JP7113371B2 - air purifier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air cleaner.

Conventionally, air cleaners of this type are known to exterminate bacteria and viruses by electrolyzing tap water to generate hypochlorous acid and circulating indoor air there.

An apparatus for electrolyzing salt water is provided with an electrode voltage control section for controlling the intensity of current flowing through electrodes by PWM control, and an electrode switching section for switching the polarity of the electrodes. Then, while performing control to repeatedly flow a large current and a small current between the electrodes for a certain period of time with a current stop period in between, control is performed to reverse the current direction between the electrodes for each stop period after the small current is flowed. It is something to do.

Here, in electrode control, if a direct current is applied in a fixed direction for a long time, scales will adhere to the electrodes on one side, which will not only reduce the generation efficiency of hypochlorous acid but also shorten the life of the electrodes. For this reason, it is necessary to intermittently apply an electrode current at regular time intervals and switch the polarity of the electrodes at regular time intervals.

However, if the user puts in too much salt or does not drain the water sufficiently, a large amount of current temporarily flows through the electrode, which may accelerate deterioration of the electrode and shorten its service life. .

Therefore, it is known that deterioration of the electrode can be prevented by simply calculating the salt concentration, judging that the salt concentration is excessive when the salt concentration is excessive, and prompting the user to drain the water. . (See Patent Document 1, for example).

JP 2017-166789 A

Such a conventional air purifier measures the salt concentration from the measured voltage-current value. However, when the measured current value is an abnormal value, it is difficult to distinguish whether it is caused by an increase in salt concentration or by a foreign substance mixed between the electrodes.

Therefore, in the present invention, based on the time when the aqueous solution in the water supply tank is drained and the time when the abnormal value of the electrode current is detected, the salt concentration is increased or the foreign matter mixed between the electrodes is used. The purpose is to judge whether the

In order to achieve this object, the air cleaner according to the present invention comprises a tray for storing an aqueous solution, a filter member for absorbing the water in the tray, and a pair of electrodes for electrolyzing the water in the tray. a unit, an air blower for blowing air to contact the water absorbed by the filter member, a drainage detection unit for detecting that the water in the tray has been drained, and a necessity for replacement of the water in the tray. In an air purifying device comprising: a replacement notification unit that notifies, and a control unit that controls operations of the blower, the drainage detection unit, and the replacement notification unit, the control unit controls a current to be applied between the electrode units. and controls the current and voltage to be energized between the electrode units, and the control unit detects when the electrode unit is energized in a predetermined manner after the drainage detection unit detects that the water has been drained. When the value of current flowing between the electrode units is detected to be equal to or greater than a threshold value, the replacement notification unit notifies that foreign matter removal is encouraged, and the control unit causes the drainage detection unit to detect that the water has been drained. and the energization time to the electrode unit reaches a predetermined cumulative energization time without detecting that the value of the current flowing between the electrode units is equal to or greater than the threshold when the predetermined energization is performed to the electrode unit. After switching the electrode polarities of the electrode units, when the current value to be energized between the electrode units when the predetermined energization to the electrode units is performed is detected to be equal to or greater than the threshold value, the replacement notification unit is notified of drainage. The desired purpose is achieved by notifying the user of the urge to do so.

In the air purifying device of the present invention, when an abnormal current value is detected in the electrodes that electrolyze an aqueous solution, it is determined whether it is due to an increase in the concentration of the aqueous solution or due to foreign matter mixed between the electrodes. , the user can be urged to take appropriate measures.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. It is the figure which showed the structure of the output control of the electrode of the same embodiment. It is the graph which showed the relationship between the energizing current in the electrode of the same embodiment, and the time of a minute unit. It is the graph which showed the relationship between the energization current and the time in seconds at the time of electrode energization of the same embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the process performed in the control part of the same embodiment. (a) is a graph showing the relationship between applied voltage and time in a state in which a foreign object is mixed between electrodes in the same embodiment. (b) is a graph showing the relationship between current and time when a foreign object is mixed between electrodes in the same embodiment.

An air purifier according to the present invention comprises a tray for storing an aqueous solution, a filter member for absorbing water in the tray, a pair of electrode units for electrolyzing the water in the tray, and contacting the water absorbed by the filter member. a blower for blowing air to cool the tray, a drainage detection unit for detecting that the water in the tray has been drained, a replacement notification unit for notifying the necessity of replacing the water in the tray, and a blower, a drainage detection unit, and a replacement notification unit. and a controller for controlling the operation of the controller, wherein the controller detects current and voltage applied between the electrode units, controls the current and voltage applied between the electrode units, and the controller includes , when it is detected that the current value passing between the electrode units exceeds the threshold value after the drainage detection unit detects that the water has been drained and the electrode units are energized in a predetermined amount, the replacement notification unit notifies do.

As a result, when an abnormal current value is detected in the electrodes that electrolyze salt water, it is determined whether it is caused by an increase in the salt concentration or by foreign matter mixed between the electrodes, and the salt concentration rises. This can be accurately notified to the user. Therefore, the air cleaning device of the present invention can prompt the user to take appropriate measures.

Further, the control section of the present invention may be configured to control the voltage at the start of predetermined energization to the electrode unit to a predetermined value.

As a result, when the controller detects an abnormal current caused by a foreign object that has entered between the electrodes, the value of the abnormal current to be detected can be suppressed by setting the voltage value to a predetermined value or less. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect of suppressing deterioration of the electrode due to overcurrent and preventing heat generation due to large current.

Further, the control unit of the present invention detects that the water discharge detection unit detects that the water has been drained, and that the value of the current flowing between the electrode units exceeds the threshold value when the electrode units are energized in a predetermined manner. If so, report an anomaly.

Thus, when the controller detects an abnormal current caused by a foreign object that has entered between the electrodes, the user can be notified that the foreign object has entered between the electrodes.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that each of the embodiments described below is a preferred specific example of the present invention. Therefore, numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement positions and connection forms of constituent elements, steps (processes) and order of steps, etc. shown in the following embodiments are examples and do not limit the present invention. It's not the gist of it. Therefore, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, the constituent elements not described in the independent claims representing the highest concept of the present invention will be described as optional constituent elements. Moreover, in each figure, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected to the substantially same structure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate|omitted or simplified.

(Embodiment 1)
The basic configuration of the air purifier according to this embodiment is shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. A housing 1 of the air cleaning device includes an inlet 2, an outlet 3, a fan 7, a filter 6, a tray 4, an electrode unit 9, a sterilization air passage 8, a display/operation unit 10, and a notification means 31.

The suction port 2 is an opening for allowing air to flow into the interior of the housing 1 . The suction port 2 is provided on the side surface of the housing 1 .

The air outlet 3 is an opening for discharging the air inside the housing 1 . The outlet 3 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 1 .

The sterilization air passage 8 communicates the suction port 2, the filter 6, and the blowout port 3 with each other. In other words, it is an air passage for sterilizing indoor air.

The fan 7 is connected to a motor and generates an airflow by rotating the motor. This airflow becomes an airflow passing through an air passage connecting the suction port 2 and the blowout port 3 . That is, the fan 7 sucks the indoor air into the housing 1 and blows the air out of the housing 1 through the air outlet 3 .

The filter 6 is arranged on the surface of the core material of the cylinder, and is a mechanism that rotates around the central axis of the cylinder. The filter 6 permeates the electrolyzed water in the tray 4 due to the rotation of the cylindrical core material, and can absorb the electrolyzed water. Further, part of the filter 6 is exposed to the air passage from the inlet 2 to the outlet 3 when the cylindrical core member rotates and is in a position where it is not immersed in the electrolyzed water. The filter 6 comes into contact with the indoor air sucked from the suction port 2 while containing electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid. Therefore, when the hypochlorous acid-containing electrolyzed water impregnated in the filter 6 comes into contact with the air, viruses and odorous substances contained in the air can be decomposed and inactivated.

The tray 4 is a rectangular container, and stores salt water 5 in the container. A portion of the lower portion of the filter 6 is configured to have a size that allows the salt water 5 in the tray 4 to permeate.

The electrode unit 9 is placed in the tray 4 and immersed in water containing salt, namely salt water 5 . The electrode unit 9 generates electrolyzed water containing hypochlorous acid by electrolysis by applying a voltage while being immersed.

The display/operation unit 10 is provided on the side surface or the top surface of the housing 1 and performs the operation of the housing 1 and the display of the state. A control unit 30 for controlling the operation of the air cleaner is provided in the display/operation unit 10, for example.

An LED can be used as the notification means 31 , and is provided in the display/operation unit 10 . The notification means 31 receives a signal from the control section 30 and turns on or off. The notification means 31 notifies the user of an operating state, a warning, or the like. As another notification means 31, it is also possible to notify the user by using a sound such as a voice or a buzzer.

Next, the electrode output control performed by the control unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

The control unit 30 includes a microcomputer 11 , an electrode power supply control circuit 12 , an electrode power supply 13 , a polarity switching means 14 and a current detection means 15 .

The microcomputer 11 includes voltage adjusting means 32, energization means 33, and determination means 34 provided as programs. The operation of the air purifier is controlled by the microcomputer 11 executing respective programs of the voltage adjusting means 32, the energizing means 33, and the determining means 34. FIG.

The voltage adjustment means 32 controls the magnitude of the voltage applied to the electrode unit 9 by controlling transmission of a PWM (pulse) signal to the electrode power supply control circuit 12 . Here voltage includes 0 (zero) V.

The energization means 33 controls on/off of voltage application to the electrode unit 9 . Specifically, the energizing means 33 alternately alternates an energizing time during which the electrode unit 9 is energized and a non-energizing time during which the electrode unit 9 is not energized (stops application) by transmitting an on/off signal to the electrode power source 13. switch. That is, the energizing means 33 intermittently energizes the electrode unit 9 .

Based on the current value detected by the current detection means 15, the determination means 34 determines whether the salt concentration of the salt water 5 in the tray 4 has increased or foreign matter has entered between the electrodes. Specifically, after the polarity of the voltage applied to the electrode unit 9 is reversed by the polarity switching means 14, the peak current flowing through the electrode unit 9 at the start of the first energization is detected via the current detection means 15. get. Next, the current value obtained from the current detection means 15 is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and if the current value exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the salinity concentration has increased according to the working state of the drainage at the time of detection. It is determined whether the problem is caused by a problem or by a foreign substance mixed between the electrodes. That is, when the tray 4 is drained, the tray 4 is placed in the air purifier again, and the electrode unit 9 is energized for the first time, if a current value equal to or higher than a predetermined value is detected, foreign matter is present between the electrodes. judged to be mixed. Then, the control unit 30 notifies the abnormality from the notifying means 31 . On the other hand, when the tray 4 is placed in the air purifier again and the electrode unit 9 is energized for the first time, no current value higher than the predetermined value is detected, and the tray 4 is placed in the air purifier again and a predetermined time elapses. After that, when a current value equal to or higher than a predetermined value is detected, it is determined that the salt concentration has increased.

Then, based on the determination result of the control unit, the notification means 31 accurately notifies the user that the salt concentration has increased and that foreign matter is mixed between the electrodes.

The electrode power supply control circuit 12 controls the output voltage of the electrode power supply 13 by converting the PWM signal sent from the voltage adjustment means 32 into an electric signal.

The electrode power supply 13 is an energizing means for applying voltage to the electrodes, and applies a target voltage to the electrode unit 9 based on the electrical signal sent from the electrode power supply control circuit 12 . Further, intermittent energization to the electrode unit 9 is performed by receiving an on/off signal from the energizing means 33 .

The polarity switching means 14 switches the polarities of the electrodes A 9 a and the electrodes B 9 b that constitute the electrode unit 9 . Specifically, a polarity conversion relay etc. are mentioned.

As shown in FIG. 2, the current detection means 15 is arranged so as to sandwich GND from the downstream side of the polarity switching means 14 after passing through the electrode unit 9, and the current value flowing through the electrode unit 9 is determined from the potential difference with GND. is transmitted to the determination means 34 as a current signal. Further, as an example of the configuration of the current detection means 15, there is a method in which an electrode current is passed through a shunt resistor and the potential difference between the resistors is measured as a current value.

The above is the configuration of the air cleaner.

Next, the operation of the air cleaner will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the voltage applied to the electrode unit 9 and time.

First, energization of the electrode unit 9 will be described. The energization of the electrode unit 9 is first performed for a predetermined time A, that is, the energization time. For example, the predetermined time A is specifically 5 minutes. This energization causes the electrode unit 9 to electrolyze the salt water 5 to generate hypochlorous acid.

Subsequently, the energization is stopped for a predetermined time B, that is, the non-energization time. During the non-energization time, the airflow generated by the fan 7 described above passes through the filter 6 containing hypochlorous acid, thereby inactivating viruses and the like. For example, the predetermined time B is specifically 30 minutes.

Repetition of the energization by alternately switching the energization time and the non-energization time is intermittent energization.

Even before the generation of hypochlorous acid, the fan 7 may generate an air flow because it has a function of purifying the air. Also, an air current may be generated during the energization time.

After repeating the intermittent energization a certain number of times, the polarities of the electrodes A9a and B9b are reversed (switched) by the polarity switching means 14, and the intermittent energization is repeated in this state. This operation is repeated, and when the cumulative energization time reaches a predetermined cumulative energization time C, that is, when the intermittent energization is repeated a predetermined number of times, the polarity is reversed again. This has the effect of preventing excessive accumulation of metal substances in the electrode unit 9, and can prevent deterioration of the electrodes on only one side.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between current applied to electrodes and time. It is possible to suppress deterioration of the electrodes by performing control by the polarity switching means 14 described above. On the other hand, depending on the salt concentration of the salt water 5 to be used, there is a case where excessive metallic substances are adhered to the electrode, and the electrode is overloaded more than expected. In particular, when the electrode unit is energized immediately after switching the electrodes, the peak current increases in proportion to the salt concentration, as shown in FIG. A high peak current during energization may lead to rapid deterioration of the electrode.

As shown in FIG. 4, the waveform of the peak current immediately after energization at high salinity is similar to the waveform when a foreign object is inserted between the electrodes and an overcurrent flows. Therefore, by detecting only the current value, it is not possible to distinguish whether the problem is caused by an increase in salt concentration or by a foreign substance mixed between the electrodes.

The air purifying device according to the present embodiment performs the process shown in FIG. 5 to determine whether the problem is caused by an increase in salt concentration or by foreign matter mixed between the electrodes. FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of this embodiment. Note that S in FIG. 5 means a step.

When the air purifying device is put into an operating state, that is, when the power is turned on, it starts energizing the electrode unit 9 and at the same time starts timer counting, that is, measures the electrode energization time, which is the time during which the electrodes are energized (S01, S02). At this time, the peak current flowing through the electrodes is detected by the current detection means 15 . If the peak current detected by the current detection means 15 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value D, the determination means 34 determines that a foreign object is mixed between the electrodes, and after stopping the electrode energization, the display/operation unit 10 to notify the user of foreign matter removal (S03 Yes→S09).

When the peak current is equal to or less than the threshold value D, the electrode energization is stopped for a predetermined time B after the electrode energization time reaches the predetermined time A (S03 Yes→S04). This is continued for a predetermined number of times until the cumulative energization time C is reached (S05 No).

When the cumulative energization time to the electrode unit 9 reaches the cumulative energization time C, the electrode polarity is switched via the polarity switching means 14, and then the peak current flowing through the electrodes is detected by the current detection means 15 (S05 Yes→S06).

If the peak current detected by the current detection means 15 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value D, the determination means 34 determines that the salt concentration of the salt water 5 is excessive, and after stopping the electrode energization, to urge the user to drain the water, that is, notify the user (S07 Yes→S08). If the peak current is less than the predetermined threshold value D, it is determined that the salt concentration of the salt water 5 is not excessive, and electrode energization is continued (S06No→S02).

After the notification, in the case of the drainage notification (S08), for example, the user adds fresh water to the salt water 5 to lower the salt concentration, and sets the tray 4. Processing is executed from step S02. In the case of foreign matter removal (S09), for example, after the user removes the foreign matter caught between the electrode units 9, the air purifying device is restarted.

Electrode control during electrode energization will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6A, the vertical axis represents the voltage applied to the electrodes, and the horizontal axis represents time. In FIG. 6B, the vertical axis represents the current applied to the electrodes, and the horizontal axis represents time. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the initially generated current also increases in proportion to the initial applied voltage at the start of electrode energization. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the minimum value of the voltage that can be controlled (output) by the electrode power supply 13 is input when the first voltage is applied at the time of electrode switching. That is, the voltage adjusting means applies a voltage to the electrode unit with the voltage at the start of the energization time being the minimum voltage 38 within the range that the electrode power supply can control.
By the above control, the peak current (current 39) generated at the time of polarity switching can be minimized, so that the life of the electrode can be extended.

In addition, since the voltage adjustment means applies the voltage at the start of the energization time as the minimum voltage 38 to the electrode unit, overcurrent can be suppressed even when foreign matter is mixed in, so that abnormal heat generation can be suppressed. It should be noted that the predetermined threshold value D (current value) corresponding to the peak voltage described at this time must be set to a value corresponding to the minimum voltage. Thereafter, if the current value is less than the current value required for electrolysis, the voltage value is gradually increased and controlled to a predetermined value. By performing the above control, the salt concentration in the salt water 5 can be measured while the load on the electrodes is minimized.

As described above, when it is detected that the current value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, depending on the operation state of the drainage at the time of detection, it may be due to an increase in the salt concentration or due to foreign matter mixed between the electrodes. It can be determined whether the cause is Then, it is possible to accurately notify the user that the salt concentration has increased or that foreign matter is mixed between the electrodes.

The air cleaner according to the present invention can inform the user of the cause of the abnormal current.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 housing 2 suction port 3 air outlet 4 tray 5 salt water 6 filter 7 fan 8 sterilization air passage 9 electrode unit 9a electrode A
9b Electrode B
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 display/operation section 11 microcomputer 12 electrode power supply control circuit 13 electrode power supply 14 polarity switching means 15 current detection means 30 control section 31 notification means 32 voltage adjustment means 33 electrification means 34 determination means

Claims (2)

a tray for storing the aqueous solution;
a filter member that absorbs water in the tray;
a pair of electrode units for electrolyzing water in the tray;
an air blower for blowing air to contact the water absorbed by the filter member;
a drainage detection unit for detecting that the water in the tray has been drained ;
a replacement notification unit that notifies the necessity of replacing the water in the tray;
An air purifier comprising:
The control unit detects current flowing between the electrode units, controls current and voltage flowing between the electrode units,
When the controller detects that a current value applied between the electrode units is equal to or greater than a threshold value when predetermined energization is performed to the electrode units after the drainage detection unit detects that the water has been drained, causing the replacement notification unit to notify that foreign matter removal is urged;
The controller detects that a current value applied between the electrode units is greater than or equal to the threshold value when the predetermined energization to the electrode units is performed after the drainage detection unit detects that the water has been drained. After the energization time to the electrode unit reaches a predetermined accumulated energization time and the electrode polarity of the electrode unit is switched, energization is performed between the electrode units when the predetermined energization is performed to the electrode unit. An air purifying device, wherein when the current value to be discharged is detected to be equal to or higher than the threshold value, the replacement notification unit is notified to prompt drainage . 2. The air purifier according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the voltage at the start of predetermined energization to the electrode unit to a predetermined value.

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