, thereby preventing generation of slime. ing.

  Here, the electrolysis operation of the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22 will be described. In this embodiment, this electrolysis operation is performed intermittently (for example, every 3 hours) when the operation of the air conditioner is stopped.

  The drain pump control means 24 operates the drain pump 12 (step S1). In this case, the drain pump 12 is operated at the above-described minimum rotational speed, thereby minimizing noise such as watering noise of the drain pump 12.

  Subsequently, the electrolysis control means 34 determines whether or not the level of the drain water supplied into the electrolysis tank 31 of the electrolysis unit 30 has risen to a predetermined position (step S2). Specifically, this predetermined position is a position where the upper ends of the electrodes 32 and 33 arranged in the electrolytic cell 31 are submerged, and this position is detected by a water level sensor (not shown).

In this determination, when the drain water level rises to a predetermined position (step S2; Yes), the electrolysis control means 34 starts energization of the electrodes 32 and 33 (step S3), and electrolyzes the drain water. By doing so, ozone water in which ozone which is an active oxygen species is dissolved is generated. In this case, as the electrodes 32 and 33 are energized, the electrolysis control means 34 operates the blade driving means 37 to operate the stirring blade 36.
Here, the heat storage means 35 stores the cool heat of the drain water supplied at the time of electrolysis immediately after the cooling operation, and gives this cool heat to the drain water supplied at the time of the next and subsequent electrolysis, so that the next time. The drain water supplied during the subsequent electrolysis is cooled. Thereby, ozone water with a high ozone concentration can be easily generated.

  Subsequently, the electrolysis control means 34 determines whether or not a predetermined time (5 minutes in the present embodiment) has elapsed since the energization of the electrodes 32 and 33 (step S4), and the predetermined time has elapsed (step S4; In Yes), the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped via the drain pump control means 24 (step S5). In the present embodiment, when the operation of the drain pump 12 is stopped, the ozone water (drain water) in the electrolytic tank 31 of the electrolysis unit 30 and the rising portion 19 </ b> A of the drain hose 19 is returned to the drain pan 22.

  Next, the electrolysis control means 34 determines whether or not the ozone water level in the electrolysis tank 31 has fallen below the predetermined position (step S6). In this determination, when the ozone water level falls below a predetermined position (step S6; Yes), the energization to the electrodes 32 and 33 is stopped and the operation of the stirring blade 36 is stopped (step S7). As a result, it is possible to prevent the electrolysis tank 31 from being energized in a state where water is not supplied, so that the life of the electrodes 32 and 33 can be prolonged.

  According to the present embodiment, ozone water generated by electrolytic decomposition is returned to the drain pan 22, thereby preventing slime from being generated. In this configuration, slime is not permanently generated in the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22, and the drain pan 22 is purified and a deodorizing effect is exhibited. Further, by causing this drain water to flow down to the drain pipe 19, generation of slime in the drain pipe 19 is also permanently suppressed. From this point of view, maintenance-free operation of the drain pan 22 is achieved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, after the cooling operation is completed, the electrolysis control means 34 performs electrolysis of the drain water remaining in the rising portion 19A of the drain hose 19, so that high-concentration ozone water is generated in a short time. It is possible to prevent slime from being generated in the drain pan 22 by the ozone water.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the electrolytic tank 31 of the electrolysis unit 30 is provided with the heat storage means 35 that stores the cold heat of the drain water and cools the drain water supplied during the subsequent electrolysis. The drain water temperature can be kept low during the subsequent electrolysis, and high-concentration ozone water can be generated. Moreover, in this embodiment, since the electrolysis unit 30 is equipped with the stirring blade 36 which stirs the drain water which flowed in the electrolytic vessel 31, it can perform electrolysis efficiently.

  The air conditioner incorporating the above electrode not only reduces troubles in the drainage system and facilitates maintenance, but also purifies the inside of the air conditioning equipment, contributing to more comfortable air conditioning. It is effective when installed in buildings where many unspecified people gather, such as schools, hospitals, and convenience stores.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment.
In this embodiment, an electrolytic unit 50 is provided at the suction port of the drain pump 12. The electrolysis unit 50 includes an electrolysis tank 51 connected to the suction port of the drain pump 12 and electrodes 52 and 53 accommodated in the electrolysis tank 51. These electrodes 52 and 53 are connected to the electrolysis control means 54, and other configurations are substantially the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. However, in this embodiment, since the electrolysis unit 30 is disposed so as to be immersed in the drain water, the heat storage means and the stirring blade are not employed.

  Also in this embodiment, generation of slime is prevented by returning the ozone water generated by electrolytic decomposition to the drain pan 22. For this reason, slime is not permanently generated in the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22, and the drain pan 22 is purified and a deodorizing effect is exhibited. Further, by causing this drain water to flow down to the drain pipe 19, generation of slime in the drain pipe 19 is also permanently suppressed. From this point of view, maintenance-free operation of the drain pan 22 is achieved.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment.
In this embodiment, a pump 61 for pumping drain water is provided separately from the drain pump 12, and an electrolysis unit 70 is connected to a discharge port 62 of the pump 61. The pumping pump 61 is arranged in the drain pool 22 </ b> A of the drain pan 22 side by side with the drain pump 12. For example, a pumping drive means 63 such as a DC motor is connected to the pumping pump 61, and a pumping pump control means 64 capable of controlling the rotation speed is connected to the pumping driving means 63.

  The electrolysis unit 70 includes an electrolysis tank 71 and electrodes 72 and 73 accommodated in the electrolysis tank 71, and these electrodes 72 and 73 are connected to the electrolysis control means 74. In the present embodiment, the size of the electrolytic layer 71 is set to a size that can accommodate the amount of drain water (for example, 800 ml) returned to the drain pan 22 by its own weight when the drain pump 12 is stopped.

  Further, the electrolytic tank 71 is provided with a heat storage material 75 on the inner side thereof, and is provided with a stirring blade (stirring means) 76 for stirring drain water flowing into the electrolytic tank 71. Is connected to stirring blade driving means 77 such as a DC motor. Other configurations and operations are substantially the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG.

According to this embodiment, the ozone water generated by electrolytic decomposition is returned to the drain pan 22, thereby preventing slime from being generated. For this reason, slime is not permanently generated in the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 22, and the drain pan 22 is purified and a deodorizing effect is exhibited. From this point of view, maintenance-free operation of the drain pan 22 is achieved.
In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the electrolysis unit 70 is disposed at the discharge port 62 of the pumping pump 61 has been described. However, the electrolysis unit may be provided at the suction port of the pumping pump.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on one Embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the electrolysis operation is performed every predetermined time. However, the ozone concentration on the drain pan is detected, and the electrolysis operation may be performed when the concentration falls below a predetermined value. .

  In the above embodiment, the electrolysis operation is performed only when the cooling operation of the air conditioner 1 is stopped. However, when the drain pump is operating during the cooling operation, the electrode is energized to drain the drain water. It is good also as a structure to decompose. In this case, ozone water generated by electrolysis is discharged to the outside of the machine via the drain hose 19, but since the slime inside the drain hose 19 is removed by the ozone water, the drain hose 19 is cleaned. It becomes possible to keep. Further, when the drain pump is stopped, ozone water in the drain hose 19 and the electrolytic bath is returned to the drain pan, so that the generation of slime in the drain pan 22 is suppressed, and the drain pan 22 can be kept clean.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the structure which provides the thermal storage materials 35 and 75 in the electrolytic cells 31 and 71 was demonstrated, it is good also as a structure which provides such a thermal storage material in the drain hose 19. FIG.
Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the structure which generate | occur | produces ozone as an active oxygen seed | species, it is good also as a structure which generate | occur | produces active oxygen seed | species other than ozone by changing an electrode to an appropriate thing.

  In addition, when scale is deposited on the electrode (cathode) due to electrolysis of drain water, electrical conductivity is lowered, and continuous electrolysis becomes difficult. In this case, it is effective to reverse the polarity of electrolysis (switch between positive and negative of the electrode). The scale deposited on the cathode electrode is removed by electrolysis using the cathode electrode as the anode electrode. In this polarity reversal control, for example, it may be reversed periodically using a timer, or may be reversed irregularly, such as reversed every time the operation is started. Further, an increase in electrolytic resistance (decrease in electrolysis current or increase in electrolysis voltage) may be detected, and the polarity may be reversed based on this result. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which performs the electrolysis of the drain water collected in the drain pan 22 not only in cooling operation but in the dehumidification operation in which drain water is generated.

It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the air conditioner of this invention. It is a bottom view similarly. It is a block diagram which shows electrode arrangement | positioning. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the water temperature at the time of electrolysis, and ozone water concentration. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of electrolysis operation | movement. It is a block diagram which shows another embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 16 Heat exchanger 12 Drain pump 22 Drain pan 30, 50, 70 Electrolysis unit 32, 33, 52, 53, 72, 73 Electrode 35, 75 Heat storage means 36, 76 Stirring blade (stirring means)
34, 54, 74 Electrolysis control means 61 Pumping pump

Claims (7)

A heat exchanger, a drain pan that receives the drain water generated in the heat exchanger, and a drain pump that pumps the drain water accumulated in the drain pan and drains the drain water to the outside through the drain hose,
An electrolytic unit having an electrode for electrolyzing the drain water to generate active oxygen species is disposed at least at one of the suction port and the discharge port of the drain pump, and the drain water electrolyzed by the electrolysis unit is again drain pan. The air is characterized in that the electrolysis unit or the drain hose is provided with heat storage means for storing the cold heat of the drain water and cooling the drain water supplied at the next and subsequent electrolysis. Harmony machine. The drain hose includes a rising portion extending upward,
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the drained water electrolyzed in the start-up unit and the electrolysis unit returns to the drain pan when the operation of the drain pump is stopped. During the cooling or dehumidifying operation or after the operation is over,
3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising an electrolysis control unit that operates the drain pump and controls the electrolysis of the drain water supplied to the electrolysis unit. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the electrolysis control unit detects that drain water is supplied into the electrolysis unit and starts electrolysis of the drain water. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the electrolysis unit includes a stirring unit that stirs the drain water flowing into the electrolysis unit. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the electrode polarity is reversed regularly or irregularly. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein an electrode capable of generating ozone is used for the electrolysis unit.

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