JPH07180861A - Method and equipment for sterilizng microorganism or the like being present in moving gas - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable reliable sterilization of microorganisms or the like being present in air in a supply air duct of an air-conditioning installation by collecting the microorganismjor the like being present in a moving gas and by applying ultraviolet rays to the collected microorganisms or the like. CONSTITUTION:Photoelectrons 31 emitted into a supply air duct from the surface of a photoelectron emitting material 30 stick to microorganisms 32 or the like being present in a suspended state in a gas flowing through the supply air duct 1 and charge the microorganisms 32 or the like to be negative. Inside the supply air duct 1, besides, a negative electrode is made in the ceiling 2 and a positive electrode in the lower surface 35 by a battery 36 and an electric field is formed between them. The microorganisms 32 or the like charged to be negative are adsorbed and collected on the lower surface 35 of the supply air duct 1 with an increased efficiency. In this adsorbed and collected state, ultraviolet rays radiated from an ultraviolet radiation lamp 3 pass through the photoelectron emitting material 30 and irradiate the collected microorganisms 32 or the like uniformly. By the application of the ultraviolet rays for a long time, reliable sterilization can be performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is for producing clean air to be supplied to facilities requiring cleanliness such as medical facilities, food manufacturing facilities, semiconductor manufacturing facilities, biotechnology related facilities, etc. The present invention relates to a method and a device for collecting microorganisms such as viruses, molds, mites, and other dust and oil fumes present in the field, and sterilizing them by ultraviolet irradiation or ozone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art The first germicidal lamp is an ultraviolet radiation lamp using a low-pressure mercury discharge, which was developed in 1934 by General Electric Company, USA. Also, the company's Luc
kies H. M. The results of the research were published in 1946, and a system of basic technology for utilizing germicidal lamps was created.

On the other hand, in Japan, the use of preservatives and bactericides has been restricted by the regulation of food additives, and sterilizing lamps have been used to keep the environment in food manufacturing factories sanitary. And its use is becoming more common. Recently, sterilization lamps have been widely used for industrial purposes such as disinfection of processing containers and beauty equipment for AIDS prevention, sterilization of cleaning water used in semiconductor manufacturing processes, and sterilization of air and water in biotechnology-related facilities. It is being appreciated.

The type of conventional sterilization lamp is shown in FIG.
4 is a holder type sterilization lamp 100, a wall type sterilization lamp 101 is shown in FIG. 15, and a hanging type sterilization lamp 102 is shown in FIG. Further, there are various shapes of the sterilization lamp itself, for example, a spiral sterilization lamp 103 as shown in FIG. 17, a spiral one-sided sterilization lamp 104, a sterilization lamp 105 with a case, and a linear sterilization lamp. Lamps 106, 107, 1
08, circular sterilization lamp 109, W-shaped sterilization lamp 110, U-shaped sterilization lamp 111, one side supported sterilization lamp 112, spherical sterilization lamp 113, oval sterilization lamp 114, small size. A sterilization lamp 115 and the like are known. Conventionally, the sterilizing lamp as described above is installed on the ceiling surface or wall surface of the facility to sterilize microorganisms and the like existing in the gas by irradiating the atmosphere in the facility with ultraviolet rays.

Further, the sterilizing lamp as described above is installed in the case, ultraviolet rays are irradiated in the case while the atmosphere in the facility is gradually circulated in the case little by little, and then the irradiated air is introduced in the facility. An indoor-installed sterilizer of the air handling unit type that sterilizes the entire atmosphere in the facility by returning it is also known.

[0006]

However, when the atmosphere in the facility is directly irradiated with ultraviolet rays for sterilization as described above, ozone is generated due to the irradiation of oxygen in the air with ultraviolet rays, and the environment in the facility is deteriorated. There was a concern that it would worsen. Ozone is highly toxic and may cause a health hazard even at a concentration of about 0.01 ppm.

On the other hand, it is possible to pre-sterilize microorganisms and the like existing in the air in the air conditioning equipment for supplying air to the facility. However, for example, when an ultraviolet radiation lamp is installed in the air supply duct of an air conditioner to irradiate the air flowing in the duct with ultraviolet rays, the amount of ultraviolet rays radiated to the microorganisms present in the air is determined by the sterilization ray illuminance and the irradiation. It is the product of time and is inversely proportional to the air supply speed passing through the irradiation area. In addition, even if sterilizing lamps are arranged in several places in the air supply duct, it is usually several m / s.
The micro-organisms present in the air in the duct having the above air supply rate are irradiated with ultraviolet rays for a few seconds at most. It is extremely impossible to sterilize the microorganisms existing in the moving air by such short-time irradiation sufficiently.

[0008] Further, in the indoor-installed sterilizer of the air handling unit type, since the processing wind speed in the apparatus cannot be made too high in order to obtain a sufficient irradiation time, the processing capacity is small and It took a very long time to process all the air.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilizing method and a sterilizing apparatus capable of sufficiently sterilizing microorganisms and the like existing in a moving gas such as air in the air supply duct of the air conditioning equipment as described above. .

[0010]

The sterilizing method of the present invention is characterized in that microorganisms existing in a moving gas are collected and the collected microorganisms are irradiated with ultraviolet rays to perform sterilization. And

In this sterilization method, the photoelectrons are attached to the microorganisms existing in the moving gas to negatively charge the microorganisms and collect the negatively charged microorganisms on the positive electrode. Alternatively, microorganisms and the like existing in the moving gas are collected by a dust removal filter, and the collected microorganisms and the like are irradiated with ultraviolet rays to perform sterilization.

Further, in this sterilization method, sterilization is performed by irradiating microorganisms and the like with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm. It is characterized in that the collected microorganisms and the like are sterilized by the ozone.

In the sterilizer of the present invention, first, an ultraviolet radiation lamp capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays is arranged in the middle of a flow path in which gas moves, and photoelectron emission is performed at a position irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp. The material and the positive electrode are arranged.

Further, in this sterilizer, the flow path through which the gas moves is the air supply duct of the air conditioning equipment, and the ultraviolet radiation lamp irradiates ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm. Is a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp.-A nozzle for blowing clean air is provided on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp.-The photoelectron emitting material is placed on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp, around the ultraviolet radiation lamp, or in the flow path where gas moves. Placed on the wall surface ・ Applied a negative voltage to the photoelectron emission material or grounded the photoelectron emission material ・ Positioned the positive electrode around the ultraviolet radiation lamp or on the inner wall surface of the flow path where gas moves It is characterized by

Further, in this sterilization device: -The ultraviolet radiation lamp irradiates the gas with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm or less to generate ozone, so that the collected microorganisms are sterilized by the ozone. Constitution-It is characterized in that an ozone decomposer is provided on the downstream side of the flow path through which gas moves.

In the sterilizer of the present invention, next, an ultraviolet radiation lamp capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays is arranged in the middle of the flow path in which the gas moves, and the ultraviolet radiation lamp is located downstream of the ultraviolet radiation lamp in the flow path. It is characterized in that a dust removing filter is arranged at a position where the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet radiation lamp is irradiated.

In this sterilizer, the flow path through which the gas moves is the air supply duct of the air conditioning equipment, and the ultraviolet radiation lamp irradiates ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm. Is a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp-It is characterized in that a nozzle for blowing clean air is provided on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp.

Further, in this sterilization device, the ultraviolet radiation lamp irradiates the gas with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm or less in the gas to generate ozone, and the collected microorganisms are sterilized by the ozone. Constitution-It is characterized in that an ozone decomposer is provided on the downstream side of the flow path from the dust removal filter.

[0019]

As described above, since the moving gas in the air supply duct of the air conditioner is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to sterilize microorganisms floating in the gas, the irradiation time is short. A sufficient bactericidal effect cannot be expected. Therefore, in the present invention, the microorganisms and the like existing in the moving gas are collected, and the collected microorganisms and the like are irradiated with ultraviolet rays to perform reliable sterilization.

The method of collecting microorganisms or the like is such that photoelectrons are attached to the microorganisms or the like existing in the moving gas to negatively charge the microorganisms or the like, and the negatively charged microorganisms or the like are collected on the positive electrode. It is conceivable to collect the microorganisms or the like existing in the moving gas with a dust filter.

That is, when the photoelectron emitting material is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp, photoelectrons are emitted from the surface of the photoelectron emitting material. Therefore, in the flow path where the gas moves, the photoelectron emitting material is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp to emit photoelectrons, and the photoelectrons are present in the gas in a suspended state, such as viruses, microorganisms such as bacteria, and other dust, It attaches to fine particles such as oil smoke to negatively charge microorganisms. And by providing a positive electrode in the channel,
Negatively charged microorganisms can be adsorbed to the positive electrode by electric attraction and collected.

It is also possible to dispose a dust removal filter in the flow path of the moving gas and collect the microorganisms and the like present in the gas with the dust removal filter.

The wavelength of 100 to 280 nm is absorbed by the microorganisms collected by the positive electrode and the dust removal filter as described above.
Ultraviolet rays are emitted from an ultraviolet radiation lamp. Thus, by irradiating the microorganisms and the like with ultraviolet rays for a long period of time in such a collected state, reliable sterilization can be performed.

As the photoelectron emitting material, for example, tungsten is used. A metal material such as tungsten is in a state where electrons can freely move within the crystal lattice. When the free electrons reach the surface of the metal crystal, they are strongly pulled back by receiving an electric force from the nucleus having a positive charge, and normally the electrons do not leave the metal surface and jump out. However,
When enough energy is given in some way, the free electrons in the metal overcome the electric force from the nucleus and jump out into space. This is a phenomenon called electron emission.

The minimum energy required to release an electron from a substance is called the work function of the substance, and is usually [e
V]. The work function of each metal is shown in Table 1.

[0026]

[Table 1]

Here, the quantum energy of light is hv = 1.99 × 10 ^-25 / λ [J] h: Planck's constant = 6.63 × 10 ⁻³⁴ J · s v: Frequency of light [s ^{− 1} ] = 3.00 × 10 ⁸ m · S ⁻¹ / λ λ: Since it is the wavelength of light [m], for example, when tungsten (W) is used as an electron-emitting material, 1.99 × 10 ^-25 /λ>4.50 eV = 7.2 × 10 ^-19
J That is, if the surface of tungsten is irradiated with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength satisfying λ <270 nm, electron emission can be performed. The photoelectrons thus emitted are attached to microorganisms and the like suspended in the gas. Then, the negatively charged microorganisms and the like are adsorbed to the positive electrode by electric attraction and collected.

Next, according to the International Commission on Illumination, ultraviolet rays are classified according to the wavelength range as shown in Table 2.

[0029]

[Table 2]

The effect of sterilizing microorganisms is that the wavelength is 10
It is caused by irradiating ultraviolet rays in the range of 0 to 280 nm to damage DNA in microbial cells. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 3, the sterilizing action of ultraviolet rays becomes maximum when the wavelength range is 250 nm to 260 nm. In the present invention, a wavelength of 100 or less is mainly contained in the positive electrode installed in the flow path or the microorganisms collected by the dust removal filter as described above.
Ultraviolet rays in the range of up to 280 nm are radiated from an ultraviolet radiation lamp to perform sterilization.

According to the low-pressure mercury discharge lamp, the ultraviolet ray having the resonance line of 254 nm of mercury can irradiate the ultraviolet ray having the strongest sterilizing action. Therefore,
A low pressure mercury discharge lamp is preferably used in the present invention.

A sterilizing lamp for sterilizing by irradiating ultraviolet rays (sterilizing ray) having a wavelength of around 254 nm has been known. The sterilization lamp usually means a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp, and the sterilization line means a resonance line of mercury having a wavelength of 254 nm. However, in a general sterilizing lamp, the transmission characteristics of the glass tube of the sterilizing lamp are adjusted in order to eliminate the generation of ozone, and the ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of 200 nm or less is absorbed. Therefore, in the present invention, ozone is generated by positively irradiating the gas with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 200 nm or less from an ultraviolet radiation lamp, and the microorganisms collected in the positive electrode or the dust removal filter as described above are It is also configured to be sterilized by ozone.

Since the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays required for sterilizing microorganisms varies depending on the type of microorganisms, the illuminance of ultraviolet rays and the irradiation time must be controlled according to the type of microorganisms present in the gas. Here, the sterilization line (wavelength is 2
Tables 3 to 6 show the relationship between the sterilization dose (product of illuminance of sterilization line and irradiation time) and sterilization rate (1-survival rate) when various microorganisms are irradiated with 54 nm mercury resonance line. The survival rate of microorganisms has an exponentially decreasing relationship with the sterilization dose. A sterilization rate of 99% can be obtained at a sterilization dose of twice the 90% sterilization dose, and a 99% sterilization dose of 99.9. %, 4 times 9
A bactericidal rate of 9.99% is obtained.

[0034]

[Table 3]

[0035]

[Table 4]

[0036]

[Table 5]

[0037]

[Table 6]

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following is a description based on an example in which an embodiment of the present invention is applied to an air supply duct of an air conditioner. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air supply duct 1 including a sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention,
2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. An ultraviolet irradiation lamp 3 for irradiating the ceiling surface 2 of the air supply duct 1 with ultraviolet rays of 100 to 280 nm is attached to a bracket 4
It is attached via. The ultraviolet radiation lamp 3 of the embodiment is a low pressure mercury discharge lamp, and mainly irradiates ultraviolet rays (sterilization ray) having a wavelength of around 254 nm.

Above the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3, there is a chamber 6 for accumulating the clean air supplied from the inlet 5. From the nozzles 7, 8, 9 formed on the lower side of this chamber 6 to the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3. Clean air is blown.
As shown in FIG. 3, the nozzles 7, 8 and 9 are provided over the entire length of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3, and the clean air which is press-fitted into the chamber 6 and blown from the nozzles 7, 8, and 9 blows the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3. It wraps around and prevents dust and oil smoke from being supplied to the lamp surface. As a result, the entire cross section of the air supply duct 1 is uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

Since the gas flowing in the air supply duct 1 is constantly in contact with the ultraviolet radiating lamp 3, dust and oil smoke in the air supply adhere to the surface of the lamp with the passage of time, and the transmittance of ultraviolet light on the surface of the lamp increases. There is a problem of decrease. For example, when the irradiation amount from the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3 is reduced to about 70%, an excessive output of about 40% is required as compared with the initial stage, which is uneconomical. If clean air is blown from the nozzles 7, 8 and 9 onto the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3 as in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent dust and oil smoke from being supplied to the surface of the lamp, and to keep it for a long time. The transmittance of ultraviolet rays does not decrease even when the operation is performed, and therefore it is not necessary to increase the lamp output.

4 and 5 show L on the back of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3.
It is a front view and a sectional view showing an example in which a V-shaped chamber 10 is provided. Nozzles 11, 12, and 13 are formed at three locations inside the L-shaped chamber 10, and clean air that is press-fitted into the chamber 10 through the inlet 15 and blown from the nozzles 11, 12, and 13 is the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3. To prevent the dust and oil smoke in the air supply from adhering to the lamp surface. Since the chamber 10 is formed in an L-shape and surrounds the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3, the irradiation surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3 can be blown with clean air particularly well.

6 and 7, a circular chamber 22 is provided at the base end of an ultraviolet radiation lamp 21 that is cantilevered by a lamp socket 20, and an annular nozzle 2 is provided in the chamber 22.
The example which formed 3 is shown. According to this embodiment, even though the structure is cantilevered, the clean air pressed into the chamber 22 through the inlet 25 is blown from the annular nozzle 23 and flows so as to wrap around the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 21, and the lamp surface is covered. It is possible to prevent dust, oil smoke, and the like in the air supply from adhering.

As shown in FIG. 2, a photoelectron emitting material 30 is arranged around the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 3. In the illustrated example, a photoelectron emitting material 30 formed of a tungsten wire mesh or the like is arranged at a position slightly apart from the surface of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 3. Therefore, when the photoelectron emission material 30 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3 and energy is given to the free electrons in the metal, photoelectrons 31 are emitted from the surface of the photoelectron emission material 30.

Thus, the photoelectrons 31 emitted from the surface of the photoelectron emitting material 30 into the air supply duct 1 are attached to the microorganisms 32 existing in a suspended state in the gas flowing in the air supply duct 1 to remove the microorganisms 32. Charge it negatively. It should be noted that the photoelectron emission material 30 is formed in a wire mesh shape so as to have air permeability, so that the clean air blown from the nozzles 7, 8 and 9 is used to make dust in the gas on the surface of the photoelectron emission material 30. It can prevent dirt such as oil and smoke from adhering. Further, by utilizing this clean air flow, the photoelectrons 31 generated from the surface of the photoelectron emitting material 30 can be effectively sent out into the air supply. Further, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet ray emitting lamp 3 pass through the wire mesh-shaped photoelectron emitting material 30 and are evenly applied to the entire inside of the air supply duct 1.

A positive DC voltage of the battery 36 is applied to the lower surface 35 of the air supply duct 1, and a negative DC voltage of the battery 36 is applied to the ceiling surface 2. As a result, the air supply duct 1
An upward electric field from the lower surface (positive electrode) 35 to the ceiling upper surface (negative electrode) 2 is formed inside, and microorganisms and the like that are negatively charged by the attachment of the photoelectrons 31 described above have an opposite direction to this electric field. The microorganisms and the like are attracted downward and adsorbed and collected on the lower surface 35 of the air supply duct 1. The ceiling surface 2 and the lower surface 3 of the air supply duct 1 are formed so that electrodes can be formed.
5 is made of a conductive material such as a stainless steel plate or a zinc iron plate.

The ceiling surface 2 of the air supply duct 1 and the photoelectron emitting material 30 are electrically connected to each other, and a negative DC voltage is also applied to the photoelectron emitting material 30. That is, if the photoelectron emitting material 30 is electrically insulated from the surroundings, when the photoelectron emitting material 30 emits photoelectrons 31 by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp 3, the photoelectron emitting material 30 gradually becomes positively charged. In this case, even if the photoelectrons 31 are emitted from the photoelectron emission material 30, the photoelectron emission material 30 is again absorbed by the electric attraction. Therefore, the ceiling surface 2 of the air supply duct 1 and the photoelectron emitting material 30 are electrically connected to each other so that the photoelectron emitting material 30 does not carry a positive charge.

By keeping the photoelectron emitting material 30 in the negative electrode state in this way, an electric field is further formed from the lower surface 35 toward the photoelectron emitting material 30 inside the air supply duct 1, and the photoelectrons 31 are attached. The microorganisms 32 negatively charged by the
Can be adsorbed and collected on. The same effect can be expected by grounding the photoelectron emitting material 30.

Thus, in the state where the microorganisms 32 are efficiently adsorbed and collected on the lower surface 35 of the air supply duct 1, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet ray emitting lamp 3 cause the wire mesh-shaped photoelectron emitting material 30 to be emitted as described above. After passing, the collected microorganisms 32 are uniformly irradiated. Thus, by irradiating the microorganisms 32 in the collected state with ultraviolet rays for a long period of time, reliable sterilization can be performed.

Next, a wavelength of 200n is emitted from the ultraviolet radiation lamp.
Irradiate ultraviolet rays of m or less into gas to generate ozone,
An embodiment of a sterilizer configured such that microorganisms and the like are sterilized by ozone will be described. A sterilizer in which a photoelectron emitting material is arranged on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp and a positive electrode is arranged around the ultraviolet radiation lamp will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, an ultraviolet radiation lamp 42 is erected on the lower surface 41 of the air supply duct 40. The ultraviolet emission surface 43 of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 42 is made of quartz glass. As a result, the inside of the air supply duct 40 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays (sterilization line) having a wavelength of around 254 nm, and at the same time, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 185 nm are emitted into the air supply to generate ozone.

Ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 254 nm have a bactericidal action against microorganisms, and ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 185 nm have an action of reacting oxygen in the supply air to generate ozone. As described above, the ultraviolet radiation lamp 42 has a wavelength of 185 nm in addition to ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 254 nm.
By irradiating ultraviolet rays in the vicinity of nm to generate ozone, it becomes possible to further enhance the germicidal effect. Also, the wavelength is 2
Radical oxygen is generated by the reaction of ultraviolet rays near 54 nm with ozone, and the radical oxygen and the wavelength are 254 n.
A complex chemical reaction with ultraviolet rays near m accelerates the decomposition of all organic substances including microorganisms.

Incidentally, the reaction for accelerating the decomposition of the organic matter by such a complex chemical reaction of radical oxygen and ultraviolet rays is used, for example, in the fields of precision cleaning of liquid crystal substrate glass and silicon wafer, and hydrophilic treatment of polyethylene film. In the past, it has been conventionally used as UV / O ₃ dry cleaning. Table 7 shows the chemical bond energy between atoms in various organic compounds, and Table 8 shows the principle of UV / O ₃ cleaning.

[0053]

[Table 7]

[0054]

[Table 8]

The energy of ultraviolet rays having a wavelength near 254 nm is about 113 kcal / mol, and the wavelength is 1
The energy of ultraviolet rays near 85nm is about 155k.
Since it is cal / mol, the light energy of these ultraviolet rays is larger than the chemical bond energy between most of the atoms. Therefore, the ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 254 nm and the wavelength of 185 n can be transmitted to the microorganisms existing inside the air supply duct 40.
By irradiating ultraviolet rays in the vicinity of m, the bond can be broken and decomposed into a volatile substance.

As shown in FIG. 9, a photoelectron emitting material 45 is disposed on the surface of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 42. The photo-electron emission material 45 shown in the figure is formed on the ultraviolet emission surface 43 made of quartz glass as described above and has a thickness of 5 nm ITO (Indiu).
(m Tin Oxide) thin film and a gold thin film having a thickness of 15 nm are multilayer-coated. Thus, the ultraviolet radiation lamp 42 irradiates the photoelectron emitting material 45 with ultraviolet rays to give energy to the free electrons in the metal forming the photoelectron emitting material 45, and the photoelectrons 46 are supplied to the air supply duct 40.
Is released inside. Since the surface of the ultraviolet irradiation lamp 42 is so-called gold-plated with a gold thin film having a thickness of 15 nm, deterioration due to ozone oxidation does not occur.

A chamber 48 for accumulating clean air supplied from an inlet 47 is provided at the back of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 42 (upstream side of the air supply), and nozzles 49, 50, 51 formed in this chamber 48 provide ultraviolet light to the chamber. Radiant lamp 42
Clean air is blown onto the surface of the. Similar to the one described above, the nozzles 49, 50, 51 are the ultraviolet radiation lamp 4
The clean air which is provided over the entire length of 2, and is press-fitted into the chamber 48 and blown from the nozzles 49, 50, 51 flows so as to wrap the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 42,
Prevents dust and oil smoke from being supplied to the lamp surface.

Thus, the photoelectrons 46 emitted from the photoelectron emitting material 45 into the air supply duct 40 adhere to the microorganisms 52 existing in a suspended state in the gas flowing in the air supply duct 40, and the microorganisms 52 are negatively charged. To charge. The nozzle 4
By using the clean air blown from 9, 50, 51, it is possible to prevent dirt such as dust in the gas or oil smoke from adhering to the surface of the photoelectron emitting material 45. Further, by utilizing this clean air flow, the photoelectrons 46 generated from the surface of the photoelectron emission material 45 can be effectively sent out into the air supply flowing in the duct.

On the other hand, inside the air supply duct 40, the negative electrode 55 is installed around the photoelectron emission material 45,
Around the negative electrode 55, a positive electrode 56 is further installed. These negative electrode 55 and positive electrode 56 are connected to the air supply duct 4
All of them are made of a breathable material such as wire mesh so that the air supply can be satisfactorily distributed. Then, the positive DC voltage of the battery 57 is applied to the positive electrode 56, and the negative DC voltage of the battery 57 is applied to the negative electrode 55. As a result, an electric field from the positive electrode 56 to the negative electrode 55 is formed inside the air supply duct 40, and the microorganisms 52 and the like 52 that have been negatively charged by the attachment of the photoelectrons 46 are formed.
Are adsorbed and collected by the positive electrode 56.

In this way, in the state where the microorganisms 52 are adsorbed and collected on the positive electrode 56, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet ray emitting lamp 42 are evenly applied inside the air supply duct 40. In this way, microorganisms etc.
2 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays for a long time and sterilized.

Further, ozone is generated by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays having a wavelength near 185 nm during the air supply, and the microorganisms 52 adsorbed and collected by the positive electrode 56 are continuously exposed to the ozone. As a result, the microorganisms 52 are completely killed and sterilization becomes more reliable.

However, when ozone is generated as in this embodiment, the ozone that could not be decomposed by the reactions of the equations (3) and (4) in Table 8 directly passes through the air supply duct 40. It may be supplied to the air-conditioned space. Ozone is effective in sterilizing microorganisms and decomposing organic substances, but it is harmful to human health. Therefore, the concentration of ozone in the air supply is 0.
Care must be taken not to exceed 01 ppm.

Therefore, in the case where ozone is generated by radiating ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of about 185 nm during air supply as in this embodiment, an ozone decomposer is provided inside the air supply duct 40 on the downstream side of the flow path. (Not shown) may be provided. There are two types of ozone decomposer: catalytic type and ultraviolet radiation lamp type. It should be noted that the catalytic type has a considerably large air flow resistance, whereas the ultraviolet radiation lamp type has almost no air flow resistance, and is suitable for the present invention which targets a moving gas.

The ultraviolet radiation lamp type is an ozone decomposer equipped with an ultraviolet irradiation lamp for irradiating ultraviolet rays having a wavelength near 254 nm but not ultraviolet rays having a wavelength near 185 nm. As shown in equations (1) and (2) in Table 8, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 185 nm decompose oxygen molecules in the air supply to generate ozone, but as shown in equation (3), Ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 254 nm, on the contrary, have a function of decomposing ozone. Therefore, with respect to the air supply after the sterilization treatment, ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 254 nm are included,
By irradiating ultraviolet rays near 5 nm that do not include ultraviolet rays, the residual ozone can be completely decomposed by the action shown in equation (3).

A copying machine or a laser printer used in office offices in recent years has a built-in catalytic ozone decomposer for decomposing ozone generated during operation. In the present invention, such an ozone decomposer can also be used.

Next, an embodiment of a sterilizing device in which a dust removing filter is arranged downstream of the ultraviolet radiation lamp will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the lower surface 6 of the air supply duct 60
1, an ultraviolet radiation lamp 62 is installed upright. This ultraviolet radiation lamp 62 is a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp and has a wavelength of 254n.
Mainly irradiate ultraviolet rays (sterilization line) in the vicinity of m. Further, inside the air supply duct 60, a dust removal filter 63 is arranged at a position downstream of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 62 in the flow path and at a position where the ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation lamp 62 is irradiated. . Therefore, according to the sterilization apparatus of this embodiment, the microorganisms and the like existing in the air supply are collected on the front surface (the surface on the upstream side) of the dust removal filter 63, and the collected microorganisms and the like for a long time. Ultraviolet radiation from the ultraviolet radiation lamp 62 is radiated over the entire area, and reliable sterilization is performed.

When the dust removing filter 63 is installed in the air supply duct 60 as shown in the figure, most of the microorganisms and dust are collected on the front surface of the filter. When a dust layer is formed on the front surface of the filter in this way, the environment in the dust layer becomes extremely good for the survival of microorganisms depending on the temperature and humidity conditions. As in this embodiment, the ultraviolet radiation lamp 6
The filter 6 for dust removal is provided at a position downstream of the flow path 2 and irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp 62.
3 is arranged so that the front surface of the dust removal filter 63 can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp 62, the microorganisms and the like collected on the front face of the filter can be completely killed, and the dust removal filter There is no concern that virus or bacteria will propagate inside the 63.

Further, in the sterilizer in which the dust removing filter 63 is arranged in the air supply duct 60 as described above, the ultraviolet emission surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp 62 is made of quartz glass in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. You may comprise. As a result, the inside of the air supply duct 60 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays (sterilization line) having a wavelength of around 254 nm, and at the same time, the wavelength is 185 nm.
Ultraviolet rays in the vicinity can be radiated into the air supply to generate ozone, and the microorganisms collected by the dust removal filter 63 are exposed to the ozone, so that more reliable sterilization is performed. become.

However, when ozone is generated, care must be taken so that ozone harmful to the human body is not supplied into the air-conditioned space. Therefore, the air supply duct 60
It is necessary to provide an ozone decomposer (not shown) inside the container. The ozone decomposer may be either a catalyst type or an ultraviolet radiation lamp type, and a catalyst type ozone decomposer built in a copying machine or a laser printer used in office offices in recent years can also be used.

Further, it is desirable to provide an ozone decomposer inside the air supply duct 60 downstream of the dust removal filter 63. By arranging in this order, the microorganisms that have been removed by the dust removal filter 63 and are still trying to survive in the filter can be killed by continuing to be exposed to the air supply containing ozone, resulting in a higher sterilization effect. Because you can expect it. Therefore, it is better to decompose ozone in the air supply after passing through the dust removal filter 63.

Although an example of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified appropriately. For example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a large number of ultraviolet radiation lamps 71 are arranged in the air supply duct 70. In this case, the ultraviolet radiation lamp 71 located in the center of the duct may be fixed by the ceiling hanging type fixture 72, and the ultraviolet radiation lamp 71 located on the side may be fixed by the wall mounted type fixture 73. By disposing a large number of ultraviolet radiation lamps 71 in this way, the light distribution curve 7 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, ultraviolet rays can be evenly spread over the entire cross section of the air supply duct 70, and complete sterilization can be performed without leakage.

Further, the embodiment in which the photoelectron emitting material is arranged around the ultraviolet radiation lamp (FIG. 2) and on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp (FIG. 9) has been described. It may be placed on the wall.

When sterilization is performed without generating ozone, the transmission characteristic of the lamp surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp is adjusted so that ultraviolet rays of 200 nm or less are absorbed by the lamp surface and are not irradiated to the outside. good.

In addition, in the sterilizer in which photoelectrons are attached to the microorganisms to electrically collect them, a dust removal filter is further provided downstream of the air supply duct, and cannot be collected on the positive electrode. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the microorganisms are completely removed by a dust removal filter on the downstream side. In this case, by irradiating the front surface (upstream side surface) of the dust removal filter with ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet radiation lamp, it becomes possible to completely kill the microorganisms captured by the dust removal filter.

[0075]

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to surely sterilize microorganisms and the like existing in a moving gas such as air in an air supply duct of an air conditioner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air supply duct equipped with a sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an AA cross section in FIG.

[Fig. 3] Front view of an ultraviolet radiation lamp

FIG. 4 is a front view of an ultraviolet radiation lamp showing an embodiment in which nozzles are formed at three locations inside an L-shaped chamber.

5 is an enlarged view of a cross section taken along the line BB in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an ultraviolet radiation lamp showing an embodiment in which an annular nozzle is formed.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an ultraviolet radiation lamp showing an embodiment in which an annular nozzle is formed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an air supply duct equipped with a sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an enlarged view of the DD cross section in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an air supply duct equipped with a sterilizing device in which a dust removal filter is arranged downstream of the ultraviolet radiation lamp in the flow path.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an air supply duct showing an embodiment in which a large number of ultraviolet radiation lamps are arranged.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view taken along the arrow EE in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength of ultraviolet rays and the action.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a holder type sterilization lamp.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a wall-mounted sterilization lamp.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a suspended sterilization lamp.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the shape of the sterilization lamp.

[Explanation of symbols] 1,40,60 Air supply duct 3,42,62 Ultraviolet radiation lamp 30,45 Photoelectron emitting material 31,46 Photoelectron 32,52 Microorganisms 35,56 Positive electrode 63 Dust removal filter

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A microorganism, etc. existing in a moving gas, characterized by collecting microorganisms, etc. existing in the moving gas, and sterilizing by irradiating the collected microorganism, etc. with ultraviolet rays. Sterilization method. 2. Microorganisms existing in a moving gas are attached with photoelectrons so that the microorganisms are negatively charged, the negatively charged microorganisms are collected on a positive electrode, and the collected microorganisms are collected. A method for sterilizing microorganisms present in a moving gas, which comprises sterilizing the same by irradiating it with ultraviolet rays. 3. Existence in a moving gas, characterized in that microorganisms etc. existing in the moving gas are collected by a filter for dust removal, and the collected microorganisms are sterilized by irradiating with ultraviolet rays. A method for sterilizing microorganisms, etc. 4. The microorganism present in the moving gas according to claim 1, wherein the microorganism is sterilized by irradiating the microorganism with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm. Sterilization method such as. 5. The ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less is radiated into a gas to generate ozone, and the collected microorganisms and the like are sterilized by the ozone. The method for sterilizing microorganisms and the like present in the moving gas according to any one of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. 6. An ultraviolet radiation lamp capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays is arranged in the middle of a flow path in which gas moves, and a photoelectron emitting material and a positive electrode are arranged at a position to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp. A device for sterilizing microorganisms existing in moving gas. 7. The apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms existing in a moving gas according to claim 6, wherein the flow path through which the gas moves is an air supply duct of an air conditioning facility. 8. The ultraviolet radiation lamp has a wavelength of 100 to 280.
The apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms and the like existing in a moving gas according to claim 6 or 7, which is for irradiating ultraviolet rays of nm. 9. The apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms present in a moving gas according to claim 6, 7, or 8, wherein the ultraviolet radiation lamp is a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp. 10. A nozzle for blowing clean air is provided on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp.
A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in the moving gas described in any of 7, 8 and 9. 11. The photoelectron emitting material is arranged on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp, as claimed in claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 1.
0. A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in a moving gas described in 0. 12. The photoelectron emitting material is arranged around the ultraviolet radiation lamp, as claimed in claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 1.
0. A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in a moving gas described in 0. 13. The photoelectron emitting material is arranged on the inner wall surface of the flow path in which the gas moves, according to claim 6, 7, 8,
9. A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in the moving gas described in 9 or 10. 14. The photoelectron emission material is applied with a negative voltage or the photoelectron emission material is grounded, according to any one of claims 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. The sterilizer for microorganisms present in the moving gas described in 1. 15. The positive electrode is arranged around the ultraviolet radiation lamp, as claimed in claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1.
A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in the moving gas described in any one of 1, 12, 13, and 14. 16. The positive electrode is arranged on the inner wall surface of a flow path through which gas moves, according to claim 6, 7, 8, 9, 1.
A device for sterilizing microorganisms present in a moving gas described in any one of 0, 11, 12, 13, and 14. 17. A wavelength of 200 nm from an ultraviolet radiation lamp.
The following ultraviolet rays are radiated into a gas to generate ozone, and the collected microorganisms are sterilized by the ozone.
A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in a moving gas according to any one of 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. 18. An ozone decomposing device is provided on the downstream side of the flow path through which the gas moves.
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
The sterilizer for microorganisms present in the moving gas described in any one of 1. 19. An ultraviolet radiation lamp capable of irradiating ultraviolet rays is arranged in the middle of a flow path in which gas moves, and ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet radiation lamp are irradiated downstream of the ultraviolet radiation lamp in the flow path. A sterilizer for microorganisms existing in a moving gas, characterized in that a dust removing filter is provided at a certain position. 20. The apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms present in a moving gas according to claim 19, wherein the flow path through which the gas moves is an air supply duct of an air conditioner. 21. The ultraviolet radiation lamp has a wavelength of 100 to 28.
The apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms and the like present in a moving gas according to claim 19 or 20, which is for irradiating ultraviolet rays of 0 nm. 22. The apparatus for sterilizing microorganisms present in a moving gas according to claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein the ultraviolet radiation lamp is a low-pressure mercury discharge lamp. 23. A nozzle for blowing clean air is provided on the surface of the ultraviolet radiation lamp.
A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in the moving gas described in any one of 20, 21, 22. 24. A wavelength of 200 nm from an ultraviolet radiation lamp
21. The gas is irradiated with the following ultraviolet rays to generate ozone, and the collected microorganisms are sterilized by the ozone.
A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in the moving gas described in any one of 21, 22, 23. 25. The ozone decomposing device is provided on the downstream side of the flow path with respect to the dust removing filter.
A sterilizer for microorganisms or the like existing in the moving gas described in any one of 0, 21, 22, 23, and 24.