JP6269704B2 - Discharge electric field generating device, and air conditioner, air purifier, and blower equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a discharge electric field generating device, and an air conditioner, an air purifier, and a blower including the same.

  Conventionally, the high voltage side electrode connected to the positive electrode (high voltage) side of the high voltage power source and the dust collecting electrode connected to the negative electrode (earth) side are alternately arranged in parallel, and the particles to be collected are ionized. A collector of an air cleaning device that collects after charging is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Further, a device including a discharge electrode and a counter electrode, and a high voltage applying unit that applies a high voltage having a pulse waveform that generates a streamer discharge between these electrodes is also known in the art (for example, Patent Documents). 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-296898 JP 2004-350891 A

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the particulate matter in the air is always charged by discharge with a constant high voltage applied, depending on the type of suspended particulate matter contained in the air. , The removal performance will deteriorate. Further, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, since pulse streamer discharge is always performed, the removal performance is deteriorated particularly in the case of allergen substances depending on the type of suspended particulate matter contained in the air.

  Thus, in the prior art as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, various types of particulate matter contained in indoor air cannot be efficiently removed or inactivated.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a discharge electric field generating device capable of efficiently removing or inactivating various types of particulate matter contained in indoor air. To get.

A discharge electric field generating apparatus according to the present invention is a discharge electric field generating apparatus for removing or inactivating particulate matter contained in indoor air, the discharge electrode and the counter electrode, the discharge electrode and the counter electrode and a second sensor for detecting a power supply unit for applying a voltage, a first sensor for detecting the amount of particulate matter contained in the air of the chamber, the human of the chamber between, When the amount of the particulate matter contained in the air in the room is equal to or greater than a preset reference amount, the power supply device is provided between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode regardless of the presence or absence of a person in the room. When a DC voltage is applied to the chamber and the amount of particulate matter contained in the air in the room is less than the reference amount and there is a person in the room , a pulse shape is formed between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode. apply a voltage.

  Moreover, each of the air conditioner, the air cleaner, and the blower according to the present invention includes a discharge electric field generation device having the above-described configuration.

  In the discharge electric field generating apparatus according to the present invention, and the air conditioner, the air cleaner, and the blower equipped with the same, efficient removal or inactivation of various types of particulate matter contained in the indoor air is performed. There is an effect that it can be achieved.

It is a perspective view of the air conditioner provided with the discharge electric field generation device concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner provided with the discharge electric field generation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the discharge electric field generator main body which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the whole structure of the discharge electric field production | generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the operation control system | strain of the discharge electric field generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of the discharge electric field generation apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are simplified or omitted as appropriate. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 6 relate to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air conditioner equipped with a discharge electric field generating device, and FIG. 2 is an air conditioner equipped with a discharge electric field generating device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the discharge electric field generating device, FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the entire configuration of the discharge electric field generating device, and FIG. 5 is a functional diagram of the operation control system of the discharge electric field generating device. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the discharge electric field generating device.

  In the first embodiment, a case where the discharge electric field generation device is provided in an air conditioner will be described as an example. FIG. 1 shows an appearance of an air conditioner main body 100 provided with a discharge electric field generation device. The air conditioner body 100 is an indoor unit of an air conditioner. The casing of the air conditioner body 100 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is horizontally long and has a smooth curved surface from the front surface to the lower surface.

  An air inlet 1 is formed in the upper surface portion of the air conditioner main body 100. The air inlet 1 is an opening for taking air into the air conditioner main body 100 from the outside. An air outlet 3 is formed in the lower front portion of the air conditioner body 100. The air outlet 3 is an opening for discharging air from the inside of the air conditioner main body 100 to the outside.

  The particle sensor 2 is attached to one side surface of the air conditioner main body 100. The particle sensor 2 is a first sensor that detects the amount of particulate matter contained in the air in the room where the air conditioner main body 100 is installed. The particle sensor 2 detects at least one or more of the number of particles, particle concentration, particle amount, particle diameter, shape, and color of the suspended particulate matter in the indoor air. By doing so, it is possible to determine the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air, that is, the quantity.

  The particle sensor 2 includes, for example, one or two light emitting units and one or two light receiving units, and optically detects particles in the air. In this case, the particle sensor 2 determines, for example, the amount of particulate matter contained in the air, that is, the amount based on the detected amount of light scattering. Further, for example, the particle sensor 2 can detect the size (particle diameter) of the particle based on the detected light scattering.

  Furthermore, the particle sensor 2 can detect the shape and surface state of the particles by determining the degree of polarization of the scattered light. And based on the shape and surface state of the detected particle | grains, you may enable it to determine the kind of particulate matter. In addition, by irradiating ultraviolet rays from the light emitting portion of the particle sensor 2 and measuring the wavelength of fluorescence emitted by the particles upon receiving the irradiated ultraviolet rays, the particle sensor 2 is a particulate matter contained in the air. It can also be possible to determine whether or not is a virus or a bacterium.

  The air blower outlet 3 is provided with a vertical wind direction plate 4. The up-and-down wind direction plate 4 is for adjusting the vertical blowing angle of the air blown out from the air outlet 3. The up and down wind direction plates 4 are respectively installed on the near side and the far side toward the front of the air conditioner main body 100. The upper and lower wind direction plates 4 on the front side and the rear side are respectively divided into left and right. The position where each vertical wind direction plate 4 is divided into right and left is substantially the center in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction of the air outlet 3) toward the front of the air conditioner body 100.

  Each up-and-down wind direction board 4 is attached to the air conditioner main body 100 via a support arm. Each support arm is rotatably attached to the air conditioner main body 100 so that the direction of the vertical wind direction plate 4 can be changed by rotating the support arm with respect to the air conditioner main body 100. It has become.

  A human body sensor 5 is attached to the front center of the air conditioner body 100. The human body sensor 5 is a second sensor that detects a person in the room where the air conditioner main body 100 is installed. As the human body sensor 5, for example, an infrared sensor can be used.

  Next, the internal configuration of the air conditioner main body 100 will be described with reference to FIG. Inside the air conditioner main body 100, an air passage leading from the air inlet 1 to the air outlet 3 is formed. A pre-filter 6 is installed in the air inlet 1. The pre-filter 6 is for removing relatively large dust, dust, dust, and the like from the air that enters the air conditioner main body 100 from the air suction port 1.

  A heat exchanger 7 is installed on the leeward side of the pre-filter 6 in the air path. The heat exchanger 7 performs heat exchange with the air flowing through the air path, and heats or cools the air flowing through the air path. Whether the air is heated or cooled depends on whether the air conditioner body 100 is in a heating operation or a cooling operation.

  A blower fan 8 is installed on the leeward side of the heat exchanger 7 in the air path. The blower fan 8 is for generating an air flow from the air inlet 1 toward the air outlet 3 in the air passage. Left and right wind direction plates 9 are provided on the windward side of the up and down wind direction plate 4 at the air outlet 3. The left and right wind direction plates 9 are for adjusting the blowing angle in the left and right direction of the air blown from the air outlet 3.

  On the windward side of the heat exchanger 7 in the air path inside the air conditioner main body 100, a discharge electric field generating device main body 10 is installed. The discharge electric field generating device body 10 is for forming a discharge space and an electric field space in the air flowing through the air passage, and sterilizing / inactivating bacteria, molds, allergens, viruses, etc. present in the passing air. .

  When the blower fan 8 operates, an air flow from the air inlet 1 to the air outlet 3 is generated in the air passage, air is sucked from the air inlet 1, and air is blown out from the air outlet 3. The air sucked from the air inlet 1 becomes an air flow that passes through the air path inside the air conditioner main body 100 in the order of the prefilter 6, the heat exchanger 7, and the blower fan 8, and blows out from the air outlet 3. At this time, a part of the air flow in the air passage passes through the pre-filter 6 and then passes through the discharge electric field generating device main body 10, and then passes through the heat exchanger 7 and the blower fan 8, so that the air outlet Blow out from 3.

  Next, the configuration of the discharge electric field generating device body 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The discharge electric field generating apparatus main body 10 includes a discharge electrode 13 and a counter electrode 14. The discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 are accommodated in a box-shaped frame including an upper frame 15 and a lower frame 16. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the left side is the top and the right side is the bottom as viewed in FIG.

  The upper surface of the upper frame 15 and the lower surface of the lower frame 16 are arranged substantially parallel when the upper frame 15 and the lower frame 16 are assembled in a box shape. The upper frame 15 and the lower frame 16 are, for example, entirely formed of resin. The upper frame 15 is a part of the discharge electric field generating device main body 10 arranged on the windward side of the air passage. On the upper surface of the upper frame 15, an opening for taking the air flowing through the air path into the discharge electric field generating device main body 10 is formed. In this opening, a grid-like guard is provided in order to prevent foreign matter or the like from touching the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 housed in the discharge electric field generating device main body 10.

  The lower frame 16 is a part of the discharge electric field generating device main body 10 arranged on the leeward side of the air passage. On the lower surface of the lower frame 16, an opening for discharging the air taken into the discharge electric field generation device main body 10 from the opening of the upper frame 15 to the outside of the discharge electric field generation device main body 10 is formed. Similarly to the upper frame 15, a lattice-like guard is also provided at the opening of the lower frame 16.

  A handle 17 is provided on one side of the upper frame 15. The handle 17 is used when a person holds the discharge electric field generation device main body 10 by hand, such as when the discharge electric field generation device main body 10 is attached to or removed from the air conditioner main body 100.

  The discharge electrode 13 has an elongated plate shape, in other words, a flat string shape. That is, the cross-sectional shape of the discharge electrode 13 is a substantially rectangular shape having a short side and a long side. Here, the length of the short side is about 1/10 of the length of the long side. Specifically, for example, the length of the long side is 0.1 to 1.0 mm. And the length of a short side is 0.01-0.1 mm.

  A conductor is used as the material of the discharge electrode 13. Specifically, metals such as tungsten, copper, nickel, zinc, and iron, or alloys such as stainless steel mainly containing these metals, or silver, gold, platinum, etc. on the surface of these metals or alloys Those plated with a noble metal or those obtained by forming a carbon (graphite) layer or an oxide film on the surface of these metals or alloys can be used.

  Ring-shaped terminals are attached to both ends of the discharge electrode 13 in the longitudinal direction. These terminals are fixed to the end portion of the discharge electrode 13 by pressure bonding or welding. A tube of a certain length is attached along the discharge electrode 13 from a portion where each terminal is crimped or welded. These tubes are made of an electrically insulating material.

  The counter electrode 14 is manufactured, for example, by cutting and bending a metal plate-like member. By manufacturing the counter electrode 14 from a metal plate, the counter electrode 14 can be formed more precisely than in the case of manufacturing by forming. Moreover, if the counter electrode 14 is manufactured from a metal plate, it is possible to greatly suppress the inclination described later from changing over time.

  A conductor is used as the material of the counter electrode 14. Specifically, metals such as tungsten, copper, nickel, zinc, and iron, or alloys such as stainless steel mainly containing these metals, or silver, gold, platinum, etc. on the surface of these metals or alloys Those plated with noble metals can be used.

  In the upper frame 15 and the lower frame 16, the discharge electrode 13 is folded and attached about 2 to 4 times. The electrode surface of the counter electrode 14 is disposed to face the discharge electrode 13. At this time, the electrode surface of the counter electrode 14 is set at a predetermined angle (specifically, for example, 45 ° to 60 °) with respect to the opening surface of the frame (the upper surface of the upper frame 15 and the lower surface of the lower frame 16). It arrange | positions so that it may be in an inclined state.

  By disposing the electrode surface of the counter electrode 14 obliquely with respect to the opening surface of the frame, when the discharge electric field generating device main body 10 is installed at a specified position inside the air conditioner main body 100, it flows from the air inlet 1 The air to be passed can pass through the inside of the discharge electric field generating apparatus main body 10 without resistance. Here, the counter electrode 14 is inclined with respect to the opening surface of the frame. However, when the discharge electric field generation device main body 10 is installed at a specified position inside the air conditioner main body 100, the counter electrode 14 flows from the air suction port 1. The counter electrode 14 does not necessarily have to be inclined with respect to the opening surface of the frame as long as the air to be passed can pass through the inside of the discharge electric field generating device body 10 without resistance. That is, the counter electrode 14 may be disposed along the air flow.

  In addition, about the discharge electrode 13, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss of the airflow which passes the discharge electric field generation apparatus main body 10 by arrange | positioning so that the short side of the cross-sectional shape of the discharge electrode 13 may become a windward side. is there.

  The discharge electric field generating device main body 10 configured as described above is electrically connected to the power supply device 30 as shown in FIG. The power supply device 30 applies a voltage between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 of the discharge electric field generating device main body 10. And if the power supply device 30 applies a voltage between these electrodes, a corona discharge will arise and a discharge space and an electric field space will be produced | generated in the air inside the discharge electric field production | generation apparatus main body 10. FIG.

  The power supply device 30 includes a power supply unit 11 and a control unit 12. A control unit 12 is connected to the primary side of the power supply unit 11. At least one of the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 is connected to the secondary side of the power supply unit 11. Here, the discharge electrode 13 is connected to the secondary side of the power supply unit 11. The counter electrode 14 is grounded.

  In the power supply unit 11, the output on the secondary side changes according to the input on the primary side. That is, the control unit 12 supplies a voltage to the primary side of the power supply unit 11 and causes the power supply unit 11 to output a high voltage necessary for discharging. And the power supply part 11 changes the output voltage supplied to the discharge electric field generation apparatus main body 10 from a secondary side in response to the change of the voltage input into the primary side from the control part 12. FIG. By doing so, it is possible to configure the discharge electric field generation device according to the present invention at low cost by using the existing power supply unit 11 as it is without changing the specifications of the existing power supply unit 11. .

  Specifically, for example, when a DC voltage is input from the control unit 12 to the primary side of the power supply unit 11, the power supply unit 11 outputs a DC voltage from the secondary side to the discharge electric field generation device body 10. For example, when a pulsed voltage is input from the control unit 12 to the primary side of the power supply unit 11, the power supply unit 11 outputs a pulsed voltage from the secondary side to the discharge electric field generating device body 10.

  The discharge electric field generating device main body 10 and the power supply device 30 (the power supply unit 11 and the control unit 12) shown in FIG. 4 and the particle sensor 2 and the human body sensor 5 described above are used in the discharge electric field according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The generation device is configured.

  Further, the configuration of the discharge electric field generating apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 12 changes the voltage input to the primary side of the power supply unit 11 according to the detection result of the particle sensor 2 and the detection result of the human body sensor 5. Therefore, the voltage applied between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 of the discharge field generating device body 10 from the secondary side of the power supply unit 11 depends on the detection result of the particle sensor 2 and the detection result of the human body sensor 5. Change. More specifically, the configuration is as follows.

  First, the output result of the particle sensor 2 is input to the particle determination unit 18. The particle determination unit 18 determines whether or not the amount of particulate matter in the room in which the air conditioner main body 100 is installed is equal to or more than a preset reference amount based on the result of the particle sensor 2. . The particle determination unit 18 performs this determination with reference to information stored in advance in the particle determination information storage unit 19.

  The determination result of the particle determination unit 18 is input to the control unit 12. The result of the human body sensor 5 is input to the human body determination unit 20. The human body determination unit 20 determines whether there is a person in the room in which the air conditioner main body 100 is installed based on the detection result of the human body sensor 5. The human body determination unit 20 performs this determination with reference to information stored in advance in the human body determination information storage unit 21. The determination result of the human body determination unit 20 is input to the control unit 12.

  The control unit 12 controls the voltage input to the primary side of the power supply unit 11 based on the determination result of the particle determination unit 18 and the determination result of the human body determination unit 20. Specifically, the configuration is as follows.

  First, when the particle determining unit 18 determines that the amount of the particulate matter in the room detected by the particle sensor 2 is equal to or greater than the reference amount, the control unit 12 sends a DC signal (voltage) to the primary side of the power supply unit 11. ). A DC high voltage is applied to the discharge electric field generating device main body 10 from the secondary side of the power supply unit 11. Therefore, the power supply device 30 (the power supply unit 11 and the control unit 12) is arranged between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 when the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air is equal to or greater than a preset reference amount. Apply DC voltage.

  On the other hand, when it is determined by the particle determination unit 18 that the amount of the particulate matter in the room detected by the particle sensor 2 is not equal to or greater than the reference amount, the control unit 12 performs the next operation according to the determination result of the human body determination unit 20. Thus, the signal (voltage) input to the primary side of the power supply unit 11 is controlled.

  First, when the human body determination unit 20 determines that there is a person in the room from the detection result of the human body sensor 5, the control unit 12 inputs a pulsed signal (voltage) to the primary side of the power supply unit 11. Then, a pulsed high voltage is applied to the discharge electric field generating device body 10 from the secondary side of the power supply unit 11. Therefore, when the amount of the particulate matter contained in the indoor air is less than the reference amount and there is a person in the room, the power supply device 30 (the power supply unit 11 and the control unit 12) A pulsed voltage is applied between the counter electrode 14.

  At this time, the pulse voltage applied from the secondary side of the power supply unit 11 to the discharge electric field generating device body 10, that is, the pulse voltage applied by the power supply device 30 between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 is The peak value of the waveform is adjusted to 4 to 7 kV, and the frequency is adjusted to 10 Hz to 1000 Hz.

  Next, when the human body determination unit 20 determines from the detection result of the human body sensor 5 that there is no person in the room, the control unit 12 sends a signal (primary side) to the primary side of the power supply unit 11 after a preset time has elapsed. (Voltage) input is stopped. Then, after elapse of a preset time, application of a high voltage from the secondary side of the power supply unit 11 to the discharge electric field generation device main body 10 is stopped. Therefore, the power supply device 30 (the power supply unit 11 and the control unit 12) is set in advance when the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air is less than the reference amount and there is no person in the room. After the elapse of time, the application of voltage between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 is stopped. When the human body determination unit 20 determines that there is no person in the room from the detection result of the human body sensor 5, if the control unit 12 has not already input a signal to the primary side of the power supply unit 11, the control unit 12. Continues the state where the signal input is stopped.

  When the air conditioner main body 100 including the discharge electric field generating device configured as described above starts operation and the blower fan 8 is activated, the indoor air flows from the air suction port 1 to the inside of the air conditioner main body 100. It is captured. At this time, the particulate matter contained in the indoor air is also taken into the air conditioner main body 100. Specifically, the particulate matter contained in the indoor air is, for example, bacteria, mold, virus, pollen, and allergen substance floating in the air.

  In the discharge electric field generating device body 10, when a high voltage is applied by the power supply device 30, an electric field is formed between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14, and corona discharge is generated. Part of particulate matter in the air taken into the air conditioner main body 100, that is, bacteria, molds, viruses, pollen, allergen materials, and the like pass through the discharge electric field generating device main body 10.

  Bacteria, mold, viruses, pollen, allergen substances, etc. contained in the air passing through the discharge electric field generating device main body 10 are destroyed by applying an electric field and discharge when passing between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14. Killed or inactivated. The killed and inactivated planktonic fungi, mold, virus, pollen and allergen substances are discharged out of the discharge electric field generating device main body 10 together with air. Thereby, the living airborne bacteria, mold, virus, pollen and allergen substance that existed in the room can be removed or inactivated.

  Here, as described above, when the amount of the particulate matter contained in the indoor air is equal to or larger than the reference amount, a DC voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14. Therefore, the discharge always occurs continuously between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14, and the time during which the discharge occurs is the longest. For this reason, it is possible to always apply a discharge and an electric field to particulate matter such as bacteria, mold, virus, pollen and allergen substance passing between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14, and various kinds including allergen substances It is possible to efficiently remove or inactivate particulate matter as a whole for various types of particulate matter.

  On the other hand, when the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air is less than the reference amount, no DC voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14. Here, when the particulate matter is a bacterium or a virus, the application of a pulsed voltage removes or eliminates bacteria and viruses rather than applying a DC voltage between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14. The performance to activate can be made high.

  Specifically, for example, when the particulate matter contained in the air is an influenza virus, the discharge electric field generating device body 10 is passed through the air containing the influenza virus at a wind speed of 1 m / s, and the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 When a DC voltage of 6 kV is applied during the period, 90% of influenza viruses contained in the air can be removed and inactivated. On the other hand, when the voltage applied between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 under the same condition is made into a pulse shape having the same peak value of 6 kV and a frequency of 100 Hz, 99 of influenza virus contained in the air. % Can be removed and inactivated.

  At this time, as described above, it is preferable that the peak value of the waveform of the pulse voltage is 4 to 7 kV and the frequency is 10 Hz to 1000 Hz in order to remove and inactivate bacteria and viruses.

  Here, it can be said that it is more necessary to remove and inactivate bacteria and viruses contained in the indoor air when there is a person than when there is no person in the room. Further, when a person is present, the person brings bacteria or virus into the room, that is, the amount of bacteria or virus contained in the indoor air may increase due to bacteria or viruses derived from the human body.

  Therefore, when the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air is less than the reference amount, when there is a person in the room, a pulse voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 to Among the particulate substances contained in the air, it is possible to remove and inactivate bacteria and viruses in particular, and to remove or inactivate the particulate substances more effectively.

  On the other hand, if the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air is less than the reference amount and there is no person in the room, the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air is greater than or equal to the reference amount. In some cases, it is considered that the necessity of removing or inactivating the particulate matter is relatively low as compared with the case where there is a person in the room. For this reason, by stopping the application of the voltage between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 after elapse of a certain time, the power consumption can be reduced and energy saving can be achieved.

  As described above, the power supply device 30 uses the first voltage (DC voltage) between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 when the amount of the particulate matter contained in the indoor air is equal to or more than a preset reference amount. ) Is applied. When the amount of the particulate matter contained in the indoor air is less than the reference amount, the second voltage having a waveform different from the first voltage (DC voltage) between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14 is obtained. The voltage (pulse voltage) is applied.

  For this reason, according to the environment and the situation of indoor air, an appropriate voltage is applied between the electrodes to operate the discharge electric field generating device, so that various types of particulate matter contained in the indoor air can be efficiently used. Therefore, it is possible to improve the performance of cleaning indoor air and to clean indoor air in a shorter time. In addition, it is possible to shorten the duration of the discharge and suppress the deterioration of the electrode due to the discharge, and it is possible to suppress the performance degradation when used for a long time.

  Further, here, when the amount of the particulate matter contained in the indoor air is less than the reference amount, the power supply device 30 uses the second voltage (pulse voltage) between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14. ) Is applied when there is a person in the room.

  For this reason, in accordance with the type of particulate matter contained in the indoor air, a more effective voltage is applied between the electrodes to further appropriately and efficiently remove particulate matter contained in the indoor air. Or it can be inactivated. In addition, it is possible to further reduce the occurrence of electrode deterioration due to the discharge while further reducing the duration of the discharge and reducing the power consumption.

  Next, the flow of operation of the discharge electric field generating apparatus configured as described above and the air conditioner main body 100 including the discharge electric field generating apparatus will be described once again with reference to FIG. First, when the operation of the air conditioner main body 100 is started by an operation of a remote controller or the like, the blower fan 8, the vertical wind direction plate 4 and the left and right wind direction plate 9 are operated in step S1. When the blower fan 8 is operated, indoor air is taken into the air conditioner main body 100 from the air suction port 1. In addition, the operation | movement of the ventilation fan 8, the up-down wind direction board 4, and the left-right wind direction board 9 in this case is controlled according to the content which the user set.

  In subsequent step S2, the particle sensor 2 detects suspended particles contained in the indoor air. After step S2, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the particle determination unit 18 determines whether or not the amount of indoor particles detected by the particle sensor 2 in step S2 is larger than a set value, that is, a reference amount. If the amount of particles in the room is larger than the set value (reference amount), the process proceeds to step S4.

  In step S <b> 4, the control unit 12 transmits a DC signal (voltage) to the power supply unit 11. As a result, the process proceeds to step S5, where the power supply unit 11 operates to output a DC voltage. Then, a DC voltage output from the power supply unit 11 is applied between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14, and the discharge electric field generating device body 10 is operated. After step S5, the process returns to step S2.

  On the other hand, when the amount of indoor particles is smaller than the set value (reference amount) in step S3, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the human body sensor 5 detects a person in the room. After step S6, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S7, the human body determination unit 20 determines whether there is a human body in the room based on the detection result of the human body sensor 5 in step S6. If there is a human body in the room (there is a person), the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S <b> 8, the control unit 12 transmits a pulse signal (voltage) to the power supply unit 11. As a result, the process proceeds to step S9, where the power supply unit 11 operates to output a pulsed voltage. Then, the pulsed voltage output from the power supply unit 11 is applied between the discharge electrode 13 and the counter electrode 14, and the discharge electric field generating device body 10 is operated. After step S9, the process returns to step S6.

  On the other hand, if there is no human body in the room (no person) in step S7, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, transmission of a signal (voltage) from the control unit 12 is stopped. Thereby, the output of the voltage from the power supply part 11 to the discharge electric field generator main body 10 is stopped, and therefore the operation of the discharge electric field generator main body 10 is stopped. Note that the transmission of the signal (voltage) from the control unit 12 may be stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed as described above, or may be performed immediately. When step S10 is completed, a series of operation flow is completed.

  In addition, in the above, the case where the discharge electric field generation device was provided in the air conditioner was described as an example. However, the application target of the discharge electric field generation device according to the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the discharge electric field generation device according to the present invention may be provided in an air cleaner, a blower, a dehumidifier, or the like. When a discharge electric field generator is provided in an air cleaner, a blower, a dehumidifier, etc., as in an air conditioner, the discharge electric field generator is placed in an air passage formed inside the air cleaner, blower, dehumidifier, etc. Arrange the body. In addition, the air conditioner, the air purifier, the blower, the dehumidifier and the like provided with the discharge electric field generation device may be installed in any of offices, stores, home living rooms, and the like. Furthermore, the main body of the discharge electric field generating apparatus according to the present invention can be arranged in the air path of a fan provided in an elevator, a duct or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air inlet 2 Particle sensor 3 Air outlet 4 Vertical wind direction board 5 Human body sensor 6 Pre filter 7 Heat exchanger 8 Blower fan 9 Left and right wind direction board 10 Discharge electric field production | generation apparatus main body 11 Power supply part 12 Control part 13 Discharge electrode 14 Counter electrode DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Upper frame 16 Lower frame 17 Handle 18 Particle | grain determination part 19 Particle | grain determination information storage part 20 Human body determination part 21 Human body determination information storage part 30 Power supply device 100 Air conditioner main body

Claims (7)

A discharge electric field generating device for removing or inactivating particulate matter contained in indoor air,
A discharge electrode and a counter electrode;
A power supply device for applying a voltage between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode;
A first sensor for detecting the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air;
A second sensor for detecting a person in the room ,
The power supply device
When the amount of particulate matter contained in the indoor air is equal to or greater than a preset reference amount, a DC voltage is applied between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode regardless of the presence or absence of a person in the room. And
Discharge electric field generation for applying a pulse voltage between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode when the amount of particulate matter contained in the air in the room is less than the reference amount and there is a person in the room apparatus. The discharge electric field generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the pulse voltage has a peak value of 4 to 7 kV and a frequency of 10 Hz to 1000 Hz. When the amount of particulate matter contained in the air in the room is less than the reference amount and there is no person in the room, the power supply device, after the elapse of a preset time, The discharge electric field generation device according to claim 1 or 2 which stops application of a voltage between counter electrodes. The power supply device
A power supply unit in which the output on the secondary side changes according to the input on the primary side;
A control unit connected to a primary side of the power supply unit,
The discharge electrode and at least one of the counter electrode, electric discharge field generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is connected to the secondary side of the power supply unit. The air conditioner provided with the discharge electric field generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . The air cleaner provided with the discharge electric field production | generation apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 . The air blower provided with the discharge electric field production | generation apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 .

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