JPH0545029U - Ozone generator with electronic dehumidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To make it possible to incorporate an electronic dehumidifier into a compact ozone generator that uses corona discharge, and to make the structure simple and easy to maintain. [Configuration] Thermoelectric module 31 utilizing the Peltier effect
Equipped with an electronic dehumidifier 12 for drying by cooling the supplied air, a pump for forcibly flowing the air into the system, and a part of the oxygen in the air supplied by corona discharge by high voltage And a corona discharge unit that converts ozone into ozone are collected in one place, and the electronic dehumidifier 12 is connected in series on the upstream side of the corona discharge unit. A means for heating the dehumidified air flowing through the electronic dehumidifier 12 to a temperature equal to or higher than the dew point of the external air is provided in the downstream passage, but in the illustrated example, the cooling heat sink 33 has a cylindrical shape. When the air passes, it is cooled and dehumidified, and further heated when it passes through the heat absorbing air conduit 37 provided in the heat radiation heat sink 38.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a compact ozone generator incorporating an electronic dehumidifier having a simple structure utilizing the Peltier effect.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Recently, there is an increasing demand for a small deodorizing / sterilizing device that uses ozone. Ozone can be generated by performing corona discharge in the air, but in this type of ozone generator, if the air supplied is moist, the nitrogen in the air is oxidized and harmful nitrogen oxides are generated. Since (NOx) is produced, the air supplied to the ozone generator must be sufficiently dried by a dehumidifier or the like in advance. Therefore, in the case of a large ozone generator, it is usual to use a dehumidifier equipped with a refrigeration cycle by a refrigerant compressor, and in the case of a small ozone generator, a hygroscopic agent such as silica gel is used. Then, it is common to remove water in the supplied air.

On the other hand, as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-5961 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 61-82824, a so-called electronic dehumidifier using a thermoelectric element utilizing the Peltier effect is extremely small and has a structure. Since it is simple, it has been used for the purpose of dehumidifying the inside of the switchboard, but there is no need to replace parts or consumables, except for the need to treat condensed water that has condensed due to cooling. Therefore, it has the advantage of being relatively inexpensive and requiring little maintenance for maintenance (maintenance).

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the case of a small ozone generator, unlike the case of a large ozone generator, it is uneconomical to use a dehumidifier with a complicated structure and an expensive refrigeration cycle, and there is also a problem that the entire device becomes large. Therefore, it is practically difficult to use. When a hygroscopic agent such as silica gel is used, the structure is not complicated and the material is inexpensive, but the hygroscopic agent has a long life (the hygroscopic capacity is lost when saturated), and the hygroscopic capacity is a function of time. Since it decreases with time, there is a problem that maintenance is troublesome, for example, it is necessary to frequently replace the hygroscopic agent in order to maintain a high hygroscopic capacity.

Although it is not inconceivable that the electronic dehumidifier is provided in front of the ozone generator as a combination, the electronic dehumidifier is normally included in the air after cooling the air. Air is dried by condensing water and separating it as condensed water.It is designed to send out dry low-temperature air as it is, so if this is combined with the corona discharge part, it will be an electronic dehumidifier. There was also the disadvantage that moisture in the air could condense on the outside of the conduit through which the cold air coming out of it flows, causing condensation, which could damage the high voltage power supply and the corona discharge. Until now, there is no known example of using an electronic dehumidifier in an ozone generator.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned problems of the electronic dehumidifier, thereby making it possible to incorporate the electronic dehumidifier into a small ozone generator utilizing corona discharge, which has a simple structure and maintenance. The objective is to make it possible to utilize the advantages of an electronic dehumidifier, which is easy and inexpensive, in an ozone generator.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an ozone generator having an electronic dehumidifier according to the present invention. The ozone generator 1 of the present invention is equipped with a thermoelectric module that utilizes the Peltier effect, an electronic dehumidifier 2 that dries by cooling the supplied air, and a pump 3 that forces the air to flow into the system. And a corona discharge part 5 which converts a part of oxygen in the air supplied by high voltage corona discharge into ozone are combined in one place and are connected in series by passages 6 and 7. Therefore (however, the pump 3 may be located upstream of the electronic dehumidifier 2 or downstream of the corona discharge unit 5), there is an outside air inlet 8 at the upstream end of the series system and another At the upstream end of the system is an outlet 9 for air containing ozone. The passages 6 and 7 connecting the electronic dehumidifier 2 and the corona discharge unit 5 also include the electronic dehumidifier 2, the pump 3, and the passage portion inside the corona discharge unit 5. In the present invention, these passages are provided. A feature is that at least a part of the passage is provided with a means 10 for heating the air flowing therein to a temperature equal to or higher than the dew point of external air.

At least a part of the passages 6 and 7 connecting the electronic dehumidifier 2 and the corona discharge part 5 are the most preferable means 10 for heating the air flowing therein to a temperature equal to or higher than the dew point of the external air. Uses the heat of the heat sink of the electronic dehumidifier 2. In this case, the outlet of the dehumidified low temperature air on the side of the cooling heat sink of the electronic dehumidifier 2 and the corona discharge part 5 are connected. By passing a part of the connecting passage 6 through the heat radiating heat sink on the side opposite to the cooling heat sink, the low-temperature air that has been dehumidified by cooling in the cooling heat sink flows into the heat radiating heat sink before flowing to the pump 3. It is configured so that the heat generated will heat it to a temperature above the dew point of the external air.

[0009]

[Action]

 The air sucked from the outside air inlet 8 by the operation of the pump 3 and supplied to the corona discharge unit 5 is cooled when passing through the cooling heat sink of the electronic dehumidifier 2 connected upstream of the corona discharge unit 5. Then, the contained water vapor is separated by condensation, but when the dehumidified air is supplied to the corona discharge part 5 at a low temperature, the moisture in the air is condensed on the outer surfaces of the passages 6 and 7. Since it causes a failure in an electrical part, etc., the temperature of the dehumidified air flowing therein is raised by the means 10 for heating at least a part of the passages 6 and 7 to a temperature above the dew point of the external air. Let

In this case, a part of the passage 6 which connects the outlet of the dehumidified low temperature air on the cooling heat sink side of the electronic dehumidifier 2 and the corona discharge part 5 is provided with a heat radiating heat sink on the side opposite to the cooling heat sink. If a radiating heat sink is used as the means 10 for heating the air, it is possible to use the heat that should otherwise be discarded for heating the air, and it is necessary to provide special heating means. Therefore, it is advantageous in terms of cost, power consumption, space, etc.

[0011]

【Example】

 FIG. 3 shows the overall structure of an ozone generator which is an embodiment of the present invention. The ozone generator 11 of the embodiment is provided with an electronic dehumidifier 12, a pump 13, a corona discharge part 15 with a high-voltage power supply 14, conduits 16 and 17, an outside air inlet 18, an ozone-containing air outlet 19 and the like. And they are entirely housed inside the common housing 20 or formed on the outer surface thereof.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 denotes an inlet for air (that is, radiant air) that is supplied to cool a portion that generates heat inside the ozone generator 11, such as a radiant heat sink of the electronic dehumidifier 12, which will be described in detail later. The louver shape is formed at one to several places on the wall surface of the common housing 20. Reference numeral 22 is a radiant air outlet for discharging radiant air, which has absorbed excess heat inside the housing 20, to the outside, and is also formed in one or several places on the wall surface of the housing 20, for example, in a louver shape. A heat radiation fan 23 may be provided at the heat radiation air outlet 22 to forcibly discharge the heat radiation air inside the housing 20.

A condensed water tank 24 stores condensed water separated from the air passing through the electronic dehumidifier 12, and receives the condensed water through a condensed water discharge pipe 25. Reference numeral 26 denotes a filter for removing dust and the like from the air taken in from the outside air inlet 18. Reference numeral 27 is a conducting wire for supplying electric power of a relatively low voltage to the electronic dehumidifier 12, which is led out from a power source section 28 which also has a high voltage power source 14. Inside the condensed water tank 24, a level sensor such as a float should be provided to prevent the condensed water in the tank from overflowing. Further, 29 is a conduit for sending air from the filter 26 to the electronic dehumidifier 12, 30 is a conduit for sending air containing ozone from the corona discharge part 15 to the outlet 19, and 31 and 32 are high voltage power sources 14 to the corona discharge part 15. Each of the high-voltage conductors for supplying power is shown.

Among the constituent elements of the present invention shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, as the “means 10 for heating the air to a temperature equal to or higher than the dew point of the external air”, which is a particularly important element, an electronic dehumidifier is used. Since it is most preferable to use a heat radiation heat sink that secondarily generates heat when air is cooled and dehumidified on the side of the second cooling heat sink, the electronic dehumidifier 12 in the embodiment of FIG. A specific example of the configuration is shown separately in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 31 denotes a thermoelectric module composed of a thermoelectric element utilizing the Peltier effect, and in this example, two thermoelectric modules are provided vertically with an appropriate interval. The cooling surface on the heat absorption side of the thermoelectric module 31 is in close contact with a part of the outer surface of a cylindrical cooling heat sink 33 which is fixed in the cylindrical heat insulating material 32. In this case, it is preferable that the tubular space of the heat insulating material 32 and the cross-sectional shape of the cooling heat sink 33 are flat walls such as a rectangle. The heat insulating material 32 has a window hole in the shape of the thermoelectric module 31, and the thermoelectric module 31 can be positioned by being fitted in the window hole and can be brought into close contact with a part of the outer surface of the cooling heat sink 33. The cooling heat sink 33 is made of a material having good heat conduction such as aluminum, and fins or the like can be provided in the air passage formed inside as necessary. An opening 34 at the upper end of the cooling heat sink 33 is connected to the filter 26 by a conduit 29, as shown in FIG. 3, so as to take in the air sucked from the outside air inlet 18. Further, the bottom opening 35 of the cooling heat sink 33 serves as a condensed water outlet, and the condensed water is discharged to the condensed water tank 24 through the discharge pipe 25.

An air outlet opening 36 is provided on the side wall slightly above the bottom surface of the cooling heat sink 33, and an endothermic air conduit 37 made of a material having good thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper is connected to the side wall. A heat radiating heat sink 38 having one or more vertical grooves, which is also made of a material having good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, is used to fit the endothermic air conduit 37 into the groove. The thermoelectric module 31 is attached at a position where it can be in close contact with the heat radiation surface. The outlet 39 at the upper end of the endothermic air conduit 37 is connected to the pump 13 by a conduit 16, as shown in FIG. The heat absorbing air conduit 37 is provided so as to be fitted in the groove of the heat radiating heat sink 38 as described above, or a passage in the shape of the heat absorbing air conduit 37 may be formed in the heat radiating heat sink 38 itself by a method such as punching. The heat absorbing air conduit 37 may be integrated by casting it inside when the heat dissipation heat sink 38 is cast. In this way, the cooling heat sink 33 and the heat radiating heat sink 38 are assembled with the thermoelectric module 31 interposed therebetween, and the heat absorbing air conduit 37, the heat insulating material 32, and the like that wrap around the cooling heat sink 33 and the heat insulating material 32 are also integrated into a single assembly. It

In the example of FIG. 1, a cover 40 made of sheet metal, which is press-molded to cover the heat radiation heat sink, is attached to an assembly composed of two heat sinks and the like. A radiant air inlet 41 is opened at the bottom of the cover 40, a radiant air outlet 42 is opened at the upper side surface, and a radiant fan 43 is provided. Therefore, the air sucked into the cover 40 through the heat-release air inlet 41 absorbs excess heat from the heat-dissipating heat sink 38, is taken out from the heat-dissipating air outlet 42, and is further discharged from the heat-dissipating air outlet 22 of the housing 20 to the outside. To be done. The power supply control unit 44 for the electronic dehumidifier 12 is also housed in the cover 40, and the heat generated by the power supply control unit 44 is carried to the outside by the radiated air, so that the power supply control unit 44 does not overheat. It should be noted that ear pieces 45 are attached to the upper and lower portions of the cover 40 and are used to support the electronic dehumidifier 12 at a predetermined position in the housing 20.

Since the ozone generator 11 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 1 has the structure as described above, the air sucked from the outside air inlet 18 has the dust removed by the filter 26, and 1 through the opening 34 shown in FIG. 1 of the electronic dehumidifier 12 into the cylindrical cooling heat sink 33, and is cooled by the cooling surface of the thermoelectric module 31. At that time, the water vapor contained in the air returns to water by being cooled, is separated from the air, and is condensed as dew condensation on the inner surface of the cooling heat sink 33. It flows down by gravity and is discharged from the bottom opening 35 to the condensed water tank 24 through the condensed water discharge pipe 25.

The air that has been dehumidified by separating the water content by being cooled in the cooling heat sink 33 has a low temperature even though it is dry. The heat is absorbed by the thermoelectric module 31 by being guided to the heat-absorbing air conduit 37 passing therethrough, and is heated by the heat-dissipating heat sink 38 having a high temperature, so that the temperature rises to a temperature above the dew point of the external air. Therefore, even while being guided from the outlet 39 to the corona discharge part 15, there is no risk that water vapor contained in the radiant air will condense on the outer surfaces of the conduits 16 and 17, the pump 13, the corona discharge part 15, etc. It is possible to prevent troubles due to deterioration of insulation of the high voltage power supply 14 and the corona discharge part 15 due to condensed water.

A part of the oxygen contained in the dehumidified air is converted to ozone by receiving a high-voltage corona discharge in the corona discharge section 15, but since no water is contained at that time, harmful NOx is generated. There is no fear of this occurring. Dry air containing ozone is guided from the corona discharge unit 15 through the conduit 30 to the outlet 19 and used for deodorizing / sterilizing devices and the like. Such air flow is forcibly caused by the pump 13 provided in the series flow path. The excess heat in the housing 20 is absorbed by the radiant air flowing in from the suction port 21, but the radiant air whose temperature has risen is radiated from the outlet 22 by the radiant fan 23 or naturally to the outside.

To give specific numerical values in the examples, the rated capacity of the thermoelectric module 31 is 14 V, 2.6 A, the temperature of the air taken in is 25 °, and the relative humidity is 80%. Dehumidified dry air of ° C can be supplied to the corona discharge unit 15 at a rate of 3 liters per minute. Then, by performing corona discharge at a voltage of 6000 V in the dry air entering the corona discharge unit 15, it is possible to obtain air containing 1 gram of ozone per 1 liter at the maximum value.

[0022]

[Effect of the device]

 By implementing the present invention, it is possible to avoid the problem that NOx is generated from the ozone generator and the trouble caused by the condensed water that condenses on the outer surface of the passage on the downstream side of the dehumidifier, though the structure is simple. Therefore, it is possible to operate a small ozone generator without any trouble. Moreover, its maintenance becomes extremely easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the constitutional requirements of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Ozone generator of Example 12 ... Electronic dehumidifier 13 ... Pump 14 ... High voltage power supply 15 ... Corona discharge part 16, 17 ... Conduit 18 ... Outside air inlet 19 ... Ozone-containing air outlet 24 ... Condensed water tank 26 ... Filter 28 ... Power supply unit 31 ... Thermoelectric module 32 ... Insulation material 33 ... Cooling heat sink 36 ... Outlet opening 37 ... Endothermic air conduit 38 ... Radiating heat sink 40 ... Cover 43 ... Radiating fan 44 ... Power control unit

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An electronic dehumidifier equipped with a thermoelectric module utilizing the Peltier effect for drying supplied air by cooling, a pump for forcibly flowing air in the system, and a corona discharge by high voltage. And a corona discharge part for converting a part of oxygen in the air supplied by the ozone into ozone, and they are connected to each other by a passage so that the electronic dehumidifier is located upstream of the corona discharge part. They are connected in series, and an inlet for outside air is formed at the upstream end thereof, and an outlet for air containing ozone is formed at the downstream end thereof to form one series system, and An electronic dehumidifier characterized in that the downstream passage of the electronic dehumidifier is provided with means for heating the dehumidified air flowing therein to a temperature above the dew point of the external air. Ozone generator equipped with. 2. An electronic dehumidifier having a cooling heat sink on a cooling surface of a thermoelectric module utilizing the Peltier effect and a heat radiation heat sink on a heat radiation surface for cooling supplied air by the cooling heat sink to dry the air A pump for forcibly flowing air into the chamber and a corona discharge unit for converting a part of oxygen in the air supplied by corona discharge by high voltage into ozone are integrated in one place, and the electronic dehumidifier is As they are upstream of the corona discharge part, they are connected in series with each other by passages and at their upstream end an outside air inlet and at the downstream end an ozone containing air outlet. Are formed to form one series system, and further, on the downstream side of the electronic dehumidifier in which the air dehumidified by the cooling heat sink flows. Ozone equipped with an electronic dehumidifier, characterized in that at least a part of the passage receives heat from the heat sink to heat the air flowing therein to a temperature above the dew point of the external air. Generator. 3. The ozone generator provided with an electronic dehumidifier according to claim 2, wherein the cooling heat sink has a cylindrical shape.