JPH06300486A - Heat exchanger cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To kill mold and bacteria without using chemical agent to restrain generation of odor by a method wherein nozzles are installed opposite to a heat exchanger mounted in an air conditioner duct and an ionic water generating device which electrolyze an electrolytic aqueous solution to produce ionic water and an ionic water feeder which supplies the ionic water to nozzles are provided. CONSTITUTION:An electrolytic tank 15 is filled with aqueous solution containing a little amount of electrolyte such as city water, condensate of a cooling heat exchanger 8, etc., and divided inside by a porous membrane 16 into a positive electrode tank 17 where a positive electrode 19 is placed and a negative electrode tank 17 where a negative electrode 20 is provided. Delivery pipes 25 and 26 are provided at the lower ends of the positive and negative electrode tanks 17 and 18 to deliver ionic water and merge into a confluence pipe 29 at the downstream side of on-off valves 27 and 28 of the delivery pipes 25 and 26 and the confluence pipe 29 is connected to the suction side of a pump 30. The delivery of the pump 30 is connected to nozzles 31 arranged in an air conditioner duct. The nozzles 31 are installed upstream a cooling heat exchanger 8, facing the windward side of heat exchanger 8, for example.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning device for sterilizing and deodorizing a heat exchanger arranged in an air conditioning duct.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has been pointed out that the main cause of the generation of bad odors in car air conditioners is metabolites (lower fatty acids, etc.) by microorganisms such as mold and bacteria that propagate on the surface of heat exchangers.
It has been reported that such metabolites are not only the source of the malodor, but also induce seizures in allergic patients, bronchitis, asthmatic patients, etc., or cause worsening of symptoms. In addition, since mold spores and bacteria fly out into the air-conditioned space together with the blown air, it is considered unsanitary.

For this reason, in the past, in actual practice, 62-
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 84507, the evaporator surface is sprayed with condensed water of the evaporator for cleaning,
As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-23717, there is considered a method in which a chemical is sprayed onto the surface of an evaporator for cleaning.

[0004]

However, the pH of the condensed water of the evaporator is close to 6 to 7, and since it has no sterilizing effect on its own, even if the condensed water is sprayed onto the surface of the evaporator, It was just rinsing the evaporator surface. Although such treatment temporarily reduces the number of microorganisms, it has a drawback that it quickly propagates. In addition, in the case of drug administration, there is no danger of both mold and bacteria, and there is a danger that the drug itself may adversely affect the human body.

Therefore, in the present invention, a heat exchanger capable of killing both molds and bacteria without using chemicals, pulling out bad odors, and supplying clean air to the air-conditioned space. An object is to provide a cleaning device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the gist of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger arranged in an air conditioning duct with an injection port facing each other and electrolyze an aqueous electrolyte solution to generate ionic water. It is provided with an ionized water producing device for producing, and a supply means for supplying the ionized water to the injection port.

[0007]

[Operation] Therefore, if the electrolytic aqueous solution is electrolyzed,
Alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water are generated, and if this ionized water is supplied from the injection port to the surface of the heat exchanger by the supply means, microbes can be killed by the disinfection action of ionized water, or the growth of microbes Can be suppressed.

That is, since mold is unlikely to live in the alkaline region where the pH is 7 to 11, it is possible to suppress the generation of mold by supplying alkaline ionized water produced by electrolysis. Also, with regard to bacteria, it is difficult to live in the acidic region where the pH is 4 to 7,
By supplying the acidic ionized water produced by electrolysis, bacteria can be sterilized, and therefore the above-mentioned object can be achieved.

[0009]

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

In FIG. 1, an air conditioner mounted on an automobile is shown. The air conditioner 1 is provided with an intake door switching device 3 on the most upstream side of an air conditioning duct 2. The intake door switching device 3 has an inside air inlet 4 therein. An intake door 6 is arranged at a portion where the outside air inlet 5 and the outside air inlet 5 are separated, and the air introduced into the air conditioning duct 2 can be selected between the inside air and the outside air by operating the intake door 6 with an actuator.

The blower 7 sucks air into the air conditioning duct 2 and blows it to the downstream side. A cooling heat exchanger 8 and a heating heat exchanger 9 are provided on the downstream side of the blower 7. ing.

The heat exchanger 8 for cooling is connected with a compressor, a condenser, a liquid tank, and an expansion valve to form a cooling cycle, and cools the air sent from the blower 7. The heating heat exchanger 9 is arranged on the downstream side of the cooling heat exchanger 8 and heats air passing therethrough. An air mix door 10 is provided in front of the heat exchanger 9 for heating, and by adjusting the opening of the air mix door 10 with an actuator, air passing through the heat exchanger 9 for heating and heat for heating are mixed. The amount of air bypassing the heat exchanger 9 is changed, and as a result, the temperature of blown air is controlled.

The downstream side of the air conditioning duct 2 is divided into a defrost outlet 11, a vent outlet 12 and a heat outlet 13 to open in the passenger compartment, and mode doors 14a, 14b and 14c are provided at the divided portions. A desired blowout mode is obtained by operating the mode doors 14a, 14b, 14c with an actuator.

An electrolytic cell 15 is mounted on the vehicle. The electrolytic cell 15 is filled with an aqueous solution containing a slight amount of electrolyte, such as tap water or condensed water of the cooling heat exchanger 8, and the inside thereof is covered with a porous membrane 16 to form a positive electrode side tank 17.
And a negative electrode side tank 18, a positive electrode electrode 19 is arranged in the positive electrode side tank 17, and a negative electrode 20 is arranged in the negative electrode side tank 18. A supply port 21 for supplying an aqueous electrolyte solution is formed at the upper end of the electrolytic cell 15 and is closed by a removable cap 22. The positive electrode side tank 17 and the negative electrode side tank 18 are provided.
Discharge ports 23 and 24 for discharging the excessively supplied electrolyte aqueous solution are formed in the upper part of each.

At the lower ends of the positive electrode side tank 17 and the negative electrode side tank 18, delivery paths 25 and 26 for delivering the ionized water stored in the respective tanks are formed by pipes or hoses.
The outflow passage 25 is controlled to be opened and closed by the first on-off valve 27,
The outflow passage 26 is controlled to be opened / closed by a second opening / closing valve 28. On-off valves 27,2 of outflow passages 25,26
The parts beyond 8 form a joint flow path 29 by being combined into one and reach the inflow side of the pump 30. The outlet side of the pump 30 is the injection port 3 arranged in the air conditioning duct.
Connected to 1.

The injection port 31 is provided, for example, from the upstream side of the cooling heat exchanger 8 toward the windward end face of the heat exchanger 8. The object to be sprayed is sprayed over the entire windward end face. The shape is as shown.

Further, the cooling heat exchanger 8 in the air conditioning duct 2
A temperature sensor 32 that detects the temperature of the air supplied into the duct is provided on the upstream side.
The output signal of is input to the control unit 33.

The control unit 33 includes an input circuit including an A / D converter and a multiplexer, a timer, and an RO.
A known device having an arithmetic processing circuit including M, RAM, CPU, etc., and an output circuit including an I / O port and a control circuit, arithmetically processing an input signal from the sensor according to a predetermined program, and the electrodes 19, Energize 20 and open / close valve 2
Opening and closing of the delivery passages 25 and 26 by 7, 28 and the pump 3
The control unit 33, the on-off valves 27 and 28, the pump 30, the delivery passages 25 and 26, and the confluent passage 29 are used to control the ON / OFF of 0 and the ionic water of the electrolytic cell 15 is injected. Supplying means for supplying to 31 is configured.

In FIG. 2, a specific control operation example by the control unit 33 is shown as a flow chart, which will be described below based on this flow chart.

The control unit 33 executes step 5
At 0, the air conditioner stopped from operating (O
It is determined whether or not it is the time point when the mode is changed to the FF) mode (whether or not it is immediately after the stop), and if it is not immediately after the stop, the supply means is not operated.

On the other hand, immediately after the stop, the routine proceeds to step 52, where it is determined based on the signal output from the temperature sensor 32 whether the temperature of the air in the duct is 30 ° C. or higher. This is, as shown in Table 1, the optimum growth temperature of mold is in the temperature range of 20 to 25 ° C, which is lower than 30 ° C, whereas the optimum growth temperature of bacteria is 30 to 37 ° C, which is higher than 30 ° C. This is because, since it is a region, which of mold and bacteria needs to be killed can be determined by the air temperature in the air conditioning duct 2.

[0022]

[Table 1]

In addition, various molds such as Aspergillus niger, Blue mold and Kumonosuku mold are difficult to grow in the alkaline region of pH 7 to 11, and various bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli are acidic regions of pH 4 to 7. It has been revealed that it is difficult to grow in.

Therefore, if it is determined in step 52 that the temperature is 30 ° C. or higher, the process proceeds to step 54, in which acidic ionized water is selectively delivered from the electrolytic cell 15 and sprayed onto the cooling heat exchanger 8 to obtain 30 ° C. If it is determined to be lower, the process proceeds to step 56, in which alkaline ionized water is selectively delivered from the electrolytic cell 15 and sprayed on the cooling heat exchanger 8.

That is, when the electrodes 19 and 20 are energized, chlorine ions, sulfate ions, etc. are induced in the positive electrode side tank 17 through the porous membrane 16 in the electrolytic tank 15, as shown in FIG. Then, various ions of calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, etc. are induced in the negative electrode side tank 18, acidic ionized water in the positive electrode side tank 17, and the negative electrode side tank 1
Alkaline ionized water is generated in 8 respectively. If the temperature of the air in the air conditioning duct is 30 ° C. or higher, the first opening / closing valve 27 is opened, the second opening / closing valve 28 is closed, and the pump 30 is operated to operate the acid of the positive electrode side tank 17. Ionized water is pumped to the injection port 31. If the temperature of the air in the air conditioning duct is lower than 30 ° C., the first opening / closing valve 27 is closed, the second opening / closing valve 28 is opened, and the pump 30 is operated to operate the alkaline ionized water in the negative electrode side tank 18. Is pumped to the injection port 31.

As a result, if the acidic ionized water is sprayed,
Bacteria can be killed, and mold can be killed by spraying with alkaline ionized water. Further, various kinds of odorous substances are present on the surface of the heat exchanger 8 for cooling and in the vicinity thereof, and lower fatty acids are representative components thereof. However, when alkaline ionized water is sprayed, the chemical formula 1 is shown. As described above, since an odorless salt (RCOOM) is formed, the odor caused by the lower fatty acids can be removed. On the other hand, with respect to the alkaline odors of ammonia, amine, amide, etc., by blowing acidic ionized water, odorless salts are similarly generated and the odors can be removed.

[0027]

[Image Omitted] RCOOH + MOH → RCOOM + H ₂ O

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the supply means for supplying the ion water generated in the electrolytic cell 15 to the injection port 31 is different. In addition to the electrolysis tank 15, this supply means includes the electrolysis tank 1
5 has a storage tank 36 for separately storing the acidic ionized water and the alkaline ionized water generated in 5 via the partition wall 35,
The upper parts of the storage tank 36 are combined into one and reach the injection port 31. A fan 37 for sucking air from the outside is provided above the partition wall 35 of the storage tank 36,
Further, a first ultrasonic transducer 38 arranged so as to be immersed in the acidic ion water is provided in a portion of the storage tank 36 in which the acidic ion water is stored, and a portion of the storage tank 36 in which the alkaline ion water is stored is provided. A second ultrasonic transducer 39 arranged so as to be immersed in the alkaline ionized water is provided. The fan 37 is turned on / off and the first and second ultrasonic transducers 38, 39 are turned on / off.
Based on the output signal of the temperature sensor 32 provided on the upstream side of the cooling heat exchanger 8 in the control unit 33
It is controlled by.

An example of the control operation by the control unit 33 is shown as a flow chart in FIG. 5, and if the air temperature in the air conditioning duct 2 is 30 ° C. or more immediately after the air conditioner 1 is stopped, the control unit 33 proceeds to step 60. Then, the fan 37 is rotated and only the first ultrasonic transducer 38 is operated. As a result, the acidic ionized water accumulated in the storage tank 36 is atomized and rises, and is blown onto the surface of the cooling heat exchanger 8 from the jet port 31 by the blowing pressure.

If the air temperature in the air conditioning duct 2 becomes lower than 30 ° C. immediately after the air conditioner 1 is stopped, the process proceeds to step 62, the fan 37 is rotated, and only the second ultrasonic transducer 39 is operated. . As a result, the alkaline ionized water accumulated in the storage tank 36 is atomized and rises, and is blown from the injection port 31 onto the surface of the cooling heat exchanger 8 by the blowing pressure.

As described above, since the ionized water is atomized by the ultrasonic vibrator and then supplied to the heat exchanger, in this embodiment, not only the surface of the heat exchanger but also the details and the inside are ionized. It also has the advantage that water can enter easily.

The opening / closing control of the first and second opening / closing valves 27, 28 detects that the ion water in the storage tank 36 has decreased to a predetermined amount or less, and the ion water on the insufficient side is used as a reference amount. The control may be such that it is replenished until a certain time, or the control may be such that a predetermined amount of ion water is supplied to the storage tank 36 at predetermined time intervals. In other steps,
Since it is the same as the above-mentioned embodiment, the explanation is omitted.

FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment. In this embodiment, the supply port 21 of the electrolytic cell 15 is provided with a drain hole 40 and a communication passage 41 provided below the cooling heat exchanger 8. Condensed water, which is connected to the electrolysis tank 15 through the communication passage 41, is supplied to the electrolytic cell 15 through the communication passage 41. Further, a storage tank 42 that stores an electrolyte aqueous solution in advance is connected to the communication passage 41 via a supply passage 43, and the supply passage 43 is opened and closed by a solenoid valve 44. An electric conductivity detection sensor 45 for detecting the electric conductivity of the aqueous electrolyte solution is provided in the electrolytic cell 15, and an output signal from the electric conductivity detection sensor 45 is a control unit 3.
3 is input. The control unit 33 performs the control shown in FIG. 7 based on a signal from the electric conductivity detection sensor 45 in addition to the control shown in FIG. 2, and determines whether the electric conductivity is smaller than a predetermined value. If it is determined that the value is smaller than the predetermined value (step 70), the electromagnetic valve 44 is opened to supply the electrolytic aqueous solution in the storage tank 42 to the electrolytic cell 15 (step 72) so as to accelerate the electrolysis. Has become.

In the various embodiments described above, the injection port 3
1, the case where the electrolytic cell 15 for generating ion water, the supply means for supplying the ion water to the injection port 31 and the like are mounted on the vehicle is shown, but only the injection port 31 is provided on the vehicle to generate the ion water. 15, a supply means or the like for supplying ion water to the injection port 15 may be provided in a gas stand or the like, and if necessary, the supply means may be connected to the injection port 31 to supply the ion water to the heat exchanger 8. .

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By supplying alkaline ionized water or acidic ionized water generated by electrolyzing the aqueous electrolyte solution from the injection port to the surface of the heat exchanger by the supply means, it is possible to kill microorganisms without affecting the human body. In addition, it is possible to suppress the generation of foul odors and supply clean air to the air-conditioned space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a heat exchanger cleaning device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control operation example of a control unit used in the heat exchanger cleaning device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrolysis state in an electrolytic cell of the heat exchanger cleaning device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a second embodiment according to the heat exchanger cleaning device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation example of a control unit used in the heat exchanger cleaning device in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the heat exchanger cleaning device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation example of a control unit used in the heat exchanger cleaning device in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Air Conditioning Duct 8 Cooling Heat Exchanger 15 Electrolyzer 16 Porous Membrane 19, 20 Electrode 25, 26 Outflow Channel 27, 28 Open / close Valve 29 Joint Flow Channel 30 Pump 31 Injection Port 33 Control Unit 35 Partition Wall 37 Fan 38, 39 Ultrasonic Wave Vibrator 42 Storage tank 44 Solenoid valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ion water generator for generating an ion water by electrolyzing an electrolyte aqueous solution by providing an injection port facing a heat exchanger arranged in an air conditioning duct, and the ion water at the injection port. A heat exchanger cleaning device comprising: a supply means for supplying.