JP4811375B2 - Electrostatic atomizer and heated air blower equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic atomizer that generates charged liquid fine particles, and a heated air blower including a blower that blows heated air with the electrostatic atomizer.

As a conventional device of this type, for example, those described in the following documents are known (see Patent Document 1). The technology employed in the liquid atomization apparatus described in this document includes a discharge electrode buried in a liquid and a counter electrode disposed outside the liquid at a position facing the discharge electrode, and the pulse width is controlled. By supplying the driven pulse voltage to the discharge electrode and driving it, the generation of fine particles with different particle sizes can be controlled in single units, and particles with small particle sizes with little variation in particle size can be produced at high density and low voltage. Can be generated.
JP-A-11-300975

  In the above conventional liquid atomization apparatus, the pulse width control and the pulse voltage adjustment alone are not sufficient to improve the function of electrostatic atomization by a high electric field. Therefore, further improvement of the electrostatic atomization function has been demanded.

  Further, in the above-described conventional apparatus, when supplying and controlling the pulse voltage to the discharge electrode, a period in which no voltage is applied to the discharge electrode occurs. Therefore, a period in which charged liquid fine particles are not generated is generated in synchronization with this period. There has been a problem that the effect of the charged liquid fine particles cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to further reduce the particle diameter of the charged liquid fine particles and to control the generation of charged ions and charged liquid fine particles. It is in providing the electrostatic atomizer which can be performed.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a heated air blower capable of discharging fine charged liquid fine particles in addition to blowing heated air.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention applies a voltage to a discharge electrode and statically supplies a liquid supplied to the discharge electrode by a discharge generated by an electric field formed by the applied voltage. An electrostatic atomizing apparatus that performs electroatomization includes a voltage generation unit that generates a pulse voltage to be applied to the discharge electrode, and the voltage generation unit controls a voltage amplitude of the pulse voltage. And

The electrostatic atomization device according to the present invention is the electrostatic atomization device according to the first feature, wherein the voltage generation means generates a first voltage value that generates charged ions by the discharge and the discharge. A second feature is that a pulse voltage that oscillates between the second voltage value for generating the charged liquid fine particles is generated.

  The electrostatic atomization apparatus according to the present invention is the electrostatic atomization apparatus according to the second feature, wherein the voltage generation unit is configured to apply the pulse signal of the first voltage value to the discharge electrode. The generation time of the charged ions and the generation amount of the charged liquid particles are variably controlled by controlling the application time during which the pulse signal having the second voltage value is applied to the discharge electrode. This is the third feature.

  The heating air blower provided with the electrostatic atomization apparatus according to the present invention includes the electrostatic atomization apparatus according to any one of the first to third characteristics and a heating air blowing unit that discharges hot air. Features.

  In the electrostatic atomizer having the first feature according to the present invention, the particle size of the charged liquid fine particles can be further refined, and the generation of charged ions and charged liquid fine particles generated by electrostatic atomization is controlled. be able to.

  In the electrostatic atomization device of the second feature according to the present invention, during the operation of electrostatic atomization, it becomes possible to always generate charged ions and charged liquid fine particles, thereby improving the electrostatic atomization efficiency. it can.

  In the electrostatic atomizer of the third feature according to the present invention, the generation amount of charged ions and the generation amount of charged liquid fine particles can be variably controlled.

  In the heating air blower provided with the electrostatic atomizer according to the present invention, in addition to being able to send out hot air, it is possible to discharge fine charged ions and charged liquid fine particles.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The best embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electrostatic atomizer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the electrostatic atomizer includes a high voltage generation circuit 1, a pulse generation circuit 2, a discharge unit 3, a water supply unit 4, a capacitor 5 (5a, 5b) and a resistor 6 (6a, 6b). Has been.

  The high voltage generation circuit 1 includes a high voltage control circuit 11, a step-up transformer 12, and a smoothing / rectifying circuit 13. The high voltage generation circuit 1 shapes and boosts the waveform of AC power supplied from a commercial AC power source 7 to generate a high voltage pulse. Generate a signal.

  The high voltage control circuit 11 is connected to the pulse generation circuit 2, receives a pulse signal generated by the pulse generation circuit 2, and supplies an AC voltage having a sinusoidal waveform supplied from the AC power supply 7 from the AC power supply 7 based on the pulse signal. Is converted into a pulse signal suitable for the input of the step-up transformer 12, that is, suitable for the step-up operation by the step-up transformer 12, and the pulse-like signal obtained by the conversion is converted The voltage is supplied to the primary side of the step-up transformer 12.

  The step-up transformer 12 has a primary coil connected to the high-voltage control circuit 11 and a secondary coil connected to the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13 to boost the pulse signal supplied from the high-voltage control circuit 11 to the secondary coil. A preset positive or negative high voltage, for example, a high voltage pulse signal in a range of about −3 kV to −4 kV is generated, and the generated pulse voltage is supplied to the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13.

  The smoothing / rectifying circuit 13 is connected to the secondary coil side of the step-up transformer 12, and the frequency is higher than the frequency of the AC power source 7 by the step-up operation accompanied by a switching operation at a higher frequency than the frequency of the AC power source 7. Upon receiving the boosted high voltage pulse signal, the pulse signal is smoothed and rectified to generate a pulse signal in which the frequency of the pulse signal is reduced to a frequency similar to that of the AC power supply 7, and the generated pulse signal Is supplied to the discharge unit 3.

  The discharge unit 3 includes a discharge electrode 31 and, for example, a ground electrode 32 serving as the other collector electrode that creates a high electric field between the discharge electrode 31 and is charged (for example, negatively charged) by discharge due to the high electric field. Fine particle water (ion mist, hereinafter simply referred to as ion mist) and charged (for example, negatively charged) ions (hereinafter simply referred to as ions) are generated and electrostatic atomization is performed.

  In addition, in Example 1 and the example described below, the liquid to be atomized is described as water. However, the liquid to be atomized is not limited to water, and is generated, for example, by adding and mixing other substances into water. It can be liquid.

  The discharge electrode 31 is connected to the high voltage output terminal of the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13 and is applied with a high voltage pulse voltage obtained by the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13. The ground electrode 32 is disposed at a predetermined interval from the discharge electrode 31 and is supplied with a ground potential, forms a high electric field with the discharge electrode 31 and discharges.

  The water supply unit 4 supplies moisture used in electrostatic atomization performed in the discharge unit 3 to the discharge electrode 31. The water supply unit 4 includes, for example, a tank that stores moisture, and is configured to supply moisture stored in the tank to the discharge electrode 31. Alternatively, the discharge electrode 31 is cooled to a temperature below the dew point. As a cooling means for obtaining condensed water, for example, a Peltier module is used.

  In addition, as mentioned above, when the liquid other than water is atomized by electrostatic atomization, for example, the liquid is prepared in advance, and the prepared liquid may be stored in a tank instead of water. .

  The capacitor 5 is composed of two capacitors 5a and 5b connected in series between the low-voltage output terminal of the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13 and the AC power supply 7, and the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13 has a high impedance and a low impedance as a low impedance element. The low voltage output terminal and the AC power supply 7 are connected.

  The resistor 6 includes two resistors 6a and 6b connected in series between the low-voltage output terminal of the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13 and the AC power supply 7, and the low-voltage output of the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13 as an element for stably operating the circuit. The terminal and the AC power supply 7 are connected.

  In such a configuration, the pulse generation circuit 2 generates a low voltage pulse signal having a waveform substantially similar to the waveform of the high voltage pulse signal applied to the discharge electrode 31, for example, the signal waveform shown in FIG. To do. The generated pulse signal is applied to the high voltage control circuit 11 of the high voltage generation circuit 1, and the sine wave of the AC voltage applied from the AC power supply 7 is shaped based on this pulse signal and input to the step-up transformer 12. High-frequency and low-pressure pulse signals suitable for the above are generated. The generated low-voltage pulse signal is given to the step-up transformer 12 and boosted to a preset high voltage.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the pulse signal is boosted to a high voltage (charged ion discharge voltage, for example, about −3 kV) at which the low-level voltage can generate charged ions by the discharge in the discharge unit 3. Is done. Further, the high level voltage is boosted to a high voltage (ion mist discharge voltage, for example, about −3.3 kV) that can generate ion mist due to the discharge in the discharge unit 3. The leak electrode 31 is set so that no leak occurs when a boosted pulse signal is applied to the discharge electrode 31.

  Note that the low voltage and the high voltage of the pulse signal vary depending on the design of the device such as the electrode shape of the discharge electrode 31 and the distance between the discharge electrode 31 and the ground electrode 32, and charged ions and ions depend on the device configuration. It is set so as to satisfy the discharge condition for generating mist.

  The pulse signal boosted to a high voltage is supplied to the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13 and reaches the frequency of the AC power supply 7 before boosting the frequency of the pulse signal whose frequency is increased by the boosting operation by the smoothing / rectifying circuit 13. Then, a high voltage pulse signal having a waveform as shown in FIG. 2 or 3 is generated. A high voltage pulse signal having a reduced frequency is applied to the discharge electrode 31. As a result, a high electric field is generated between the discharge electrode 31 and the ground electrode 32. On the other hand, moisture is supplied to the discharge electrode 31 from the water supply unit 4.

  In such a state, during the period in which the high level of the pulse signal is applied to the discharge electrode 31, the moisture supplied to the discharge electrode 31 is preceded by a high electric field generated between the discharge electrode 31 and the ground electrode 32. As described above, electrostatic atomization is performed, and ion mist is generated. On the other hand, during a period in which a high voltage lower than the high level of the pulse signal is applied to the discharge electrode 31, charged ions are generated by a high electric field generated between the discharge electrode 31 and the ground electrode 32. Since the generated charged ions and ion mist are charged and have a charge, they move from the discharge electrode 31 to the ground electrode 32 side due to a high electric field between the discharge electrode 31 and the ground electrode 32, and when moving It is discharged to the outside by blowing from a blowing means such as a fan. The generated ion mist can be discharged without using air blowing, and the discharge efficiency can be increased by using the air blowing.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the discharge operation is performed by adjusting and controlling the voltage width (voltage amplitude) between the high level and the low level in the pulse signal applied to the discharge electrode 31 and the period in the high level state. It is possible to generate a high electric field between the discharge electrode 31 and the ground electrode 32 without incurring a leakage current. For example, the pulse signal having the waveform shown in FIG. 3 has a shorter high level period (application time is shorter) than the pulse signal having the waveform shown in FIG. It is possible to set higher than the pulse signal shown in FIG.

  Since a high electric field can be generated, the discharge energy per discharged particle increases, and the charge amount of the ion mist can be increased by electrostatic atomization under a high electric field. In addition, the relationship between the strength of the electric field in the discharge operation and the number of particles refined to a certain particle size exhibits characteristics as shown in FIG. 4, for example. It is possible to increase the number of ion mists miniaturized to the order of nanometers.

  Further, in the conventional technique adopted in the above-described document, the high voltage pulse signal applied to the discharge electrode has a period of being off as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. When a pulse signal having a low level voltage value of 0 V is applied to the discharge electrode, ions can be discharged at an ion discharge voltage or higher, and ion mist can be discharged at an ion mist discharge voltage or higher. During the period when the pulse signal is off, ions and ion mist cannot be discharged, and the electrostatic atomization efficiency is poor.

  In contrast, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pulse signal is not turned off, the low level of the pulse signal is set to the ion ejection voltage, and the high level of the pulse signal is set to the ion mist. Since the discharge voltage is set, that is, the voltage amplitude of the pulse signal is set so as to oscillate between the voltage at which ions can be generated and the voltage at which ion mist can be generated. Mist can be generated and discharged. Thereby, it becomes possible to raise electrostatic atomization efficiency markedly compared with the past.

  In addition, in the pulse signal having the waveform as shown in FIG. 3, by providing means for changing the boosted voltage value of either or both of the high level and low level of the pulse signal, the high level and low level within a range where no leakage occurs. The amount of ions generated and the amount of ion mist generated can be controlled by arbitrarily variably setting the voltage.

  For example, in the pulse signal like the waveform a shown in FIG. 7, since the high level voltage is set to be considerably higher than the ion mist discharge voltage, the ion mist generation time ta1 per cycle is the ion generation time ta2. Longer (ta1> ta2), and more ion mist can be generated. On the other hand, in the pulse signal like the waveform b shown in FIG. 7, the high level voltage is set slightly higher than the ion mist discharge voltage and lower than the waveform a, so that the ion generation time tb1 per cycle is The ion mist generation time tb2 is longer (tb1> tb2), and more ions can be generated.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the electrostatic atomizer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The electrostatic atomizer of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is characterized by an AC power source 7 instead of the pulse generating circuit 2 shown in FIG. 1 as compared with the device of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A diode 8 is provided between the high-voltage generation circuit 1 and the high-voltage control circuit 11, and a rectified signal obtained by half-wave rectifying the sine wave of the AC power supply 7 by the diode 8 is applied to the high-voltage control circuit 11. The high voltage control circuit 11 applies a high voltage pulse signal as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 to be applied to the discharge electrode 31 based on the signal.

  In the second embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment, the pulse generation circuit 2 is not necessary, and the apparatus can be simplified and reduced in size compared to the configuration shown in FIG. .

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hair dryer as an example of a heating air blower provided with the electrostatic atomizer shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the hair dryer has a body portion formed by a housing 91, and a handle portion 92 is integrally provided on the lower wall portion of the housing 91 so as to protrude downward. In the housing 91, a fan 94 that sucks air from an air intake port 97 and a motor 93 that rotationally drives the fan 94 are arranged. Further, on the downstream side of the motor 93, a heater 96 is provided, and the heater 96 is selectively energized to selectively heat the air blown by the fan 94 to generate hot air. A heating unit 95 that blows air from the air outlet 98 is provided.

  The handle portion 92 is provided with a switch 99 for switching on / off of the motor 93, on / off of the heater 96, on / off of the electrostatic atomizer, and other functions of the hair dryer.

  A high voltage generation circuit 1 including a pulse generation circuit 2 (not shown), a discharge unit 3, and a water supply unit 4 constituting the electrostatic atomizer shown in FIG. The ions and ion mist that are arranged and generated in the discharge unit 3 are blown out in the same direction as the direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 98 by the air generated by the fan 94 and introduced into the introduction passage 100.

  The capacitor 5 is disposed on the upper wall side between the air intake port 97 and the fan 94 in the housing 91 and is connected to the high voltage generation circuit 1 by wiring (not shown).

  Thus, by mounting the electrostatic atomizer of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 on the dryer as the heating air blower, it is blown out from the dryer as described above. It becomes possible to atomize the ion mist, and in addition to increasing the charge amount of the ion mist, it is possible to increase the amount of ionized mist. Thereby, the osmosis | permeation power of the ion mist to the inside of hair can be improved, and the moistening effect given to hair can be improved.

  In addition, since the voltage amplitude of the pulse signal applied to the discharge electrode 31 is set between the discharge voltage of the charged ions and the discharge voltage of the ion mist, the effect factor on the hair, that is, the charged ions that provide a free flowing effect One or both of the ion mists that provide a moist effect can always be blown out while the electrostatic atomizer is operating.

  Furthermore, the generation amount of charged ions and ion mist can be adjusted and controlled by variably setting the high level and low level voltages of the pulse signal. Thereby, when using a dryer, it becomes possible to select whether one effect of a moist effect and a smooth effect is made to act strongly compared with the other effect, and a user's convenience can be aimed at.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the electrostatic atomizer which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the voltage waveform of the applied voltage applied to a discharge electrode. It is a figure which shows the other voltage waveform of the applied voltage applied to a discharge electrode. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the electric field at the time of electrostatic atomization, and the number of the refined | miniaturized liquid microparticles | fine-particles. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the voltage waveform of the applied voltage applied to a discharge electrode, and the effect of a charged ion and charged ion. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the other voltage waveform of the applied voltage applied to a discharge electrode, and the effect of a charged ion and a charged ion. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the other voltage waveform of the applied voltage applied to a discharge electrode, and the effect of a charged ion and a charged ion. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electrostatic atomizer which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the heating air blower provided with the electrostatic atomizer which concerns on Example 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... High voltage generation circuit 2 ... Pulse generation circuit 3 ... Discharge part 4 ... Water supply part 5 ... Capacitor 6 ... Resistance 7 ... AC power supply 8 ... Diode 11 ... High voltage control circuit 12 ... Step-up transformer 13 ... Smoothing and rectification circuit 31 ... Discharge electrode 32 ... Ground electrode 91 ... Housing 92 ... Handle part 93 ... Motor 94 ... Fan 95 ... Heating part 96 ... Heater 97 ... Air intake port 98 ... Blowout port 99 ... Switch 100 ... Introduction passage

Claims (3)

In an electrostatic atomizer that applies a voltage to the discharge electrode and electrostatically atomizes the liquid supplied to the discharge electrode by a discharge generated by an electric field formed by the applied voltage.
Voltage generating means for generating a pulse voltage to be applied to the discharge electrode;
The voltage generating means controls a voltage amplitude of the pulse voltage, and an amplitude between a first voltage value for generating charged ions by the discharge and a second voltage value for generating charged liquid fine particles by the discharge. An electrostatic atomizer characterized by generating a pulse voltage to be generated . The voltage generating means includes an application time during which the pulse signal having the first voltage value is applied to the discharge electrode, and an application time during which the pulse signal having the second voltage value is applied to the discharge electrode. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1 , wherein the generation amount of the charged ions and the generation amount of the charged liquid fine particles are variably controlled. The electrostatic atomizer according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A heating air blower equipped with an electrostatic atomizer, characterized by comprising a heating air blowing means for discharging warm air.

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