JPH0574921U - Sterilization and deodorization mechanism of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a sterilizing / deodorizing mechanism of an air conditioner so that a sufficient sterilizing / deodorizing effect can be obtained even when the air conditioner is started. [Structure] An ozone generator 30 for generating ozone, a water particle spraying means (ultrasonic humidifier 31) for spraying atomized water particles toward the evaporator 10, and a humidity detector for detecting a wet state of the evaporator 10. Means (humidity sensor 3
2), the ozone decomposing catalyst 34 for decomposing residual ozone after deodorization and sterilization, and the operation of the ozone generator 30 are controlled, and the output signal of the humidity detecting means 32 is input, and the output signal of the humidity detecting means 32 becomes wet. And a control unit (control unit 36) for actuating the water fine particle spraying unit 31 when it is equal to or less than the reference value.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention mainly relates to a sterilizing / deodorizing mechanism of an air conditioner for vehicles.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, as this type of sterilization and deodorization mechanism, it is well known that ozone is generated by an ozone generator, and bacteria and odors in the air conditioner are sterilized and deodorized by the ozone (for example, actual Kaihei 3- 104414).

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the conventional sterilizing and deodorizing mechanism, for example, when the air conditioner is started, even if it is attempted to sterilize and deodorize the surface of the evaporator, which is apt to generate ozone and particularly bacteria and bad odor, the evaporator is sufficiently wet. Therefore, there was a problem that the ozone was not sufficiently activated on the evaporator surface, and that it was not sterilized and deodorized sufficiently. In other words, ozone is activated by dissolving it in the condensed water generated on the evaporator surface, but it is not activated in the insufficiently moistened state at the time of start-up, and does not have a sufficient bactericidal deodorizing effect. It was

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a sterilizing / deodorizing mechanism for an air conditioner, which is designed to obtain a sufficient sterilizing / deodorizing effect even when the air conditioner is started. To aim.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the sterilizing and deodorizing mechanism of the air conditioner according to the present invention is disposed upstream of the evaporator, and includes an ozone generator that generates ozone and the ozone generator and the evaporator. Water fine particle spraying means for spraying atomized water fine particles toward the evaporator, humidity detecting means for detecting the wet state of the evaporator, and a downstream of the evaporator. When the output signal of the ozone decomposing catalyst disposed on the side of the ozone decomposing and decomposing residual ozone after deodorization and the output signal of the ozone concentration detecting means arranged on the downstream side of the ozone decomposing catalyst exceeds the reference value of the ozone emission concentration, A control means for controlling the operation of the ozone generator for stopping the operation of the ozone generator and turning on the alarm lamp is provided, and the output signal of the humidity detecting means is wet. If it is less than the reference value, in which and a control means for actuating the water particles spraying means.

[0006]

[Action]

 Therefore, when the output signal of the humidity detecting means is below the wet reference value, the water fine particle spraying means is activated and the water fine particles are sprayed on the evaporator, and the water fine particles are condensed on the surface of the evaporator, so that ozone is efficiently discharged. Activate. As a result, the activated ozone effectively disinfects and deodorizes the surface of the evaporator, thereby solving the above problem.

[0007]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, an air conditioning apparatus 1 for a vehicle is basically configured by joining a blower unit 2, a cooling unit 3 and a temperature control unit 4.

The blower unit 2 has an outside air intake port 5 and an inside air intake port 6, and the air from the intake port selectively introduced by the intake switching door 7 is directed downstream by a fan 9 driven by a motor 8. It is designed to blow air.

The cooling unit 3 is basically configured by arranging an evaporator 10 that constitutes a cooling cycle, and cools blown air from the blower unit 2. Condensed water generated on the evaporator 10 flows downward and is temporarily stored in the drain tank 12 via the drain water drainage pipe 11. If the stored amount exceeds a predetermined value, the drain discharge port 13 Is discharged from the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle. Reference numeral 14 is a filter, which filters and purifies the condensed water from the evaporator 10 and supplies it to the drain tank 12. The condensed water stored in the drain tank 12 is supplied to the drain pan 38 of the ultrasonic humidifier 31 described later via the condensed water supply port 15.

The temperature control unit 4 basically has a heater core 16 and an air mix door 17, and the temperature of the cooling unit 3 is adjusted by appropriately adjusting the opening degree of the air mix door 17. Cooling air is split into one that heats the heater core 16 for heating and one that bypasses the heater core 16, and the split air is mixed in the air mix chamber 18 on the downstream side to obtain the temperature-controlled air. Adjust to desired temperature. The temperature-controlled air is blown into the vehicle compartment (not shown) from the outlets 23, 24, 25 through the selectively opened mode doors 20, 21, 22.

Next, an embodiment of the deodorizing and sterilizing mechanism provided in the air conditioner 1 having the above configuration will be described.

The deodorizing and sterilizing mechanism includes an ozone generator 30 arranged on the upstream side of the evaporator 10, an ultrasonic humidifier 31 arranged near the cooling unit 3, a humidity sensor 32, a gas sensor 33, and ozone. It basically comprises a decomposition catalyst 34, a water level detection sensor 35, and a control unit 36.

The ozone generator 30 uses, for example, a well-known ceramic ozonizer, and generates ozone for sterilizing and deodorizing in response to a command from the control unit 36.

The ultrasonic humidifier 31 is for spraying atomized water particles toward the evaporator 10. The ultrasonic humidifier 31 is formed in a case 37 in which an air intake port 37 a is formed, and is provided in the drain tank 12. A drain pan 38 for accumulating a predetermined amount of the condensed water stored therein, an ultrasonic oscillator 39 for atomizing the condensed water in the drain pan 38, and a spray pipe 40 for blowing the water particles atomized by the ultrasonic oscillator 39 by blowing air. It is composed of an air blower 41 which is blown into the inside, and a spray port 42 which is provided at the tip of the spray pipe 40 and is opened facing the evaporator 10. That is, when the ultrasonic oscillator 39 is turned on, the ultrasonic humidifier 31 atomizes the condensed water of the drain pan 38 (the particle size of the water particles at this time is about several μm), and the atomization is performed. The water fine particles are sent out into the spray pipe 40 by the blower 41 and sprayed from the spray port 42 toward the evaporator 10. The ultrasonic oscillator 39 and the blower 41 are adapted to operate upon receiving a command from the control unit 36.

The humidity sensor 32 is for detecting the wet state of the surface of the evaporator 10, and is provided above the evaporator 10 and in proximity thereto. The output signal of the humidity sensor 32 is input to the control unit 36.

The gas sensor 33 is for detecting a smoking state in a vehicle compartment (not shown), and is provided on, for example, an instrument panel. The output signal of the gas sensor 33 is input to the control unit 36.

The ozone decomposition catalyst 34 is for decomposing residual ozone after deodorization and sterilization, and for example, a honeycomb-shaped catalyst having a low pressure loss is used.

The water level detection sensor 35 detects the water level of the condensed water stored in the drain tank 12, is provided on the lower side of the drain tank 12, and has a jettable water amount of the ultrasonic humidifier 31. To detect. The output signal of the water level detection sensor 35 is input to the control unit 36.

The control unit 36 includes a central processing unit (CPU), ROM, RAM, an input / output port (I / O), a multiplexer (MPX), an A / D converter, and the like, which are well known, and the humidity sensor 32. The output signals of the gas sensor 33 and the water level detection sensor 35 are input to control the operations of the ozone generator 30, the ultrasonic transducer 39 of the ultrasonic humidifier 31, and the blower 41, and the motor 8 of the blower unit 2 is controlled. Drive control.

Next, the operation of the deodorizing and sterilizing mechanism having the above configuration will be described based on a flowchart (see FIG. 2) which is an example of a program executed by the CPU of the control unit 36.

When an ignition key (not shown) is turned on to start the vehicle, the main routine for controlling the air conditioner 1 determines whether or not the start switch (air conditioner SW) of the air conditioner 1 is turned on. If it is turned on, the control of the air conditioner 1 is executed. In this control, the following control is sequentially executed.

First, in step 100, the ON state of the air conditioner SW is confirmed. If the air conditioner SW is ON, the ozone generator 30 is turned ON (step 110), and if it is OFF, the ozone generator 30 is turned OFF. (Step 120) Return to the main routine.

When the ozone generator 30 is turned on in step 110, ozone is generated from the ozone generator 30, and this ozone is sent to the downstream side along with the flow of the conditioned air flowing in the air conditioner 1. The inside of the air conditioner 1 is sterilized and deodorized.

In the next step 130, the output signals of the humidity sensor 32 and the gas sensor 33 are read, and in steps 140 and 150, it is determined whether or not the surface of the evaporator 10 is at or above a predetermined wet state.

If the surface of the evaporator 10 is in a predetermined wet state or more (NO in step 140) in the above determination, the process proceeds to step 160, and the ultrasonic humidifier 31 is turned off.

However, when the surface of the evaporator 10 is below the predetermined wet state (YES in step 140) in the above determination, the process proceeds to step 160, the detection signal of the water level detection sensor 35 is read, and the ultrasonic humidifier is read. It is determined whether 31 can be sprayed. If this determination is YES, the routine proceeds to step 170, where the ultrasonic humidifier 31 is turned on, and if this determination is NO, then the routine proceeds to step 150 to turn off the ultrasonic humidifier 31.

The step 170 is executed when the surface of the evaporator 10 is below a predetermined wet state (YES in step 140).

The case where the surface of the evaporator 10 is in a predetermined wet state or less can be considered, for example, when the air conditioning apparatus 1 is started. In this state, since the evaporator 10 is not yet in a complete cooling cycle, condensed water is not generated on the surface of the evaporator 10 and is below the wet standard value. Even if the ozone generated by the ozone generator 30 passes through the evaporator 10 in this state, the evaporator 10 is not in a wet state, so that the ozone is not activated and the evaporator 10 is not sterilized and deodorized well. However, when the ultrasonic humidifier 31 is turned on in this state, atomized water particles are sprayed on the surface of the evaporator 10, the water particles are condensed on the surface of the evaporator 10, and the surface of the evaporator 10 reaches a predetermined level. Set to wet condition. As a result, the ozone that has passed through the moistened evaporator 10 is dissolved in the condensed water on contact with the condensed water on the surface of the evaporator 10 and is activated. It spreads and effectively sterilizes and deodorizes bacteria on the surface of the evaporator 10 and metabolites of bacteria that are a source of malodor. As a result, sufficiently cleaned air is blown from the inside of the air conditioner 1 into the vehicle interior.

The residual ozone after sterilization and deodorization is decomposed by the ozone decomposition catalyst 30 on the downstream side and is not blown into the vehicle interior.

Thereafter, the control routine is sequentially executed, and when the surface of the evaporator 10 is in a predetermined wet state or more (NO in step 140), the ultrasonic humidifier 31 is turned off and only normal ozone is supplied. Sterilization and deodorization are performed. In this normal sterilization and deodorization, since the fine particles of water are not sprayed, the condensed water used in the ultrasonic humidifier 31 can be saved. Further, since the condensed water used for the ultrasonic humidifier 31 is collected from the evaporator 10, it is not necessary to supply water to the ultrasonic humidifier 31 from the outside, and maintenance is unnecessary.

When the vehicle interior becomes a smoking state, the smoking state is detected by the gas sensor 33. In this case, the air conditioner switch (not shown) is turned on, and the above-mentioned flow chart for deodorant sterilization is forced. It is intended to de-smoke and deodorize the smoke as it is started.

[0033]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, when the surface of the evaporator is below the wet standard value, atomized water particles are sprayed toward the evaporator. It can be set to a wet state, and as a result, fine particles of water in which ozone is dissolved are spread over the entire evaporator surface, ozone is effectively activated, and sterilization and deodorization of the entire evaporator can be effectively performed. The sterilization mechanism using this ozone water has a higher deodorization and sterilization effect because it can activate more than gaseous ozone. As a result, even when the air conditioner is started, conditioned air that has always been purified is supplied to the passenger compartment, and the air conditioning space can be comfortably set.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner and its sterilization mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a control flow chart of a sterilization mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Air Conditioner 2 Blower Unit 3 Cooling Unit 4 Temperature Control Unit 10 Evaporator 12 Drain Tank 30 Ozone Generator 31 Ultrasonic Humidifier (Water Fine Particle Spraying Means) 32 Humidity Sensor (Humidity Detecting Means) 33 Gas Sensor (Smoking State Detecting Means) 34 Ozone Decomposition Catalyst 35 Water Level Detection Sensor 36 Control Unit (Control Means) 37a Air Suction Port 38 Drain Pan 39 Ultrasonic Transducer 40 Spray Pipe 41 Blower 42 Spray Port

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor, Seiichi Masuda No.415, 3-2-1 Nishigahara, Kita-ku, Tokyo

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ozone generator disposed upstream of the evaporator and generating ozone, and disposed between the ozone generator and the evaporator,
Water fine particle spraying means for spraying atomized water fine particles toward the evaporator, disposed in proximity to the evaporator, humidity detecting means for detecting a wet state of the evaporator, and disposed downstream of the evaporator, When the ozone decomposing catalyst for decomposing residual ozone after deodorization sterilization and the output signal of the ozone concentration detecting means arranged on the downstream side of the ozone decomposing catalyst exceed the reference value of the ozone emission concentration, the operation of the ozone generator. And a control means for controlling the operation of the ozone generator for stopping the alarm lamp and turning on the alarm lamp, and for activating the water fine particle spraying means when the output signal of the humidity detecting means is equal to or less than the wet reference value. A means for sterilizing and deodorizing an air conditioner, comprising: